The Celibate Tycoon Has Fallen-Chapter 19: Watching Their Affection

"But you’re different from other men, you’re a gentleman."

Jasper Yale couldn’t quite tell that Yelena was complimenting him. "How many men have told you this in bed?"

"None."

Yelena followed him, only realizing once they reached the innermost private room that there were others present.

From the corner of her eye, she saw a woman’s silhouette and stopped short at the entrance.

But the person inside waved at her, "Miss Hughes, come in."

Yelena glanced at Jasper Yale beside her. His expression was calm, though just a moment ago, they had been discussing inappropriate topics.

"Jasper, Miss Hughes probably hasn’t had dinner, let her join us."

Jasper had already moved next to Nancy Alden, and Yelena quickly waved it off, "No need, I have to leave first."

"Did the troublemakers leave?"

Nancy saw Jasper sit down and naturally placed her hand on his leg, "Hailey Jenkins said someone was following you earlier, it sounded scary, so I asked Jasper to come and check it out, though he found it troublesome..."

Nancy spoke while pinching Jasper’s leg, "Heroic rescues aren’t your thing, huh?"

"I don’t like meddling in trifles."

Jasper maintained a nonchalant attitude.

Yelena stood still, realizing Jasper never intended to help her. Even if he just said a couple of words, his presence would have scared those petty troublemakers away.

But like he said, Yelena’s matters to him were nothing but trifles.

"Come sit with us." Nancy said, attempting to stand and pull her over.

Jasper quickly held her arm down, "Don’t move around."

He spoke to Yelena with a slightly stern tone, "Must I invite you?"

Despite feeling it was inappropriate, she sat down at the table, "Thank you, Miss Alden."

"You can call me Nancy next time."

Yelena chose the seat furthest from them, and Nancy couldn’t help but scrutinize her. Yelena’s attire was very plain, not a single brand name in sight.

"Who’s following you, anyway?"

"I don’t know either," Yelena thought for a moment and added, "I run news, so I’ve probably offended quite a few people."

Nancy picked up her chopsticks and began chatting with Jasper beside her.

"It’s been over a year since I last came here; I wonder if the taste of the fish has changed."

Jasper was at a loss, "There are plenty of good hotels around, don’t they all have fish?"

"It’s different, no one can replicate their grilled fish."

Yelena suddenly realized why this floor was so sparse; it turned out Jasper had cleared out the venue for Nancy’s sake, over a grilled fish.

The waiter brought in the fish along with a charcoal fire and placed it in front of Nancy.

They were seated at a round table, quite large, with nothing but an empty bowl in front of Yelena.

Jasper picked up the menu intending to order a few more dishes, but Nancy looked at the large plate of fish and said, "That’s enough. It’s wasteful to order too much."

"Order more, you can’t just eat fish."

Nancy pressed the menu down, "Seriously, that’s enough, I don’t want to eat anything else."

Jasper’s gaze swept over the woman opposite him, and he quietly placed the menu aside. "Alright."

The waiter prepared to leave, and upon passing Yelena, noticed her glass was also empty.

"Let me pour you some water."

Yelena wanted to refuse, but the waiter had already filled her glass.

"Miss Hughes, I really admire you. Standing up for others isn’t something just anyone can do." Nancy placed a piece of fish in her bowl, "I heard from Jasper that you even offended Felix Wood because of it."

Yelena feared retaliation so much that she used an alias when publishing reports.

Yet Jasper casually informed Nancy of it, seemingly unconcerned that Nancy might announce it widely or that those wanting to settle scores with Yelena now had a target.

Yelena mused self-deprecatingly, she really was overthinking it.

Why would Jasper care about her well-being?

"I’m a media person; there are things that must be done."

Nancy nearly choked on a fishbone, dropping her chopsticks, "I’m not eating anymore, this fish is so annoying."

"Don’t talk when eating fish." Jasper handed her a napkin.

"You help me pick out the bones, or else I’m not eating."

Yelena really couldn’t understand why Nancy had her stay, was it just to watch their affection?

Jasper took over Nancy’s bowl, making Yelena glance over again.

He really did lower himself to pick out those fine bones one by one.

Nancy drank her lemon juice while asking Yelena, "You were followed and just so happened to bump into Jasper?"

Yelena replied calmly, "Yes, it was really a coincidence."

She chuckled softly, saying nothing more.

Yelena’s stomach began to hurt, she picked up the warm water on the table, sipping it down her throat.

Yet it couldn’t quell the hunger inside her stomach.

Nancy had almost finished eating and pushed the plate of fish towards Yelena, "Eat, why aren’t you eating?"

The best parts of the fish had been picked out, leaving the meat scattered.

Yelena lightly shook her head, "My stomach isn’t well; I can’t handle spicy food."

"Aren’t you hungry?"

"Not hungry."

"True, eating someone else’s food is never quite as appealing." Nancy hinted.

On the way back, Nancy insisted on giving Yelena a ride, "Let us drive you home."

"No need, I’ll just take a taxi." Yelena didn’t believe Nancy had such good intentions.

"Aren’t you afraid someone might still be following you? That person might not have left."

Yelena was indeed quite scared. Nancy noticed her silence and laughed, "Let’s go."

On the drive back, Yelena dared not get too close to the two, pressing herself against the car door as much as possible.

The car exited the mall, and Hailey turned to ask, "Miss Hughes, where do you live?"

Yelena gave the address, but Nancy interjected, "Hailey, don’t you know Miss Hughes’s address?"

"I don’t."

"I thought you might have driven her before."

Hailey noticed the odd tone in Nancy’s question, "No, this is the first time."

Jasper’s demeanor was very impassive. The lights from the street lamps stretched out beyond the window, failing to illuminate the depths of his expression, rendering his entire visage with a cold intent.

The car arrived at Yelena’s building, and she said thank you before reaching for the door handle.

Nancy nudged Jasper beside her, "Jasper, you should escort her."

The shadows falling over Jasper stretched longer, but Yelena quickly refused, "My home is right here, no need to trouble you."

"Go on." Nancy leaned closer to Jasper, very insistent.

Jasper’s voice seemed steeped in ice, "Are you sure?"

Nancy smiled a forced smile; didn’t he want to?

She watched Jasper open the car door and step out, walking to the other side to pull the stunned Yelena out.

"Come on."