Sweet Wife in Hidden Marriage

Chapter 36 What Kind of Trick is this Kid Playing?

There was an antique tea house in the deep and serene alley with a wooden fence around it, which was fully covered with vines dotted with light pink flowers swaying in the wind.

Pots of flowers were placed in front of the tea house door, and some spider plants were dangling in the air as well. Such a place was perfect for drinking coffee, but it was actually a tea house.

Once entering the tea house, one would be under the delusion that he had stepped back in time. The interior was furnished with rosewood chairs, screens, scripts, paintings and antiques, all in traditional classic style.

Thus, even if the tea house was hidden in a tranquil alley far from the hubbub urban life, it was frequented by guests every day.

Tea was boiled in front of the guests, while a lady was playing the Chinese zither across the bamboo curtain. The music sounded like pearls falling on a jade plate.

"It’s my pleasure to be invited by Young Master Hawkins to such an elegant place to have a cup of tea." Dawson stared at Archibald with a smile across the tea table.

"You’re flattering me, Dawson. It’s my pleasure to invite you to have a cup of tea with me," neither humble nor haughty, Archibald said unhurriedly. As a junior, he handled the conversation with all due ceremonial.

Dawson, who had just turned 60 this year with a lean body, was most interested in tea tasting. He was the head of the radio station.

After some small talk, the tea was served by the one who was boiling tea. The room was filled with the tea aroma.

Dawson shut his eyes, took a deep breath and praised, "It’s the best Longjing tea picked before Grain Rain."

"It’s true that you’re a great tea lover," Archibald said with a smile.

Dawson raised his eyebrows, grinned happily and said nothing, savoring the tea aroma.

"Archibald, did you just say that you wanted to buy the advertising rights during the prime time?" Dawson asked slowly after taking a sip of tea.

"Exactly." Archibald nodded, put down the tea cup and went on, "A new product is just about to enter the market, so this time, I’d like to get a place in your treasured land to promote it."

Eyes slightly closed, Dawson said flatly, "I think you also know that our radio station was created long ago. It can be regarded as an old one in Millpond and is no match for those new ones. Are you sure you want to promote your new product in our radio station?"

"It’s just because of this that I invited you to talk the matter over with me. Since it’s an old radio station, it must have many old listeners. To tell you the truth, I also listened to your station when I was little, so privately, I hope the radio station will be better developed in the future too."

Truly, the radio station had been created a long time ago, so it was hard to reform its operation pattern in a short time. However, it was impossible for the radio station to cater for the rapidly changing world without reformation. Therefore, reformation was the only way out if it wanted to win listeners from those newly created ones.

"Well? Do you have any good idea?" Dawson stopped smiling and became serious.

Archibald gave a little smile, his handsome eyes gleaming. "Dawson, let’s talk it over while tasting tea…"

When the sun slanted at the edge of the sky, Archibald and Dawson walked out of the tea house together. After watching Dawson’s car going away, Archibald turned to get into his own car waiting aside.

After that, Kieran sat down on the driver’s seat, turned around and said to Archibald, "President Hawkins, Mrs. Hawkins just called. She wanted you to have dinner at the Hawkins’ Mansion tonight."

Archibald answered without thinking, "OK."

The Hawkins’ Mansion was built near the mountain and by the river. The ancestors of the Hawkins' family had asked the feng shui master to evaluate the site before choosing this precious place.

It was in recent years that the gate of the main mansion had been replaced with the engraved iron one, while everything else remained unchanged. The buildings with porches were ornamented with carved beams and painted rafters in classic style. There were rockeries in the garden, and the spring water through the rockeries was drawn from mountain streams. Therefore, when it was summer time, it was cool in the garden.

The trees, which were over 100 years old, made pleasant shade everywhere in the courtyard. They had witnessed the rise and fall of the Hawkins' family.

The car entered the courtyard. Once Archibald got off the car, Jackson greeted him. "Finally you’re back, young master. The whole family has been waiting for you to have dinner."

Archibald pulled loose his tie and gave it to Jackson. Then he took off his suit and stuffed it into Jackson’s hands, and unbuttoned his shirt as he walked towards the main house.

"Oh yeah? Who has come?"

Jackson was accustomed to Archibald behaving like this because he had watched him grow up. Ever since childhood, Archibald had been like an untamed horse, and only Ruben Hawkins could tie him down.

When Archibald was ten, he had been sent to the country by Ruben due to his rebellion. In Ruben’s words, he had wanted Archibald to suffer some hardships and be cut down to size. Archibald had not been allowed to go back to the city if he hadn’t moderated his temper.

Each member of the family’s stomach had been in knots, but no one had dared to disobey Ruben’s order. Fortunately, after a trip to the country, Archibald had toned down his recklessness, and before long, he had been taken back to the city.

However, Jackson was aware that rebellion was still flowing in Archibald’s blood vessels. Having gone through so much in business world, he had become more stable, but still acted without scruple when at home.

These noble looking suits and ties were nothing but a constraint to Archibald. When he went off work, he just took them off and tossed them aside.

"Serena has come with Benedict. Besides, uncle Robin and Katie have come with Remy and May to visit old master." Jackson followed Archibald into the house with the suit and tie in his arms.

In the main house, the quiet and grim mansion was livened up due to the family gathering.

The whole family sat around the big round table made of yellow pear wood in order of family status. This table was passed down by the ancestors of the Hawkins' family, so its value was more than its intrinsic worth.

On the head of the table sat a hale old man with grey hair in a silk Tang suit. Just by sitting there, he exuded an authoritative aura. This was Ruben Hawkins.

Now that the whole family got together and was having a jolly time, Ruben’s eyes lit up with a faint smile.

Hardly had Archibald gone into the room than a figure rushed towards him. Suddenly, his arm was grabbed by a pair of hands, and then came a pettish and sweet voice, "Archibald, finally you’re back. The whole family has been starving waiting for you!"

Only May, the daughter of Archibald’s third uncle, uncle Robin, would do this. May was 18 this year, 10 years younger than Archibald, but rarely, there was no generation gap between them.

May had an elder brother, Remy, who was two years older than her. This handsome guy was still in college, but May would claim that Remy was nothing but an immature boy, and that she preferred Archibald, a mature career man.

Naturally, Remy didn’t want to be looked down upon by his own younger sister, saying that May was just a brainless little girl, and that she’d better give up that idea as soon as possible.

The brother and sister were a funny duo, and it would never get boring with their presence.

Archibald drew back his arm, put it around May’s shoulders and teased, "I’m afraid that only you, the foodie, is starved."

The atmosphere in the room had become lively because of the conversation between the two of them. Katie, Archibald’s third aunt, stared at her own daughter, acting as if she was helpless. "You’re not wrong. She really is a foodie now. She stuffs snacks into her mouth while shouting she’s on a diet."

May looked at her mother in displeasure. "Mom, why rake that up in front of everyone? Am I your daughter or not?"

"You’re a giveaway, not mother’s daughter," Remy chimed in.

"Remy, how dare you!" May snorted, walked over to Remy and was about to pick a fight as she spoke.

The family was used to this kind of bicker and grinned. Whether or not the brother and sister were really going to fight, uncle Robin hissed at them to be quiet since Ruben was present.

"Archibald, come here and sit down," Serena greeted Archibald, smiling.

"Archibald," When Archibald was approaching, the one sitting on the left of Serena stood up and greeted him. It was Benedict, the second young master of the Hawkins' family, as well as the only son of uncle Edwin, Archibald’s second uncle, and his wife, Serena.

uncle Edwin had died when Benedict was very little, while Serena had been so grief-stricken that she had fallen ill, which had led to paralysis of the lower limbs, and now she had to spend her life in a wheelchair.

Benedict was two years younger than Archibald. When he had graduated from college abroad, he had also founded his own company. Now, his company was based in the U.K., and the purpose he came home this time was to expand his business.

Ruben was quite satisfied, saying that the grandchildren of the Hawkins' family were all able to run business independently.

Archibald stood still in front of Benedict, raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder. "Bro, you’re getting more and more handsome. Finally, you’re back. Serena has been missing you at home alone."

Benedict was born with a pair of charming eyes. Once he smiled, his eyes smoldered with affection. No wonder it was said that Archibald was an elegant gentleman, while Benedict was an unruly childe.

"Thanks to you, my mother has been taken good care of." Benedict’s eyes were beaming with gratefulness.

"We’re family, so there’s no need to say that," Archibald said with a hint of reproach. Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Serena listened to the conversation between the two and her face lit up with happiness. It might be because she had been ill for years, and her personality had become dull, while her only facial expression was smile.

"Benedict, why don’t you thank me? I always visit Serena to chat with her," May chimed in suddenly.

"Sure, I have to thank you for your visit, so that the fruits covering with branches in the orchard on the back hill of our house are taken care of," Benedict teased.

Suddenly, the main room burst into laughter again. Everyone exclaimed in mind that May was indeed a foodie.

"Now that everybody has arrived, let’s get started," Ruben ordered in a sonorous voice, while Jackson asked the servants to serve the dishes immediately.

On the right side of Ruben sat his eldest son Gordon Hawkins and his wife Beatrice, which were Archibald’s parents, while on the left side sat Ruben’s lineal grandson, Archibald.

The Hawkins' family had strict family rules. The eldest son and the lineal grandson would be the first ones to take over the family business. In addition, their naming was also based on the naming order made by their ancestors. As for the sons after the eldest one, their naming didn’t have to follow the strict rules. They could either stick to the rules or name themselves at will.

"Archibald, are you busy lately? Why have you seldom come home for dinner?" Beatrice darted a glance at her son and asked in a soft voice.

Beatrice was from a family of scholars. Well-maintained, she looked like a woman in her 30s instead of her real age, 50s. Just by sitting there, she had an air of dignity and elegance.

Before Archibald could answer her, May interposed, "Archibald has made frequent appearances in the gossip columns lately. I’m afraid he’s been quite full."

"May! Don’t talk while eating," Katie hissed. May was spoilt by her at home, but while in Ruben’s house, May had to behave herself.

May pouted. "I’m not wrong."

Almost everyone in the family knew the gossip about Archibald. Beatrice had originally wanted to ask her son how it had gone, but unexpectedly, they actually rode off on this unpleasant subject. Her face darkened at once.

Gordon glanced at his wife and frowned in puzzlement. There had been no gossip about his son before, but recently, not only had he shown up in variety shows, he was also having an affair with a female artist. However, Gordon believed in his son’s capability of handling things. If Archibald had given an order, no media would have dared to report such news.

Strangely, not only hadn’t such news been stopped, but there were new inside scoops being disclosed every day. What kind of trick is this kid playing?