290 Choose your audience.
When Penny arrived at the mansion, her family was already waiting for her and Chunchun, Seeing them turn their heads in her direction <b>and </b>smile warmly at her made her feel safe. She smiled back at them, even though for some reason, her heart felt heavier.
Meow.
Penny raised her brows and gazed down at Chunchun. Without a word, she released her cat and let it saunter towards Hugo.
“Happy Birthday, Chunchun-” Hugo greeted warmly as he picked up the cat in his arms.
“Penny, what kind of walk did you do?” ter quickly threw his entry, his hands on his hips, impatience in his eyes. “It felt like it was a marathon and <b>not </b>just a run!”
As tugged his earlobe, finding ter’s voice more annoying today.
“ter, shut up!” Charles expressed, exining why As didn’t bother saying a word.
“Penny, your brothers prepared a simple celebration for Chunchun’s birthday,” Allison, who seemed to have just gotten home, walked up to her daughter. “Let’s celebrate it together, okay?”
Penny nodded, smiling<b>. </b>“Mhm.”
Having said that, the family gathered in the dining room. Hugo was the one who prepared everything with barely any help from ter and As. However, the other two were taking their rightful credits just because they could.
With party hats on, everyone, including Chunchun, they pped slowly and sang Happy Birthday. The lights were off and only some dim lights were on to make the lit birthday candle appear warmer. Butler Jen and a few servants stood not far away to join the fun.
“Happy Birthday to you…”
Happy birthday to you…”
Although Penny was pping and smiling, she couldn’t help but lower her <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>Her smile turned bitter and her eyes softened.
<i>That</i>… fool,‘ she thought once again, reminded that Zoren might still be in that meeting spot right now.
“Blow the candle!” ter eximed, and Hugo blew the candle for Chunchun.
As soon as the me extinguished, the lights were quickly switched on. Everyone was pping in joy, greeting their family member for another year in their lives. And while this was all happening, ter nced at Penny and furrowed his brows.
“Penny?” called ter. <b>“</b><b>Are </b>you crying?”
The moment everyone heard that, they redirected their attention to Penny. As soon as they did, they <b>saw </b>the tear that rolled down her check.
Penny smiled subtly. “I’m just moved, she whispered. “Very… touched. I can’t stop crying.”
200 Choose your audienen
It wasn’t a lie, but those uncontroble tears were for something else, or rather, for someone
Knowing Zoren kept his promise all these years, the thought of him camping on that street every Thursday without fail unless he was hospitalized moved her to tears. Despite his terrible. health condition and the fact that he had such greedy family members who would scheme behind him at every turn, it was heartbreaking.
He <b>was </b>such a kind soul… just what sin did <i>he </i><i>do </i>to deserve <i>to </i><i>be </i>treated like that by <i>his </i><i>own </i>family?
And that question brought a deep sense of familiarity into her heart. It rified a lot of things. Penny, after all, used to ask that question in her previous life. Therefore, Penny knew more than anyone just how mind–breaking that question was.
Surely, he was a fool.
And because he was such a foolish man, she <b>wanted </b>to protect him. She wanted to make sure he could at least have some space to breathe because when Penny couldn’t breathe and <b>had </b>to
escape
the Be Mansion, he came into her life and gave her that space.
[Present Time]
Back to the elevator…
“Miss Penny, why did you hit me!? My boss is wrong with you! You’re violent, not sweet!”
Penny’s face darkened. “What did you say?”
“Nothing!” Benjamin cried out as he quickly reached the corner of the elevator. “But why did you <b>hit </b>me? You told me to give you a reason so you won’t like me!”
“<b>I </b><b>said </b>that… <b>but </b>you choose your audience.” Penny briefly ran her fingers through her hair <b>and </b>cast him an apathetic look. She ced her hand on her hips, shaking her head in disappointment. “Those guys I deployed to protect Renren aren’t simple guys. They would’ve killed you if you spoke more. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.
<b>Benjamin’s </b>breath hitched, wide–eyed. “What?”
“I mean, they won’t do it in front of me, but you would’ve disappeared in the night and no one would ever hear you again.”
“Miss Penny! Seriously?! How can you say something so ominous?!” Hisplexion paled, now petrified at the thought that she sent them some real thugs. “Why would you send such a cruel bunch to us?! Would they even listen to my boss?”
“I’d like to see them try not to,” she muttered <b>as </b><b>she </b>slowly turned her back on him. “Don’t judge the book by its cover, Mr. Vitt. The moment I leftst night instead of approaching him <b>means </b>Renren is <b>now </b>under my wing. Anyone who calls themselves my people should know what that
200 Choose your audience
means.
The fear stered on Benjamin’s face subsided and was slowly reced with amazement. He sped his hand and went closer to her like a scam merchant approaching his next victim.
“Hehe. Miss Penny is so dependable, Benjamin giggled wickedly. “Miss Penny, I never doubted you, really! I knew it! Those guys are reliable despite their entric appearances, and we’re really in good <b>hands</b>.
Penny cast him a sidelong nce, speechless by this level of shamelessness. But then again, Penny used to be like this.
Benjamin cleared his throat. “Anyway, did everything go well with the chairwoman?”
“Hmm?” Penny arched a brow as she caught the triumphant gleam in his eyes. “You… you’re the reason Old Mrs. Pierson is here today?”
“Miss Penny, don’t be angry! I only want to make sure my boss doesn’t marry that vixen!” Benjamin grumbled on and on, telling Penny <b>that </b>Zoren <b>was </b>nning to resolve this by marrying a stranger just so as not to inconvenience Penny anymore. “I can’t let that happen! No letting that woman get in between my boss’s romance with you!”
Penny. <i>His </i><i>boss’s </i><i>what</i>?”
way I’m
Benjamin bit his tongue andughed awkwardly, fluttering his eyshes at her. “You understand me, right, Miss Penny? So, did it end well?”
“You.” Penny ran her tongue across her inner <b>check</b>. “Never mind.”
*Miss Penny? What were you trying to say?”
“Miss Penny, please don’t just ignore me.”
Penny ignored <b>him </b>until Benjamin started panicking, “Mr. Vitt, don’t worry about that anymore…
for now<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“So, everything went well?”
“For now,” she repeated. “I’lle over to the old residence for dinner.”
Benjamin grinned from ear to ear. “Really? Do you need anything? I’ll do anything you ask! If you want a list of things the chairwoman likes, I will <b>send </b>it to you right away!”
“No need, but I want you to answer something.” Penny nced at him before she whispered, “Ist cky there?”
“cky?” he furrowed his brows. “Who’s that?”
“Never mind<b>: </b>
Benjamin tilted his head to the side while staring at Penny’s side profile<i>. </i><i>‘</i><i>cky</i><i>… </i><i>is </i><i>she </i>referring to <i>Renny</i><i>? </i><i>Why </i><i>did </i>she <i>say </i>cky, though<i>?</i><i>” </i>
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