Chapter 0479


    Candice followed Zack into the car and took a moment to exin the conversation with Catherine


    that had caused people to misunderstand their rtionship, but Zack didn''t mind. He graciously


    drove Candice back to the hotel.


    Despite the evening''s hups, Candice did gain something. She had exchanged contact


    information with Catherine, and they agreed to meet again in South City.


    Yana sent her a few videos of Ellis and then asked in the chat, ‘What do you think of Zack?’


    Candice didn''t overthink it and replied, ‘He''s nice.’


    ‘Shouldn''t you consider dating him? We were college ssmates, and he''s genuinely upright. I


    haven''t seen him involved with any girls. His family is simple—he is an only child, and his parents


    parents are university professors.’


    Messaging felt insufficient, so Yana called Candice directly. "Seriously, Zack is a responsible guy."


    Candice sighed. "You''re thinking too much. Besides, I''m fine as I am now."


    "I just think you two should get to know each other. Next time, I''ll arrange for you two to go on a


    date."


    Hearing this, Candice knew Zack probably had no idea about this. She was afraid Yana might tell


    Zack to do it, so she told her off a few more times. She only hung up after Yana gave her


    assurance.


    Candice was supposed to take the next morning''s flight back to South City, but she tossed and


    turned in bed, unable to sleep. The rain continued outside, gentle and constant.


    Candice''s phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She picked it up, finding another message from the


    mysterious ‘1’ on WhatsApp. ‘In love, you should choose wisely. Not everyone is kind.’


    The brief message made Candice incredibly ufortable. The self-righteous tone made her


    suspect it was an awkward middle-aged man with a beer belly behind the words. Suppressing her


    irritation, she pressed on his profile picture, ready to block the contact.


    However, thinking it might be someone influential introduced by some richdy in South City, she


    decided to reply coldly, ‘You have no right to pry into my private affairs.’


    Ten minutester, a lone period was the only response. Candice found the person offensive and


    chose not to engage further. She tossed her phone aside, determined to go to sleep.


    Candice took the early flight back to South City. As she walked a few steps, she spotted a tall figure


    waiting for her.


    South City''s temperature was a bit warmer than Dorrington. Hanley, d in a dark gray overcoat,


    looked remarkably refined. He stood amidst the crowd, his gaze momentarily pausing as he


    extended a hand to Candice. "Give me your luggage."


    Since arriving in South City, Candice hadn''t met Hanley often. He was always busy, but he would


    asionally drop by South City on business trips and take her out for a meal before leaving again.


    Candice had heard from Yana and Nadia that Hanley was facing significant conflicts at home these


    days, with Hannah still in Dorrington. However, Hanley never mentioned any of this to her. Every


    time he visited South City, he brought gifts for her and Ellis. These were thoughtful gestures that


    she appreciated.


    Candice walked over, saying, “I didn’t expect to see you. Yana said that you only arrived in South


    Cityst night."


    "I happened to have some time off, so I came over." Hanley''s voice was warm. He seemed more


    mature now, with his clear features gaining depth. When he smiled, it was like a sudden spring


    breeze, making his whole demeanor more gentle.


    He naturally took Candice''s luggage. "Nadia and the others are nning to visit your ceter. I


    was afraid of disturbing Baby Mulberry, so I told them to wait for you toe back."


    His steady voice had a calming effect on Candice''s heart. She felt grateful for Hanley. When she


    had first arrived in South City, even with Darius''s arrangements, everything was chaotic. It was


    Hanley who had reached out to his old friends for help.


    Especially when Ellis was born unexpectedly two weeks before her due date, Hanley had helped


    coordinate with the hospital and prepared everything they needed.


    Hanley, despite not being physically present in South City, always provided significant assistance


    whenever Candice needed it.


    Midway through the journey, Candice called Nadia and the others. When they returned home, they


    coincidentally met them.


    Candice brought gifts for everyone. After getting their presents, Yana nced at the pen in Hanley''s


    hand, and she couldn''t help but mock, "Candice, did you put the least thought into Hanley''s gift?


    This pen looks really ordinary, like something you''d randomly pick up at a stationery store."


    Hanley gave her a nce, calmly put away the pen, and thanked Candice. "It’s an artist


    coboration edition. I really like it. Thank you."


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "I’m d you like it."


    The pen Candice gave Hanley was a limited editionmemorating a hundred years of a certain


    brand, and it featured a coboration with a renowned artist. It was the most expensive among all


    the gifts she prepared, but she felt it suited Hanley perfectly.


    Ellis had an outgoing personality, so she was not afraid of the sudden influx of people. Being


    passed around by different people, she happily waved her little hands.


    Candice didn''t keep the fact of giving birth in South City a secret from the Burning Star Studio team.


    Originally, there were only seven or eight people in the team, including Hanley, and they all had a


    close rtionship with him, so they naturally wouldn''t spread gossip.


    After ying with Ellis in the living room, Candice received a call from a South City client. When she


    came out of the study, she saw Yana and Nadia dressing Ellis.


    Yana said, "The weather outside is nice. We n to take Baby Mulberry out to soak up some sun


    and take a few photos."


    Candice, an avid recorder, had a camera specifically for capturing Ellis''s moments. Sometimes, she


    couldn''t help but marvel at how quickly children changed every day.


    After putting a hat on Ellis''s head, Candice grabbed her camera and went out, while Hanley, Ryan,


    and the rest of the men stayed back to cook.


    The residential area was close to a square, and the afternoon sunlight was just right. Yana took little


    Ellis to thergest deer statue for photos, with Candice handling only the camera shutter.


    However, during the holidays, work was hectic. Many clients called to send their wishes, one after


    another. Candice had to hand the camera to another girl from the studio and find a quieter ce to


    answer the phone.


    "I thought South City would be different, but this square seems like a copy-paste of Silverstone


    Square. How boring. We flew all the way here to ski, and the resort got closed," Siegined.


    They specifically flew to South City, only to be informed about the closure of the scenic area. It


    wasn''t feasible to fly back to Dorrington immediately, so they had no choice but to wander around


    here.


    He nced at Alex, who was still expressionless, and couldn’t help but me him. "I bet it''s


    because of you. Even the heavens can''t stand you resting and want you back at your desk. Hey,


    why don''t you go back first—"


    Sieg''s words halted abruptly as he saw something in the distance. "Why is Yana here?" he asked


    with a frown.