The Heiress They Lost Came Back Overpowered
Chapter 18 - 17: A Direct Engagement

Chapter 18: Chapter 17: A Direct Engagement

Leo Grant looked at Yvonne Lowell teasingly. "Bo...ss? Prosperity Pavilion is yours?"

"What? Is there a problem with that?" Yvonne shot him a sidelong glance.

"Of course not. It just makes me feel a bit foolish, showing off in front of the master, boss~"

Yvonne Lowell took a deep breath and looked at the manager beside her. "Move President Grant’s original reservation to my private room. We’ll still charge him, but give him a 15% discount!"

Leo Grant’s expression didn’t change in the slightest; he just kept watching her with a smile.

"Right away, Boss!" The manager silently led the way.

’Oh god, what have I gotten myself into...’

Led by the manager, the two of them arrived at the top floor.

It was common knowledge that at every Prosperity Pavilion branch across the globe, the top floor was never open to the public. No amount of money could get you in; it was the exclusive space of the owner.

Besides its renowned cuisine, Prosperity Pavilion was also praised for its decor. Each branch was designed according to the local architectural style, so the one in Kingsland was a quaint, traditional Chinese courtyard.

The top floor’s decor was even more extravagant. The entire floor was done in warm tones, with soft wall sconces and simulated candelabras for lighting. The furniture was all crafted from precious woods, and there was even a small pond. A fog machine must have been placed at the bottom, creating a misty atmosphere, and it was filled with many high-grade ornamental fish.

’Tsk, tsk. If his grandfather saw these, he’d definitely try to nab a few to take home. Especially that Red Arowana and the Loulan-variety Felicity. The old man had been searching for mature ones for ages without any luck, yet she had several right here.’

’Don’t ask why he didn’t just buy fry. The answer is, he bought plenty, but none of them survived.’

The manager handed menus to them both. Yvonne Lowell didn’t even look, gesturing for Leo Grant to order. After all, her staff knew her preferences well.

Leo Grant ordered a few signature dishes, along with a portion of braised pork ribs, and didn’t forget to add a final instruction: no scallions.

The manager taking the order had a face that screamed ’I’m totally shipping them!’ and silently excused himself.

Yvonne Lowell, who had been looking down at her phone, snapped her head up at his words. ’How did he know?’

As if sensing Yvonne Lowell’s confusion, Leo Grant smiled and explained, "Caleb and I were classmates. I heard him mention it back in school."

"Oh~? You still remember something from so many years ago, pretty boy? Looks like you’ve had a thing for me since we were kids, huh?" Yvonne Lowell rested her chin in her hand, smiling at him.

"It certainly left a deep impression. I heard my grandfather wanted to arrange a childhood engagement for us back then, but your entire family, young and old, disagreed and threw him out." Leo Grant found it amusing, remembering the look on his grandfather’s face at the time.

"Well, it’s not too late to fix that. We can just drop the ’childhood’ part. How about we get engaged right now?"

Leo Grant raised his deep eyes and stared straight at her. "Does Miss Lowell mean that? I’d be more than happy. Should I have my grandfather come over with a marriage proposal when I get home?"

’Who the hell spread that rumor? Who said he was afraid of women?! Who was it?!’

The smile on Yvonne Lowell’s face froze for a second before returning to normal. "In your dreams. I need to observe you for a while longer."

"Then I’ll be sure to perform well." Leo Grant deliberately emphasized the word "perform."

"Sigh, but President Grant is already 26, after all. A whole seven years older than me. I’m not even of legal age to marry yet. About the age gap..." As Yvonne Lowell spoke, she even held up seven fingers.

A vein throbbed on Leo Grant’s forehead. "I’m 25. I started school a year early, which is why I was in the same grade as Caleb."

"Oh, so six years..."

’What’s wrong with six years? Say something! Speak! Make it clear!’

Seeing the desperate look in his eyes, Yvonne Lowell fought to hold back a laugh. "Six years is acceptable, I guess."

There was a knock on the door, and the manager entered with several waiters.

After placing the dishes on the table, he finally spoke. "Boss, we’ve recently developed a few new desserts. Would you like to try them?"

Yvonne Lowell didn’t answer right away. Instead, she looked at Leo Grant. "How many people are at your house?"

"Three. My parents and my grandfather." Leo Grant was taken aback for a moment.

"Bring out whatever you think is best. And pack up two boxes of desserts for four. I’ll take them with me later," Yvonne Lowell finally said to the manager.

"Of course, Boss. Please, enjoy your meal." With that, he backed out and closed the door.

Leo Grant raised an eyebrow. "Then on behalf of my family, thank you. After all, the desserts at Prosperity Pavilion are all limited edition."

"Don’t mention it. Besides, I can still make a profit off your 15% discount." After speaking, she picked up her chopsticks and grabbed a piece of braised pork rib.

’Tsk. Mom’s cooking is still better.’ She had no choice but to move on to the other dishes. At least they tasted good.

As she was happily eating, a bowl of soup suddenly appeared beside her hand.

"Have some soup."

"Thanks, pretty boy."

’Hmph. When she’s happy, I’m ’pretty boy.’ When she’s not, it’s back to ’President Grant.’’

"Are you still in college?" Leo Grant asked.

Yvonne Lowell swallowed the meat in her mouth before looking up at him. "I’ve graduated."

"Then you started college at 15?" Leo Grant was somewhat shocked.

"Nope. I finished my PhD at 16. As for when I started college... I think I was 13 or 14."

Back then, she had the old man find her a legion of tutors to teach her everything before she applied to Loster.

"Which university was it?"

"Loster." After saying that, she went back to eating.

Leo Grant froze. He had actually gotten an offer from Loster back then, too. But he had only applied to keep Caleb company. In the end, Caleb didn’t get in, but he did.

But he didn’t end up going. He chose to stay in the country and went to Kingsland University instead, and then later...

’What a shame. Otherwise, I would have been her senior.’

’But he knew he couldn’t have achieved what she did—graduating with a doctorate just three years after enrolling.’

Yvonne Lowell: ’Mhm, mhm. I was a freshman when you were a sophomore. By the time I graduated with my PhD, you were still writing your undergraduate thesis. Hehe.’

Leo Grant looked at the girl across from him, still wrestling with her food, and shook his head helplessly. ’Probably only when she’s eating does she look her age.’

After the meal, Yvonne Lowell didn’t actually make him pay. Otherwise, how would she get an excuse to see him again?

Leo Grant drove Yvonne Lowell’s little black car, dropping her off at the gate of the Lowell Family’s villa.

When they reached the gate, Yvonne Lowell spoke up. "How are you getting back? Why don’t you just take my car for now?"

"No need. I’m heading to my parents’ place. It’s just across that bridge." Leo Grant unbuckled his seatbelt and pointed to the small arched bridge up ahead.

Following his finger, she looked. Well, what do you know. Their two families were practically neighbors, separated only by a man-made river.

"Alright then. Be safe, pretty boy. I’ll watch you leave~" Yvonne Lowell got out of the car and walked over to the driver’s side.

Leo Grant tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "No need. I’ll leave after you’re inside."

"Okay then. I’m going in. Good night." Yvonne Lowell got into the car, blew him a kiss, and drove into the Lowell estate.

Only after the villa’s main gate closed did he turn and leave on foot.

Yvonne Lowell entered the house with the desserts to find only Dad Lowell and Mrs. Lowell in the living room. "Dad, Mom, I’m home. Where are my brothers?"

"Your eldest brother isn’t back yet, and your third brother is in his room." Seeing her daughter return, Wendy Sutton ignored her soap opera and moved to take the food containers from her hands. "What did you bring, Nola? Is it heavy?"