CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: REALLY? YOUR FACE IS SO RED

Nina Pierce nodded, "Yeah! Of course we’re going together for the double trip! Anyway, we’ve been planning to go to Siamara for a long time, and now there’s a free opportunity, we can’t miss it!"

Laura Quincy also loved traveling, but her life was usually quite tight. She had to earn money to support herself and pay for her car loan...

"Alright! If it’s true, I’ll go with you."

"Don’t worry! It’s definitely true! Once I get the tickets tomorrow morning, you just prepare to take leave, okay!"

"Okay."

After the two agreed, they hung up the phone.

Laura never quite believed it and didn’t take it to heart, but the next morning she received a WeChat picture from Nina, and there were indeed two plane tickets...

Both their names were clearly printed on them...

She quickly called back, "You really got them?"

Nina smiled happily and nodded, "Yes! As I said, someone from the department store notified me to pick them up, it wasn’t one of those scam places."

Laura massaged her forehead, wondering if there really are free lunches in this world?

Nina added, "I’ve filled out the forms. We leave this Friday night and come back Tuesday night. It’s actually only four days, not as long as the five days stated on the winning notice."

Laura: "Four days is still good; just can’t we choose the time ourselves?"

Nina shook her head, "I guess we’re piggybacking on another tour group! It’s the off-season right now, so we get such benefits. Never mind! Hurry up and take leave! Otherwise, the great opportunity will be wasted."

Laura felt a headache, meaning she had to take two days off, and also can’t teach Little Mars over the weekend for two days off...

How should she bring it up?

Sigh...

To her surprise, Stella Jennings quickly agreed to her leave request.

"You’ve been performing well at work recently! Even Young Master Thorne praised you, so it’s appropriate to take a few days off."

"Thank you, Team Leader Jennings!"

"No need to thank me, just keep up the hard work in the future."

"I will."

Leaving Stella Jennings’ office, Laura felt elated, having resolved that side, but she felt truly guilty towards Little Mars!

The reason Stella Jennings agreed so readily was that after hearing Young Master Thorne was interested in Laura, her hostility towards Laura lessened.

Between women, as long as it doesn’t involve falling for the same man or issues of interest, problems are usually easy to solve...

Thursday afternoon, Laura thought it over and decided to send a message to The Demon King, as Little Mars’ tutoring teacher, she needed to let his daddy know she couldn’t make it this weekend.

President Hawthorne, I need to take two days off this weekend and can’t tutor Little Mars in English.

The message was quickly returned: What are you taking leave for?

Laura had to explain the real reason: My best friend won a free trip for two to Siamara, and she already signed me up, so I’d like to take a few days off. Team Leader Jennings has already approved.

After a long time, there was no reply.

Laura thought The Demon King wouldn’t agree, feeling very anxious, but then her phone rang with a message: Fine, but you must come over in the evenings to make up Little Mars’ missed lessons.

Laura thought it over, and since she usually didn’t have plans after work in the evenings, going over to tutor Little Mars for two hours and then going home was fine.

She promptly replied: Okay.

Jason Hawthorne saw her reply, the corner of his lips curled up slightly, and he quietly put down the phone.

Not long after, the special ringtone on his phone rang, and without looking at the caller ID, he knew it was his son Twinkle calling.

He answered.

"Daddy, did you tell sister? I’m going to Azure Isle with grandpa and grandma this weekend? Give her a break for two days."

"I did."

"Did sister feel reluctant to leave me?"

"Yes, to prevent you from falling behind on your courses, sister decided she’ll come over in the evenings to make up the lessons you miss this weekend."

"Wow! That’s awesome! So that means I can see sister again on Wednesday night!"

"Yep, but Daddy didn’t tell her that you’re going to Azure Isle, so when you see sister, don’t spill the beans."

"Huh? Then what did Daddy say I was up to?"

"Daddy said you wanted to go to the amusement park."

"Ugh... Then when will Daddy take me to Disney?"

"Soon."

"When is soon? Daddy, you always trick me."

"This time, Daddy absolutely won’t trick Twinkle."

"Yay! If Daddy lies again, I’ll move to live with sister! Hmph!"

"Hmm."

After hanging up the phone, Jason Hawthorne felt quite cheerful.

Two minutes later, he called his special assistant Mason Cross, "That project in Khorat is almost finalized, right?"

Mason was puzzled, why did the BOSS suddenly ask about this?

He could only reply, "We’ve reached the final signing stage, there won’t be any unexpected issues."

Jason Hawthorne was quite satisfied, "Good, book me a ticket to Khorat for Monday."

Mason was confused, "BOSS, you still have to go to L-City over the weekend."

Jason’s voice was cold, "Do you need me to say it again?"

Mason quickly nodded, "Understood, sir."

Since they had to leave around 5 p.m. on Friday, Laura Quincy left work early to pick up her friend from the hospital. They had already packed their luggage the night before and placed it in the trunk.

So, they just needed to head directly to the airport.

On the way, Nina Pierce was extremely excited, "I’m so thrilled! It’s my first time winning the grand prize! Oh my! I should’ve bought a lottery ticket! Maybe I could win five million!"

Laura teased, "What are you thinking? Do you think winning five million is that easy? Winning this grand prize is already great, be content!"

Nina cupped her face with her hands, "Actually, that’s how I comfort myself too!"

Laura looked at her friend’s starry-eyed expression, smiled, and continued driving.

Upon reaching the airport, they called the tour guide leading the group, successfully meeting up, further convincing Nina and Laura of the authenticity of winning this grand prize.

Especially Laura, who completely changed her view on good fortune falling from the sky...

Turns out sometimes these good things do happen...

After about a four-hour flight, they arrived in Siamara with a visa on arrival, handled by the tour guide, and then checked into the hotel smoothly.

Laura and Nina were surprised to find themselves in a nearly four-star hotel, with a double standard room fully equipped with amenities.

The bathroom was huge, with a sparkling white bathtub!

It was simply amazing!

As soon as Nina entered the room, she excitedly jumped onto the bed, "Wow! This is awesome! The hotel is much better than I expected! Clean, airy, and spacious! This is definitely a perfect free trip!"

Laura glanced around the room, indeed quite nice, she placed her suitcase down, then took out her toiletries and the pajamas she needed to change into tonight.

Nina jumped up from the bed, "Oh no! I forgot to bring my little floral sundress! I meant to wear it to the beach! But I was too excited last night and left it behind..."

She anxiously paced back and forth beside the bed, quite distressed.

Laura comforted, "No worries! There’s no shortage of beach dresses in Siamara, we can just buy one to wear, I didn’t bring one either."

Nina felt slightly better at her friend’s words, pouting, "I suppose that’s the only option for now."

After a pleasant evening, the guide took the group to the first sightseeing spot - The Four-Faced Shrine the next day.

They stayed there for about one to two hours, and tired tourists could go to the Four-Faced Shrine Cafe for some tea.

Then it was Siamara Plaza, Bazaar Street...

By the end of the day, everyone felt most of their time was spent in transit, following a grueling pace.

The next day, they went to The Sovereign Palace and The Jade Praying Temple...

After two consecutive days, Laura and Nina felt a faint sadness! Group tours were too tiring! Had they known, they would have opted for a self-guided trip...

On the third day, they went to a seaside area, and the guide mentioned they’d be staying nearby that night, which thrilled the group members. No matter what, staying by the sea must mean an ocean view!

The bonfire party at night was held with other groups, with men and women gathered in a circle, lively and bustling!

"Is there anyone in the group who can speak Gaulian?"

Suddenly, the guide asked anxiously, seeming to have encountered a tricky problem.

After asking around, no one raised their hand, and the guide was a bit anxious. Laura, seeing this, couldn’t help but say, "I can."

The guide gratefully walked over to her, thanked her, then said, "Here’s the situation, my friend is leading a group mostly of Gaulian guests, and there’s a small issue that prevents my friend from leading them tonight. He asked if I could help, just for tonight, but I don’t understand Gaulian at all. We’re all fellow countrymen, helping each other out is a virtue when abroad. Miss Quincy, doing good deeds will surely bring good rewards!"

Laura smiled, "It’s nothing, I’m just doing what I can."

The guide further expressed, "Thank you."

Then, he led her over to her friend’s group.

Nina grabbed her friend, "Laura, keep in touch at all times! Even in a foreign land, you need to be cautious."

The guide quickly said, "Miss Pierce, rest assured! We’re all compatriots, we wouldn’t deceive our own people, and you have my name and phone number. If anything happens, the travel agency won’t let it slide either!"

Nina felt a bit embarrassed by her words, so she didn’t say much more, only giving her friend a meaningful look.

In any case, better safe than sorry!

Laura knowingly returned a look to her, assuring her not to worry.

Luckily, it wasn’t too far, just next door to their hotel, although the environment was much better than where they were staying.

The guide quickly explained, "Miss Quincy, they paid a higher tour fee than you did, so naturally the accommodation is better."

Laura said nothing; she understood this reasoning, of course.

When they reached the lobby, they learned that many Gaulian tourists couldn’t wait to get back to their rooms to rest. The remaining few had differing opinions when conveying their intentions, and Laura had to put in quite a bit of effort persuading them...

She initially thought of having them pass messages amongst themselves, but many claimed not to know each other, meaning she had to knock on doors individually.