CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 35: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

Lawrence Winters put away the Copper Coin and smiled lightly, saying: "It’s actually still a tiger; I’m curious to see if it’s a real tiger or just a fox pretending to be one."

Then he gave Hazel Saunders a wink.

Hazel Saunders whispered: "Today is Lunar New Year’s Eve, even though Benjamin Winchester is alone doing business out of town and not having New Year’s dinner with us, he should be dining somewhere, right?"

Lawrence Winters leaned back in his chair, brushed aside some stray hair from his forehead, and said lazily: "Or maybe he’s home alone watching the Spring Festival Gala."

Hazel Saunders nodded, took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and called Benjamin Winchester.

She dialed the number, but no one answered on the other end.

Hazel Saunders was a bit surprised, what could he be doing on New Year’s Eve?

She was puzzled, sent a text message, and then dialed again.

A few minutes later, it was finally answered.

"Oh? Hazel, did you finish the New Year’s dinner so early? Do you want me to pick you up?" Benjamin Winchester’s voice was somewhat loud, consistent with his usual booming tone.

Hazel Saunders chuckled and shook her head, saying: "Not finished yet, but it’s New Year’s, your home isn’t here with us, it’s a bit awkward to leave you alone tonight. My mom said to invite you for New Year’s dinner, don’t know if you’d like that."

She was saying exactly the words Lawrence Winters wrote on the phone.

Benjamin Winchester listened, and smiled slightly, "What about your dad? I recall your dad was against it earlier..."

"My dad agreed, otherwise I wouldn’t be calling you." Hazel Saunders was still a bit nervous, but thankfully Lawrence Winters had shown her what to say with the phone’s memo, so she didn’t have to think on the spot.

"Well, I’ll be right over." Benjamin Winchester smiled with unclear intentions, hung up the call, and after saying a few words to those he was dining with, went out to drive.

Since it was Lunar New Year’s Eve, everyone was home dining and watching the Gala, his drive was smooth with hardly any red lights.

Arriving at the entrance of the establishment, he squinted his eyes and smiled again.

He heard Hazel Saunders has an uncle, quite a renowned Great Heavenly Master, making loads of money.

At the entrance of the room Hazel mentioned, he made a call beforehand.

Hazel Saunders received the call, jumped up from her chair, quickly opened the door, tightly gripping the handle, and smiled awkwardly: "You’re here."

Benjamin Winchester was dressed in a grey Seven Wolves casual winter outfit, with shiny black leather shoes, showing a nice physique, evident it came from gym workouts.

However, his facial skin was a bit coarse, but his features were delicate and handsome.

He stood tall with a hint of playfulness in his posture.

He put on his most charming smile, leaned forward, and kissed Hazel Saunders’ forehead, saying: "You called me, of course, I had to come!"

Hazel Saunders’ body shivered twice.

Benjamin Winchester felt the tremor and raised an eyebrow, "What’s wrong? Cold?"

"Mm-hmm, a bit." Hazel Saunders was actually a bit nervous; she let Benjamin Winchester into the room and closed the door.

Benjamin Winchester entered and glanced around, first bowing towards Lucy Winters and Martin Saunders, "Happy New Year, Aunt, Uncle."

Lucy Winters was also a bit nervous, she glanced quickly at Nick Zeller whose expression was indifferent, so she had to introduce him herself: "Benjamin, you’re here? Come sit, I’ll introduce you to Hazel’s big uncle."

Benjamin Winchester hastily turned around and bowed, "Big Uncle."

Nick Zeller waved his hand, "No need for formalities, just call me Old Nick."

Benjamin Winchester respectfully said: "That doesn’t seem right; I’m engaged to Hazel, you’re her big uncle, so you’re my big uncle too."

Lawrence Winters sat nearby, supporting his chin with both hands on the dining table, smiling sweetly: "Oh? Then you should’ve called mom and dad just like my cousin, why only Aunt and Uncle?"

Benjamin Winchester looked at Lawrence Winters and was briefly dazzled by her smile, quickly said: "Is this Hazel’s cousin?"

Lawrence Winters nodded and tilted her head adorably, smiling: "I said she’s my cousin, so of course, I’m her cousin. You’re still unsure about that..."

Benjamin Winchester hurriedly bowed and performed a traditional ritual: "It’s my mistake, seeing such a beautiful cousin, I was momentarily distracted."

Lawrence Winters quickly glanced at him, lifted her delicate hand with small dimples, and gestured that she didn’t mind.

Lucy Winters forced a smile and pointed to Gabrielle Winters to introduce: "That’s Hazel’s aunt."

Benjamin Winchester nodded towards Gabrielle Winters in greeting.

Gabrielle Winters smiled elegantly without saying a word.

When she remains silent, she exudes an academic aura, gracefully like a literature professor fresh from the university classroom.

Those who haven’t seen her angry couldn’t imagine how fiery she could become.

Benjamin Winchester glanced at her a few more times, feeling a bit regretful.

Hazel Saunders clearly didn’t inherit half of her maternal side’s beauty.

Though also a delicate beauty, she didn’t surpass her mom, much less compare to Gabrielle Winters and Lawrence Winters.

Benjamin Winchester sat down next to Hazel Saunders, conveniently next to Lawrence Winters on the other side.

Lawrence Winters originally sat close to Hazel Saunders, but she moved over one seat, predicting Benjamin Winchester would sit between them.

Hazel Saunders was doubtful, keeping a watchful attitude due to many open seats at the table.

Typically, to avoid awkwardness, one would sit between Hazel Saunders and Martin Saunders, not between Hazel Saunders and Lawrence Winters.

But Benjamin Winchester went ahead and chose the seat between Hazel Saunders and Lawrence Winters.

Once Benjamin Winchester sat down, Hazel Saunders couldn’t help but discreetly give Lawrence Winters a thumbs-up.

Lawrence Winters couldn’t help but laugh softly.

This wasn’t about Feng Shui; pure psychology lessons from her uncle on deceiver mindsets were at play.

After Benjamin Winchester sat down, Nick Zeller placed a bottle of Maotai on the lazy Susan and spun it to him, smiling: "Here’s a couple of drinks."

Benjamin Winchester saw the Maotai, and his heart skipped a beat.

First thought in his mind was: Is it real Maotai or fake Maotai?

In River City, a third-tier city, akin to an underdeveloped eighteenth-tier county in the Southern Region, is there real Maotai?

His skepticism led to him pouring a small cup and taking a sip.

The taste was unlike any baijiu he’d ever had.

The richness and length upon entry—these eight words he truly experienced directly for the first time.

Real Maotai! It must be authentic Maotai!

Benjamin Winchester couldn’t help but drink all the remaining liquor in his glass, sheepishly remarking: "Oh dear, I forgot I still have to drive later."

"No worries, your Uncle Martin can drive your car later since he drinks less." Nick Zeller said, smiling warmly, with a round and somewhat plump face resembling the compassionate Maitreya, exuding infectious friendliness.

Lawrence Winters elegantly extended her hand, picked up the Maotai bottle, and refilled Benjamin Winchester’s glass, chuckling softly: "I see Mr. Winchester’s head is full of prospects and red light shines between your brows; if you don’t leap, you’ll soar to great heights—drink! Have more! Secure this fortune firmly!"

Benjamin Winchester originally wasn’t much of a believer, he could usually bluff such sentiments himself.

Yet seeing Lawrence Winters’ skin as white and lush as freshly peeled lychees, radiantly pleasing, he couldn’t help but smile and nod, tipsily saying: "Well then, thank you, cousin, for your auspicious words. I heard cousin and big uncle are Heavenly Masters, doing Feng Shui readings; I didn’t know cousin could also read faces?"

Lawrence Winters thought, knowing what we do, yet reaching into the Saunders family, that’s a double offense.

Her heart felt cold, yet like Nick Zeller, her smile radiated warmth like spring sunshine.

"Reading Feng Shui is reading the faces of mountains and landscapes. Reading fate is reading the faces of multitude of lives. Though the manifestations differ, essentially all flows lead to the same, rivers merge into the sea, all paths lead to Rome, fundamentally the same."