CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: NOT FLIRTING WITH MEN

Shannon Quinn chuckled dryly, not having a chance to reply, when Erin Bishop interjected, "What age do you think she looks like?"

"She doesn’t look like a college student. I’d believe it if you said high school."

"And what about me?"

The man chuckled, pouring Erin Bishop a drink while saying, "You two clearly look like classmates."

Erin Bishop nodded in satisfaction, "Smart boy. Go over there and grill some barbecue for me to go with the drink."

"Got it! I’ll take care of it right away!"

After the man walked away, Shannon Quinn asked, "Who is that?"

"A friend. He used to pursue me, but I didn’t agree. You see how he doesn’t have any proper demeanor. He’s okay as a friend but not as a boyfriend. Such a little puppy isn’t my type."

Shannon Quinn was about to say something when Erin Bishop suddenly elbowed her arm twice, nodding with her chin towards the other side of the pool they had just passed, "Isn’t that Landon Sutton over there?"

The distance was a bit far, and with Shannon Quinn’s slight nearsightedness, she squinted a bit to clearly see the person across the pool. It was indeed Landon Sutton.

She wasn’t sure when he came back. She never expected to run into him here.

"Honestly, Landon Sutton is quite to my taste: mature, steady, and manly, just a bit too flashy."

Shannon Quinn just smiled without making any comments.

"Hey, aren’t you two neighbors? Why not go say hello?"

"... We’re not close, and we rarely meet."

"People even greet you when they see you. That’s just being polite."

Shannon Quinn was still hesitant, "I only greet when I see him. If I don’t see him, then I pretend not to."

Erin Bishop glared at Shannon Quinn with disapproval, "You’re really wasting such a great appearance; not flirting with guys is a huge mistake!"

"What kind of nonsense are you talking?" Shannon Quinn said, leaning in to remind her in a low voice, "I’m married, what’s there to flirt about?"

Erin Bishop looked in Landon Sutton’s direction and let out a long sigh, "Ah, what a pity, what a pity."

It’s unclear if she was lamenting the missed chance with Landon Sutton or Shannon Quinn marrying so early.

Watching Erin Bishop speak with her gaze fixed in that direction, her eyebrows suddenly furrowed as if she saw something. She abruptly stood up and dashed in her high heels.

Shannon Quinn hadn’t had time to react and quickly stood up to follow behind.

Behind, they heard the man’s voice calling out, "Where are you two going? Aren’t you going to eat the barbecue that’s ready?"

Shannon Quinn just continued to chase after Erin Bishop, calling, "Rona, why are you running?"

Erin Bishop didn’t answer and ran directly towards Landon Sutton’s direction.

Shannon Quinn stopped when she was near Landon Sutton, thinking Erin Bishop was going to flirt with him. Unexpectedly, she directly passed Landon Sutton and stood in front of Ronan Rhodes.

Ignoring the ongoing conversation, she questioned Ronan Rhodes, "You’re not dead yet?"

Ronan Rhodes, bewildered, put away his business smile, looking at Erin Bishop and then around him, doubting if Erin wasn’t talking to him.

Landon Sutton stopped his conversation with the person in front of him. At a glance, he saw Shannon Quinn standing not far away, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes. He then turned to look at Erin Bishop.

"Where have you been hiding? Speak up! Why are you playing mute with me?"

Ronan Rhodes was clearly at a loss, glancing at Landon Sutton for help, but Landon just looked on amusedly, as if he was watching a show.

"... Wait, miss, please calm down a little. I want to ask... do we know each other?"

Upon hearing Ronan’s words, Erin Bishop was furious. She took two deep breaths, looked up at Ronan, and said, "Are you playing amnesia with me? Huh? Even if you turned to ashes, I’d recognize you!"

"Have I ever offended this young lady?"

Erin Bishop raised her hand and pushed Ronan Rhodes, "You heartless man! If you didn’t like me, you should’ve said so! Why the disappearing act? Leaving without a word - is it fun?!"

Ronan looked like he was listening to a story unconnected to him. Faced with the strange looks from around, he chuckled awkwardly, trying to explain, "Did this young lady lose a game? Such great acting, haha, I’m genuinely confused."

"Acting? Ronan Rhodes, I never thought you’d be like this. I never asked you to take responsibility or forced you to be with me. Does this make any sense to you?!"

"Hold on, hold on, Ronan Rhodes? Ronan Rhodes is my brother, not me."

Erin Bishop, upon hearing this, immediately stopped her tears and asked the man in front of her, eyeing his familiar face, "Does he have a brother?"

Ronan shrugged, looking innocence and helplessness, "I don’t know if he has a brother, but I surely have one named Zane Rhodes. We’re twins, our parents even confuse us. You’ve got the wrong person!"

Erin Bishop’s eyebrows knitted tighter as she circled Ronan, examining him. Judging by his demeanor and tone, he indeed didn’t seem like the man she remembered.

She awkwardly cleared her throat and asked again, "So where is he?"

"Abroad, but he’ll be back in a few days. How about... I give you a contact?"

Erin Bishop immediately stretched out her hand towards Ronan, who, seeing Landon standing nearby, realized he was holding everyone up. He told Erin, "Later, later, I’ll find you. I’m busy now!"

With that, he returned to Landon Sutton’s side, smiling obsequiously and muttering, "Who would’ve thought that my usually proper brother has debts of romance outside too."

Landon Sutton kept a straight face, said nothing, and glanced expressionlessly at Shannon Quinn before continuing to walk forward with his entourage, directly passing by Shannon Quinn.

Shannon Quinn didn’t understand why, but she took a deep breath nervously. Only when Landon totally passed her did she relax again.

She rushed to Erin Bishop’s side to ask, "Are you alright?"

Erin Bishop just mumbled, "So embarrassing!"

"At least you know it’s embarrassing."

"How was I supposed to know he had a twin brother? You have no idea how many years I’ve been looking for him."

"Who are you talking about?" Shannon Quinn knew it was the name she drunkenly mentioned, but never brought up when sober.

"Sigh," Erin Bishop sighed, walking back to their spot while speaking, "My first love."

Shannon Quinn followed her back, lifting the plate of barbecued food that the guy had made earlier, "Let’s sit inside. It’s so chilly outside, you might catch a cold. Pregnant women can’t take a lot of medicines; I can’t afford to pay if you get sick."

The night was indeed a bit cool, and the two of them went inside together.

The music inside had softened a lot, making the atmosphere very quiet.

Erin Bishop held a plate of barbecue and found a vacant seat to sit down.

Shannon Quinn glanced around as she entered the house, subconsciously searching for that man’s whereabouts.

"And you say you’re not interested in Landon Sutton? Look at you, searching everywhere the moment you come in."