Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”Like what?”

”Oh, for example, one time we went to eat a dish with a fancy name, but it was really just made of eight rats. He gave the big ones to my big brother and I ate the rest. Shouldn’t I be called Elmer the Rat-Giver?”

...

”Huh... Elmer, don’t you know the big rats are the tastiest?” Dorothy Ellsworth asked, blinking at him.

”They’re not tasty. Even the small ones are gross...”

The old professor’s mouth twitched. ”You kids actually ate rats...”

Elmer Grant grinned, baring his teeth. ”Rats—I mean, Teacher, please continue.”

”Alright. Now I want to ask the three of you, what moral do you think the story of Conrad Kent giving up the pear teaches us?”

”Teacher, that’s easy! It means the big one is for the oldest to eat, and the small one is for the youngest to eat.”

”Crude, but not wrong. Elmer, what about you?”

”I agree with Dorothy.”

That left Dylan Grant. He spoke quietly, ”The story teaches us that we should learn the etiquette of modesty and yielding to others from a young age. We shouldn’t only think of ourselves and not others.”

”Yes, Dylan always delivers the final, perfect answer. Your teacher knew the two of you wouldn’t come up with anything good.”

Elmer laughed. ”Teacher, without Dorothy and me as cannon fodder, how could my brother’s intelligence truly shine?”

”Alright, for today’s class, we’ve covered two such short stories. Children, you’ve only just found your footing in this world. Don’t be in such a hurry to do adult things. The innocence of childhood is what’s most important. Okay, class dismissed.”

”Yay! We’re free!” Elmer was the first to hop and skip out of the classroom, and the old professor followed him out.

”Miss Ainsworth, I’d like to talk to you about the two boys’ education.”

Nora Ainsworth stood up and gestured to the sofa. ”Professor, please have a seat.”

”Miss Ainsworth, both boys are actually very intelligent. Dylan gets good grades and is very sensible. And while Elmer doesn’t love to study, he has strengths in other areas that Dylan doesn’t. However, a good teacher is no substitute for a good mother. It would be better if you personally engaged more with the boys in educational activities.”

”You have a point, Professor. I’ve actually paused my work for now. My goal is to take good care of them and ensure they grow up healthy.”

”Actually, Miss Ainsworth, I think it would be better to send the children to kindergarten. It’s a more beneficial environment for their development.”

Nora was surprised. ”Professor, are you saying you won’t be teaching them anymore?”

”Of course I’ll still teach. I love children. They’re so innocent. They don’t hide any of their emotions in their words or actions—that’s human nature. It’s just that I believe educating them at home isn’t as effective as a group environment. With lots of friends, they can better learn how to get along with others. If you consider my suggestion, Miss Ainsworth, I will go to the school with the three children and continue to teach them there.”

”In that case, I’ll wait for their father to come home and discuss it with him to see what he thinks.”

”Very well.”

That evening, when Quentin Grant returned, Nora told him what the old professor had said. Quentin spoke up, ”I think the professor has a point. We’ll just have to strengthen our security measures. Also, Nora, make sure the boys carry their guns, just in case. But you must tell them they are not allowed to use them unless a bad guy is threatening their lives.”

”Okay, I will. The boys understand that much.” She took out her phone. ”I’ll tell Chloe about this.”

Nora was surprised when she told Chloe Marshall, who agreed immediately.

Since that was settled, they would send the three of them to school tomorrow.

***

That evening, Herman Hawthorne made a surprise visit to the Ellsworth Family residence, bringing his parents and many gifts with him.

It was a complete ambush.

Seeing all this, Mrs. Ellsworth was suddenly reminded of the eve of Herman and Zoe’s wedding. It had been just like this.

”Are the three of you giving away your family fortune?”

Mrs. Hawthorne chuckled. ”Zoe’s Mom, we’re here today to propose a marriage.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Ellsworth immediately leaned toward her and whispered, ”Did you give Zoe a heads-up?”

Mrs. Hawthorne shook her head. ”No.”

Mrs. Ellsworth was stunned. ”Are you trying to put me in a difficult position? You know what Zoe’s personality is like, don’t you?”

Mrs. Hawthorne nodded at her. ”Zoe needs a graceful way out. Zoe’s Mom, our Herman has sworn to me again and again that he truly loves Zoe. The baby is due in just a few months. As parents, let’s do our best to push them together. I can see that Zoe still cares a lot about Herman.”

Mrs. Ellsworth spoke. ”You know our relationship. If the children are happy, I’m happy, of course. But right now, the most important thing is Zoe’s attitude.”

Herman Hawthorne spoke up. ”Mrs. Ellsworth, I’m going up to see Zoe. The rest of you wait for me here.”

Mrs. Ellsworth didn’t seem very hopeful. After all, she had seen Zoe’s attitude toward Herman over the past few months.

But she nodded anyway. ”Zoe talks tough, but she has a soft heart. Talk to her nicely.”

”Of course I will.”

Herman Hawthorne went upstairs, holding a large bouquet of roses.

He took out a spare key and quietly opened her door.

Zoe Ellsworth was asleep. Herman didn’t turn on the light; he just closed the door behind him.

He walked in, moving with a soft-footed familiarity.

His gaze fell upon her face, illuminated by the light from outside the window. He sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for her to wake up.

He sat there quietly for half an hour before Zoe finally woke up.

She reached out to turn on the lamp and was startled by the figure beside her. As she sat up, she was met with the sight of a large bouquet of vibrant red roses.

”Zoe, I love you.”

Zoe Ellsworth slipped on her shoes and got out of bed. ”What’s gotten into you?”

He dropped to one knee, opening a decorative red box with his other hand to reveal a very large diamond ring. ”Darling, marry me again. I swear I’ll never let you suffer the slightest grievance ever again.”

Zoe’s heart stirred. She looked at him and asked, ”And if you do let me suffer the slightest grievance?”

”Then I’m yours to punish as you see fit.”

A smile played on her lips as she held out her hand. He quickly slid the diamond ring onto her finger, then stood up and excitedly handed her the roses. ”Zoe, you’re as beautiful as these roses. No, they’re not nearly as beautiful as you. You are the rose in my heart, and I will love you for the rest of my life.”

Zoe looked at the ring on her finger, then glanced at him. ”I’d rather believe in ghosts than trust a man’s mouth. That saying exists for a reason. If you want to be with me, your ’yours to punish’ promise is far from enough...”

Herman asked nervously, ”Then, my lady, what else do I need to do to earn your trust?”

Zoe pulled out a chair, sat down, and opened her laptop. ”An agreement,” she said.

”What kind of agreement?”

”I’m drafting it now.” Her fingers flew across the keyboard. Herman quickly came up behind her to massage her shoulders, taking the opportunity to see what kind of agreement she was writing.

As Herman read the clauses of the agreement one by one, his initially relaxed smile instantly twisted into a pained expression.

’This wasn’t an agreement; it was a document designed to strip a man of all his rights!’

Time ticked by, second by second. Soon, Zoe had finished writing the agreement, and four copies came out of the printer.

”I’m sure you saw it just now, but I’m still going to read it to you personally. That way, you can choose whether you want to be with me and accept this agreement, or not be with me and go find your own happiness elsewhere...”

”Of course I want to be with you. Go ahead and read it.”

Zoe took one of the copies and pulled out her phone. ”From now on, don’t say a single word. If you have anything to say, wait until I’m finished. Do not interrupt me. I’m going to start recording.”

Herman was completely wrapped around her finger. He nodded, assuming a posture of one ready to listen respectfully.

She turned on her phone’s recording function and began to read. ”In order to better maintain the normal order of the family and to standardize the husband’s domestic life and code of conduct, the following lifestyle regulations are hereby established. The specific contents are as follows:”

Zoe gave him a deep look and continued, ”Article One: You must love your wife, Zoe Ellsworth. You must resolutely support your wife and absolutely obey your wife’s leadership. You must not harbor any defiant thoughts, nor express any dissatisfaction verbally.

Article Two: You must personally cook at least one meal a day. If your culinary skills are poor, you must learn, as this is a lifelong matter. You must not grow weary of cooking, nor engage in emotional strikes.

Article Three: You must not meet, call, write, or have any form of contact online or otherwise with any old flames without your wife’s company. All opportunities to meet with old flames are to be eliminated. Otherwise, the wife reserves the right to take severe punitive action.

Article Four: During the wife’s pregnancy, you must not harbor lustful thoughts. At any time the wife desires intimacy, you must persevere and give it your all. When the wife does not desire it, you must take care of matters with your own hand. There shall be no transactional behavior, nor any philandering or inappropriate contact with other women.

Article Five: You must answer phone calls within three rings. You must reply to text messages within one minute. At school, you must not gaze at any female student for more than three seconds. You must not arrive home later than 8 p.m., except in special circumstances.

Article Six: If any behavior or words are discovered that indicate a lack of love for the wife, and the wife proposes divorce, you must not have any thoughts of reluctance. All financial authority is to be handed over to the wife. Upon discovery of any infidelity, you will leave the marriage with nothing, and custody of the child will go to the wife.”

Zoe let out a breath. ”For now, that’s all. We can add more later if needed.”

Herman raised his hand. ”My wife is mighty! How could her husband dare to disobey?”

Zoe placed the agreements on the desk. ”Sign it and add your thumbprint. We’ve made a few copies, just to be safe.”

Herman quickly pressed his thumbprint on the documents and signed his name.

Zoe collected the papers. His voice sounded by her ear, ”My parents and I brought the betrothal gifts. Shall we go downstairs?”

She opened her closet, changed her clothes, and combed her hair.

The two of them walked out of the room side-by-side and went down the stairs.

At the landing, Herman forcefully took her hand, a grin on his face that just begged to be punched. ”You’re my wife now. I can hold your hand if I want to.”

Seeing the two of them coming down hand in hand, the four parents below were instantly beaming with joy.

They exchanged a glance, and an excited Mrs. Ellsworth asked, ”Zoe, did you agree to remarry Herman?”

A faint blush appeared on Zoe’s face. She said lightly, ”Let’s remarry tomorrow. No need for a wedding. We’ll keep it simple.”