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Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Sore Losers Gain 20 Jin

”You’re going whether you like it or not.” Sylvia Sterling had none of Spencer Sterling’s good temper and said resolutely, ”If not, I’ll go have a chat with Miss Winslow. I’ll ask her if she’d be willing for you to get some proper training.”

”...” Ian Sterling pressed his lips together and looked at Nina Norton. Receiving his gaze, Nina cleared her throat. ”Sylvia, Finn is...”

”Eldest Sister-in-law, you can’t spoil him like this. Back in the day, the two older boys, and Jared—every one of them trained with me for a good six months. Finn was the only one who trained for less than a month before you felt sorry for him and brought him home.” Sylvia Sterling’s tone was serious. ”It’s safe in Veridia, but what about the future? Miss Winslow is from the Winslow family in Morelia. Finn will inevitably have to visit there more often. Even with bodyguards, what if they aren’t paying attention and something happens?”

Nina Norton was so stumped by her words she couldn’t say a thing. She could only turn to her younger sister-in-law for help, but she too was powerless, only offering a helpless look in return.

Seeing his own mother silenced by Aunt Sylvia, Ian Sterling glanced at his father. Sure enough, Spencer Sterling was watching him as if enjoying a play, a hint of encouragement in his eyes.

He could never win an argument with his younger sister, so he was now desperately hoping his son would step up.

Ian Sterling laughed in exasperation at his own father’s expression and finally turned to his aunt. ”Aunt Sylvia, how about this? I’ll go with you in a few days. But... I think my two older brothers and my cousin should all go for some retraining as well.”

The three who had just been named: ”...”

Spencer Sterling, who was about to have to go into the office because his two sons would be away: ”...”

”I mean, it’s been many years since they last went to your place. They’ve probably forgotten everything they learned. This is the perfect chance for all of us to go together.”

Ian Sterling swept a smiling gaze over the few people who had been happily enjoying the spectacle, continuing, ”I’m fine, but their situation is more serious than mine. After all, the Sterling family’s status is unique. There are so many people out there eyeing us covetously. What if some of them are bold enough to hire an international assassin or something? Wouldn’t you say my suggestion is a great one?”

Just as he’d predicted, Sylvia Sterling lowered her gaze and began to consider it seriously. Elias Sterling hurriedly interjected, ”Aunt Sylvia, I can’t go. Sophia and I are trying for a baby, so it’s not a good time.”

Sophia Shaw chuckled. ”There’s no rush. Aunt Sylvia, just make him go. He just sits in his office all day now. He used to at least get some exercise, but he’s gotten so much lazier. I’m afraid if he keeps this up, he’ll end up like Mr. Warren next door.”

The head of the neighboring Warren family had been a strong, well-built man in his younger years, but he had grown increasingly plump over the past few years, now resembling a laughing Buddha.

Sylvia Sterling hated seeing the younger generation slack off more than anything. Upon hearing this, she nodded without a moment’s hesitation. ”Alright. Then they can all come.”

Connor Sterling and Jared Sterling: ”...”

’One of them got caught and the other is a slacker. What’s that got to do with us???’

The two exchanged a look and were just about to protest when they heard Sylvia Sterling say, ”Your older brother and younger brother are both coming. You two would be too embarrassed to turn it down, wouldn’t you?”

”...” ’Fine.’

Ian Sterling let out a derisive snort, tossed out an ”I’m heading out,” and made a hasty exit.

——

Zane Lancaster’s hotel was nearby, so he had been planning to walk back. When he saw Ian Sterling arrive to pick Lynn up, he yawned and said, ”I’m heading back to get some sleep. Bye.”

Lynn Winslow waved at him. As Ian Sterling got out of the car, he saw Zane Lancaster’s retreating figure and frowned slightly.

He walked over to Lynn Winslow’s side, took her bag, and got into the car with her.

As the car headed toward Calyx Hall, Lynn Winslow mentioned casually, ”Zane Lancaster is starting a company. I’m going to invest in it.”

It wasn’t a question, so Ian Sterling knew she had already made up her mind.

”Got it.” His tone was flat, and Lynn Winslow honestly couldn’t tell if he was happy or not.

Not until the car was parked in the underground garage of Calyx Hall did Lynn Winslow reach out, turn his face toward her, and study his expression carefully. ”You’re not mad, are you?” she asked.

”No.” Ian Sterling lowered his gaze to meet hers and said earnestly, ”I’ve thought about what you said. No matter what, Zane Lancaster is the person who grew up with you. He must be very important to you. If I keep going against him, it will only put you in a difficult position, and I don’t want to make you unhappy.”

He kissed the corner of Lynn Winslow’s lips and murmured, ”Don’t worry. When it comes to the big things, I absolutely won’t get needlessly jealous.”

Lynn Winslow’s eyes widened. She was surprisingly gratified, and even felt as if her child had finally grown up and learned to be sensible.

”You’re being so good. How did you get to be so good all of a sudden?”

Ian Sterling let out a soft snort, then got out of the car and led Lynn Winslow into the elevator by the hand.

After they got home, they both took a shower. Ian Sterling was leaning against the headboard playing on his phone when Lynn Winslow approached secretively with a deck of cards, wanting to play a game of Run Fast with him.

So, the two of them sat cross-legged, facing each other, and began to play. As they started the game, Lynn Winslow said, ”The loser has to grant the winner one request. One request per round.”

Ian Sterling raised an eyebrow. He rarely lost games of luck like this, so he readily agreed.

The first round was over in no time. Ian Sterling won first. He watched with a smirk as Lynn Winslow looked like she was about to weasel out of it, and added, ”No cheating. Cheaters gain twenty pounds.”

’What a vicious curse.’ Lynn Winslow glared at Ian Sterling, gritting her teeth.

”Fine, fine. Go ahead, say it. What’s the request?”

”I haven’t thought of one yet. I’ll tell you when I do.” Ian Sterling asked as he shuffled the cards, ”Can they cancel each other out?”

Lynn Winslow thought about it seriously. If they could cancel each other out, then if she won the next round, she could nullify this round’s request. But by the same token, any requests she won might also be nullified.

”No, you can’t.”

Ian Sterling drew out a long ”Ohhh,” a mischievous smile on his face.

”Alright. Let’s continue.”

They played a dozen or so rounds, and to her dismay, Lynn Winslow only managed to win twice. She stared at Ian Sterling in disbelief and demanded, ”Are you cheating?”

”How could I possibly cheat? Besides, ever since you started suspecting me, you’ve been the one shuffling the cards.” Ian Sterling looked back at her innocently.

”...” Lynn Winslow opened her mouth, about to try and get out of it, when Ian Sterling slowly reminded her, ”That’s twenty pounds, tsk tsk.”

”I—”

”You don’t want to get fat, do you, darling?” Ian Sterling’s eyes crinkled with laughter.

Gritting her teeth, Lynn Winslow lunged into his arms, her slender fingers pinching his neck as she said angrily, ”You’re laughing at me, aren’t you! Aren’t you!”

”I’m not. You didn’t back out of the deal, so why would I be laughing at you?” Not only was Ian Sterling not flustered, he actually seemed quite pleased.

Lynn Winslow was about to die from exasperation at his words. ”Fine, I won’t back out!” she said fiercely. ”Say it. What do you want me to agree to?”

”Let me see... I believe that’s fourteen requests? I’ll use one of them now.” After speaking, Ian Sterling leaned in close to Lynn Winslow’s ear, nibbled lightly on her earlobe, and whispered, ”Tonight... whatever I say, whatever I do, you have to obey me.”

”...You... you’re shameless!”