Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

Ivy Sherwood ran back to find Quentin Blackwood still working at his desk.

Hearing the noise, Quentin Blackwood looked up and saw a panicked Ivy Sherwood.

”Uncle Blackwood is here.”

”I know.” The butler had just called to tell him that Caleb Blackwood had arrived at the gate.

”He can’t see me here!” Otherwise, there was no way she could explain this.

’I’ll just hide here for a bit. When Quentin goes out to meet his guest, I can sneak away.’

’Or I’ll wait until Caleb Blackwood leaves. In any case, I have to avoid running into him.’

”Then you’ve hidden in the wrong place,” Quentin Blackwood said coolly.

”What do you mean?”

”The butler just called. Caleb Blackwood is here, and I told him to bring him directly to the study.”

Ivy Sherwood froze. ”What?”

’If Caleb Blackwood comes to the study, won’t I be caught red-handed?’

’Norhaven is so big. I should have been able to hide anywhere without being found.’

Ivy Sherwood decided to find another spot before sneaking out.

But just as she reached the door, her hand touching the doorknob, a knock came from outside before she could turn it.

”Sir, President Blackwood is here to see you.”

”Third Brother, Eldest Brother is here to see you.” Caleb Blackwood’s voice also sounded from the doorway.

If the door were pushed open now, Quentin Blackwood and Ivy Sherwood would be in plain sight.

Ivy Sherwood was so scared she didn’t dare move a muscle. She didn’t want Caleb Blackwood to see her here, especially since coming here hadn’t been her idea in the first place.

Ivy Sherwood instinctively looked at Quentin Blackwood, unsure of what to do.

Her clear, bright eyes were like those of a frightened fawn—panicked and helpless.

”Young Uncle, please help me. You don’t want other people to see me here and cause trouble for you, do you?”

”It makes no difference to me.” Quentin Blackwood looked completely unconcerned, enjoying Ivy’s panic. ”Caleb Blackwood won’t give me any trouble, anyway.”

Ivy Sherwood: ”...”

’Give him trouble? Caleb Blackwood practically worships the ground Quentin walks on.’

’He won’t give Quentin trouble, but I’m another story.’

Ivy Sherwood walked over to Quentin Blackwood’s side and gave his shoulders a little squeeze, trying to curry favor.

”Young Uncle, since you’re such a good person, please see it through to the end. I’ll definitely repay you in the future.”

”I, Quentin Blackwood, have never hidden anyone before.”

”You could send Caleb Blackwood away with a single word. You don’t have to let him in, and then I won’t have to hide.”

However, Quentin Blackwood’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. A second later, he called out, ”Come in.”

Ivy Sherwood: ”!!”

The words ”Come in” caught Ivy Sherwood completely off guard. As she watched the doorknob turn, she realized she had nowhere to hide.

The only place was the desk in front of Quentin Blackwood.

Ivy Sherwood could only duck down quickly, hiding by Quentin Blackwood’s legs. The desk wasn’t particularly large; she would touch his leg if she moved even slightly.

”Third Brother, sorry to disturb you.” Caleb Blackwood walked in, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Quentin Blackwood.

”It’s late. Is there something you need, Eldest Brother?” Quentin Blackwood’s eyes narrowed.

The further Caleb Blackwood walked in, the closer he got to Quentin, forcing Ivy to shrink back even more, terrified of being seen.

”It’s nothing, it’s nothing. I’ve asked you to come home for dinner a few times, but you’ve been busy. Your sister-in-law made some dumplings by hand today, so I brought them over myself for you to try.”

Caleb Blackwood brought the dumplings to Quentin’s desk. When he set the plate down, the sound of it hitting the desk made Ivy jump, and she clung tightly to Quentin’s leg.

But Caleb Blackwood, still oblivious, continued speaking.

”Why don’t you move back home? There are more people there to look after things. Don’t be a stranger with your eldest brother.”

Before him were the dumplings, each one plump and looking juicy.

But Quentin Blackwood’s expression suddenly turned frigid, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

”Eldest Brother, surely you know that I don’t like dumplings?”

”I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Caleb Blackwood genuinely had no idea that Quentin disliked dumplings.

He remembered that when Quentin first came to the Blackwood family, he had eaten dumplings and seemed so happy doing it.

”If you don’t know, why don’t you go home and ask your dear son?”

When Quentin was a child, he did indeed love dumplings, especially the ones his mother made by hand.

Later, after arriving at the Blackwood family home, forget dumplings—he often couldn’t even get a proper meal.

Sometimes, when the Blackwoods made dumplings, Quentin was only allowed to eat the leftovers, which he would wolf down ravenously.

He would even save some for his mother, afraid she would have nothing to eat.

But one time, Quentin took some dumplings that a servant had set aside for Silas, mistakenly thinking they were unwanted leftovers about to be thrown away.

When Silas returned, he flew into a rage and had his men beat Quentin. They targeted only his stomach, trying to make him vomit up the dumplings. Quentin was beaten so badly his stomach started to bleed.

Although Silas received a superficial scolding, he only grew to hate this illegitimate son, who was barely two years older than him, even more.

Around that time, Quentin was also in school. He came across a pathetic stray dog. It looked like it had just been weaned; it was only the size of his palm and utterly pitiful.

Quentin felt sorry for it and bought it ham sausage twice. After that, the little puppy seemed to recognize him and grew very close to him.

Quentin knew he could never take the puppy home. The little dog was a lot like him—unwanted by anyone. He even envied the puppy; at least it was free.

It kept Quentin company for a few days, and they formed a deep bond.

However, Silas somehow found out about the dog. One evening, when Quentin got home, Silas personally brought him a plate of dumplings, saying he knew he had been wrong last time and wanted to apologize by inviting Quentin to eat with him.

Quentin found it strange. Silas was acting far too out of character.

Afraid Silas had poisoned them, Quentin refused to eat the dumplings. So, Silas had the servants grab him, pin him to the floor, and forcibly shove one into his mouth.

Once it was in his mouth, Silas burst out laughing. ”It’s good, isn’t it? Especially fragrant, right?”

”Do you know what the filling is? It’s dog meat. Your own dog. Tastes different, doesn’t it? Even more fragrant, perhaps?”

In that instant, Quentin threw it all up.

He shoved Silas aside and ran out. The little white dog was gone. In the area where it used to play, only a pool of blood remained.

Quentin knelt on the ground and vomited for a long, long time.

From that day on, he never ate dumplings again.

...

Caleb Blackwood was terrified by the look in Quentin’s eyes. He truly had no idea what his son had done.

”Silas was just an ignorant child. If he did anything wrong, Third Brother, feel free to discipline him however you see fit. Just treat him as if he were your own son.”

Quentin just sneered and said nothing.

”Wait a moment, Third Brother.” With that, Caleb Blackwood walked aside and made a phone call.

”Bring Silas Blackwood to me now!” ’I have to find out just what Silas did to offend Quentin when they were young. No matter what, I’ll make him come and apologize today!’

Hearing this, Ivy Sherwood’s eyes widened. ”!!”

’Caleb Blackwood isn’t leaving, and now he wants to bring Silas Blackwood over?’

’At this rate, when will they ever leave?’

Ivy Sherwood tugged on the hem of Quentin’s trousers, signaling for him to please make Caleb Blackwood leave quickly. ’I can’t stay hidden much longer.’