Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO-Chapter 464 - 273: Sir Hughes, a Slick Old Man [Part 2]

Chapter 464: Chapter 273: Sir Hughes, a Slick Old Man [Part 2]
After observing for a full minute, Camilo Nogueira looked down at his phone and discovered that the group chat was fantasizing about the matter of the "child being his illegitimate son."
Nonsense about an illegitimate child.
He had only ever been in a proper relationship once.
And he was the one who got dumped.
However—
The last name Yu?
Maybe it was this coincidence, or maybe because the teasing was getting to him, Camilo Nogueira leaned slightly, resting his elbow on the armrest of the sofa, and asked, "Andrew, where are your parents?"
"My mom is working away from home."
Andrew Hughes, engrossed in his playing, didn’t even lift his head.
Camilo Nogueira asked again, "What about your dad?"
Pausing his actions, Andrew Hughes furrowed his eyebrows tightly, glanced swiftly at Camilo Nogueira, and then said in a very indifferent tone, "He died in a car accident."
"..."
The reason for death was so clear, it instantly left Camilo Nogueira without further thoughts.
From Andrew Hughes’s reaction, the person likely passed away early, not having a chance to leave an impression on Andrew Hughes.
Sighing in his heart, Camilo Nogueira didn’t delve deeper, afraid of affecting the child’s mood; he quickly changed the subject. Before long, he even patiently joined in playing with Andrew Hughes.
*
The matter of "First Affiliated High School teacher spreading rumors about a student’s parent online" didn’t spread widely because the school suppressed it.
However, within the campus, it stirred up quite a commotion.
The day after the incident, Anastasia was fired, and all of her classes were immediately taken over by other teachers, with no time for a buffer.
The students weren’t dumb; with a bit of deduction, they guessed Anastasia was the originator of the rumors.
The students were smart, but the school was even smarter, canceling all study sessions that day and increasing exams and assignments, forcibly using the tactic of "exhausting the students" so they had no mind or energy to gossip, inadvertently shifting all their focus to studies.
"What’s going on with you?"
When Nora Scott had a test paper covering her head, she heard a slightly cold inquiry from Marcus Shaw.
Resting her head on the desk, Nora Scott lifted her head slightly, her brows lacked the usual vigor, looking a bit drowsy.
Tugging the test paper off her head, she blinked, somewhat confusedly looking at Marcus Shaw.
Marcus Shaw said, "You got a multiple-choice question wrong."
The last two classes were math and self-study, and the teacher had them complete a test paper, which was then exchanged among classmates for correction. Coincidentally, the paper in Marcus Shaw’s hand was Nora Scott’s.
"Oh."
Looking down, Nora Scott felt a bit embarrassed.
The mistake wasn’t on a difficult question at the end but on a basic one at the beginning. For her, getting it wrong was akin to a major fault.
Rubbing her face to wake herself up a bit, Nora Scott said, "Missed it."
Marcus Shaw didn’t say much, just glanced at her and then spoke lightly, "Monthly exams are the day after tomorrow."
"Huh?"
Nora Scott was taken aback.
"First place is mine."
Marcus Shaw casually left the remark and then turned back to sit down.
"..."
Nora Scott was startled into a shiver by him.
His obsession is no ordinary one...
*
An older residential area, six-story buildings, lush vegetation, branches thick and spreading, the tree shade blocking out the sunlight, walking on the tree-lined path felt slightly cool.
"This way."
Andrew Hughes pointed out the direction to Nora Scott, his words still had a childish tone despite his restraint.
Nora Scott strolled, following behind him.
However, upon reaching the unit building door, Andrew Hughes, with his little backpack, stood aside by himself, not moving.
"What’s up?"
"No key."
The lock is quite old-fashioned, requiring a key to open.
Without a key, one could either call the tenant through the intercom to open the door, or wait for someone to enter or exit.
Nora Scott asked, "Where’s your grandpa?"
"If he comes back, he’ll wait at the door for me."
The implication being, not seeing Sir Hughes outside the unit building meant he hasn’t returned.
Nora Scott frowned slightly.
She had little patience for waiting; after a minute or two, having exhausted her limited patience, she directly pulled out an iron wire from her pocket.
With the entrance’s surveillance camera facing outward, whatever she did here wouldn’t be captured.
Upon seeing her actions, Andrew Hughes slightly widened his eyes, watching her intently and with curiosity.
She straightened the piece of wire and inserted it directly into the lock. Within seconds, a "click" sound could be heard, and the lock popped open.
"..."
Theoretical talent · Andrew Hughes encountered the technical talent · Nora Scott and was dazzled by this display.
Marcus Shaw picked up this sister...
That’s quite a gain.
Andrew Hughes felt a bit envious.
At this moment, steady footsteps stopped behind them, and a slightly teasing voice rang out, "Little girl, if you don’t use this skill wisely, it might land you in trouble."
Nora Scott, just about to push the door halfway open, upon hearing this, subtly moved her fingers to hide the wire.
She turned her head and saw a middle-aged man dressed casually, his jacket and pants a bit worn and unremarkable, with a scruffy beard. Yet, those eyes were dark, bright, and piercing, exuding an extremely sharp gaze full of scrutiny and assessment, surrounding her with an oppressive force that left no way to escape.
But in just a couple of seconds, the pressure vanished without a trace. He suddenly smiled, withdrawing all scrutiny and assessment, tilting the corners of his eyes slightly, filled with laughter.
A bit lazy, a bit roguish.
Nora Scott remained composed and replied calmly, "Ancestral locksmith, just a small business."
"Sir Hughes!"
Andrew Hughes called out crisply.
The man immediately bent down, extended his calloused hand, and started ruffling Andrew Hughes’s little head, "Oh, whose child is this, so cute."
Andrew Hughes tried to push the man’s hand away, but it was futile.
He could only widen his eyes, puff his cheeks, and take a deep breath, shouting, "Peter Hughes!"
As soon as he called out, the man finally stopped, withdrew his hand, and rubbed Andrew Hughes’s head one last time, then sighed heavily, "Boring, not fun at all."
Meanwhile, Nora Scott leaned against the doorway, tilted her head, watched the scene, and suddenly smirked as she gave a chilly sarcastic greeting, "Are you the heartless grandfather who left his grandson at home without a care?"
Anyone faced with such sarcasm from Nora Scott would undoubtedly feel flustered and a bit embarrassed.
But this man was shameless...
Peter Hughes rubbed his hands and then smiled at Nora Scott with bold shamelessness, "Yes, that’s me!"
Nora Scott: "..." You’re quite pleased with yourself!
"Are you the beautiful, kind-hearted, gentle, virtuous, enthusiastic, sharp-tongued yet soft-hearted beauty sister Nora Scott that Marcus Shaw always talks about?"
Peter Hughes opened his mouth and spouted nonsense, leaving Nora Scott stunned, swallowing the ensuing retort she intended to fire back.
This person?
Why is it that Marcus Shaw and Andrew Hughes in contact with him are always so tongue-tied?
Just as Nora Scott was grumbling inwardly, Peter Hughes continued, "Our little one here is quite hard to manage, like a silent blockhead that doesn’t let you feel the joy of having a child at home. It’s really tough, and I haven’t prepared much. I just bought some ingredients and wine... Would you honor us by having a meal?"
As he spoke, Peter Hughes lifted a pile of market-bought ingredients.
Nora Scott’s mouth slightly twitched, "You’ve said it all—"
Pausing slightly, Nora Scott shifted her tone, "Is the food edible?"
"It is!" Peter Hughes grinned widely, still with a cheeky expression, "That rascal Marcus Shaw learned his cooking from me."
Nora Scott was slightly taken aback, "You two are close?"
"That silent kid hasn’t told you anything," Peter Hughes pushed the door open wider and gestured for Nora to enter first, "Come on, come on, let’s talk upstairs."
There’s no elevator, only stairs.
The stairwell is narrow and dark, with voice-controlled lights at the corners, shining an orange-yellow light, not very bright but adequate for illumination.
Peter Hughes and Andrew Hughes lived on the fourth floor.
Two bedrooms and a living room, not spacious but sufficient for the grandfather-grandson duo. In recent years it seems to have been redecorated, not as old as the exterior of the building appears. The walls are covered with wallpaper, the furniture is simple but tidy, nothing resembling the chaotic life you’d imagine a single grandfather leading with a grandson.
"Little handsome guy, go find a pair of slippers for your sister to wear."
As soon as they entered, Peter Hughes began directing Andrew Hughes.
Andrew Hughes seemed accustomed to his instructions, and effortlessly opened the shoe cabinet, rummaged out a pair of clean women’s knitted slippers, then placed them at Nora Scott’s feet.
Nora Scott asked, "Your mom’s shoes?"
"Yes."
Andrew Hughes nodded coolly and turned himself to change shoes.
Nora Scott changed her shoes, walked inside, glanced around casually, and then asked Peter Hughes, "Is his mom away all year round?"
"Just for the last six months; she used to stay half a year in Fenton City each year."
Peter Hughes replied casually.
Clearly, this man is quite carefree, not at all concerned about how long his daughter returns each year.
Nora Scott shrugged. As her gaze swept around, it suddenly landed on a family portrait placed on the TV cabinet.
Three people: aside from Peter Hughes, who looked unchanged, and the obviously smaller version of Andrew Hughes, there was a young and beautiful woman—
She looks familiar.
"Crystal Hughes?"
Nora Scott suddenly spoke, calling out this name.