Chapter 53: Dinner

Edith did not bring along a lot of things with her and therefore, it took her a short time to unpack her luggage. Then, she let Hazel took her on a tour around the house.

For convenience, her room was located just beside Hazel's. Neil's bedroom and office were at the end of the hallway.

Edith took note of everything made a note of where she can and where she cannot wander around.

Seeing that there were not many things for her to do, Edith went into the kitchen and chatted with Auntie Emma to learn a few things about Neil.

Still, there was not a lot of things that Edith was able to learn about her employer through Auntie Emma. According to Auntie Emma, she did not have a lot of contact with Neil and therefore did not know much about him.

The two women chatted for almost an hour as Hazel sat at the kitchen counter with her paper and color pencils. Once everything the dishes was prepared, Edith helped Auntie Emma to set the table.

Once everything was ready, Auntie Emma instructed Hazel to call out her uncle before she took off her apron and put on her brown colored jacket.

"Auntie Emma, you're not staying for dinner?"

The elderly lady smiled. "Miss Qian, I still have to go back and accompany my husband to eat."

Edith was stunned at this information. When Neil had told her that they will be having dinner together, she had expected that Auntie Emma will be joining them as well.

Since that was not the case, doesn't that means she will be having dinner with Neil and Hazel, just the three of them? She had shared a table with Neil and Hazel at a restaurant some times ago and thought that the atmosphere was awkward if it was not for Hazel's presence.

Now that she was about to have dinner together, Edith was starting to get anxious.

Her gaze shifted towards Hazel who walked down the stairs after she had called her uncle. Edith took a deep breath and calmed down.

Forget it. In the past, she even accompanied her grandfather at the police station and had a meal with a few thugs. Just having a meal with an iceblock like Neil Mo shouldn't be too bad.

"President Mo," Auntie Emma called as she saw the man walked down the stair.

"Auntie, you're going home?" Neil watched the elderly woman nodded and continued, "Old Tang is waiting for you downstairs. Since it is already this late, let him send you home."

"Thank you." Auntie Emma grabbed her purse and exchanged a few words with her employer before she walked out.

Neil returned to the dining area as soon as the elderly woman had left. He looked at the dishes on the table and flashed a casual smile. "Let's eat."

Edith pulled a chair and sat down next to Hazel. The three of them had a quiet meal together and Edith tried to dismiss the uncomfortable feeling by looking after Hazel and picking up some of the dishes for her.

Meanwhile, Neil was observing the two girls in front of him with the same awkwardness.

Although he was the one who offered Edith to move in for both his and Hazel's sake, it does not mean that he was comfortable with it. He was used to living alone before Hazel came along and now, there were two girls in his house. The two of them looked like they were enjoying their meals together and Neil suddenly felt like an outcast.

His eyes shifted to his niece and suddenly, Neil had a mixed feeling.

He was glad to see Hazel's happy expression but was not too happy upon realizing that his niece had not shown the same expression when she ate a meal with him. He could not deny that he was a bit jealous that his own family was closer to someone else.

But that too was his fault. He did not want to get close to Hazel when she was a baby as she was very small and he was afraid that he might accidentally hurt her. As she grew up, Hazel would always hide behind her mother every time she saw him.

At this time, Neil was silently regretting that he had not tried to get close to his niece from the very beginning. If he had shown his attention to her, then wouldn't Hazel be close to him as well?

He stood up abruptly, and the sound of the chair moving turned the two girls towards him. Neil froze and was suddenly aware that his movement had startled the two of them. He moved his gaze to Edith and spoke to ease the sudden tension in the room. "Teacher Qian, would you like to drink?"

"No," Edith immediately declined. "I still have to work tomorrow."

She had promised herself that she will never drink in the presence of Neil and Hazel lest she started to get very honest with her words and started to do something she would regret. It was her first day at work and she had no intention to get fired merely after a few hours.

Neil nodded before he walked over to the kitchen counter and poured himself a drink. After a sip, Neil began to feel himself more at ease. He went back to his seat and picked up his chopsticks. A thought crossed his mind and lifted his head to look at Edith.

"Teacher Qian, tomorrow morning, Old Tang will send both you and Hazel to the kindergarten," Neil said. "He is mainly responsible to send Hazel to school and pick her up. Later, I will give you his number and you can discuss your schedule with him."

Edith started to relax upon realizing that Neil wanted to discuss their living arrangement. "I have to arrive at school early to receive the children. I was planning to grab a taxi to the kindergarten earlier and later, you can let Old Tang send Hazel at the usual time." She turned to Hazel when the little girl pulled at her shirt.

"Teacher Qian, I wake up very early in the morning," Hazel said. "I can go with you. Let Grandpa Tang send both of us to school."

Edith laughed upon hearing her words. "Really? If you want to go with me, you have to wake up very early, you know?"

"I know." Hazel nodded. She stared back at her teacher with a serious expression. "Teacher Qian, don't worry. I'm an early riser."

"Then, it's settled," Neil said. "I will let Old Tang come over earlier and send you both to school. Unless if you have another matter to attend to, let's just stay with this arrangement."