novelraw Chapter 462: This Person’s Affinity Is Truly Rare in Her Life (Add 200 more for monthly ticket)
Chapter 462: This Person’s Affinity Is Truly Rare in Her Life (Add 200 more for monthly ticket)
Delphine’s body stiffened for a brief moment, then she offered a smile and said calmly, "Please come in."
In Desmond Wood’s opinion, the radicals were a bunch of greedy lunatics, but Delphine hadn’t expected the radical leader to be such a refined and elegant man, with a demeanor as soothing as a spring breeze.
"I should have visited sooner, but I heard that Delphine has recently become pregnant and needs to rest. That’s why I’ve come late. It happens that the evening is the best time to visit a friend," Finnian said as he entered the room, taking off his shoes, standing on the wooden floor in socks. He reached out with a slight smile, then sat cross-legged by the tea table on one side and continued warmly, "Desmond rarely engages with the world and doesn’t understand much of social etiquette. If he’s caused trouble for you, I ask for your forgiveness."
From the moment the man entered the house, every word and action seemed meticulously deliberate. His speech carried immense layers of information, and he addressed her by name with a familiarity as if they truly were old friends reunited after years.
Delphine finally understood why this man could ascend to the upper echelons of the political realm at such a young age and become the dark horse of his generation. His charm was something she had scarcely seen in her lifetime. Even when discussing the conservative Desmond, he assumed the role of a protective elder brother, speaking with reverence and support. It was no wonder Desmond had lost to him, and the conservatives had been suppressed for years.
It was just as likely that this exact timing had been carefully selected: at this moment, Mrs. Li had gone back to Emerald Hill Villas to retrieve some belongings, and Desmond, having discovered an antique market recently, was so elated he seemed almost overwhelmed that he dragged Yun Ji to shop for antiques every day at this hour, leaving the house empty except for her.
"Desmond has helped both my father and me in many ways, and we both think highly of him. May I ask, Mr. Finnian, what brings you here today?" Delphine smiled faintly, nearly making clear her position.
For a brief moment, Finnian’s profound gaze lingered on her, studying the woman before him—so utterly different from what he’d imagined. His smile grew gentler; initially, he had assumed that, regardless of who she was descended from, being born and raised outside the family would render her essentially an outsider apart from blood ties. He had been reluctant to accept her and had come today purely for the Yellow Jade Seal.
He had a hundred ways to retrieve the Yellow Jade Seal, but it was the first time he’d ever encountered someone entirely unaffected by his formidable charm.
The strength of hidden families lay in their deep-rooted heritage. Finnian had been an avid reader since childhood; though he had not mastered the supreme Emperor’s Mind, his ancestors—having held the office of Grand Secretary—passed down a set of Power Minister’s Heart Technique, and Finnian learned the art of governance as subtly transformative as spring rain nurturing all things, with charm being paramount.
Not yet thirty, he had risen smoothly through the ranks relying not only on exceptional ability and familial resources but also on his remarkable personal charm.
Now, faced with a woman entirely immune to his influence, a faint glint flashed in Finnian’s eyes. Seeing her serene composure, her detached temperament, and the aloofness etched into her brows from years of solitary living, he abandoned all previously conceived methods and formed a brand-new plan.
What Finnian didn’t know was that Delphine had wandered through life’s turbulences for years, witnessing both human warmth and indifference. Those she had encountered—whether the cold and heartless Leclair Family heir in power, the vicious and wild warlord emerging from a blood-stained domain, or the resolute and imperious gentleman born into the prestigious Xie family—each and every one of them was a figure of unparalleled stature. No matter how exceptional Finnian was, he couldn’t stir her emotions.