The Unveiling of Secret Queen

Chapter 407: Today I Encountered a Person_1

Caryn Zachmann pushed his wheelchair into the living room and answered his question with composure, "The school organized an independent recruitment exam, and since I’m a member of the student council, I went to the school to help out and watch over the students who were taking the exam."

"Oh, it’s time for independent recruitment again," Mr. Zachmann said, resting his hand on the armrest of the wheelchair, feeling a rush of emotion, "Time flies so fast, I still remember the year you passed the independent recruitment exam to get into Tsinghua University..."

Just then, Leonardy Zachmann and Celine Tucker came over with the cooked dishes, and upon hearing his words, they cheerfully interjected, "Dad, that was three years ago. Caryn is almost a junior now. You forgot that you went to a parent-teacher conference for her before."

Mr. Zachmann recalled that he did indeed go to Tsinghua University last year, but it was not for an ordinary parent-teacher meeting. Instead, he was there as a family member to witness Caryn receiving the honor of being named an outstanding student at Tsinghua University.

Remembering this, he looked at Caryn with an even gentler and more affectionate gaze, just about to ask her what she planned to do after graduation.

Suddenly he heard.

"Speaking of independent recruitment, Grandpa, I ran into someone in Beijing today," Caryn said, pushing him to the dining table and walking over with a troubled expression, "I’m not sure if I should tell you."

Seeing her expression, Mr. Zachmann’s kindly face gradually grew serious, and those cloudy but spirited eyes looked at her as he spoke in a gentler tone, "You can think it over before you speak."

Celine Tucker knew that Caryn had done something wrong and upset Mr. Zachmann from the chill in his voice.

She put down her chopsticks and hastened to smooth things over, giving Caryn a meaningful look and saying, "Caryn, what are you doing? We’re all family here. If you have something to say, just say it to Grandpa; there’s nothing you shouldn’t say!"

Caryn glanced at her mom’s line of sight and quickly realized, bending over to playfully pull on Mr. Zachmann’s arm, "Grandpa, don’t be angry, I didn’t mean that. I just hesitated because I was worried about your health."

Mr. Zachmann wasn’t really that upset—it was a minor issue, after all, and Caryn was his dear granddaughter. He had not lived to his age only to hold a grudge over a single sentence. He immediately patted the back of her hand and silently comforted her, "Speak up, there’s nothing bad to say, I won’t get angry."

Caryn Zachmann: "Grandpa, are you really not going to get angry?"

Mr. Zachmann furrowed his brow, his dark eyes growing intense, not understanding why she kept emphasizing that he would get angry.

What could be so serious that it would make him angry?

Caryn Zachmann, seeing that the groundwork had been laid, spoke with hesitation and a stammer, "Today, I ran into someone."

Had she not been so vague, it probably wouldn’t have sparked much interest.

The vaguer she was, the more concerned everyone became.

Even Leonardy Zachmann asked with a slightly deepened voice, "Who did you run into?"

Caryn Zachmann glanced around at everyone before uttering the name, "Nathalie Quinlan."

Mr. Zachmann had the strongest reaction, his previously calm and cheerful demeanor switching to one of surprise and concern. He gripped the sides of his wheelchair, almost standing up, bombarding her with questions, "Where did you run into Nathalie? She’s in Beijing? Why didn’t she tell me? When you saw her, was she by herself? And Audrick, wasn’t he with her?"

Mr. Zachmann’s worry grew with each question, his brow furrowed as he muttered, "My health hasn’t been good recently, and you all keep telling me not to take an airplane."