"That's great. So, tomorrow I'll have to trouble you to help discipline my daughter. Your aunt cooked a few dishes today and would like to invite you over for dinner, so everyone can get to know each other." Mr. Spencer said.

So that's how it is, Peter Thompson thought to himself. Although Peter Thompson wasn't used to eating at other people's homes, since Philip Spencer was not only an official but also an old classmate of his advisor, Peter Thompson couldn't refuse and had to agree.

"I'll drive over to pick you up later!" Mr. Spencer said politely.

"No need to trouble you, I'll come over myself later." Peter Thompson replied.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Spencer stopped insisting and said, "It's getting late. Your aunt, Lily, and I are all at home. You should come over now."

After hanging up the phone, Peter Thompson checked the time—it was already past four—so he tidied up his books, went back to his dorm for a bit, and then rode his bike toward Huanglong Yayuan on Xixi Road.

Huanglong Yayuan is one of Hangzhou's upscale residential communities, close to the West Lake scenic area and Huanglong Sports Center. The complex is well-equipped, with hotel-style lobbies on the ground floor of each high-rise. It's said that the price per square meter reached about nine thousand yuan. In 2002, that was still a very high price.

Mr. Spencer's apartment was on the ninth floor, over 130 square meters, with three bedrooms and two living rooms. Facing south, you could see the distant Huanglong Cave mountains and the beautiful scenery of West Lake.

When Peter Thompson arrived at Mr. Spencer's home, Mr. Spencer's wife was cooking, and it was Mr. Spencer who opened the door.

Since it was his first time at Mr. Spencer's home and he was there for a meal, Peter Thompson specially brought a bag of fruit.

"Oh, Little Thompson, what are you doing?" Mr. Spencer said, both welcoming Peter Thompson inside and scolding him a bit.

Peter Thompson smiled and said, "Where I'm from, it's customary not to come empty-handed the first time you visit someone's home."

Hearing this, Mr. Spencer smiled and shook his head. At this moment, Mr. Spencer's wife Hannah Summers came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron.

She looked like a very kind middle-aged woman, with fair skin and delicate features.

"You must be Little Thompson, right? Old Spencer has told me about you. You're Old Harris's outstanding student. This time, we'll have to trouble you with Lily." Hannah Summers said.

"Auntie, you're too polite!" Peter Thompson quickly replied.

Hannah Summers smiled, invited Peter Thompson to sit down, made him a cup of tea, and then went to knock on a tightly closed door.

Peter Thompson knew she must be calling her daughter.

Sure enough, the door opened, and a lively, energetic girl with a ponytail, wearing a loose graphic T-shirt and denim shorts, came out of the room.

She had earphones in her ears, a small pink MP3 player hanging on her chest, slightly outlining the budding curves of a young girl.

Lucy Spencer's bright eyes glanced at the dining room. Seeing only one dish on the table, she immediately pouted.

"Why are you calling me if we haven't eaten yet?"

Lucy Spencer pouted and complained, then put her earphones back in, swaying her youthful waist to the music as she turned to go back to her room.

Because there was a guest, Hannah Summers felt a bit embarrassed and quickly pulled out Lucy Spencer's earphones.

"Mom, what are you doing? I was listening to music!" Lucy Spencer complained again.

Hannah Summers's face showed a hint of anger. "Didn't you see we have a guest? How can you be so rude?"

Only then did Lucy Spencer notice the neat and tidy young man sitting on the living room sofa, who didn't look like the usual people coming to ask her dad for favors.

"Mom, who is he?" Lucy Spencer whispered in Hannah Summers's ear.

"Lily, come here and greet Mr. Thompson!"

Before Hannah Summers could answer, Mr. Spencer had already turned and waved to Lily.

Upon hearing this, Lucy Spencer's mouth almost turned up to the sky.

"Mom, didn't I say not to hire a tutor? I want freedom this summer! Freedom!"

Although Lucy Spencer's voice wasn't loud, in such a big place, both Peter Thompson and Mr. Spencer heard her.

In his four years as a tutor, Peter Thompson had encountered situations like this before, but it was always with mischievous boys, so he was used to it. But hearing a girl say this in such a pleasant voice still made Peter Thompson feel a bit awkward.

"Little Thompson, I'm so sorry, this child has been spoiled by her mother. Please don't take offense!" Mr. Spencer quickly said to Peter Thompson.

Peter Thompson could only reply, "Please, Mr. Spencer, don't say that!"

"I'm an old classmate of your advisor, so I'm not really an outsider. You don't have to keep calling me Director, just call me Uncle." Mr. Spencer said.

Hearing this, Peter Thompson had to change and call Mr. Spencer Uncle. At this point, Lucy Spencer had already been dragged to the living room by her mother, looking very unhappy.

With her long, toned legs, slightly curving chest, and height a bit over 1.6 meters, if not for the youthful innocence still on her face, Lucy Spencer would already be a bona fide young woman.

Lucy Spencer wasn't exactly stunning, but she was very attractive and had a unique charm. She was the kind of girl with a bit of a tomboyish vibe, full of wildness and energy, which surprised Peter Thompson given how different she was from her gentle and delicate mother.

Chapter 9 The Girl's Plot

"Hello, Mr. Thompson!"