Chapter 83

&#lt;p&#gt;&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt; I Am Chasing After Her
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Being held inside Tristan’s embrace and taking in his unique scent made Sophie feel safe.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Is your Grandpa okay?” Tristan rushed over to her location when he heard what was going on with her.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;At that moment, he didn’t want to think about anything else other than protecting her and staying by her
side.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Not too good.” Sophie knew her grandfather’s condition must be serious to warrant a stay in the
hospital.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;She also knew how stubborn he could get due to his past experience as a soldier. He would always
think his body was still fine and unwilling to admit that age was catching up.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Everything she said at that moment would be pointless.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan simply grabbed her hand and comforted her. “I’ll stay here with you.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;No one has any say in the circle of life and death.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Along that way, we would go through sickness and hardships, and there was really nothing we could do
about it other than endure and embrace it.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Mr. Tristan, you don’t—”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“There’s no need to act tough all the time, Ms. Tanner.” With him around, she could act more gently.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Sophie wanted to say something, but Josiah woke up at that moment.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Is that your friend, Soph? Since he’s here, why don’t you introduce him to me?” he asked.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan stepped closer to Josiah with Sophie.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Hello, Old Mr. Tanner. I’m Tristan.” Before Sophie could introduce him, he introduced himself.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Josiah studied the young man in front of him in detail. He’s certainly good-looking, and it seems like
he’d served in the military before.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Have you served in the army?”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“For a year,” Tristan replied.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Good, that’s good.” Josiah tended to feel more friendly toward people who served in the military
before.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“You’re Sophie’s…” He raised his eyebrow slightly. Everything about him seems pretty good, though he
definitely looks older than Soph.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“He’s my classmate’s uncle.” Sophie spoke up.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Ah, uncle!” Josiah clearly didn’t believe that.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’m chasing after her right now.” Tristan didn’t at all hide his intention.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;She was speechless. This man is so blunt!
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“How old are you this year?” Josiah was getting serious because he quite liked the young man.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’m twenty-eight years old.” Tristan didn’t realize he panicked a little when he said that.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Twenty-eight years old! Our Soph is only eighteen.” Josiah was a little concerned about the age gap.
“However, as long as she likes you, I don’t mind. Just take good care of her.”&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Sophie grabbed an apple and peeled it. Her hands were so agile that the fruit appeared as though it
was dancing in her palms.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Once she cut the apple into slices, she stabbed toothpicks into them and served them.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan continued to talk to Josiah.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Both of them had a pretty good time talking with each other, which made the old man like the younger
man even more.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;It wasn’t until they were alone in the room that Josiah said, “Even though you’re a decade older than
Soph, I quite like you, Tristan. Good luck!”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;While he liked Tristan, he could tell Sophie didn’t seem ready yet. If Tristan wants to marry her, there’s
still a long way ahead for him.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’ll do my best.” Tristan smiled.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I only have one request. Soph is still young, so don’t you dare bully her.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I understand.” Tristan knew what Josiah was implying and gave the old man his promise.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’m a little tired now. You should take Soph out for a meal! I’m not hungry, and I don’t really have the
appetite.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Josiah loved Sophie the most, and so he would always think for her.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“What do you want to eat, Grandpa? I’ll buy some for you,” Sophie asked after she returned to the
ward.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Since she was already at the hospital, she wouldn’t be able to eat in peace if she didn’t see her
grandfather eating well.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Anything of what you can find will be good! I’ll be sleeping now.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Okay.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan put the blanket over Josiah’s body. If my dad sees me in the act, I bet he’ll be furious.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;When Sophie returned from fetching water, she saw him covering Josiah’s body with a blanket.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;At that moment, she felt touched.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;When Tristan turned back and saw her holding a kettle, he went over to her side and grabbed it. “You
should’ve let me do this.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“My grandpa likes you,” Sophie stated.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I prefer if you like me instead.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;She was speechless. Is this how he chases after women?
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’ve never chased after a woman before, Sophie. You’re my first, and my last. I don’t have any
experience, but I want to give you the best I can offer.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Mr. Tristan—”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“All right, it’s fine. You’re still young. I’m not in a hurry. I can wait.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Both of them were experiencing the same kind of feeling, a feeling of longing for each other.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Right now, I need to fulfill my promise to Old Mr. Tanner and take you out for a meal,” Tristan said.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’m not hungry.”&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“You should still eat even if you’re not hungry. People don’t eat just because they’re hungry!” He knew
Josiah wouldn’t want her to suffer because of him.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan pushed Sophie out of the hospital and brought her to a nearby restaurant.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;The decor was very elegant.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;After the food they ordered arrived, he kept putting food on her plate.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;As for Sophie, she ate quietly.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;After their meal was over, Tristan asked the chef to prepare three mild-flavored dishes for Josiah.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Upon returning to the hospital, they saw the old man had woken up.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;He was smiling at them as they entered the ward.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan proceeded to lay out the three dishes he bought on the table.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;While the dishes were mild-flavored, the chef spent a lot of effort making them look good.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tristan ladled a bowl of mushroom soup for Josiah before Sophie held the bowl and fed the soup to her
grandfather with a spoon.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Seeing how naturally the two of them were interacting with each other, Josiah began to feel like they
were made for each other.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Open your mouth, Grandpa.” Sophie was never good at serving other people or having great patience,
but she was exceptionally patient when taking care of her grandfather.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Josiah opened his mouth and drank a spoonful of soup.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Mhm. The taste is pretty good. It reminds me of the food I eat in the military. You sure are thoughtful,
Tanny.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Tanny? Sophie turned to glance at Tristan. Grandpa’s probably the only person in Jipsdale who calls
Tristan that!
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’m glad you like it, Old Mr. Tanner. The chef of the restaurant we went to was a retired member of the
platoon you served with before,” Tristan replied.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Josiah became even more satisfied with Tristan. If he’s treating me this nicely, doesn’t it mean he’s
very interested in Sophie?
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;He was having a pretty good appetite and managed to finish half of the food on his plate.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;Sophie didn’t dare to tell him to finish the rest since eating too much at that time of day might lead to
stomach problems.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;After the old man finished his meal, Tristan chatted with him further.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I think you two should head back now! There are nurses and butlers around to take care of me,”
Josiah urged.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I want to stay with you, Grandpa,” Sophie retorted.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Listen to me, okay? Don’t you have classes tomorrow?”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“It’s fine if I don’t attend school for one day,” she said without a care.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“It’s not convenient for a girl like you to stay here, Soph! You should go back.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“I’ll send you back first before returning here to accompany Old Mr. Tanner,” Tristan offered.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;

&#lt;p/&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“Mr. Tristan—” Sophie felt it wasn’t necessary for him to do that.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“You can come over during the day. It’s more convenient for me to take care of him during the night.”
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;She stayed silent.
&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p&#gt;“All right, that’s enough. I’m fine! I don’t need people to take care of me. You should send her back
home now!” Josiah said.&#lt;/p&#gt;
&#lt;p/&#gt;