Take My Breath Away

Jennifer thought for a while and then shook her head. "I haven't paid much attention to it, so I don't know the details. Adkins, do you want to raise a panda?"

"Yes, but I'm a little short of money at the moment. I've used the sum my father gave me in another investment, and he had already been generous with my pocket money. So, I didn't want to ask him for more. You know, my father has been working so hard to earn money lately..."

Of course, Jennifer wasn't stupid. Although she was stunned for a moment, she quickly recovered and understood what she had to do. Taking out her phone, she dialed a number. As soon as the call was connected, she asked, "How much does it cost to raise a panda?"

After a while, she hung up the phone and pulled a check out of her purse. As she wrote a number on it, she said, "So, I've asked, and you need about one million to raise a panda. Since you like it so much, I'll give you two million to raise a cub. Take it, my good boy!"

Staring at the check, Adkins pretended to be embarrassed. "Aunt Jennifer, I can't accept it!"

Indeed, two million was a lot of money for Jennifer, but she still could afford it. "It doesn't matter. It's a small sum of money. As long as you're happy, Adkins, it's fine."

Adkins was Matthew's eldest son, and as she heard, all the four Huo boys were highly gifted children. There was no doubt that they had a promising future ahead of themselves.

Therefore, if she could become friends with any of them, she would have much more than two million in return when the time came.

Taking the check from her hand, Adkins looked at it seemingly touched. He then told the woman in front of him, "Aunt Jennifer, when I go back, I'll tell my father that you took good care of me and helped me a lot. I was short of money, and you've lent me some. Rest assured that I'll ask Dad to help you, too, in one way or another."

That was exactly what Jennifer wanted to hear. It didn't matter if he didn't pay the money back. As long as Matthew owed her a favor, spending two million was definitely worth it! "Good boy, you're so polite. If you have any difficulties in the future, you can tell me. I'll be glad to help you!"

"Thank you, Aunt Jennifer. I know it's not easy for anyone to make money. I'll borrow this two million from you now and ask my father to return it to you later!"

Amused, she giggled but had to hold back her urge to rub the boy's head once she remembered he behaved like a neat freak during their meal together. Putting her hand down, she said with a smile, "Little cutie, you're such a good boy. Auntie likes you a lot!"

"I like you too, Aunt. You're the best woman I've ever known!" Discreetly, Adkins put the check into his pocket, and then something occurred to him.

Taking out a business card, he handled it to Jennifer and told her, "This is my father's private phone number. You can contact him whenever you need help with your work. But if it's about any personal affair, please don't bother him. For that, there is Mom!"

'Matthew's private number? Oh my God! Only a few people in Y City knows about it besides Mathew's best friends!'

Jennifer got even more excited now that she had Matthew's private phone number. Carefully, she took the gilded business card from the boy's hand and nodded, "Of course, I understand. Don't worry!"

'This meal and two million dollars were really worth it!'

She wanted to drive Adkins back to his home, but the boy already had his own car and driver waiting for him, so she had to content herself with escorting him back to his vehicle. However, she didn't leave the place until she saw the car disappear on the road.

Adkins had handled everything quietly, but, sooner or later, he would have to account for it. Secrets always had a way of coming out.

One night, except for Damian, the three other boys were discussing when to raise a panda.

Meanwhile, Matthew had just got upstairs when he saw the door to Damian's room half-open. Stepping inside, he found the boy sitting on the balcony as he painted something.

He approached his son quietly and saw the picture on the drawing board.

The outlines of several pandas were sketched along with a few children who were playing with the animals. Next to them, Damian was now drawing an adult.

The man had long and slender legs, wore a suit and a tie, and had his hands in his pockets... 'That should be me, ' Matthew thought.

Not wanting to interrupt the boy's concentration, Matthew stood there in silence as he watched.

In the living room, Adkins suddenly looked all around.

Then he asked, "Where is Damian?"

"Dad is missing, too," Boswell noted after searching for them in the kitchen and the balcony.

Colman guessed, "They should be upstairs. Let's go and have a look!"

Putting their toys aside, the three children agreed and rushed upstairs.

In his room, Damian had finally sensed he wasn't alone anymore.

He turned around with the oil pastel in his hand and looked at the man standing beside him. Damian was slightly taken aback when he saw his father. "Dad, why are you here?"

Rubbing his head, Matthew said, "Your brothers are all downstairs discussing when to raise a panda. Why don't you join them?"

At that instant, three little boys poked their heads through the door after hearing their father's voice and became all ears to the conversation taking place in the room.

A trace of disappointment flashed across Damian's face. Although it disappeared as soon as it came, Matthew took notice of it and felt sorry for the boy.

But the next moment, with a smile on his face, Damian replied, "Despite liking the pandas, I don't want to raise them. I can't make that much money now, so I will just stay at home and draw my brothers with the pandas! I think that's good too."

Damian didn't have Adkins' social skills, Boswell's business acumen, or Colman's talent for writing programs. It seemed that all he had was two capable hands. He thought all he could do was play the piano and paint.

Matthew looked at the painting and thought for a moment. "How about this? Since I like your painting very much, I can buy it after you finish it. But I have one request..."

"What's that?" Damian looked up at him in surprise.

"I'm your client now. If you want me to buy your work, you must continue to paint according to my preferences." As much as he wanted to encourage his child, he also wanted him to know that making money wasn't that easy.

Tilting his head to one side, the boy became thoughtful for a while. Finally, he understood what his dad meant. "Dad, you want me to draw according to your requirements so I can sell my work to you for one million dollars?"

"Yes!" Matthew nodded.

At then, something crossed Damian's mind, and he said, "In that case, it makes no difference. It's you who is going to give me the money. My brothers earned their money by themselves, but I'll get mine from my father. What if my brothers get mad?"

"You are wrong. Even if you don't sell this painting to me, someone else will buy it. You could earn two million by selling it at an auction. I'm just getting the benefit of buying it for one million. You see, I'm saving money but also saving you a lot of trouble. Anyway, whether you want to take it out for auction or sell it to your father, the choice is yours."

Evidently, the Huo family's influence added to the painting's value. As long as it was about Matthew, the drawing could even sell for ten million dollars.

What was valuable was not the painting itself, but its connection to the Huo family.

At that moment, the three boys standing at the door exchanged looks and shared the same thought. How could they leave their youngest brother behind now that they had the money? Determined, the three children jumped out and walked into the room together.