The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

"Can you prove that my parents are innocent by finding the people who carried out the mission with my parents?" Novalee held Walter's hand tightly.

She looked like a helpless child who pinned all her hopes on Walter at this moment.

Walter's heart softened when he saw Novalee's expression.

"Do you know who else did that with your parents?"

"I have no idea, but Uncle Liu may know and I can ask him about it when we go to his place in the evening."

"Alright."

Walter had mixed feelings deep down but he held back his emotions as he looked at Novalee's excited expression. At that moment, he wondered if a woman like her would put on a facade? Perhaps it was just a coincidence?

However, even he himself wasn't convinced by that excuse.

So, Walter sighed and said, "I'll go out and smoke."

"It's not good to smoke so often... Don't do it so frequently."

Walter paused for a moment after hearing Novalee's words and he said with a smile, "What's wrong? Are you trying to control my actions?'

"No... I'm just telling you this for your own good."

At that instant, Novalee's face turned red.

She felt that her feeling for Walter was getting increasingly complicated.

However, Walter did not tease her any further and he went straight out.

He leaned against the window and lighted up a cigarette, though he didn't smoke much as he just let the cigarette burned down through his fingers. Then, he crashed it into ashes and let it scatter onto the floor Walter's mind seemed to be carried away and he was in a trance.

Novalee saw this scene when she came out.

She felt that Walter had been acting strangely recently and he seemed to have something on his mind, but she was too shy to ask him about it.

She thought that it was all because of the Jade Tycoon, Bosco.

At that instant, Novalee promised to herself deep down that she must ensure that their business could go through successfully, as she felt guilty having received so much help from Walter. Then, Novalee returned to the ward at the thought of this.

Walter stayed outside for quite some time and he entered the ward when he felt that it was about time. Then, he saw that Novalee was all dressed up.

At that instant, he was rather surprised.

"I've never seen you wearing a dress... It looks nice on you."

Novalee felt shy after hearing Walter's words.

"I think it's inconvenient to wear dresses on normal days, so I never wore them, but I figure that I should wear a skirt today since I'm visiting my uncle. How do I look? Is my dress pretty?" She spun around on the spot as she said.

"Hmm... You look beautiful."

Walter smiled faintly.

Then, Novalee walked to him and said, "Don't worry as I will try my best to ask Bosco to cooperate with you, so don't be so gloomy. You seem to be in a daze these days." "I'm fine, let's go."

"Alright."

The two of them walked out of the hospital and went to Bosco's house.

Walter remained emotionless when he saw Bosco's house although it seemed magnificent and grand, Novalee was rather surprised.

"Wow, Bosco is rich!"

"Don't you know that? He earns huge profits from the jade market and his grand villa is nothing at all."

Novalee felt that she had overreacted as Walter seemed indifferent.

Then, she whispered, "Is my outfit too shabby?" "It's okay, I'm sure that Bosco doesn't mind." Walter looked at Novalee's outfit and figured that this might be the most expensive dress in her closet, but he thought that it didn't matter.

Her outfit wasn't a big deal as what mattered most was her intention.

"Will I embarrass you?"

Novalee felt timid all of a sudden.

However, Walter took her into his arms with a smile and said, "It doesn't matter what others think as I don't mind you at all."

"Alright."

Novalee lowered her head in embarrassment.

Later, a servant reported their arrival when the two of them went to the entrance and Bosco came out to greet them after hearing that Novalee came.

However, Walter frowned slightly as he looked at the way Bosco walked.

Walter used to be a soldier, so he could tell what was Bosco's occupation in the past.

It turned out that Bosco was a retired veteran.

"Nice to meet you, Bosco, it's been a long time since we last met."

Novalee greeted Bosco elegantly.

Then, Bosco said with a smile, "Look at you, you're all grown up now. I'm sure that your parents would be really happy to see you if they are still alive. Come on in!" Bosco pulled Novalee into the house as he said that.

Then, Novalee quickly came to Walter's side and said with a beam, "Bosco, let me introduce him to you. He's my boyfriend, Walter Song."

Bosco glanced at his appearance and said with a faint smile, "You're well dressed, but your girlfriend's outfit doesn't match yours. Young man, a man's prestige does not depend solely on his own outfit." However, Novalee quickly said after hearing

Bosco's words, "Bosco, you're mistaken. Walter wanted to buy me clothes but I refused as I think I look nice in this dress, isn't it? Are you not going to welcome me because of my outfit?"

"Haih... Novalee, you're too kind and you're very much like your mother... Let's get in."

Bosco shook his head before entering the house and he wasn't too enthusiastic about Walter's arrival. Nevertheless, Walter didn't care much about it as he went into the Liu's familu house along with Novalee. The servants of the Liu family immediately served them with cakes and they were all Novalee's favorite. "Thank you, Bosco."

"Don't mention it. I'm really close with your parents as you know, but it's a pity that they can't live a good life. I told you to come and visit me several times, but you are so stubborn and you never wanted to come to my place. It's a rare occasion for you to visit me, so of course I should treat you well."

Bosco welcomed Novalee enthusiastically.

On the other hand, Walter remained silent as he sat aside and watched them interacting with each other happily.

He looked at the decorations in Bosco's house subconsciously and found that they were really luxurious.

Then, Novalee noticed that Walter did not utter a word, so she quickly said, "Bosco, I mentioned about a business cooperation with you, what do you think..."

"We shall catch up on old times today and not discuss business affairs. Novalee, I haven't seen you for so many years, so please don't mention our business when we've just met as I feel so distant from you. By the way, how is your brother?"

Walter understood from Bosco's words that he didn't want to cooperate with him at all.

Nevertheless, he smiled and did not say anything although he was not really unhappy deep down.

After all, Walter was a well-known person in Ocean City and he felt extremely displeased by Bosco's strong and arrogant attitude although it was indeed his first time getting involved in the jade market. Also, Walter felt that Bosco didn't seem like a soldier at all.

On the other hand, Novalee said when she heard about Henry, "My brother is fine and he's a college student now, but he will be graduating in a year."

"I see, what's his major?"

"In Financial Management."

Bosco was a little surprised after he heard what Novalee said.

"Huh? I thought he would enter the military academy as he had always said that he wants to become a soldier when he grew up since he was young." "Bosco, everyone needs to find a living and my parents' issue really disappointed my brother, so...

Novalee was rather sad when she said this.

At this moment, Walter found a right timing to interrupt them.

"Mr. Liu, since you have such a good relationship with Novalee's parents, do you have any idea who else carried out the task with her parents?"

At that instant, Bosco was stunned.

"Why are you asking about this?"

"Novalee's parents' ashes are placed in the public cemetery and they have not yet been moved into the cemetery of martyrs. So, I want to find out what happened in the past and clear her parents' reputation. Novalee's brother would be able to attend the military school and even join the army directly as soon as her parents' case is solved."

All of a sudden, Bosco's gaze became solemn after hearing Walter's words.

"Does this have anything to do with you?"

"Yes."

"Who are you?"

Bosco's words amused Walter and he laughed out.

"Mr. Liu, you're really strange. Didn't Novalee say that I'm her boyfriend?"

At that instant, Novalee noticed that there seemed to be a misunderstanding between the two men, so she quickly said, "Bosco, Walter is also a retired soldier and he doesn't have any bad intentions. He just wants to share my burden."

"A retired soldier? From which troop?"

"Mr. Liu, aren't you going too far? What can you do even if I tell you my military code? Are you going to investigate me?"

Walter's words made Bosco frown slightly.

He had a military code?

That meant that he was no ordinary soldier.

At that instant, Bosco's expression suddenly became serious.

"The mission that they carried out that year was a secret and I'm not sure who else was involved in it. I have also reported to my superior about this matter, but I haven't heard from him until now, though I personally believe that they are innocent."

Then, Walter said with a smile, "Of course they are innocent and Novalee and her brother could have avoided the hardships throughout the years... Mr. Liu, does that mean that you have no idea?"

"Indeed, I don't know."

"Thank you, Mr. Liu. Novalee, let's go."

Walter stood up as he looked at Novalee after saying that and he was about to leave.

However, Novalee became a little anxious.

"Walter, didn't you come here for the jade business? Why are you..."

"It doesn't matter to me how much I earn as money is just a number, so don't worry as I'll promise you a happy life and you won't have to be troubled by our wealth. As for the jade business, we can forget it since Mr. Liu is not willing to cooperate with us. I can still take on other projects without this business. Let's go."

At that moment, Bosco started to feel ashamed as Walter's words were clear and direct.

"Young man, I didn't say that I wouldn't give you a chance and I just didn't want to discuss business affairs today." "Mr. Liu, I'm a veteran of the business industry for many years. What's your point of telling me this?"

Walter smiled as he looked straight at Bosco.

At that moment, Bosco realized that it was not easy to deal with Walter.

"You must have mistaken. Novalee has never asked for my help and since she mentioned this, I will surely not let her down. How about we make an appointment and discuss this the day after tomorrow?"

"Alright." Walter did not say anything else as he nodded to Novalee and it was obvious that he wanted to leave.

Novalee did not expect that their meeting would end up like this, so she looked at Bosco with embarrassment and said, "Bosco, I'm sorry, but well have to leave now... Both of you can talk about this next time."

"Alright."

Bosco was smiling, but Walter had a hunch that he was blaming himself deep down.

Nevertheless, this had nothing to do with Walter.

Soon, Walter and Novalee left Bosco's house and his expression became very gloomy.

Not only did Walter not care about his reputation, but he also asked about Novalee's parents.

Where did Walter come from?

Bosco had no idea, so he quickly called someone to investigate Walter's background.