Joseph Lancaster lightly coughed, leaned forward to pick up his teacup and brought it to his lips. Sophia Hamilton instinctively sat up straight, while Evander Lancaster just glanced over indifferently.

Joseph Lancaster took a sip of tea and spoke casually as he set down the cup, "Sophia, how old are you this year?"

"Twenty-five," Sophia timidly raised her eyes, and the hand holding Evander’s tightened unconsciously.

"What do your parents do for a living?"

"My father was a teacher; he passed away a few years ago. My mother used to be a doctor and is now retired." Sophia spoke honestly, feeling very much like a girlfriend meeting the parents.

Joseph Lancaster leaned back on the sofa and didn’t ask anything else, though his brows furrowed slightly, showing his dissatisfaction with Sophia’s family background. He turned to Robert Lancaster, who was on the other side of the sofa, "Robert, go check how the lunch preparation is going."

"Yes." Robert Lancaster agreed and got up to head to the kitchen.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward, as Joseph Lancaster didn’t engage further with Sophia after asking about her parents’ professions. Evander curled his lips disdainfully, looked at Joseph like making small talk, and asked, "Uncle, why are you so free today? I heard the company is developing a new product recently?"

Joseph Lancaster understood the implication in Evander’s words, subtly accusing him of meddling in others’ business.

Joseph picked up the teacup again, sipped after swirling the tea leaves, then looked at Evander with a stern expression like a strict father disciplining his son.

"It’s been hectic lately, but upon hearing you’re bringing your girlfriend home, I made time to come back. Your father left early, so as your uncle, I have to look out for you."

Joseph finished speaking, and Evander snorted unceremoniously, turning to look at Sophia. He raised a hand to smooth the hair on her forehead and said nonchalantly, "Uncle, even though you’re an elder, some things can’t replace a father’s role. We have the freedom to love now. I’m just bringing Sophia back as a formality to let mom know I have a girlfriend, so there’s no need for her to keep pushing blind dates on me."

"Evander! Is that how you talk to your elders?" Violet Zimmerman just happened to come out from the kitchen with a glass of juice in hand, admonishing her son as she approached the sofa. Robert Lancaster followed behind her, also heading toward the sofa.

"Mom, did I say something wrong?" Evander lounged carelessly on the sofa, one long leg perched on the knee of the other, his slippered foot bouncing up and down.

Violet frowned disapprovingly, "Mind your posture, there are guests here!" As she spoke, she had already approached and sat down next to Sophia, placing the glass of juice in front of her courteously, "Have some, it’s freshly squeezed."

"Thank you," Sophia curved her lips, and Evander also lowered his leg, not because of his mother’s reminder but to conveniently reach for the freshly squeezed juice.

He took a sip himself after picking it up, then handed it to Sophia. She couldn’t refuse, so she shyly took a small sip after receiving it. Then she saw Evander look over her to his mother and say, "Mom, I need to correct you. Sophia is not a guest; she’s my girlfriend, and I plan to have the wedding after the New Year."

"Cough..." Sophia choked on the juice that had just entered her throat.

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