Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 77: Bending Down to Lift Her Skirt

"..."

Thea Lynch was at a loss for words to describe her feelings at this moment. In short, it was beyond words.

If there were a time machine, she would undoubtedly choose to return to the day at the racetrack. She’d slap herself before agreeing to Sean Bell’s silliness, to wake herself up properly.

Right now, she felt like she’d gone back to her childhood.

Back when Sean Bell, being close in age to her, was still small, they could play together. Even then, Sean Bell was full of wild ideas and loved causing trouble.

During that time, she didn’t understand anything and foolishly followed him around.

In the end, she’d get scolded along with him and then reprimanded by her brother when she returned home.

Most of the few "heroic" acts she had in the courtyard were almost all because of Sean Bell’s influence.

Looking back now, she really must have been out of her mind.

Thea Lynch tried to follow his train of thought, "I still don’t understand."

"What’s there to understand?" Sean Bell, the mastermind behind this event, was more carefree than her.

He shrugged and said nonchalantly, "Don’t they all say I’m crazy? If you could understand a lunatic’s thoughts, wouldn’t you be no different from a lunatic yourself."

Thea Lynch: "..." It sounded ridiculous, but on second thought, it made sense.

She looked him up and down, "You actually know how others perceive you."

"I’ve always known." Sean Bell chuckled lightly, still with that indifferent demeanor, as if it wasn’t him they were discussing.

"And they’re not wrong."

He was indeed a madman, chasing thrills, impulsive without reason, with most of his startling actions having no plan, entirely spur-of-the-moment.

For him, there was no absolute right or wrong.

All his ideas came in a fleeting moment.

Thea Lynch still couldn’t comprehend how someone as lacking in a moral compass as him became a lawyer.

Unable to resist, she asked again.

"Is there really a need to ask why?" He seemed to have no answer himself, stroking his chin in thought for a few seconds, then tentatively asked, "Because the old man likes it?"

"...How would I know? I’m asking you." Thea Lynch smirked.

Sean Bell shrugged, indicating he didn’t know either.

However, fortunately, Thea Lynch had heard that he was serious and dependable during work hours, completely different from his private self, and hadn’t done anything untoward.

At least he had some conscience.

——

As Ian Preston took his seat, the auction officially began.

Ian Preston’s position was also on the second floor, but not with Thea Lynch and Sean Bell.

Thea Lynch and Sean Bell sat to the side of the second floor, while Ian Preston was in a central box on the second floor. From the doorway of the box, leaning on the railing, he could see the auction stage directly below.

This position also had its significance, not just anyone had the status to sit here.

When Ian Preston came upstairs, he took a spiral staircase from the other side, bypassing Thea Lynch’s side. With columns blocking the view, he didn’t immediately spot their location.

However, this wasn’t a big deal; Ian Preston could find out their whereabouts with just a casual inquiry.

The chessboard Thea Lynch had her eye on was further down the line. She wasn’t interested in the earlier items but stayed seated throughout, sitting upright in her chair.

Many people below frequently looked up toward her position, whispering among themselves.

"Who’s the young lady sitting next to Young Master Bell upstairs?"

"Looks like a celebrity."

"Better not speak nonsense; anyone who can sit with Young Master Bell shouldn’t be an actress."

"Looking at her demeanor, she doesn’t seem to be from an ordinary family."

"Probably quite influential. Someone said they saw Young Master Bell bending down to lift the hem of her dress at the door earlier."

"Really? That’s Sean Bell! Who in Coronet could have such face from their family?"

"Don’t be surprised; there is someone."

"Which family?"

"Did you forget? There’s an old saying, ’South Zhou, North Qin, East Cheng, West Bell,’ and one more at the center like a stabilizing force, the Lynch Family."

"The Lynch Family? It’s been years since I’ve heard about them."

"Exactly, the Lynch Family is renowned for their loyalty and valor. Now in the family, aside from Elder Lynch, there’s just the eldest and his wife. Oh right, and the youngest daughter from the second child’s family."

"Youngest daughter..."

The crowd immediately fell silent, all looking towards the second floor.

There by the railing, a woman sat with her legs naturally crossed, slightly swinging a foot. Her back was straight, her head lowered, eyes fixed on the auction stage ahead. A lock of curled hair fell from her shoulder, a light shawl covering the exposed skin.

She seemed to sense the gaze from this side, her fair neck gently turning, casting a glance downwards, like a goddess looking down indifferently, graceful yet cool.

In that brief moment of eye contact, an invisible pressure descended, and faint gasps could be heard around.

Caught red-handed in their peeking, a few people felt awkward, unable to decide whether to look away or greet her back, when the figure on the second floor nodded towards them, giving a slight greeting.

"..."

Even just this casual action made the few present feel honored, quickly nodding in return.

Shortly after, the person upstairs shifted her gaze back to the auction stage.

"Did she just...greet us?"

"It seemed like it?"

——

Upstairs, Sean Bell noticed that scene and chuckled softly, "You don’t even know them, why acknowledge them."

"What’s that got to do with knowing them or not?" Thea Lynch rotated the agarwood bracelet in her hand, "It’s just out of courtesy."

Sean Bell clicked his tongue in discontent.

Hearing this, Thea Lynch turned and glanced at him, smiling, "I forgot, you don’t have that kind of thing."

For anyone else, this remark might have been provoking, but Sean Bell took pride in it, even shaking with laughter.

He didn’t object, in fact, he agreed.

He indeed was uncivilized, impolite. It had always been like that, from childhood to now.

The constraints of rules were what he most despised. To him, rules were non-existent.

That’s why Thea Lynch had often marveled at how he became a lawyer.

Truly a contradictory person.

Thea Lynch couldn’t help but wonder, "Do you ever find your right hand fighting your left hand every day?"

Do your left and right brains never clash?

She didn’t mean it as mockery; Sean Bell could tell. So he seriously replied, "Occasionally."

But not literally the right hand fighting the left. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Most times, his rationality was at a disadvantage. Because he rarely needed it, his rationality, aside from during work hours, often ended up on the losing side.

Thea Lynch nodded, just as she had expected.

The two chatted away, oblivious to someone emerging from the central box. The person observed the surroundings before finally fixing their gaze on them, then turned back into the box to report.