The Professor's Lie Accidental Billionaire

Chapter 5

"Yes, the eleventh," Elena Vance confirmed with resignation.

She recalled her previous blind date—a department manager at some company. After their $168 steak dinner didn't work out, the man had added her on social media and asked her to transfer the money since things hadn't progressed, insisting expenses should be settled.

Elena, having her pride, sent the transfer, which he promptly accepted.

She then messaged, "Let's hope we never see each other again."

The message failed to send. She needed to be added as a friend first.

That was the kind of absurd man she had encountered.

They soon arrived at her grandmother's place—an older neighborhood where the buildings looked at least thirty to forty years old.

Julian Harrow circled and finally found a parking spot but couldn't maneuver into it. Elena watched him try for ten minutes without success.

Finally, she sighed. "Let me try."

Julian got out, grumbling internally. He wasn't a chauffeur, and the spot was ridiculously small.

Elena parked in under a minute and popped the trunk to unload the groceries.

Julian stood there with his hands in his coat pockets, his expression cool.

"I'm just an office worker—I have to handle things like this, or my boss would fire me. Besides, I've been to Grandma's so many times. University campuses are more spacious, so parking is easier for you..." Elena tried to ease Julian's embarrassment, offering him an out.

"That's true." Julian's expression softened, and he stepped forward to help carry the bags.

They approached a building with three entrances, eleven stories high. Elena's grandmother lived on the first floor—convenient for an elderly person.

When they knocked, the door was opened by the caregiver, Mary.

Mary greeted them warmly. "Elena, you're back! Is this your husband? He's so handsome!" She called inside, "Grandma, your granddaughter brought her husband to see you!"

As she spoke, she took the bags from them and set them by the TV stand in the living room.

Elena acknowledged her. "Mary, this is Julian Harrow. He's a professor at a university."

"Oh, Elena, you have such good taste! He's wonderful in every way. No wonder he looks so refined—an intellectual!" Mary showered him with praise.

Julian responded with a polite smile.

Elena hurried to her grandmother's side, her smile radiant. "Grandma, see? I told you he owns a place downtown. From now on, you don't have to worry about me living under anyone's roof."

Julian assessed the apartment—about seventy square meters with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. It was plenty for an elderly person.

The old lady before him wore simple clothes, her hair completely white, her smile gentle. She seemed quite sprightly for her age, reminding Julian of his own grandmother, who had passed away five years earlier from illness.

"Professor Harrow, thank you for coming to see me. Elena is a little naive and headstrong, so I hope you'll be patient with her. If she does anything wrong, let me know—I'll scold her and make her change," her grandmother said, her voice clear and strong, making it clear she wasn't blindly defending her granddaughter.

But beneath the words, Julian understood the message: if Elena did anything wrong, she would handle it—he wasn't to mistreat her.

"You're Elena's grandmother. It's only right that I come to see you. Our marriage happened rather suddenly, so I owe you an explanation. Please rest assured—I will treat Elena well and won't let her suffer." Julian spoke with refined elegance, his voice deliberately gentle, every word clear and deliberate.

He wasn't the type to be unreasonable. Since they were married, he wouldn't mistreat her.

Unless, of course, Elena proved to have poor character. Even then, he would simply end the marriage through proper channels—no harsh words, no violence.

"Very well. That puts my mind at ease. Mary, set the table. It's half past six—time for dinner." Her grandmother's smile never faded as Mary laid out six dishes and a soup.

She even invited Mary to join them at the table—truly without airs.

"Mary is like a daughter to me. Elena works hard and only manages to visit on weekends. It's thanks to Mary's care that I eat and sleep well." Her grandmother made sure to explain.

Elena smiled. "Mary, please sit and eat. Grandma's right—you deserve it."

Though Elena still worried about leaving her grandmother with a caregiver, Mary had been with them for three years, and her grandmother had never once complained.

Julian watched and listened, smiling. Though the home was small, it was filled with warmth.

Her grandmother picked up a pair of serving chopsticks and piled food onto Julian's plate—a chicken leg, a piece of sour-spicy ribbonfish, egg stir-fried with okra... soon his bowl was overflowing.

Julian could only manage to say thank you repeatedly, not yet having eaten.

"Go on, try it, Julian. Mary's cooking is quite good. I guarantee you'll want to come back after this meal," her grandmother urged cheerfully.

Julian glanced at Elena, who had already started eating, and reluctantly began. He took a few bites—the flavors were mild, truly home-style cooking.

"How is it?" her grandmother asked eagerly, like a child waiting for approval.

Julian responded promptly. "It's delicious. Thank you, Grandma. Please eat as well."

He then used the serving chopsticks to add food to her bowl.

Her grandmother smiled and playfully tapped Elena. "Don't just eat for yourself. Add some food for Julian."

Elena was in good spirits, thinking how wonderful it would be if life could always be like this.

She obediently added a rib to Julian's bowl, then gave one each to her grandmother and Mary, keeping the remaining two for herself.

"All mine! Whenever I come to Grandma's, I always eat so much. Restaurant food is too greasy—only Mary's cooking is healthy and delicious. Professor Harrow, you should eat more too."

Elena's tone was different from before—lighter, more carefree.

Julian nodded with a smile.

"Elena, eat up. You're too thin," Mary added.

She knew Elena's situation well—the stepmother, the sharp-tongued sister-in-law. She was a pitiful girl. Her grandmother sometimes recalled how Elena had barely enough to eat as a child, how she and Elena's uncle secretly gave her money and snacks during school, how Elena spent holidays here to get by...

It was truly remarkable that such a child had grown into the woman she was today.

"I'm fine. I'm one of those lucky people who can eat anything and never gain weight." Elena laughed.

At 165 cm, she weighed just 98 pounds—sometimes hitting 100 if she ate more.

By ordinary standards, she wasn't heavy at all.

She wasn't an actress or model, after all—no need to make her face look smaller.

Her grandmother's eyes glistened with unshed tears, saying nothing. She knew well how much hardship her granddaughter had endured.

After dinner, Elena helped Mary clear the table and wash the dishes.

Julian stayed with her grandmother, watching the evening news and eating fruit.

It was autumn, and the fruit was perfect.

"Professor Harrow, you don't mind if I call you Julian, do you?" her grandmother asked suddenly.