Chapter 108 Learning to Tie a Tie with Him
Alexander was serious and methodical in his teaching, having a good level of patience. However, dealing with a slow learner like Lillian, who seemed clueless, made it really hard not to get angry.
"Look here, pay attention. What tense is this? What is his answer? Why do you use the word 'que'?" Alexander was getting frustrated, his pen continuously tapping on the paper with force.
Lillian looked at the well-crafted silver pen, feeling a pang in her heart. She kept nodding, pretending to understand.
"What are you nodding at? What was the question I just asked?" Alexander threw his pen on the table in frustration, taking a deep breath.
Lillian looked at Alexander and brought a cup of coffee to him, whispering, "I'm slow and not very bright in learning. I can't compare to you. Please don't be so irritable."
Alexander took a sip of the coffee, glancing at her. "Teaching you is more tiring than teaching Luke!"
Lillian pouted unhappily.
Alexander adjusted his breathing and continued explaining the lesson to her.
After over an hour, the lesson was finished, leaving Alexander parched and Lillian understanding all the questions.
"Thank you, Mr. Sinclair," Lillian sincerely thanked him, then asked, "By the way, do I still need to memorize the words Kaitlyn asked me to?"
"I don't want to answer such a stupid question," Alexander impatiently waved her away, asking her to leave.
Lillian understood his meaning and fled.
Words to memorize, exercises to do, and speaking practice, I hate French!
Back in her room, Lillian freshened up and changed into pajamas. When she was about to go to bed, she remembered another homework assignment—learning to tie a tie.
Alright, she reluctantly got up again and went upstairs.
As she was about to enter his room, Lillian saw him coming out of the study. Seeing this, she asked, "Mr. Sinclair, are you going to bed now?"
"What else do you need?" Alexander replied, heading back to his room.
"I have another assignment. Kaitlyn asked me to learn how to tie a tie tonight. Can you teach me?" Lillian leaned against the door frame and asked him.
Alexander paused, looking at her in confusion. "You don't know how to tie a tie?"
"No, I don't. I don't have a husband to teach me," Lillian casually remarked.
After saying that, she felt it was inappropriate and quickly glanced at Alexander.
"Then who am I?" Alexander said, then added, "Go to the study and wait for me."
Lillian turned around, stuck out her tongue, and returned to the study. Moments later, Alexander came in with a tie.
"Pay close attention, and I'll demonstrate it first," Alexander said as he began to show her.
Lillian watched attentively, her eyes following his hands back and forth.
"Do you understand?" Alexander took off the tie and demonstrated it again in slow motion, saying, "Like this, then pull it out, thread it through here, and finally push it up."
"Your turn." He handed her the tie after taking it off.
Lillian took the tie, recalling the steps in her mind. Afraid of making a mistake, she had a slightly tense expression on her face, lips pursed. She carefully followed her impression step by step.
"No, that's wrong. Let's start over," Alexander looked down at her, softly correcting her.
'The fragrance of a girl after a shower wafts into my nose, Lillian's cheeks blushing like a red apple, tempting to take a bite.' Alexander's mind wandered to inappropriate thoughts, his body reacting slowly. Suddenly, with an alarm ringing in his mind, he awkwardly coughed and turned his head slightly.
'Alexander! What are you thinking? You dislike her! Even though you know she's different from her family, you're not interested in her. What are you just thinking? Do you want to take a bite of her cheek? Remember, she's just your contractual wife, and your relationship is strictly professional, not personal!' Alexander thought to himself.
"Mr. Sinclair, it's done," Lillian's words brought Alexander back to reality.
He realized he had been single for too long, hence his heightened sensitivity to a woman around. Spending every day with her and having these pleasant feelings was not surprising. However, it wasn't love.
He sighed, then looked down at the tie he had just tied, feeling dizzy for a moment. He knew he couldn't afford to have feelings for such a foolish woman. If he were to fall in love with this kind of woman, he would surely have a short life.
"What are you doing?" Alexander asked weakly.
Scratching her head, embarrassed, Lillian said, "I tie it based on the steps I remember. I don't know why it turned out like this. You are staring at me without saying anything, so I think it is correct. Who knows, it would turn out like this."
Alexander untied the tie again, showing her once more, resignedly saying, "I don't know where my patience is coming from to teach you how to tie a tie over and over again! I don't want to call you dumb again. If you can't get it this time, learn from online videos!"
"Okay, I'll study hard!" Lillian wished her eyes were on his hands, following each step he took.
After this round, Lillian nodded. "I think I remember."
Alexander was about to tell her to take the tie and practice on her own once she remembered.
But Lillian quickly untied it from him, slowly and carefully tying a knot step by step, adjusting it at the end.
"Is this right?" Lillian looked at the tie, then smiled at him.
Alexander looked down and said, "For such a simple thing, you need to learn it so many times."
Lillian knew he wouldn't offer words of encouragement, shrugged indifferently and thanked him with a smile, "Thank you for your time. Sorry for keeping you up. Good night."
Watching her leave happily, Alexander smiled helplessly. His expression went from pained a moment ago to cheerful the next, truly carefree.
After a night of 'training,' Lillian handed in a satisfactory answer to Kaitlyn. Lillian had learned to tie a tie, received French tutoring from Alexander, and only needed to memorize words. She woke up at four in the morning, studied intensively for two hours, and passed.
Lillian sighed in relief, having completed the task after being trained by Kaitlyn for the past few days, feeling a slight sense of relief.
Suddenly, a WhatsApp message popped up on her phone. Taking a quick break, she glanced at it and saw Angela had tagged her in a group chat.
Angela: [Lillian, do you someone who is buying agent? My friend wants the chocolate in this picture. Both of my personal buyers have been busy these days, so I thought of asking you.]
Lillian opened the picture, not recognizing the brand of chocolate, and replied: [I never find a personal buyer. If your friend really wants it, I can ask Alexander's friends if they know any personal shoppers.]
