Miranda had noticed from their previous encounters that Susan didn’t seem to like her very much. Given that impression, she thought it was best to act as if they were strangers. After all, apart from a few chance meetings, they didn’t have a real connection.

Susan, on the other hand, subconsciously frowned. This young woman, besides not fitting her taste in looks, also seemed to lack basic manners.

As they passed each other, Miranda didn’t say anything, and Susan also quickly walked away.

“Mimi, where did you go? Come over here, I’ve already picked something,” Mindy called out to her. “That fast? I just went to the restroom, and I didn’t even get to see you try anything on…”

“I’ll show you when we get back,” Mindy said with a smile.

“Alright, sounds good.”

Mindy then casually mentioned, “I ran into a lady earlier; I helped her choose a few dresses, and she mentioned that her son is reading ‘Seven Days’…”

Meanwhile, far away in the lab, Paul sneezed several times in a row.

Silas couldn’t resist teasing him, “Paul, with all those sneezes, there must be a lot of women thinking about you.”

Paul gave him a deadpan look. “You seem to have a lot of free time.”

Silas’s smile instantly froze as he felt a sense of impending doom.

“You should go to the academic conference at the Regency Hotel tomorrow,” Paul added.

“Wait, what? No, please!” Silas exclaimed in distress.

Sandy snickered on the side. “Serves you right! Always trying to butt into other people’s business.”

After the family of three finished shopping, it was already 6:00 pm. Hence, they decided to have dinner at the mall.

Just as Mindy and Miranda were discussing what to eat, Warren called. He told them that he had already booked a restaurant and asked them to head to the mall’s basement level.

Mindy hesitated, “Are you sure? We don’t want to impose on you for dinner.”

“Come on, I invited you to Elgerson for the book signing. If you think about it, I should cover everything, from your meals to your stay. Dinner is the least I could do, and really, I’m gaining more from this,” Warren said, his voice as cheerful and vibrant as always.

Knowing that Mindy preferred lighter flavors since they were from Lumberville, Warren had chosen a private family restaurant that was popular among both locals and visitors. The place was usually packed, so he had made sure to reserve a private room in advance.

The room had a large window that overlooked the adjacent Old Town Street, which had recently been developed with several trendy spots for people to visit.

It gave the feeling of being in a serene mountain setting while looking out at the bustling city.

Throughout the meal, Warren was a perfect host. He took the time to understand everyone’s food preferences, ordered dishes efficiently, and made sure everything was just right. He was considerate without being overbearing, striking the perfect balance of hospitality.

Even Miranda had to admit that Warren was exceptionally good at handling people. As for Mindy, she was completely at ease. They talked like they were old friends, discussing the outline of Mindy’s new book. Miranda also noticed a transformation in her mother’s demeanor.

In the past, conversations with editors often ended in arguments or raised voices, and any mention of her next book seemed to drain her energy. But now, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and she seemed genuinely motivated.

Miranda knew that these changes in her mom were largely due to Warren’s influence. And it was Zach who had introduced Warren to her in the first place.

Later, while they were washing their hands in the restroom, Mindy suddenly said, “You know, we really should thank that friend of yours who introduced us to Mr. Stone.

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am now, and ‘Seven Days‘ wouldn’t exist. We should invite him for a meal sometime, as a family, and thank him properly.”

“Sure,” Miranda agreed with a nod.