(Chapter 19) Curiosity

"Is everything ready?" Francesca asked a group of maids nervously.

"Yes Miss." A maid responded confidently, they were certain they could entertain their miss' friend with no issue.

Francesca sighed with relief. She looked at her father who was reading the morning newspaper with a strange expression. "Don't you have work today daddy?"

Mr. Di Rui simply chuckled. Of course he did, he just wanted to see his daughter's friends for himself... "I do, I'm just being nosy." He responded amiably, it was quite clear that the father-daughter had a good relationship.

*Cough* "The guests have arrived." The head butler announced while clearing his throat.

Francesca nodded excitedly while bypassing the door to her house, Mr. Di Rui just chuckled when he saw how excited his daughter was.

"Astrid! Winoa! It's great that you came!" Francesca could barely keep her excitement in. She was worried about Astrid since she fainted at school, but seeing her now, she was relieved to see her okay.

Astrid closed the car door behind her and let Winoa go up and hug Francesca, speaking about some things. While Astrid just walked up to them slowly, as to not interrupt them.

"Oh, is that your father?" Francesca asked with an excitable expression.

That question was aimed at Astrid, Mr. Tuhs didn't drive a car that would attract attention, just for the reason of he didn't feel like it. Meaning Francesca could see his face through the window.

Although Astrid looked a lot like her mother, she also could be linked with her father if one had a look...

Astrid nodded. "Mm, he has work today, so he drove us here." Astrid explained, she wouldn't mention that her father was curious about the friend she and Winoa had made so he personally came to see her.

Mr. Tuhs understood that the girls were talking about him and gave a slight smile to them, "Alright, I'll come and pick you up later. Have fun." He spoke lightly, he could see the incoming man behind Francesca, and knew that it would be a good idea to let Astrid be friends with Francesca.

Mr. Di Rui decided to come out to see his daughter's friends out of curiosity, but seeing the man in the grey family car, he suddenly had a strange feeling. 'I must be thinking wrongly, there is no way that was the CEO of Hanxi...'

"Ah, so these are your friends?" Mr. Di Rui didn't pay much more attention to the car that was leaving, he wasn't a busybody to investigate his daughter's friends.

Francesca nodded. "Hello Mr. Di Rui, my name is Winoa." Winoa introduced herself with a small bow and a sunny smile.

"Hello, Astrid." Meanwhile, Astrid just introduced herself with an expressionless face.

Mr. Di Rui had a good first impression of these two girls, they weren't like other heiresses, showing off wealth. Instead, they seemed simple and likable.

"Mm, I've heard a lot about you from my daughter, come inside for some snacks." Mr. Di Rui spoke like an amiable host.

Astrid and Winoa both nodded. While Francesca skipped along the pathway into her house. Based on her sunny face alone, it was clear to see she was extremely happy...

.......

This weekly cycle continued for 3 weeks. Astrid and Winoa would go to school and be with Francesca during their free time. They eventually got closer and were going around Francesca's house during the weekend.

During any physical classes, Astrid would give it her all, her body slowly built up some stamina so she wouldn't faint after running so far. She would still be tired, but it was more normal now.

Mr. Tuhs sporadically had Astrid come to the company to seek her opinions on some things, seeing that Direa still had intentions toward her father, Astrid would laugh watching her attempts to seduce him.

Astrid had also begun to trade some stocks, since this world was with different companies Astrid had to do a lot of research before doing anything, but she now felt comfortable putting money into businesses and being able to make a profit.

Of course, this money was linked to her father's account, seeing his daughter trade stocks so well. He decided to set up a separate account for her to play around with.

Mrs. Tuhs would keep bringing out Astrid and sometimes Mr. Tuhs into the city. Mostly for shopping purposes, but also to show Astrid around in person.

One time they all were sitting in a park together, when Mrs. Tuhs suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, running off to the bathroom in a hurry.

Mr. Tuhs was panicking, thinking that his wife ate something bad or maybe even poisoned, while Astrid was also thinking along the same lines.

Mrs. Tuhs came out of the bathroom with a slightly pale face. "I'm fine, I just ate something bad." She explained, while deciding to have something tested...

Astrid nodded with relief. She had become quite close to her new father and mother.

One day in school, Astrid was sitting in her science class with her eyes closed.

Normally teachers wouldn't stand for that, but with Astrid's performances on the tests set, the teachers in the school would overlook it. Especially since she sometimes seemed better than them at the subject they teach...

Mr. Dihl especially had an easy time, he promised to keep Astrid from harm, but with all the teachers enjoying Astrid being so intelligent and leading their lessons. Even the principal had mentioned to the teachers to make sure she stayed safe, so his job was pretty simple.

"Leone, answer the question on the board." The teacher picked out a student to answer the question set.

Some of the students in the class sniggered at the teacher's words. While the student called Leone stood up with an uninterested expression. "Oxygen." He spoke with a stifled yawn.

The class all sniggered at the answer. While the teacher sighed in disappointment. "Wrong, just sit down." The teacher didn't want to deal with this student anymore.

Astrid took a glance at Leone who sat down without a care in the world. Feeling someone looking at him, he looked around until he saw Astrid's gaze on him.

He was a bit surprised, he felt kind of honored, Astrid mainly slept during classes and only was awake to do work or answer questions. She also looked like a younger child and she was quite cute...

Astrid was impressed with Leone's return gaze, he didn't get shy or try to hide. Instead he looked away and gazed at the other students with disgust.

'Interesting, he seems stupid, but the calm look he gave me was clearly one of power.' Astrid then became convinced that this boy had a hidden background.

"Alright, class is over." The teacher dismissed everyone, Astrid watched as Leone went over to the cafeteria to eat. She picked up her bag and started to follow.