(Chapter 102) An Interrogation

"The Old Master is waiting inside." The butler stepped aside the door leading to the main living room. As the door started to open from the inside.

The butler normally would give a quick tour of the mansion and show which areas they can and can't go. But since he was certain the woman he was leading was the same one as his Master brought home. He didn't dare say anything that opposed what he could have said.

Astrid knew the butler was treating her and her father differently but paid no attention to it. She and her father walked inside the room. And were met by quite a scene.

'Oh... A family meeting?' Astrid now felt the nerves piling up on her.

She wasn't worried about her skills or whether she was worthy of Lewis. She knew better than everyone that she was grossly overqualified. But she had no experience meeting someone else's parents in such a jovial manner...

Inside the room was Elder Guilliano, who was taking his time playing chess against a middle-aged woman. Astrid immediately noticed this woman to be Lewis's mother, based on her looks, and the descriptions she had been given by both Lewis and Leone of the woman.

She looked to be the epitome of a noblewoman. Wearing a long dress with simple jewelry. You could she had high maintenance based on how good her skin looked. She seemed to not have aged as well as her own mother however, but with her black hair done up, she looked more aloof than her own mother.

Mr. Tuhs was quite calm, he knew there was nothing to worry about. Because not only was his daughter outstanding, but the potential groom had already chosen her...

He had bundles of pride for his daughter. So unless she was straight-up hated by this family, he wouldn't question her decisions. He was just here as a means of introduction.

Elder Guilliano heard the door open but didn't look in that direction right away. His eyes stayed focused on the chessboard, as he deliberated his next move.

Astrid glanced at the chessboard for a moment. And then slightly nudged her father.

Mr. Tuhs smiled as he lightly coughed. "Old Master, this is my daughter Astrid. Astrid, Old Master Guilliano." Hearing the introduction, Elder Guilliano was a little stunned.

His eyes then turned from the chessboard over to Astrid. The first thing he did was pause. As his eyes widened a few millimeters.

'Is she okay? That eye doesn't look normal... But, isn't she the girl that also topped all the exams a few years ago?' Elder Guilliano was first attracted to Astrid's eye. But when he heard her name and saw her face. He was reminded of a student a few years ago that all the teachers were praising out of control.

Astrid Cont, that was her disguise in school. But now knowing that the same student that got full marks on every test and completely smashed records in the school's history and in the country. Was the daughter of the man he felt some admiration to, he felt this was to be expected.

Astrid then delivered a small courtesy. "Nice to meet you Old Master, and Madam. My name is Astrid." Astrid greeted both Elder Guilliano, and the woman beside him.

Mrs. Guilliano was inwardly quite surprised, normally when her son's potential bride met her they either ignored her or stayed passive. Since they weren't sure on who she was. She had stayed out of the limelight for many years, but the fact she was recognized by Astrid made her look at her face.

Astrid's red-eye was clearly the most obvious feature about her. But her beauty just couldn't be matched either, including the way she carried herself in the courtesy, the politeness on her face, the fact her eyes were clear of any hidden goal. And that fact she had recently heard some news about this woman with unmatchable beauty... She started to like her already.

"Oh? I thought your daughter would be outstanding, but I didn't think she would have been the student who produced such results a few years ago... Come then Astrid, let's have a talk." Elder Guilliano was practically burning a hole through Mr. Tuhs's face with his glare. Any normal father wouldn't be able to keep it in that their child was such a genius. And seeing Astrid now, Elder Guilliano naturally assumed Astrid would be in college or university already.

Astrid nodded and walked toward the chess table. Mrs. Guilliano moved out of the way and smiled while looking at Astrid. 'Leone isn't just signing his praises about her beauty then. She really is an exceptional beauty... But I don't remember him mentioning her eye. Only that she would notice her if she was in front of her.' Mrs. Guilliano then turned and smiled at Mr. Tuhs.

"How about a drink?" She asked quite warmly, as she led Mr. Tuhs to the sofa just a few steps away.

"Mm, tea will do thanks." Mr. Tuhs didn't decline, as he calmly took a seat.

Mrs. Guilliano nodded and looked at the maid in the corner of the room. As she lowered her head, Mrs. Guilliano sat down opposite to Mr. Tuhs.

"So... Astrid. Do you know why your father brought you here today?" Elder Guilliano started to clear the chessboard of the pieces, and rearrange them.

Astrid shook her head. She didn't.

Elder Guilliano nodded as he then put the final pawn on the board. "Mm, Are you currently in college then?" Elder Guilliano asked, just based on her age Astrid would be in college. But based on her results, she would probably be in university already...

Astrid moved a pawn on her side to start the game. "No Old Master, I never went to college." Astrid was telling the truth, she never experienced the studious life of college and university.

Elder Guilliano was a bit surprised as Astrid started to play. He then started to move his piece as well. "No? Not university either?"

Astrid then took one of his pieces. "No, I went into work instead." Again, she told the truth... Despite how twisted it was.

Elder Guilliano was both surprised and a little upset. "You were a good student. Why didn't you continue your studies?" He even forced Lewis through university despite him already having the qualifications to lead a business.

Astrid looked at her father, who was quietly sipping his tea. "I started to help out my parents with the business instead." That... Was true, but the words more suited were 'I took over the business and didn't have time.'

Elder Guilliano glanced over to Mr. Tuhs, seeing his pensive smile. He realized that was probably true. "Oh? How much do you know about your father's business?"

Mr. Tuhs then chuckled hearing that question. Earning a strange look by not only Mrs. Guilliano, but also the maid in the corner.

Astrid took yet another piece from Elder Guilliano. Taking her attention away from the board, she looked up into his eyes and smiled. "More than he does."

"..." Elder Guilliano was stunned. 'She isn't arrogant by any means... No, no, no. She is very similar to my rascal grandson! He proves his words with his actions. the way she said that... Is she that important in Hanxi?'

He then looked down at the board, he was losing. No, not losing. He was being obliterated, in a rookie's eyes it was a close match. They had the same amount of pieces on the board. But the positioning of Astrid's pieces was much better, she was ready to pounce on his mistakes. While she also used her pawns better, and had better pieces available to her.

'She plays better than some of the grandmasters I know... He might have met his match.' Elder Guilliano was no longer so upset that she didn't continue her education. What was the point of a few papers when she could have such methodical thinking and also have experiance in the fastest growing business in the world right now?

He underestimated her. Despite knowing that she was the daughter of a man he felt achieved highly, she seemed to far outclass him. He had played against Mr. Tuhs in chess before and it was extremely close. But if they continued to play out this game there would be a slim chance of victory for him...

Elder Guilliano then moved his knight, as he looked into Astrid's eye.

He didn't mind her eye. Maybe that was a reason she wasn't shown to the public. But to him, looks didn't matter. A person's brain, and how they utilized it were more important than looks.

Astrid felt a little pressured as Elder Guilliano kept looking at her eye. It was her weak spot, especially when she had basically guessed only two possibilities she was here today. But she kept her attention on to the chessboard instead.

"You have confidence young lady. But overconfidence can be a person's downfall." Elder Guilliano seemed to be critisising Astrid. But Mrs. Guilliano knew her father-in-law best.