Chapter 289: Chapter 289: One-Minute Kiss
Cillian Xavier looked at Warren Prescott in confusion.
Warren cut straight to the point, asking, "I heard you’re going abroad?"
Cillian took a moment before replying, "That’s the plan."
Warren turned around and stared directly into Cillian’s eyes, "Is it because of me? Or... because of Ashley?"
"No."
While Warren was still analyzing the truth of Cillian’s answer, Cillian said, "It’s because of my sister."
The credibility of the exact answer increased significantly.
Warren remained silent for a moment and said, "Archie, I don’t want to lose you as a friend."
An unfathomable anger suddenly surged in Cillian’s heart, but when the anger reached his throat, it abruptly cooled down, as if the fire had turned into ice.
He suddenly asked, "Then are you willing to give Ashley up for the sake of our friendship?"
Warren’s gaze darkened.
Between them, they had never truly and seriously discussed Ashley Shaw.
This was the first time.
"If I say that if you don’t let go, we can’t be brothers anymore, would you be willing to back down?" Cillian stepped forward, closing the distance.
Warren almost without hesitation replied, "That’s the one thing I can’t do."
Cillian tugged at the corner of his lips.
"That’s it. So, in the future, don’t say things like ’I don’t want to lose you as a friend.’ If you end up together, I won’t wish you well, only her, and I believe you know it."
After speaking, he raised his hand and pressed it onto Warren’s shoulder.
"I’ll let you have this chance. If you don’t treat her well, or fail to win her over, I won’t let go a second time."
Warren was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly widened his eyes.
What Cillian meant with these words was that he was letting go.
Warren’s breathing suddenly became a little heavy.
Inside him, a feeling of joy or relief occupied his chest.
But he quickly sensed something was wrong.
Neither he nor Cillian were the type to easily let go when it came to feelings.
Though different in character, they came from the same elite family backgrounds, and people like them, no matter how pure and kind they appear, still have selfishness etched deep in their bones.
Cillian could not possibly give up someone to him without a reason.
He grabbed Cillian’s wrist tightly.
The pressure was so strong that Cillian furrowed his handsome brows.
"Warren, what are you doing?"
Warren’s gaze pierced into Cillian’s soul.
"What happened to your family?"
The only thing he could guess was that something had happened to the Xavier Family.
Cillian clearly saw the concern in Warren’s eyes.
He thought, this was probably where he and Warren differed.
If it was Warren who had just said he was backing down, he might only feel happy, not worried.
Cillian initially thought losing Warren as a friend didn’t matter, but at this moment, he realized, having already lost love, he couldn’t lose friendship too.
Cillian swallowed a mouthful of saliva, but his throat felt even drier.
He shook his head honestly, "It’s not my family, it’s someone else."
"Who?"
Cillian carefully explained about Ivy Bond.
A minute ago, he hadn’t intended to mention it to Warren.
But now he felt it was really not easy for this group of people to have genuine friends.
Warren never expected it to be such a situation.
After a brief silence, he said, "I know a very skilled neurosurgeon from M Country, I’ll ask him tomorrow if he has time to come to Veridia..."
"Is it Smith?" Cillian interrupted him to ask.
When Warren heard him ask this, he knew they had already consulted Smith.
Warren’s acquaintance with Smith was also because of Elder Prescott.
Elder Prescott had heart issues, but the initial symptoms were persistent dizziness and headaches.
So Lars Prescott spent a fortune to bring Smith to Veridia.
Ultimately, it turned out to be a heart problem.
In the field of neurosurgery, Smith’s skills are unrivaled.
If Smith couldn’t solve the problem, no one in the world could cure this condition.
In other words, Ivy Bond’s name was already penned into the book of death, with no escape.
"How much time does she have left?"
"At most two years, at least one year, definitely not more than two years."
Warren nodded and said, "If you need any help, just let me know."
These were polite words, but also sincere.
Aside from the matter with Ashley Shaw, anything else was negotiable.
Cillian tugged at the corner of his lips and said, "Go ahead, today is Leo’s welcome back party, it’s inappropriate if neither of us is there. You go first; I’ll freshen up and join you."
"Alright."
Warren nodded, and it seemed like the moment they had just met was restored, though the details were slightly different.
...
Leo was very happy today.
A huge rotating light ball hovered right above him, casting colorful shadows on his face, making his already handsome features shine even more.
Leo explained that it was like being "kicked" back to the country by his mentor, but in reality, he had learned everything he needed, and was asked to come back to help train local talents.
The research project he was working on abroad also required technology from Veridia.
Over these years, the growth momentum in various aspects of Veridia has been outstanding, especially in cutting-edge technology, and talents like him are in great demand.
It could be said that Leo’s return was a result of great efforts from the higher-ups.
Returning gloriously to his homeland, but he made it sound as if he was a jobless drifter.
Of course, Ashley Shaw only learned these things much later.
As for carrying that top-secret document, it was the military’s idea.
Some higher-ups knew, some didn’t, but if everyone knew, there’s no way they would agree to let Leo take such a risk.
In other words, to the higher-ups, Leo’s life was more valuable than that top-secret document.
It was also the confidence of the Veridian military that assured them nothing would happen to Leo, and they were certain that those eyeing the document wouldn’t make any rash moves.
And indeed, it proved to be the case.
When Warren returned, everyone had already started playing truth or dare.
Unlike last time when Ashley Shaw and others played dare with cards, this time they were using a party app on their phones.
The app randomly chose whether it was truth or dare, so when Leo drew the penalty to kiss Ashley Shaw for a minute, everyone’s expressions were very complex.
Especially when they saw Warren had returned, a few timid individuals stood up, saying they needed to use the restroom.
The booth had been moved, and a group of people were gathered around a long table they had put together.
When Warren approached, someone immediately stood up and gave him the seat next to Leo.
So now, Leo was seated in the middle, Ashley on his left, and Warren on his right.
Warren hadn’t realized about the party app at first, until a girl with little sense sitting opposite him egged on Ashley and Leo, then he understood.
The girl was brought by a guy with the nickname "Pot Lid."
Hearing his girlfriend heckling like that, Pot Lid immediately regretted finding such an oblivious girlfriend.
"Kissing for a minute?" Warren spoke slowly, the lamp’s reflections in his eyes carrying a barely noticeable, piercing chill.