Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

"Mr. Liu,"

Earl Arthur's tone was warmer than before, no longer merely polite.

Rather, it's a formal invitation that includes the other party in the category of "something that needs to be taken seriously":

"It's getting late, you must be tired from your journey."

Why don't you do us the honor of having a simple meal with us?

Let us also do our part as hosts.

These words, compared to the dry "You must have had a long journey" he said upon first meeting, show a much more humble attitude.

And it was clearly stated that Liu Jianguo was elevated from an uninvited guest to a guest who needed to be entertained.

This scene left both Marquise Margaret and James, who had been trying to keep a low profile, utterly astonished.

Margaret paused slightly, her hand having been unconsciously stroking the teacup. She glanced quickly at her husband.

He glanced at Liu Jianguo again, his eyes filled with disbelief and confusion.

What exactly happened in the study just now?

The male protagonist of that "scandal" that had worried her for so long and was enough to ruin her family's reputation,

How could someone go from being an awkward presence who needed to be rigorously scrutinized and might even be asked to leave in just half an hour?

Have they become someone who needs to be treated like an important guest?

The speed and magnitude of her husband's change in attitude completely exceeded her expectations.

Young James almost lost control of his expression. His bright blue eyes widened as he looked at the calm Liu Jianguo, then at his uncle who seemed to have instantly "accepted" him, his mind buzzing.

Wasn't my uncle furious just now?

Why did she come out as a completely different person after chatting with her cousin Isabel for a while?

Are you going to have dinner together again?

This development is too bizarre!

He subconsciously looked at Isabel, trying to find the answer on his cousin's face, but only saw Isabel lower her eyes slightly, avoiding his gaze.

Like his living room, Cavendish’s dining room is filled with a rich sense of history and luxurious details.

A long, gleaming mahogany dining table, large enough to seat twenty people, hangs above a huge crystal chandelier, casting a warm and bright glow.

Still life oil paintings hang on the walls, and silver candlesticks gleam.

The air was filled with a faint aroma of toasted bread, roasted meat, and a blend of premium beeswax.

Earl Arthur naturally sat at the head of the long table, with Countess Margaret to his right.

He gestured for Liu Jianguo to sit in the first seat on his left—

This was usually the place to entertain the most important guests or members of high standing in the family, an arrangement that once again secretly alarmed Margaret and James.

Isabel sat next to her mother, Emily sat next to her sister, and James sat to the left of Liu Jianguo.

The old butler silently directed two well-trained male servants in black and white uniforms to begin serving the dishes.

Dinner followed the standard British high society dinner procedure, which was exquisite and elaborate.

The first dish served was an appetizer soup—cream of mushroom soup, served in an elegant bone china bowl.

Next came the appetizers: smoked salmon with lemon and dill, and foie gras with toasted bread slices.

The servants moved with gentle precision, making almost no sound as the silver cutlery touched the porcelain plate.

The meal began, but the atmosphere remained subtly tense.

Only the faint sound of silver cutlery gently clinking against the porcelain plate could be heard.

Earl Arthur didn't seem to be in a hurry to get to the point at the dinner table. Instead, he started with some seemingly ordinary inquiries, as if he were truly entertaining a guest from afar.

He first looked at Liu Jianguo, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said:

Is this Mr. Liu's first time in the UK?

What are your impressions of this place?

Compared to China, the climate might not be as suitable, right?

His tone was calm, as if it were just a casual greeting.

Liu Jianguo put down his spoon, wiped his hands with a napkin, and calmly replied:

"This is indeed my first visit."

Britain has a long history, a unique character, and is truly impressive.

Although the weather was damp and gloomy, it had a unique charm.

The response was appropriate, neither obsequious nor indifferent.

Then, Count Arthur shifted the topic to Isabel, his tone softening considerably.

He even added a barely perceptible hint of paternal concern as he spoke:

"Isabel, how's your work in Hong Kong going?"

After becoming pregnant, will you still be able to handle the affairs at the police station?

He avoided directly mentioning the scandal or the relationship, instead focusing on his work and health, which in itself was a softening of his attitude.

Isabel straightened her back slightly and replied:

"Thank you for your concern, Father."

Everything at work is going smoothly, and my subordinates are all very capable.

Currently... I'm on temporary leave; arrangements will be made after everything is settled.

Her answer was cautious, both stating the current situation and hinting at future "arrangements".

"Emily,"

Countess Margaret picked up the conversation, looked at her youngest daughter, and said with pure worry in her eyes:

"You weren't causing your sister too much trouble in Hong Kong, were you? Did you take good care of yourself?"

She actually wanted to ask the two sisters about their specific interactions with Liu Jianguo, but the words that came out were replaced with a gentler expression of concern.

Emily, who was taking small bites of salmon, immediately smiled upon hearing this, trying to lighten the mood by saying:

"Mom, I'm doing great! Hong Kong is so much fun, I'm learning a lot, and I'm even helping my sister with some... well, paperwork!"

She vaguely glossed over other "matters" she might have been involved in.

However, Margaret keenly noticed that during the breaks in their conversation, Emily's gaze would involuntarily and quickly drift toward Liu Jianguo across the long table.

That gaze was not an ordinary scrutiny, but a complex look that mixed dependence, trust, curiosity, and even a hint of barely perceptible admiration.

When Liu Jianguo calmly answered the Earl's question, Emily would unconsciously stop what she was doing and listen attentively.

When he occasionally had a brief exchange with the Countess, Emily's lips would curl up slightly.

This subtle, subconscious attention did not escape the eyes of a mother who cares about her daughter.

Margaret's mind was once again clouded with doubt and worry—could it be that Emily also... had feelings for this Mr. Liu?

She dared not think too deeply about it, and could only gently touch Emily's arm under the table, giving her a slightly warning and questioning look.

Emily blushed instantly, hurriedly lowered her head, and focused on the food on her plate, no longer daring to look around.

The main course arrived: a perfectly grilled Wellington steak, served with roasted vegetables and red wine sauce.

There's also pan-fried cod with hollandaise sauce as an option.

The servants served each guest a meal with meticulous care.