Chapter 9

It was very clear that this was the Miss Emma Stone that old Hunter had mentioned earlier.

A blonde Caucasian girl.

When she appeared in the hotel restaurant, almost half of the guests couldn't help but turn their eyes towards her, as if she were some significant figure attracting the attention of many.

"Indeed, she is very cute."

The moment he saw the girl, young Hunter immediately agreed with what old Hunter had said. Because anyone who saw Miss Emma for the first time would probably be drawn to her angelic face.

A light pink, adorable little hat restrained the girl's golden hair, but the part that was exposed was smooth and shiny. A few strands fell in front of her clean forehead, paired with a pair of lively blue eyes, adding a touch of playful charm. Her straight and delicate nose, lips of moderate thickness, and fair, delicate skin made John instantly recall the Barbie dolls from his previous life.

The girl was about four and a half feet tall, which was quite tall for her age, which was at most eleven or twelve. Her figure was neither too fat nor too thin, perfectly fitting the well-made long dress, which made John, who had been reborn, feel a sudden appreciation. After all, while this type of long dress was novel the first time he saw it, he had grown tired of it over time. However, today was the first time John felt that he might try to appreciate the classical beauty of 19th-century women's clothing...

"And the most important thing is, her demeanor is quite excellent!"

After silently praising her a couple of times, John quickly discovered the reason why the girl was so captivating.

If it were just her tall figure and beautiful appearance, it would be attractive to Liu Zecheng, who had seen countless beauties in his previous life, but it would be hard to be stunning. However, the unique aura that the girl exuded was something that young Mr. Hunter rarely saw in this era, giving him a sense of familiarity and warmth.

"Emma, come over here."

Mrs. Stone was clearly very pleased with her youngest daughter and lovingly pulled the girl over, introducing her with a hint of pride: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is my daughter, Emma Stone. Emma, this is your father's good friend, Mr. Al Hunter, and this is his grandson, Mr. John Hunter!"

"Hello!"

"Hello!"

The three of them greeted each other politely, and Emma even lifted the hem of her dress to perform an elegant curtsy, which made John, who rarely saw such a gesture, feel a renewed appreciation.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

At a square table, John was seated directly opposite the adorable Miss Emma. After a brief admiration, the little gentleman refocused his attention on the appetizer soup that had just been served. Although he still maintained his habit of a Northern Chinese lifestyle and wasn't used to drinking soup before meals, the famished John had no choice but to take sips.

While John was focused on his soup, Emma's attention was on him.

At twelve years old, Emma already had a basic sense of discernment. She shared her mother Mrs. Stone's aesthetic views and found John Hunter's appearance very handsome. However, what was more attractive to the little girl was the unique aura that he exuded, which was very different from that of his peers. After a few quick thoughts, she was surprised to find that this aura was very similar to that of her father, Mr. Stone, and the old Mr. Hunter!

Calm, composed, and unperturbed.

This was undoubtedly very attractive to the little girl!

So, while elegantly sipping her soup with her trained posture, Emma would occasionally steal glances at John across the table, all the while trying to listen to her mother and old Mr. Hunter's conversation, which was quite a challenge.

However, the effort paid off. Emma soon learned, under her mother's enthusiastic and almost interrogative questioning, the basic information about the boy across from her: born and raised in a distant ancient Eastern country, he had only returned to New York a week ago. Besides Chinese and English, he was also proficient in German and Latin with his mother's help, and had learned some theology, physics, chemistry, and biology from two British missionaries...

"Is this guy a monster?"

After listening for a moment, Emma's fingers holding the spoon turned pale, and she felt a surge of resentment.

As the youngest daughter of the Stone family, Emma was naturally doted upon and had received an excellent education from a young age. As a descendant of the British Empire, Emma had a remarkable talent for languages, and besides English, she was also very proficient in Latin, a required language in mainstream European and American society, which was one of her sources of pride.

But this guy in front of her...

Suddenly, Emma felt a severe blow to her confidence.

"Excuse me, madam."

At that moment, the next dish was served.

"Mrs. Stone, how did you also become interested in Mr. Edison's new invention exhibition?"

Finally unable to bear Mrs. Stone's questioning, old Hunter took the opportunity to change the subject when she was eating. Mr. Stone was a gentleman, refined and polite, and enthusiastic about many new things, but Mrs. Stone, in old Hunter's mind, was just an ordinary middle-aged woman who devoted her life to serving her husband, taking care of her children, and attending balls. How could she be interested in something like electric lights?

"To be honest, I'm not particularly interested myself."

Shrugging, Mrs. Stone smiled and said, "But Mr. Edison and my husband are quite good friends, and he sent an invitation. As you know, his work is very busy, and he probably won't have time to come to New Jersey this week, so he asked me to convey his apologies to Mr. Edison and to congratulate him in person."

"I see."

Old Hunter blinked, feigning understanding.

Seeing his grandfather's expression while eating the veal, young Mr. Hunter almost choked on the delicious beef and took a while to recover. Mr. Hunter gave the impression of being a rigid and stubborn old antique, but he was quite skilled at putting on a show in front of others. Indeed, someone who had managed to amass such a fortune in business was far from the simple person he usually appeared to be.

However, Mrs. Stone was clearly a very persistent person, and her attention quickly returned to young Hunter. She smiled and asked, "Since you're back in New York, what are your plans for young Mr. Hunter's future? Will he go to a private school or have a private tutor? After all, he is a boy, and at this age, he should learn more. Personally, I recommend school. Emma is currently attending a girls' school, and interacting with well-mannered peers of her age will be very beneficial for them."

In this era, although public schools in the United States were already thriving, for a respectable family like the Hunters, there were naturally better options.

Hearing this question, old Hunter's expression became serious. After a moment's thought, he shook his head and said, "I haven't decided on this yet, but I plan to have him assessed after the New Year, and then decide whether to send him to school or hire a private tutor."

Throughout the conversation, he never asked his grandson John for his opinion.

Sighing inwardly, John decided not to think too much about it and continued to focus on the veal on his plate. He understood that with his grandfather's personality, whatever he said probably wouldn't change his decision. It would be better to settle down and think about how to deal with the so-called "assessment" after the New Year.

However, Mrs. Stone was very enthusiastic. After hearing old Hunter's words, she immediately smiled and said, "It's good to be cautious. If you decide to hire a private tutor, I have a few excellent candidates to recommend to you..."

While the two adults chatted, the two children's minds were also busy.

Emma continued to pay attention to John, watching him eat the second piece of veal quickly and politely, while young Mr. Hunter himself fell into deep thought during the meal.

Finally, when the dessert was served, John suddenly smiled under his grandfather's somewhat surprised gaze and said to the lady beside him, "Mrs. Stone, may I make a bold request?"