The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 395

Chapter 395: Chapter 395 Old Master Avery
Due to this sudden change in habits, Leo’s response to the issues caused by the male leads would be significantly delayed. As a result, the male leads began to question his true status. If he were truly the heir to the Hendrix fortune as they initially believed, they reasoned, handling the disruptions he faced would be a mere formality.

However, if he were merely a manager, dealing with the myriad problems he encountered would indeed be challenging. They started to wonder if the connections between their company, their collaborations, and the Hendrix name were merely coincidental.

Unbeknownst to Leo, his sudden shift in routine successfully prolonged the concealment of his true identity. As a result, Hera would remain unaware of his real status for a while longer, all because of a casual remark about baldness in their text conversation.

…

The next morning, Hera was jolted awake by the persistent ringing of her phone on the bedside table. Groggy and reluctant, she initially tried to ignore it and drift back to sleep. However, when the phone continued to ring, interrupting her attempts to rest, she finally conceded. With a sigh, she sat up and answered the call without bothering to check who was on the other end.

“Hello?” Hera’s voice came out hoarse and still carrying a hint of sleepiness, sounding endearingly cute.

“I figured you’d still be in bed, little one,” came the warm, familiar laughter from the other end of the line. Hera’s sleepy eyes brightened, and a sweet smile spread across her lips as recognition set in.

“Grandpa!”

“I realize it’s still quite early back home, but this is my only free time right now. I thought you’d be waking up soon anyway, so I decided to call. I hope you’re not too upset with me.” His voice carried a hint of apology and helplessness, revealing how much he missed his granddaughter during his time away.

Hera chuckled, feeling her grandfather’s emotions through his voice. “No, it’s fine. I was about to wake up anyway, so your call was perfectly timed. How have you been, Grandpa?”

“I’m doing well, but I had no idea you’d entered the entertainment industry! If Grandpa Alfonse hadn’t shown me that video of you on the Variety Show, I wouldn’t have known at all.” He sounded as if he were pouting, feeling a bit left out for not being informed directly and having to find out from someone else.

Understanding her grandfather’s feelings, Hera quickly apologized and tried to charm him with her cuteness. “I’m sorry, Grandpa! I know you were busy, and since you gave me the freedom to explore before I took over the Consortium, I thought the entertainment industry would be the perfect place. It’s a great way for people to get to know me and give our company some free promotion once I take over. Plus, it’s a dream come true for me because I love acting too.”

“So, it’s really just hitting two birds with one stone,” Hera said with a playful giggle, letting her childish side show. Her grandfather, along with Athena, was one of the few people who could see this side of her. She felt completely at ease around them, as if she could let her raw emotions come through without any pretense. This sense of freedom allowed her to momentarily forget the weight of her fate and the future, letting her truly be herself.

“Hahaha! Good, good! That’s wonderful to hear! I loved what I saw on the Variety show, and I’m curious if you’ll be joining any other shows or dramas. Could you send me the titles? I’d love to catch up on them during my free time while working.”

“And let me tell you, my old friend was green with envy seeing how well you’re doing and how loved you are by everyone. He’s eager to support you too. It’s better to keep him occupied with something like this rather than having him pester me at every turn,” Old Master Avery grumbled, recalling how his friend had followed him overseas out of boredom and a need to be a nuisance.

He still couldn’t figure out how he ended up friends with such an irritating old man who acted like a child. There was never a moment of peace when his friend was around—his constant chattering covered everything, from trivial matters to even the ants crawling about, minding their own business.

So, not only was he thrilled to see his granddaughter making a splash on television and the internet, but he was also relieved to see his friend finally find something to occupy his time. It was a welcome distraction from the constant interruptions during important business meetings and other crucial moments.

There was even a time during an important business meeting with an overseas partner when his friend showed up unexpectedly, dressed in a mismatched floral shirt, shorts, and black slippers. He looked completely out of place and like a sore thumb. To make matters worse, he had the audacity to interrupt the meeting with a childish question about where to eat for lunch.

He couldn’t tell if his friend was merely succumbing to the frailties of old age or if he was just so bored with life that he no longer cared about anything. Either way, it was frustrating because it felt like he was turning into a full-time caregiver for him.

So now, he was more than pleased to see his friend glued to his tablet. Even when the old man accompanied him to the office, he would quietly sit on the sofa, engrossed in the show, occasionally laughing or grumbling at something. Although his friend’s silence was fleeting, it was still a welcome relief, allowing him to focus on his own business uninterrupted.

Hera chuckled, listening to her grandfather’s playful chiding of his friend. Although he sounded like he was reprimanding someone and calling them shameless, his tone was laced with a mix of helplessness and hidden amusement. It seemed that despite his outward irritation, he was secretly enjoying the company. It was a welcome break from his usual serious demeanor and constant focus on business, allowing him a chance to relax and have some fun.

He found that engaging in playful banter with his friend helped him relax and temporarily forget the stressors that weighed heavily on him. The sense of helplessness he felt was more a reflection of their close relationship than a genuine dislike for his friend’s presence.

After grumbling about his annoyance, which only made his granddaughter laugh and chuckle, he asked, “I heard you’ve been dealing with online attacks. My old friend has been waging a battle with what he calls trolls who have been badmouthing you for days. Are you okay? Let Cindy handle those things and try not to stress too much over their nonsense. We both know it’s not true, alright?” His tone softened, as if trying to comfort her and assure her that he was on her side.

Although his words weren’t particularly sweet or cuddly, the genuine care and thoughtfulness in his tone conveyed everything Hera needed to know. Even from afar, he was deeply concerned about his granddaughter’s well-being.