The Returning EX (John and Sophia)
Chapter 1836

Chapter 1836 lan's Connections

Having walked out of the design company, lan reached for Cindy's hand. "You looked like you were hesitating back there. I take it that you haven't made up your mind?"

She nodded. "Not just yet, especially since the meeting with Hannah today at the company. Decisions, decisions."

Hannah had already submitted an application on Cindy's behalf for the grant money, and it didn't seem right that she took that money for her own intents and purposes. There was an almost selfish element to that plan that Cindy couldn't bring herself to overlook.

lan sighed when he heard this and turned to pull her into his arms. "Well, it's up to you. Hannah and I will have our hands full during these few months of filming for the TV show before we wrap things up. You don't have to follow me to the set, for the time being, so try to focus on what you want to do here instead. I won't mind."

A little reluctant, Cindy hummed in response just to humor him. "Okay, I'll think about it."

They flagged down a taxi to take them home, but they didn't go back to their place immediately. Instead, they headed over to Aurora's.

Aurora was speaking on the phone when she opened the front door for them, and the person speaking on the other line happened to be Hannah.

lan and Cindy were quiet as they made their way through the threshold and toward the couch, then sat down.

Aurora exchanged a few pleasantries with Hannah before hanging up the call. Keeping her phone, she sauntered over to the couch and joined the quiet couple, asking, "So, what did you guys talk about at the company today?"

Frankly speaking, they hadn't discussed anything important earlier other than work arrangements. lan was the first to speak, answering, "She was just keeping me up to date on my schedule and the progress we're supposed to make by a certain time, that's all. How about you? I thought you'd be going to the company with me today, so why didn't you?"

Aurora had texted him early in the morning and told her that she wouldn't be going over to the company, then asked that he go on his own instead. Her sudden change of mind had left him confused, seeing as they had agreed to going together the day before.

With a tired sigh, Aurora explained, "Hannah called me earlier this morning and said something about paparazzi hanging around the company entrance. If we went together, the press would have a field day; Hannah thinks it would be best for us to show up separately in the future."

Upon hearing this, Cindy understood what had happened. While the Morgan Family's recent affairs had flipped the narrative in lan and Aurora's favor, that would only remain the case if it concerned their history with Bryce.

However, if lan and Aurora insisted on making appearances together, the public might turn against them once more and think they were conspiring for the sake of fame.

Worse still, everyone might think they had planned this from the very beginning to rebuild Aurora's reputation.

If Cindy had figured this out, then so had lan. Presently, he nodded and said, "While I was at the company today, I asked about the filming schedule, and I was told that I could go on set in another week or so. I don't know when you'd be coming in, but judging by Hannah's decision, it wouldn't be that soon."

Aurora hummed. "Hannah called me just now to tell me about this. Supposedly, I wouldn't go in until much later. I might get more screen time now that I've taken on a new role, but it still wouldn't be much, all things considered. I guess waiting is the better option."

lan nodded slowly, then mentioned things on Yulia's end. He told her about how Yulia had plenty of sources at the moment, and she looked eager to bring Aurora in for a couple of projects.

Aurora, however, didn't look too pleased at the mention of Yulia. A look of hesitation flashed across her features. "Why would she be so generous with me? Even if she were to do it as a favor to you, it would still be kind of strange for her to offer. I didn't think you and her were that close."

Cindy and lan pursed their lips and said nothing to this.

Aurora sighed. "She won't do this without asking for something in return. What is she getting out of helping me? You know how she operates as well as I do, and she won't stand to be shortchanged." Having said this, she eyed lan darkly. "What exactly is the history between you two? What kind of connection do you have with her?"

The only connection lan had with Yulia was the time he shot for a magazine cover, and they got to know each other from there. Besides, he had been on plenty of photoshoots that did not involve Yulia, and his history with her was as superficial as the one he had with those other photographers.