?<strong>Chapter 130:</strong>


    After they finished eating, Belinda dropped Johnson off at the Hoffman family home and then continued to the hospital to carry on with her responsibilities.


    In the evening, in a cozy corner of a distinguished restaurant, Johnson’s return had sparked a mini-reunion among a group of friends with strong connections to both him and Lucas.


    Vincent initiated the conversation, saying, “Johnson, tell us the truth. Who were you having lunch with today?”


    “You just got back, and instead of catching up with us immediately, you were out eating lunch with someone else? Sounds fishy,” another friend added yfully.


    “Come on, spill it. Are you dating someone? Did you have lunch with that person?”


    “You must have had lunch with a woman, right?”


    Surrounded by the gentle ribbing of his friends, Johnson couldn’t help but sigh, a hint of resignation in his demeanor. “She’s really just a very good friend of mine, not what you’re all thinking,” he exined.


    “A friend? Really now? Who ditches their friends for lunch over just a ‘friend’? Aren’t we all your friends here?” one of the people present teased.


    “Come on, just admit it—she’s your girlfriend, isn’t she? Why keep secrets from us?” another friend asked.


    Johnson gave a slight shake of his head and chose silence over further exnation, knowing it was futile to argue with his friends.


    Lucas, with his deep andmanding voice, suddenly spoke up, breaking through the banter. “Are youing back for good this time?”


    The yful atmosphere shifted, and everyone’s attention was now on Johnson.


    “I’m here to stay,” Johnson replied.


    “That’s wonderful! It means more time for us to spend together,” Verena said with a smile, which Johnson returned with a nod of agreement.


    “So, Johnson, after nearly three years in Chixdon, have you found a girlfriend yet?” Verena inquired, not missing a beat.


    Johnson shrugged lightly, smiling. “No, I’m still looking for someone who understands my cultural background here.” That sparked further curiosity.


    “Okay, so tell us—was the woman you had lunch with today your girlfriend?”


    Johnson sighed quietly, not wanting to answer this question.


    Seeking to divert the conversation, he turned to Lucas and asked, “How about you, Lucas? How have you been doingtely?”


    “I’ve been doing quite well,” Lucas responded calmly.


    Just then, Ryan interjected from the side, “Johnson, you might not be aware of this, but there has been quite a change with Lucas’ wife, Belinda.”


    Johnson’s eyebrows raised slightly in surprise.


    He hadn’t expected Ryan to bring up the topic of Belinda.


    “Really?”


    “She has be quite close with the Thomas family, essentially bing part of their inner circle. Her social standing has seen a significant rise,” Ryan said, his tone tinged with displeasure.


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