Not Bad, Lin Hai

At this point, George would only look like he was trying too hard if he kept up his stern act. He settled into his armchair, leaned back slightly, and rested his hands on the armrests, ready for a proper conversation.

"Lin Hai." George's voice held less deliberate chill than before and sounded more conversational. "Gwen tells me your family lives in the Sichuan-Shu Region of Huaxia?"

He had chosen a relatively easy topic to start with, hoping to make the atmosphere feel less like an interrogation.

Lin Hai sat up straight and met George's gaze. "Yes, Mr. Stacy." He briefly described his hometown and its customs, his voice tinged with nostalgia and pride.

George nodded slightly, then asked, "And what's your family like?" The question went a little deeper.

Lin Hai answered calmly. "Both my parents are alive, and I'm an only child. My father runs a small foreign trade business, so my family is fairly well-off." He paused, then added, "They're both open-minded and very supportive of my studies and future here in the United States."

As he listened, George quietly observed Lin Hai's expression and body language. He sensed respect and warmth whenever Lin Hai spoke of his family, giving him a favorable first impression of the environment in which the young man had grown up.

George picked up the glass of water Helen had poured for him earlier and took a sip. Then, as if asking casually, he said, "When did you and Gwen... make it official?"

Lin Hai smiled and answered frankly. "After we started studying at the California Institute of Technology, Mr. Stacy. We'd spent time together and gotten to know each other in high school, and we felt we were right for each other."

"Mm." George pressed on. "So right now, your studies are