It has to be said that Leland truly understands Winifred very well. Just a few words from him managed to douse the flames of her anger by half.
“I hope you follow through on your words.” Her anger was inexplicably rising, even she didn’t understand it herself. When she saw Leland standing with Jasmine, she couldn’t help but feel so angry.
The fact that Winifred’s anger had been doused by half was already good enough. At least it wouldn’t be like three years ago, when she was stripped naked and made to stand outside for her punishment.
Leland lowered his head and looked at the medicine on the ground. It was obviously prepared by Winifred to reduce the swelling.
Did she buy the medicine when she went out to meet Garrison?
Sometimes Leland felt quite pathetic. He willingly became a lapdog, as Winifred had said, he had no memory, not needing to be comforted even after being slapped, just soothing himself and continuing to circle around his master, wagging his tail.
Winifred picked up the medicine and threw it in the trash can. “I’m not giving this to you!”
After saying that, she went upstairs without even looking at Leland.
Leland remained kneeling. As long as Winifred didn’t ask him to get up, he didn’t dare to. He hesitated for a moment when he saw the medicine in the trash can, then knelt down and picked it up.
Mr. Hamilton came over. “I think Miss Winifred has vented her anger. You should get up.”
Leland stubbornly shook his head. “If Miss Winifred doesn’t tell me to get up, I won’t. Mr. Hamilton, please don’t bother with me, I’m afraid it will affect you.”
Mr. Hamilton sighed. He thought that Winifred’s mood would improve when Garrison came back, but she had just vented her anger as soon as she returned, and no one dared to stand in front of her.
Leland had been kneeling for forty minutes. His legs had gone numb from the continuous pressure.
Kneeling for too long could damage his legs. With the college entrance exam approaching, how could he take the exam with damaged knees?
Mr. Hamilton had watched Leland grow up and he considered Leland to be like a son to him. Since Leland was under his care, he felt responsible and decided to plead for him.
He stood at Winifred’s door and knocked. “Miss, have you rested?”
“No, come in.”
Mr. Hamilton pushed open the door and saw Winifred still in her clothes from when she returned, apparently not having washed up. She was holding a sketchbook, sitting on the bedroom balcony drawing. The sketch still only showed a pair of eyes and eyebrows, very much like Leland’s.
“Miss, Leland has been kneeling downstairs for almost an hour. If he continues like this, his knees might get hurt.”
Winifred stopped drawing and put the sketch aside after a while. “I’m a bit hungry, have him bring some food up for me.”
“Okay, okay, okay,” Mr. Hamilton said three times in agreement before leaving to help Leland get up from the floor.
Seeing that he still wouldn’t get up, Mr. Hamilton quickly said, “Miss said she’s hungry, she wants you to bring her some food.”
“Did she not eat dinner tonight?”
“Her mood was not good, she only took a few bites and then put it down.”
“I see.” Leland used Mr. Hamilton’s arm to help him stand up. After kneeling for so long, getting up all at once was impossible. His body stumbled for a moment, and a sudden prickling pain shot through his legs from his knees, making them go numb like being electrocuted.
He couldn’t stand steadily for the moment, so he sat on the sofa.
Mr. Hamilton asked with concern, “Are your legs okay?”
Leland shook his head. “They’re fine.” He massaged his knees with his hands, asking as he did so, “What food is there in the kitchen?”
“There’s a lot of leftovers from dinner. I can heat up the dishes, or I can make Miss a bowl of noodles or dumplings?”
Leland vetoed everything. Winifred didn’t like eating leftovers and she was very conscious about managing her figure. She wouldn’t eat too much at this late hour, and to her, noodles and dumplings would make her gain weight easily.
Leland moved his ankles to make sure he could stand and walk, then propped himself on the sofa and unsteadily made his way to the kitchen. “I’ll just make it myself.”
Mr. Hamilton didn’t stop him. They had been together for so long, Leland understood Winifred very well. If he made a late-night snack by himself, Winifred might pay more attention to it and it could improve her mood.
Leland found some fresh fruits in the fridge and made a small fruit salad, suited for Winifred. He made a simple but beautifully presented dish that would whet anyone’s appetite.
Mr. Hamilton, satisfied with the dish, reminded him, “When you go up later, talk to her nicely and don’t upset her.”
“I never wanted to make her upset in the first place,” Leland said softly. It seemed like he was speaking to himself. He carried the fruit salad and climbed the stairs, his legs visibly trembling.
At the doorway of Winifred’s room, he knocked. After hearing a response from inside, he pushed the door open.
“Miss.”
As Leland entered, he saw the sketch that Winifred had carelessly thrown on the ground. He observed her slight movement, realizing that Winifred seemed to particularly enjoy drawing his eyes and eyebrows, even when she was angry.
Winifred, without looking at the fruit salad in his hand, said, “Put it down, then leave.”
Leland obediently placed the fruit salad on the table, but he didn’t leave. He just stood there, motionless, three meters away from Winifred. This distance was neither too far nor too close, neither annoying nor intimate.
When there was no movement behind him, Winifred turned her head and looked at him, frowning impatiently. “Why are you just standing there? Are you going to continue kneeling?”
“Miss…” Leland’s voice was hoarse as he called Winifred. His voice was pleasant to hear. He was clearly a young man, yet his voice carried the essence of a mature man. Especially when his voice was hoarse, it was like a cello playing nearby, sending shivers down one’s spine.
Leland took out the spray bottle that Winifred had thrown into the trash. “I was hit by a basketball on my back today and it’s a bit painful. Can you help me apply this? I can’t reach it.”
Winifred looked at the medicine in his hand, and her heart quickened for a moment – a subtle reaction that was easily overlooked.
She could have refused directly, since her anger had not completely subsided yet. Why should she help rub medicine on Leland?
She was about to tell Leland not to bother her and to see a doctor for his back pain, but just as she was about to speak, she met his pleading eyes. The eyes were like those of a puppy, begging her.
She softened. The refusal she was about to utter changed in her mouth. “Take off your clothes.”
Even though Winifred hadn’t agreed yet, Leland did not show happiness. He simply obediently took off his shirt.
He had a very good figure. He appeared thin when dressed, but had some muscle when he was shirtless. Besides his eight-pack abs, there were also two deep lines beside them, this muscle, the more it was bared, the more powerful it looked.
Leland took off his shirt and turned, then knelt down. The pain in his knees hadn’t subsided, and now that he knelt again, it felt like being pricked by needles.