Warren paused. This woman, her words always didn’t match her actions.
“I’m very touched by the reason, but technically, this is a foul,” she grinned.
He said, “Do you really need the third reason?”
“Yes.”
“Well, if you really need this, then the surprise I prepared can only be revealed in advance.”
“What surprise?” Her eyes lit up.
“I contacted the school for you. You can go back and apply to the university.” He rubbed his forehead.
There was a minute of silence on the other side.
“Are you still there?” Warren glanced at the screen, and the conversation was still active.
“Excuse me, do you mean… what I think? Go to college?” Penelope leaned on the railing. She felt a little dizzy, like winning the lottery but not yet claiming the prize.
“The issue of student status is easily solvable. It’s not difficult to find a private tutor. But whether you want to come back and take the exams depends on you.”
“Are you telling the truth?” She felt like her voice was floating.
“I’m not you, always telling lies,” he chuckled.
“I didn’t lie today.” Her brain had been overwhelmed by the surprise at this point.
“Would you like to go back with me?”
“Yes…”
“Well, this time, I know you’re not lying.”
****
Warren was gone. The sky in New York seemed to have lost some of its original splendor.
Penelope was sitting in a coffee shop opposite New York University. She had ordered a glass of lemonade.
A book was open in front of her. The atmosphere was that which was common in the coffee shop. Looking around, everyone was reading, but she was holding her head in a daze.
The waitress sat opposite her, gave her a cup of water, and said, “Long time no see.”
Penelope looked back from the window and said smilingly, “Long time no see, you haven’t graduated yet?”
“Have you heard this saying?”
“What?”
“There is no master’s degree that can’t be completed, and there is no progress without struggle,” the waitress looked at her.
Penelope raised her hand and gave her a thumbs up. “Awesome.”
“Monica told me that you went back home some time ago?”
“Yes, I went back for a while.”
“How was your trip?”
“Did you find a man?”
“Boyfriend?”
Penelope smiled and nodded. She picked up the phone and showed her the photo.
“Take a look.”
The waitress picked it up and carefully looked at it, giving a dull voice, “This man…”
“Isn’t he handsome? Do I have good taste?” Penelope looked at her sideways.
The waitress smiled and said, “His family name was Duncan, right?”
Penelope was a little surprised. “What was your relationship with him?”
If she was his ex-girlfriend, they could break up now.
“He is my uncle.” The waitress grinned and couldn’t believe the amazing coincidence.
“The UK had a population of sixty-five million, and you have a relationship with him. There are eight point five million people in New York City, and I know you…” Penelope rubbed her arm, “I had goosebumps!”
The waitress shrugged and said, “I haven’t seen him for a long time. I don’t know if he still remembers me.”
“Check it out.” Penelope took out her phone and dialed the overseas number.
“Well, you just want to find an excuse to call him.”
“Shoo…”
The waitress chuckled, carrying the plate back to the back of the bar.
“Warren, what were you doing?” Penelope held the phone, smiling.
“I was at the hospital. How were you? Is everything okay?” He stood in the hallway, rubbing his eyebrows.
“I’m good.” Penelope got up. She walked a few steps away and sat on the stool. “I met a woman at the coffee shop. She said she knows you.”
“Who?”
“Are you nervous?”
“No.”
Penelope waved to the waitress and asked, “What is your full name?”
The waitress was wiping the cups, “Susan Duncan.”
“She is called Susan Duncan.”
Warren was stunned for a moment. Then he said, “Give her the phone.”
“He wants to talk to you.” Penelope handed the phone to her.
Susan put down the rag and took it, “Uncle Warren, long time no see!”
Penelope tried to find physical similarities between the two of them on Susan’s face. She looked for a long time but found nothing, nothing at all.
Susan was wearing black-rimmed glasses and had a sharp chin. She looked like a scholar-tyrant, but her attire did not resemble that of the rich.
Susan finished their conversation and returned the phone to Penelope.
“Is she really your niece?” Penelope still couldn’t believe it.
“Well, there is a generation gap between us, so the contact isn’t very frequent.”
“Oh…” Penelope, who had drawn the tone, then smiled and said, “What are the chances that in such a big city like New York, I would meet her? Isn’t it awesome?”
“She works in a coffee shop?”
“Yep, I’ve known her for two years. She’s been here the whole time.” Penelope walked away with her phone and whispered, “Is this what rich people need to experience? I didn’t see Asher do this.”
“She left home three years ago, and her family cut off all her economic sources, so this is a last resort,” Warren explained.
“Has she run away for good?”
Warren leaned against the wall in the hospital. He said, “You wouldn’t be able to figure it out. Just give up. Seriously speaking, you may have to stay there for half of a month more because I must settle down all the things here before I come to get you.”
“Is your father in a very serious condition?”
“The left side of his body is paralyzed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Penelope was shocked.
“So I can’t see you for a while. Can you wait?” He tried to confirm.
“I’ll be okay. You’ll deal with your thing first.” Penelope nodded vigorously.
“Okay.”
****
Hanging up the phone, Penelope looked straight ahead. Outside the window, Monica ran to her with her school bag. Her classes were over.
Penelope dropped her hand. She couldn’t see him for half a month. In her heart, she wasn’t as indifferent as what she had said.
“Let’s go! It’s dinner time!” Monica reached for her shoulder.
Yes, no matter how much she missed him, she had to go for dinner.
“Would you like to eat sushi?” Monica suggested.
“Just a cold rice ball. I don’t like it,” she said weakly.
“What about Mexican food?”