“Teacher, the elevator was originally installed for your convenience. Sylvia has only been here a few times. Removing it would make it difficult for you to go up and down in your wheelchair. Once it’s repaired, there won’t be any issues.”
Isaac tried to persuade Old Mr. Thompson and then asked, “How have you been feeling lately? Any better?”
“It’s the same as always. Just hanging on, neither dead nor alive. It’s really uncomfortable!”
Old Mr. Thompson sighed, “I haven’t seen Sylvia in a long time. I didn’t expect her to suffer like this as soon as she arrived.”
“I originally wanted Sylvia to represent me at the Cultural Expo. There will be some activities there, like stone gambling or rare item appraisals. But now, given her condition… maybe you and your sister should go together instead.”
Isaac was more than willing; as long as he could be with Sylvia, he didn’t mind what they did.
“Teacher, don’t worry. I would love to attend such an event. Sylvia has had an extraordinary eye since she was young. She definitely won’t let you down at the Cultural Expo.”
When Sylvia woke up, it was already three in the afternoon.
She groggily sat up and saw Isaac sitting by her bed. The man’s handsome face was bathed in soft sunlight, making him look almost unreal.
As her memory returned, she suddenly remembered being terrified in the elevator due to her fear of darkness and confined spaces, which made it seem like she had claustrophobia.
“Isaac?”
Her throat felt dry and sore as she spoke.
“You’re awake?” Isaac put away his phone and looked at her still pale face. “When did you get this condition? It’s really frightening.”
Sylvia managed a faint smile, “I don’t know either. I want some water.”
Isaac shook his head helplessly and poured her a glass of warm water. “Do you want me to introduce you to one of the best psychologists in the field? Psychological issues are hard to treat but can be managed slowly.”
“I’m not sick… I’m fine like this. It doesn’t happen often,” Sylvia declined.
She couldn’t risk seeing a psychologist who might use hypnosis and inadvertently make her reveal things she shouldn’t.
That would be too ridiculous.
“Is Sylvia awake?” At that moment, Old Mr. Thompson was wheeled into the room by a caretaker. He was a kind-looking elderly man with a gentle demeanor.
Especially when he looked at Sylvia, his eyes were filled with a tenderness akin to looking at his own child.
“Teacher.” Sylvia’s pale face showed a hint of warmth. “How is your health?”
“Recently, it’s been okay. But why did you faint in the elevator? If something happened to you here, Sylvia… I would feel so guilty. How are you feeling now? Any better?” Old Mr. Thompson asked with concern.
He truly adored Sylvia, his nearly undisclosed disciple.
“You don’t need to worry,” Sylvia forced a smile. “It was too dark at the time… It’s really embarrassing and made you all worry.”
She had to take the blame for the Love Parasite.
When would this damned Love Parasite be completely eradicated?
Isaac’s dark eyes silently observed Sylvia’s pale face. Given her personality, it seemed unlikely she would develop such a condition.
Could it be…
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
At that moment, Old Mr. Thompson mentioned the Cultural Expo to Sylvia. “Can you go in my place? I’ll feel more at ease if you go with your brother. It’s been a long time since you two attended such an event together; it’s good to show your faces occasionally.”
Sylvia thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “Sure. But let me check your pulse first.”
She was still worried about Old Mr. Thompson’s health; nothing was more important than that.
Old Mr. Thompson laughed heartily, “Sylvia still cares about me! I’m just an old man; no matter how much I’m treated, this is all that’s left.”
Despite his words, he extended his arm for Sylvia to check his pulse.
His pulse was strong and turbulent, indicating excessive heat in the body. Given Old Mr. Thompson’s prolonged illness and weak energy, this was likely a sign of severe imbalance between his vital energy and pathogenic factors.
She withdrew her fingers. “Recently, follow the prescription I gave you to regulate your body; there’s a sign of excessive heat.”
Old Mr. Thompson continued to laugh heartily, “Got it, got it.”
Sylvia took out two bottles of RL 133 from her bag and handed them to him. “These are some supplements; make sure to take them, okay?”
Old Mr. Thompson had previously received RL 133 from Sylvia and knew what it was.
“Thank you, Sylvia.”
“No need to be so formal,” Sylvia said as she felt the Love Parasite inside her calm down. She got out of bed and said, “Teacher, please tell us more about the details of the Cultural Expo.”
Old Mr. Thompson nodded. “The Cultural Expo is held once every three years, gathering cultural experts, historians, and jewelry appraisers from around the world. You know all this, so I won’t go into detail. There are usually some events like exchange meetings or tea parties, or other gatherings for poetry or calligraphy enthusiasts. But the most important part is…”
Isaac raised an eyebrow. “Stone gambling.”
“Stone gambling?” Sylvia found it amusing. “Why would they gamble on stones at the Cultural Expo? These old folks are getting more adventurous as they age.”
Old Mr. Thompson laughed. “Yes, organizing the Cultural Expo is costly, and the hosts lose money every year. So they came up with this idea to make some money. Everyone is curious and wants to try their luck; winning or losing isn’t that important anymore. Just remember, small bets are fine, but don’t go overboard.”
“Got it,” Sylvia nodded. “Anything else we should be aware of?”
“No, with your intelligence and wit, you’ll know what to do when the time comes. You definitely won’t embarrass me,” Old Mr. Thompson said confidently about having Sylvia represent him at the expo.
He wasn’t worried about any poetry or calligraphy gatherings; anyone who underestimated Sylvia would end up embarrassed.
“Alright then,” Sylvia agreed and looked at Isaac. “Isaac, we’ll go together.”
Isaac was more than pleased with Old Mr. Thompson’s arrangement.
Sylvia stayed at the nursing home for a while longer before leaving with Isaac.
Instead of returning to the hotel, she went straight back to the Hipps family home.
As soon as she arrived home, she received a call from Carley. “Miss Andrews, where are you? I need your help urgently; can you come over?”
“What happened?” Sylvia paused in her steps. “What’s going on?”
“It’s my stepmother again! I don’t know what she did, but my house… You’ll understand when you get here. Please come quickly.”
Carley’s voice was agitated and urgent.
“Alright, I’ll come now.” Sylvia hung up and looked apologetically at Old Mrs. Hipps. “Grandma, I have something urgent to take care of. I’ll be back for dinner tonight, okay?”
Old Mrs. Hipps feigned anger and glared at her. “You’re never home; is this place a hotel? Hmph!”
Sylvia stifled a laugh and held her grandmother’s hand playfully. “Grandma, don’t worry; I’ll definitely be back for dinner tonight.”
“Hmph! Go on then! It’s not like this old lady is likable anyway,” Old Mrs. Hipps huffed again.
Sylvia couldn’t help but smile helplessly. “How about I make some tea for you before I go?”
Old Mrs. Hipps laughed at that suggestion. “Forget it; I’m just teasing you. Go take care of your business.”
“Alright then,” Sylvia said as she left for the garage and drove a black BMW straight to the Kaur family estate.
At the Kaur family estate.
Carley was bewildered by the sight of several weasels running amok in her house.
When did they attract so many of these creatures?
What frustrated her even more was that Mrs. Kaur had somehow managed to provoke parents from a children’s English training center. Although they seemed appeased on the surface, they had already filed a lawsuit!
One of the leading parents had reportedly been bitten by a weasel recently!
This made Carley suspect a connection between these weasels and Mrs. Kaur.
Because of these weasels, many servants at the Kaur family estate had been scared away.
Carley and Dariel were at their wits’ end.
They had heard that weasels were not easy to deal with and didn’t dare act rashly for fear of making things worse, so they decided to seek professional help from Sylvia.
About half an hour later, Sylvia arrived at the Kaur family estate and was led by a servant to where the weasels had nested.
Seeing the weasels comfortably settled and breeding there, Sylvia couldn’t help but laugh.
“What happened here? These creatures usually don’t invade ordinary homes.”
Weasels were not easy to deal with.
“I think it has something to do with my stepmother,” Carley said as if seeing a savior. “She was quite smug recently, saying that the training center issue was resolved. I bet she used some shady methods.”
Sylvia surveyed the surroundings and began using her abilities to check for any formations or spells nearby. “Besides the weasels, have there been any other unusual occurrences?”
“Yes! Look at the trees and plants near their nest; almost all of them have withered away-it’s very eerie,” Carley pointed out the withered trees and grass near the weasel nest. “These weasels must be poisonous.”
Sylvia examined the withered plants closely and touched one of the trees.