Aurora glanced at the security camera monitor at the entrance and saw an elderly man in black, holding a box under the dim light.
“Is anyone home?”
“Who are you?” Aurora asked, puzzled.
“Miss, hello. I am the new neighbor from next door. This is a gift prepared by my master for you. May I have a word with you?” The old man asked respectfully.
From his tone and posture, it was clear he might be a butler from a wealthy household.
“Alright, just a moment,” Aurora responded. She had planned to visit the new neighbors the next day, but they had decided to come over tonight, evidently a family that valued etiquette.
Upon opening the door, Aurora was greeted by a kindly smile. “Thank you, sir. This bottle of wine can be a return gift for your master.”
“You are too kind, miss. If you ever encounter any trouble, feel free to come to us. It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb your rest any longer,” the old man said as he took the wine and left.
Aurora, holding the gift box, went upstairs, took a delightful bath, and then sat on her bed to unwrap the gift. For a woman, unwrapping gifts was always a joyful affair, especially when the contents were unknown. Even if the value wasn’t high, the anticipation was thrilling.
Wondering whether it was handmade cookies or a small ornament, she opened the box to find yet another box inside.
What was the master playing at? Was the item so precious that it needed extra protection? Impatiently, Aurora opened the next lid.
Inside was yet another box, reminiscent of Russian nesting dolls, opening one box only to find a smaller one inside. When she reached the ninth box, she found a box the size of a jewelry case. Surely, there couldn’t be much more inside.
Curious about the tiny box, Aurora speculated wildly. Could it be a brooch? But how would the new neighbor know whether she was male or female?
Opening the final box, a dazzling light struck her eyes. It was a ring with a large diamond, at least three carats. The design was unique, the craftsmanship exquisite, resembling the work of a renowned international designer. Even in an ordinary jewelry store, such a ring would cost upwards of six figures, let alone one designed by a famous master.
Who would give such a precious gift just for a first meeting and a ring for a stranger? Aurora thought perhaps there had been a mix-up with the gifts. Maybe it was an engagement ring meant for the butler’s master’s girlfriend. It was a serious mix-up indeed.
Aurora was about to repackage the ring when she noticed that the seemingly unrelated patterns on the previous boxes were actually connected.
It appeared to be a puzzle. She pieced the boxes together, only to discover they formed a picture of a woman, though the woman’s face was obscured by a mosaic that seemed scratchable.
It reminded Aurora of the scratch cards from her childhood. Although she was curious about the woman’s identity, scratching it off seemed like it might spoil someone’s grand gesture.
Quickly, she stowed the ring away, admiring the man’s romantic and thoughtful approach. If someone ever presented her a gift in such a manner, she would undoubtedly find it irresistible.
After securing the box, she threw on a coat and headed next door. The butler, who answered the door, greeted her with a warm smile. “Miss, you’re still up at this hour?”
“Hello, I’m here to return this gift. You must have delivered it to the wrong person. This can’t possibly be a housewarming gift,” Aurora said as she handed the box back.
However, the butler did not reach for it. “I’m very sorry, miss, but the gift was personally prepared by the master. If there’s a mistake, you’ll need to speak with him. Once a gift has been given, I have no right to take it back.”
“Where is your master then?” Aurora thought about it and realized it made sense. The butler’s compliance was impeccable, adhering strictly to the master’s commands.
“The master is upstairs. Miss. You can go up and see him yourself,” the old man stepped aside, allowing her through. Aurora felt it was quite late to venture into a stranger’s home.
Yet, holding onto the box seemed even less appropriate, especially considering the gift might have been intended for someone’s girlfriend. Interfering could ruin a beautiful relationship between them, so she ascended the stairs. The villa’s layout was identical to her own, with a similarly luxurious decor.
Entering the staircase, she immediately heard piano music from above. Was the master ill-advised to play piano at such an hour?
Though she questioned his timing, she was quickly immersed in his skillful play. The piece was unmistakably a serenade, enveloping the stairs in a romantic ambiance as if pink bubbles floated around.
Aurora, having learned piano because of Hayden, wasn’t a top-notch player but understood the emotion in the music. Only a deeply infatuated person could play such touching melodies, and even as an outsider, she could feel the sweetness.
It seemed cruel to interrupt such a beautiful song, so Aurora didn’t push the door open but stood quietly in the stairwell.
The lights were off upstairs, but suddenly, lights brightened under her feet. Looking down, she found herself standing inside a heart-shaped halo of tiny colored lights.
Was this a coincidence or intentional? From the initial gift of a ring to now a heart-shaped halo, could all this really be by chance?
As the final notes played, Aurora knocked on the door. “Hello, I’m your neighbor from next door. As for the welcoming gift you sent, I believe it was delivered to me by mistake. It contains a ring, presumably meant for your girlfriend. May I come in to return it?”
“Come in,” a steady male voice answered.
She couldn’t make out his tone through the door but gently pushed it open. Inside the brightly lit room, she stood stunned.
Rose petals covered the floor, and a man in a white shirt sat in front of a white piano.
“There’s no mistake. It was meant for you,” the man slowly turned around, his face wearing a doting smile.
“It’s you!” The new neighbor was Julian. Aurora could never have guessed it was him. This man was too fond of mystique.
Julian elegantly stood up and walked towards Aurora. “Aurora, open the box one more time.”