Seeing Aurora’s calm expression, devoid of any hint of sadness, Oswaldo said, “Let’s not talk about these troubles anymore. Have a good game of chess with me. It’s been a while since we played.”
“Sure, I’d like to have a round with you too,” Aurora replied with a smile.
The longer Aurora stayed with Oswaldo, the more Genevieve worried, fearing Aurora might ruin her plans.
Watching two siblings, one lying on the sofa playing video games and the other idly browsing social media, Genevieve was infuriated.
“Look at you two, instead of wasting time, go play a couple of rounds of chess with your grandfather!” she exclaimed in frustration.
Neither of them looked up. “Go isn’t as fun as video games, and besides, we don’t know how to play.”
“No wonder Oswaldo always says you’re useless. You really are no good. You don’t know anything you should, but you know plenty you shouldn’t. Are you trying to kill me with frustration?” she scolded.
“Mom, if you’re so capable, why don’t you go play? I remember you don’t know how to play Go either, not even backgammon,” Zachary teased.
“I’m at my wit’s end with you two. I worked so hard just to get you this opportunity. If you don’t cherish it, see what happens when Oswaldo refuses to care anymore!”
“Don’t worry, Grandpa won’t stop his chess game until the afternoon is over. We have plenty of time. We’ll act sweet later,” Zachary said, lighting a cigarette.
Genevieve, infuriated yet helpless as she had spoiled them herself, sighed and resigned herself to watching TV.
Aurora and Oswaldo played all afternoon. Nowadays, few young people know how to play Go. Aurora had always been a thoughtful child.
She often saw her grandfather playing Go alone and felt he seemed lonely, so she enrolled in a crash course in Go to be his opponent.
After playing all afternoon, Oswaldo was still reluctant to stop until the butler called them to dinner. “Aurora, your skills have improved a lot. I didn’t expect you to become this good.”
“These three years, life has been my training ground. Society is like a battlefield, just like chess. Let’s go have dinner, Grandpa.”
Aurora, in her high heels, walked downstairs. Oswaldo watched her graceful figure, marveling at the incredible changes in his granddaughter.
After dinner, none of them wanted to leave, although Aurora had intended to. Reluctantly, she stayed and played a few more rounds of Go.
When the clock struck ten, seeing Aurora’s sleepy face, Oswaldo finally let her go.
“It’s a school night. Go get some rest.”
“Okay.” Aurora left like a freed bird, and upon returning to her room, she hadn’t even had time to wash up when she saw her phone light up.
“Hello.” Her voice was much gentler at the sight of the number, and even her lips curled into a soft smile.
“You sound tired?” Julian was observant, sensing her slightly weary voice.
“I’ve been using my brain all day. I’m not physically tired, just a bit mentally,” Aurora replied casually, flopping onto her bed.
“Is Genevieve that difficult to deal with?” For him, Genevieve was not a formidable character. Among women, she was somewhat clever but not overly so. Aurora should have no trouble handling her. After all, the woman of today was no longer the little girl of yesteryear. Even he had been outwitted by her when she first returned.
“It’s not about Genevieve. I’ve been playing Go with Grandpa all day, and my brain is about to explode. It seems I’m not cut out for such complex games.” Aurora and Julian’s relationship resembled that of close friends.
“Do you want me to massage your temples?” Julian asked.
Aurora chuckled, thinking he was joking, and burst out laughing. “Sure, go ahead, massage them. Are you going to crawl out of the phone to do it?”
“No need for that. Just come downstairs.” Julian’s voice, full of laughter, reached her as she lay in bed, startling Aurora.
“You’re joking, right? I’m currently at the Montgomery Manor.” She couldn’t believe that he would actually be there.
“If you don’t believe me, just look out of the window.” Julian’s voice floated mysteriously through the phone. Aurora quickly jumped out of bed and opened the window.
“If I don’t see you, you’re dead the next time we meet!” Aurora thought he was still joking and didn’t take it seriously.
Upon opening the window, the row of lights in the backyard was dim, but in that faint light, there indeed seemed to be a figure. The figure, as if to make himself more visible, even waved his phone, its light flickering, convincing her that he really had come.
“How did you get in?”
“I came because I missed you.” The person on the other end of the phone still sounded cheerful. “Come down. I want to see you.”
Just like before at the hotel, his simple words “I want to see you” dissolved all her reservations, and at that moment, she just wanted to see his handsome face.
Aurora, still in her old pajamas and slippers, hastily ran downstairs, and the man was already reaching out his arms towards her. For some reason, she too longed for his embrace at that moment and plunged into his arms.
“It’s so late. Don’t you ever sleep?” Aurora whispered reproachfully.
“I can’t sleep without you.” Julian’s voice, full of magnetism, echoed in her ear.
“Always so sweet with words. Now that we’ve met, you should go home to sleep, right?”
“No rush. Do you remember this place? Three years ago, you fell right into my arms here.” The two of them now seemed much like they did three years ago.
Aurora pouted, “You didn’t come here just to reminisce about what happened three years ago, did you?” Thinking of that night, when the man had his way with her, although in retrospect, he hadn’t been rough at all, rather quite gentle.
Back then, she had been consumed by hatred and saw him as a villain exploiting the opportunity, utterly unwilling to get close to him. But after more interactions, she no longer found his touch repulsive. Julian gently pulled her out of his embrace.
“Of course not. I’m taking you somewhere. Come with me.” Julian took her hand and ran into the night.
Aurora didn’t ask where they were going, but as long as she felt the security of his strong hand, she was content to follow wherever he led.