The moment Summer came through the doorway, she asked a bodyguard, “Is Douglas in?”
“He’s upstairs.”
Summer carried the tea and darted up the staircase looking for “Douglas” in a very good mood. But which one was his room? She thought for a moment, remembering his room from which she came out. She came before the room, took a quick glance to the right and then left and was wondered. It was unmistakable the master room judging from its position. Was his relationship with Leonardo so close now that he was given the master room to stay?
Summer knocked on the door. “Douglas”‘s quickly came. “What’s it?”
His voice was low and icy-a little colder than the way he spoke to her.
Summer said, “It’s me. I’ve gotten you afternoon tea.”
Inside, Leonardo had taken off his shirt, looking at the bullet scar on his body. The last time after Summer removed the bullet from him, he had later gone to a private hospital to do a thorough check-up.
He owed his life to his mom, who used hers in exchange for his. So he valued his life. He only let Summer take the bullet out from his body because at that time, he did not have much choice. The wound healed well, but there was still a scar.
He put his shirt back on and opened the door only to find Summer holding a box standing outside. Summer looked up at him with her makeup-free face. Handing the cup of tea to him, she said, “Here you go.”
By just looking at the packaging, he knew that she bought it from the Golden Cauldron. He took it from her hand, asking, “How are things?”
“It went well. Thank you.” Summer could not help smiling at him, her cat-like eyes were so beautiful that they slightly arched at the corners, absolutely enchanting.
Leonardo swallowed involuntarily, but his face was cold as he gave an ‘Mm’ response. He then went back in and slammed the door shut.
Summer had a weird feeling; his actions seemed to suggest that he was afraid of her.
As she turned around and back to her room, she got a message from “Douglas”. It was the name of a dish. She got many more of these in separate messages.
Why could not he get the things done in one go instead of one dish per message? Probably that was how the rich spend their money.
She still remembered back in the days when she had no money, she could not even pay for her phone bill and went without a phone connection for six months.
Let alone sending messages like a rich man. But she only realized for real what it was like to be living in luxury when she got downstairs.
…
Summer wanted to know what ingredients she could find in the refrigerator. When she came into the kitchen, she saw two bodyguards were in the midst of emptying the fridge. She went up and asked curiously, “What are you all taking out all the ingredients?”
“These are yesterday’s supplies. We are having fresh ones for today.”
“What do you mean yesterday’s supplies? They are perfectly edible!” Summer lowered her head and checked.
The two bodyguards looked at each other and said, “It has always been like that… we get new supplies every day.”
“Alright.”
Every time when she cooked, the fridge was always full. She thought that someone was replenishing the stock every day. But hell no, they were throwing everything out and getting it restocked every day.
So for the dinner, Summer prepared every dish in the largest portion possible. Because she knew those unused ingredients and food would be discarded every day. Although she thought that it was lavish, those rich kids had their own thinking.
Halfway through her cooking, she heard noises outside. As she finished cooking the dish at hand and served it to the table, she went out to check it out.
Other than “Douglas”, there were an additional two men in the living hall: Carl Jones and Warren Smith.
“Douglas” knew Warren Smith, so did Carl Jones. There was nothing strange about that.
Carl’s eager eyes immediately spotted Summer. Probably because since he had blown his cover during the time when Leonardo fell ill, he no longer needed to wear his glasses to look gentlemanlike. He even smiled and waved to her now. He looked less gentlemanlike and more thuggish, like the naughtiest student in the class-the one who stuck out the most, the most delinquent yet most likable. It gave Summer the impression that he was a bit childish.
“Mrs… Emerson.” Carl Jones stuttered when he saw Summer’s face.
He looked back at Warren Smith, who smiled back at him, spreading out his hands with a shrug. His smile was so hypocritical, Carl Jones thought.
During the day, they were arguing about how Summer looked in the office. And they decided to come to Leonardo’s house to verify it once and for all. It was not that they were blind. The truth was, Summer had gotten a complete makeover.
“I wonder why you look so different from last time.” Carl Jones felt the question was a little embarrassing.
“Probably the bangs were a little too thick and the makeup wasn’t quite right last time,” Summer said jokingly. After saying hi to Warren Smith, she returned to the kitchen.
Carl Jones was half believing half suspicious. The difference was just too great to comprehend. He went into a trance, eyes staring even after Summer had disappeared into the kitchen.
Leonardo came over and kicked on his feet while shooting him an icy sideways glare. “Have you stared enough? Let’s go!”
Carl Jones carried his leg crying in pain. “Leonardo, you’re so heartless!”
Before his voice trailed off, Leonardo shot him another glare. Carl Jones came to his senses and reached to cover his mouth.
It was fortunate that Summer was in the kitchen, which was a fair distance away from the living all. She might not have heard it.
Carl Jones looked at Leonardo, face in horror. “Your wife didn’t hear it!”
“Right. You can go now.” With that, Leonardo strode into the dining room.
Carl Jones had smelled the aroma drifting out from the kitchen. He followed Leonardo into the dining hall. Leonardo looked back at him, face straight. “You fancy going to Africa?”
Just then, he saw Warren Smith had come up behind them. Sensing Leonardo’s glower, he looked down, sorted his sleeves and checked his toes, avoiding eye contact that said, “Get out of my house.”
He had been eating out like 365 days a year. Now he got the chance to eat some home-cooked meal, why would he want to leave? He could smell mala fish already.
When the last dish of mala fish was ready, Summer served it on the table.
Just then she saw three men jammed at the dining hall entrance, thinking that Leonardo must be trying to convince his two friends to stay for the dinner, not knowing that they were already in a childish standoff for a while.
If he wanted them to stay for dinner, why did he stand there? She wondered, looking at “Douglas” and asking, “Are you going out with your friends or eating at home? I’ve just cooked some simple dishes…”
Unlike “Douglas” who basically ate anything under the sun, Carl Jones and Warren Smith might prefer dining at high-end restaurants, Summer thought.
Carl Jones shoved up to the front, smiling like a Cheshire cat. “I like simple dishes.”