Chapter 92: Chapter 91: When Will You Come Back
Bennett Family’s Old House.
In a cozy warm bedroom, an elderly man dressed in grey pajamas held a small spray bottle, leisurely watering a lush spider plant by the enclosed balcony.
The man’s figure was slender but energetic, and he would occasionally hum a tune.
This person was the elder of the Bennett Family, Norman Bennett.
Knock, knock.
Hearing the knock, Norman Bennett immediately knew who it was. He continued focusing on watering the plants and responded to the door, "Come in."
The door was pushed open from the outside, and a man dressed in a deep black coat walked in, his already long legs appeared even longer under the straight dark grey trousers.
Norman Bennett stopped four meters away from the elder, slightly bowed his head, respectfully saying, "Grandfather."
"Hmm, come take a look, how do you think my spider plant is doing?" The elder gestured for him to come over, still focusing intently on the lush spider plant.
"Very well."
This was Norman Bennett’s genuinely observed reply, just two simple words, yet the elder smiled with satisfaction.
After a while, the elder finally looked away from the spider plant and handed the spray bottle to Norman Bennett.
"Looking this troubled, have you quarreled with your father again?" The elder asked with a cheerful laugh as he walked toward the sofa.
Norman Bennett placed the spray bottle aside and also walked to the sofa, sitting next to the elder.
"When I handed over the company to your father, I decided not to interfere in company matters," the elder said lightly, an amicable smile on his face covered with brown wrinkles.
Hearing his grandfather speak first, he understood his grandfather’s meaning, though there were some things he couldn’t help but say.
"But Grandfather, Father is acting on his own, attempting to use capital to counteract market regulations. Continuing this way will bring disaster to The Bennetts."
Seeing Norman Bennett’s somber expression, the elder calmly chuckled and asked in return, "Haven’t you built up the Melody Harmony Group over the years? Just let things be. After all, you can’t take all this money with you when you die."
"Yes, Grandfather is right." Norman Bennett had completely grasped his grandfather’s intent, his gloomy expression gradually improving.
At this moment, the elder had already stood up, sighed, and said, "Come, play a few games of chess with your grandfather."
Saying so, he walked towards the study, sighing as he went, "The young should not be impatient or restless."
The elder’s voice was steady, possessing a unique hoarseness due to age, and in his deep eyes was a clarity of insight into worldly matters.
―――The outskirts of Linglang, Moonlake Villas.
"Madam? You’re back." Qin Dadong, who came to open the gate, showed a bit of surprise on his face, discreetly hiding a piece of stuffed egg pancake behind him.
He was the gatekeeper of the villa, and now that the family had mostly gone back home for the New Year, he was more relaxed than usual.
What puzzled him was why the madam had returned so quickly and alone.
"Yes, I’m back."
Elliana Lyle, with a suitcase in one hand and a cat in the other, walked in with half-closed eyes, somewhat fatigued.
She had walked for a while. Just as the car was approaching the outskirts of Linglang, her uncle received a call, and after hanging up, he became restless and anxious.
It must have been something important. Looking out the car window, they were already on the asphalt road leading to Moonlake Villas, which naturally indicated they weren’t far. She had just been thinking about getting out and walking.
Though her uncle initially disagreed, he reluctantly agreed to her request.
The snow on the ground had not yet melted, and the girl in a beige coat walked along the road with a cat in one arm and a suitcase in the other.
The walk took quite a bit of effort, but the physical tiredness left her no time to dwell on other bothersome matters, which was a good thing, she figured.
"Madam, let me help."
Qin Dadong tucked the pancake into his pocket and quickly took the suitcase from her hands.
This scene amused Elliana, who chuckled, "It won’t taste good if it gets cold."
Once inside, after returning to her room on the second floor and exchanging pleasantries, Butler Lewis went downstairs. A modest and polite maid cautiously knocked on the door.
"Madam, I’m Sami. Is there anything you need me to do?"
"A cup of warm... a cup of iced lemon tea." Elliana suddenly felt like indulging herself; she liked drinking cold and refreshing beverages.
Who knew Sami would look a bit distressed, saying, "Madam, the young master instructed earlier that this season you’re not to have..."
"Just warm water then."
...
After drinking the water, she ate a bowl of steaming wontons, then lay alone in the bed. This was the room where she stayed with Norman Bennett, who had a severe cleanliness obsession and greatly disliked cat hair.
Before entering the room, she always changed clothes in the adjacent room to ensure no cat hair was brought inside.
The first thing she did upon lying in bed was to open her phone and then dial Norman Bennett’s number.
Buzz—buzz—buzz
After three rings, there was a beep as the call connected.
"Hey, Norman, when are you coming back... um?"
Elliana initially wanted to ask when Norman would return, but on second thought, she didn’t want him to think she was home. After all, she wanted him to have a good New Year at home.
"When do you want me to come back, hmm?" The man responded with a question instead of an answer, believing from her soft, slow tone that she wasn’t having a good time at the Hue Family.
Elliana paused, then joked, "I wish you’d never come back. Okay, tell me when you’re returning. I’m afraid you’ll be lonely without anyone around."
"After the fifteenth," he replied on the other end of the line.
Fifteenth... so many more days... oh well, "Alright, I’ll come back after the fifteenth too."
"How’s it going at Grandma’s?" Norman asked.
"Very well, Grandma treats me wonderfully..."
...
This phone call went on for over an hour, with her doing most of the talking. After hanging up, the room suddenly felt silent, not even the sound of the wind and snow from outside could be heard.
Instinctively, she tugged at the blanket, wrapping herself within it.
Bored, she scrolled through WeChat. It’s been several days with no word from Luna, no answer to calls, and she didn’t reply to messages, almost as if she vanished.
She didn’t know whether something happened or not, as Luna often disappeared these days, which she had grown used to.
"Elliana, my contract with the company expired a few days ago, and I didn’t plan to renew it. White Goose invited me, and I’ve signed a two-year contract with them."
"From now on, I’m a colleague of yours, so please take good care of me."
Two messages suddenly popped up. From the profile picture, she immediately knew they were from Liu Mianmian.
After carefully reading both messages, she smiled knowingly. Mianmian was a lively and cheerful girl, and they got along well during filming.
Kitty: "Alright, if you want me to take care of you, remember to treat me to milk tea later."
After a while, Liu Mianmian replied.
"Ok, no problem, let’s have a large cup."
After chatting nonchalantly with Liu Mianmian for a bit, she started browsing Weibo. The second season of South Wind Song is already scheduled, premiering on the tenth day of the New Year.