The car arrived outside the small courtyard.
Alice York was about to open the car door to get out when Wyatt Sterling suddenly called her na.
Alice York turned back. "Third Uncle, what is it?"
Wyatt Sterling’s tone was somber. "You’re not allowed to call Third Uncle."
"..."
The atmosphere suddenly beca very quiet.
Alice York thought for a mont, feeling like she still hadn’t quite grasped what Wyatt Sterling ant. "Is it that I can’t call you Third Uncle today, or that I can’t call you that in front of my grandparents?"
Wyatt Sterling: "Both."
So she couldn’t call him that at all.
Alice York understood this ti. She nodded.
Her grandparents didn’t have a good opinion of the Sterlings. If they found out Wyatt Sterling was here, it would be hard to explain, and the interaction would be awkward.
Still, she asked, "How long are you planning to stay, Third Uncle? Will you be leaving soon, or will you stay for dinner?"
Wyatt Sterling’s expression soured. "It’s a forty or fifty-kiloter drive. Even a tired horse knows to rest."
Alice York suppressed a smile. "I see. Th... You’ve probably never t my grandparents."
Wyatt Sterling didn’t respond.
’Never t them?’
’Hmph, I wonder if that little old man will even recognize .’
"So, are you getting out now? Or do you want to sit in the car a while longer?" Alice York said honestly. "My grandparents’ place can’t compare to the environnts you’re used to. You might feel uncomfortable inside."
Wyatt Sterling glanced at her sideways. "Am I that picky?"
Alice York pressed her lips together. "I just wanted to give you a heads-up about their house, in case you find this or that not to your liking later."
Wyatt Sterling: "..."
Alice York continued anxiously, "And about dinner... I’ll be cooking later. Please don’t be fussy about the bowls and chopsticks. I’ll be sure to sterilize them with boiling water several tis. Please don’t make a face in front of my grandparents. They’ll overthink it and feel like they weren’t good hosts."
Wyatt Sterling’s brows furrowed. "In your eyes, am I really that troubleso and picky?"
"No, no, I just wanted to let you know ahead of ti," Alice York explained hastily.
Wyatt Sterling said, word by word, "You’re worrying too much."
Alice York shrugged.
’Alright, I hope I am just overthinking this.’
"I’ll get out first, then?" she asked, pointing to the car door.
Wyatt Sterling nodded.
She opened the door. The little dog tied up outside the courtyard didn’t bark when it saw Alice York today. Instead, it wagged its tail furiously at her. Alice York grinned and walked over. "You recognize this ti, huh?"
The puppy made a sort of WHIMPERING sound, its tail wagging so fast it was almost a blur—a clear sign of enthusiasm.
Wyatt Sterling didn’t get out right away. His gaze fell on Finn Hawthorne in the front. Seeing him listening with pricked ears for a long while without moving, he said coldly, "Get out."
Finn Hawthorne imdiately straightened his back. "I’m not getting out."
Wyatt Sterling: "Mason Cheney, kick him out."
"Yes, Third Master." Mason Cheney adjusted his seat, making room to stretch his legs.
Seeing they were serious, Finn Hawthorne imdiately caved. "I’ll get out, I’ll get out, alright?"
In the end, Finn Hawthorne reluctantly shuffled out of the car.
The scene before him was just like a slum in his mind. He had already noticed on the way here that the place was very remote.
"Why’d you bring this young master to a slum..." ’They’re not going to sell here, are they?’
Just as he finished speaking, a sudden bark made Finn Hawthorne stumble and fall.
Alice York turned around to see Finn Hawthorne, his face bruised and swollen, cowering wretchedly on the ground.
His long legs were scrambling to find a place to hide.
Alice York didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. "Don’t let your ignorance beco a joke. Take a good look. The scenery here is beautiful. How does it look like a slum to you?"
Finn Hawthorne scrambled backward on his hands and feet, swallowing nervously. "I... I grew up in Arden, then studied abroad. Everywhere I’ve ever stayed has been luxurious, pri real estate. I’ve never seen such a shabby place."
Every word he said was the truth. After speaking, he quickly got up and hid back in the car.
Alice York: "..." ’He kind of has a point.’
But she had also figured it out. "Are you afraid of dogs?"
Finn Hawthorne, who only dared to lower the car window halfway, flushed beet-red. Even so, he remained stubborn. "Hilarious. Why would a grown man like be afraid of a dog? I just don’t like this kind of butt-ugly animal."
Alice York reminded him, "Local dogs are very smart. Be careful saying it’s ugly to its face, or you might get bitten."
Finn Hawthorne froze. "...Stop trying to scare ! I wasn’t born yesterday."
Alice York couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and looked up at Wyatt Sterling.
He had already gotten out and was standing by the trunk, his expression so focused it seed he was taking inventory of sothing. Mason Cheney was saying sothing beside him, but she couldn’t hear clearly. Just as she was about to walk over and see, she heard her grandmother’s voice from behind. "Look at that young lady. Is that our Little Girl?"
"Your eyes are failing you."
"Old Vaughn, look! She really looks like our Little Girl."
"Little Girl just left. The soonest she’d be back is next year. How could she be back so fast? I’m telling you, when have your eyes ever been reliable?"
The old woman had originally thought the person outside the courtyard looked exactly like Little Girl, but after the little old man’s words, she lost her confidence, thinking she might have really been mistaken.
"Sigh." The little old man sighed and walked ahead. "This ti Little Girl only stayed for half a day. Next year, maybe she can stay for two."
The old woman followed with a vegetable basket. "Don’t be greedy. Even one day would be nice."
"Tch, if you don’t dare to dream, I will. Two days... no, five days." The more the little old man spoke, the happier he beca. The old woman laughed, remarking that he sure dared to dream big.
The old couple chatted and laughed as they walked to the courtyard gate. When they saw Alice York, they both froze.
The old woman’s first reaction was to turn her head and say to the little old man, "Old Vaughn, my eyes must be getting worse and worse. Everyone I see looks like our Little Girl."
The little old man’s face was full of excitent. "Old woman, your eyes are better than mine this ti! It really is our Little Girl!"
Alice York walked over with a smile. "Grandpa, Grandma, I’m back again."
The old woman looked at Alice York in astonishnt. "Little Girl, how... how..."
Alice York took the old woman’s hands, calming her excitent. "Soone else is handling things back in Silvanus. I don’t have to go back, so I ca here again."
The old woman’s eyes imdiately welled up. She tossed the vegetable basket to the little old man and stepped forward to pat Alice York’s arm. "You’re back again. Good, good, this is just wonderful."
The little old man quickly asked, "Little Girl, are you hungry? Have you eaten?"
"Not yet," Alice York said, shaking her head.
The old woman ordered the little old man, "Hurry up and pick so vegetables to make a al. Don’t let our Little Girl go hungry."
With a blissful smile, Alice York quickly added, "Grandpa, Grandma, I didn’t co back alone today."
Under the old couple’s expectant gazes, Alice York said, "I brought three guests."
Hearing it was guests, the old couple glanced at each other. ’So it’s not Mindy.’
"I’ll go greet them. We can’t be rude to the guests our Little Girl brought." The little old man was very polite. He quickly put down the vegetable basket and headed out.
The little dog outside the courtyard was busy, barking not only at Finn Hawthorne but also at Wyatt Sterling and Mason Cheney.
A classic case of small size, big attitude.
Finn Hawthorne was scared to death and didn’t dare get out of the car. Wyatt Sterling, in contrast, had his hands full of expensive gifts, not letting Mason Cheney help, and walked inside with his head held high
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