Calix didn’t intend to stay long after revealing everything. Rowan and Bianca needed so ti alone to discuss their next course of action, or to fight releasing their pent-up distress first.
"I’ll leave now," Calix rose from his seat, keeping his gaze on his parents-in-law, "Father, Mother, don’t hesitate to contact if you need my assistance."
Calix simply offered a helping hand for Leslie’s sake. He actually didn’t care what Rowan or Bianca wished to do. But, this matter involved Leslie – his priority.
An ashad-looking Rowan and teary-eyed Bianca nodded, murmuring their gratitude to their son-in-law. Irene was the only one appearing calm despite the initial surprise.
"Mom, Dad, I’ll send Brother-in-law out," said Irene, standing up from the couch. She quietly scanned the remorse expressed on her parents’ countenances, "About Sarah... don’t exclude . I wanna know how you plan to punish her."
"B-but... Irene, you’re still young," Rowan hesitated. He looked up from the floor, staring at his youngest daughter, "Don’t worry. We will..."
"No. I’ll continue to be involved in this," Irene abruptly interrupted Rowan mid-way, "I approached Brother-in-law for help. So, I’m already involved."
What else Rowan could say?
His youngest daughter, the sickly and timid Irene firmly declared her stance. He had never seen her with an unwavering gaze before.
Calix humd softly, glancing at Leslie. He pretended to casually move his hand before gently patting her back, earning her attention.
"I agreed with Irene," Calix spoke in favor of his younger sister-in-law, "Father, Mother, she’s mature enough to be involved in this matter."
Rowan flinched, sensing the razor-sharp edge in Calix’s usual tone. He nodded weakly while Bianca scowled, staring at him.
"I’ll go now. See you later, Father, Mother," Calix gave them a slight nod, "I hope the holidays will go well for you."
Irene stepped forward, walking ahead of Calix. She didn’t look at her parents, trying to smoothen the turbulence within her own heart.
Calix subtly glanced at Leslie whose expression mirrored Irene. The two siblings looked so much alike now.
None of them talked while walking down the hallway. Irene sent Calix off to the porch outside.
Calm moonlight illuminated the vast yard of the Li family’s ancestral ho, glimring on the stone statues and flower beds of the garden.
"Brother-in-law, thank you so much. I hope... Mom and Dad don’t think I try to be rude to them."
Irene broke the silence. Her brows crumpled, she fiddled with her hands. The firmness in her tone had a hint of uneasiness.
Calix’s lips lted into a smile, his facial features softening.
Irene was still young. Despite having her monts of bravery, she was still prone to second-guessing herself and feeling bad about her actions.
"You did great, Irene," Calix tried to reassure the teenage girl. He put one hand into the jacket pocket, picking up sothing, "Here, take this. Your small reward for tonight."
"Huh? Ah... strawberry candy?"
Raising her brows, Irene looked at the pink wrapping of the candy lying on her palm. Cute red strawberries were printed on the plastic cover.
Leslie also saw it. Amused, a chuckle escaped from her mouth. Her lodic giggle gently transversed to Calix’s mind.
"I gave your sister strawberry candies before too," Calix put a finger on his lips, winking at Irene, "But, I won’t tell you when it happened."
Irene blinked before she fully registered those words into her mind.
"Ah! Brother-in-law, this ant you’ve t my sister before, right?"
When did they et?
Irene doubted it happened at the public library where her sister worked. But, social events were out of the question either because her sister didn’t attend those.
So, where?
Calix cackled, amused by Irene’s curiosity. He quickly opened the car door, "Hahaha, who knows? Go inside, I’m leaving."
"Brother-in-law!"
Calix snickered, refusing to tell Irene more. Getting inside the car, once again he shooed her to return to the house. Following Calix, Leslie sat in the front passenger seat.
"Contact if there’s anything," reminded Calix to Irene through the wound-down window, "Enough worrying ah. That woman won’t run away. If your parents don’t put her in prison, I will."
"Hehe, okay~ Thanks again!"
Beaming, Irene waved at Calix. He returned the sa gesture before slowly driving away from the porch. In no ti, he sped out of the ancestral ho’s vicinity.
Glancing at Leslie, Calix saw her looking out of the window by her side. Her downcast countenance was reflected on the glass by the passing lampposts, exuding her sorrow.
"Do you know which coffee irritates Italians?"
The coming out-of-nowhere question pulled Leslie out of her daze. Blinking, she slowly turned to look at Calix. The man was focusing on driving.
"What? Which coffee... irritates Italians?"
Confused, Leslie repeated the question.
Calix snickered, "Guess."
Leslie stared blankly at Calix’s side profile, wondering what this quiz was about.
"Don’t Italians love coffee?"
As far as Leslie knew, Italians consud coffee as if it was deeply ingrained in their bones. She wondered how true that statent was.
Calix briefly looked at Leslie, "Having a cappuccino out of breakfast ti will upset them. Try ordering one for lunch, you’ll be judged."
Leslie blinked before a ray of enlightennt jolted her mind. Laughter bubbled up her lips, she shook her head in helplessness.
"Hahaha, I’ve heard of that before. I forgot about it," Leslie shrugged, still chuckling, "Hehe, I won’t order it ah. When in Ro, do as the Romans do."
"Correct. So, take this ti to learn the dos and don’ts in Ro, okay? We’ll have so much fun over there."
The look in Leslie’s eyes llowed. She nodded once, understanding why Calix suddenly brought up the silly quiz.
She didn’t want to be full of herself, but, she guessed that this was his way to lift her mood after what happened with Rowan and Bianca just now. After all, this was not the first ti he did such a thing.
"I wonder what gelato tastes like," Leslie humd, tapping her chin, "It looks like ice cream but, I heard it’s tastier."
"It’s so delicious! I usually order..."
Leslie quickly made a guess.
"Strawberry-flavored gelato! Am I right?"
Calix chuckled, "Yeah, of course! Don’t worry! We’ll try all the good food there. Panna cotta, pizza, pasta, cannoli, tiramisu and more!"
The man and the woman shared hearty laughter. None of them thought of what might happen back at the Li family’s ancestral ho now.
"We’ll stay at your ancestral ho until April 5th, right?" asked Leslie, recalling what Calix had told her before[1], "When will we fly there? To Ro?"
Calix ntioned the business trip would last for seven days, happening right after the Qingming festival. But, he hadn’t specified on which day.
"The seventh, on Friday," Calix pulled the steering wheel, changing to another lane, "We’ll stay there until the fourteenth or fifteenth."
Leslie slightly nodded, thinking that the day of the departure was not that far. Today was already April 1st.
"We’re seven hours ahead," Calix resud talking, "Even if we arrived in the evening of our ti, for example, it’s still early there."
Leslie kept nodding like a chicken pecking grains. Anticipation glimred in her eyes as she imagined the exciting trip abroad.
Delicious food and enchanting views, here she ca!
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Reference:
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