Seeing that Ashley was still trembling, Chant opened his mouth. "Can you play Go?"
'Huh?'
Upon hearing the question, Ashley looked at Chant and found out that he was watching her. She quickly drew back her eyes and replied, "Just a little."
"Can you make tea?"
Ashley let out a sigh and honestly replied, "No."
She never had a chance to touch these kinds of things. How could she know the intricate techniques of the tea making ceremony?
And she always spent her spare time on other things. She never thought of learning this skill.
She started to guess what Chant was thinking about.
She became worried that Chant would be unsatisfied with her since she knew nothing about the things he cared about.
Following Chant's order, Andrew went to his study.
But the desk inside the study was clean and tidy, with nothing on it. Where was the calligraphy work Chant mentioned?
He was just looking for an excuse to get him out of his sight.
Andrew felt helpless as he paced around the study before going downstairs.
Inside the living room, Chant was asking questions and Ashley was doing her best to answer as swiftly and politely as possible.
It was like a teacher had singled out one student and was giving the student a graded recitation.
Chant's eyes flashed and he cracked a small grin. He stared at Ashley for a while, pulled a long face and said, "Do I look formidable?"
'Formidable?
Of course, how could you not be?'
But she didn't have the guts to say what she was thinking out loud.
She waved her hands hastily and replied, "No, not at all. You're very nice."
"Then why don't you look at me when you talk to me?" asked Chant.
Ashley gave a quick glance at Chant and then lowered her head again. "I..."
Before she could finish her words, she heard footsteps coming from behind.
It was Andrew. He went upstairs to fetch the thing he was asked to, but he came back empty-handed.
He sat down beside Ashley and looked at Chant. "Grandpa, I couldn't find the calligraphy work you mentioned."
Chant reacted naturally without showing any sign that he had pranked his grandson. "Oh, I have to blame my bad memory."
He stood up and said, "Okay, girl, come play with me."
Since he had ordered her, Ashley placed the glass of lemonade in her hand down and stood up, ready to follow him. "Okay, Grandpa."
Chant began to leave the room, but he soon remembered something. He turned back slightly and looked at Andrew. "You stay here, Andrew."
Andrew looked at Ashley and hesitantly replied, "Grandpa..."
Chant didn't pay attention to Andrew and headed upstairs.
Ashley gave Andrew's hand a squeeze and said, "Don't worry. I'll be okay." 'Just playing Go.'
Andrew looked back at Ashley with resignation. He was the one who brought her to see Grandpa, but now for reasons he didn't understand, he felt that he was undesired.
Andrew had an impulse to follow them but he chose to obey Chant's order in the end. He sat in the living room and eagerly waited for them to return.
Without Ashley by his side, he felt nothing was right.
He was becoming restless as the seconds seemed like hours. To pass the time, he took out the notebook computer and started to work on the business of the company.
The villa was big but only had two floors due to Chant's old age.
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