“Okay. Winnie called me just now. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now,” Xavier said.
“All right. She called me too. You don’t think she has guessed something, do you?”
“What’s there to guess?” Xavier retorted, then continued, “It’s not like it’s shady for us to call each other. All we’re doing is withholding the fact that we are investigating Jacinta. I don’t want it to affect our relationship before I gather any solid evidence.”
Josiah hummed in response and said, “Yes, I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t tell her.”
“I know. I trust you.”
With that, the two of them quickly hung up.
Around ten minutes later, Josiah took out his phone and replied to Winnie’s message because he figured she would have ended her call with Xavier by that time.
He texted: I’m at home waiting for your arrival, Ms. Garland.
Winnie replied almost immediately: Wait. She reached Josiah’s doorstep in less than five minutes.
Josiah was pleasantly surprised the moment he opened the door and saw Winnie carrying a bowl of pomegranates.
“Have you come all the way to give me these?” Josiah asked in disbelief.
Winnie shot him an annoyed look. “Why else am I here? Is there someone else staying here? Seriously though, I thought I saw someone just now.”
“Don’t you try to scare me. I don’t believe in ghosts. Are you only giving me these pomegranates because you can’t finish them, and you feel like it’s a pity throwing them away?”
Speechless, Winnie snatched the bowl of pomegranates back and said, “You’re so fussy. Give them back if you don’t want them. I could’ve peeled fewer pomegranates if I can’t finish these.”
“No, no! I want them. Josiah snatched the pomegranates back from Winnie. “Come in and have a seat. Do you want a drink? I’ll get one for you.”
“It’s okay. I’ve drank some water before coming over to give you some of the pomegranates. After all, you’re the one who went through all the trouble carrying the pomegranates back from the hospital.”
Smiling as he adjusted his glasses, Josiah asked, “No, it’s all right. It wasn’t really heavy. Let’s talk inside, shall we?”
“Talk about what?”
Leaning against the wall lazily, Josiah said with a half smile, “I’m concerned about your mental health as your friend. I’ve heard about what Nate’s fans did to you. You must be frustrated.”
“That’s it?” Winnie raised her eyebrows skeptically. “It’s not that bad, but I’ll have to admit that it’s kind of frustrating since Nate’s fans are mostly fourteen or fifteen-year-old teenagers. They are neither mature enough nor capable of taking full responsibility for their actions.”
“You’re right.” After choosing his words carefully, Josiah continued, “If this behavior is not curbed, these teenagers may get out of control in the future. The best way to deal with this is to make a police report and let the police handle it. However, if it is a serious case, the teenagers may carry a criminal record forever. It must be horrible for the parents to see their sweet and obedient daughters become someone who would do anything for their idols under the influence of these idol fan groups. How scary is that? What if someday you realize someone who is the closest to you has changed? What will you do?”
“Someone who is the closest to me?” Winnie allowed herself to ponder for a while before replying, “If it’s someone who’s close to me, I will be more tolerant of them compared to strangers. However, they must learn from their mistakes. If they insist on going their own way, there is nothing else I can do other than part ways with them.”
Josiah nodded. “That’s what I think too. Tolerating them is one thing, but in the end, we cannot condone their mistakes.”
Winnie agreed, “You’re right. Tolerating is not the same as condoning. All right, I need to go.”
“Okay. Let me walk you to the door.”
Although it was just a few steps away, Josiah walked Winnie to the elevator.
However, before the elevator arrived, he called out to her.
“I’m working the day shift the day after tomorrow by the way. Let’s have dinner together after work.”
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