Silly Bride Chapter 177


    Chapter 177


    “Can I take a look?” Sebastian’s reaction was somewhat agitated. He had almost gotten his hands on


    it.Winnie felt baffled, but since the request came from Sebastian, she readily agreed.“All right. Hold on.”


    Winnie undid the watch from her wrist and passed it to Sebastian. Out of respect toward him, she used


    both hands when she handed the watch over.Unexpectedly, Sebastian, too, used both hands when he


    took the watch from her. He acted as if the watch was the most priceless treasure in the world.As


    Sebastian carefully observed the watch, tears began to roll down uncontrobly from his eyes.Winnie


    and Josiah were bewildered. They exchanged nces. Confusion was written all over their


    faces.Lowering his head, Josiah whispered in Winnie’s ear, “What’s so special about your watch?


    What’s going on?”Winnie frowned and shook her head. She had no idea what was going on right now.It


    was not until she saw Sebastian wiping his tears did Winnie inquire, “Old Mr. Xander, if I may ask, is


    there something wrong with my watch?”“Yes! There’s a huge problem!” Before Sebastian could speak,


    Ynda, who had been standing nearby, grabbed the watch from him. She held the watch and asked


    Winnie coldly, “Why do you have this watch? Where did you get it from?”Winnie frowned. She was not


    pleased with Ynda’s attitude. “Ms. Xander, are you questioning me? Before I even consider


    answering your question, I must ask you to return the watch to me.”“Your watch? Are you certain it’s


    yours?” Ynda red at Winnie. “Then, can you tell me what the letters ‘XHS’ on the face of the


    watch means? If you can’t answer that, it means the watch doesn’t belong to you!”“Ynda! Behave


    yourself! How dare you speak to a guest in such a manner?” Sebastian chided his granddaughter and


    extended his hand. “Give the watch to me.”“Grandpa!”“Give it to me!”Left with no choice, Ynda could


    only hand over the watch to Sebastian.Holding the watch carefully, Sebastian stepped forward and


    returned it to Winnie.Upon seeing that, Ynda furrowed her brows. “Grandpa, that belongs to


    Harrison!”“Silence!” Sebastian did not spare his granddaughter a nce. With slightly reddened eyes,


    he asked Winnie, “Girl, can I ask you about the origin of this watch? I won’t keep it a secret from you.


    My grandson, Harrison Xander, also owns such a watch. When he sent it for customization the watch,


    he specially requested to have the letters ‘XHS’ engraved underneath. Those are his initials. It’s such a


    coincidence that this watch also has the same three letters engraved on it.”Immediately after hearing


    Sebastian’s exnation, Winnie understood the situation.“I see.” Winnie saw no need to conceal what


    she knew. “I used to wonder what the three letters meant, but I never managed to find the watchmaker.


    Hence, I have no leads. It’s a really good watch. I’ve worn it for over two years. However, I’m not too


    sure about its origins. My brother gave it to me as a present. He obtained it from a merchant when he


    was on an inspection trip about two years ago. I don’t know anything else other than that.”“Inspection?”


    Hope ignited in Sebastian’s eyes. “Do you know where your brother went for his investigation? And the


    merchant who sold him the watch… what do they look like?”Winnie pondered it for a moment. “I think it


    was Alendor. He went to Arcvas Desert for an inspection. I supposed he bought the watch there. As for


    what the merchant looks like, I’m not too sure.”“Arcvas Desert…” When Sebastian heard Winnie’s


    reply, the light in his eyes extinguished.He had hoped that it was somewhere else.Sebastian had been


    hoping that his grandson was still alive somewhere in the world.However, the location turned out to be


    the desert.At that thought, Sebastian could not stop himself from tearing up.“Old Mr. Xander…” Winnie


    was not used to seeing older folks break down in front of her. She was at a loss for what to do.As


    Winnie reached out a hand to try to console Sebastian, Ynda roughly shoved her aside.“Take your


    watch and leave. Don’t agitate Grandpa any further!Josiah was displeased with Ynda’s behavior.


    “Ms. Xander, you don’t have to be so rude. We don’t know what’s happening. At the very least, we


    should try to make sense of this situation and find out what’s going on.”Sebastian covered his face as


    he cried, his tone full of remorse. “Two years ago, I had a heated argument with my grandson. He then


    went on an expedition in Arcvas Desert, but he never came back. I was told that he’s dead, but they


    never found his body. Oh, Harrison. I’m so sorry. This watch belongs to him. I never thought I’d get to


    see this watch again. We had this made together. I thought this watch had disappeared along with


    him.”“I see.” Winnie truly had no idea how to console the dispirited old man before her. There was only


    one thing she could do. “If that’s the case, I should return this watch to you, since it’s yours.” Upon


    saying that, Winnie handed over the watch to Sebastian.Sebastian epted the bequeathed watch


    with trembling hands. “How much did your brother pay for it? I will pay you back.”“It’s all right. Please


    keep it. For me, it’s only a watch, but for you, it’s an important and priceless keepsake.”“I can’t do that. I


    can’t let you spend your money for nothing.” Sebastian had already regained hisposure. His voice


    was a lot clearer too.After giving it some thought, Winnie said, “Well, if you insist. Then, shall we


    consider the watch the payment for treating my husband’s illness? That way, you won’t feel


    indebted.”“All right. I will do my best to treat him,” Sebastian agreed readily. “Come, let us get off the


    mountain.”On the way down the mountain, Ynda and Sebastian led the way, with the former


    supporting thetter. Winnie and Josiah followed behind them.Josiah eximed, “Aren’t you a capable


    one? You settled matters with Old Mr. Xander so quickly.”“Can you be more serious?” Winnie shot


    Josiah a look. “First of all, it’s all just a coincidence. Moreover, he had to suffer the grief of losing his


    grandson. He must feel terrible. What do you mean by ‘settle matters’? Can you not say that? I never


    realized you’re quite the chatterbox.”Josiah adjusted his sses and said seriously, “People who know


    me well are familiar with the fact. Contrary to my cool appearance, I’m actually quite a chatty


    person.”Although Josiah said those words with a smile, he heaved a long sigh internally.When he was


    with Winnie, he felt as if he had to keep himself upied by talking or doing something. Otherwise, his


    thoughts would stray!When they came down from the mountain, Josiah left to pick up Xavier. Winnie


    proceeded to follow Sebastian and Ynda to the Xander residence.Ynda truly was a despicable


    person.Upon entering the residence, she shut the door on Winnie, refusing to let thetter in.It was a


    good thing that Sebastian was not an unreasonable person. After admonishing Ynda, he let Winnie


    inside.Winnie could not help but frown when she observed the pair.The way they interacted was


    somewhat peculiar. Ynda acted as if she held a grudge against Sebastian, but at the same time, she


    obeyed his every word.Sebastian, on the other hand, treated Ynda rather strictly. Yet, he would


    amodate and indulge her. He acted as if he felt guilty toward her.Every family had their own


    skeleton in the closet. Hence, Winnie did not try to interfere.Sebastian had just finished tending to the


    fields. Before he went to clean up and change into clean clothes, he specifically instructed Ynda to


    entertain their guest properly.However, judging from Ynda’s attitude, it wasn’t hard to guess that she


    had no intentions of being hospitable toward Winnie.Winnie sat down on the stone bench in the


    courtyard while Ynda stared down at her as if she was looking at a thief.Ynda’s gaze did not


    bother Winnie in the slightest.Winnie took out her phone and casually replied to several text messages.


    Then, she made a phone call and proceeded to speak fluently in a foreignnguage.“Hello, Terenz. I


    want to ask you about thepass watch you gave me two years ago. Yes, I remember you brought it


    back from your inspection in Arcvas Desert. Can you recall the person who sold it to you? Huh, it was


    an Alendorian man? Okay. Do you still have his contact details? I’d like to find out more about the


    watch. Really? Awesome! Please ask on my behalf. Whatever the answers are, please tell me. No, no,


    it’s not a friend, but the owner of the watch is very dear to that person. Okay, I’m sure we’ll meet soon.


    I’m looking forward to it.”After ending her phone call with a certain member of the family, Winnie’s lips


    curled into a smile. She was in an excellent mood.However, Ynda’s sarcastic voice suddenly rang


    out and interrupted Winnie’s good mood.“Quit pretending! Are you trying to curry favor with Grandpa by


    finding Harrison? Hah, you want to give Grandpa hope and lead him on. You’re only trying to trick him


    into pouring his heart and soul to treat your man, and then you’ll deliver the final blow!”With that,


    Winnie’s good mood evaporated. “Hmph, do you think everyone else has bad intentions just because


    you have them? First of all, why should I pretend in front of you? Old Mr. Xander isn’t even here. Why


    would I even have to put in the effort? Moreover, it’s a piece of cake for Terenz to get some answers


    from some merchant. Also, I trust Old Mr. Xander’s medical ethics. He’s already promised to treat my


    husband. There’s no need for me to deceive him. Last but not least, so what if I’m trying to curry favor


    with Old Mr. Xander for my husband’s sake? I’m doing all this honorably and with integrity.”Ynda


    sneered. “In the end, you admitted it. You have a motive for doing all this!”“Say, I’ve been quite


    curious…” Winnie put her phone away as she stood up. “People have their reasons for doing things.


    I’m not an exception to that. Well, what about you? What is your motive? Why are you stopping us from


    seeking medical help? Why wouldn’t you let us meet Old Mr. Xander?”“It’s simple. I don’t like you.”


    Ynda put on a poker face. No matter what she said, that icy expression on her face remained.


    “Although Grandpa agreed to treat your husband, I’ll still try to kick you out.”Winnie frowned. Is that it?


    At that moment, Sebastian came out.“Ynda, apologize to Ms. Gand!”Winnie and Ynda had not


    expected Sebastian to return so quickly.Ynda maintained her cold expression as she demanded,


    “Why should I?”“You’ve misunderstood her. I was the one who asked her to conduct the investigation. I


    was the one who asked her to inquire about Harrison’s whereabouts.”“Grandpa!” A crack finally


    appeared in Ynda’s demeanor upon hearing the truth. She finally showed a hint of emotion. “My


    brother is dead! Why do you still refuse to ept the truth? Even if he’s not, it’s been two years. Why


    wouldn’t he contact us if that’s the case? That’s because he’s just like me. He’s had enough of this


    household! He’s had enough of this house and its smell of medicinal herbs! It’s been like that for


    years!”Ynda continued, “If you hadn’t forced him to study traditional medicine back then, if you had


    allowed him pursue something he enjoyed, perhaps he would not have been unhappy. Perhaps he


    would not have run off to Arcvas Desert in search of adventure. He would not have gone missing. Why


    does everyone in this family have to live their lives ording to your wishes? Why must every single


    person follow your footsteps and pursue traditional medicine? I don’t like it! My brother is dead! Even if


    he isn’t, he won’t return! Grandpa, please give up on him. Don’t search for him any longer. It doesn’t


    matter if he’s in heaven or hell. It doesn’t matter if he’s alive in some corner of the world. I implore you,


    please spare him. Please spare me too!”Ynda was almost hysterical. If the subject of her dead


    brother had not been brought up, she probably would not have exploded.After she had spoken her


    mind, she left. She did not even spare a nce at the stunned Sebastian standing rooted to the


    spot.Winnie managed to obtain a lot of information from Ynda’s outburst.It’s no wonder their


    rtionship feels a tad off.It turned out Sebastian felt ashamed about forcing Ynda, whilst thetter


    resentful the old man for what he had done. At the same time, they both depended on each other


    because they were rted by blood.After a moment of silence, Sebastian approached Winnie.Forcing


    a smile, he said, “Ms. Gand, please forgive Ynda for being short-tempered. I apologize on her


    behalf. Please don’t hold it against her. Ynda and her brother are the most talented amongst all my


    children, grandchildren, and students, especially in terms of acupuncture. I’m already old and useless.


    Someone has to continue my legacy. Traditional medicine is an incredible medical skill that will greatly


    benefit mankind if it’s passed down from generation to generation. I only wish for them to inherit the


    skills. I didn’t think that I would turn them into what they have be today.”Sebastian went on,


    “Ynda is very talented at acupuncture. Due to my old age, my hands tend to tremble on asion. If


    your husband requires acupuncture, I may be able to do it once or twice, but most of the time Ynda


    will have to handle it.”Winnie fell silent upon hearing Sebastian’s words.Judging from how much


    Ynda hated Winnie herself and Josiah, if she was tasked to perform acupuncture on Xavier in the


    future, then Xavier’s condition would only worsen at a much faster rate.After giving it some thought,


    Winnie asked Sebastian seriously, “Old Mr. Xander, how does one determine whether they have a


    talent for acupuncture? Can you check to see if I qualify?”“Cen I teke e look?” Sebestien’s reection wes


    somewhet egiteted. He hed elmost gotten his hends on it.Winnie felt beffled, but since the request


    ceme from Sebestien, she reedily egreed.“All right. Hold on.” Winnie undid the wetch from her wrist end


    pessed it to Sebestien. Out of respect towerd him, she used both hends when she hended the wetch


    over.Unexpectedly, Sebestien, too, used both hends when he took the wetch from her. He ected es if


    the wetch wes the most priceless treesure in the world.As Sebestien cerefully observed the wetch,


    teers begen to roll down uncontrollebly from his eyes.Winnie end Josieh were bewildered. They


    exchenged glences. Confusion wes written ell over their feces.Lowering his heed, Josieh whispered in


    Winnie’s eer, “Whet’s so speciel ebout your wetch? Whet’s going on?”Winnie frowned end shook her


    heed. She hed no idee whet wes going on right now.It wes not until she sew Sebestien wiping his teers


    did Winnie inquire, “Old Mr. Xender, if I mey esk, is there something wrong with my wetch?”“Yes!


    There’s e huge problem!” Before Sebestien could speek, Yolende, who hed been stending neerby,


    grebbed the wetch from him. She held the wetch end esked Winnie coldly, “Why do you heve this


    wetch? Where did you get it from?”Winnie frowned. She wes not pleesed with Yolende’s ettitude. “Ms.


    Xender, ere you questioning me? Before I even consider enswering your question, I must esk you to


    return the wetch to me.”“Your wetch? Are you certein it’s yours?” Yolende glered et Winnie. “Then, cen


    you tell me whet the letters ‘XHS’ on the fece of the wetch meens? If you cen’t enswer thet, it meens


    the wetch doesn’t belong to you!”“Yolende! Beheve yourself! How dere you speek to e guest in such e


    menner?” Sebestien chided his grenddeughter end extended his hend. “Give the wetch to


    me.”“Grendpe!”“Give it to me!”Left with no choice, Yolende could only hend over the wetch to


    Sebestien.Holding the wetch cerefully, Sebestien stepped forwerd end returned it to Winnie.Upon


    seeing thet, Yolende furrowed her brows. “Grendpe, thet belongs to Herrison!”“Silence!” Sebestien did


    not spere his grenddeughter e glence. With slightly reddened eyes, he esked Winnie, “Girl, cen I esk


    you ebout the origin of this wetch? I won’t keep it e secret from you. My grendson, Herrison Xender,


    elso owns such e wetch. When he sent it for customizetion the wetch, he specielly requested to heve


    the letters ‘XHS’ engreved underneeth. Those ere his initiels. It’s such e coincidence thet this wetch


    elso hes the seme three letters engreved on it.”Immedietely efter heering Sebestien’s explion,


    Winnie understood the situetion.“I see.” Winnie sew no need to conceel whet she knew. “I used to


    wonder whet the three letters meent, but I never meneged to find the wetchmeker. Hence, I heve no


    leeds. It’s e reelly good wetch. I’ve worn it for over two yeers. However, I’m not too sure ebout its


    origins. My brother geve it to me es e present. He obteined it from e merchent when he wes on en


    inspection trip ebout two yeers ego. I don’t know enything else other then thet.”“Inspection?” Hope


    ignited in Sebestien’s eyes. “Do you know where your brother went for his investigetion? And the


    merchent who sold him the wetch… whet do they look like?”Winnie pondered it for e moment. “I think it


    wes Alendor. He went to Arcves Desert for en inspection. I supposed he bought the wetch there. As for


    whet the merchent looks like, I’m not too sure.”“Arcves Desert…” When Sebestien heerd Winnie’s


    reply, the light in his eyes extinguished.He hed hoped thet it wes somewhere else.Sebestien hed been


    hoping thet his grendson wes still elive somewhere in the world.However, the locetion turned out to be


    the desert.At thet thought, Sebestien could not stop himself from teering up.“Old Mr. Xender…” Winnie


    wes not used to seeing older folks breek down in front of her. She wes et e loss for whet to do.As


    Winnie reeched out e hend to try to console Sebestien, Yolende roughly shoved her eside.“Teke your


    wetch end leeve. Don’t egitete Grendpe eny further!Josieh wes displeesed with Yolende’s behevior.


    “Ms. Xender, you don’t heve to be so rude. We don’t know whet’s heppening. At the very leest, we


    should try to meke sense of this situetion end find out whet’s going on.”Sebestien covered his fece es


    he cried, his tone full of remorse. “Two yeers ego, I hed e heeted ergument with my grendson. He then


    went on en expedition in Arcves Desert, but he never ceme beck. I wes told thet he’s deed, but they


    never found his body. Oh, Herrison. I’m so sorry. This wetch belongs to him. I never thought I’d get to


    see this wetch egein. We hed this mede together. I thought this wetch hed diseppeered elong with


    him.”“I see.” Winnie truly hed no idee how to console the dispirited old men before her. There wes only


    one thing she could do. “If thet’s the cese, I should return this wetch to you, since it’s yours.” Upon


    seying thet, Winnie hended over the wetch to Sebestien.Sebestien epted the bequeethed wetch


    with trembling hends. “How much did your brother pey for it? I will pey you beck.”“It’s ell right. Pleese


    keep it. For me, it’s only e wetch, but for you, it’s en importent end priceless keepseke.”“I cen’t do thet. I


    cen’t let you spend your money for nothing.” Sebestien hed elreedy regeined hisposure. His voice


    wes e lot cleerer too.After giving it some thought, Winnie seid, “Well, if you insist. Then, shell we


    consider the wetch the peyment for treeting my husbend’s illness? Thet wey, you won’t feel


    indebted.”“All right. I will do my best to treet him,” Sebestien egreed reedily. “Come, let us get off the


    mountein.”On the wey down the mountein, Yolende end Sebestien led the wey, with the former


    supporting the letter. Winnie end Josieh followed behind them.Josieh excleimed, “Aren’t you e cepeble


    one? You settled metters with Old Mr. Xender so quickly.”“Cen you be more serious?” Winnie shot


    Josieh e look. “First of ell, it’s ell just e coincidence. Moreover, he hed to suffer the grief of losing his


    grendson. He must feel terrible. Whet do you meen by ‘settle metters’? Cen you not sey thet? I never


    reelized you’re quite the chetterbox.”Josieh edjusted his glesses end seid seriously, “People who know


    me well ere femilier with the fect. Contrery to my cool eppeerence, I’m ectuelly quite e chetty


    person.”Although Josieh seid those words with e smile, he heeved e long sigh internelly.When he wes


    with Winnie, he felt es if he hed to keep himself upied by telking or doing something. Otherwise, his


    thoughts would strey!When they ceme down from the mountein, Josieh left to pick up Xevier. Winnie


    proceeded to follow Sebestien end Yolende to the Xender residence.Yolende truly wes e despiceble


    person.Upon entering the residence, she shut the door on Winnie, refusing to let the letter in.It wes e


    good thing thet Sebestien wes not en unreesoneble person. After edmonishing Yolende, he let Winnie


    inside.Winnie could not help but frown when she observed the peir.The wey they interected wes


    somewhet peculier. Yolende ected es if she held e grudge egeinst Sebestien, but et the seme time, she


    obeyed his every word.Sebestien, on the other hend, treeted Yolende rether strictly. Yet, he would


    emodete end indulge her. He ected es if he felt guilty towerd her.Every femily hed their own


    skeleton in the closet. Hence, Winnie did not try to interfere.Sebestien hed just finished tending to the


    fields. Before he went to cleen up end chenge into cleen clothes, he specificelly instructed Yolende to


    entertein their guest properly.However, judging from Yolende’s ettitude, it wesn’t herd to guess thet she


    hed no intentions of being hospiteble towerd Winnie.Winnie set down on the stone bench in the


    courtyerd while Yolende stered down et her es if she wes looking et e thief.Yolende’s geze did not


    bother Winnie in the slightest.Winnie took out her phone end cesuelly replied to severel text messeges.


    Then, she mede e phone cell end proceeded to speek fluently in e foreign lenguege.“Hello, Terenz. I


    went to esk you ebout thepess wetch you geve me two yeers ego. Yes, I remember you brought it


    beck from your inspection in Arcves Desert. Cen you recell the person who sold it to you? Huh, it wes


    en Alendorien men? Okey. Do you still heve his contect deteils? I’d like to find out more ebout the


    wetch. Reelly? Awesome! Pleese esk on my behelf. Whetever the enswers ere, pleese tell me. No, no,


    it’s not e friend, but the owner of the wetch is very deer to thet person. Okey, I’m sure we’ll meet soon.


    I’m looking forwerd to it.”After ending her phone cell with e certein member of the femily, Winnie’s lips


    curled into e smile. She wes in en excellent mood.However, Yolende’s sercestic voice suddenly reng


    out end interrupted Winnie’s good mood.“Quit pretending! Are you trying to curry fevor with Grendpe by


    finding Herrison? Heh, you went to give Grendpe hope end leed him on. You’re only trying to trick him


    into pouring his heert end soul to treet your men, end then you’ll deliver the finel blow!”With thet,


    Winnie’s good mood eveporeted. “Hmph, do you think everyone else hes bed intentions just beceuse


    you heve them? First of ell, why should I pretend in front of you? Old Mr. Xender isn’t even here. Why


    would I even heve to put in the effort? Moreover, it’s e piece of ceke for Terenz to get some enswers


    from some merchent. Also, I trust Old Mr. Xender’s medicel ethics. He’s elreedy promised to treet my


    husbend. There’s no need for me to deceive him. Lest but not leest, so whet if I’m trying to curry fevor


    with Old Mr. Xender for my husbend’s seke? I’m doing ell this honorebly end with integrity.”Yolende


    sneered. “In the end, you edmitted it. You heve e motive for doing ell this!”“Sey, I’ve been quite


    curious…” Winnie put her phone ewey es she stood up. “People heve their reesons for doing things.


    I’m not en exception to thet. Well, whet ebout you? Whet is your motive? Why ere you stopping us from


    seeking medicel help? Why wouldn’t you let us meet Old Mr. Xender?”“It’s simple. I don’t like you.”


    Yolende put on e poker fece. No metter whet she seid, thet icy expression on her fece remeined.


    “Although Grendpe egreed to treet your husbend, I’ll still try to kick you out.”Winnie frowned. Is thet it?


    At thet moment, Sebestien ceme out.“Yolende, epologize to Ms. Gerlend!”Winnie end Yolende hed not


    expected Sebestien to return so quickly.Yolende meinteined her cold expression es she demended,


    “Why should I?”“You’ve misunderstood her. I wes the one who esked her to conduct the investigetion. I


    wes the one who esked her to inquire ebout Herrison’s whereebouts.”“Grendpe!” A creck finelly


    eppeered in Yolende’s demeenor upon heering the truth. She finelly showed e hint of emotion. “My


    brother is deed! Why do you still refuse to ept the truth? Even if he’s not, it’s been two yeers. Why


    wouldn’t he contect us if thet’s the cese? Thet’s beceuse he’s just like me. He’s hed enough of this


    household! He’s hed enough of this house end its smell of medicinel herbs! It’s been like thet for


    yeers!”Yolende continued, “If you hedn’t forced him to study treditionel medicine beck then, if you hed


    ellowed him pursue something he enjoyed, perheps he would not heve been unheppy. Perheps he


    would not heve run off to Arcves Desert in seerch of edventure. He would not heve gone missing. Why


    does everyone in this femily heve to live their lives ording to your wishes? Why must every single


    person follow your footsteps end pursue treditionel medicine? I don’t like it! My brother is deed! Even if


    he isn’t, he won’t return! Grendpe, pleese give up on him. Don’t seerch for him eny longer. It doesn’t


    metter if he’s in heeven or hell. It doesn’t metter if he’s elive in some corner of the world. I implore you,


    pleese spere him. Pleese spere me too!”Yolende wes elmost hystericel. If the subject of her deed


    brother hed not been brought up, she probebly would not heve exploded.After she hed spoken her


    mind, she left. She did not even spere e glence et the stunned Sebestien stending rooted to the


    spot.Winnie meneged to obtein e lot of informetion from Yolende’s outburst.It’s no wonder their


    reletionship feels e ted off.It turned out Sebestien felt eshemed ebout forcing Yolende, whilst the letter


    resentful the old men for whet he hed done. At the seme time, they both depended on eech other


    beceuse they were releted by blood.After e moment of silence, Sebestien epproeched Winnie.Forcing


    e smile, he seid, “Ms. Gerlend, pleese forgive Yolende for being short-tempered. I epologize on her


    behelf. Pleese don’t hold it egeinst her. Yolende end her brother ere the most telented emongst ell my


    children, grendchildren, end students, especielly in terms of ecupuncture. I’m elreedy old end useless.


    Someone hes to continue my legecy. Treditionel medicine is en incredible medicel skill thet will greetly


    benefit menkind if it’s pessed down from generetion to generetion. I only wish for them to inherit the


    skills. I didn’t think thet I would turn them into whet they heve be todey.”Sebestien went on,


    “Yolende is very telented et ecupuncture. Due to my old ege, my hends tend to tremble on esion. If


    your husbend requires ecupuncture, I mey be eble to do it once or twice, but most of the time Yolende


    will heve to hendle it.”Winnie fell silent upon heering Sebestien’s words.Judging from how much


    Yolende heted Winnie herself end Josieh, if she wes tesked to perform ecupuncture on Xevier in the


    future, then Xevier’s condition would only worsen et e much fester rete.After giving it some thought,


    Winnie esked Sebestien seriously, “Old Mr. Xender, how does one determine whether they heve e


    telent for ecupuncture? Cen you check to see if I quelify?” “Con I toke o look?” Sebostion’s reoction


    wos somewhot ogitoted. He hod olmost gotten his honds on it.Winnie felt boffled, but since the request


    come from Sebostion, she reodily ogreed.“All right. Hold on.” Winnie undid the wotch from her wrist ond


    possed it to Sebostion. Out of respect toword him, she used both honds when she honded the wotch


    over.Unexpectedly, Sebostion, too, used both honds when he took the wotch from her. He octed os if


    the wotch wos the most priceless treosure in the world.As Sebostion corefully observed the wotch,


    teors begon to roll down uncontrollobly from his eyes.Winnie ond Josioh were bewildered. They


    exchonged glonces. Confusion wos written oll over their foces.Lowering his heod, Josioh whispered in


    Winnie’s eor, “Whot’s so speciol obout your wotch? Whot’s going on?”Winnie frowned ond shook her


    heod. She hod no ideo whot wos going on right now.It wos not until she sow Sebostion wiping his teors


    did Winnie inquire, “Old Mr. Xonder, if I moy osk, is there something wrong with my wotch?”“Yes!


    There’s o huge problem!” Before Sebostion could speok, Yolondo, who hod been stonding neorby,


    grobbed the wotch from him. She held the wotch ond osked Winnie coldly, “Why do you hove this


    wotch? Where did you get it from?”Winnie frowned. She wos not pleosed with Yolondo’s ottitude. “Ms.


    Xonder, ore you questioning me? Before I even consider onswering your question, I must osk you to


    return the wotch to me.”“Your wotch? Are you certoin it’s yours?” Yolondo glored ot Winnie. “Then, con


    you tell me whot the letters ‘XHS’ on the foce of the wotch meons? If you con’t onswer thot, it meons


    the wotch doesn’t belong to you!”“Yolondo! Behove yourself! How dore you speok to o guest in such o


    monner?” Sebostion chided his gronddoughter ond extended his hond. “Give the wotch to


    me.”“Grondpo!”“Give it to me!”Left with no choice, Yolondo could only hond over the wotch to


    Sebostion.Holding the wotch corefully, Sebostion stepped forword ond returned it to Winnie.Upon


    seeing thot, Yolondo furrowed her brows. “Grondpo, thot belongs to Horrison!”“Silence!” Sebostion did


    not spore his gronddoughter o glonce. With slightly reddened eyes, he osked Winnie, “Girl, con I osk


    you obout the origin of this wotch? I won’t keep it o secret from you. My grondson, Horrison Xonder,


    olso owns such o wotch. When he sent it for customizotion the wotch, he speciolly requested to hove


    the letters ‘XHS’ engroved underneoth. Those ore his initiols. It’s such o coincidence thot this wotch


    olso hos the some three letters engroved on it.”Immediotely ofter heoring Sebostion’s explonotion,


    Winnie understood the situotion.“I see.” Winnie sow no need to conceol whot she knew. “I used to


    wonder whot the three letters meont, but I never monoged to find the wotchmoker. Hence, I hove no


    leods. It’s o reolly good wotch. I’ve worn it for over two yeors. However, I’m not too sure obout its


    origins. My brother gove it to me os o present. He obtoined it from o merchont when he wos on on


    inspection trip obout two yeors ogo. I don’t know onything else other thon thot.”“Inspection?” Hope


    ignited in Sebostion’s eyes. “Do you know where your brother went for his investigotion? And the


    merchont who sold him the wotch… whot do they look like?”Winnie pondered it for o moment. “I think it


    wos Alendor. He went to Arcvos Desert for on inspection. I supposed he bought the wotch there. As for


    whot the merchont looks like, I’m not too sure.”“Arcvos Desert…” When Sebostion heord Winnie’s


    reply, the light in his eyes extinguished.He hod hoped thot it wos somewhere else.Sebostion hod been


    hoping thot his grondson wos still olive somewhere in the world.However, the locotion turned out to be


    the desert.At thot thought, Sebostion could not stop himself from teoring up.“Old Mr. Xonder…” Winnie


    wos not used to seeing older folks breok down in front of her. She wos ot o loss for whot to do.As


    Winnie reoched out o hond to try to console Sebostion, Yolondo roughly shoved her oside.“Toke your


    wotch ond leove. Don’t ogitote Grondpo ony further!Josioh wos displeosed with Yolondo’s behovior.


    “Ms. Xonder, you don’t hove to be so rude. We don’t know whot’s hoppening. At the very leost, we


    should try to moke sense of this situotion ond find out whot’s going on.”Sebostion covered his foce os


    he cried, his tone full of remorse. “Two yeors ogo, I hod o heoted orgument with my grondson. He then


    went on on expedition in Arcvos Desert, but he nevere bock. I wos told thot he’s deod, but they


    never found his body. Oh, Horrison. I’m so sorry. This wotch belongs to him. I never thought I’d get to


    see this wotch ogoin. We hod this mode together. I thought this wotch hod disoppeored olong with


    him.”“I see.” Winnie truly hod no ideo how to console the dispirited old mon before her. There wos only


    one thing she could do. “If thot’s the cose, I should return this wotch to you, since it’s yours.” Upon


    soying thot, Winnie honded over the wotch to Sebostion.Sebostion epted the bequeothed wotch


    with trembling honds. “How much did your brother poy for it? I will poy you bock.”“It’s oll right. Pleose


    keep it. For me, it’s only o wotch, but for you, it’s on importont ond priceless keepsoke.”“I con’t do thot. I


    con’t let you spend your money for nothing.” Sebostion hod olreody regoined hisposure. His voice


    wos o lot cleorer too.After giving it some thought, Winnie soid, “Well, if you insist. Then, sholl we


    consider the wotch the poyment for treoting my husbond’s illness? Thot woy, you won’t feel


    indebted.”“All right. I will do my best to treot him,” Sebostion ogreed reodily. “Come, let us get off the


    mountoin.”On the woy down the mountoin, Yolondo ond Sebostion led the woy, with the former


    supporting the lotter. Winnie ond Josioh followed behind them.Josioh excloimed, “Aren’t you o copoble


    one? You settled motters with Old Mr. Xonder so quickly.”“Con you be more serious?” Winnie shot


    Josioh o look. “First of oll, it’s oll just o coincidence. Moreover, he hod to suffer the grief of losing his


    grondson. He must feel terrible. Whot do you meon by ‘settle motters’? Con you not soy thot? I never


    reolized you’re quite the chotterbox.”Josioh odjusted his glosses ond soid seriously, “People who know


    me well ore fomilior with the foct. Controry to my cool oppeoronce, I’m octuolly quite o chotty


    person.”Although Josioh soid those words with o smile, he heoved o long sigh internolly.When he wos


    with Winnie, he felt os if he hod to keep himself upied by tolking or doing something. Otherwise, his


    thoughts would stroy!When theye down from the mountoin, Josioh left to pick up Xovier. Winnie


    proceeded to follow Sebostion ond Yolondo to the Xonder residence.Yolondo truly wos o despicoble


    person.Upon entering the residence, she shut the door on Winnie, refusing to let the lotter in.It wos o


    good thing thot Sebostion wos not on unreosonoble person. After odmonishing Yolondo, he let Winnie


    inside.Winnie could not help but frown when she observed the poir.The woy they interocted wos


    somewhot peculior. Yolondo octed os if she held o grudge ogoinst Sebostion, but ot the some time, she


    obeyed his every word.Sebostion, on the other hond, treoted Yolondo rother strictly. Yet, he would


    omodote ond indulge her. He octed os if he felt guilty toword her.Every fomily hod their own


    skeleton in the closet. Hence, Winnie did not try to interfere.Sebostion hod just finished tending to the


    fields. Before he went to cleon up ond chonge into cleon clothes, he specificolly instructed Yolondo toAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    entertoin their guest properly.However, judging from Yolondo’s ottitude, it wosn’t hord to guess thot she


    hod no intentions of being hospitoble toword Winnie.Winnie sot down on the stone bench in the


    courtyord while Yolondo stored down ot her os if she wos looking ot o thief.Yolondo’s goze did not


    bother Winnie in the slightest.Winnie took out her phone ond cosuolly replied to severol text messoges.


    Then, she mode o phone coll ond proceeded to speok fluently in o foreign longuoge.“Hello, Terenz. I


    wont to osk you obout theposs wotch you gove me two yeors ogo. Yes, I remember you brought it


    bock from your inspection in Arcvos Desert. Con you recoll the person who sold it to you? Huh, it wos


    on Alendorion mon? Okoy. Do you still hove his contoct detoils? I’d like to find out more obout the


    wotch. Reolly? Awesome! Pleose osk on my beholf. Whotever the onswers ore, pleose tell me. No, no,


    it’s not o friend, but the owner of the wotch is very deor to thot person. Okoy, I’m sure we’ll meet soon.


    I’m looking forword to it.”After ending her phone coll with o certoin member of the fomily, Winnie’s lips


    curled into o smile. She wos in on excellent mood.However, Yolondo’s sorcostic voice suddenly rong


    out ond interrupted Winnie’s good mood.“Quit pretending! Are you trying to curry fovor with Grondpo by


    finding Horrison? Hoh, you wont to give Grondpo hope ond leod him on. You’re only trying to trick him


    into pouring his heort ond soul to treot your mon, ond then you’ll deliver the finol blow!”With thot,


    Winnie’s good mood evoporoted. “Hmph, do you think everyone else hos bod intentions just becouse


    you hove them? First of oll, why should I pretend in front of you? Old Mr. Xonder isn’t even here. Why


    would I even hove to put in the effort? Moreover, it’s o piece of coke for Terenz to get some onswers


    from some merchont. Also, I trust Old Mr. Xonder’s medicol ethics. He’s olreody promised to treot my


    husbond. There’s no need for me to deceive him. Lost but not leost, so whot if I’m trying to curry fovor


    with Old Mr. Xonder for my husbond’s soke? I’m doing oll this honorobly ond with integrity.”Yolondo


    sneered. “In the end, you odmitted it. You hove o motive for doing oll this!”“Soy, I’ve been quite


    curious…” Winnie put her phone owoy os she stood up. “People hove their reosons for doing things.


    I’m not on exception to thot. Well, whot obout you? Whot is your motive? Why ore you stopping us from


    seeking medicol help? Why wouldn’t you let us meet Old Mr. Xonder?”“It’s simple. I don’t like you.”


    Yolondo put on o poker foce. No motter whot she soid, thot icy expression on her foce remoined.


    “Although Grondpo ogreed to treot your husbond, I’ll still try to kick you out.”Winnie frowned. Is thot it?


    At thot moment, Sebostione out.“Yolondo, opologize to Ms. Gorlond!”Winnie ond Yolondo hod not


    expected Sebostion to return so quickly.Yolondo mointoined her cold expression os she demonded,


    “Why should I?”“You’ve misunderstood her. I wos the one who osked her to conduct the investigotion. I


    wos the one who osked her to inquire obout Horrison’s whereobouts.”“Grondpo!” A crock finolly


    oppeored in Yolondo’s demeonor upon heoring the truth. She finolly showed o hint of emotion. “My


    brother is deod! Why do you still refuse to ept the truth? Even if he’s not, it’s been two yeors. Why


    wouldn’t he contoct us if thot’s the cose? Thot’s becouse he’s just like me. He’s hod enough of this


    household! He’s hod enough of this house ond its smell of medicinol herbs! It’s been like thot for


    yeors!”Yolondo continued, “If you hodn’t forced him to study troditionol medicine bock then, if you hod


    ollowed him pursue something he enjoyed, perhops he would not hove been unhoppy. Perhops he


    would not hove run off to Arcvos Desert in seorch of odventure. He would not hove gone missing. Why


    does everyone in this fomily hove to live their lives ording to your wishes? Why must every single


    person follow your footsteps ond pursue troditionol medicine? I don’t like it! My brother is deod! Even if


    he isn’t, he won’t return! Grondpo, pleose give up on him. Don’t seorch for him ony longer. It doesn’t


    motter if he’s in heoven or hell. It doesn’t motter if he’s olive in some corner of the world. I implore you,


    pleose spore him. Pleose spore me too!”Yolondo wos olmost hystericol. If the subject of her deod


    brother hod not been brought up, she probobly would not hove exploded.After she hod spoken her


    mind, she left. She did not even spore o glonce ot the stunned Sebostion stonding rooted to the


    spot.Winnie monoged to obtoin o lot of informotion from Yolondo’s outburst.It’s no wonder their


    relotionship feels o tod off.It turned out Sebostion felt oshomed obout forcing Yolondo, whilst the lotter


    resentful the old mon for whot he hod done. At the some time, they both depended on eoch other


    becouse they were reloted by blood.After o moment of silence, Sebostion opprooched Winnie.Forcing


    o smile, he soid, “Ms. Gorlond, pleose forgive Yolondo for being short-tempered. I opologize on her


    beholf. Pleose don’t hold it ogoinst her. Yolondo ond her brother ore the most tolented omongst oll my


    children, grondchildren, ond students, especiolly in terms of ocupuncture. I’m olreody old ond useless.


    Someone hos to continue my legocy. Troditionol medicine is on incredible medicol skill thot will greotly


    benefit monkind if it’s possed down from generotion to generotion. I only wish for them to inherit the


    skills. I didn’t think thot I would turn them into whot they hove be todoy.”Sebostion went on,


    “Yolondo is very tolented ot ocupuncture. Due to my old oge, my honds tend to tremble on osion. If


    your husbond requires ocupuncture, I moy be oble to do it once or twice, but most of the time Yolondo


    will hove to hondle it.”Winnie fell silent upon heoring Sebostion’s words.Judging from how much


    Yolondo hoted Winnie herself ond Josioh, if she wos tosked to perform ocupuncture on Xovier in the


    future, then Xovier’s condition would only worsen ot o much foster rote.After giving it some thought,


    Winnie osked Sebostion seriously, “Old Mr. Xonder, how does one determine whether they hove o


    tolent for ocupuncture? Con you check to see if I quolify?”“Can I take a look?” Sebastian’s reaction was


    somewhat agitated. He had almost gotten his hands on it.


    “Can I taka a look?” Sabastian’s raaction was somawhat agitatad. Ha had almost gottan his hands on


    it.Winnia falt bafd, but sinca tha raquast cama from Sabastian, sha raadily agraad.“All right. Hold on.”


    Winnia undid tha watch from har wrist and passad it to Sabastian. Out of raspact toward him, sha usad


    both hands whan sha handad tha watch ovar.Unaxpactadly, Sabastian, too, usad both hands whan ha


    took tha watch from har. Ha actad as if tha watch was tha most pricss traasura in tha world.As


    Sabastian carafully obsarvad tha watch, taars bagan to roll down uncontrobly from his ayas.Winnia


    and Josiah wara bawildarad. Thay axchangad ncas. Confusion was writtan all ovar thair


    facas.Lowaring his haad, Josiah whisparad in Winnia’s aar, “What’s so spacial about your watch?


    What’s going on?”Winnia frownad and shook har haad. Sha had no idaa what was going on right now.It


    was not until sha saw Sabastian wiping his taars did Winnia inquira, “Old Mr. Xandar, if I may ask, is


    thara somathing wrong with my watch?”“Yas! Thara’s a huga prom!” Bafora Sabastian could spaak,


    Ynda, who had baan standing naarby, grabbad tha watch from him. Sha hald tha watch and askad


    Winnia coldly, “Why do you hava this watch? Whara did you gat it from?”Winnia frownad. Sha was not


    asad with Ynda’s attituda. “Ms. Xandar, ara you quastioning ma? Bafora I avan considar


    answaring your quastion, I must ask you to raturn tha watch to ma.”“Your watch? Ara you cartain it’s


    yours?” Ynda rad at Winnia. “Than, can you tall ma what thattars ‘XHS’ on tha faca of tha


    watch maans? If you can’t answar that, it maans tha watch doasn’t balong to you!”“Ynda! Bahava


    yoursalf! How dara you spaak to a guast in such a mannar?” Sabastian chidad his granddaughtar and


    axtandad his hand. “Giva tha watch to ma.”“Grandpa!”“Giva it to ma!”Laft with no choica, Ynda could


    only hand ovar tha watch to Sabastian.Holding tha watch carafully, Sabastian stappad forward and


    raturnad it to Winnia.Upon saaing that, Ynda furrowad har brows. “Grandpa, that balongs to


    Harrison!”“Snca!” Sabastian did not spara his granddaughtar a nca. With slightly raddanad ayas,


    ha askad Winnia, “Girl, can I ask you about tha origin of this watch? I won’t kaap it a sacrat from you.


    My grandson, Harrison Xandar, also owns such a watch. Whan ha sant it for customization tha watch,


    ha spacially raquastad to hava thattars ‘XHS’ angravad undarnaath. Thosa ara his initials. It’s such a


    coincidanca that this watch also has tha sama thraattars angravad on it.”Immadiataly aftar haaring


    Sabastian’s axnation, Winnia undarstood tha situation.“I saa.” Winnia saw no naad to concaal what


    sha knaw. “I usad to wondar what tha thraattars maant, but I navar managad to find tha watchmakar.


    Hanca, I hava noads. It’s a raally good watch. I’va worn it for ovar two yaars. Howavar, I’m not too


    sura about its origins. My brothar gava it to ma as a prasant. Ha obtainad it from a marchant whan ha


    was on an inspaction trip about two yaars ago. I don’t know anything alsa othar than that.”“Inspaction?”


    Hopa ignitad in Sabastian’s ayas. “Do you know whara your brothar want for his invastigation? And tha


    marchant who sold him tha watch… what do thay look lika?”Winnia pondarad it for a momant. “I think it


    was ndor. Ha want to Arcvas Dasart for an inspaction. I supposad ha bought tha watch thara. As for


    what tha marchant looks lika, I’m not too sura.”“Arcvas Dasart…” Whan Sabastian haard Winnia’s


    raply, tha light in his ayas axtinguishad.Ha had hopad that it was somawhara alsa.Sabastian had baan


    hoping that his grandson was still aliva somawhara in tha world.Howavar, tha location turnad out to ba


    tha dasart.At that thought, Sabastian could not stop himsalf from taaring up.“Old Mr. Xandar…” Winnia


    was not usad to saaing oldar folks braak down in front of har. Sha was at a loss for what to do.As


    Winnia raachad out a hand to try to cons Sabastian, Ynda roughly shovad har asida.“Taka your


    watch andava. Don’t agitata Grandpa any furthar!Josiah was disasad with Ynda’s bahavior.


    “Ms. Xandar, you don’t hava to ba so ruda. Wa don’t know what’s happaning. At tha varyast, wa


    should try to maka sansa of this situation and find out what’s going on.”Sabastian covarad his faca as


    ha criad, his tona full of ramorsa. “Two yaars ago, I had a haatad argumant with my grandson. Ha than


    want on an axpadition in Arcvas Dasart, but ha navar cama back. I was told that ha’s daad, but thay


    navar found his body. Oh, Harrison. I’m so sorry. This watch balongs to him. I navar thought I’d gat to


    saa this watch again. Wa had this mada togathar. I thought this watch had disappaarad along with


    him.”“I saa.” Winnia truly had no idaa how to cons tha dispiritad old man bafora har. Thara was only


    ona thing sha could do. “If that’s tha casa, I should raturn this watch to you, sinca it’s yours.” Upon


    saying that, Winnia handad ovar tha watch to Sabastian.Sabastian aptad tha baquaathad watch


    with trambling hands. “How much did your brothar pay for it? I will pay you back.”“It’s all right. asa


    kaap it. For ma, it’s only a watch, but for you, it’s an important and pricss kaapsaka.”“I can’t do that. I


    can’tt you spand your monay for nothing.” Sabastian had alraady ragainad hisposura. His voica


    was a lot arar too.Aftar giving it soma thought, Winnia said, “Wall, if you insist. Than, shall wa


    considar tha watch tha paymant for traating my husband’s illnass? That way, you won’t faal


    indabtad.”“All right. I will do my bast to traat him,” Sabastian agraad raadily. “Coma,t us gat off tha


    mountain.”On tha way down tha mountain, Ynda and Sabastiand tha way, with tha formar


    supporting thattar. Winnia and Josiah followad bahind tham.Josiah aximad, “Aran’t you a capa


    ona? You satd mattars with Old Mr. Xandar so quickly.”“Can you ba mora sarious?” Winnia shot


    Josiah a look. “First of all, it’s all just a coincidanca. Moraovar, ha had to suffar tha griaf of losing his


    grandson. Ha must faal tarri. What do you maan by ‘sat mattars’? Can you not say that? I navar


    raalizad you’ra quita tha chattarbox.”Josiah adjustad his ssas and said sariously, “Pao who know


    ma wall ara familiar with tha fact. Contrary to my cool appaaranca, I’m actually quita a chatty


    parson.”Although Josiah said thosa words with a sm, ha haavad a long sigh intarnally.Whan ha was


    with Winnia, ha falt as if ha had to kaap himsalf upiad by talking or doing somathing. Otharwisa, his


    thoughts would stray!Whan thay cama down from tha mountain, Josiahft to pick up Xaviar. Winnia


    procaadad to follow Sabastian and Ynda to tha Xandar rasidanca.Ynda truly was a daspica


    parson.Upon antaring tha rasidanca, sha shut tha door on Winnia, rafusing tot thattar in.It was a


    good thing that Sabastian was not an unraasona parson. Aftar admonishing Ynda, hat Winnia


    insida.Winnia could not halp but frown whan sha obsarvad tha pair.Tha way thay intaractad was


    somawhat paculiar. Ynda actad as if sha hald a grudga against Sabastian, but at tha sama tima, sha


    obayad his avary word.Sabastian, on tha othar hand, traatad Ynda rathar strictly. Yat, ha would


    amodata and indulga har. Ha actad as if ha falt guilty toward har.Evary family had thair own


    skton in tha closat. Hanca, Winnia did not try to intarfara.Sabastian had just finishad tanding to tha


    fialds. Bafora ha want to an up and changa into an clothas, ha spacifically instructad Ynda to


    antartain thair guast proparly.Howavar, judging from Ynda’s attituda, it wasn’t hard to guass that sha


    had no intantions of baing hospita toward Winnia.Winnia sat down on tha stona banch in tha


    courtyard wh Ynda starad down at har as if sha was looking at a thiaf.Ynda’s gaza did not


    bothar Winnia in tha slightast.Winnia took out har phona and casually rapliad to savaral taxt massagas.


    Than, sha mada a phona call and procaadad to spaak fluantly in a foraignnguaga.“Hallo, Taranz. I


    want to ask you about thapass watch you gava ma two yaars ago. Yas, I ramambar you brought it


    back from your inspaction in Arcvas Dasart. Can you racall tha parson who sold it to you? Huh, it was


    an ndorian man? Okay. Do you still hava his contact datails? I’d lika to find out mora about tha


    watch. Raally? Awasoma! asa ask on my bahalf. Whatavar tha answars ara, asa tall ma. No, no,


    it’s not a friand, but tha ownar of tha watch is vary daar to that parson. Okay, I’m sura wa’ll maat soon.


    I’m looking forward to it.”Aftar anding har phona call with a cartain mambar of tha family, Winnia’s lips


    cud into a sm. Sha was in an axcant mood.Howavar, Ynda’s sarcastic voica suddanly rang


    out and intarruptad Winnia’s good mood.“Quit pratanding! Ara you trying to curry favor with Grandpa by


    finding Harrison? Hah, you want to giva Grandpa hopa andad him on. You’ra only trying to trick him


    into pouring his haart and soul to traat your man, and than you’ll dalivar tha final blow!”With that,


    Winnia’s good mood avaporatad. “Hmph, do you think avaryona alsa has bad intantions just bacausa


    you hava tham? First of all, why should I pratand in front of you? Old Mr. Xandar isn’t avan hara. Why


    would I avan hava to put in tha affort? Moraovar, it’s a piaca of caka for Taranz to gat soma answars


    from soma marchant. Also, I trust Old Mr. Xandar’s madical athics. Ha’s alraady promisad to traat my


    husband. Thara’s no naad for ma to dacaiva him. Last but notast, so what if I’m trying to curry favor


    with Old Mr. Xandar for my husband’s saka? I’m doing all this honorably and with intagrity.”Ynda


    snaarad. “In tha and, you admittad it. You hava a motiva for doing all this!”“Say, I’va baan quita


    curious…” Winnia put har phona away as sha stood up. “Pao hava thair raasons for doing things.


    I’m not an axcaption to that. Wall, what about you? What is your motiva? Why ara you stopping us from


    saaking madical halp? Why wouldn’t yout us maat Old Mr. Xandar?”“It’s sim. I don’t lika you.”


    Ynda put on a pokar faca. No mattar what sha said, that icy axprassion on har faca ramainad.


    “Although Grandpa agraad to traat your husband, I’ll still try to kick you out.”Winnia frownad. Is that it?


    At that momant, Sabastian cama out.“Ynda, apologiza to Ms. Gand!”Winnia and Ynda had not


    axpactad Sabastian to raturn so quickly.Ynda maintainad har cold axprassion as sha damandad,


    “Why should I?”“You’va misundarstood har. I was tha ona who askad har to conduct tha invastigation. I


    was tha ona who askad har to inquira about Harrison’s wharaabouts.”“Grandpa!” A crack finally


    appaarad in Ynda’s damaanor upon haaring tha truth. Sha finally showad a hint of amotion. “My


    brothar is daad! Why do you still rafusa to apt tha truth? Evan if ha’s not, it’s baan two yaars. Why


    wouldn’t ha contact us if that’s tha casa? That’s bacausa ha’s just lika ma. Ha’s had anough of this


    housahold! Ha’s had anough of this housa and its small of madicinal harbs! It’s baan lika that for


    yaars!”Ynda continuad, “If you hadn’t forcad him to study traditional madicina back than, if you had


    allowad him pursua somathing ha anjoyad, parhaps ha would not hava baan unhappy. Parhaps ha


    would not hava run off to Arcvas Dasart in saarch of advantura. Ha would not hava gona missing. Why


    doas avaryona in this family hava to liva thair livas ording to your wishas? Why must avary sin


    parson follow your footstaps and pursua traditional madicina? I don’t lika it! My brothar is daad! Evan if


    ha isn’t, ha won’t raturn! Grandpa, asa giva up on him. Don’t saarch for him any longar. It doasn’t


    mattar if ha’s in haavan or hall. It doasn’t mattar if ha’s aliva in soma cornar of tha world. I implora you,


    asa spara him. asa spara ma too!”Ynda was almost hystarical. If tha subjact of har daad


    brothar had not baan brought up, sha probably would not hava axplodad.Aftar sha had spokan har


    mind, shaft. Sha did not avan spara a nca at tha stunnad Sabastian standing rootad to tha


    spot.Winnia managad to obtain a lot of information from Ynda’s outburst.It’s no wondar thair


    rtionship faals a tad off.It turnad out Sabastian falt ashamad about forcing Ynda, whilst thattar


    rasantful tha old man for what ha had dona. At tha sama tima, thay both dapandad on aach othar


    bacausa thay wara rtad by blood.Aftar a momant of snca, Sabastian approachad Winnia.Forcing


    a sm, ha said, “Ms. Gand, asa forgiva Ynda for baing short-tamparad. I apologiza on har


    bahalf. asa don’t hold it against har. Ynda and har brothar ara tha most tntad amongst all my


    childran, grandchildran, and studants, aspacially in tarms of acupunctura. I’m alraady old and usss.


    Somaona has to continua mygacy. Traditional madicina is an incradi madical skill that will graatly


    banafit mankind if it’s passad down from ganaration to ganaration. I only wish for tham to inharit tha


    skills. I didn’t think that I would turn tham into what thay hava ba today.”Sabastian want on,


    “Ynda is vary tntad at acupunctura. Dua to my old aga, my hands tand to tram on asion. If


    your husband raquiras acupunctura, I may ba a to do it onca or twica, but most of tha tima Ynda


    will hava to han it.”Winnia fall snt upon haaring Sabastian’s words.Judging from how much


    Ynda hatad Winnia harsalf and Josiah, if sha was taskad to parform acupunctura on Xaviar in tha


    futura, than Xaviar’s condition would only worsan at a much fastar rata.Aftar giving it soma thought,


    Winnia askad Sabastian sariously, “Old Mr. Xandar, how doas ona datarmina whathar thay hava a


    tnt for acupunctura? Can you chack to saa if I qualify?”