He couldn't help smiling and stopped joking with her. "Go wash your face."

Irish was shocked and pointed at him after a while, asking, "What do you want to do?"

"Hold on to your passion. I have to feed you now so that you can bring me the greatest joy tonight."

Irish was embarrassed since she realized that she had misunderstood him, and he just wanted to take her out for a meal.

Therefore, she rushed to the washroom immediately.

****

Cassie sat beside the bay window motionlessly, looking at the leaves turning yellow with her calm, deep eyes. Her parents had gone to the market, and she was left in the house alone.

It was a sunny afternoon. The sunshine penetrated through the yellow leaves, leaving mottled light on the ground. In the garden downstairs, there were children playing, and their parents were chatting. It was late autumn, and golden leaves flew in the sky as the wind blew them, which looked so beautiful.

Her face was lustrous under the sunshine, and she squinted slightly. It reminded her of a sunny afternoon like today when she met Fredrick. He had also stood under the sunlight, walking together with Irish. His sharp-featured face, as well as his handsome figure, had attracted her. Yet, thinking of this, she was so depressed.

She couldn't help dialing the number that she knew off by heart.

The call went through, and a surprised voice sounded on the phone, "Cassie?"

She felt suffocated while he was silent on the other end of the phone.

After a long while, the deep voice sounded again, "Are you okay?"

A leaf floated past the window, and she stared at it until it fell to the ground. She said with a tremulous voice, "I... I'm fine. How about you?"historical

Fredrick didn't reply to her directly, as if he had perceived her tiredness from her voice, so he said with an apologetic tone, "Do you still blame me?"

Cassie was so sorrowful, but she still replied softly, "No, I understand that nothing that is forced is going to work out."

"Thank you."

She sighed lightly, looking at the blue sky, and said, "It's autumn now, I remember that we met in this season."

"Cassie..."

She smiled and said, "Don't feel stressed. I was just recalling old memories at the familiar sight."

"I'm really sorry."

"Don't say that. You brought me a lot of happiness, and I really appreciate that. I just wanted to hear your voice today. Don't worry. I won't haunt you."

"I don't mean that."

Cassie puckered her mouth slightly, but her eyes had infinite grief. She leaned against the window and said slowly, "I just think it's really a pity that I have to appreciate such beautiful scenery alone."

Fredrick sighed heavily and apologized to her again and again.

She didn't say anything else and hung up the phone gently.

She loved him so much, but she was so helpless.

****

Mary prepared many delicious dishes, and when Steven and Jay had finished washing their hands, it was ready to eat.

Mary sighed beside them. Hearing this, Jay stopped for a second and lowered his head, starting to eat without saying anything.

However, he felt diffident while Steven acted the same with his son.

Sure enough, Mary began to chatter. "I must have done some horrible things in my past life. You all treat this home as a hotel and Steven..." She targeted Steven first.

"Yes." Before she could finish her words, Steven interrupted her, replied quickly, and put down his goblet, "Dear, I am waiting for your command."

"Command? Do you think my commands work on you?" Mary replied quickly and tapped her plate with her chopsticks, "You only focus on your martial arts hall and never help me with any housework. Do you think you are a good husband? Other husbands always accompany their wives, but you never stay with me. You shouldn't go to the martial arts hall so frequently, your apprentices are all there, and they can help you look after it."

"Okay. Okay. It's my fault, please don't be angry with me." He had been married to Mary for so many years, so he knew that her bark was worse than her bite. He was also patient with her and would apologize to her every time.

Mary glared at him and said, "You are always so sweet-talking, but you never change. You have to set a good example for the kids. Irish, Jay, and you, you all make me worry. Especially Irish, I'm so worried about her these days. She has been traveling for such a long time. I called her yesterday, and she told me she was in Hong Kong. She is a stubborn girl, and I don't know why she is attracted to that man. In my opinion, he is a playboy, and there are still many rumors about him."

"Don't get angry. Let's eat now, or the food will get cold." Steven comforted her gently.

But it seemed that she didn't intend to stop chattering and then turned to Jay. Jay was smart, so before she turned to him, he hastily put down his chopsticks and said, "Mom, please listen to me first..."

"Listen to you? Don't use your job as an excuse. Do you know how many times you come home in a week? If I didn't call you back, would you ever come here? What's more, your own house is a mess, and I have to clean it for you frequently. You're not a small kid anymore, and when..."

"Mom, I have a girlfriend," Jay said briefly.

Having been a police officer for so many years, Jay could see through other people's minds very easily. As expected, Mary stopped chattering abruptly. She looked at him with great astonishment, as if she had won a prize in the lottery. She held Jay's wrist and asked, "What did you just say?"

Steven was also shocked and gazed at him motionlessly.

Jay nodded and repeated himself, "Mom, I have a girlfriend."

"Jesus! Thank God that you finally found a girlfriend!" Mary was so excited.

Jay, who was drinking, almost choked and smiled a weird smile at her. "Mom, you are being rather melodramatic."