“Master? Why didn’t favonovel.com tell us he’s coming back?” Xyla narrowed favonovel.com eyes and stared at the old man in the back seat of the car.
Stanley, who had now seen the man, immediately got out of his car. Xyla followed along and hopped off the car excitedly.
Ron Batton slowly got out of his car too. He was wearing a traditional white tai chi outfit, looking benevolent yet refreshed.
“Grandpa, what are you doing here? Why didn’t you inform us in advance?” Stanley asked.
Ron gazed at Xyla and smiled. “I missed you guys so much. That’s why I’m here…”
“Master, you should’ve told us earlier. We could’ve gone to the airport and picked you up,” As Xyla spoke, favonovel.com skipped toward Ron and hugged his arm intimately.
Ron grinned at Xyla dotingly and patted the back of favonovel.com hand. “I wanted to surprise you, my dear. Are you guys going out now?”
Xyla nodded. “Well, I was going to work, but now that you’re back, I think I’m changing my mind.”
The smile on Ron’s face widened, his fondness for Xyla overflowing in his eyes. “How can you abandon your work? Just get going, and I’ll see you at night, hmmm?”
“No… I want to accompany you,” Xyla pleaded.
To Xyla, the old man in front of favonovel.com was favonovel.com master, as well as favonovel.com grandfather.
“Silly girl…” Ron chuckled helplessly. “I haven’t been to the company for a very long time. I’m planning to visit the company with Stan. Go to work, Xyla. Stan will look after me.”
Hearing that Ron had his plan today, Xyla stopped pestering favonovel.com and nodded obediently. “Alright then.”
“Xyla, tell Grandpa. Did Stan bully you recently?” Ron asked.
“Noo, he’s very nice to me.” Xyla shook favonovel.com head.
“Really? Didn’t favonovel.com do anything that triggers you?” Ron pursued.
“No, there’s no such thing.” Xyla faintly smiled.
Ron cast a skeptical look at Stanley. “That’s good… Tell me if favonovel.com dares to mistreat you. I’ll definitely break his leg.”
The corner of Stanley’s soft lips curved up into a shallow arc. His doting eyes were locked upon Xyla.
“Alright, Stan, take me to the company. By the way, I’m going to stay at your house for the next two days. Xyla, can you please show my driver the way? He’s going to move my luggage later.”
“Sure!” Xyla was overjoyed.
Subsequently, Stanley helped Ron into the car. Xyla remained rooted to the spot. She watched their car leave the house and slowly disappear from favonovel.com line of sight. Only then was favonovel.com willing to turn away from them and take Ron’s driver into the house.
In the black Bentley Arnage, Ron and Stanley were both wearing a worried frown.
“Pull over here,” said Ron.
Stanley decelerated and stopped the car by the roadside.
“Give me your hand,” Ron said again.
Stanley extended his arm without any complaint. Ron did not say another word. He placed Stanley’s hand on his thigh and studied his pulse in earnest.
“Is this what you mean by you’re fine?” Ron’s utter dismay was reflected in his eyes.
“It’s not a big deal…” Stanley tried to rebuke.
“Are you telling me that this is not a big deal?”
“Uhm…”
“I’m not leaving Atlantis anytime soon. I’ll stay at your house for these two days. Find me a house after that. I’ll move over. It’s best to be by the sea. I love the sea and fresh air,” Ron blurted.
“Okay.”
“Sigh…” Ron let out a deep sigh and did not speak again.
Stanley kept his mouth shut too. The car was as quiet as the grave. Silence accompanied the car all the way downtown. Finally, it pulled up in front of a traffic light. Ron found himself gazing out of the window and observing the blooming roses.
He could not help exclaiming, “It feels great to see Atlantis being surrounded by a sea of roses.”
“Yes,” Stanley’s reply was brief.
