Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
It was still early for dinner. Anthony had been out all day and Mrs Kurt was concerned that the two of them would be hungry. Hence, she had prepared cheese, some snacks and milk tea for them.
Mrs Kurt was a lovely and cheerful person with a kind and passionate heart. When she saw how skinny Eleven was, she could not stop urging her to eat. How she wished she could stuff all those snacks, cheese and milk tea into her stomach.
It was hard for Eleven to reject her kind hospitality. Although she didn’t like cheese and milk tea, she ate quite a bit of them too.
Unlike how cold and quiet she was on the way back, she became lively, full of smiles and talkative like a smart girl, which made Mr and Mrs Kurt very happy. Especially Mrs Kurt, she was so happy that she showed her everything that she treasured, even the photo album in the living room that they had often flipped through.
Mr and Mrs Kurt had a son, and he was married. However, he and his family had died in a plane crash when they were going to Italy for a holiday that year. The Kurts lost their son, daughter-in-law and grandchild all of a sudden, leaving the two of them at home. Eleven looked at the vigorous young man in the photos, and then looked at how optimistic Mrs Kurt was. The sadness she felt was indescribable.
She couldn’t help but laugh at herself. Ever since what had happened to Mo Ye, it seemed like she had developed some emotions. She was now compassionate and could feel the pain of others. She didn’t know whether she should be happy or sad about it.
They had lived in a big city in the past. When their child died, they were afraid that staying there would remind them of him. Hence, they decided to live a new life in a quiet village. From the conversation with Mr Kurt, Eleven found out that the Kurts owned a famous cosmetic company, which was running smoothly. Kurt was a major shareholder, so the two of them could enjoy life even without working for the rest of their lives. Money and fame were things that they saw lightly. Eleven could tell that their family was very rich from the decoration and furnishings in the house.
Mr Kurt liked to play chess. He usually plays chess with Mrs Kurt, but he despised her for not being able to play well. Ever since he knew that Anthony could play chess, he had been asking him to play it with him.
The old man’s wise eyes were full of satisfaction and he praised Anthony for his outstanding chess skills. He had been playing for decades, but only managed to tie with him.
Eleven and Mrs Kurt sat aside and watched their match. Eleven looked at Anthony’s noble and beautiful hands which were like art, and turned emotional suddenly. She couldn’t remember how Mo Ye’s hands looked.
She only had memories of events that had happened five years ago. It was very cold at night and she couldn’t sleep. She was laying in his arms, and playing with his hand. His fingers were long and beautiful. She once thought that it was a pity that he didn’t know how to play the piano.
However, his hands looked a little thin and weak. Just like a beautiful woman, his hand was only beautiful, and nothing else to describe it. Unlike Anthony’s hands, which looked both beautiful and strong, as if they could prop up a stretch of sky.
The feeling was different.
He was very focused on the game, sometimes chatting with Mr Kurt, sometimes interrupting the conversation between the two women. He was talkative, cheerful and liked by Mr Kurt.
“Little Seven, why did you come all the way here?” Mrs Kurt asked her curiously. “Very few tourists would come here. Who are you looking for?”
Eleven remembered that she told Mrs Kurt that she had lost her way while searching for someone, and it was already too late for her to change her statement. She chuckled. “Don’t mind me. I am just trying to find something that I have lost in the past.”
Five years ago, she had accidentally left her heart and her feelings there. The reason why she went back there again was because she wanted to become the Eleven who used to be calm and who wouldn’t be a fool for anyone else.
Since she knew the relationship between Mo Ye and the old witch, Eleven could not kill her although she wanted to. That old witch had a cold heart and didn’t care about the life and death of others. But after all, the Mo brothers were related to her by blood. Moreover, Su Man was friends with her. She can let it go when people bully her, but she wouldn’t ever forget the kindness that others had shown to her.
The old witch was very kind to her. Without her, she might already have been killed in the ring, or died of starvation. If so, she wouldn’t have the chance to grow up or have so many loved ones and friends.
How could she be ungrateful and hurt her closest ones? Even if the old witch didn’t care, she couldn’t do it. No matter how Mo Ye treated her and hurt her, she couldn’t do it.
Perhaps, the resentment in her heart would never go away no matter how hard she tried.
The only thing she could do was to treat him like a stranger from then on. She would treat him as if they have never known each other and put a stop to that complicated relationship. Then, she wouldn’t have to keep anyone on her mind anymore.
When she was on the island, Cheng Anya seemed to have seen through her. She said that hate comes from love, and only when there is no love, one would not have any feelings, just like ordinary strangers.
“What’s missing?” Anthony asked. However, his eyes were fixed on the chessboard, although he was directing the question to her.
“I’m not telling you.” Eleven laughed and tried to pass it off. She realized that a smile was really something very beautiful. She had rarely smiled when she was known as Eleven.
But when she saw herself as someone else, smiling was actually very easy.
It was also easy to say things that she would never say in the past, such as humor, coquetry, or things that would liven up the atmosphere. ‘Humans are really strange.’
“Then who are you searching for? The person who found your things?” Mrs Kurt asked curiously.
Eleven thought for a while and smiled, “No, he died. Rather than saying that I was searching for him, it’s more accurate to say that I’m here to offer sacrifices.”
Anthony wanted to move the king’s piece, but he paused for a few seconds. His long eyelashes formed a light silhouette on his fair face. Mr Kurt thought he was deep in thought and didn’t interrupt him.
However, the next move was very obvious, was it necessary to think for so long?
Anthony moved the king’s piece as if nothing had happened, and took the move that he had originally planned.
Mrs Kurt continued chatting with Eleven, but didn’t ask where she came from. She only asked for her interest and what she usually likes. Eleven told her everything truthfully, and laughed melodiously. Mrs Kurt laughed out loud too.
It was time for dinner and Mrs Kurt wanted to prepare dinner. Mr Kurt was about to go over to help her, but was stopped by Eleven. Mrs Kurt rejected her help, saying that there was no reason for a guest to help.
Eleven could not help it and gave up.
She turned back and saw Anthony staring at her with his glowing eyes. He rested his chin on one hand, and his sky blue eyes were deep and charming. Every pose of his had style and he looked like a lady-killer.
“Why are you looking at me like this?” The corners of Eleven’s lips twitched.
“Do you know how to cook?”
“Why wouldn’t I know how?”
“I didn’t think you could.”
“It seems like you are not smart enough.”
“True, if not I wouldn’t have…” Anthony’s voice stopped at the right time. Eleven pouted her lips. Without Mr and Mrs Kurt, the atmosphere between them was a little strange.
“Little Seven, can you play chess? Let’s have a game.”
Eleven wanted to reject him. She didn’t know why she wasn’t too fond of interacting with him, but when she saw the busy old couple in the kitchen, she dismissed the idea and replied, “Okay.”
They held the chess pieces in their hands and were ready for the battle.
“Is that true?” Anthony asked.
Eleven stared at him. “What?”
“About losing your things and the person who died.” Antony asked casually. His face was indifferent, as if it was unintentional.
“It’s true.” Eleven made a move. “How about you? Is it true that you were separated from your lover?”
“Absolutely.”
“It’ll be hard to find her.” No matter if he was telling the truth or not, Eleven continued after him. She couldn’t stand the awkward atmosphere. Being Little Seven was a suitable identity for her to liven up the atmosphere.
“It doesn’t matter.” Anthony replied calmly, with a pleasant smile on his lips. He seemed to enjoy playing chess with her.
Eleven didn’t know why, but she felt strange, as if… She tried to suppress the doubt.
“You can play chess well.”
“Stop joking, I know you just didn’t want to make me look bad.” Eleven rolled her eyes. “Only fools can’t tell.”
She was not good at chess. The old witch demanded them to be all-rounded and proficient in everything that human beings can do, but the things human can do is limited after all. How could they be proficient in everything?
“Well, I’m a fool, so I can’t tell.” Anthony said softly.
Eleven was speechless…
‘What is this man talking about?’
“Anthony, since when have you become such a melancholic person?” Eleven teased. She didn’t like how his expression looked. It seemed like self-mockery, sarcasm, or regret…
It was quite complicated.
She liked to keep things simple and did not like things that were too complicated.
Suddenly, Anthony gave her an enchanting smile while resting his chin on his hand, posing like a melancholic prince. “I heard that women’s hearts flutter easily when they see melancholic men.”
Eleven laughed hysterically. “Where did you hear this from?”
“From the book.”
Eleven was speechless. “The author of that book must have published the book himself.”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Not at all.”
“Then what kind of men do you like?”
“I like beautiful men.” Eleven was reminded of Ye Wei’s catchphrase and used it conveniently.
Anthony was stunned. Both his gaze and expression darkened. He looked like he was angry, but gradually, his anger disappeared. ‘She likes beautiful men… beautiful men…’
Actually, he was beautiful.
Anthony touched his face. “Am I not beautiful enough?”
“The men I know are all more beautiful than you.”
“…”
Somehow, Eleven was cheered up. She realized that this man had his own cute charms as well.