Chapter 22: Where Are Your Family Members?

The manor's butler came out to greet them. The language of M Country is quite niche, and Polly Song couldn't understand, but Victoria Parker responded fluently.

Polly Song couldn't help but wonder, is there anything this person doesn't know?

The butler led them into the living room. Polly Song looked up at the design inside. That sense of familiarity hit her again, but she couldn't figure out why it felt familiar.

The butler exchanged a few pleasantries with Victoria Parker and then left to find Mr. Young and inform him of their arrival.

After Victoria Parker sat down, Polly Song continued to observe her surroundings, "I keep feeling that this design looks familiar, but..."

"It's the engraved pattern of a winding stream." Victoria Parker sat down, looking at Polly Song.

Polly Song paused and looked at Victoria Parker, speaking excitedly to confirm, "So it's possible that the drafts he has are real, right?"

Victoria Parker: "..."

Is this the main point? The main point is how this person knows about the winding stream engraved pattern!

Knowing that the Rook family didn't die by accident might be her high point of intelligence, you can't ask for too much.

Polly Song's attitude changed dramatically, smiling so broadly that she practically treated Victoria Parker like her dad.

Victoria Parker looked at her ingratiating manner and remembered how that little kid looked at him when he wanted money; it was exactly the same.

"Polly Song, one more chance. Is there anything you've lied to me about?" Victoria Parker suddenly asked, the second time he had posed this question to Polly Song.

If she confessed now, he might be generous enough to forgive her for hiding the child's existence.

"What are you talking about?" Polly Song was full of little question marks in her head and looked puzzled, even in her eyes.

Victoria Parker's face changed instantly, pushing her head aside, not even wanting to talk to her.

Polly Song's face was pushed by his hand into a distorted shape. She took a step back, about to say something, when she heard a hearty voice.

"Mr. Parker is here, sorry for not greeting you sooner."

Polly Song straightened up and looked back at the man approaching with a beaming smile. He was of medium height, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, appearing to be around fifty. Polly used her eyes to ask Victoria: Is he Mr. Young?

This is so different from his online profile description.

And he was speaking in Chinese, with an extremely standard accent.

Victoria got up and shook hands with Mr. Young, "I heard that Mr. Young has Mr. Rook's manuscript in his possession. My wife is particularly interested, so we'd like to take a look."

Mr. Young smiled warmly at Polly, "The young lady looks quite young, yet she's interested in Old Rook's designs?"

"I've had the fortune of a fleeting glimpse of the winding stream." Polly stood beside Victoria, feeling uncomfortable with the man's smile and instinctively edged closer to Victoria.

Hearing Polly's words, Victoria glanced at her with a half-smile, only to have Polly pinch him at the waist. Victoria's expression clearly said, "You can speak human language!"

"The winding stream is indeed a classic, an irreproducible classic," Mr. Young lamented, "but I never expected it to interest such a young lady. The winding stream is rarely known these days, especially by someone your age. How old are you, twenty?"

Mr. Young invited them to sit down as if engaging in casual conversation.

"Twenty-three," Polly replied.

Mr. Young seemed a bit shocked, perhaps remembering that great fire which was exactly twenty-three years ago.

"What a coincidence," Mr. Young said with a cheerful smile, "But I wonder who spread the rumor that I have Old Rook's manuscript? The rule is Old Rook's manuscripts are never passed on. Even this manor was designed under Old Rook's personal supervision, but I've never seen a manuscript."

Polly frowned and looked at Victoria.

"The Parker Family and the Rook Family have been friends for generations. You should know this better than anyone."

Victoria kept watching Mr. Young, studying him since he mentioned fate, but the man continued smiling warmly, showing no sign of anything unusual or nervous.

"I remember Mr. Young once wanted to study under Old Rook, but it never happened," Victoria said.

"Yes, at that time, who in architecture didn't want Old Rook as a mentor? Sadly, my entire family suddenly emigrated here, missing the opportunity. Later, when our family thrived, we commissioned Old Rook to design the manor, fulfilling a long-cherished wish," Mr. Young replied with a smile.

"So you genuinely don't have Old Rook's manuscript, do you?" Polly wore her disappointment openly, confirming that she had indeed been deceived in the past.

"I don't know who started such unsubstantiated gossip," Mr. Young appeared somewhat helpless, "I've only heard someone was looking into the winding stream, but never expected it to be such an adorable young lady."

Mr. Young offered to have them for dinner, but Polly was in no mood and had to take her leave.

Only after they left did Mr. Young's smile fade; he turned and quickly walked back inside.

Polly was slumped against the car, not wanting to speak.

Victoria glanced at her, "So five million just got spent like that?"

"Eight million, three million bonus last year," Polly replied, completely dejected and devoid of energy.

Victoria: "..."

Andrew Lindsey drove silently, offering no comment.

"But something's not right. A designer never reuses a concept. If those engravings were used in Winding Stream, Old Mr. Rook wouldn't use them again, right?" Polly found it strange. After speaking, she looked at Victoria, "Are you sure those patterns were used in the Winding Stream?"

"Want to take a look at the model?"

"Sure!" Polly replied immediately.

Victoria: "..."

Really knows how to climb up the ladder.

"Just a glance," Polly blinked, showing one finger to Victoria, attempting to cute her way through.

Victoria suddenly remembered little Daisy doing the same in front of him, asking for just one piece of cake; how could his son be so adorably foolish?

Polly saw Victoria looking at her with an indescribable expression and immediately retracted her finger, "If I can't see it, then I can't. Stingy."

Victoria wondered how Polly could have lived this long.

Thinking of this, Victoria suddenly asked, "You're staying at Mr. Walker's home; where are your family members?"

Polly looked at Victoria with newfound caution, "Why? You want to meet the in-laws just before we divorce? Don't even think about it."

"There's a year left, so visiting wouldn't hurt," Victoria had just suddenly thought to ask but hadn't expected this woman to be so focused on divorcing.