Chapter 119

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Franklin had already run over, clearly out of breath from running too fast. He rested his hands on his knees, gasping for a long time before looking up.

Under the dim streetlight, he glanced at Lily and, still panting, asked, "Auntie, did... did my mom give you a... a thermos box?"

Seeing him so out of breath, Lily walked over and patted his back twice, waiting for him to catch his breath before responding, "Yes."

Franklin felt a bit better and stood up straighter. "Give me the thermos box. My mom forgot it was meant for me. I need to take it to someone."

Lily was speechless. "I thought it was something important. Why didn't you just call?"

Franklin gave an embarrassed smile, "I got anxious and forgot."

Lily sensed something was off. Her bright eyes scrutinized him, but Franklin urged her again, "Auntie, hurry up. I'm in a rush."

Seeing his urgency, Lily didn't waste any more time. The thermos box was with Edmond, so she turned and got back into the car.

Edmond was still on the phone. "Tell her I'm not celebrating my birthday this year. She should just go back to where she came from."

Seeing Lily return, Edmond hung up the phone, gripping it tightly as he asked calmly, "What does he want?"

Lily pointed at the thermos box in his hand. "This was delivered by mistake."

In the darkness, Franklin watched their car leave with the thermos box in hand. When the car's lights disappeared, he turned around. As he passed a trash can, he casually threw the thermos box into it, pulling out a cigarette. The flickering red light reflected his trembling hands.

Behind the Zhou family's old mansion, there was an osmanthus tree. Franklin walked around the mansion once, finally stopping under the tree.

Mid-Autumn Festival was when osmanthus flowers were in full bloom. The sweet scent filled the air. Franklin didn't particularly like sweet scents, but Lily did. When she was young, she often visited during the osmanthus blossom season. She loved to see the flowers and said the sweet scent was like honey, making her heart feel sweet.

She would climb the tree and stand on the lowest branch, ready to jump down, asking him and Royce to catch her. He laughed at her, saying why jump down when she could be like Chang'e and fly to the moon. She looked up and said she wanted to ride the wind to the Moon Palace.

Back then, Royce protected her fiercely, not allowing anyone to say a word against her. Seeing her cry because she couldn't fly up, he would get anxious and kick him. He couldn't stand her crying either and gently coaxed her, "You can ride the wind by jumping down."

The delicate little princess, with her quick mood changes, would jump down happily. They would panic, afraid she'd get hurt. She would land with the scent of osmanthus flowers on her, smiling brighter than the moonlight above.

After she went abroad, he and Royce would occasionally come back. Later, as Royce gradually lost himself and drifted away from her, they stopped coming.

Tonight, only he came. After tonight, he wouldn't be able to come anymore.

Franklin sat down with his back against the osmanthus tree, listening to the wind carrying the scent of the flowers, reminiscing about the past. After finishing two cigarettes, he looked up, seeing the leaves blocking the moonlight. He got up and walked forward.

Under the dim streetlight, he chased the moonlight for the duration of another cigarette. When the night wind, carrying a hint of cold, blew on his face, he put out the cigarette and turned back.

The moonlight behind him grew more distant.

Since the family group incident, the old man's health had been declining, so tonight he didn't keep anyone. After the banquet, he gave his instructions and sent everyone away.

When Franklin returned, the living room lights were off. He groped his way upstairs and knocked on his mother's door.

Nayla was sitting on the sofa, lightly dozing. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes. Franklin closed the door and squatted beside her, burying his face in her lap, sobbing brokenly, making it hard to breathe.

"I'll listen to you. Please don't hurt her. Mom, please, don't hurt her. Don't hurt her. Please, I won't do anything anymore. I'll listen to you. Don't hurt her..."

The room was filled with incense, making his eyes feel uncomfortable. Nayla gently patted the back of his head, her distant gaze falling on a family photo on the cabinet. After a long sigh, she said, "Silly child, you're too nervous about her. That really was just an ordinary chicken soup."

The next day at noon, Lily received a call from Karina, mainly to apologize. She said she had been too busy last night and hadn't managed things well.

"I saved the best crabs for you and Edmond, but I got so busy that the servants took the wrong ones."

"And the tea and bird's nest I picked out for you, you forgot to take them. I only realized when I was checking the inventory."

At that moment, Lily was eating crabs. She used a small, long-handled spoon to scoop out a bite and put it in her mouth. Across from her, Edmond was still helping her crack open the crab shells.

"It's fine. Thanks, sister-in-law."

Karina was very polite, and Lily returned the courtesy. If the crabs were mixed up, it didn't matter. The crabs sent to the old mansion were always good, and they were all the same to eat. They had plenty at home, and Edmond had brought back quite a few from Jingxiu as well.

The tea and bird's nest weren't forgotten. It was just that when they left last night, so many people came out to load things into the car that the trunk was full.

Karina said, "Other people are other people, but my gift to you is from my heart, so it must be given. I'll have a driver bring it to you this afternoon."

After hanging up, Lily sighed. "Sister-in-law is so enthusiastic now. Last night she praised me in front of everyone, gave me perfume, and a bunch of beauty salon cards. It's almost too much."

Karina had nearly killed Franklin before, and Lily hadn't even settled that score yet. But now Karina had changed her attitude, making it hard for Lily to confront her.

Edmond calmly cracked open a crab claw. "I arranged for my brother to be in charge of a collaboration between Jingxiu and Jiangyu TV station. He just needs to show his face, eat, and drink, and he'll get both fame and benefits."

"I hinted to my brother that this was because sister-in-law spoke up for you in the family group and led the charge in sending you red packets."

He put the crab meat into the small plate Lily had just emptied. "Because of this, my brother praised Karina and has been good to her. She's grateful to you now, so take whatever she gives you without hesitation."

Lily suddenly understood. "No wonder she praised me so much last night. She used to say a few nice words at most, but last night she made me sound like a goddess."

Then she worried, "I've heard my brother is good at socializing but not much else. Will he embarrass you in this TV station collaboration?"

Edmond moved on to the second crab and reassured her, "It's a public welfare project to support disabled students, a warmth project led by Jingxiu. The TV station will provide coverage, and my brother will be responsible for fundraising. He's good at that."

Such matters were not taken lightly. Edmond had ensured his brother would be responsible, then attributed the favor to Lily.

Hearing it was a public welfare project, Lily suddenly put down her spoon and ran back to fetch a medium-sized box. She opened it, revealing items she had taken from her biological father, along with some bags and jewelry she didn't use.

"I don't want these anymore. Have someone handle them and donate them."

She said she had donated a lot before, with Aria's cousin helping, but it was troublesome to go back to Yangcheng. It would be easier to send them to Jingxiu.

She eagerly waited for his praise. Edmond thought of something else first. "Mishan's magazine issue will be out in November. Are you taking on any new projects in the meantime?"

Lily replied, "Nothing decided yet."

Aria had suggested she could take on one or two projects, but she was still choosing.

Edmond then mentioned the public welfare project. "This collaboration involves telling the stories of the projects, gathering support from all walks of life to help disabled students. They need a follow-up photographer."

Lily caught on to his implication and was surprised, "You want me to shoot it?"

Edmond said, "I didn't consider it before because I was worried people might say you got the job because of me."

He handed her a napkin to wipe her mouth. "But now I think you're the best fit. You've been doing charity for so many years. You'll bring sincerity to the project and do a great job. I trust you with it."