After driving for a few minutes, Clarence said indifferently, “I’ve heard what you said on the balcony.”
Channing said calmly, “Well, it is the first time I know someone who is so proud of his eavesdropping.”
Clarence was also composed, “It’s my home. It was not eavesdropping anyway.”
Channing didn’t reply.
Clarence continued, “I understand what you said. And I know why you would make those choices. But
what you fail to realize is that we are born independent. The emotions are endowed by those around
us. You may think they are strangers simply because you have never talked to them.”
Channing was silent.
Clarence added, “For example, your nephew was a stranger to you before you met him. You try to
make friends with him just because in your mind, he is your family.”
“That’s different.”
“There is no difference. You feel he is a stranger to you simply because in the past two decades
William failed to shoulder his responsibility as a father,” Clarence continued, “Likewise, in your mind, it
is because Stella doesn’t want to see her child that I don’t let her meet her child, isn’t it?”
Channing frowned and his hand gradually clenched into fists on his knees.
Clarence said, “I’m not giving you a lesson. What happened has happened. You may well try to accept
the situation rather than resist it. It won’t cost you anything. But you can have what you failed to have in
the past.”
Channing said, “I don’t need those.”
“Do you know what I said when Stella was pregnant?” Clarence said calmly, “I said I thought the kid
was a burden and I didn’t want him. But when I actually sensed his existence, a different feeling welled
up in my mind.”
“In your life, you only have Jeffrey as your father, who brought you all your agony and sad memories.
You are afraid that you would become someone like him in future, right? But why aren’t you afraid you
would become a father like him?”
“I won’t.”
Clarence laughed. Channing had no idea what he was laughing at.
Clarence said, “I used to think I wouldn't either.”
Channing was made speechless by his words.
Clarence tapped the wheel with his finger gently and said, “I said those to you only because Stella is
upset by what happened. I just want you to understand that you need to know what you want. If you still
prefer leading a lonely life, you can well forget what I said. I think you may end up finding what you
need is a real family.”
After a while, Channing took a look at the road in front of him and said, “We are not on the way to my
place.”
Clarence said, “I am heading to Winnie’s place.”
Channing halted. Then he murmured, “You know everything, don’t you?”
Clarence raised his eyebrows, “Once you are i my position, you can know everything too.”
Clarence didn’t say anything from then on. He just looked away and fixed his eyes on the scenery
beyond the window.
Half an hour later, the car stopped at the gate of the housing estate.
Clarence said, “I have an umbrella in the trunk. Take it.”
Channing said quietly, “No, thanks.”
Then he opened the door and strode into the housing estate.
Clarence stared at the view of his back and smiled. A wise boy.
If it were him, he wouldn’t take the umbrella either.
...
Upstairs.
Winnie had just finished her Yoga practice. When she was about to apply a facial mask, she chose a
normal moisturizing one because she didn’t want to let Channing see her face covered all over with
dried mud again.
She covered her face with the facial mask and then had her room cleaned and organized.
She felt something was wrong though the cleaner had made all the things neat in the room.
She walked around the bedroom and bathroom to check if everything was all right. Then she heaved a
sigh of relief.
After a while, the doorbell rang.
She responded and run into the bath room. She took off her facial mask to wash her face and then she
used a tissue to dry her face. After that, she run to open the door, “Wait for a second.”
It was Channing standing outside, his clothes and hair a little wet.
Though it was raining merely slightly outside, it was really uncomfortable to get wet.
Winnie put him in, “Didn’t you take an umbrella?”
“I forgot.”
Winnie got a little bit angry, “I’ve told you to take medicine on time to get well earlier. Now you’ve just
been better but you get wet again. Then when will you …”
Channing bit his lips gently and said, “Can I use your bathroom?”
After halting for two seconds, Winnie said, “Go ahead. But I have no clothes suitable for you.”
“I have given my T-shirt to you last night.”
Winnie was silent.
She almost forgot it.
She waved to Channing, “You take a shower first before I get your shirt for you.”
Channing nodded.
Winnie walked to the laundry. The cleaner had come here this afternoon to wish all the clothes.
Her washing machine was capable of doing washing and drying at the same time. So now several
pieces of clothes had been folded and placed there.
Winnie came over to find out the T-shirt. But as she came to the bathroom’s door with it in hand, she
heard the sound of showering from the room.
Winnie was stunned.
So fast.
Winnie coughed and knocked the door, “I’ve put the clothes in front of the door.”
There was no response.
She had no idea whether he had heard it or not.
Winnie looked around and fetched a small stool to put his clothes on it. Then she put the stool at the
door of the bathroom to ensure Channing could notice it as soon as he came out.
Winnie sat back on the sofa. To distract herself from the fact that Channing was having a shower in her
bathroom, she turned on the television to find a TV show to watch.
But it didn’t occur to her that what showed on the screen was the reality show she and Channing
participated in.
Just before she wanted to switch the channel, she found on the screen Channing was staring at her.
And she also looked back at him affectionately.
Staring at the screen, she cupped her face in hands. She was wondering why she hadn’t found that the
interactions between them were so indicative of the love between them.
Maybe that’s why more and more people who shipped Channing and her as a couple, and also that's
why more and more trolls were cursing her online.
But if she were a fan of Channing who had been dreaming of becoming his girlfriend or who was
concerned with his career, she would also get angry when she thought Channing seemed to have a
romantic relationship with a woman a few years older than him.
But she was now really possessed by her desire for him. But for the fact that she was sober enough to
dump Chassell Barret, she would have doubted whether she was quite easy to fall in love.
As she was indulged in her thoughts, the door of the bathroom opened.
Winnie said while watching the TV, “The clothes has been placed at the door. You can …”
“It is a little wet.”
The voice was really close.
Winnie couldn’t help looking around and as she did it, her mind was instantly reigned by impulse and
excitement.”
He was naked!
Channing was quite tall and lean. There is no extra fat on his body and the lines of his waist was
beautifully well-defined which suggested strength.
Standing there with the T-shirt in hand, he did nothing but stare at her quietly.
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