Raeleigh held onto the lantern while she walked and looked around. Though she didn't make it obvious, Santiago could tell that she liked it very much.
Every family in Waverly Village had a lantern like that. However, the ones they had weren't the ones being sold right then, but rather the leftovers after sales, which Raeleigh had managed to get for herself. Not to mention, there was a festival coming up soon.
She didn't have any intention of celebrating. She had felt envious when she saw other children having fun as a child.
She hadn't felt much since she had grown up, but she was very happy that someone had bought one for her.
Seeing Raeleigh gripping onto the lantern like a child, Santiago raised his hand and patted her cap. She looked up and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Look at you. You've been struck dumb." He took his hand back and pulled Raeleigh's sleeve, taking her back.
She didn't want to arrive so soon, so he slowed his pace. They wandered for a while more.
Noon came quickly. After lunch, Santiago told Raeleigh to take a nap. Raeleigh left early, knowing that he and Jacky had something to discuss.
When she woke up, she saw Santiago sitting beside her with his legs crossed. He was staring at her. Santiago asked her if she had slept well. She got out of bed after laying down for a while.
"I forgot to change the bandages on your back. Let me do it for you."
"It's almost healed, there's no need to."
"Let me do it."
Raeleigh left to look for what she needed. She came back, ready to help change his bandages. Santiago took his clothes off.
She checked on his wound and found that there was a scab.
"In the olden days, people said there was this power that could cure anything. I don't believe it, but this is indeed pretty effective."
Santiago was amused. "I guess it works if you believe in it. If you dream about me getting better soon, then of course I will."
After she was done, Santiago put on his clothes while Raeleigh tidied up. "You don't take anything seriously. You're young now, but in a few years, you'll get old and lose all your teeth. You'll know what it's like to be in pain when you can't even chew on tofu."
Santiago was lying on the bed. "Don't even mention it. I can't even eat it now."
He raised his eyelids. She looked down and saw herself reflected in his eyes. She turned around and sat down.
"You don't believe anything I say. You always do things your own way. I don't care. You can do whatever you want. When you get old, you'll know how good I am."
Raeleigh turned around and went outside to prepare dinner for him.
After the door closed, Santiago stared at the wall across from him. He smiled and murmured to himself, "I already know how good you are, but what's the use?"
Raeleigh thought it was odd when she stepped out and didn't see Jacky. She asked the people downstairs, "Where's Jacky?"
"He isn't here. He's out for business. Is something the matter, Miss Anson?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine. I was just asking." She went to prepare dinner, but had a constant feeling that something was off. Why had Jacky left even though Santiago was still there?
When she was done, Raeleigh asked another person, "Is Jacky not coming back for dinner today?"
"I'm not sure." It was even stranger that they wouldn't tell her.
She sat down and sent a message to Jepherson which read, "Jacky isn't here. Santiago might be wondering why too."
Jepherson glanced at the text. "Got it. Stop all contact and delete your chat records."
Raeleigh deleted the messages and downloaded an online game on her phone. She remembered that when she first played the game, she had really wanted to ask whether it was Jepherson.
When dinner was ready, she went to wake Santiago up to eat together. He woke up in a daze. He walked into the kitchen and asked the people who worked for Jacky, "When will Jacky be back?"
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