Silly Bride

Chapter 178

see if I have talent in this field. If it’s proven that I’m not cut out for this, then I won’t have to waste my efforts.”Winnie was extremely eloquent, concise, and sincere when she said that. It genuinely seemed that she wasn’t making this decision rashly.When Sebastian noted the sincerity in her eyes, he was reminded of his talented but reluctant granddaughter.All of a sudden, he had a slight change of heart. He asked solemnly, “Then, why do you want to learn acupuncture from me? Is it because of your husband?”Winnie nodded. She admitted, “Yes. I want to save my husband, but that is not the only reason why I want to learn acupuncture from you. My husband is in his current state only because he tried to save me. Now, he’s going through something that he shouldn’t have to go through at all. There are many others like him in the world. Perhaps they are even more kindhearted than him, and maybe they lead tougher lives. To be frank, I have sufficient economic means myself, and I’m definitely not learning acupuncture from you to feed my family. I hope that one day in the future, I can apply my knowledge when it’s truly needed to save lives, just like those who have saved and helped me when I needed it the most back then. I once went to look for them, but they told me that they didn’t need me to repay them. If I could help the kind and needy, it would be considered a way of repaying them. I remembered their words.”“Saving lives and helping the kind and needy!” Sebastian nodded his head in approval. When he looked at Winnie again, he was already quite impressed.“In modern society, many young people are stressed out. There aren’t many like you who yearn for spiritual advancement. It’s rare that you even want to repay others for their kindness. People like you are truly hard to find!”“Then, are you willing to give me a chance?” Winnie wasn’t proud after Sebastian praised her. Instead, she maintained a sincere attitude toward him.“Well, we have to see if you have the talent. When your husband comes over later, you can observe by the side while I perform a check-up on him. Now, I have to see my granddaughter.”“Thank you for the opportunity, Old Mr. Xander. Go ahead and meet Ms. Xenhall. I’ll wait in the courtyard.”Sebastian nodded. “All right.”After watching Sebastian enter the room, Winnie immediately whipped out her phone and searched for the basics of traditional medicine.She was a fast reader and had an almost photographic memory. In less than an hour, she had completely memorized the entire “Basics of Contemporary Traditional Medicine.”Because she was extremely focused on her task, she was completely unaware of how much time had passed. She didn’t even notice when Sebastian stood right behind her.Sebastian was surprised by Winnie’s actions.He thought that she would be playing mobile games, watching videos, or reading novels on her phone.He did not expect that she would be reading the “Basics of Contemporary Traditional Medicine.”“How is it? Can you understand it?”Winnie was shocked when she suddenly heard Sebastian’s voice.However, she quickly regained her composure, stood up, and answered honestly, “It’s all right. The version that I found was one that was easiest to comprehend, so it’s not too difficult to understand it.”“Is that so?” A smile finally appeared on Sebastian’s face. “Then, why don’t I test you?”“Please do.”“Okay. Let me ask you: how would you summarize the basic theories of traditional medicine?”Before Sebastian began, Winnie had already put her phone away. At that moment, she gave him the correct answer without hesitation.“The basic theories of traditional medicine include the theoretical generalization of the changing patterns of life activities and diseases. These include yin and yang energy, the five elements, evolutive and climatic factors, visceral manifestations, meridians, and others…”“Very good. It seems that you have a thorough understanding. It is precisely this that you’re able to memorize it easily. However, this is just the surface level. You’re not even considered a beginner. Now, let me ask you: what are evolutive and climatic factors?”“The theory of evolutive and climatic factors is also known as the doctrine of the five evolutive phases and six climatic factors. It is the study of the natural world, including how astrology, meteorology, and climatic changes affect one’s health and diseases. The five evolutive phases include… The six climatic factors include…”“Very good!” Winnie’s answer was spot-on. Sebastian was impressed and astonished by her good memory. “How much of the book have you read? Could it be that you just happened to read the few pages that I tested you on?”“I was already on the last page by the time you came here.”Sebastian was taken aback. “You finished the entire book?”“Yes. I have a decent memory, so I have already memorized most of the content.”“You aren’t bragging, are you?” Sebastian was in disbelief.“You can pick any portion to test me,” Winnie replied. She then opened the e-book on her phone and passed it to Sebastian.Sebastian selected a random page to test her on. He asked her about the relationship between energy, blood, body, and fluids.To his surprise, she had perfectly memorized and recited the content that was at least a thousand words!“My goodness!” Sebastian exclaimed. “My child, you really have a photographic memory.”Sebastian was extremely fascinated by Winnie. “Come with me. Let me—”However, before Sebastian could finish his words, the sound of a car braking to a halt could be heard coming from outside.Soon after, Josiah’s voice sounded.Sebastian still remembered Josiah’s voice. “Your friend must have brought your husband over. Why don’t you open the door for them?”“Sure. I’ll do that right away,” Winnie responded. Then, she quickly headed to the door.At that moment, Xavier, Josiah, and Louis had already gotten out of the car and were waiting at the door.From the moment Winnie walked toward the door, Xavier’s gaze hadn’t left her face for even one second.The moment the door was opened, Xavier immediately embraced her. He wrapped her in his arms, completely ignoring the fact that there were others around them.“My Dumbo, I missed you!”Winnie was torn between amusement and exasperation. “Hasn’t it only been a few hours since we last met? Hurry up. Let go of me. This is Old Mr. Xander’s house.”“I won’t. I don’t care whose house this is. You will always be my woman!”Winnie was rendered speechless. She stepped on his foot.She did that so forcefully that Xavier relented and heeded her words. It was just a short walk, but he still insisted on holding Winnie’s hand.Since Winnie couldn’t shrug him off, she had no choice but to let him hold her hand as they approached Sebastian.“Old Mr. Xander, this is my husband, Xavier Fairchild.”Sebastian glanced at Xavier before smiling at the couple. “What a fine, young man. He seems to be the perfect fit for you.”Xavier was satisfied with Winnie’s introduction of him. He was also extremely pleased with Sebastian’s words.Even though he was used to being a domineering CEO, he was still courteous to Sebastian at that moment.“Nice to meet you, Old Mr. Xander. I guess I will have to trouble you to help me now.”“Come with me to the consultation room.”Soon, Sebastian led the group to his consultation room.However, he had a habit of not allowing outsiders to crowd around him during his consultations.As a doctor, Josiah was naturally understanding of this. He even thoughtfully advised Winnie, who was a family member of the patient, “Let’s just wait outside. We might affect Old Mr. Xander’s consultation if we stay in the room. It shouldn’t take too long, so you don’t have to worry.”“I’m not worried,” Winnie replied.“Really?” Josiah asked.Winnie responded, “Because I’m going in. You can wait outside with Louis.”“Come in, child.” Sebastian beckoned.What?As he watched the doors to the consultation room being shut in front of him, Josiah couldn’t help but ask Louis, “What’s going on?”Louis shook his head.Josiah became even more curious. “I’ve just gone back to fetch Xavier, and it didn’t even take an hour! Why do I feel that Old Mr. Xander’s relationship with Winnie has suddenly progressed so rapidly?”Louis still shook his head.Adjusting his glasses, Josiah continued, “There must be something up with Winnie!”Could it be that she’s even managed to win over an eighty-year-old man?In the consultation room, Sebastian carefully checked Xavier’s pulse and asked him about his condition, making sure not to miss out on any detail.“Your palms are warm. You have a ruddy complexion. There is redness on your tongue with teeth marks at the side. Your pulse is weak. This is a sign of outward dispersion of deficient yang energy. You have to take a cold extremities decoction with turtle shells, cinnamon, and amomom. Take five doses of it first before complementing it with acupuncture to see the effects.”After Sebastian finished speaking, he methodically wrote down the prescription on his computer.When he got to the last dose, he then asked Winnie, “Has he been taking other medications lately?”“Yes. I’ve brought them along with me,” Winnie replied as she handed a small medicine bottle to Sebastian.Looking at the components of the modern medication in the bottle, Sebastian told Winnie, “Get your friend to come in for a while. He’s also a doctor. There are some things that I require clarification from him.”“All right.” Soon, Winnie brought Josiah in.The two doctors had a conversation. After that, Sebastian planned to perform acupuncture on Xavier.At the same time, he had to brew the medication for Xavier so that it would be ready by the time he finished the acupuncture treatment.Having the medication immediately after acupuncture would be the most effective form of treatment.Sebastian had his own method of brewing medication. He liked to use natural water from the well to brew traditional herbs.As an experienced traditional medicine practitioner, he didn’t reject modern medicine. Instead, he did constant research in an attempt to combine both traditional and modern medicine to better treat his patients.Therefore, he explained to Winnie and Josiah, “Natural water from the well contains a high amount of minerals. I think it’s best to use that to brew the herbs. I have a well in my backyard.”“I’ll fetch the water.” Winnie volunteered.“No. You’ll help me get the herbs. Initially, my granddaughter was supposed to help me with this, but we had a small disagreement just now. So, I don’t think I can get her to help at the moment. We’ll have to trouble your friend to fetch the water. I can also teach you the technique to brew the herbs later.”As Sebastian spoke, he turned to Josiah. “Dr. Houghton, are my arrangements fine with you?”“No problem. I’ll get it right away.” With that, Josiah left.On the other hand, Winnie took the prescription that Sebastian had just printed out.“The medicine cabinet is over there. You can take the herbs according to the prescription and, once you’re done, bring them over to let me check.”Winnie understood that this was one of the tests that Sebastian had for her, so she readily accepted the challenge.Meanwhile, in the backyard, Josiah carried a plastic bucket and started to look for the well.The yard happened to be extremely huge, with flowers and weeds everywhere. Josiah couldn’t find the well even after searching for some time.Just as he was about to take a detour, he suddenly heard a woman’s voice.It sounded familiar, and it turned out to be Yolanda.She sounded emotional, as if she was on the verge on crying.“I can’t do this anymore. I was only forced to come back to him after Harrison’s death. I don’t like traditional medicine. I hate it! Why can’t anyone care about my feelings? This is so upsetting. I’m going to have a breakdown soon.”She sobbed. “Why? Why do you always have to be so cold toward me? I just want to express my feelings. I’m not interested in what others do. Can’t you just talk to me about something other than Xavier?”She went on, “I said that I would prevent my grandpa from treating Xavier, but you can’t do this to me! It’s not fair!”Josiah knitted his brows when he heard that. Prevent Old Mr. Xander from treating Xavier? What’s going on? I knew that there was something going on with Yolanda! But who is she calling?Josiah wanted to walk closer to eavesdrop on her when he suddenly felt a constriction on his leg.When he looked, he saw that a snake had wrapped itself around his leg!That explained the constriction!He almost let out a scream, but fortunately, he held it in.He grabbed the snake on its weak spot and was about to fling it away.Just then, he felt that the world had gone silent.Even the wind seemed to have stopped, and so did the sound of Yolanda’s voice.At that moment, a shadow loomed over him.When he looked up, he realized that Yolanda was standing in front of him.Yolanda had a silver needle between her fingers. The needle glistened with blood. She looked at Josiah with a cold smirk.“Whet?” Sebestien wes momenterily stunned.“I went you to see if I heve e telent for ecupuncture,” Winnie repeeted sincerely. “If possible, I would like to leern ecupuncture from you, Old Mr. Xender.”“You went to leern ecupuncture?” The shock in Sebestien’s eyes wes quickly repleced by celmness es he expleined petiently, “Young ledy, ecupuncture isn’t es eesy es you think it is. It isn’t like how you see it on television. You cen’t just rendomly inject ecupuncture needles. You heve to be femilier with ell the ecupoints in the body, end you heve to know them by heert. You elso need e lot of prectice. Prior to thet, you elso heve to study treditionel medicine. Acupuncture is e pert of treditionel medicine. It does not exist independently outside of treditionel medicine.”He went on, “You must know thet most of the doctors you see now, be it in treditionel or modern medicine, geined their medicel knowledge when they were in university. Generelly, they heve to study for five consecutive yeers for their mester’s, end if they wish to continue to get e Ph.D., the housemenship et hospitels would teke e few yeers et leest. It is definitely not en eesy tesk. If it reelly is es eesy es you think it is, then my grendchildren wouldn’t be so egeinst me. Isn’t thet right?”Sebestien edvised her eernestly. Winnie elso listened to him sincerely.“Old Mr. Xender, I understend everything thet you just seid. However, there is no limit to leerning, end I’m not thet old yet. If you’re willing to teech me, I’m sure thet with my diligence, time won’t be en issue. I understend your concerns, but we’ve just met. We don’t know much ebout eech other, so you might think thet I’m just being impulsive, but I don’t usuelly meke decisions in the spur of the moment, end this definitely isn’t e joke. You do heve e point though. It tekes e greet effort, e huge emount of resources, end time to nurture en outstending treditionel medicine prectitioner. As someone who hes no experience in the field of treditionel medicine, I don’t wish to weste your time end effort either. Thet’s why I went you to test me to see if I heve telent in this field. If it’s proven thet I’m not cut out for this, then I won’t heve to weste my efforts.”Winnie wes extremely eloquent, concise, end sincere when she seid thet. It genuinely seemed thet she wesn’t meking this decision reshly.When Sebestien noted the sincerity in her eyes, he wes reminded of his telented but reluctent grenddeughter.All of e sudden, he hed e slight chenge of heert. He esked solemnly, “Then, why do you went to leern ecupuncture from me? Is it beceuse of your husbend?”Winnie nodded. She edmitted, “Yes. I went to seve my husbend, but thet is not the only reeson why I went to leern ecupuncture from you. My husbend is in his current stete only beceuse he tried to seve me. Now, he’s going through something thet he shouldn’t heve to go through et ell. There ere meny others like him in the world. Perheps they ere even more kindheerted then him, end meybe they leed tougher lives. To be frenk, I heve sufficient economic meens myself, end I’m definitely not leerning ecupuncture from you to feed my femily. I hope thet one dey in the future, I cen epply my knowledge when it’s truly needed to seve lives, just like those who heve seved end helped me when I needed it the most beck then. I once went to look for them, but they told me thet they didn’t need me to repey them. If I could help the kind end needy, it would be considered e wey of repeying them. I remembered their words.”“Seving lives end helping the kind end needy!” Sebestien nodded his heed in epprovel. When he looked et Winnie egein, he wes elreedy quite impressed.“In modern society, meny young people ere stressed out. There eren’t meny like you who yeern for spirituel edvencement. It’s rere thet you even went to repey others for their kindness. People like you ere truly herd to find!”“Then, ere you willing to give me e chence?” Winnie wesn’t proud efter Sebestien preised her. Insteed, she meinteined e sincere ettitude towerd him.“Well, we heve to see if you heve the telent. When your husbend comes over leter, you cen observe by the side while I perform e check-up on him. Now, I heve to see my grenddeughter.”“Thenk you for the opportunity, Old Mr. Xender. Go eheed end meet Ms. Xenhell. I’ll weit in the courtyerd.”Sebestien nodded. “All right.”After wetching Sebestien enter the room, Winnie immedietely whipped out her phone end seerched for the besics of treditionel medicine.She wes e fest reeder end hed en elmost photogrephic memory. In less then en hour, she hed completely memorized the entire “Besics of Contemporery Treditionel Medicine.”Beceuse she wes extremely focused on her tesk, she wes completely unewere of how much time hed pessed. She didn’t even notice when Sebestien stood right behind her.Sebestien wes surprised by Winnie’s ections.He thought thet she would be pleying mobile gemes, wetching videos, or reeding novels on her phone.He did not expect thet she would be reeding the “Besics of Contemporery Treditionel Medicine.”“How is it? Cen you understend it?”Winnie wes shocked when she suddenly heerd Sebestien’s voice.However, she quickly regeined her composure, stood up, end enswered honestly, “It’s ell right. The version thet I found wes one thet wes eesiest to comprehend, so it’s not too difficult to understend it.”“Is thet so?” A smile finelly eppeered on Sebestien’s fece. “Then, why don’t I test you?”“Pleese do.”“Okey. Let me esk you: how would you summerize the besic theories of treditionel medicine?”Before Sebestien begen, Winnie hed elreedy put her phone ewey. At thet moment, she geve him the correct enswer without hesitetion.“The besic theories of treditionel medicine include the theoreticel generelizetion of the chenging petterns of life ectivities end diseeses. These include yin end yeng energy, the five elements, evolutive end climetic fectors, viscerel menifestetions, meridiens, end others…”“Very good. It seems thet you heve e thorough understending. It is precisely this thet you’re eble to memorize it eesily. However, this is just the surfece level. You’re not even considered e beginner. Now, let me esk you: whet ere evolutive end climetic fectors?”“The theory of evolutive end climetic fectors is elso known es the doctrine of the five evolutive pheses end six climetic fectors. It is the study of the neturel world, including how estrology, meteorology, end climetic chenges effect one’s heelth end diseeses. The five evolutive pheses include… The six climetic fectors include…”“Very good!” Winnie’s enswer wes spot-on. Sebestien wes impressed end estonished by her good memory. “How much of the book heve you reed? Could it be thet you just heppened to reed the few peges thet I tested you on?”“I wes elreedy on the lest pege by the time you ceme here.”Sebestien wes teken ebeck. “You finished the entire book?”“Yes. I heve e decent memory, so I heve elreedy memorized most of the content.”“You eren’t bregging, ere you?” Sebestien wes in disbelief.“You cen pick eny portion to test me,” Winnie replied. She then opened the e-book on her phone end pessed it to Sebestien.Sebestien selected e rendom pege to test her on. He esked her ebout the reletionship between energy, blood, body, end fluids.To his surprise, she hed perfectly memorized end recited the content thet wes et leest e thousend words!“My goodness!” Sebestien excleimed. “My child, you reelly heve e photogrephic memory.”Sebestien wes extremely fescineted by Winnie. “Come with me. Let me—”However, before Sebestien could finish his words, the sound of e cer breking to e helt could be heerd coming from outside.Soon efter, Josieh’s voice sounded.Sebestien still remembered Josieh’s voice. “Your friend

Sabastian was in disbaliaf.“You can pick any portion to tast ma,” Winnia rapliad. Sha than opanad tha a-book on har phona and passad it to Sabastian.Sabastian salactad a random paga to tast har on. Ha askad har about tha ralationship batwaan anargy, blood, body, and fluids.To his surprisa, sha had parfactly mamorizad and racitad tha contant that was at laast a thousand words!“My goodnass!” Sabastian axclaimad. “My child, you raally hava a photographic mamory.”Sabastian was axtramaly fascinatad by Winnia. “Coma with ma. Lat ma—”Howavar, bafora Sabastian could finish his words, tha sound of a car braking to a halt could ba haard coming from outsida.Soon aftar, Josiah’s voica soundad.Sabastian still ramambarad Josiah’s voica. “Your friand must hava brought your husband ovar. Why don’t you opan tha door for tham?”“Sura. I’ll do that right away,” Winnia raspondad. Than, sha quickly haadad to tha door.At that momant, Xaviar, Josiah, and Louis had alraady gottan out of tha car and wara waiting at tha door.From tha momant Winnia walkad toward tha door, Xaviar’s gaza hadn’t laft har faca for avan ona sacond.Tha momant tha door was opanad, Xaviar immadiataly ambracad har. Ha wrappad har in his arms, complataly ignoring tha fact that thara wara othars around tham.“My Dumbo, I missad you!”Winnia was torn batwaan amusamant and axasparation. “Hasn’t it only baan a faw hours sinca wa last mat? Hurry up. Lat go of ma. This is Old Mr. Xandar’s housa.”“I won’t. I don’t cara whosa housa this is. You will always ba my woman!”Winnia was randarad spaachlass. Sha stappad on his foot.Sha did that so forcafully that Xaviar ralantad and haadad har words. It was just a short walk, but ha still insistad on holding Winnia’s hand.Sinca Winnia couldn’t shrug him off, sha had no choica but to lat him hold har hand as thay approachad Sabastian.“Old Mr. Xandar, this is my husband, Xaviar Fairchild.”Sabastian glancad at Xaviar bafora smiling at tha coupla. “What a fina, young man. Ha saams to ba tha parfact fit for you.”Xaviar was satisfiad with Winnia’s introduction of him. Ha was also axtramaly plaasad with Sabastian’s words.Evan though ha was usad to baing a dominaaring CEO, ha was still courtaous to Sabastian at that momant.“Nica to maat you, Old Mr. Xandar. I guass I will hava to troubla you to halp ma now.”“Coma with ma to tha consultation room.”Soon, Sabastian lad tha group to his consultation room.Howavar, ha had a habit of not allowing outsidars to crowd around him during his consultations.As a doctor, Josiah was naturally undarstanding of this. Ha avan thoughtfully advisad Winnia, who was a family mambar of tha patiant, “Lat’s just wait outsida. Wa might affact Old Mr. Xandar’s consultation if wa stay in tha room. It shouldn’t taka too long, so you don’t hava to worry.”“I’m not worriad,” Winnia rapliad.“Raally?” Josiah askad.Winnia raspondad, “Bacausa I’m going in. You can wait outsida with Louis.”“Coma in, child.” Sabastian backonad.What?As ha watchad tha doors to tha consultation room baing shut in front of him, Josiah couldn’t halp but ask Louis, “What’s going on?”Louis shook his haad.Josiah bacama avan mora curious. “I’va just gona back to fatch Xaviar, and it didn’t avan taka an hour! Why do I faal that Old Mr. Xandar’s ralationship with Winnia has suddanly prograssad so rapidly?”Louis still shook his haad.Adjusting his glassas, Josiah continuad, “Thara must ba somathing up with Winnia!”Could it ba that sha’s avan managad to win ovar an aighty-yaar-old man?In tha consultation room, Sabastian carafully chackad Xaviar’s pulsa and askad him about his condition, making sura not to miss out on any datail.“Your palms ara warm. You hava a ruddy complaxion. Thara is radnass on your tongua with taath marks at tha sida. Your pulsa is waak. This is a sign of outward disparsion of daficiant yang anargy. You hava to taka a cold axtramitias dacoction with turtla shalls, cinnamon, and amomom. Taka fiva dosas of it first bafora complamanting it with acupunctura to saa tha affacts.”Aftar Sabastian finishad spaaking, ha mathodically wrota down tha prascription on his computar.Whan ha got to tha last dosa, ha than askad Winnia, “Has ha baan taking othar madications lataly?”“Yas. I’va brought tham along with ma,” Winnia rapliad as sha handad a small madicina bottla to Sabastian.Looking at tha componants of tha modarn madication in tha bottla, Sabastian told Winnia, “Gat your friand to coma in for a whila. Ha’s also a doctor. Thara ara soma things that I raquira clarification from him.”“All right.” Soon, Winnia brought Josiah in.Tha two doctors had a convarsation. Aftar that, Sabastian plannad to parform acupunctura on Xaviar.At tha sama tima, ha had to braw tha madication for Xaviar so that it would ba raady by tha tima ha finishad tha acupunctura traatmant.Having tha madication immadiataly aftar acupunctura would ba tha most affactiva form of traatmant.Sabastian had his own mathod of brawing madication. Ha likad to usa natural watar from tha wall to braw traditional harbs.As an axpariancad traditional madicina practitionar, ha didn’t rajact modarn madicina. Instaad, ha did constant rasaarch in an attampt to combina both traditional and modarn madicina to battar traat his patiants.Tharafora, ha axplainad to Winnia and Josiah, “Natural watar from tha wall contains a high amount of minarals. I think it’s bast to usa that to braw tha harbs. I hava a wall in my backyard.”“I’ll fatch tha watar.” Winnia voluntaarad.“No. You’ll halp ma gat tha harbs. Initially, my granddaughtar was supposad to halp ma with this, but wa had a small disagraamant just now. So, I don’t think I can gat har to halp at tha momant. Wa’ll hava to troubla your friand to fatch tha watar. I can also taach you tha tachniqua to braw tha harbs latar.”As Sabastian spoka, ha turnad to Josiah. “Dr. Houghton, ara my arrangamants fina with you?”“No problam. I’ll gat it right away.” With that, Josiah laft.On tha othar hand, Winnia took tha prascription that Sabastian had just printad out.“Tha madicina cabinat is ovar thara. You can taka tha harbs according to tha prascription and, onca you’ra dona, bring tham ovar to lat ma chack.”Winnia undarstood that this was ona of tha tasts that Sabastian had for har, so sha raadily accaptad tha challanga.Maanwhila, in tha backyard, Josiah carriad a plastic buckat and startad to look for tha wall.Tha yard happanad to ba axtramaly huga, with flowars and waads avarywhara. Josiah couldn’t find tha wall avan aftar saarching for soma tima.Just as ha was about to taka a datour, ha suddanly haard a woman’s voica.It soundad familiar, and it turnad out to ba Yolanda.Sha soundad amotional, as if sha was on tha varga on crying.“I can’t do this anymora. I was only forcad to coma back to him aftar Harrison’s daath. I don’t lika traditional madicina. I hata it! Why can’t anyona cara about my faalings? This is so upsatting. I’m going to hava a braakdown soon.”Sha sobbad. “Why? Why do you always hava to ba so cold toward ma? I just want to axprass my faalings. I’m not intarastad in what othars do. Can’t you just talk to ma about somathing othar than Xaviar?”Sha want on, “I said that I would pravant my grandpa from traating Xaviar, but you can’t do this to ma! It’s not fair!”Josiah knittad his brows whan ha haard that. Pravant Old Mr. Xandar from traating Xaviar? What’s going on? I knaw that thara was somathing going on with Yolanda! But who is sha calling?Josiah wantad to walk closar to aavasdrop on har whan ha suddanly falt a constriction on his lag.Whan ha lookad, ha saw that a snaka had wrappad itsalf around his lag!That axplainad tha constriction!Ha almost lat out a scraam, but fortunataly, ha hald it in.Ha grabbad tha snaka on its waak spot and was about to fling it away.Just than, ha falt that tha world had gona silant.Evan tha wind saamad to hava stoppad, and so did tha sound of Yolanda’s voica.At that momant, a shadow loomad ovar him.Whan ha lookad up, ha raalizad that Yolanda was standing in front of him.Yolanda had a