Robert stared at Herbert’s face as he said this.

Robert was satisfied when he caught all the expressions on his face, including the slightest change.

“You lied just now…”

Herbert stiffened and apologized again. “I-I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

Robert said, “The next time you lie, I’ll punish you.”

“Yes.”

That night, nothing happened during dinner. It was very harmonious. When he rested at night, Robert thought of a question. When he was looking for his father all over the house in the afternoon, where did his father go?

The next day was Saturday. There was no school, and Xiao Meng had to study baking. Herbert had nothing to do, so he watched television at home. Robert was also resting today. He ate breakfast and went into the gym. Herbert heard the gym door close. He looked back and continued watching television.

Robert only came out for lunch around noon.

Herbert noticed that Robert was not sweating after spending the morning in the gym. He frowned, thinking that something was wrong.

In the afternoon, he went to take a nap. When he woke up, he ran downstairs and wanted a cup of water.

He poured himself a cup of warm water and took a few sips. Suddenly, he heard a slight movement coming from the gym. Herbert was stunned. He put down the cup and walked toward the gym. He pushed open the door and walked into the gym, but there was no one there.

Then what made a sound in this house just now?

Herbert turned to leave, but when he turned back, he heard another sound behind him. He turned abruptly and saw a board on the ground sticking up. Below it, a pair of green eyes stared at him without moving. It was strange.

Herbert stared blankly into those eyes.

He suddenly turned around and ran out of the house.

Herbert ran all the way out of the house and halfway up the mountain before stopping. He sat down on the cement road halfway up the mountain and couldn’t help but suppress his fear as he recalled the eyes he had just seen. They were too familiar. They were his father’s.

There was actually a basement under their house. What was her father doing in the basement?

The more Herbert thought about it, the colder his back felt.

He touched his back and unsurprisingly felt cold sweat.

Herbert sat there for a long time, not daring to move.

He did not dare to go home now.

Herbert lowered his head and watched the ants crawling on the ground. If he raised a foot, he could crush them. He stared at the ants and could not help but feel sad. To him, the ants were lowly, just as he was to Robert.

“Which family are you from?”

A sweet female voice sounded behind Herbert.

Herbert turned around in shock and saw a little girl with fair skin and a cute little face. Her long golden hair was draped over her shoulders, and she had a small braid on the left side of her head. She wore a red gemstone earring in her left ear. Herbert stared at the beautiful little girl and was actually a little shy.

“H-Hello.” He stood up and stammered.

The girl smiled coquettishly and said, “Hello, I’m Julia.” The little girl stretched out a hand to him. It was also white and did not look very fleshy. This was actually a slightly thin girl, as thin as Herbert himself.

“Herbert.” Herbert shook her hand and quickly withdrew it.

Julia walked over to where Herbert had been sitting and sat down. Herbert hesitated for a moment before sitting down in his place. The two of them sat next to each other without saying anything. After a moment, Herbert spoke first. He said, “I’ve never seen you before, Julia.”

“Did you just move here?”

Julia shook her head and tucked her hair behind her ear. After she was done, she smiled at Herbert and explained, “My house is in New York. I came here for a vacation.”

Herbert was puzzled and asked, “Are you guys done with school?”

Julia added, “We’re hiring a tutor to teach us instead of going to school.”

If he could hire a tutor to teach him, he must be very rich.

Herbert’s eyes lit up. He sighed. “You live in a villa!” He pointed at the luxurious one-story sea view villa behind him and asked Julia, “Am I right?”

Julia nodded and said, “Oh right. My sister and I both live there.”

“You have a sister?”

“Yeah.”

Julia smiled gently. “My sister is still taking a nap,” she said. “You can get to know her someday. Her name is Clarice. She’s very beautiful.”

“Wow.”

Herbert was quite nervous about being friends with a child from a big city for the first time.

The two of them chatted for a while. Julia deliberately did not mention things that sounded distant and difficult to understand. She picked on things that Herbert could understand and talked to him. Hence, Herbert did not notice the distance between the two of them. He thought to himself, “Children in the big city are actually very easy to get along with.”

Julia chatted with him for a while before looking down at her watch. Her face turned serious and she said, “I have to go home.”

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

Julia stood up and finally said to him, “Nice to meet you, Herbert.” Then she left.

Herbert stared at the girl as she walked away. Then he mustered his courage and walked in the direction of his house. When he reached the door of his house, Herbert’s heart suddenly beat faster. He did not dare to enter the house, afraid that he would meet Robert. Xiao Meng returned with a small basket. In the basket was the baked biscuits she had made.

Seeing Herbert standing outside the door looking uneasy, Xiao Meng was especially surprised. She asked him, “Herbert, why are you standing at the door? Aren’t you going in?”

Herbert was shocked.

Before she could answer, the door suddenly opened from the inside.

Herbert tensed subconsciously.

Robert walked out of the house. He met Xiao Meng and waited for her to enter the house before Robert looked at Herbert. At first, Herbert kept his head lowered. Seeing that his daddy was looking at him and did not plan to leave, Herbert could only look up and bite the bullet to call out softly, “Daddy.”

“Herbert.” Robert had a gentle smile on his face. He asked him, “Why don’t you go in?”

Herbert’s eyes were rolling. As they did, he said, “I was thinking about something. I got distracted and forgot to go into the house.”

“Is that so?”

Robert said meaningfully, “I thought Herbert saw something and was a little afraid of me.”

“No! I didn’t see anything!” As soon as Herbert said this, he knew that there was something wrong with his words. He was really trying to hide something.