Clarice realized that after not seeing him for a few days, Herbert seemed to be deliberately distancing himself from her.

However, Clarice was a girl who became braver the more she suffered. The more you ignored me, the more I liked to pester you. Clarice pretended not to see the coldness in Herbert’s eyes. She walked forward and grabbed his hand.

Before Herbert could pretend to shake off his hand, Clarice spoke first. “I heard there’s an art shop in town,” she said. “Julia and I aren’t familiar with the town. You’re local. Can you take us with you?”

Herbert wanted to refuse.

Clarice could tell and said, “Several people have gone missing recently. Julia and I will be relieved to have a local accompanying us.”

He felt guilty. This time, Herbert did not refuse.

He took them to town and found the shop. The door was open, and Herbert led the Julia sisters inside. Julia loved the necklaces. She bought two, but she liked the shells Herbert had given them better.

They wanted to ask the shopkeeper to help make the necklace, but the salesperson told them that the boss had gone to Washington and would not be back for a few days.

“Then we can only come back in a few days.”

“Sure.”

It was still early, and Clarice did not want to go home. She wanted to go to the beach. Herbert could not leave alone, so he went to the beach with them. The beach was especially crowded in the morning, and some people were surfing at sea. Clarice asked Herbert, “Do you know how to surf?”

Herbert nodded.

“Want to play together?” Clarice said. “I want to play too.”

Herbert thought she would play, so he agreed.

Julia found a shady spot and sat down. The two of them went to rent a surfboard and children’s surf clothes. When they were fully equipped, Clarice told Herbert, “I don’t know how to surf.”

Herbert was speechless.

He looked at Clarice quietly and wanted to say, “Then go back.”

But Clarice kissed him quickly on the cheek.

Herbert was stunned.

Clarice said, “This kiss is your reward. You’ve already received your reward. If you don’t teach me, you’re cheating.”

Herbert realized that he could not do anything to Clarice.

“Alright, I’ll teach you, as long as you’re not afraid of drowning.”

That was what she said, but when he really taught her, Herbert was on full alert and did not dare to relax for a moment. Robert would not be home at noon, and Clarice invited him to their house for dinner to thank Herbert for teaching him to surf that morning.

Herbert did not refuse this time.

Clarice’s lunch was especially sumptuous. Herbert, who had not eaten a full meal for a few days, was actually full. After the meal, he put down his knife and fork and heard Julia ask in surprise, “Herbert, how many days have you not eaten?”

Herbert felt awkward.

Clarice spoke up to resolve the awkwardness for him. She said, “Julia, you forgot that Herbert’s mother is not at home. His daddy definitely doesn’t know how to cook. Herbert likes it so much because our chef cooks well.” Clarice smiled sweetly at Herbert and asked him, “Do you think I guessed right?”

Herbert grunted softly.

Julia apologized to him.

In the afternoon, Julia had to take a lunch break, but Clarice dragged Herbert to her room to play. Clarice had a DSLR in her room, and Herbert was very interested in it. Seeing that he liked it, Clarice said, “Let’s go out and take pictures. You guys look really good here. How’s your photography skills? You can’t make me look ugly.”

With that, Clarice pulled Herbert to the back mountain.

Herbert was nervous the moment he reached the back mountain.

The back of the mountain was a forest. On the other side of the mountain was a broken wall. Below the broken wall was a surging wave. Herbert was so nervous because the exit from that basement was on the edge of the cliff at the back of the mountain. Herbert had a guilty conscience and his expression had been unnatural.

When he took photos of Clarice, he missed a few times.

Clarice snatched the DSLR and checked the photo. She despised his photography skills.

He said, “Go stand there. I’ll take a photo for you.”

Herbert said, “I don’t want to shoot it.”

But Clarice said, “I’ll take two pictures for you. Then you can take pictures of me according to my photography skills.”

“…Alright.”

The boy in the black short-sleeved T-shirt sat on a stone and looked into the distance as if he was deep in thought. Clarice took a few pictures of him and admired them silently. In the end, she could not bear to delete them. Herbert took a few more pictures of her as Clarice had taught him.

Clarice was satisfied, and the two of them returned the way they came.

Julia was already awake. She planned to look for them at the back of the mountain. The weather was hot and she even carried a cup of water. In the end, after walking for a few minutes, she saw the two of them talking as they walked back. Julia saw them holding the DSLR and seemed to have thought of something. Julia suddenly suggested, “Let’s take a photo. It’s so beautiful here. We have to keep this moment.”

The doctor said that she would not live past twenty years old. Whether she could grow up was a question. Julia hoped that if she lived her life, she would leave some traces in the world.

“Sure!”

Clarice waved at Butler Hebe and said, “Hebe, come here and take a photo of us.”

Herbert said, “I won’t go with you.”

“No,” Julia said firmly, shaking her head. “You’re our friend. We should be together.”

Since Julia had spoken, Clarice naturally would not let Herbert leave. The three of them stood together. When they were taking pictures, Clarice suddenly grabbed Herbert’s hand. She saw that his ears were red and could not help but tease him. “How are you going to chase girls in the future if you’re so shy?”

Herbert touched his ear and said, “I’m not looking for a girlfriend.”

“Tsk! You probably can’t find a girlfriend.”

The three children played around until they returned to the villa. They played until the sun was almost down and Robert was about to return. Only then did Herbert go home.

…

At night, Herbert made dinner and sent it to Xiao Meng.

He made soup noodles. It was easy to eat and easy to digest. Xiao Meng looked very haggard. She had been beaten up a little fiercely this time. Her face was covered in bruises, and one of her eye sockets was purple. She looked a little pitiful. Herbert squatted at the side and did not look at his mother.

Xiao Meng ate some and asked Herbert what he had been busy with recently and how his injuries were.

Herbert did not answer her.

After Xiao Meng finished her meal, Herbert was about to leave with the bowl when he suddenly turned around and looked at Xiao Meng. He asked her, “Will a minor be sentenced to murder?”

Xiao Meng was stunned.

“What are you going to do?” Xiao Meng’s expression changed as she thought of something. She asked Herbert, “He asked you to kill someone? Did he threaten you?”

Herbert said nothing and waited quietly for Xiao Meng to give him an answer.