To Tanner Sinclair's astonishment, Aurora Sinclair bent down and lifted the bundle from the floor again.
The Sinclairs: ...
'She's still the same "freak" as before!'
Master Sinclair hurried forward. His expression, usually stern when dealing with others, softened as he beckoned to Aurora Sinclair.
"Come here, let Grandpa get a good look at you..."
Aurora Sinclair obediently stepped forward but stopped about a meter away.
"Come closer..." Master Sinclair took another step forward, but Aurora Sinclair matched him with a precise step back.
The situation grew a little awkward.
Hailey Gordon stepped forward with a smile to smooth things over. "Dad, Aurora's clothes are a bit grubby. She's probably just worried about getting your new suit dirty!"
Master Sinclair pursed his lips, saying nothing. He gave Aurora a long, hard look before turning and heading into the house.
The rest of the Sinclairs followed him inside.
Tanner Sinclair's eyes glinted. "My freakishly strong little niece, shall we head in?"
Aurora Sinclair nodded. She looked down, pulled a stack of yellow papers from a small pouch she was carrying, and handed him one.
"What's this?" Tanner Sinclair took the paper, turning it over and over, but he couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"A peace charm."
Tanner Sinclair's eyes shot up. He watched Aurora's retreating back, his handsome brows furrowing slightly.
Beside him, Butler Sinclair, who was holding an identical piece of yellow paper, sighed softly. "Fourth Master, we should go inside."
The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Master Sinclair sat in the center of the sofa, with the others seated on either side in order of precedence.
Aurora Sinclair stood at the far end of the room, setting down her bags one by one.
Jean Quincy, who clearly looked down on her, muttered again, "Country bumpkin..."
Though her voice was low, the words reached everyone's ears clearly.
Jade Sinclair shot her daughter a sharp look and broke the heavy silence. "Aurora, I'm your aunt. This is your cousin, Jean Quincy, and your other cousin, Zeke Quincy. Your uncle was too busy to come today. I'll introduce you two some other time..."
After Jade Sinclair introduced her side of the family, Hailey Gordon smilingly began introducing the rest of the Sinclairs.
Aurora was introduced to the whole circle. It seemed that besides the younger generation, the only Sinclair missing was her youngest aunt, Janet Sinclair, who was abroad on business and couldn't get back in time. But she had sent a video message, which she'd asked Tanner Sinclair to play for Aurora.
Aurora Sinclair politely greeted everyone. Then, she once again pulled the stack of yellow papers from a bag on the floor, counted out enough sheets for everyone present, and handed one to each of them.
She then crouched back down, untied a cloth bundle, and started taking things out.
Jujubes, walnuts, peanuts, rapeseeds, dried chili peppers...
With every item she produced, the expressions on the Sinclairs' faces grew a shade more peculiar.
In the end, it was Master Sinclair who reacted first. Beaming, he said to Butler Sinclair, "Quickly, have these gifts Aurora brought back put away properly—"
Butler Sinclair efficiently had the staff start moving the things Aurora had brought. It took them several trips back and forth.
'How on earth did their Second Miss carry all this back with that small frame of hers?'
"Family Head, this hen just laid an egg!"
Master Sinclair started and hurried over. "Quick, quick! Raise it well, and bring me that egg to be boiled."
Seeing how much Master Sinclair doted on Aurora, Hailey Gordon's sharp nails nearly pierced the skin of her palm.
With a smile, she said, "Dad, you've only just recovered. The doctor said you should eat fewer high-cholesterol foods."
"It's fine. Aurora went to so much trouble to bring it back! Butler Sinclair, have the kitchen prepare some of that produce. Everyone should try it..."
Master Sinclair happily beckoned to Aurora again. "Aurora, come over here. Let Grandpa get a good look at you..."
Aurora glanced at the yellow paper in his hand and slowly walked over.
Master Sinclair grabbed her hand and said, "Good, good, good."
***
Finally, it was time for dinner. Master Sinclair sat at the head of the table, his eldest son to his left and his third daughter to his right. The rest were seated down the line according to a specific protocol.
Aurora was originally meant to sit at the head of the younger generation's seating, but Jean Quincy was furious. "That's Stella's seat!"
Hailey Gordon, who usually played the peacemaker, simply smiled and said nothing.
The servant's hand paused as she was pulling out the chair, and she glanced awkwardly toward the head of the table.
Master Sinclair glanced at his eldest daughter-in-law and said in a low voice, "Leave Stella's seat as it is. Aurora can sit in Marcel's spot."
This made Jean Quincy even more disgruntled. Her seat was next to her aunt Janet Sinclair's designated spot, so when Aurora came over, she deliberately scooted her chair away.
Once Master Sinclair saw that Aurora was seated, he was very pleased. Even his call to "Begin the meal—" was full of energy.
A series of exquisite dishes was brought to the table, and everyone began to eat in silence.
In the middle of the meal, Master Sinclair suddenly asked, "Jade, did you ask about First City High School?"
Jade Sinclair's expression soured. The very thought of her father making her husband, Alden Quincy, pull strings to get Aurora into First City High School made her stomach burn with anger. The affair had been so humiliating that she hadn't been able to face her in-laws for days.
While her mother-in-law hadn't said a word, the look in her eyes had made Jade's cheeks burn.
Frowning slightly, she replied in a curt tone, "I contacted them. They said she has to take an entrance exam first. She can only transfer in if she passes!"
Master Sinclair was not satisfied. "Money isn't the problem. Just name a price..."
"Dad, this isn't an issue money can solve!" Jade Sinclair explained, trying to keep her patience.
But he wouldn't hear it, his heart set on getting Aurora into First City High School. After all, Stella had graduated from there before getting into Arcadian University, one of the best universities in Kingsford.
Seated at the far end of the table, Jean Quincy slammed her chopsticks down with a CLATTER. "Grandpa, do you think First City High School is a public park? That just anyone can get in?"
"Jean—don't you dare speak to your grandfather like that!" Although Jade felt secretly pleased, she couldn't outwardly permit her daughter to be so disrespectful to an elder.
Jean acted as if she hadn't heard, pointing to Zeke Quincy as she continued furiously, "Grandpa, my brother missed getting into First City High School by a single point, and my dad didn't call in a single favor for him! But now, for *her*, my dad has used up all his connections! It would be one thing if she actually passed the exam, but what if she fails? Where is my dad supposed to show his face then? If this tarnishes the family's reputation, we'll become villains in the eyes of the Quincy Family!"
Her words were harsh. Master Sinclair's gaze grew terrifyingly dark as he pursed his lips and stared at Jade Sinclair.
This time, however, she remained silent, as if in tacit agreement with her daughter.
For a moment, the dining room fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Seeing the father and daughter at a standoff, Hailey Gordon stepped in to mediate with a smile. "Dad, Jade, it's just school, right? It doesn't matter where she goes. As the old saying goes, 'True gold will shine anywhere.' Our Aurora is obviously a smart girl. She'll have no trouble getting into a good university..."
This provided an out, easing the tension on both sides. Master Sinclair glanced at his eldest son. "Linton, you look into it as well. Find a school with a strong faculty for Aurora."
Linton Sinclair nodded in agreement.
The meal resumed.
Suddenly, a "BUCK-BUCK-BGAWK."
A foul smell of chicken droppings wafted out from a pet carrier.
Jean Quincy immediately pinched her nose and shrieked, jumping to her feet. "Who brought a chicken in here? Get it out! It stinks to high heaven—"
Aurora looked down at the pet carrier by her feet, immediately bent to pick it up, and headed for the door.
Jean was so disgusted that tears welled in her eyes. "I'm not eating!" she snapped. "This is absolutely vile!"
The adults at the table were not as dramatic, but all of them had put down their chopsticks.
Hailey Gordon quickly had a servant open the windows to air out the room and spray air freshener. The smell was soon masked, but Jean Quincy refused to sit next to Aurora any longer, clamoring to switch seats.
Tanner Sinclair stood up and gestured for her to come over. "Come on, I'll switch with you."
But Zeke, who was next to him, refused. "No way! She smells like chicken poop!"
Jean's face went pale. She silently cursed Aurora up and down.
At the head of the table, Master Sinclair cleared his throat a few times, trying to change the subject and move past the unpleasantness.
"Linton, Aurora's college entrance exams are in three months. What do you think about having Stella tutor her?"
Linton Sinclair was about to agree when Hailey Gordon, who was sitting beside him, kicked him under the table. He immediately shut his mouth.
Master Sinclair's brow tightened. He looked at his daughter-in-law. "Hailey, do you have any objections?"
Hailey Gordon replied with a pleasant laugh, "Dad, normally, tutoring would be no problem at all. But Stella has her entrance exam for the Calligraphy Association tomorrow. She's going to be even busier after that, so she really can't afford any distractions."
At the mention of the Calligraphy Association, Jade Sinclair also chimed in to help. "Dad, that entrance exam is a pivotal moment in Stella's life. We can't afford any slip-ups. If Aurora needs tutoring, we can just hire a good private tutor for her!"
Master Sinclair glanced at the girl, who had been sitting quietly through it all, and the fire in his eyes dimmed. "I'm getting old. I don't have much energy left to look after Aurora properly. When I'm gone, who among you will take care of her in your second sibling's place?"