Chapter 75: Transition

“Lin, have you… seen Lei?” At 8 a.m., Amy, dressed in cartoon pajamas and rubbing her eyes, walked into the living room and asked Ailin, who was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

“Amy, you’re up so early? Come and have breakfast,” Ailin said gently.

Amy nodded and walked to a chair at the dining table to sit down.

After taking a sip of milk, Amy turned to Ailin and asked, “Lin, where… is Lei?”

“Uh, he went out. He should be back soon,” Ailin explained.

Hearing her answer, Amy said nothing more and quietly ate her bread.

Having spent quite some time with Amy, Ailin could tell this silence meant the little girl was unhappy. Inwardly, she couldn’t help but curse the reckless young man.

The day after the highway shooting incident, the boy suddenly said he wanted to go out after taking a phone call in the afternoon.

“Are you out of your mind? The moment you step out, Adams’ men might kill you!” Ailin exclaimed in shock.

“But I’m a tourist. What tourist stays indoors all day? I want to go skiing in the Alps and boating on Lake Zurich. Again, I’m a tourist!” Masashi shouted enthusiastically, raising his arms.

Amy, finding it amusing, copied his gesture, raising her little hands in a “fighting” pose.

“Cut it out. What part of you looks like a tourist?” Ailin rolled her eyes at him.

“That’s why I need to prove it to you—I’ll be a great tourist,” Masashi said with a mischievous grin.

“Tell me the truth, where exactly do you want to go?” Ailin asked sternly.

“Of course, to do what tourists do,” Masashi replied lazily.

Then he crouched down and said to Amy, “Little one, I’m heading out for a bit. Stop looking so happy—I’m not taking you with me. Wait here for me; I should be back tonight. Be good, alright?”

Amy immediately grew anxious, clutching tightly to his clothes.

“Hey, little one, don’t misbehave, or I’ll spank you.”

Looking pitiful, Amy stared at him, but her grip didn’t loosen.

Masashi sighed helplessly and gave Ailin, still fuming, a pleading look.

Ailin glared at him but eventually came over to help comfort Amy.

Though unsure where he was going, Ailin knew one thing: the boy never did anything meaningless. He must have a reason for leaving, even if he refused to share it, which annoyed her.

After much coaxing, Amy finally let go, though her face still showed deep reluctance.

Masashi stood up, lightly pinched her cheek as usual, gestured to Ailin, and walked out the door.

Ailin sighed and, as agreed earlier, notified the undercover officers outside not to follow him.

True to his word, Masashi returned that night around 10 p.m. However, the next morning, he left again. This routine continued for three days—leaving early and returning late, treating the house like a hotel.

During his absences, Rolando and Murphy visited to check on Amy. Both found Masashi’s behavior strange.

Following the highway shooting incident, the Swiss police, both shocked and furious, increased their manpower to track down the culprits, determined to catch them as soon as possible. The higher-ups even suggested that Amy and Ailin stay at the station to save them the headache.

The day after tomorrow was the reading of the will. What other events would unfold? Ailin thought anxiously, glancing at Amy, who was eating breakfast.

“Not eating anymore? Have a bit more,” Ailin urged, noticing Amy had only eaten one piece of bread.

The little girl shook her head, finished the milk in her cup, and stood up.

Ailin didn’t push further and helped clear her plate.

When she came out of the kitchen, she saw Amy holding a stuffed bear and quietly watching TV.

The solitary and introverted Amy usually spent her time watching TV. But since the peculiar boy arrived, her favorite pastime had become clinging to him.

Thinking back, Ailin realized Amy hadn’t had lessons since Mr. Montreux passed away. Perhaps it was due to the recent turmoil.

“Shall we have a lesson, Amy? It’s been a while,” Ailin suggested.

The little girl nodded, obediently putting down her stuffed bear.

Aside from being Mr. Montreux’s representative secretary, Ailin also served as Amy’s private tutor.

Due to Amy’s severe autism, she couldn’t attend school like other children. Several tutors had tried but gave up due to her resistance. Seeing this, Ailin volunteered to teach her whenever she had time, which Mr. Montreux greatly appreciated. For three years, Ailin had given Amy lessons without fail.

Since it had been a while, Ailin kept the session short, wrapping up after two hours to ease Amy back into the routine.

“Are you feeling alright, Amy?” Ailin asked, noticing the girl seemed low-energy.

Amy shook her head.

“Are you thinking about Lei?”

Amy glanced at her and nodded.

“Can you tell me why you like Lei so much?” Ailin had always wondered why the typically distant Amy was so attached to a boy she’d just met.

Amy thought for a moment, then, looking troubled, said, “I… don’t know. I just… really like him.”

Hearing this, Ailin smiled and didn’t press further.

***

“Today’s weather matches my mood.

That guy still hasn’t come back. It’s been almost two weeks—where could he be?

Is he still mad at me? How dare he—I should be the one mad! He left without a word, making me wait at his school every day, hoping he’d show up.

Today, I met his sister—a girl with terribly outdated black-rimmed glasses. I can’t believe people still wear those; they look awful. Seems like both he and his sister are weirdos. But the girl with her was gorgeous—I heard she’s a relative staying with them. Does that mean they see each other every day?

Was it my imagination, or did his sister seem to dislike me? She didn’t say a word, no matter how much I asked.

But the most pitiful one is me—I can’t stop thinking about that annoying guy.

Ryoko and Mami said I’ve changed. I know I have. Since that day, whenever I’m with him, I don’t feel like myself.

Other boys are always trying to make me happy. Even today, the student council vice president gave me a gift. But I wasn’t happy at all.

That jerk!”

Hasegawa Aiko gently closed her diary, staring thoughtfully out the window.