Alexander, with a cloth in hand and his sleeves rolled up, was wiping a bookshelf. He looked calm, but inside, he was full of doubts.
The bookshelf was filled with an array of antiques, ceramics, and jade artifacts, all haphazardly arranged. It was as if someone had simply tossed them there without a second thought.
He picked up an old book and flipped through it. It was an out-of-print calligraphy booklet, something he had been wanting to buy for his grandfather but never could find.
Beside it were ancient antiques, flawless jade artifacts, and masterful calligraphy and paintings. Each piece could be worth several hundred million dollars if sold.
Unfortunately, they were all fake.
Only a fool would keep such valuable items carelessly on a bookshelf without even the most basic maintenance.
Just as he was pondering this, the door opened with a creak.
His attention diverted, Alexander looked up to see Elizabeth walk in, carrying a bag full of groceries.
He gestured to the bookshelf and asked her, "What should we do with all this clutter?"
"No need to clean it up," she replied.
Elizabeth had no interest in these things and casually placed them on the bookshelf. Seeing Alexander holding a book of calligraphy in his hands, she nonchalantly said, "Do you like it? It's yours."
Alexander chuckled, "No need."
Why would he want something fake?
Watching Elizabeth head into the kitchen, he raised an eyebrow, "You can cook!"
After a few seconds of silence, she nodded, "Uh-huh."
Alexander took her word for it and returned to the living room. But within minutes, a deafening crash of pots and pans erupted from the kitchen.
Alexander was shocked and speechless.
Unable to stop his eyes from twitching, Alexander turned back to the kitchen. Sure enough, it was a mess.
"Little girl, lying isn't nice."
Elizabeth didn't respond. Holding a knife, she hung her head low and stared at the shattered bowl on the floor. She remained still, causing Alexander to get the mistaken impression that she looked somewhat pitiful.
At that moment, Alexander felt like he must either be going mad, or Elizabeth had bewitched him. Otherwise, why would he walk over and pick up the kitchen knife?
"You're really clumsy. Go outside; I'll do it."
"Oh, thank you."
Elizabeth raised her indifferent little face and walked out. From her retreating figure, could it be that she felt slightly excited?
Alexander, who had previously dominated negotiations with the forcefulness of a cleaver, looked at the little tuft of curly hair bouncing on the back of the young girl's head and inexplicably felt as if he were being schemed against.
Did Elizabeth do it on purpose?
It shouldn't be possible; this girl was too naive.
...
Elizabeth sat on the sofa, lifting her wrist to gaze at the small, fresh cut on her delicate fingertip.
A drop of blood fell onto the carpet as she moved.
She sniffed, catching the faint scent of blood.
This was human blood!
It was blood that humans owned.
She wondered why the blood stopped flowing.
Her eyes, bright and wandering, flitted over the fruit knife on the coffee table.
Alexander emerged from the kitchen, immediately noticing Elizabeth's cut, "Did you hurt yourself while cutting vegetables?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
Elizabeth's hands were beautiful, almost like works of art, except for the unsightly cut.
"It's a minor injury," she replied softly.
"Do we have a first-aid kit?" Alexander ignored her comment. Even a small wound could be fatal if infected.
"On the shelf," Elizabeth obediently answered.
Alexander opened the first-aid kit. Not finding a plaster, he opted for a disinfectant spray on the cut, followed by wrapping a bandage around Elizabeth's finger.
Looking into her lovely eyes that followed his movements, he mischievously tied the bandage into a bow.
Elizabeth examined the small bow seriously, sighing inwardly about how fragile humans were, making such a fuss over a small injury.
Finally, Alexander placed a plate of delicious-looking pulled pork on the dining table, his knuckles lightly tapping on the wood.
"Come here for dinner."
He called as if summoning a kitten.
Then it seemed as if he caught Elizabeth giving him a disdainful glance.
Alexander was confused.