Titus Zane couldn’t quite identify his feelings, but even seeing a friend who he had only met once before becoming so haggard overnight would evoke a sense of compassion.
He curved his lips and said, "I heard you were ill, so I came to see you."
Alder Locke sat on the bed, tilting his head to look at Titus Zane whose lips unintentionally rose at the corners. Hearing Titus Zane say this made him very happy, but being a man who valued pride, he was unwilling to admit it.
"Who said I was sick? I’m perfectly fine!"
As he spoke, he flung off the blankets and got out of bed. He had not eaten properly for several days and had locked himself in his room. His movement in getting up was too sudden, and just as he stood up, his vision blacked out, and he nearly fell to one side. Titus Zane quickly stepped forward and supported him.
"This child, what are you trying to prove!" Emma Reynolds rolled up the curtain and walked back, chiding displeased, and as she reached Titus Zane’s side, she smiled and said, "You two chat, I’ll go check on things downstairs."
"Sure, Auntie, go ahead."
Titus Zane politely smiled. After Emma left, he closed the door behind her, unable to suppress his smile of happiness for his son.
Since returning from Capital City, he hadn’t seen his son smile. But ever since Titus Zane walked into the room, he had continuously sported a smile.
Supporting Alder Locke to sit on the bed, Titus Zane stepped back a bit, "You’re sick, better lie down and rest."
Worried that Titus Zane might leave, Alder Locke hurriedly said, "Stay and talk with me,"
Meeting Alder Locke’s expectant gaze, Titus Zane did not refuse. Her grandfather had brought her here precisely to visit Alder Locke, and besides, it was only a chat, though she didn’t know when she would be able to go back.
With Titus Zane’s arrival, Alder Locke’s illness seemed to suddenly improve a lot. He even had an appetite during meals, eating rice while watching Titus Zane.
After the two elders had some white wine and dined, Emma Reynolds noted that her son hadn’t left the room for several days and suggested that Titus Zane accompany him for a walk in the courtyard.
Considering listening to the old folks reminisce was quite boring, Titus Zane simply went for a walk with Alder Locke along the path in the large courtyard.
The two walked side by side on the path, maintaining a proper distance. After walking for a while, Alder Locke took the initiative to speak up, "How is Nathan Moore recovering?"
"Not bad, he can move around by himself," Titus Zane answered truthfully. Alder Locke nodded, "Oh, that’s good." The incident of Titus Zane being kidnapped had always been a hurdle in his heart, it was due to his negligence that she had suffered such great harm.
After a silent journey, Alder Locke spoke up again, "Is he staying in Capital City for the New Year?"
Looking at the path beneath his feet, Titus Zane shook his head, "I don’t know." If her grandfather still refused to let her leave, Nathan Moore would have to stay with him in Capital City.
Alder Locke responded with another "Oh" and said nothing more. The two continued their walk on the path.
Meanwhile, in the Locke Family’s main hall, the two elders had already started scheming. The elder Locke announced that he had already booked the engagement venue and was just waiting for Samuel Zane to bring his grandson over to send out the invitations to relatives and friends.
When Titus Zane and Alder Locke returned from their walk, the two elders had already made plans and were sitting in the living room, deeply engrossed in their game of chess.
After staying for two days at the Locke family, Samuel Zane kept mentioning going back to Capital City. Anxious, Titus Zane asked, "Grandfather, when are we going back to Capital City?"
The response was Samuel Zane’s impatient tone, "I haven’t seen your grandfather Locke for decades, what’s the rush!"
Feeling helpless, Titus Zane proposed going back first, but Samuel Zane refused and assured in a righteous tone that they would return after two more days.
Meanwhile, at a hospital in Capital City, inside the ward, Xiao Li placed a small notebook in front of Nathan Moore.