Chapter 490 Play Chess
Chapter 490 Play Chess
Linda was reluctant to attend Nalan clan's family feasts. Although they were all physically assembled at
the same table, there was always a feeling of disunity among them. They lived in harmony on the
surface, but each of them had their own selfish, personal intentions hidden within. It didn't feel like they
were a real and warm family.
Linda didn't want to see Rosy Nalan and Murphy Nalan. She had no time and no interests to scheme
against them.
As soon as Linda was seated at the dining table, Rosy said to her with a smile, "Hello, Linda, you are
here. Welcome home. Your belly seems to have gotten bigger in the past week. The twins must be
growing very healthily!"
Although Linda was surprised to see Rosy's polite smile to her, she had to hide her shock and reply
back politely, "Yes, thank you."
"Sister, you are gorgeous, and Young Master Mu is also outstandingly handsome. I am sure that your
babies will look beautiful after they are born, " Rosy complimented.
The doubts in Linda's mind increased with each word Rosy said.
Usually, Rosy would seize any chance to nitpick anything and bring her trouble. It was already good
enough for Linda if Rosy didn't criticize her flaws. But today, Rosy had even praised her. It was so
unbelievable! It seemed that the sun had risen from the west today.
Linda looked at Rosy in confusion, without saying anything more. She felt that Rosy seemed kind of
unusual today.
This was the most harmonious family feast that Linda had ever had in the Nalan clan's house. During
the lunch, Rosy had shown a lot of respect to Linda. She was treating Linda as if Linda was her big
sister. Lord Nalan was happy to see Rosy's behaviour and even praised her, saying that Rosy had
really grown polite.
Linda was perplexed at Rosy's sudden change of attitude. Despite Rosy's kindness to her, Linda didn't
take any initiative to talk with Rosy.
But Rosy had actively started a conversation with her.
"Linda, are you free tonight?" asked Rosy.
"Why do you ask? Anything important?" asked Linda.
"If you are not busy tonight, please stay for a few more hours here. Don't hurry to go back home
tonight. Grandfather has missed you so much. He didn't speak much at the table during the previous
days when you were not here."
Linda furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She wondered whether Rosy was feeling sick today.
Why did she suddenly want Linda to stay longer? Wasn't she the one who hated Linda the most? Why
was she asking Linda to spend some more time with Lord Nalan?
Sitting close, Murphy Nalan echoed Rosy and said, "Yes, I agree. Grandfather hasn't seen you for a
week. He could never have a satisfying meal if you are not here with him. Just take your time and have
fun here tonight. Don't hurry back. Anyway, Young Master Mu will come to pick you up."
Linda thought that she'd better stay and see what they were going to do.
So she nodded in agreement and said with a smile, "Fine. I'll go back home later tonight. I should keep
grandfather company."
Lord Nalan felt relieved to see that Rosy was finally treating Linda nicely, behaving herself well. With
his face red with pleasure, he smoothened his beard and said, "I'd like that. Linda can play chess with
me tonight."
The family feast finished in harmony with laughters and conversations.
But it made Linda feel even more uneasy. It seemed to be the calm before the storm.
Her intuition was always right. Linda had been observing Rosy's facial expressions. Although Rosy
kept smiling kindly to her, Linda knew that it wasn't a natural smile with sincere intentions.
Obviously, Rosy was just forcing herself to smile.
Normally, when a person really felt happy, his or her smile would cause muscle movements around
both the mouth and the eyes, even the eyebrows would be slightly bent. However, when a person was
just pretending to smile, the corner of the person's lips would only seem tugged up, only causing the
muscles around the mouth to move. The eyes were the total giveaway.
Looking at Rosy's curling lips, Linda guessed that Rosy had to be brewing up an evil scheme.
But she didn't understand why Rosy had to flatter her. It was unusual because she had never done that
before.
That was what Linda couldn't figure out at the moment.
After having finished the meal, Linda told Lord Nalan that she would like to go back to her own garden
and have a rest first. She would come and play chess with him after relaxing for a bit.
Linda wasn't as good as Charles at playing Go chess. Charles's techniques were comparable to Lord
Nalan's. Nonetheless, Linda was eager to play a few rounds with her grandfather.
What's more, playing Go chess was actually beneficial for prenatal education. It would do good for the
babies in her belly to play such a elegant and sophisticated game.
Then, Linda remembered that she should call Charles and tell him to pick her up later tonight.
Earlier, she had asked Charles to pick her up at around 7:30 PM, but now she wanted to ask him to
pick her up at 9:30 PM, instead.
The phone rang for quite a while before it got connected. It was probably because Charles was busy
with work.
As soon as it was connected, Linda said, "Honey, please pick me up a bit later tonight." "Why?
What happened?" asked Charles on the other side of the line.
"I'll spend more time with grandfather and play Go chess with him. Please come at about 9:30 PM,
okay?" Linda responded.
Considering her pregnancy, Linda didn't want to leave too late. She needed to sleep early and rest © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
properly.
"Okay, but I'll be finishing my meeting very soon. I can get to the Nalan clan's house before 8:00 PM.
Let me accompany you during the chess games. We can leave together after, " said Charles.
Linda agreed. That would be much better. After all, Linda's playing skills were not good enough to
match her grandfather. She might bore her grandfather. If Charles was by her side to teach her, the
games might get more interesting.
After ending the call, Linda intended to have a walk around the garden to digest the scrumptious meal
she had had.
She had just walked for a few moments when a servant came to her and reported, "My Lady, His
Lordship is asking you to play chess with him in the Plum Garden."
"So soon?" Linda looked at the time, and it was only a bit over 7:00 PM.
It was the best time to sit comfortably in the Plum Garden as the air was cool at this time in the
evening.
Linda didn't think too much about it and immediately nodded, "Okay, please tell my grandfather that I'll
be there very soon."
The servant bowed to Linda with respect and then went away.
"Bun, let's get ready and go play chess with grandfather. Since he had asked someone to call me over,
I'd better go now, " Linda told Bun calmly. She was feeling quite happy because she had had a meal
with her grandfather and was about to play chess with him. Small and peaceful moments like these
with her grandfather were so precious to Linda.
"Yes, My Lady, " Bun answered and smiled.
In the Richard's Garden of the Nalan clan's house
A servant came in and reported to Lord Nalan, "My Lord, Lady Linda sent someone over and invited
you to go to the Plum Garden right now. She's waiting for you to play chess with her there."
"Plum Garden?" Lord Nalan was happy to hear that. He nodded and touched his beard, saying, "Okay.
I'm coming. Are you a servant from the Linda's Garden?"
The servant nervously nodded his head and said, "Yes... I am."
"Really? But I've never seen you before, " Lord Nalan asked, puzzled.
"My Lord, I'm a new employee, " said the servant.
"Fine. Go ahead. I'll be there soon."
Lord Nalan then got ready to go to the Plum Garden, too. He initially wanted to ask Linda to come to
his garden to play chess, but since Linda wanted to play it in the Plum Garden, then he would go there
instead.
In Rosy's bedroom of Rosy's Garden
Rosy anxiously paced around her room. She was feeling nervous, her heart pounding rapidly.