"No worries, just took a bit of a tumble."


    "That''s a bit careless. Must hurt, right?" Urs''s voice was dripping with concern.


    Yorick, opening the lunch box with one hand, didn''t answer her directly but said softly, "This soup''s good for you. Have more of it."


    Seeing him avoid the question, especially with his pallor looking off, Urs began to suspect something about his injury.


    "You don''t always have to run around like this, you know."


    Yorick spoke, "Busy during the day; want to spend time with you at night."


    His words touched Urs deeply. She nced at Yorick, biting back the words she wanted to say.


    Noticing her hesitation, Yorick''s voice softened further, "What''s up?"


    Urs said, "It''s about Star. Mom just told me, she started her own studio and made over seven hundred thousandst year. I can''t even begin to imagine how she did it." "Her own studio?" Yorick uttered.


    Urs nodded, "Yeah, even Mom''s in the dark about how she pulled off making so much money a year."


    To Yorick, seven hundred thousand was trivial. But for Urs, it was no small sum, especially considering Ste had earned it on her own.


    Yorick''s expression darkened even more, a cold glint in his eyes.


    Ste had her own studio, startedst year, and made seven hundred thousand?


    He was in the dark about such a significant event.


    ...


    Dinner at Wave Residence was exceptional tonight.


    Ste couldn''t help but go for thirds, only learning afterward that the chef hade from Ferrond.


    It was during her second bowl of soup that Ronald called.


    "Eating so much at night, aren''t you worried about gaining weight?"


    Ste paused at his words, casting a nce at the butler who guiltily avoided her gaze.


    "Didn''t you always want to fatten me up?" she mumbled.


    Back in Ferrond, especially during her childhood, her baby fat was legendary. She started fretting about dieting when she was barely ten.


    Ronald chuckled, "You were little then. Now, haven''t you been fussing about growing up? Not caring about looks?" The eternal dilemma of beauty for girls.


    Ste decisively set down her spoon. "When are youing back?"


    "Soon. Go to sleep early."


    "Okay."


    Hearing someone speak on Ronald''s end, Ste didn''t linger and hung up obediently.


    Ronald was in a private room at that moment.


    Hull, sitting next to him, couldn''t help but ask, "Who''s that? You sounded so gentle."


    Hull had met Ronald two years ago their friendship forged through


    mutua respect and a shared history of conflict with the Schultz


    Swily.


    Having known Ronald for so long, Hull had never seen him this tender.


    Ronaldughed softly, a hint of warmth spreading in his eyes, "A kid at home, quite the handful."


    "You have a kid? Why didn''t I know?"


    The term "kid" caught Hullpletely off guard.


    Ronald rified, "A sister."


    "Ah, you mean Yvonne."


    Ronald also had a twin sister, Yvonne Quinn.


    Hull remarked, "She''s hardly a kid, then?"


    Being the same age, she hardly qualified as a "kid" in his eyes.


    Ronald added, "Not Yvonne, another sister. Lost her a few years back, only found her recently. She''s quite the mischief-maker." "Another one?" Hull remarked.


    This was news to him. But seeing Ronald''s indulgent smile when he spoke of his sister, Hull could tell she must be quite the charmer.