"We've met once."
Aria Sterling spoke up first and asked Uncle Shaw in return, "What are they doing here?"
Uncle Shaw explained, "Yesterday afternoon, young Mr. Owen Ford and his father were fishing by the lake out back. He accidentally fell into the lake and they couldn't get him out. I happened to be passing by and helped pull him ashore."
"I'm so grateful to Uncle Shaw for saving my life." Owen Ford was filled with gratitude.
His father, Howard Ford, also walked over. "We really have Mr. Scott to thank for yesterday. My son was struggling and got tangled in the water weeds, and we just couldn't pull him up. There was no one else around at the time. It was Mr. Scott who helped yank him out of the water."
Recalling yesterday's events, Howard Ford still found it terrifying. At the time, it was as if Owen Ford had jumped into the water on his own, and he started struggling while still at the edge. Howard had used all his strength but couldn't pull him up. Just as his son stopped struggling, Uncle Shaw came over and yanked him out in one go.
Once on the shore, Owen Ford was covered in water weeds and had swallowed a lot of water.
After hearing the story, Aria Sterling glanced up at Owen Ford. Above his head was a cloud of black energy, invisible to others.
Dark clouds loomed over him; he had been latched onto by something unclean.
She had warned Owen Ford before to stay away from water. It seemed he hadn't taken her words to heart.
Aria Sterling said to Uncle Shaw, "Uncle Shaw, why don't you entertain our guests? I'm going to take a walk."
"Miss Sterling, will you be needing the car?"
"No need." Aria Sterling shook her head and walked straight out.
Seeing this, Owen Ford quickly followed her.
Howard Ford was puzzled but had other ideas. "Mr. Scott, which family does this Miss Sterling belong to? Is she spoken for?"
'Anyone who can live in this wealthy neighborhood must come from a family that's either rich or powerful.'
'Aria Sterling has an excellent bearing, and seeing my son's reaction, he's definitely interested in her.'
'If this could lead to a marriage, it wouldn't be a bad thing.'
Uncle Shaw understood Howard Ford's intentions and gave an awkward smile. "Mr. Ford, please don't ask. It's not my place to say too much about Miss Sterling's affairs. And please, don't thank me again for yesterday. It was nothing."
Meanwhile, Aria Sterling took a turn around the backyard garden behind the villa. Knowing Owen Ford was following her, she finally sat down on a bench not far from the artificial lake.
Leo, who had been observing the surroundings from within the Starsea, ran right out and curled up in Aria Sterling's arms to sunbathe.
The sun at this time of year was gentle, not yet at its most scorching, making it very comfortable to bask in.
Leo sighed and said, "The sunlight in the Starsea is always lovely, but it's not as comfortable as the sun out here. I love the spring sun best—it's so warm. Dozing off in the sun... if only I could have a sweet drink, it would be even more perfect."
"Dozing in the sun is something old people do," Aria Sterling said, her hand gently stroking Leo's fur.
Leo was no ordinary spirit-cultivating feline. His fur wasn't soft; it had the feel of a wild wolf's coat—cold and stiff. Each strand was coarse, so while he looked like a fluffy white ball, he lacked the gentle feel of a normal kitten or puppy.
However, Aria Sterling was used to it, so it didn't feel uncomfortable in her palm.
She chuckled lightly and added, "And yet, you have a sweet tooth—that's a little girl's thing."
"No, it's not!" Leo denied. "You're a little girl, but you don't like sweets."
"Sweets rot your teeth," Aria Sterling said.
Leo was unfazed. "I have great teeth. I'm not afraid of them rotting."
Just as he finished speaking, Leo stood up in Aria Sterling's lap, propped his front paws on her shoulder, and looked behind them. He let out a meow like a kitten. "Here comes that dead man walking."
He was talking about Owen Ford.
Owen Ford had been following for a long time and finally mustered the courage to approach.
He saw the white cat meow, and its blue eyes made him extremely uncomfortable.
But when he thought about his recent experiences, he still stepped in front of Aria Sterling. "Hello."
Aria Sterling looked up, her tone indifferent. "Is something wrong?"
"Your cat... is really white," Owen Ford said, awkwardly trying to make small talk.
Aria Sterling's lips curved. "His name is Leo."
MEOW! Leo cried out in protest. What Aria heard, however, was an indignant retort, "I'm clearly the Great White, not some 'Leo'! I'm older than you are, Aria!"
Aria Sterling ignored Leo and asked Owen Ford again, "If you have something to say, just say it."
He had originally wanted to make a bit more small talk before getting to the point, but now that Aria Sterling had spoken, Owen Ford didn't hide it any longer. He took a few steps closer to Aria, his expression troubled, and said in a low voice, "Miss Sterling, can you save me?"
"I only save those I'm fated to meet," Aria Sterling said lightly. "I warned you last time, but you didn't believe me. As far as I'm concerned, our connection is spent. From now on, you're on your own."
Aria Sterling spoke calmly, without malicious intent or a shred of pity.
Hearing this, Owen Ford grew anxious. He tried to get closer, but Leo suddenly bared his fangs and claws at him, looking so ferocious he seemed about to pounce. Owen Ford didn't dare move any closer and said urgently in a low voice, "Miss Sterling, I know I was wrong not to believe you last time. I realize my mistake now. I really think I've been tangled up with something unclean."
"Yesterday, it wasn't that I slipped. For a moment, I felt like I blacked out, as if someone had taken control of my mind and was forcing me to jump into the water."
"The water wasn't even deep where I jumped in, but I could feel the weeds actively wrapping around me. My dad couldn't pull me up no matter what he did. The weeds felt like hands grabbing me. It was Uncle Shaw who helped pull me out."
"Just now, Uncle Shaw reminded my dad that we should find a yin-yang master to take a look at me. Miss Sterling, I know you are very powerful. Please, save me. Whatever you want, the Ford family will give it to you."
Aria Sterling listened distractedly.
She already knew all this from listening to Uncle Shaw back in the living room.
The reason Uncle Shaw was able to pull Owen Ford from the water was because he was wearing the Jade Pendant she had given him. That pendant could ward off evil spirits, which was why his help was enough to save Owen Ford.
If it had been anyone else, they certainly wouldn't have been able to save Owen Ford's life.
But…
Aria Sterling always acted according to her own principles.
She stood up, holding Leo, and looked Owen Ford up and down. "We have no connection. I won't save you. If you want to live, you should hurry and find a powerful yin-yang master. You might be able to save your life."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Owen Ford blocked her path. "Miss Sterling..."
"Don't bother begging me," Aria Sterling cut him off coldly. "Do you know how you ended up tangled with that filthy thing?"
Owen Ford shook his head.
'If only I knew.'
'The problem is, I don't. I've never done anything wicked, so why would something unclean latch onto me?'
'I just can't figure it out.'
"Because you were a busybody," Aria Sterling said coolly. "And being a busybody has its price. If I were to save you now, when there is no connection between us, that would also be me being a busybody."
With that, Aria Sterling turned and left, still holding Leo.
She hadn't gone more than a few steps before she ran into Owen Ford's father. Howard Ford wanted to speak with her in detail, but Aria Sterling walked right past him without a second glance, still carrying Leo.
Howard Ford went to his son's side and asked, "Owen, are you and that young lady dating?"
'My life is on the line and he's asking about dating?' Owen Ford immediately grabbed Howard Ford's arm and said frantically, "Dad, we need to listen to Uncle Shaw and find a yin-yang master. I really think I'm haunted by something creepy."