"Thank you."
Pillar, the burly man standing six-foot-three, spoke softly now, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.
"No need to thank me. It was only right."
Ye Lin smiled.
A few minutes later, Naya finally released her father, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and looked at the father before her, now made younger.
Even now, she was unwilling to accept it in her heart. But Ye Lin had shown her far too many mysteries, and she could not be bothered to dig any deeper.
Behind the village, beneath the blazing sun, Ye Lin and the old man sat at a stone table, playing chess. Naya crouched beside Ye Lin, propping her chin up with both hands as she stared blankly at the board.
Clearly, she could not understand it.
"Young friend, I know your origins are mysterious, but I do not know what your original intentions are."
The old man captured one of Ye Lin's pieces and asked as if by chance.
"If I could save you, that means my intentions are good, doesn't it?"
Ye Lin captured one of the old man's pieces and smiled.
"Nonsense. You have your eye on my daughter."
The old man was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged. Ye Lin merely faced him with a smile. What an adorable old man.
Naya's face turned scarlet, yet she did not deny it. She only stole glances at Ye Lin from time to time before quickly looking away.
But how could Naya's little movements possibly escape Ye Lin's notice?
"Ya'er, I'm hungry. Go make something for me to eat."
As they played, the old man suddenly swept the chessboard into disarray and spoke to Naya. This was already the fifth game, and he had lost again.