My Manor

"Ding, ding, ding..." Just as Jiang Hai was struggling, the doorbell suddenly rang, surprising him. He hadn't expected any visitors, especially at this hour. Most people who frequently visited his manor knew the gate's password, but his villa's password was not commonly known.

Of course, no one knew the password to his villa itself, but the gate's password wasn't exactly a secret. Even Cindy Clive and Kama Clive knew it. After the Miami incident, Moses Adams had earned Jiang Hai's trust, at least to the point of learning the gate's password. Typically, only people who knew the code would come by.

Looking at the time, it was past two in the afternoon, which didn't seem like a typical time for visitors.

Curious but cautious, Jiang Hai decided to investigate. No matter who it was, he could find out once he answered.

"Hello, who is this?" Jiang Hai answered the intercom and glanced at the camera feed.

"It's me," a calm voice replied, and an Asian face appeared on the screen. The voice and appearance made Jiang Hai suddenly realize who it was.

"It's Dr. Bernice. Please come in," Jiang Hai said, immediately opening the door. He walked out to greet her. Outside, Darlene and Marian were tending to their flower fields. When they saw Jiang Hai coming out, they looked up, curious about who was visiting.

"Go and wash up quickly, Dr. Bernice is here," Jiang Hai said with a smile, explaining when he saw the confusion in their eyes.

At the mention of Bernice, the two girls quickly stood up and hurried indoors to freshen up.

Jiang Hai smiled as he watched them. Perhaps due to their past experiences, the girls had a natural aversion to the outside world. Although they had been cured, they were still like normal children in many ways. They absorbed knowledge, especially from Cindy Clive, and began to accept new things, but they still didn't enjoy most of them.

For example, they didn't care for the games children their age typically played, nor did they like social media like Facebook or Twitter. They didn't even care much for star-chasing, which seemed common for their age. Jiang Hai had little control over this.

Concerned that the girls might become too withdrawn, Cindy Clive once suggested they take up extracurricular activities, rather than just sit around watching TV or running aimlessly around the manor.

After all, they were growing up. Though they hadn't yet celebrated their birthdays, according to Chinese traditions, they were already fifteen years old, which meant they were in the third grade of junior high—practically young women.

When Jiang Hai wondered how to cultivate their extracurricular interests, they had found their own solution: gardening.

At first, they planted easy-to-care-for plants like cacti, aloe vera, and others. But over time, they started using their pocket money to buy beautiful flowers online. They were dedicated, taking care of about an acre of flower fields. Although they planted a little late, the flowers were flourishing, with many of them already budding.

While admiring their work, Jiang Hai noticed Bernice approaching from a distance. Compared to the last time he saw her, she looked more casual this time, no longer in a white coat. She was dressed simply but stylishly.

Bernice wasn't just pretty; she was beautiful, with a similar charm to Qi Li. Her personality, too, reminded Jiang Hai of the woman who often gave him a headache. Even her clothing taste was somewhat similar. Bernice favored tough, edgy women's wear. Today, she wore a white lace shirt with a pair of jeans and simple sneakers. Her hair was neatly tied back, and she carried a box in her hand. Though simple, her style exuded freedom and confidence.

"Welcome, welcome! Why didn't you let me know you were coming? I would've picked you up at the airport!" Jiang Hai greeted her warmly, aware that he owed Bernice a favor and wanted to make a good impression.

"Is this your manor? It's beautiful here," Bernice said, her tone cool as she ignored Jiang Hai's offer to help with her box. She scanned the surroundings with a disinterested air.

"Uh, yes, this is it. On this side, we have the residential area. Over there is the winery, the cowshed, and grazing land. Further out is the fishing ground, and we also have a large beach. If you have some free time, feel free to enjoy it." Jiang Hai retracted his hand and, despite his discomfort, continued introducing the manor.

"I'm sorry. I usually focus entirely on research. I came to the U.S. at sixteen and have been studying ever since. I don't have many friends, and Cindy Clive is one of the few. So, I'm not very familiar with social situations. If I've offended you in any way, please forgive me." Bernice, perhaps sensing Jiang Hai's unease, paused for a moment before speaking in a lighter tone. Hearing this explanation, Jiang Hai felt a bit better, even though he was still somewhat put off by her demeanor.

Deciding not to let it bother him, Jiang Hai led Bernice into the villa. As they entered, Darlene and Marian rushed downstairs. When they saw Bernice, they immediately greeted her with respect.

"Hello, this is a gift for you," Bernice said, offering a slight smile. She reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of bracelets. Selecting two pink ones, she handed them to the girls. At first, the two girls were confused, unsure of the significance.

"This is a new product from our research institute. It's still a prototype, not yet available on the market. Inside each bracelet is a miniature electromagnetic device and smart chip. The bracelet is made of pure silver and has multiple functions, like sterilization and promoting blood circulation. It can also make calls, track steps, and monitor cardiopulmonary function, sleep quality, and more. It's very practical." Bernice explained, making sure to hand Jiang Hai a bracelet as well.

Jiang Hai was surprised to receive one. As he held it, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. He didn't know if the bracelet truly worked as advertised, but he could feel a slight change. Holding it felt like when he drank tea and the external spiritual energy absorbed into him increased.

"Does it really work?" Jiang Hai muttered under his breath. He wondered if the electromagnetic component was responsible for the faster absorption of energy. It seemed unlikely that silver alone could do that, as he had pulled up many silver coins from the deep sea before, and they had no effect.

If it was the electromagnetic component, Jiang Hai thought, then he'd have to ask Bernice more about it. If it could be scaled up, maybe it would speed up his progress.

At this point, Jiang Hai's life was more about enjoying the present. He didn't have much ambition left. His manor and his abilities ensured a comfortable life, and while some people might say that a person without dreams is like a salted fish, Jiang Hai felt no need for grand goals. His only obsession was finding a way to improve his abilities faster.

"Thank you," Jiang Hai said, accepting the gift. Darlene and Marian also expressed their thanks before helping Bernice carry in the large box.

"From today, I'll be staying here for a while. Your patient should arrive the day after tomorrow. If it's convenient, please pick him up," Bernice said as she turned to Jiang Hai.

"No problem," Jiang Hai replied with a smile, understanding the arrangement. This was the agreement he had made with Bernice—she would help him with official documentation and medical certificates. While obtaining such papers might be easy in China with the right connections, they were hard to come by in the United States.