Summersl
Dylan Summers was furious, âThat youngest brother! I thought he had turned over a new leaf, but heâs still up to his old tricks!â
The housekeeper advised, âItâs just a suggestion, itâs all old feudal superstition anyway. Donât mind me, maybe the fourth young master just heard about this rumor and thought it was interesting, so he planted them.â
As a housekeeper, not only did he need to report every detail of the household affairs to his employer, but he also had to avoid offending anyone.
Dylan Summers was still very angry, âItâs such bad luck! Feudal superstitions might not always be accurate, but you never know if guests attending the spring banquet might be familiar with this, and then weâd be the butt of jokes for no reason!â
Some things, you may not believe, but you canât not understand!
Dylan Summers ordered, âChop them all down! Donât leave a single one!â
The housekeeper agreed.
Dylan Summers thought for a moment, then changed his mind, âThere have been rumors before that the Summers Family is haunted. If we cut down the trees now, Iâm afraid it may spur even wilder gossip. So like this⦠letâs wait until after the banquet. Itâs also unlucky to disturb the ground around the New Year.â
The housekeeper said, smiling to flatter, âYou always think things through.â
Dylan Summersâ mood improved greatly. He didnât believe in ghosts and spirits, nor did he care about the Five Yin Tree; he just didnât want to be seen by others as someone who doesnât follow proper etiquette.
But now wasnât a good time to chop down the trees; it would make a mess and look bad during the New Year celebrations.
During the banquet, guests would be in the front villa, and even if they did come out for a stroll, they probably wouldnât wander over to the small Western-style building.
With these considerations, Dylan Summers thought that the tree chopping could be put off temporarily. Come March, the family would be buying new saplings anyway, so it would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of the old trees with less chance of unsavory rumors spreading.
Nathaniel Summers heard every word of Dylan Summersâ conversation with the housekeeper in the study.
He returned to his room with a grave expression and stood by the window to light a cigarette.
There was a large tree in front of the small Western-style building, which, devoid of leaves due to the cold season, no longer obscured the view.
Nathaniel Summers caught a glimpse of Purple Summersâ silhouette flashing past the glass window.
It was too far to see clearly.
He remembered the secret Laura Summers had told him.
âThird uncle, only you are truly kind to me. I cannot be ungrateful. Iâm telling only you this: Purple isnât really Purple; sheâs a ghost!â
Laura Summers was undergoing psychiatric treatment; sometimes, her consciousness was clear, sometimes muddled. Nathaniel originally thought she was talking nonsense.
But then Laura said, âDonât you find it strange? Why would someone change so drastically after attempting suicide by slitting their wrists? Her tone and manner are different, her style of dress changed, sheâs been out of school for years, yet she could pass an elite schoolâs examination; even memories of people and events from before are forgottenâthird uncle, she is not the Purple we knew! If you donât believe me, you can test her.â
Purple had indeed changed from before.
However, tales of ghosts were too bizarre, and Nathaniel was reluctant to believe them. As the time of his return approached, he was to take Laura home for the New Year.
Laura refused, âI know Purpleâs secret. If they realize Iâm not mad, they will kill me! I canât go back! Third uncle, please, can you help me leave the country? I donât want to die! Iâm not ready to die!â
As she spoke, her emotions were stirred once again, and she began to cry hysterically, until a nurse came to inject her with a sedative.
However, when she awoke, and Nathaniel asked her who wanted to kill her, Laura kept silent, only revealing immense fear in her eyes.
âThird uncle, I really canât go back, can you please send me out of the country? I will repay you in the future!â Laura could only repeat these words, over and over.
Sending her abroad was no difficult task, and if it would help her treatment, Nathaniel was willing to grant Lauraâs request.
But he was full of doubts: If what Laura said was true, then who is the Purple we see now?â¦