Chapter 91

In the next two hours, Peter taught me, and I learned the rules about Snooker for the first time.  The colorful balls came after the red ones. The black ball represented the highest score.  It surprised me that the simple game had so complicated rules.  However, this game was interesting and challenging.  I mastered my first recreational activity in Costsley. Two hours later, I couldn't lift up my arms.  I rubbed my sore arms and complained, "The cue looks thin but is heavy." "Come on. You're as thin as a monkey that can't get a banana in a zoo. Doesn't Carroll give you enough food to eat?" Peter threw me a hot towel. I put the towel on my arm and said in a low voice, "He gives too much. I don't put on weight because my constitution is not good." I lost two pounds in the past few months. Therefore, Carroll often complained that I wasted his food. Complaining, he still stuffed meat into my mouth. "I have to admit that you are talented. Don't forget my cake." Speaking, Peter snatched my phone from the table and befriended me on Line. "Okay." For a moment, I felt that Peter wasn't that bad. However, our first meeting was too terrible, and I couldn't get over it.  Waving his hand, Peter left the room with his assistant. After a rest, I went out to find Opal and his friends. The game was over, and the men were going over it.  I tilted my head and looked at them in silence. Soon, they noticed my existence. Opal came over and asked, "Who's the man in the room?" "Peter," I answered. The three men standing opposite me held their breath. Opal became grim. After a long while, he finally asked, "Why do you know him?" "We got acquainted right after my arrival in this city. Bad memory. He saved me later, so we were even." I picked up my bag and asked, "Can we leave now?" "Okay, Opal lost. He will treat us to something good." Simon came over and put his arm around my shoulder. Jacques instantly slapped Simon's hand away. "Don't put your arm around her shoulder. I'm here." With an awkward smile, I walked to Opal. "What will we eat?" "Seafood porridge." Opal held my hand. "Is your hand ice? It's so cold in summer." "The doctor said that it was a result of bad blood circulation caused by severe anemia." I followed Opal out. Opal trembled slightly. "Anemia?" "Yes. I starved all year round." I said casually.  The three men gave me subtle gazes. Opal asked after the shock, "Starved all year round? Didn't Laura give you enough food?" "People living in the woodshed won't have enough to eat. My life is great now. I know Carroll. He gives me a lot of delicious food every day." I patted my belly. My belly was as flat as before, but I didn't feel hungry as before.  Jacques pulled me away from Opal. "Didn't you say that your sister had a good time in the village? Didn't you say that she bossed the people there around?" Simon added, "She didn't study hard. She dropped out of school after Grade 9th. However, she got an offer from Costsley University. Opal, you abused your sister." Didn't study hard? Dropped out of school? Bossed the people around? My eyes became wide open with shock. "Are you talking about me?" Simon and Jacques nodded at the same time. Opal explained, "When we found you, Laura said so." "All right!" I shrugged indifferently. "Everyone has his judgement!" The seafood porridge was delicious. It tasted fresh though its recipe wasn't so extravagant as that in Cheuk Restaurant. I ordered one share to take home for Carroll. When I arrived home, the light went out.  I crept into the garden and saw Carroll drinking coffee on a rattan chair. "Well." Looking at the gloomy face, I said slowly, "I brought you some seafood porridge." "The game was over. You ate meat and drank porridge. Now, you are finally home. Kelly, you don't have good taste. You got acquainted with the rich playboys in Costsley." Carroll fixed his gaze on the computer screen all the time. His tone was gloomy.  "I don't think so. They just don't like their family business!" Chuckling, I got close to Carroll. "Jacques and Simon may be the case, but Opal isn't." Carroll slowly put down his coffee cup and flashed me a meaningful smile. "Really? Doesn't he like to be a doctor? Medicine is much more difficult than business, isn't it? Opal studied medicine and found himself a job." What Carroll had said confused me.  Carroll snorted softly. "Given Abid's s temperament and means, how will Opal have a chance to run their family business?" "What? Is Abid more horrible than you?" I must be out of my mind, or I wouldn't ask such a stupid question.  Carroll sprang to his feet, wrapped his arms around my waist, and lifted me up. He took two steps forward, and the ground below my feet became a two-meter-deep swimming pool. "Let go of me, Carroll! I can't swim!" I, scared, hung on Carroll. "If I do, you'll fall!" Carroll said. He pretended to loosen his grip. "Don't, don't, don't! No, Mr. Carroll!  You are the best man in the world, my best husband. Please don't let go of me." After the scream, I instantly changed my mind.  "Tell me, do you know how to play snooker?" Carroll teased while holding me with one hand. "Yes!" I nodded. "I think so. The cue is so heavy that I can't take it. I wish there would be a hollow cue." "The weight helps the player to steady the hit, so the hollow cue won't do." Carroll pinched my nose. "Jacques is in the limelight. You'd better stay away from him for the time being." "Have some porridge! I bought it for you! Super delicious! It will be your first try at this cheap thing, won't it?" I pulled Carroll to sit on the rattan chair and carefully sent one spoonful of porridge to his mouth. "The cheap thing?" Carroll raised his eyebrows, took a sip, and then looked at me with a sneer. "You seem to have some misunderstanding about my life." "Do I? You don't look like an ordinary person." Blinking my eyes, I said honestly. "Why do you think so?" Carroll asked in reply. "Did you try buffet?" I asked. "Yes," Carroll replied. "Barbecue?" I continued to ask. "Yes." Carroll curled his lips and sounded impatient. "No way! Why didn't I see you eat them?" Once again, I felt confused. In my impression, the food from Cheuk Restaurant was the only thing Carroll ate...