"Sara! Come down, your friend is here," Sara's mother shouted.
"She'll be here in a minute. By the way, who are you, handsome young man?"
"I'm her coworker, ma'am," Langster replied politely.
"Oh, hi, Langster. I'm Sara's father, Noah. Nice to meet you. So, you're her coworker, huh? What kind of work do you do?"
"I'm an editor, sir," Langster replied, noticing Sara descending the stairs.
"Oh, hi, Mom and Dad. This is Langster. I work with him. He's an editor—basically corrects people's novels."
"Have we met before?" Noah asked, cutting Sara off mid-sentence.
"No, I don't think so, sir," Langster replied confidently. "And if we have, it doesn't matter."
"I think that's enough talking, Mom and Dad. Why don't you go and find something else to do?" Sara said in an orderly tone.
"Okay, honey, bye!" Sara's parents went to the kitchen.
"Come with me to my room," Sara said, grabbing Langster's arm and pulling him upstairs.
"Why are you here so suddenly? Did I tell you to come to my house? And, by the way, how did you get my address?"
"It was easy. It was written on the pack of half-eaten food that you gave me earlier."
"So why are you here? What's your problem? We can work at the coffee shop, so why come to my house?" Sara asked in a hushed tone.
"I'm here just to apologize, Sara. I don't know what happened to make you think I'm taking advantage of you. That's not what I'm doing. I came to look at your written chapters and do my job."
"That's fine, Langster. It's not your fault. I don't know; it's just that some people make me angrier and take advantage of me. I don't want to feel the same with you. Here are the chapters." Sara handed the printed chapters to Langster.
"You print copies of your chapters?" Langster asked, surprised.
"Yes, I do! When your parents have warehouses full of money, you can do these things. Please sit. I'll make you some coffee and cakes."
"Thanks, but you don't need to do that," Langster replied, taking out his pen and circling the papers.
"I'll be downstairs," Sara said as she left the room.
As soon as she was gone, Langster began searching the room in a hurry.
"Where would it be? Think, think! Where does one keep their precious old things? It should be wrapped in plastic and kept in a box."
Langster checked the clothes cupboard.
"Not here… and not here."
Then he checked the study table drawers.
"This one's locked." Langster took a key from his necklace and opened it. "Oh, this came in handy!"
"Yes, this is the picture!" Langster exclaimed, taking out his iPhone to snap a photo of it. "I think this will be enough to keep me safe for a while."
"Langster, please open the door. My hands are full!" Sara called from outside the room.
"Coming!" Langster hurried to unlock the door.
"Here, let me handle the tea tray," he said, taking it from Sara.
"Put it on the study table," Sara instructed.
Langster quickly drank the scalding hot tea from the cup.
"Um, the tea was good. Sorry, I have to go—it's urgent," he said abruptly.
"Wait, the tea was…"
"Bye! See you later!" Langster said, rushing out.
Sara murmured to herself, "The tea was boiling hot. How did he drink it so suddenly?"
She sighed and sat down, opening her laptop.
"Okay, drink the tea, open the laptop, open the blank page, and… write."
Elaine's POV
Elaine wiped her tears and stood tall.
"Here, take the first two installments in advance. I want the work done as early as possible."
"Consider it done!" the man replied.
"Thank you!"
Liam watched the interaction with concern. "Who were those men? Did they do something to you?"
"No, Liam, it's… it's none of your business. I think you'd better leave now. Thank you for your help. From here on, I want to manage on my own."
"If that's what you want, then I'll leave," Liam said quietly.
Elaine watched him go, then turned her focus back to her mission.
"I'd better start hiring staff for the bureau," she thought.
(Phone beeps)
Congratulations! You have unlocked a new feature!
Skills for Matchmaker:
• Negotiator: Unlocked (Level 3)
• Language Identifier: Locked (Unlock other-world couples system first)
• ?????
"What's this 'other-world couples system'? Do I have to match fairies and werewolves, like in the novels? Oh my God, I can't wait!" Elaine pinched her thigh. "No, I'm not dreaming. It's real!"
(A distant woman shouting)
"You know nothing about me! I suggest you keep welcoming men and women, making them sit on two chairs, while you sit in front of them, acting like it's some kind of class!"
The woman's voice grew louder. "A driving license class, of all things! I don't even like driving with him anymore. I don't know how to drive—I've never been good at it!"
She tore some papers and threw them on the floor.
Elaine stepped forward cautiously. "Excuse me, may I ask something?"
"What are you looking at me for? Do you want to explain the whole satire?" the woman snapped.
"No, I want to ask… are you a marriage consultant?"
"Of course, I am! The whole town knows me by now."
"Well, I want to hire you," Elaine said firmly.
"Listen, lady, I don't want to get hired on some payroll or work for a corporation. I'm done! People don't want to improve—they just don't see how beautiful the world is!"
"You can work however you want. I won't instruct you. I also want you to teach me," Elaine said.
"Teach you what?"
"I've started my own marriage bureau, and I want you to—"
"Enough! Please stop!" the woman interrupted.
I think it's enough for now!
(A jeep driving through the countryside)
"Be a good girl, sweetheart. See? I have a present for you. Tear it open. I want to see how it looks on you."
"No, I don't want to wear it. It's like my old one," the little girl mumbled.
"Sweetheart, how do I explain? Once we reach the countryside, I won't make you wear it. But for now, where we're going, you need to."
"Okay, Daddy," the girl said, hugging her father.
"This is the 13th time you've said it!" the man driving the jeep laughed in a chilling manner.