Ava Sterling was stunned. Inside the box was a bracelet, pure blue, transparent blue, not made of gold, but of diamonds. The entire bracelet was crafted from diamonds, its making a mystery, extremely fine and extremely bright. The moment the box opened, a dazzling blue light instantly flashed before Ava Sterling’s eyes, blinding her. She instinctively picked up the box, carefully taking out the bracelet and holding it up to the light. The hospital room was bright, but this string of blue diamond bracelet outshone even the light. As Ava Sterling held it up to the light, it reflected a brilliance so intense it reminded her of the sun over the sea, a moment too bright to look directly at. It truly was stunning. At this moment, she didn’t feel like speaking. The blue diamond was so breathtakingly beautiful, the delicate chain exquisitely crafted, feeling cool in her hand, as if wrapped in seawater, captivating her too much to let go. "If it were just pink..." she said instinctively, her eyes filled with infatuation. How could a girl not like jewelry? She liked it, including herself. She loved it, but if it were pink it would definitely look even better, which she liked more. And she didn’t notice that she had been held in Poe Vaughn’s arms the whole time, his large hand firmly on her waist, never leaving. Poe Vaughn looked at the person in his arms; her amazement, fascination, and liking for the bracelet were no less than her fondness for sunflowers. A place deep within his heart finally found relief at this moment. His eyes shifted slightly, noticing the hint of regret in her eyes, and he softly asked, "You like pink?" "Ah... I love it, pink is the most beautiful..." "The most beautiful color in the world is pink..." Ava Sterling continued to look at the bracelet, replying instinctively, completely forgetting about Poe Vaughn. His low voice reached her ears, and Ava Sterling paused, her mind snapping back. She immediately looked at the person gazing at her with downcast eyes, eyes sparkling, and said, "Come on, let’s play Go!" Ava Sterling’s excitement came swiftly, but Poe Vaughn was logical; he hadn’t eaten dinner. The dish that Ava had dropped was just one portion, the rest were fine, and Poe Vaughn had the caregiver clean up. They ate together before settling on the bed to play Go. And Ava Sterling still didn’t notice that Poe Vaughn always fed her and then used the chopsticks he used to feed her to pick up his own food. He didn’t mind her at all. They sat on the bed, Poe Vaughn with white pieces, Ava Sterling with black, and they began to play. This time, Ava Sterling wasn’t drowsy, and Poe Vaughn began to carefully explain how to play Go, the rules, the right moves to make, and how to win. Ava Sterling didn’t like reading text, but that didn’t mean she was foolish. She preferred direct demonstrations without those many professional terms; with the simplest words and plainest language, tell her what to do and she can understand at a glance or a listen. She found many things actually very simple, yet they always got complicated by bewildering jargon. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, a truth many fail to grasp. Initially, Ava Sterling didn’t make the right moves, but after watching how Poe Vaughn moved and adjusted, and listening carefully to his explanations, she got it right within half an hour. Only, she hadn’t noticed herself. It was only when she saw Poe Vaughn place down the white piece without taking away her black piece to correct her that she realized. "Did I get it right?" Ava Sterling looked up immediately, eyes shining at the person across from her. Poe Vaughn picked up a white piece, not looking at her, but at the increasingly complex board. It was a continuation of last night’s game, unchanged. That meant she got it right! Ava Sterling was practically over the moon, bursting with excitement and ready to roll up her sleeves and dive in. But fortunately, the mild pain in her hand stopped her. She glanced at the box beside her, then back at the man watching the board with downcast eyes, and snatched the box, saying, "Is this my reward?" Poe Vaughn looked up, "If you don’t want it, I can take it back." Ava Sterling immediately hugged the box to her chest, tilting her body as if afraid he’d snatch it from her, "I want it!" "This was agreed upon from the start, you can’t go back on it!" Poe Vaughn rubbed the piece with his thumb, looking at her cautious demeanor, a deep, singular note slipped from his throat, "Mm." Ava Sterling’s smile brightened instantly, cherishingly tucking the box into her pocket before picking up a white piece and focusing on the board, figuring out where to place it next. This man giving such a beautiful bracelet not only beautiful but expensive as well! She guessed the price to be at least seven figures, a huge consolation for someone like her who was sick and unable to work! She believed if she played well, he’d surely have more rewards! Thinking this, Ava Sterling looked up at him and found his eyes still fixed on her, deep and inscrutable, pondering something unknown. She wasn’t curious, as long as she knew what she was thinking about, it was enough. Fresh chapters posted on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net "Will there be more rewards later?" The Go piece spun at Poe Vaughn’s fingertips, unhurried, her words falling gently into his ears, the spinning never pausing for a moment, "Fifty correct moves earn a reward." Ava Sterling’s eyes widened instantly, the piece in her hand nearly slipping, "Fifty moves?" "You’re not joking, right?" Poe Vaughn spoke, "Do you think you’re dumb?" Ava Sterling straightened instantly, chin slightly raised, the smiling eyes turning haughty in a blink, dismissing all around, "Ha!" "Am I, Ava Sterling, dumb?" "Come on, starting now, fifty moves!" "If I get fifty moves right, you’ll give me a reward!" Picking up a white piece, she lowered her head, focusing intently on the board, free of distractions. Poe Vaughn watched her, in this moment the person in his line of sight was like the most dazzling light on the runway, the dominant presence that made one feel intimidated. He bowed his head, the spinning piece stilled at his fingertips, he looked at the crisscrossing battlefield on the board, and as Ava Sterling placed her piece, he followed suit. Time quietly slipped by, the night outside deepening in color, the quiet in the hospital room gradually spreading, permeating into every corner. Ava Sterling played each step seriously, though she couldn’t possibly get every step right. She made mistakes, but she wasn’t angry, nor a bit anxious. When wrong, Poe Vaughn corrected her, and she watched carefully where he corrected, contemplating why and what new situation it created. She thought deeply, deliberating carefully, never rushing but considering three times before acting. Poe Vaughn didn’t rush or discourage her, and even as the game progressed, he spoke less, leaving Ava Sterling to grasp the insights herself. While she pondered, he spun a piece in his hand watching her, her serious brows and eyes under the light, the loose strands of hair gently flowing across her face...