[James' POV]

In the middle of nowhere, around Palawan Beach, I bought a house there.

I thought that living near the beach would've been very nice.

Who would've expected that it was a grave mistake?

I truly regretted living here.

The beach is dirty. They're full of trash.

More than that, there's nothing to see there. Most are high-schooler who visit the beach.

Basically, kids. There's barely a hot matured chick around.

Even though there was, the people who came to the beach won't wear swimsuits. Most of the people that came here wearing casual clothes.

I don't understand the people here, I really don't.

What's worse is the fact that I'm stuck here.

I forgot that I don't have a vehicle and I'm currently far away from Balai City.

The reason that I could come here was that I was brought here by the previous house owner.

Now that he's gone, I can't walk back to Balai can I?

The food in this area is scarce. The only food vendors or stalls available are from the beach and there's only three of them.

At first, yes they're delicious and then morning, afternoon, the night the same place, same menu, same types of dishes, I'm dying right now.

I emailed LEE123, I want him to get me a car but there's no response from him. I can't talk to the locals too as I don't understand their language.

I can only wait until he read my letter.

-----

The next morning, following the routine that we agreed upon, we wake up early and went to exercise.

This unusual routine is definitely good for Father. The result of the jogging is obvious. Father has a better complexion than before and looks healthier than before. (The result was partly because Andy recently became an obedient son.)

After the morning routine, I got myself ready as later they'll visit.

I also informed Father beforehand telling him that Micheal and Yulia will visit our house later.

At the same time, while I sat at the chair of the counter, waiting for Micheal and suddenly thought of James, I wonder how he's doing, he should be getting used to staying at Indonesia already.

Ding-Dong*

'Oh, They have arrived.'

When I got out and entered Micheal's car. I only found Micheal inside.

"Let's go! To Yulia's house together!"

Micheal is alone. He hasn't fetch Yulia yet.

"...You should go call her. I'll stay in the car and wait for you."

What about the together you said a few seconds ago...

Driving to Yulia's house, I then went out by myself to call Yulia as planned, ringing the doorbell and then wait at the gate.

After a while, the person that came and open the gate was Yulia's Big sister but unlike yesterday, she didn't dress up properly.

She's currently wearing a sleeveless top and shorts, revealing her fair skin and slim waist. Even her hair was messy too.

"Good morning, Sister. Sorry for disturbing you in the early morning."

"Please wait a minute... Yulia is preparing herself."

"And call me Yuna, Sister Yuna, don't just Sister, it feels weird."

Yawn*

"Yes."

"You should come inside and sit first. It'll take a while for a girl to dress up."

Yuna pulled me in, without waiting for my answer. She then glances at the car outside too.

"The rude one is in the car?"

"Micheal? Yes, he wanted to wait inside the car."

"Humph, serve him right."

Waiting for Yulia, I found myself sitting at this house's living room again.

As time passed, there's still no one coming whatsoever.

I can't just go and check her. It'll be rude of me to barge into someone's room.

I have no choice but to wait here patiently.

...

...

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After an hour of waiting in the living room. Yulia finally came out of her bedroom.

Seeing the jeans and casual red shirt she's wearing, I was surprised as I didn't anticipate that Yulia would be wearing this kind of clothes.

I mean, yesterday she wore a pink dress, that has a flower pattern on it, so, why would she wear that today?

"Come on! You should wear this dress."

"No! I'm fine with this."

Sister Yuna was holding a red Chinese qipao on her hand, judging from this sight, Yulia was being forced by her sister to wear that.

As Yulia was avoiding Sister Yuna, she took a glance at me, it felt very sharp but then after a while, she went downstairs without saying anything.

"Oh, there she goes."

"Well, I don't blame you but yesterday you should've complimented her or look at her more."

"Huh?"

"It was rare for her to wear such a cute dress. Sadly, you didn't say anything about it. Haiya~ Boys."

"Just go, not like you'll understand maiden's heart at this age."

Big Sister pushed me downstairs, asking me to leave.

"Also, don't forget to lock the door."

She notified me and then went back into her bedroom to sleep.

Walking down slowly, I was still confused with what just happened.

I cannot understand maiden's heart at this age... I'm over seventy you know. (To be exact over eighty if add the current Andy's age and for your information, Andy has zero relationship experience.)

I've watched and read romance stories before.

I get what she said. She wants me to compliment Yulia, right?

But honestly, why would Yulia be happy with my compliment? She's still young, she won't care for such little things.

As I got outside, I didn't forget to lock the gate.

The store gate was heavy and hard to move. It would be hard for other kids to lock the gate but not for me.

Thankfully, it's almost the same as a convenience store, the model or it'll be embarrassing for me ended up call Sister Yuna to close the gate.

Returning to the car, Micheal who was previously at the back seat moved to the front.

I don't know why but I just went with the flow.

The atmosphere inside the car was quiet, Micheal for some reason didn't talk too. I wanted to say something I didn't know what to say.

In the end, the car was quiet the whole time, until we reached Micheal's place.

As I expected, it's your typical wealthy family mansion.

There's a giant garden surrounded by hedges and in the center of the garden, there's a fountain and also even from here you can already see the building.

Outside the entrance, there are lines of maids and butler waiting.

This confirms that Micheal's family was very wealthy. Probably the most wealthy in Balai.

Stopping in front of the giant building, Micheal awkwardly scratched his head.

"Um, welcome..."

Upon getting down from the car, Yulia's eyes never stop looking around. It's normal since she never saw such a large building and a beautiful garden before.

As for me, I've seen something grander than this.

What I'm more concerned with is Micheal.

Why is he being nervous and awkward?

"Oi, I get it when it's Yulia but why are you being weird too?"

Hearing the question and seeing Andy was more concerned about him than the building, Micheal's was surprised but yet unsurprised.

His nervous expression gradually disappears.

'Andy notice my agitated expression instead of the mansion. What am I thinking about in the first place? Will Andy jealous of me and wanted to take advantage of me?'

'This is why I like Andy in the first place...'

Micheal then returned back to normal, acting normally being playful as how he would usually.

"Did you have a quarrel with Yulia?"

"No, why?"

Micheal avoided my question but it seems he returned back to normal.

"Just now when he got into the car, she has released the same vibes as her sisters. I was scared of her which is why I moved to the front seat."

Hearing what Micheal said, I can only sigh.

Alright, later I'll just compliment her. I'll treat it as a kid throwing a tantrum and wanted attention.

"So, where should we go?"

"Do you guys want to explore around my house?"

Yulia who heard Micheal's suggestion immediately turned around and nod her head.

This side of her is new. I didn't know Yulia would like wealth that much.

I understand though...

If not of my previous life, I believe I would've be impressed and fantasized about myself being rich.

"Prepare some food for my guests, while I take them around the mansion."

"Yes, master~"

After they receive their order from Micheal, the maids, and butlers in perfect order, heading back into the mansion to prepare.

Only one stayed back, from my experience that butler should be the head butler.

"Let's go."

Entering the mansion, we were greeted by the grand hallway.

The exquisite decorations appalled Yulia.

'Once I get a job and earn money, I'll definitely buy this so Sisters and Mom could live in this kind of mansion.'

...

...

...

Ten minutes passed.

It literally took that long to finish venture the mansion.

After finished going around, we decided to stay in Micheal's bedroom.

"So, what should do now? Should we play games?"

Micheal asked as there's no way we'll just sit here and do nothing.

I shrugged as I'm not a fan of playing board games. at the same time, I'm fine with anything.

"Yulia, any suggestion?"

Yulia from the moment she arrives, she didn't speak to us all. I hope she's not angry anymore.

I'm going to compliment her just waiting for the right time.

"What games can we play?"

"Hmm, I have a lot of board games. Chess, Checker, or maybe cards?"

The classic ones huh... Chess and Checker were obviously a 'no' since it can only be played by two-person.

As for playing cards, there's a lot of versions such as blackjack, old maid, powers, etc.

Maybe, we could use cards.

"Chess."

Suddenly, Yulia voiced out that she wanted to play Chess.

"You want to play chess?"

"We have one at home but both of my sisters didn't like chess. I want to play it because it's been a while."

Since only two people can play it, I'll just watch them on the side and watch them play.

"Both of you should play, I'll watch."

"It's okay, I have many chess boards and it would be boring to go against each other, how about we play against my butler?"

Butler?

"Butler Wu, please bring three chess boards. You will play against the three of us at the same time."

"Understood."

The butler went out of the room to fetch the chess boards.

Not long later, the butler returned with his subordinates to bring in tables and chairs.

The chess boards were set as well as the chess clocks. Each has one on each table.

Is this a tournament or something...

We sat on the corresponding tables and chairs that were prepared.

Then the game started.

I'm not a master or anything in chess but I've played it before just out of curiosity and more importantly.

...

...

...

"Checkmate."

I-I got checkmate before both of them.

'Why?!'

Micheal, as the young master of this house, he, of course, received training personally from Butler Wu.

He played against Butler Wu plenty of times before.

Though he never won at least he could delay it.

As for Yulia, she's a genius. There's no other word to explain.

"Again!"

...

...

"Checkmate."

I got checkmate again and yet they still haven't lost. Not even once.

Just a little more Micheal would've lost but I got checkmate first...

As for Yulia, she's actually on a stalemate with Butler Wu.

Am I really that bad in Chess?

"Would you like to play again?"

"No thanks. I'll just watch."

Not long later as I predicted, Micheal lost.

"Argh. I lost."

"Great job young Master, you have improved."

Following that, Butler Wu tied with Yulia.

"It's a stalemate. You really are good."

"May I get your name, young lady?"

"Yulia."

"Have you received training from someone? Or play against a grandmaster before?"

"I've played against my big sisters. That's all."

Wow, she actually tied against Butler Wu with only two kings left on the board!

It left me depressed, it's fine when it's just Yulia but Micheal was better than me too...

"Want to play against me?"

Seeing me depressed, Micheal out of kindness played with me.

"I'm good. Let's watch the pros play against each other."