Chapter 980 - The One Your Mind (2/2)

”Nothing,” she responded.

Jackie followed her inside silently and didn't continue this topic. Instead, he brought something else up, ”By the way, even if you're grounding Rowan, can't you let Ava and Asteria come over to see him for a while?”

Xiu stared at him for a long minute. ”Do you think what I did is wrong?”

Jackie shook his head and flailed his hands almost immediately, ”No way! My sis is never wrong.”

”Why do you think I'm doing it?”

”Because you want Rowan to understand that he can't always hide behind others even though others are willing to protect him. Also, he has to learn to own his mistakes and not try to run from them.”

”Impressive! My little brother does understand me,” commented Xiu.

”I would be ashamed of myself if I couldn't even understand you of all people in my life,” responded Jackie. ”Do you wanna come home with me tonight?”

”Why?” asked Xiu.

”Oh, in that way, we'll give Rowan a scare that you left him because he was being a bad kid.”

Xiu stared at Jackie wide-eyed and came over to check his temperature by touching his forehead with the back of her hand. ”It seems normal to me.” She cupped his face and looked into his eyes, ”Did Ava's soul enter your body?”

Jackie laughed out loud at her question. ”Why would you ȧssume that?”

”Oh, because only she has such evil ideas in her head. She is always up for some mischief,” answered Xiu. ”And Ava loves you the most. So, I thought she might have rubbed off on you a little.”

”I was just kidding with you,” stated Jackie. ”My dearest niece can't possibly rub off on me. Ever!”

”But the one who had been on your mind for years is definitely getting influenced by your dearest niece,” reminded Xiu.

”Xiu!”

Xiu looked over at Nora who came to her house at this time in surprise.

”You aren't at work?” questioned Xiu.

”I had a terrible headache,” answered Nora as she sprawled on the sofa. ”So, I left early today. I was going home but then I thought I should come over to you instead.”

”Why? So I can worsen your headache?”

Nora glared at Xiu, ”I was hoping you'd fix it!”

”I know I'm omnipotent but there are still things I can't do,” said Xiu with a big smile on her face.

”It's been years and I still get the urge to slap your face when you smile like that,” told Nora.

”Funny thing, you couldn't slap me before and you certainly can't do it now,” Xiu looked at her smugly.