Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Everything had changed.

This transformation was directly linked to Neely and Geneva's long-term residence abroad. As Corley thought about his aunt, whose whereabouts remained unknown and whose fate was still a mystery, he couldn't help but glance at his grandparents. If she were never found, that regret would haunt them forever.

"Corley, I'm a bit thirsty," Geneva suddenly said.

"Just a moment, Grandma, I'll go get some water..." Corley then turned to Roseanne, "Are you busy?"

"Not really, what do you need?"

"Could you keep them company for a bit? I need to grab some water."

"Why don't I go? After all, I was about to head out to get some water myself."

Corley shook his head, "Grandma is particular about her water, she only drinks a specific brand of alkaline water that's not available nearby. I have to go to the import store across the street."

"I see... then you go, I'll stay here with your grandpa and grandma, no worries."

"Thanks." With that, Corley turned and left.

Geneva pulled Roseanne to sit by her side, "Dear, Corley tells us you're friends. How did you meet?"

"Um... through a mutual friend."

Technically, that mutual friend was Murray.

"Is that so... He seldom makes friends with girls, you're the first!" Geneva smiled warmly.

Roseanne thought to herself that Geneva hadn't seen how Corley used to change girlfriends as often as he changed shirts.

"It's been too long since we've been back, things have changed so much..." Neely suddenly reflected.

Roseanne, catching the nostalgia in his voice, began to converse about the recent transformations in Lumina City.

Neely, listening to her speak so familiarly about Lumina City, asked, "Are you from around here?"

Roseanne shook her head, "I grew up in Pinehollow. You know it, right? In the southern hills, with distinct seasons, mountains, and rivers..."

She described it vividly, refreshing the once vague memories of Neely, "Ah, Pinehollow... I visited in my younger years. It might be nice to go back someday..."

As the patriarch of the Rodriguez

family, even though he was of

advanced age and had handed over

his businesses to professional

managers, his legacy of respect still intimidated most younger family members, who hardly dared to look him in the eye, much less engage in casual conversation.

Roseanne, however, showed no such hesitation. To her, these were just normal, elderly folks.

"How old are you, dear?" Geneva shifted her attention to Roseanne.

Geneva probed further, asking about her family and her job among other things. Understanding they had just met, Roseanne maintained a cautious distance in her responses, not divulging too much. Neely was somewhat surprised; his wife seemed more talkative today than usual...

Roseanne answered.

Sensing Roseanne's guarded responses, Geneva chuckled and explained, "Your voice... it sounded so familiar, as if I've heard it somewhere before... that's why asked a few extra questions Don't mind me."

Roseanne noticed that Geneva's eyesight wasn't great, her gaze unfocused, but she could probably catch some shapes and shadows. She was right. To Geneva, Roseanne was a blur, her contours visible but her features indistinct.

Even so, listening to the young woman's voice brought a sense of familiarity and warmth to her, as if she were talking to a family member.