Lily went out of the shop with Marian. Inside the office, Leo and Snow were sitting across from each other and the latter asked, "Can you tell why you ca to find her?"
The young man replied, "It is simply because I know how much she cared about you that I ca here. I needed her help to design the wedding attire."
Snow questioned, "Do you even know why I decided to break off ties with her back then?"
Leo shook his head and the lady said, "When I got the news of your accident, I was so shocked that I almost had to deliver Lily prematurely. Marian knew about this, and instead of calming down, she kept telling about how dreaded your condition was, at that ti I realized that her worrywart personality was a bigger red flag for than Carole at that mont.
That was why I distanced myself from her, and later on I got caught up in survival mode and thus gradually the connection faded. I know she had no ill-will against us, but her reactive nature gave a lot of trouble."
Leo nodded, her explanation made sense to him, after all, she was looking after a disabled husband and a new born child. He asked, "So, I guess it is not a bad thing that you got back in touch with her today."
The lady smiled and nodded at him, "Thanks to you, I guess."
…
Lily walked through the streets holding on to Marian's hand. She was gazing through the window panes of the various shops that they crossed. Marian asked from ti to ti, "Lily, do you like anything?"
Lily shook her head and said, "No, it is all so generic."
Marian chuckled and Lily asked curiously, "Did I say sothing funny?"
Marian smiled and replied, "Usually, people your age have no idea what the word generic ans."
Lily nodded and didn't comnt. Suddenly she looked inside a shop and she stopped in her path. Zeenat and Kyle who were following just two ters behind them also stopped. Marian looked at the side and asked, "Dear, do you like anything from this store?"
Lily pointed at a small marble sculpture and said, "That one."
Looking at the sculpture Marian raised her brow and said, "How exquisite. You even managed to spot that, do you have binoculars hidden inside your eyes? Co let's see what it is."
They entered the store, and Kyle waited outside while Zeenat followed them inside. The old man behind the counter stood up with a smile and asked, "Hello, how can I help you?"
Marian pointed at the sculpture in the display window and asked, "Hello, old sir, can you tell what that sculpture is and how much is it for?"
The old man followed the direction of her finger and then he adjusted his glasses and smiled as he said, "That, young miss, is not a sculpture, it is a jade seal."
Marian was yet to react, but Lily asked, "Grandpa Shopkeeper, what is a jade seal?"
The old man smiled so hard that the wrinkles around his eyes gained a new depth, he said, "A jade seal was used by important officials and monarchs back in the day. They were used as the stamps to notarize the official docunts."
Lily nodded and then Marian asked, "Well, Lily, do you still want this?"
Lily said, "Yes, I will officiate my docunts with a seal as well."
Then she nodded forcefully, causing the young lady and the old man to chuckle. Zeenat didn't understand how the brain of this little human worked.
Marian then paid for the seal and the Old Shopkeeper removed it from the display and brought it over for the people to inspect. Marian looked at the design and found that the jade body was a square, and it was decorated with a Lion sitting before a flower with a snowflake resting on the top of the flower.
She was stunned by how delicate it looked, and turning the seal upside down, she looked at the seal face and found that it was also engraved with the similar sketch but with a two dinsional design.
Lily looked at the old shopkeeper and asked, "Grandpa Shopkeeper, can I get an ink stone as well?"
The old man nodded and took out a small ink stone and said, "Just add so drops of water and grind it before using and you are all set."
The little girl nodded and then Marian paid for the ink stone as well. Just when she was about to turn around she heard Lily ask, "Grandpa Shopkeeper, can you promise that you will not sell this sa design to anyone else?"
The old shopkeeper was taken aback. He said, "You see, these designs are nowadays made by machines, I cannot promise you that soone else will not sell the sa design."
Lily frowned and then she asked, "Grandpa Shopkeeper, where do you get these seals from? Can you tell ?"
Marian wanted to interrupt but the god of the fates, which is , the author, had made it so that none of the human kin would be able to resist Lily's charm as long as they had a shred of kindness in their hearts.
The old shopkeeper sighed and took out a card from one of the drawers on his counter, and said, "This is the dealer, you can talk to them about it."
Lily nodded and bowed to the old man as she thanked him. They quickly left the shop after that. Marian didn't speak much because she could sense that sothing was off about Lily. Kyle looked at Zeenat, who didn't tell him anything.
When they reached back at the studio, Lily made a beeline to her father who picked her up to sit in his lap and she handed him a card. She said, "I got a jade seal that shows the Cardinal family."
Leo and Snow were shocked, and then they watched Marian bring out the jade seal and Snow exclaid, "How exquisite."
Lily nodded and said, "I asked the Grandpa shopkeeper not to sell this design to anyone, but then he said that he buys it from a supplier."
She presented the card to Leo and said, "Baba, I have a feeling that if we can buy this design it would play a big role in the future growth of the family business. We can use this as a combined logo for the Cardinal group."
Leo was not surprised by her line of thoughts, because he knew that the things she learned in the dreamscape would eventually show themselves. This was one of those monts.
Snow said, "Lily, you are thinking too much, dear. Gone are the days when people used to have jade seals as the symbol of their families."
'Ping: Host, your daughter has keen insights. The usage of a jade seal will increase the family fortune as the ti passes, and it would be a good thing for you. Help her acquire this design copyright and trademark. Reward: Chance to damage your enemy, Carole Primal.'
Leo clenched his fist and said, "Lily is right, Jade seal will work because it is sothing that the people don't use anymore. It will bring that vintage and tangible elent to the company. I will see what can be done."
Snow sighed and said, "Fine, but if it didn't work, I want a veto."
Leo nodded and replied, "Yes, if it didn't work, we will follow your command."
Snow nodded and said, "Better."
Leo looked at the watch on his wrist, and he said, "How about you catch up with Miss Marian, we have to go and practice piano. Symphony must be coming over as well."
Snow nodded and Marian asked hurriedly, "What do you an by this? Are you leaving with Lily? Why?"
Leo rolled his eyes at her, and he picked his daughter in his arms and Snow said, "Lily is a beginner pianist, and practice is important for her to improve her skills. She is so good that in the coming school competition she will be competing with other students from primary grades."
Marian was surprised and then she heard Lily saying, "Bye, Bye, Aunty Marian, see you soon."
That being said, Marian saw Lily waving to her as she vanished outside the office in the embrace of her father. Snow chuckled at the saddened look of her friend and said, "Don't feel sad, you will get used to it."
Marian glared at her and asked, "What do you an you will get used to it? You are her mother, how would you know my pain?"
Snow chuckled again and said, "My dear, believe when I say, that little one is a Dad lover, she has ditched for her father, not once, not twice, but more than a few tis."
Marian narrowed her gaze and said, "You are saying that you wish such pride, and joy, sha on you."
The two won began to bicker as Lily lay in Leo's arms heading ho.
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