"The purpose is, of course, the same."
Aurora smiled at the old man. "But the agent told me you're waiting for the right person. How can you be so sure that person isn't me?"
"And what makes you so confident you are?" For the first time, genuine interest flickered in his eyes.
At last, everything was laid bare.
He had seen all kinds come and go, but Aurora was the first to speak to him this way. Most people, put off by his coldness, never lasted ten minutes before storming out.
"The moment I walked in, I didn’t look at the layout of the house," Aurora said evenly. "My eyes went straight to your back as you swept the yard, and the fragrance of fruit hanging in the air. This isn’t just a house–it’s something you’ve nurtured with care. Renting it out must feel like giving away a part of yourself.”
The old man raised a brow, pushing his hat brim back. “Well now, I didn’t expect a young girl like you to see straight through me.”
Aurora’s smile deepened. “I imagine when you say 'the right person,' what you really mean is someone who will cherish this courtyard as you do.”
“Good, good!” The old man let out a booming laugh, clearly delighted with her. “All these years I’ve waited, and at last you’ve come along.”
Aurora was a little taken aback, surprised by how quickly things had turned in her favor. She had expected a battle of wills, but the moment she saw him, she realized she didn’t have time to waste on games. And truthfully, this old man suited her well.
“So all these years, you never trusted anyone else with it because of the garden, isn’t that right?” Her voice carried quiet certainty. The older generation always held deep attachments–to the things they raised, whether plants or people.
The old man tugged her toward the stone bench under the shade of the tree and poured her a pot of tea. Megan and Ian exchanged stunned glances. Neither could believe it. Aurora had settled the matter so quickly, when they had both thought it would take much more effort. It seemed the courtyard would soon be theirs to rent, and the studio plans could finally move forward.
The old man set a teacup in front of Aurora and began to open his heart. “Truth is, I’ve grown tired over the years. I stayed here only because I couldn’t bear to part with the things I’ve cared for. But my children want me to move and live with them, so I decided to find a good tenant for this place.”
“The others who came–some were scared off by me, others just didn’t understand. I was about ready to give up and hand it over to just anyone. Who would’ve thought, after all this time, it’d be you?”
Aurora took a sip of tea and smiled. “But you couldn’t bring yourself to do it, could you?”
He chuckled, delighted. “Didn’t expect you to be so sharp, girl. You saw through me at a glance.” Meeting her at the very moment he was ready to let go made him unexpectedly happy. Maybe now, he no longer had to worry so much about the fate of his courtyard.
“Since you already understand what’s in my heart, I won’t be formal with you,” he said earnestly. “I don’t care about the rent. What I hope is that you’ll treat everything in this courtyard with care. If possible, look after them for me. I may come back from time to time to see how they’re doing.”