think a title for Early in the morning of the surgery, Mason arrived with a group of people, including the dean, making it seem like a high-profile event. Joseph didn't take kindly to this and scowled visibly.

Olivia, however, was pleased to see Mason and smiled at him. As they were about to enter the operating room, Mason gave Olivia's hand a gentle pat. "It's just a minor procedure. My son and I will be waiting outside."

It had been years since Olivia had spoken calmly to Mason. "We'll be fine, you don't have to worry."

Isabella looked at Joseph and giggled. "Maybe they've made up," she whispered.

Joseph glanced at Olivia and saw the happiness in her eyes beneath the calm exterior.

Over an hour had passed since the surgery began when Mason received an urgent call. After hanging up, he turned to Joseph and said, "Something pressing has come up. Please let me know how it goes."

Joseph sneered, his dislike for Mason apparent. 

Mason left in a hurry, leaving behind Olivia, who came out of the surgery room to the relief of her family. The operation had been successful, but Olivia felt let down that Mason wasn't there.

"My dad had to leave for a company emergency," Joseph explained to his mother.

Olivia's expression turned cold.

Later that evening, Mason appeared, but Olivia ignored him completely. It was an unusual sight as Mason usually left with a word of goodbye.

Joseph took notice and decided to give his parents some privacy. He hoped that the incident would make them realize how much they wanted to reconcile their differences.

In the VIP ward, the nurses on duty would blush every time Joseph came around, but this time they noticed a change in his demeanor. Spotting a photo album, they asked him for his signature, and he obliged. "How old are you?" he asked a young nurse.

"19," she replied with excitement, feeling thrilled that the handsome patient was talking to her.

As Joseph left their company, his thoughts turned to the mute girl who was close to turning nineteen. He had been taking care of too many people he loathed recently, and wondered why Olivia wasn't getting depressed. He knew there was no reason for him to continue doing so.

Entering the lounge, Joseph saw that the TV was still on and changed channels with boredom settling in. The game of Go, which he had no interest in, caught his eye as he clicked on it and involuntarily watched.
The chessboard was constantly captured by the camera, with only a small image of the commentator displayed in the corner. The commentator explained each move made by the players, while only showing slender white fingertips occasionally placing black chess pieces on the board. "I heard Rose trained under Japanese star Kimura. Her play reminds me of Kimura's son, Louis," the commentator chuckled.

Joseph's lips curved into a small smile. The chess player was not very entertaining, yet he found himself engrossed in the game. Though he didn't understand it, he watched carefully. He wondered if he should learn how to play, at least to understand the game's rules.

Towards the end of the game, the camera switched to a close-up of Rose's body. She had a slightly pale complexion and a hooked nose that connected to her slender neck, forming a beautiful curve. Whenever she played, she exuded an unusual temperament, exhibiting a calm wisdom that could not be replicated by expensive clothes or makeup.

The commentator sighed, "She's a true genius, but unfortunately, she can't speak."

The host quickly changed the topic, sensing it was an inappropriate remark.

Joseph was taken aback by the comment. It was not just the commentator who thought so; others in the Go world shared the same belief.

Turning off the TV, Joseph was about to leave when he heard someone call out, "Hey, bro. What are you doing here? I was able to find you easily."

He stood up and asked, "Where's my dad?"

"Let's go. Ada is waiting for us."
Joseph glanced at the time and realized he had only stayed for forty-five minutes - not very long.

A few days later, the results of Olivia's surgery came in and Joseph was relieved to hear that it was benign.

Upon his discharge from the hospital, Mason asked Olivia whether she planned to return to Joseph's or stay at his place. Olivia did not hesitate to say that she was staying with her son, causing Joseph to feel helpless about the situation. That night, Joseph brought Mason back to his place since Aunt Zhao was busy and William had to find another nanny. The house was no longer its usual lively self.

Joseph had taken over two weeks off work to be with Olivia after her surgery, but he was now swamped with work, despite having specially taken a job in S City to be closer to her. He often came home in the middle of the night and had to call Mason in the early hours of the morning to ask him to spend more time with Olivia. Joseph wondered whether his intentions were to ease Mason and Olivia's strained relationship or simply because he missed his son. 

Perhaps due to her near-death experience, Olivia was able to speak to Joseph calmly now, although most of their conversations still revolved around him.

Despite having stayed with them for a month, Isabella did not have any plans to return to C City yet. Joseph advised her to return to school and finish her senior year, but Isabella had already made plans to intern and start her own business with her classmates.

Olivia interjected and encouraged Isabella to listen to her parents, suggesting that she apply for school and study abroad before returning to work at Joseph's company. Joseph frowned at Olivia's comment, noticing that she had been leaving the house early and returning late every day.
Following Olivia's discharge from the hospital, she was rarely at home, explaining that she and her classmates were planning to learn the skills around initiating start-ups. Given that Isabella's major lacked special talents, Olivia was concerned about any negative influence she may have picked up.
 
Isabella shook her head and explained, "I am not keen on studying abroad," before holding onto Olivia's arm and showing a coquettish nature by saying, "I don't want to be too far away from you and Mom, so maybe I can accompany you."
 
Olivia patted her head in a helpless gesture and said, "But you don't want to go back to C City. Are you not concerned that your father may make life difficult for you? I have consulted your mother, and she thinks you could do an internship, provided you go to your uncle's company. You can even choose the department you prefer."
 
Glancing at Joseph, Isabella approved, saying, "Okay, I can keep an eye on my brother for you."
 
Joseph heard that this meant an extended period of time, and calmly added, "My dad's company has many staff apartments. Since I'll be interning, I don't need anything special. Just don't let me know that you are Mason's niece."
 
Isabella was immediately unhappy, displaying her displeasure and humming, "An outsider can live here, but not me."
 
Joseph warned her with a harsh stare and Olivia spoke up, asking, "Who's an outsider?"
 
Isabella replied, "Who else but William?"
 
Auntie Zhao intervened, wondering, "Have you told Joseph's father about it? If not, he must have asked about you all this time. This time, it happens to be about Isabella. Go home and have a look."
Mason's house was originally Olivia's, but she declined when Mason suggested it. Aunt Zhao was concerned for Olivia and offered a solution.

Aunt Zhao gave Joseph a knowing wink, causing him to sigh silently. He was still worried about his parents' opinions at his age. What had he done wrong?

"It's too late now, let's go tomorrow. I'll take a day off and join you," Joseph proposed.

Isabella scrunched up her face unhappily. "I don't want to intern at my uncle's company."

Joseph tilted his head, eyeing her skeptically. "Don't think I don't know what you've been up to lately. I'll tell your parents and send you back to your hometown."

"Auntie, look at him. He's bullying me again!" Isabella complained.

Olivia chuckled. "Just do what your brother says."

After a while, Olivia grew tired and went upstairs with Aunt Zhao's assistance, leaving Joseph and Isabella in the living room. Joseph played with his dog while texting someone on WeChat.

"If you tell my dad, I'll expose the mute girl living here to Aunt Zhao!" Isabella threatened.

Joseph's grin faded, and his expression turned cold. "Who told you about her?"

Isabella remained silent about Ada. "There are still pajamas in the room. You don't have a girlfriend. Who is she?"

Joseph replied sternly, "She's different now. If anything happens again, no one can save you."

Isabella was skeptical. What was so different now? All Ada did was play chess. Who were the Jones family? Did a Go player think he was superior and shameless?

"None of your business," Joseph rebuked.

"It doesn't matter what you say. My life is my own," Isabella retorted. "I won't stay out of the spotlight just because it's what you want."

Joseph scolded her and then went upstairs. The next day, before dawn, James and his assistant waited outside for the day's rotation to begin.

Rose had just woken up, and the first message she saw when she turned on her phone was from Karen. "Do you have time on the weekend? I've moved to a new place, and I'll treat you and Lola to dinner."
Since Rose's return from Y City, she had fully trusted and accepted Karen, feeling grateful for her. 

"Okay, send me the address, and we'll head there early this weekend," Rose replied through the phone, quickly receiving the address from the other end.

She folded her sleeping quilt and placed it aside before carefully storing her brother's pillow in the wardrobe. Once her tatami was empty, she took out her daily-use chess pieces and began playing two games.

The noise from outside indicated it was time to go to work. Rose had a quick breakfast of bread and milk while her phone vibrated with a call from the dean's office. 

Christopher handed her a document, and as she briefly reviewed it, her excitement grew. An invitational tournament was taking place in Japan during mid-July.