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Lin Ruo naturally didn't know everything that was happening to Dr. Allen. After all, after failing to find Will several times, his attitude towards the latter had already changed to 'I don't care if I see him or not, it's not me who's unlucky anyway.' Plus, there had been a lot of things happening recently, so Lin Ruo naturally didn't have the energy to pay attention to Dr. Allen.
At this moment, Lin Ruo, who had just listened to Bernadette Gustav's brief summary of 'My Father in My Eyes,' probably had only one thought: the filter of kinship is truly terrifying!
There was no other way; the Roselle described by Bernadette Gustav was simply too bright and magnificent. Aside from some flaws in his private life, he was practically perfect.
To be honest, after listening to her description and comparing it with the Roselle he knew, Lin Ruo almost burst out laughing on the spot.
However, considering the feelings of Bernadette Gustav, Roselle's daughter with such a strong filter, Lin Ruo ultimately held back. He lowered his head and took a sip of black tea, using it to suppress all the subtle emotions, then looked up at Bernadette again and said gently,
"I have a general understanding of what Roselle is like in your eyes. But that's not enough, little Bernadette, I still need some other things, some other information."
"Tell me," Bernadette Gustav said, appearing to listen intently.
"Your father's diary."
Lin Ruo slowly said, "I need your father's diary, not just to understand him, but also to understand myself."
"..." Bernadette Gustav was stunned for a moment. She seemed a little surprised, yet also somewhat understanding. After a pause, she said, "Okay."
Then, Bernadette Gustav seemed to hesitate. She looked at Lin Ruo and asked, "Godfather, can you teach me the language in my father's diary?"
Lin Ruo's hand, holding the teacup, paused. He slowly shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, little Bernadette, I cannot teach you."
"Because this is a very important matter, extremely important, so important that only your father, only Roselle, can decide whether or not to teach it to you."
"I can only tell you that the meaning it represents is far more than simply deciphering your father's diary."
As he spoke, Lin Ruo lowered his eyes, concealing all emotions within them.
But anyone could see the complexity of Lin Ruo's emotions at that moment.
It was a kind of loneliness, a kind of longing, a kind of ineffable complex emotion.
"..." Bernadette Gustav opened her mouth, she clearly wanted to say something, but in the end, she only said:
"I understand, Godfather."
"When father returns, I will personally ask him if he is willing to teach me this language."
Lin Ruo, who had already reined in all his emotions, couldn't help but show a subtle smile upon hearing this.
If it weren't for Roselle's diary, Lin Ruo felt that Roselle would probably still be willing to teach Bernadette Chinese.
But with Roselle's diary… Beibei, your father probably won't teach you until he destroys all those dark histories!
Oh, no... Lin Ruo suddenly thought of certain people hanging on Sefirah Castle and silently added in his heart:
If in the future, translations of Roselle's diary are everywhere, and everyone knows "The taste of a Demoness is not bad," then the Great Emperor would probably be willing to teach you.
After all, he's already as socially dead as he can get!
"Alright, now that we've talked about your father, let's talk about me!" Lin Ruo put down his teacup, finally showing a serious expression, and said,
"What was I like in the past, in your impression?"
"Okay…" Bernadette Gustav responded, various past scenes flashing through her mind as she organized her words:
"The first time I saw you, Godfather, after I started remembering things, was when I was five years old. But even before that, I already knew about you, Godfather."
Bernadette Gustav said, thinking of the oil painting that always hung in the study, always with darts stuck in it, and couldn't help but smile, saying,
"Because Father's study always had your portrait hanging in it, I even once thought you were someone Father disliked, an enemy of Father's. But one time when I asked Father about it, he told me that you were his friend..."
Bernadette Gustav recalled that day again, that bright sunny afternoon by the window in the study.
At only four years old, she curiously picked up the oil painting that had fallen to the floor because it was too damaged, and then Roselle, who noticed her, picked her up.
He affectionately rubbed his stubble against her face, causing a slight prickle.
"Come, Bernadette, Papa will hold you. So cute, my daughter is indeed the cutest!"
"Papa, Papa…"
Feeling a little uncomfortable from the rubbing, she tilted her head and held up the oil painting in her hand to her father, asking curiously:
"Why do you keep throwing darts at it? Does Papa hate this person?"
"Oh, I hate him very much."
Her father answered her without a second's hesitation, his expression one of undisguised disdain.
"Is this Papa's enemy?" The young girl widened her eyes and continued to ask.
"No!"
And her father answered her without a second's hesitation either.
Actually, Bernadette Gustav no longer clearly remembered her father's expression when he answered, but she remembered Roselle's subsequent words:
"This guy is barely considered Papa's friend."
He paused and added:
"A very good friend."
At that time, she naturally didn't quite understand why Roselle's words were so contradictory, only asking with confusion and innocence:
"But, but if this uncle is Papa's friend, why does Papa hate him?"
"Because he's a bad friend. Bad friends are people who dislike each other but still consider each other friends."
Her father answered her this way. He then took her to sit on the chair by the window, and the sunlight felt very warm on them.
Roselle ruffled her hair, his tone suddenly softening:
"Bernadette, you will also meet your own bad friends someday. Perhaps when you mention her, you will also gnash your teeth like me, but in this life, one always needs a bad friend."
"Otherwise, it's too lonely."
His last words were very soft, so soft that Bernadette at the time thought she had misheard him.
Then her father's tone suddenly became gnashing again, and he said testily:
"Speaking of which, that Lin Ruo fellow is your godfather, Bernadette. It's just that he's been gone for over a year now, I don't know where he ran off to, or if he's been taken out by someone."
And after that?
Bernadette Gustav no longer remembered what happened later that day, after all, as a young child, she could only remember so much.
At that time, she also didn't understand her father's words.
But now, looking at Lin Ruo in front of her, Bernadette understood.
Having a bad friend with whom one can curse and insult each other, yet who would never abandon each other in crucial moments, is probably truly a happy thing!
Across from Bernadette Gustav, Lin Ruo pinched his chin, noticed a certain key point, and his eyes sharpened as he asked, "Wait, why did you, little Bernadette, mistakenly think I was Roselle's enemy? What did your father do to my portrait?"
Bernadette Gustav was suddenly stunned.
Oh, this!
After several seconds of hesitation, Bernadette Gustav finally said, "Father… Father used your portrait to practice darts."
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