As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 15

Kate wasn’t what you’d call a stunning beauty, but she had a gentle, dignified air about her—the very picture of a refined, high-income homemaker.

“I didn’t expect you to come so soon… Is something wrong?”

As she warmly greeted Su Fan, Kate noticed the subtle tension between him and her son.

She glanced at Su Fan’s stern expression, then at her son’s guilty look, and immediately pieced together what had happened.

“Daniel, what did you say to Su Fan?!”

When her son remained silent, Kate’s face darkened with anger.

“Su Fan is a guest I invited. I certainly never taught you to be rude to guests.”

“Apologize. Now.”

Under his mother’s sharp glare, Daniel reluctantly muttered, “Sorry.”

Su Fan didn’t respond.

If the apology wasn’t sincere, there was no need for him to pretend to be magnanimous.

“I’m so sorry. Please, come in and sit down.”

Wearing an apologetic expression, Kate opened the door and led Su Fan into the villa.

As they walked, she explained, “I’m sorry, Su. Daniel… is at that age where he’s fallen in with some bad influences.”

“Some of his classmates come from families with ties to certain… radical groups. It’s my fault for not keeping a closer eye on him. I truly apologize.”

Hearing this, Su Fan immediately recalled a notorious white supremacist organization from history.

Though officially disbanded, its ideology had long seeped into various social strata.

Daniel’s assumption that Su Fan was a beggar looking for handouts stemmed from that same arrogance.

“It’s fine,” Su Fan said softly.

Kate was Kate, and her son was her son.

He hadn’t planned on staying long anyway. Once he handed over the money, he’d return to studying the Talisman Compendium.

Su Fan followed Kate to the living room, where a timid little girl sat.

Upon seeing him, the girl greeted him with a wave in sign language before clutching her doll and retreating deeper into the villa.

“That’s my youngest, Max.”

“Is she…?”

“Max was born deaf. She’s a bit shy—please don’t mind her.”

“Not at all.”

Compared to her brother, Max was far more pleasant.

“Please, have a seat. Would you like coffee or tea?”

“Just water is fine.”

Su Fan wasn’t fond of coffee, and the tea abroad was mostly low-quality tea bags—nowhere near what was produced in China. Plain water suited him just fine.

Kate returned with two glasses of water and sat across from him.

Without wasting time, Su Fan pulled out an envelope stuffed with cash.

“This is the rent I owe from before. Please count it.”

Kate took the envelope, glanced inside to confirm the thick stack of bills, and nodded in relief.

Hesitating for a moment, she looked at the young man before her and said, “I’m truly sorry I couldn’t attend Old Mr. Su’s funeral. At the time, I was… recovering in the hospital due to an accident.”

As she spoke, she unconsciously placed a hand on her abdomen, her expression pained.

A miscarriage?

Su Fan noticed the gesture and the sorrow in her eyes, deducing what had happened.

Sure enough, Kate’s next words confirmed it.

“I lost my baby…”

Su Fan observed her weary demeanor and the pallor of her complexion—clear signs of poor rest.

“Mrs. Kate, have you been having trouble sleeping lately?”

“Yes… Ever since then, I keep having the same nightmare. It’s been exhausting.”

Realizing how gloomy she sounded, Kate quickly changed the subject.

“But John and I have talked it over. We’ve decided to adopt another daughter—to give that love to a child who truly needs warmth.”

Something about this didn’t sit right with Su Fan.

In an ordinary world, this might have been a touching sentiment. But this was a horror movie universe, for heaven’s sake.

How many horror plots revolved around well-meaning protagonists bringing home the wrong person—or thing—only to invite tragedy?

After a brief silence, Su Fan spoke carefully.

“I think… adoption is something that requires extra caution.”

“Especially considering how Max and the other children might feel.”

“I agree. Thank you for your advice, Su Fan.”

Kate smiled. “But don’t worry. The girl we’re adopting is very sweet and well-behaved. I’m sure she’ll get along with Daniel and Max.”

The naïve optimism in her eyes told Su Fan she hadn’t taken his words seriously at all.

Just then, there was a commotion at the door.

“Kate, I’m home! Guess who I brought with me?”

A white man strode in, his steps light, followed by a girl who looked to be about ten or eleven.

Kate’s face lit up. “John! You’ve already finished the paperwork?”

“Yes, everything went smoothly.”

As they spoke, the girl clung to John’s hand, pressing close to his side as if they were inseparable.

Su Fan studied the small figure with a thoughtful gaze.

Though his time there had been short, he had lived in an orphanage.

Children raised in such places, lacking parental love, almost always developed some psychological quirks.

Some became withdrawn, others rebellious or aggressive. Truly cheerful, outgoing kids were rare—maybe one in ten.

But one thing they all had in common? They didn’t open up to strangers easily.

Yet this girl John brought home was practically glued to him. Anyone would think she was his biological daughter.

Noticing Su Fan, John blinked in surprise. “And this is…?”

“This is Su Fan, Old Mr. Su’s adopted son and our tenant,” Kate introduced.

“Su Fan, this is my husband, John Coleman.”

“Nice to meet you,” John said warmly.

Su Fan nodded politely in return.

“And this,” Kate said, taking the girl’s hand, “is the new member of our family I told you about—Esther.”

Su Fan, still watching the girl closely, noticed a flicker of disgust cross her face the moment Kate touched her.

But Esther’s expression quickly smoothed over, replaced by an innocent smile.

“Hello, Mr. Su Fan.”

“Hello.”

Su Fan’s lips curled into a knowing smirk.

Just as I thought…

“It’s already past four,” John said. “We’ll be preparing dinner soon. Su, if you don’t mind, would you like to join us?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I need to tend to the shop. I won’t intrude tonight.”

Su Fan stood to leave, but before he did, he turned back as if remembering something.

“By the way, Esther looked a little pale earlier. I’d recommend taking her for a thorough medical checkup.”