I Picked Up the Trash Others Threw Away - Chapter 31.2

Chapter 31.2

After taking a tour of the villa, the kitchen maid came to announce that dinner was ready, and we were guided to the dining room.

The dining room was completely separated from the kitchen, and although the table was long, there weren’t many chairs, so it had a spacious atmosphere.

Even though it was just the two of us, the table was filled with enough fresh food to feed all the villa’s servants.

And that’s not to mention how the food tasted. The salad, made with fresh vegetables from the garden, was so flavorful it didn’t need any dressing.

“Oh my God, this is amazing.”

“The food seems to be to your taste.”

Seeing me so visibly pleased, Trish continued to eat with a joyous expression.

It was clear that everyone would be satisfied if the family gathering was held in such a great place, even without any special decorations.

“Trish, tell me more about your childhood. What did you usually do when you came to the villa?”

“I used to play hide and seek or play in the water. There were a few relatives around my age. The servants were much younger back then than they are now. Everyone has been hit by the waves of time.”

The furniture looked antique to me, but Trish clicked his tongue briefly, saying that it had gotten very old.

He fondly reminisced while touching the worn armrest of a chair.

“Unlike the strict servants of the main house, the people here treated me casually and kindly. A lively kid coming into their boringly quiet daily life must have been quite the event.”

“They seem to be nice people. Did you cause any trouble here?”

“Isn’t falling into water or breaking a few pieces of furniture the worst a kid can do? I was a good swimmer, though, so I never drowned.”

“I’m curious about your swimming ability. I have to see it while we’re here.”

“You just want to see me naked, don’t you? You’re sneaky.”

What was he saying? Seriously…

“I couldn’t care less about your body. I’m thinking about how to make the family gathering a success.”

“There’s nothing special about it. All we do is gather in one place, eat, and catch up with each other. You can leave the little details to the servants.”

“Then my role becomes meaningless. If the organizer isn’t involved, even a small event can fall apart.”

If the higher-ups in a company were in trouble, even a good company would be plagued by all kinds of risks.

“Ah, that’s right, haven’t you attended these gatherings before? It’s an annual event, after all. Please give me some advice on how they usually proceed.”

“It’s basically what I told you just now. And not all gatherings end successfully, so it’s not the gathering place or the meal that matters, but the people attending.”

“Why? Were family relations bad?”

Instead of answering, Trish stabbed a large sausage with his fork. As the juices burst out, the aroma of smoked sausage filled the air.

“I know your relationship with your parents, but do you also not get along with other relatives?”

“No, they’re not the problem.”

Then, what was it?

Instead of asking, I looked at him with a puzzled expression. Trish gulped down a glass of water and whispered.

“… It’s because my brother also attends these family gatherings.”

“Of course he does. And it’s not unusual for brothers to grab each other’s hair and fight. How big was your fight that you don’t even mention his name?”

“It wasn’t a fight… No, maybe it was a fight, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault. Anyway, it’s a little complicated.”

“Trish, did you know that you never say anything when we talk about your family? You usually chatter about everything else.”

He said that he would tell me about his parents later, but his constant hesitant attitude, as if he was worried about something, was starting to frustrate me.

“When will you be honest with me, Trish?”

A man who, at first glance, seemed carefree and knew how to use his head. A minor background character in a novel. But Trish Malekiah, who was in front of me now, was a real person, not a character in a book.

Once I saw his colorful personality as a living and breathing human being, I could no longer see him as just a disposable pawn.