Toph had a slightly red face from drinking. He danced and laughed with the Baker men, who were also dressed in traditional kilts.Zuko's eyes widened in surprise. The Baker kids had studied in Zkotland and were familiar with the local customs. In Zkotland, men wore kilts characterized by large tartan patterns in bright colors. With the voluminous pleats, Toph became the most eye-catching figure at the entire wedding!While this was normal in Zkotland, it seemed unconventional to the other guests.Zuko lowered his head, trying to avoid the situation and have someone take Toph away quickly."Bro, don't I look good in this outfit?" Toph laughed carefreely. "Stand right there! I'm about to play a bagpipe tune for you!""No!" Zuko gestured hastily.Toph looked disappointed. "Zuko, why not?""Well... Oh, this is your reserved act! What will you do later if you perform all your acts now?"Toph realized the point and smiled again, continuing to have fun with everyone.Zuko smiled too,
Renee's mother, Kaitlyn Carmichael, had fallen into a coma again. When Lina and Zuko arrived at the hospital, Kaitlyn had already been wheeled into the emergency room.Zennie and Seth, both medical professors, were coordinating the emergency response while doctors and nurses hurriedly moved through the bustling corridor.Lina went up to hug Renee, comforting her softly. "Don't worry, Aunt Zennie and Uncle Seth are both experts in their field. They said before that Aunt Kaitlyn's condition hadn't reached the point of needing a kidney transplant. She'll be fine!"Renee couldn't speak coherently.Toph tried to explain, "Aunt Zennie and Uncle Seth mentioned that kidney disease is a complicated condition, even though a kidney transplant wasn't required at that time."Zuko frowned. "Didn't they use specialized medicine already?"Toph did not know what was going on either. He could only sit outside and wait.After a while, the lights in the emergency room dimmed, and the group rushed o
"My wife won't have to lift a finger for anything in the future!" Toph said seriously, looking at Renee. "Have you read 'Gone with the Wind'?"Not well-versed in literature, Renee shook her head with slight embarrassment.Toph spoke gently. "In the book, there's a part where the female protagonist falls into difficulties and goes to the male protagonist to borrow money. Despite previously claiming to live luxuriously, the male protagonist could tell from her appearance that she was struggling just by looking at her hands. They were rough, giving away her true situation... Do you understand why?""I don't know," admitted Renee."The male protagonist noticed her hands," Toph said as he held Renee's hand. "Even though she dressed up nicely, her rough hands betrayed her hardships.""I won't let you end up like that," Toph reassured her with a smile. "When you're with me, you won't have to worry about anything! Leave all the tough and laborious work to me!"Renee looked at him with te
Toph said, "Aunt Kaitlyn was discharged two days ago and looked much better. But she's behaving differently toward Renee now. She pushed Renee away when she tried to help."After coming home, Renee wanted to unpack and get close to her, but Aunt Kaitlyn coldly rejected her. It's like she doesn't want Renee around at all. It's not the same Aunt Kaitlyn we knew."Zuko and Lina exchanged worried glances. They had seen Kaitlyn before and knew she was kind-hearted and gentle, even when she was sick. This sudden change in her behavior was indeed strange.Toph continued, speaking softly. "Yesterday, she scolded Renee until she cried. Renee cooked for her, but Aunt Kaitlyn got angry because the food was mildly flavored. With her kidney disease, she can't handle heavy flavors."Toph added, "I tried to persuade Renee to come with me today, but she insisted on staying with her mom to take care of her."Lina comforted, "Don't worry too much. Falling sick repeatedly and undergoing major surger
Zuko looked increasingly frustrated as Chris remained perplexed, prompting several exasperated eye rolls.While Zuko cleaned the kitchen, Chris followed closely, asking, "Why did you tell me to shoot her? That's not like you at all, without reason!"Is there something bothering you? Did she offend you in some way?"But, Zuko, that doesn't add up. You don't hold grudges over trivial matters, especially not with a young girl!"Zuko, what's—""Enough!" Zuko's frustration turned his face red, and he growled, "Just get back to work!"Chris was taken aback. He scratched his head and offered a friendly smile, even though he didn't quite understand the situation.Chris efficiently handled all the dirty and tiring work throughout the kitchen cleanup, thanks to his military background and cleaning skills."When I first joined the army, I was assigned to the mess hall." Chris laughed.Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Then why didn't you stick with that?""I was ambitious back then, focused on b
Zuko glanced at Chris.He was really lacking backbone! What on earth did this girl have that made a tough special forces soldier like him so afraid?Zuko cleared his throat a couple of times, then copied Chris by bending down to clean the kitchen floor.Lena did not pay any attention to them. She opened the fridge and took out ribs, abalones, chicken wings, sea cucumbers, and even an Australian lobster. She then preheated the steamer and the oven and donned an apron.Zuko asked softly, "Lena, are you cooking?"Lena's face remained expressionless as she replied, "Yes.""Such a sumptuous dinner?"Nicholas and Linda were getting older, so they usually had light dinners to avoid putting too much strain on their bodies. At most, they would have some soup or consume nutritional supplements.However, the spread Lena was preparing looked like a feast. 'Perhaps it is intended for Chris?' he wondered.The two men exchanged knowing smiles, understanding each other without words."Oh, Li
Zuko held his forehead, rendered utterly speechless.He looked at Chris, who was laughing uncontrollably. He eagerly anticipated the day when Lena would officially become his cousin-in-law so he could playfully tease him back.Finally, Zuko sat down for dinner, adopting the identity of "a Thompson".-When Zuko recounted this to Lina, she burst into giggles.Seeing her radiant smile, Zuko suddenly felt that spending these days in an empty house was a waste. He needed to seize what he had missed, so...The next day, as Lina got out of bed, her legs felt weak, and it took her a while to adjust her walking posture to something normal.She looked at Zuko, who was vibrant and busy preparing gifts in the living room and felt a strong urge to give him a kick."Mr. Zuko, these are all the items," the old housekeeper said with a smile. "Honestly, no matter what you prepare for your parents, they'll like it!""Just mention that Lina chose them when you deliver them, understood?" Zuko or
"Lena..." Lina's voice carried a hint of sadness as she tightly squeezed Lena's hand. "Don't say that. I've always considered you part of the family.""Really?" A glimmer of light appeared in Lena's dim eyes."When I was in danger, you protected me. You were my bridesmaid at my wedding. Your support has always been wholehearted. How could I ever treat you as an outsider?""Lina...""Perhaps you've misunderstood Aunt Kaitlyn." Lina gently patted Lena's head. "You mentioned she was lingering around the study, but it might have been out of mere curiosity.""I don't care whether she was curious or not!" Lena's brows furrowed. "All I know is there are the Thompson Group's documents in the study, as well as your design plans! Even though I don't understand those things, I know they are important and shouldn't be seen by others."Lina was moved by Lena's dedication and remained silent for a moment before softly chuckling. "Lena, why are you so good to me?"Lena's expression shifted sli