It was Arya who calmed both of them down when it mattered most."What's wrong? Just let her ride the horse if she wants to!" Arya smiled and pulled out a pair of pants she had prepared in advance. "Look, Pammy knows her daughter's temperament well enough to have asked me to bring these pants!"Persephone beamed with happiness and accompanied Arya to the ladies' room. Soon after, a cheerful little girl confidently galloped over and rode the majestic fake horse with pure joy, swaying to the sweet melody."Uncle, I want to ride a real horse next time!" she exclaimed."Sure, sure!" Toph was at a loss for words. "Other princesses are so proper. You're unique...""I don't like being called a princess. Don't call me that again!" she protested."Then what should I call you?" he asked."Hmm... a lady warrior!"Toph and Arya burst into laughter.Had she inherited this from her great-grandmother? It seemed like she wouldn't grow up to be a fragile lady but rather a strong and assertive l
Persephone looked at that man shyly. She had many questions flashing through her mind at the moment.'Mommy said I should have good manners. Should I call him "sir" now?'No, he looks much older than my uncle! So should I call him "mister"?'But I've smudged my whole ice cream on his jacket. Maybe I should say sorry first?'The ice cream was vanilla-flavored, and she had taken only a few licks.The man spoke first. "Little girl, you're Persephone, right?" His voice was deep, like a cello. She was shocked.He smiled mysteriously and glanced at his jacket, then heard a man and a woman screaming, "Sephy! Are you okay?"Nervously, Toph and Arya rushed over. They checked if she was hurt, then noticed the ice cream on the man's black jacket."We're sorry, sir!" Toph apologized, nodding. "Your jacket is dirty now. How about we exchange phone numbers? I'll have someone send you a new one after I buy it!"The man shook his head. His eyes were enigmatic, impossible to read.Toph studie
Zuko approached Toph and playfully flicked his head, creating a loud noise."Ouch!" Toph yelped in pain. His eyes and hands, however, remained fixed on his phone. "Bro, that was mean! Will you still feed me if my head isn't working anymore?""The Bayers will take care of that, not me!""You..."Suddenly, Toph's expression changed, and he let out a frustrated yell as he punched the sofa. He was so close to passing that level in his game."Stop playing," Zuko said as he sat down next to Toph, getting down to business. "How did things go with Arya this afternoon? You've been with her all day. Don't tell me there's been no progress.""I..." Toph stammered, unsure of where to begin.Two years ago, he couldn't move on from his past trauma. Two years later, he believed he had completely healed and was ready for a new relationship.However, he wasn't sure if Arya felt the same way. Besides work-related topics, they didn't seem to talk about much when they were alone."Toph? Hey!" Zuko
Toph was troubled. He hadn't expected this project to be so complicated. All he wanted was to surprise Arya."There are a few things I need to tell you," Zuko said in his usual serious tone, getting straight to business. He pulled up the theme park on his computer's map, urging Toph to look."Take a look at this... Geographically, this theme park is right at the intersection of the new and old town. It doesn't have a strategic location advantage."Nowadays, transportation is well-developed, so people who want to go to theme parks tend to choose larger ones outside the city. And if they prefer staying in the city, there are a couple of options with convenient transportation that can meet their needs."Zuko couldn't stop talking, and Toph was struggling to stay awake.Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Zuko reached his conclusion. "So, I don't think this project is profitable. Do you understand?"Toph jumped up, suddenly more alert. "Oh... Huh?"Toph asked, "Bro, must it
Persephone hesitated, her gaze fixed on the man who stood and bid farewell.The autumn breeze rustled, scattering golden sycamore leaves from the ground. The setting sun bathed the man's figure, giving him an almost gilded appearance. He exuded an aura of intimidation that kept everyone at bay."Let's head home, Sephy," the nanny said, reaching for her hand."Do you know him?" Persephone asked, lifting her face.The nanny shook her head, her fear of the imposing man evident. "Okay, Sephy, let's go! This place is pretty isolated, and we can't return here."Hand in hand, they entered the car with the escort of bodyguards.Before departing, Persephone instinctively glanced at where the man had been. Unfortunately, no one else was in sight besides a few scattered tourists.-The board of directors remained undecided about the Hamerton Group's theme park renovation proposal. Some members aimed to please Toph, urging Zuko to invest, considering it a negligible sum. Yet, others percei
Linda shook her head. She hadn't spoken much with Daniel over the years. However, he was always kind to her when they were young.She recalled a time when she was at university, and Daniel, still in primary school, took money from home to find her in Jangasas all on his own. When Nicholas was in prison, he would frequently call her to comfort her, fearing she would be sad.His way of thinking was childlike but pure. During her lowest moments, she felt the warmth of family through him.Later, she would visit him in Cumulus City. They would enjoy joyful conversations with her sibling on the famous food street.But as time passed, they grew apart.She had only heard rumors of his involvement in a family dispute. Despite being the least likely to inherit the family assets, he emerged victorious at a young age. People described him as cunning and heartless, showing no mercy to those who crossed him. He became a powerful figure in Cumulus City.Yet, he still held great respect for her.
At the celebration feast marking the completion of the theme park renovation, Linda spotted Daniel, whom she hadn't seen in years. She was taken aback at first.He no longer resembled the cheerful, innocent boy she remembered. Experience had given him a sense of maturity and composure. His eyes held a coldness, and his demeanor exuded power that could instill fear in others.Approaching Linda, they gazed at each other for a prolonged moment and exchanged smiles."You must be Cordelia, right?" Daniel asked, turning to the woman beside Linda. "You look just the same as when we were young. You haven't changed a bit!"Cordelia smiled and replied, "You're too kind with your words. It's been years. I even have a grandchild now. How could I remain unchanged?""Both of you would still stand out in the crowd, even in your golden years," Daniel commented.After a brief conversation with Cordelia, she departed, leaving Linda alone with her thoughts. Many things had changed, but it felt as i
Linda suddenly felt uneasy and quickly looked toward Daniel. However, Daniel's gaze wasn't fixed on Persephone. He seemed to be gazing aimlessly, but his expression showed a subtle hint of emotion.Noticing Linda's distress, Cordelia took her cold hand and spoke softly, making sure Daniel could hear her too. "Linda, no matter what, we're still family. I remember when Daniel was a young boy."He secretly used our family's money to take a train and visit you in Jangasas during winter's first snowfall. He wasn't warmly dressed and ended up shivering at the train station. He was even mistaken for a runaway child and sent to a welfare institution."Your bond is strong, and I believe Daniel wouldn't do anything wrong."Daniel glanced at her, and Cordelia continued with a smile, emphasizing her point. "However, people can change."Mr. Quimby, you and Linda can change. While blood is thicker than water, sometimes justice takes precedence over family. You must have heard of the Thompson fa