Neil's eyes lit up. "For real?"Zephyr let out a scoff when he heard that his voice had changed too."To be honest, I don't really want to help you." Zephyr gave him a sideways glance. "You dug this grave yourself, and we have to curry favor on your behalf?""I didn't…" Neil wanted to retort but figured he was asking for a favor now, so he swallowed whatever he wanted to say.He put on an obsequious face instantly. "Cordelia, Zephyr, how do you plan to help me?""We have no idea!" Cordelia shrugged. "I said, 'If' you need us, we'll help'. As for how, you have to think about it yourself! After all, the one who ruffled Aurelia's feathers wasn't us!"Neil slumped back on the couch like a deflated ball.He had already saved the damsel in distress, yet he had to add more pizzazz to the drama! Was he not taught enough lessons on sets in the past? No one—no one who added parts on their own—could escape getting scolded by the director.Neil sighed and moaned, unable to come up with any
"Little guy, I'm your uncle too!"Zuko saw Neil approaching again and immediately raised a chubby hand to block, slapping him in the face with a smack."No, you're not!"Zephyr smirked and carried his son over to teach him. "Zuko, Uncle Carter's very smart, so he doesn't need your help. But this uncle's a bit foolish and pitiful. Didn't Papa teach you that you should have sympathy for others?"Zuko nodded and replied innocently, "Yes!""Then let's help this silly uncle, okay?"Zuko turned his big eyes and nodded hard as if he had grown up in an instant."Baby, you're such a kindhearted good boy!""Zephyr Hamerton!" Neil gnashed his teeth.Zephyr looked at him and raised his eyebrows. "What's wrong?""Nothing." Neil said through his gritted teeth in the most vicious tone, "Thank you so very much!"...The weather was great on the weekend. Cordelia and Aurelia walked shoulder to shoulder on the field outside the city.Aurelia had not really wanted to come out, but when she h
Aurelia looked a little confused.She had never been to school and lived in a slum when she was young. She did not even know how to write her name. As for reading, her neighbor, the old nomad woman, had taught her.Later, she learned that the old woman was also semi-literate and had not exactly taught her correctly. Growing up a bit more, she picked up textbooks that others did not want to read herself. Perhaps she was really gifted. She could understand as soon as she took a look.By self-studying, she managed to get rid of her illiterate status, albeit barely and even learned to speak Acian aside from Chaisene. She did not set foot in a school until she came to Southeast Aciatic.However, this school was nothing like the one that Cordelia talked about. There were no mischievous boys, only students who kept working hard.She could not understand what Cordelia was talking about. Listening to the story still felt interesting even if she could not understand it. Aurelia supported
Zuko was familiarly navigating his way and ran out of it with Aurelia after a few turns."Baby, let's hurry and go back," Aurelia said softly. "Be good! Your mother will be worried otherwise!""His mother won't be worried! I'm the one who's waiting anxiously!"A husky voice echoed. Aurelia halted in her steps and stiffened up with a blush that reached the tips of her ears. She bit her lips and stood frozen against the voice.Zuko looked at Neil and smiled when the latter gave him an "OK" sign. He let go of Aurelia's hand and took a small ice cream cone from Neil with a skip, enjoying it happily.Neil asked a maid to take Zuko to Cordelia.He and Aurelia were the only two people left in the bushes.Aurelia took a deep breath. The damp summer breeze brushed past her ear like a melodic tune. She could smell the floral and fruity fragrance in the air, and her heart trembled like the birds' chirps.She was still holding the small firefly, which glowed at its tail—it was the small di
Neil looked up at the bright sunny day and barely could keep his eyes open from the glare. He remained unfazed."Oh, uh… Actually, my shoulder hurts too when the weather's fine. Hah, Southeast Aciatic is close to the ocean. The air is humid. A little humidity, and my shoulder doesn't feel good."Aurelia no longer knew what to say. She thought of what Cordelia had said—"He likes you so much that he doesn't know how to express it."—and her heart jolted with warmth.In her old world, no one had ever expressed it like this. It was childish and ridiculous, but it was warming and moving.Whether what Neil said was true or not, the wound on his shoulder was because of her. He had acted and added the touch of drama all for her.Aurelia chuckled with her head down. The already fragile defense in her heart collapsed entirely."Aurelia, just forgive me this one time." Neil's voice was deep and sincere. "I promise that I won't add any drama on my own from now on. You're the only director and
"His uncle's stingy, though. Did he think we could be bought over with one ice cream cone?"Zuko, who heard "ice cream cone", looked up at his father cutely with his big eyes, his face smudged with melted ice cream like a kitten. He thought that his father wanted some, so he handed the cone to him with a smile.Zephyr was caught by surprise before he was significantly moved. Who said that sons bonded better with their mothers? His son was showing affection to him too!Even Cordelia sounded jealous when she said, "Sigh! Looks like Daddy's more important to you, huh? You gave Mommy a bug and thought of Daddy when you have a yummy treat!""Why? Are you jealous that our son thinks of me?" Zephyr lost himself in bliss once more.Cordelia glanced at him without saying anything.Zuko's chubby hand remained raised, holding the ice cream as he blinked big eyes at his father and stammered, "A little… A little bit!"He meant for Zephyr to try a little bit.How could the overly gleeful Mr.
Things went smoothly for Aurelia and Neil.It was said that Noah went to the palace with gifts to propose their marriage the next day.Alexander was close with the Harrises to start with, so he very much approved of the union.Helene was still not in her right mind, but she no longer harbored the usual hostility toward Neil this time. When everyone discussed the details of the marriage in the hall, she sat quietly by the side, carrying her pillow, her sunken eyes watching all of them curiously yet timidly.Later, she softly added, "Don't bully my baby. You can't bully her!"Neil was startled to find that Helene was staring at him. Suddenly, a complex feeling rushed to his heart."Auntie, don't worry." Alexander walked over and gave her a gentle hug. "Neil's a very good person. I promise he'll be loyal to Aurelia."Helene seemed to have understood the discussion about the marriage just now, but she seemed to not understand it again now as she rocked, holding her pillow and hummin
Five years later…Zuko was now an elementary school student. No longer having the baby fat he had when he was younger, he was a little taller than his peers and more athletic compared to regular children.His physical abilities were not the only thing developed, but his brain worked fast as well. He showed an amazing talent for logic and memory at a young age. He followed his academic prodigy of an aunt's study plan strictly as well, growing to be an acknowledged academic overachiever in school too.He was the pride of Cordelia and Zephyr and the future hope of the Hamertons.Furthermore, he was admired by his younger Zuko, Toph Hamerton, like an idol.Yeap, that was right… A younger Zuko.Five years ago, Zuko thought that he would have a younger sister. But when the adults at home hurried to the hospital one day, leaving him and Helen at home, he saw her tinkering with a deck of tarot cards mysteriously and smiling cryptically as she told him, "Looks like your father will be dis