Chapter 5: Winter Roses (Part 1)
That evening, Linley, Yale, and the other two walked out of a hotel. As per their usual routine, their next stop would be the Azure Heaven.
"Big brother Yale, you three go on ahead. I'll wander around for a bit first," Linley said as soon as they stepped out of the hotel.
Yale, Reynolds, and George all looked at Linley in surprise.
"I'm not really fond of the atmosphere at the Azure Heaven. You go on ahead; I'll meet up with you in two or three hours," Linley explained. At that moment, 'Bebe,' perched on Linley's shoulder, let out two 'squeaks' and transmitted telepathically, "Boss, you're going to Alice's house, right?"
Bebe had been following Linley all along, so he naturally knew about Linley's affairs.
Although Bebe never seemed to grow up, his intelligence was comparable to that of an average human teenager.
"You little rascal," Linley said, giving Bebe a look of feigned annoyance.
"Alright, third brother, go ahead and take a stroll. But don't wander too long. We'll be waiting for you at the usual spot," Yale said with a smile. Then Linley parted ways with his three good brothers and headed toward Ganmo Road.
The foot traffic on Ganmo Road was sparse, making it quite quiet. There were some taverns and restaurants along the street, most of which served the surrounding residents.
When Linley reached a spot not far from Alice's house, he gazed at the balcony of the two-story building.
The balcony was still empty.
Linley let out a self-deprecating laugh. Deep down, he had only held onto a very slim hope. He turned and stepped into a nearby tavern, choosing a seat by the window. Through the window, Linley could clearly see Alice's balcony.
"Give me a bottle of Emerald Green and two glasses," Linley casually ordered a very mild wine.
"Yes, sir."
Although the waiter was puzzled as to why Linley wanted two glasses, he didn't ask any questions.
"Bebe, take it slow," Linley said, pouring a glass for Bebe and setting it aside. Bebe immediately jumped onto the table and, mimicking Linley, began sipping it slowly, one mouthful at a time.
Holding his wine glass, Linley gazed into the distance toward the balcony, drinking slowly.
One man and one magical beast drank like this for nearly two hours, finishing three bottles. Only then did Linley pay the bill and leave the tavern with Bebe.
"Boss, are you disappointed?" Bebe stood on Linley's shoulder, transmitting telepathically.
Linley reached out and patted Bebe's little head, scolding him with a laugh: "You little rascal." Then Linley strolled through the streets of Fenlai City, heading toward the Azure Heaven while enjoying the night scenery.
The next day, September 30th, the four brothers left Fenlai City and returned to the Ernst Institute of Magic. Then, on the evening of that same day, Alice, Kalan, and the others returned to Fenlai City.
The reason for this coincidence was that the holidays at the Ernst Institute and the Welling Institute of Magic were different.
At the Ernst Institute, the 29th and 30th of each month were holidays. At the Welling Institute of Magic and the Welling Warrior Academy, however, the 1st and 2nd were holidays. Alice had rushed back on the evening of the 30th.
Unfortunately...
Alice sat on the balcony, her chin resting on her hands, watching the passersby on the street. Occasionally, a distant figure resembling Linley would make her excited, but whenever the figure drew closer, she would be disappointed.
On the afternoon of October 2nd, Alice had no choice but to return to the magic academy.
******
On October 29th, Linley once again delivered three stone sculptures to the Pruss Chamber of Commerce. That evening, he returned to the tavern on Ganmo Road, choosing the same seat by the window and ordering the same Emerald Green wine. Linley and Bebe drank slowly together.
"Boss, looks like you're going to be disappointed again," Bebe said, his small, glossy black eyes fixed on Linley as he transmitted telepathically.
"Disappointed is just disappointed. I guess it's just not meant to be," Linley said, tilting his head back and downing the last half-glass in one gulp. By now, Linley and Bebe had finished two bottles of Emerald Green, and the figure Linley had been hoping to see still hadn't appeared on the balcony.
The waiter approached.
"Another bottle of Emer—" Linley stopped mid-sentence, his eyes suddenly lighting up as he stared intently at the balcony of Alice's two-story building. There, on the balcony, a girl dressed in white had appeared.
"Check, please." Linley abruptly stood up.
The waiter, who had been about to fetch the wine, was momentarily stunned before quickly recovering. After paying, Linley walked straight outside. Bebe jumped from the table onto Linley's shoulder.
It was now nearly eight in the evening, and Ganmo Road was somewhat dim. Since it wasn't a main thoroughfare, there were very few people around at night.
"It's Alice." Linley was certain.
"Wow, boss, you finally get to see this beauty! Haha, are you happy? Excited? Thrilled?" Bebe chattered triumphantly beside him.
Linley ignored Bebe and, moving with great agility, ran toward the wall of Alice's house. With a push of his hands, he vaulted over, leaving a dark blur as he landed on the balcony.
Alice happened to see Linley leaping over from the direction of the wall.
"Big brother Linley," Alice recognized him immediately. Her heart began to race, and her face flushed slightly. She also felt a bit relieved.
Last time, she hadn't waited for Linley. After returning to the Welling Institute of Magic, she had checked and learned that the Ernst Institute's holidays were on the 29th and 30th. So this time, Alice had skipped class and come back two days early.
"Big brother Linley, what a coincidence," Alice said with a smile.
Linley was momentarily stunned. "Alice, it really is a coincidence."
Alice couldn't help but laugh, then quickly pulled Linley down. "Sit down quickly, don't let the gatekeeper see us." Linley sat down as well. The two of them crouched behind the balcony railing, whispering to each other.
Delin Cowart also appeared beside them.
"Linley, Linley."
"Grandpa Delin, is something wrong?" Linley asked, a bit annoyed.
Delin Cowart laughed heartily. "Kid, stop chatting about trivial things with this girl. Get closer, be more proactive. What an idiot. Judging by Alice's demeanor, she's interested in you too."
"Easy, easy," Linley said, though he usually had no fear of life or death, he felt a bit uncertain now.
"What an idiot," Delin Cowart said in exasperation.
Linley then ignored Delin Cowart and focused entirely on chatting with Alice.
Delin Cowart watched the two of them and finally, with no other choice, turned into a stream of light and returned to the Coiling Dragon Ring. As Linley talked with Alice, he didn't notice the passage of time at all.
"Big brother Linley, you're so amazing. There must be a lot of girls at the Ernst Institute chasing after you, right?" Alice asked casually, trying to sound nonchalant, but her heart was pounding as she said it.
"Not really, not really," Linley replied, his words a bit unfiltered as he talked with Alice.
"What an idiot!" Delin Cowart's voice rang out in Linley's mind.