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Zuko paused and called Jacob. “What happened at home?”
“It’s not your family,” Jacob replied in a low voice. “It’s the Thompsons.”
“The Thompsons?”
“It seems… it’s about the little girl betrothed to you in childhood,” Jacob said hastily. “I couldn’t inquire too much
about your family matters. Just make a trip back.”
“Okay, got it,” replied Zuko, agreeing and ending the call.
Lina was walking ahead and did not hear him making the call. The night enveloped her joyful figure as she
occasionally turned around and waved at him.
Zuko spent the next two days contemplating how to take a “leave” from the Jenners. After much consideration, he
decided to be honest. “My younger brother called and said there’s something going on at home. He wants me to go
back for a while. I won’t be away for long, just two or three days, and I’ll definitely rush back.”
After speaking, Zuko looked directly at Jesse and Melissa, who were standing in front of him. They both stared at
him intently for a moment before exchanging a smile and nodding.
Zuko was taken aback. In the blink of an eye, the couple swept the shelves clean and packed everything into a large
duffle bag.
“Sir, ma’am, you—”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Zeke!” Jesse looked at him, beaming. “We got nothing much for you to take home, but we run a supermarket. We
have plenty to eat and drink!”
Melissa also smiled warmly. “That’s right. You can bring these to the in-laws— Oh no, no, I mean to your parents as
a small token of our regard!”
Zuko was dumbfounded.
The couple acted as if the goods were free, filling the bag with staple foods and various snacks—two big bags of
them. Even when they could not fit more inside, Melissa still managed to squeeze in a few bags of calcium-rich
crackers for the elderly…
Zuko looked at the empty shelves and the couple’s satisfied expressions, feeling both speechless and touched.
“You don’t need to do this…”
“Why not?” they said in unison.
“Zeke, when are you leaving? We’ll help carry these to the train for you if it’s too much!”
Zuko felt like telling them a private plane was coming to pick him up.
“By the way, where’s your family located?”
Zuko hesitated for a moment and answered softly, “Centrolis.”
As soon as they heard the name, Jesse and Melissa fell silent. They had always been in sync for so many years,
never mentioning the place “Centrolis” in front of Lina. It was because they had stolen their daughter from there.
They stubbornly believed that even though a little girl did not have memories, they might rush forth like a torrential
flood—unstoppable once a certain point triggered those memories.
They wanted to keep Lina by their side for the rest of their lives, so they never mentioned the word “Centrolis” in
front of her.
It was just that not mentioning it did not mean it did not exist. After all, a person from Centrolis was standing before
them right now.
Melissa was concerned. Apart from telling Zuko to return quickly, she repeatedly reminded him that there was no
need to let Lina know about it.
“Lina’s preparing for some kind of exam and is studying intensively. She’s quite nervous, and it might distract her if
you tell her!” said Melissa.
Although Zuko found it strange, he complied.
The next day, he carried the bags and hopped into the car waiting for him at the alley entrance early in the
morning while the family was still asleep as if he was a thief. He headed straight for the airport.
…
Toph was overjoyed when he heard that his brother had returned. When he heard that his brother had gone
straight to the kitchen instead of going to see their parents, he found it unbelievable and hurried over to take a
look.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Zuko!?” Toph was dumbfounded seeing the floor covered in pasta, grains, snacks, and drinks. “What… is the
situation?”
Zuko was directing the servants to put the things in place.
“Nothing.” He glanced at Toph indifferently. “Just something for our parents.”
Toph looked at him as if he were an alien before he suddenly burst into laughter. “You? Being nice to them? If you
don’t anger them to death, that’s already nice enough! Do you really need to bring these with you?”
Zuko raised his hand, prepared to resort to violence.
“What? Did I say something wrong?” Like when they were younger, Toph tickled Zuko in the armpits when he was
about to hit him. “You were like this when you were younger! You do exactly the opposite of what our parents ask,
and you just left for Jangasas this time! Do you know how much effort I had to put in to appease our elderly
parents?”
Zuko’s hand, which was about to strike, landed on Toph’s head and rubbed it hard. His stern face showed a hint of a
smile.
Toph kicked the bucket of peanut oil beside him and asked in a low voice, “Zuko, where did you get these
miscellaneous brands? Are they edible? Don’t get food poisoning from them!”
“You…”
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