Chapter 159: Dinner Bell and Doorbell As the day moved forward in its usual course, Xin prepared for school and embarked on the familiar routine of his life, unaware of the frustration he had caused.
The morning sun cast a warm glow over the city as he walked to school.
Victor’s assurance from the previous day held true. As Xin and Xiaxia navigated through their classes, no one associated them with the unfortunate fire incident.
The rumors had seemingly faded after a day, and they were able to attend their lectures without any undue attention.
After their classes came to an end, Xin and Victor agreed to meet at the Abandon Fortress to finish the third quest later in the evening.
Time seemed to fly by, and before Xin knew it, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the city in hues of twilight.
Navigating his way back to Diamond Palace, Xin found himself on the verge of losing his sense of direction. The idea that this would be their new, albeit temporary, residence was difficult to fathom. He was still processing his new reality.
Xin had every intention of visiting their former home over the upcoming weekend, ready to approach the current owner with a proposition to buy the house back.
This was, of course, after he had dealt with Tristan.
Adding to the mix, Tristan’s impending wedding to Tiffany was also scheduled for the weekend, and Xin had already devised a plan to ruin that particular event.
Xiaxia had already prepared their dinner, filling the apartment with tantalizing aromas when Xin got there.
The cozy ambiance of their home enveloped him as he stepped inside, a stark contrast to the bustling world outside.
"Mom would be late again, so go wash and let’s have dinner," Xiaxia greeted him.
Xin merely nodded in response and excused himself to take a quick shower before joining Xiaxia at the dining table.
As they savored their meal, a question unexpectedly slipped from Xiaxia’s lips. "Does Victor have a girlfriend?"
Xin was engrossed in his food and didn’t think too deeply about her query. "Didn’t he tell you yesterday that he doesn’t have one?"
Xiaxia replied with a pout, "Well, you know . . . This is Victor we’re talking about. It’s hard to tell if he’s being completely honest or not. He’s quite the catch, you know. That kind of guy should have at least a girlfriend or two. I still can’t believe you’re friends with him."
Xin paused mid-bite and regarded Xiaxia with a blank stare. "What do you mean by that?"
Instead of providing a direct answer, Xiaxia broke into a giggle and muttered to herself, "So, he really doesn’t have one?"
Xin’s lips tightened as he contemplated the implications of Xiaxia’s interest in Victor. "Are you developing feelings for Victor?" he asked with a hint of concern.
Xiaxia was not one to be easily daunted and defended herself, "What’s wrong with that? All the girls adore him!"
Xin paused, setting his utensils aside, and realized that Victor was indeed quite attractive. But he couldn’t help but feel apprehensive about the prospect of Xiaxia pursuing him.
Victor was a good friend, and the idea of them dating raised concerns. If, by chance, Victor reciprocated Xiaxia’s feelings, it could potentially complicate their friendship.
And if things didn’t work out, it might affect both his relationship with Victor and his bond with his sister.
"Absolutely not," Xin responded firmly. Nothing came out with dating close friends who have tied with you and the others you knew. He was sure of that because of Meilyn.
Xiaxia crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "I’m not seeking your permission."
Their conversation was interrupted when the doorbell rang unexpectedly. Xiaxia furrowed her brows in curiosity, and Xin was still grappling with the discussion about Victor, his meal momentarily forgotten.
"Who could that be at this hour?" Xiaxia wondered aloud, her eyes narrowing. She then took to her feet. "I’ll go check it out."
Xin’s realization about Seraphina’s impending arrival struck him like a lightning bolt, causing him to nearly choke on his food as he hastily made his way to the door.
It had momentarily slipped his mind that she was scheduled to visit during dinner.
. As he reached the door, what greeted Xin’s was Xiaxia’s stunned expression, her mouth hanging open.
In stark contrast, Seraphina stood there with an air of confidence, wearing a serene smile as she made her entrance. Behind her were her maids, each holding an extra-large travel bag in each hand.
In the background, a pair of butlers stood, discreetly bearing trays of delectable dishes.
With a warm smile, Seraphina greeted them, "Good evening, Xin, Xiaxia. I trust I’m not imposing. I’ve also brought some food. Have you both eaten dinner yet?"
Xiaxia was so shocked her eyes were popping. "What are you doing here?"
Seraphina’s smile didn’t waver as she stepped inside, her maids following suit. "I’ve decided to stay here from now on," she declared with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
Xiaxia’s mouth dropped open in astonishment, and she stammered, "W-why? What happened? You said that you’re not going to stay here often. What changed your mind?"
Seraphina turned to Xin, her gaze locking with his. "Didn’t you tell them yet?" she asked, her voice filled with amusement.
Xin scratched his head, his cheeks reddening slightly. "I, uh . . . Well, it’s a bit complicated, but I was planning to talk to them about it."
Xiaxia, still in shock, finally found her words. "Talk to us about what? Xin, what’s going on?"
Seraphina chuckled and stepped closer to Xin, placing a hand on his arm. "You see, Xin and I have some exciting news to share with you."
Xiaxia’s reaction was nothing short of dramatic; her eyes and mouth stretched to their limits in a gasp of disbelief. "D-don’t tell me . . . you!"
"It’s not what you think," Xin said, maintaining a stony expression and an even tone.
He gently withdrew his arm from Seraphina’s grasp and proceeded to explain the situation. "I asked Seraphina to be the subject of my project."
Xin provided the details as briefly and quickly as possible, but it seemed that Xiaxia’s mind had slammed shut in shock, her focus still fixated on the fact that Seraphina would be staying with them from now on.
Xin, too, was puzzled and had numerous questions about Seraphina, but he decided to postpone those inquiries for a more suitable time.