Chapter 4162: The Discovered Books and the Park Date

"The matter at the 【Leather Goods Hall】 has just concluded, and Akardia City has recently calmed down as well. The 【Holy Son Alliance】 was severely wounded by that president of the Witches' Council, and Hermes of the 【Blood Spirit School】—who knows whether he dares come out and face you again. This is indeed a good time for a date... So, am I still welcome home for dinner tonight?"

Luvia asked with a smile, and Xia De immediately frowned:

"Of course you're welcome. That's a strange question. I could even bring Dorothy and Princess Lei Lei Qianya along to the Association to pick you up after work."

Luvia shook her head:

"I don't want to become the subject of discussion inside the Association for the next several years."

Winnie laughed from the side:

"Luvia, what are your colleagues saying about you now?"

Luvia shook her head and refused to say, but judging by her expression, she was clearly quite pleased with her colleagues' gossip.

Today's Akardia City was still bathed in sunshine. After once again purifying the solution in the retort with silver and red moonlight at the Fragrant Residence, Xia De chatted a few more words with Angelica and Veega before preparing to leave:

"Why haven't I seen Miss McDonald today?"

Xia De asked curiously, still remembering the strange clicking sound he had heard at the Candlefort Black Market on Sunday.

But fortunately, that tall girl hadn't had any problems, and Veega replied:

"She went back to school to attend a lecture. Eve plans to graduate early this autumn to get her degree, so I can conveniently recommend her to study with Megan and Audrey. I've already discussed it with Megan and the others, and they're willing to go assess whether Eve has the qualifications to become an apprentice. When the time comes, Eve will be about the same as the current Angelica."

Xia De was sincerely happy for Miss McDonald. Since Angelica wasn't in the study at the moment, Veega lowered her voice and asked:

"Xia De, do you by any chance......"

She seemed a little embarrassed:

"Like girls with big tails?"

"Hm? Why are you asking this too?"

"Too?"

"I mean, Veega, how could you have such a thought?"

So Veega took out two books that Xia De was very familiar with:

"I found these under your pillow. Don't worry, I'm the only one who saw these two books."

Veega's face was red:

"I've also heard that some people have this kind of preference. It's fine, I can accept it, but I can't temporarily make myself......"

Xia De promptly stopped her from continuing:

"First of all, I don't have that kind of preference. I simply like pretty girls, that's all."

Then Xia De asked:

"Secondly, Veega, how were you able to discover these two books under my pillow?"

Of course Veega would not admit that when she felt lonely last night, she went to Xia De's room to sleep for a night, and only then discovered the "little secret" under the pillow:

"That was just an accident."

She emphasized:

"And with so many girls around you, you still need to read books like this to relieve your loneliness?"

She stuffed those two books into Xia De's hands and said with a flushed face:

"Tomorrow we're going on a date. I've prepared some surprises for you. When the time comes, don't say I'm not a reserved girl. So see you tomorrow, Xia De. Remember to think of me in your dreams."

Having said that, she could no longer contain her shyness and left the study directly. Xia De looked at the two books in his arms, truly not knowing what to do with them:

"In that case...... Moon Library."

A corner of the library appeared, and Xia De tried placing these two physical books onto the empty spots on the bookshelf. To his surprise, it actually worked.

He didn't know when it started, but this library could actually store physical books now. This saved Xia De the trouble of having to turn the books he needed to carry with him into cards and keep them on his person.

【Why not just destroy those two books? Do you really plan to read them later?】

"She" asked with a smile, and Xia De had already taken out the crystal glass slipper:

"I am indeed curious about what's actually written in those two books. Honestly, a normal person seeing books with titles like that would be curious, right?"

Xia De tossed out the crystal glass slipper:

"But more importantly, these two books are gifts Angelica gave me. Unless absolutely necessary, I won't damage them."

Although Xia De spoke righteously and solemnly, when he got home and saw Princess Lei Lei Qianya, he inexplicably felt a little guilty. But then he thought the one who should feel guilty was Angelica; he was merely keeping Angelica's secret, so he returned to normal.

What needed to be done today wasn't just reading books and materials. The night lesson that hadn't been held on Saturday—Princess Lei Lei Qianya and Dorothy also planned to complete it together.

Of course, Xia De wasn't the kind of person who didn't understand romance, and naturally wouldn't really spend the entire day in the study at home with Princess Lei Lei Qianya and Dorothy.

"The weather is so nice today, and Princess Lei Lei Qianya has specially cleared time for a date. Let's go outside to read."

After Dorothy arrived as well, Xia De suggested to them:

"How about Regent's Park in the East District? Or we could find a decent dessert shop or café in the University District. Since spring is already here, we can't be like little Leaving Xiao Leaving Xiao Miya, always staying at home."

"Meow~"

The cat meowed, but was soothed back down by Xia De's hand.

Dorothy and Princess Lei Lei Qianya exchanged a glance. The writer Young Lady then said with a smile:

"Sure, it's rare to see you in such a mood. You're in a good mood today, aren't you?"

Xia De shook his head:

"It's not that I'm in a good mood, I just feel that the date time is always arranged by you all. Occasionally I want to plan one too. So let's go to Regent's Park. Hopefully there won't be too many people there today."

Regent's Park is very close to the city's Church of Nature, and of course, not very far from the doctor's clinic either. On a sunny day, even on a weekday, quite a few noble families still came to the park to enjoy the spring or have a picnic.

After all, what Tobesk City lacks least is nobles. There are plenty of people here who have nothing to do all day yet still rake in money.

The scenery of Regent's Park in Tobesk was even better than that of Oakham Park in Akardia City. On the lakeside lawn, Xia De found a spot under the shade of trees and spread out the picnic cloth. Winnie's and Princess Lei Lei Qianya's two personal maids had followed along, preparing food for everyone and carrying the books they would need.

Little Leaving Xiao Leaving Xiao Miya naturally came along too, but compared to her liveliness during the picnic in Akardia City on Saturday, today's cat clearly just wanted to find a suitable spot to lie down and wait for lunch.

Princess Lei Lei Qianya stood on the lawn gazing at the Dahu in the park, while Dorothy hugged her own legs and leaned against Xia De:

"This kind of life is truly wonderful."

she said softly. Xia De nodded and tightened his grip on Dorothy's hand:

"Spring is about to end. If we want to see scenery like this again, we'll have to wait until next spring. Sometimes I really feel that time passes so quickly—meeting you for the first time in the doctor's clinic feels like only yesterday."

Dorothy smiled with pursed lips. The blue-eyed, golden-haired Miss knew why Xia De would voice such a sentiment. He had been through far, far too much along the way, and pausing for a moment now would surely bring a touch of wistfulness.

"I, on the other hand, hope that time can slow down—at least that today's time can slow down."

Dorothy said:

"Just let me lean against you like this, let us whisper to each other. Even if a time like this lasted a hundred years, I wouldn't feel bored... Spring is really wonderful."

She smiled, both shy and gentle.

"A hundred years won't do, Dorothy—you can't forget that I'm still right here."

The red-haired Princess complained as she also sat down:

"This is a date for three."

"Yes, yes."

Dorothy said:

"But if Xia De still wants to take an afternoon nap after noon, this time it's my turn. On Saturday I have to go to the doctor's clinic for a meeting, which is why I gave you the chance last time. This time it's mine."

"Mm... we can each have one hour. When the time's up, we'll wake Xia De up and make him move to another spot."

Even the maids laughed, and Xia De also showed a smile. Spring really was wonderful.

Winnie and two other maids set up the picnic camp. Xia De, Dorothy, and Princess Lei Lei Qianya were in no hurry to read; Xia De invited them to stroll around the park together and take in all the scenery.

Xia De had originally wanted to invite them to take a boat ride on the park's Dahu, but Princess Lei Lei Qianya and Dorothy both refused:

"The matter at the clubhouse has only just ended—we don't want to go anywhere near any artificial lake."

After returning to the little camp beneath the shade of the trees, for the rest of the morning the three of them read their books while sipping the red tea Winnie had brewed and the pastries Princess Lei Lei Qianya had brought.

With Claire's help, Winnie had now planted some fruit trees and magical herb materials in the greenhouse of the Snow-Covered Castle. Today she had brought a batch of ripened fruit, and little Mia received a strawberry.

Strawberries in this era were an extremely precious luxury, a delicacy reserved exclusively for the upper class. And the most classic way for the nobility to eat them was strawberries on a silver platter with clotted cream. Princess Lei Lei Qianya and Jia Lin Na considered this the proper way to eat them; eating strawberries straight like Xia De and little Mia did was, in their eyes, a waste of heaven's gifts.

Page after page of books was turned, scroll after scroll of ancient parchment unfurled beneath the sunlight. The morning passed in a fulfilling and pleasant way, and as noon approached, more and more people appeared on the lakeside lawn. Young men and women came here on dates, husbands and wives brought their children here to picnic.

Beside the noble families were not only servants—some had also brought their own pets. And some pet cats and dogs, noticing that the food at the camp in one corner of the lawn smelled delicious, were scared off by a certain cat's gaze before they could even get close.

"Little Mia, what are you looking at?"

Xia De reached out and petted the cute cat. Little Mia immediately turned and nuzzled his hand with her face, then jumped onto his crossed legs, wanting him to feed her.

"Look over there."

Princess Lei Lei Qianya, sitting beside Xia De, suddenly spoke, using her eyes to signal Xia De to look at the family on the east side of the lawn. A middle-aged couple with a little girl of about seven or eight was picnicking. Xia De felt the man looked somewhat familiar, and only then realized who he was:

"Dorothy, is that your brother's family over there?"