novelraw Chapter 364: The man stands in the quaint townscape, exuding a sense of elegance that doesn’t quite fit in.
Chapter 364: The man stands in the quaint townscape, exuding a sense of elegance that doesn’t quite fit in.
The young man was exceedingly handsome. He held several couplets in one hand and carried a bowl of freshly prepared glue in the other.
"You don’t remember me? I’m Gregory Walker." The young man from the Walker Family felt his heartbeat quicken. Growing up, he had always known the granddaughter of the elderly woman across the street, Delphine, was pretty, but now that they were older, he realized her beauty was something far beyond that. The young woman was dressed in the simplest, most frugal pale-colored sweater, her features delicate, her lips a soft hue, and her eyes carried a hint of understated aloofness. Although they had grown up together, Gregory couldn’t help but feel as though they belonged in two completely different worlds.
Wasn’t he the mischievous boy who used to sit on the wall and throw green fruit at her?
Delphine smiled faintly, set down the basket brimming with freshly cut wild grass in her hands, and said softly, "Thank you, but the house is quite dirty right now. I’ll have to wait a while before putting up the couplets."
Gregory glanced at the ancestral house and scratched his head with a grin. "After all these years of being unoccupied, it’s only natural. Once the holiday is over, I’ll call some people over to help fix it up for you. The house is well-ventilated from north to south, warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Plenty of wealthy folks dream of living in a house like this."
The thought of Delphine possibly moving back into the old house, living across the street once again, caused Gregory to break out in a wave of nervous heat as his heart raced even faster.
Gregory placed the couplets and glue to the side and nimbly started helping Delphine clean the house.
"Miss, it’s Chinese New Year’s Eve today. Are you really planning to spend it alone in the ancestral house?" Gregory asked warmly.
Delphine shook her head lightly and replied in her usual calm tone, "I only came back to have a look, but I didn’t expect Grandma to leave the house to me. After I finish paying respects to my ancestors and sticking up the couplets, I’ll be leaving. Once I’ve dealt with my matters outside, I’ll return."
"Oh no, if you’re going to honor your ancestors, you’ll need to buy firecrackers and incense right away—if you wait too long, the stores will be out. Let me go get them for you." Gregory quickly set down the broom and darted out like a firecracker himself, disappearing before anyone could stop him.
Delphine paused for a second, then returned her attention to tidying up the house.
Gregory bolted out of the old ancestral home, coming to a halt in the alleyway. He stared at the walls covered in vibrant green ivy. Despite the chill of winter, sweat had already coated his skin.
Delphine had returned to the small town alone on Chinese New Year’s Eve. This surely meant she didn’t have a boyfriend or any family of her own yet. Gregory’s thoughts raced with excitement. He grabbed his phone and wallet, heading toward the street corner to buy firecrackers and incense. Just as he stepped out of the alley, he spotted two strangers asking for directions.
The leading man wore a navy overcoat. His polished leather shoes gleamed, and his tall, commanding presence gave him an elegant yet imposing air. Against the picturesque and quaint backdrop of the town, he appeared strikingly out of place, emanating an undeniable aura of sophistication.
The man seemed to sense Gregory’s gaze and turned slightly. His handsome, chiseled features carried a frosty sharpness, and his phoenix-like eyes were as deep and chilling as frost settling on a winter night. A faint hint of coldness accompanied his presence, casting a demeanor that few dared hold their gaze against.
Gregory froze for a moment. Although he had spent many years working outside the town in the Imperial City, encountering all sorts of privileged and indulgent heirs, no one he’d met possessed even a fraction of the commanding presence this man exuded. His gaze dropped instantly, not daring to linger.
"Gregory, these two are asking about No. 180 in the alley—that’s Grandma Zhang’s house, isn’t it? It’s been empty for years. Don’t you live across from it?" a neighbor at the alley entrance quickly asked Gregory.
"Huh?" Gregory was startled, his expression shifting slightly. Were these people here for Delphine?
Delphine had only returned to the town yesterday. It was late when she arrived, and aside from his family living across the street, even if the neighbors had seen her, none of them could confirm it was her.
"You’ve seen Delphine." The man’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly. His tone was low, cold, and polished as he spoke each word with precision.