novelraw Chapter 367: As Expected, Southeast Asia is Her Battlefield
Chapter 367: As Expected, Southeast Asia is Her Battlefield
"Miss Delphine, there’s no reason to stay outside on a holiday as grand as this. Leclair is here specifically to bring you back—everyone is waiting for him to have New Year’s Eve dinner together," Maximilian said quickly, wearing a bright, clever smile.
The implication was clear: if Delphine didn’t return, Ignatius Leclair wouldn’t either, and the New Year’s Eve dinner at the Leclair mansion would go uneaten. This celebration could very well end in disappointment for a whole group of people.
Delphine bit her lip, shooting him a cold glare. Without so much as looking at Ignatius, she walked straight out the door, bidding farewell to Aunt Walker and Uncle Walker from across the street. She then locked the front gate of the old house and walked toward the alley without turning back.
Ignatius remained alone in the alley, his phoenix-shaped eyes narrowing and the smile on his lips deepening by degrees. He glanced at the despairing young man from the Walker family and let out a cold chuckle. In all these years, young Delphine had always been reserved and indifferent toward him, never showing him a shred of warmth—let alone to others, whom he dismissed as mere riffraff.
The old town lacked a proper bus depot. There was only a single bus stop. Delphine stood in front of the stop with her backpack from earlier, waiting for the bus to take her to the nearest station.
"Miss Delphine, public buses stop running after three o’clock in the afternoon," Maximilian said as he pulled up in a car, hopping out with a fawning smile. "You’d better take the car to Brocade City nearby. Leclair’s private plane is stationed there—you’ll probably still make it back in time for dinner."
"Mr. Maximilian, don’t you plan to go back for New Year’s yourself?" Delphine asked. Maximilian had followed Ignatius for years and rarely took time off, nor had she ever heard him talk about his family.
"I’m an orphan. When things aren’t busy with Leclair, I usually spend New Year’s with the other brothers in the think tank. This year, Leclair asked me to celebrate with him instead," Maximilian replied, smiling.
Although Ignatius’ right-hand man was an orphan, he was not to be underestimated in South America. The members of Ignatius Leclair’s think tank were all top-tier experts in their respective fields, and he regarded them like brothers.
This year, the group had originally planned to visit a farm in the United Kingdom, where one of their brothers had been assigned, but unexpected complications kept them from traveling.
Seeing there truly were no buses left, Delphine finally got into the car.
Ignatius sat in the back seat. When he saw her entering, his deep phoenix eyes grew even darker. He reached out, grasped her hand, and murmured quietly, "I’ll sleep for a bit. Wake me when we get to Brocade City."
The man’s eyes were bloodshot. Without waiting for Delphine’s acknowledgment, he rested his head on her lap and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
"Leclair hasn’t slept well for days and nights," Maximilian remarked softly as he drove, explaining to Delphine. "On the night of Little New Year, he flew to the Imperial City, then immediately traveled to the United Kingdom to consult a renowned psychologist there. Upon returning and learning you’d left South America, he hurried to catch up overnight."
Delphine was silent. She didn’t respond, but he held her hand tightly, leaving her unable to break free.
When the man was asleep, his usual cold and stern features softened a little. His sharp, handsome profile lost none of its striking angles, though his inherent, icy intensity still made hearts pound.
The trip from Brocade City to South America by private plane took them back to the Leclair mansion, where South America had already lit up for the evening.
Leaving the serene old town behind and returning to this glitzy metropolis, Delphine gave a faintly cold smile. As expected, this was her battlefield.
This year’s New Year’s Eve at the Leclair mansion was bustling. Bessie Leclair’s parents had finally arrived back from the South American Continent. Aside from Stone Leclair and the second branch of the family, who usually lived in America Land, this year marked an unusually complete reunion.
The large family gathered to enjoy a unified New Year’s Eve dinner.
With all three generations of the Leclair family chatting by the fireplace, Delphine stepped into the courtyard, phone in hand. In the video, Leah was wearing a snow-white sweater, cuddling a new pet named Snowball. More radiant than usual, Leah smiled and asked, "Are the fireworks beautiful?"
Delphine nodded. Her dark, enchanting eyes reflected the vast fireworks display that lit up South America. Tonight, South America was swallowed by a sea of fireworks—a true fireworks spectacle. Lowering her gaze with a faint smile, she replied, "Beautiful. But the most exquisite things are always fleeting."