Free Web NovelChapter 218: Chapter 221: Aethelburg’s First Snow
This question wasn’t a test of taste, but of intelligence. Keith Wyatt knew the right answer without even having to think.
"Mr. Quincy, it’s obviously—"
"Tell me the truth."
Willow Quincy had guessed he was about to start flattering him, so he quickly cut him off. "No lying."
"...Oh." Keith Wyatt immediately reeled it in and said earnestly, "I think, in terms of looks, you and Felix Preston are actually on par. It’s just that Felix has a more gentle, refined look, while yours, Mr. Quincy, is sharper and more intense. The two of you have completely different styles."
"Mm," Willow Quincy said with a nod, seemingly satisfied with Keith Wyatt’s answer.
Keith Wyatt breathed a silent sigh of relief, but in the next second, he heard Willow Quincy ask, "Then which do you think is better? A refined look or a sharp look?"
"..."
Keith Wyatt’s expression stiffened.
"I still think a sharper look is better," he said, forcing a grin. "A man should look a bit intense; it gives him more presence. If he’s too gentle, he’ll seem effeminate and weak."
"That’s true." Willow Quincy held up his phone, studying his own face in the screen. "But I think I’m a little too thin right now."
Keith Wyatt said, "You’re thin, Mr. Quincy, because you’ve been recuperating in bed for so long. You just need to build yourself back up."
"And I’ll gain weight just by ’building myself back up’?" Willow Quincy asked lightly.
Keith Wyatt exclaimed, "Of course! You’re young, Mr. Quincy. As long as you eat more food, more meat, and take some good nutritional supplements, you’ll put the weight you lost right back on!"
"Deal." Willow Quincy put down his phone. "Then starting today, I want larger portions for all three of my daily meals. Help me get back to my pre-hospitalization weight in the shortest time possible."
"Yes, sir!" Keith Wyatt eagerly agreed. "Don’t you worry, Mr. Quincy. Leave the weight gain to me!"
Willow Quincy raised an eyebrow. "Mm."
Keith Wyatt turned to leave. "Mr. Quincy, I’ll have someone find the best nutritionist in Aethelburg right now to create the most efficient weight-gain plan for you."
"Wait," Willow Quincy called out to him. "Find the nutritionist later. I’m not done asking questions."
Keith Wyatt turned back, bending slightly to look at Willow Quincy on the sofa. "Go ahead, Mr. Quincy."
Willow Quincy asked, "How is the renovation of the villa in Kyloria coming along?"
Keith Wyatt replied, "The villa is already renovated. All the furniture and appliances were installed right away. It’ll be ready to move into as soon as the formaldehyde airs out."
"...Excellent." Willow Quincy smiled. "How much longer until the formaldehyde in the villa completely dissipates?"
Keith Wyatt thought for a moment. "About half a month."
"Half a month..." Willow Quincy’s eyes narrowed. "Sonia Quincy’s postpartum confinement should also be over in about half a month."
Keith Wyatt replied, "I believe so, yes."
The corners of Willow Quincy’s lips curled up, his smile gradually deepening. "Everything is falling into place perfectly. It seems even fate is on my side this time..."
...
December 21st, the Winter Solstice.
Aethelburg finally saw its first snow of the year.
Large, fluffy snowflakes drifted down from the sky, blanketing the entire world in white in just a few moments.
"Whoa... It’s snowing so hard!"
Charlotte Shaw stood at the living room entrance, gazing mesmerized at the heavy snow in the courtyard. "The snow in Aethelburg is so beautiful... Felix Preston, can I go out and build a snowman after it stops?"
"No, you can’t." Felix Preston booped her on the nose, mercilessly rejecting her request. "Snowmen are too cold. You haven’t fully recovered yet, so you definitely can’t touch one."
"Hmph..." Charlotte Shaw grumbled, clearly a little upset.
Felix Preston took her by the shoulders, turned her around to face him, and placed a fluffy little bunny hat on her head.
"Winter in Aethelburg is long, and it will keep snowing until February. As long as you focus on getting better, Charlotte, you’ll be able to build a snowman before the snow season ends."
"Really?" Charlotte Shaw looked up at him, her clear, dewy eyes appearing even brighter against the snowy backdrop.
Felix Preston glanced around. Seeing no one else under the eaves, he quickly leaned down and placed a kiss on her eyes.
"Really."
Charlotte Shaw blinked. "Then you have to build one with me."
Felix Preston’s eyes curved as he smiled. "Okay. I won’t just build a snowman with you; I’ll have a snowball fight with you, too. Sandy should be about three months old by then. We can wheel him outside and let him watch us play."
Charlotte Shaw exclaimed, "Okay!"
"What are you two talking about?"
Julia Dawson’s voice suddenly cut through the wintry air.
Charlotte Shaw and Felix Preston turned their heads toward the main gate at the same time.
Through the blanket of white snow, they saw Julia Dawson, Mina Jennings, and Renee Sinclair, each holding an umbrella, hurrying toward the shelter of the eaves.
"What are you guys doing here?!" Charlotte Shaw’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. She watched the three umbrellas in the courtyard and said happily, "It’s snowing so hard outside. Shouldn’t you all be cozied up at home?"
Julia Dawson said, "I can’t just lie around! My wedding date is just around the corner, and I’m about to explode from anxiety. I had to come over so you guys could share in my misery!"
"Oh, you’re here!" Hannah Sutton, hearing the commotion, walked out of the living room while cracking open sunflower seeds.
Charlotte Shaw smelled the sweet aroma of the sunflower seeds and reflexively held out her hand to Hannah Sutton. "Sister-in-law, I want some too."
Hannah Sutton twisted at her waist, showing the left pocket of her down jacket. "I have some in my pocket. Help yourself, Charlotte."
Charlotte Shaw reached into her pocket and pulled out a big handful of sunflower seeds.
"Felix Preston, quick, hold out your hands. I’ll give you half."
Felix Preston obediently held out his hands, took the seeds, and started eating them with her.
"I want some too!"
Julia Dawson and the others rushed under the eaves and, like a gang of bandits, started grabbing sunflower seeds from Hannah Sutton’s pocket.
Hannah Sutton did a quick headcount and realized someone was missing.
"Where’s Lynn? Didn’t she come with you guys?"
"I’m here!!"
Speak of the devil. Just as Hannah Sutton mentioned Lynn Preston, Lynn herself appeared in the courtyard, holding an umbrella.
Renee Sinclair explained, "The poor kid came with us, but when we got out of the car, I think she ran into her ex-boyfriend and went to have it out with him."
"Ex-boyfriend? You mean that Zhou guy?" Charlotte Shaw asked with a frown.
Renee Sinclair nodded. "Yep."
"...That Zhou guy isn’t Lynn’s ex-boyfriend!" Charlotte Shaw quickly corrected. "Lynn just had a temporary fling with him for a while. They were never officially together. At most, he’s an ex-fling."
"Then why did the fling end?" Julia Dawson asked gossipily while cracking a seed. "That guy seems really into her. He’s been following her around for days."
Felix Preston answered with a deadpan expression, "The man isn’t someone she could build a future with, so the family had her cut ties."
"Oh..." Julia Dawson didn’t give it much thought, simply pointing toward the courtyard gate as if watching a drama unfold.
"Look over there, the guy’s still waiting. It’s snowing this hard, and he’s not even using an umbrella. Is he trying to play the victim to make Lynn feel sorry for him?"
