"Ah, I can't believe my memory," Chen Xiang slapped his forehead, looking a bit embarrassed. "I was planning to give this to you."
As he spoke, he took out a notebook—one of those simple, often-used kinds that looked well-worn.
Robert opened it and to his surprise, it was filled with notes on Flower Country's mystical practices.
"This is what our teacher talked about during class, stuff not in the textbooks. I thought you'd be interested, so I'm lending it to you. It's no big deal," Chen Xiang said, "But you'd better return it after reading. It's the only copy I have!"
"Really? Well, thank you so much, Xiang-ge." Robert accepted the notebook and tucked it away.
"So, where are we heading next?"
Time passed quickly during Robert's stay at the Chen family estate. Chen Xiang seemed to have his own work to attend to, and could only spare time on weekends to hang out with Robert, taking him out and about. Robert thought it would just continue like this until the ancestor ritual began. But finally, Robert received news from his aunt in Flower Country.
It turned out that after the family came to Flower Country, his aunt had lost contact and could only be reached through the Chinese embassy. They agreed to meet at a location very close by—near the same neighborhood where Chen Xiang had parked earlier.
The neighborhood was very crowded, with the space between the buildings so narrow that it could be called cramped. The greenery was nice though, with tall trees giving the area an air of age.
In a neighborhood like this, there were bound to be some unique touches—like a private dining restaurant.
Aunt Mei's restaurant was nestled in the middle of the block. The yard had a canopy, and they'd even set up a back door for guests, laid out with a stone path and some vegetable plants, creating a rustic feel.
The restaurant had only two private rooms, and the food was said to be superb. To secure a private room, one had to make a reservation in advance.
After they entered, Elsa greeted Aunt Mei and introduced Robert to the people inside. Since Robert had become intrigued by the quirky setup of the restaurant, he lagged behind. By the time he entered, the room was filled with lively conversation.
Robert's eyes were drawn to the elderly man sitting at the head of the table—his hair completely white yet his face youthful. The old man's eyes twitched as he noticed Robert's stare.
They were both silent for a while before Robert finally spoke, though with some reluctance. "Great-grandfather, what are you doing here?"
The old man looked at him mysteriously. He was about to speak when a little kid's voice piped up, sounding pitiful. "Please don't start with the big lectures, I don't understand them!"
The elderly man nearly choked on his own words. Standing up, hands on his hips, he declared, "You little rascal! Why didn't you tell me last time that you're the nephew of my daughter-in-law?"
Robert was taken aback. "Nephew of your daughter-in-law? Great-grandfather, what's going on here? Aren't you my great-grandfather from many generations ago?"
The old man glared, his eyes wide. "What nonsense! I'm not that old. Call me Grandpa!"
"Oh, Grandpa." Robert obediently corrected himself. "But why aren't you called Great-Grandfather anymore?"
"..."
Chen Er Ye, who had been watching this exchange, thought to himself, 'I knew it was the right decision not to support adopting this troublemaker! Otherwise, I'd be dead from anger by now!'
Despite the surprising start, the family dinner went on in a warm atmosphere. Robert understood why his great-grandfather's family hadn't supported the idea of adoption. They couldn't be sure if he had the potential to become a mystic. Adopting him and bringing him into a place full of mystics might have overwhelmed him. After all, in the wizarding world of the UK, there was a term for those who were born without magical ability—dull wands. Like his Aunt Mei, who was a "dull wand." In Flower Country, they called it having blocked meridians, and there was still hope of becoming a mystic before reaching adulthood. But since Aunt Mei had already passed her coming-of-age, she was unable to practice.
Aunt Mei's family appeared very harmonious. Her husband looked serious, while her young son was just a chubby toddler, already bothering Robert to take him out to play, which caused the adults to laugh. Aunt Mei's mother-in-law, just as stern as her son, gave Robert a bunch of Chinese-style snacks when they were leaving, saying they were homemade and that he should eat well and avoid too many sweets.
Robert was a bit confused. 'Why tell me to eat less sugar while giving me so many snacks?'
It seemed she was one of those cold on the outside, warm on the inside types.
The summer quickly passed in the midst of homework and studying. The ancestor ritual began on September 3rd, but Robert had to cut off contact with the outside world starting on the 1st, as he had to fast for three days in preparation.
His foster parents had already left Flower Country, needing to take care of other matters. After the ritual, Robert would return to the UK with an uncle from the family.
Before the ceremony started, Robert was required to wear a formal suit and go to a large house to join other boys waiting for the ceremony to begin.
"Hey, you're not from Flower Country, right?" A boy with flaxen hair patted Robert on the shoulder. Robert turned around, and the boy offered him a piece of candy. "Don't be nervous, want a piece to calm down?"
Though the boy had a smile, Robert could tell from the expression that it was a smile tinged with malice, something that reminded him of his mischievous twin friends.
"No thanks, I don't like candy," Robert politely declined.
The boy shrugged. "Really? I thought all Brits like sweets."
Robert nodded. "I do like sweets, just not candy."
The boy made an exaggerated face. "Then why don't you eat it?"
"Because sugar is not a sweet," Robert replied matter-of-factly. "Sugar is just sugar."
The boy stared at Robert for a while, then muttered, "Oh, so you figured it out."
"Well, I've got two friends who are real pranksters, so I know a thing or two about avoiding simple tricks," Robert said with a smile. "I'm Robert Leslie."
The boy shook his hand nonchalantly. "Paul Bagley."
"Ilvermorny?" Robert asked.
"Yeah, where else?" Paul shrugged.
Robert's interest piqued. "I've heard you guys have four houses too. Is there a chance I could visit?"
Paul hesitated before answering. "Not likely. The school's completely closed during the holidays, and during term time..." He shrugged again. "That's the headmaster's business."
"Ah, that's too bad," Robert replied with slight disappointment. He had hoped to explore new places. After entering the Chen family estate, he had taken some photos, but only earned one skill point, leaving him completely confused about how the new maps were defined.
"Well, if you ever visit the States, look me up," Paul said, slapping his chest confidently. "I'll take you to race cars! It's way more fun than broomsticks!"
Blinking in surprise, Robert thought, 'Wow, I actually met someone in Flower Country who is just as clueless about flying broomsticks as I am!'
"Actually, we have another really fun sport in the States too! It's called basketball!" Paul's eyes sparkled. "I play a game every day at home, and it feels amazing!"
(End of Chapter)