His friends tried to drag him out to play, but Zhao made no move, instead continuing to focus on his own matters.
Hodal's letter informed him that things were unfolding exactly as he had anticipated. The mighty empire was crumbling, with conflicts erupting across various regions, while the decaying upper echelons colluded with outsiders, siphoning off vast fortunes.
The people, who could barely scrape by, were on the brink of starvation, their hungry eyes easily incited into rebellion.
A great empire was on the verge of collapse, and history would remember this moment. He, too, would have the opportunity to witness it.
He had been waiting for this moment eagerly, as if reliving his past life, that feeling of waiting in the dorm during his middle school years.
At that moment, all he longed for was a break, desperately wishing to return home.
Especially during these crucial moments, his heart raced uncontrollably. Every time things reached a critical juncture, he would feel restless, unable to focus, until the long-awaited vacation finally arrived, allowing him to return to a normal state.
The journey back was by train. Some students didn't return home, and the train felt more relaxed than when they first came.
Hermione, Norway, Zhao Lun, Zhang Qiu, and Penelope shared a compartment.
They, too, needed to return home. As they chatted, their minds seemed elsewhere, distracted and absent-minded. Even when speaking, the conversation revolved around family and how they would spend the holidays with them.
Zhao Lun was no different. He wondered if his home was still the same. Had Maria grown taller?
What about Nicole, Angela, and Monica? Were they thinking of him too?
Had Ada made progress? Was the manor still the same?
Had Hodal completed his mission?
Did the pets miss him too?
Had the new house by the seaside been completed? Was it built according to his specifications?
And Elena, Sandy, the company, the small town… so many questions and fleeting thoughts flooded his mind all at once. He wasn't even sure how he had thought of them.
These questions kept him occupied, and he missed Maria the most, along with Angela and Monica.
He had never realized how much he cared about them until now.
As the evening darkened, the train approached its station, and everyone began to pack their belongings.
"Thank you for the broomstick, and Merry Christmas."
"Allen, my uncle's here to pick me up. Goodbye."
"Merry Christmas, Allen."
"Allen, alright, I guess I should say goodbye too. Have a wonderful holiday."
"Be careful, it's getting dark. Here's my number. Of course, if you're not used to calling, you can always write to me. Stay in touch."
After leaving the train station, Zhang Qiu, Norway, Penelope, and Hermione bid him farewell and exchanged contact details.
The outside air was freezing, the cold seizing his nose and face.
When Zhao Lun stepped out of the station, the platform felt eerily empty.
The vast train station exit was swept by strong winds, piercing through the Muggle clothing and directly chilling his skin.
Zhao Lun tightened his collar and scanned the surroundings, his gaze halting abruptly.
In a prominent spot, he saw a tall woman in a stylish fur coat waving at him, standing next to a spacious SUV.
The vehicle's large tires were fitted with anti-slip chains, and its sleek, yet rugged body gave it a powerful, almost imperial look.
Zhao Lun noticed that this car was different from the one he had previously ridden in. The emblem on the vehicle resembled the streamlined lines of a cheetah, unmistakably a new model.
Compared to the old-fashioned cars now in style, this one exuded futuristic flair, effortlessly outshining the slow, clunky antique cars.
Most striking, however, was the elegant woman standing beside the car, exuding a sophisticated beauty that matched the sleek vehicle — a true embodiment of the "beautiful woman with a luxurious car" trope!
Pedestrians passing by were drawn to the car, some even turning their heads to admire it, with others rushing closer to take a closer look.
Zhao Lun stopped in his tracks, barely recognizing the person standing next to the car.
"Ada?"
He called out.
"Boss."
Ada waved and nodded at him.
Zhao Lun stared at her in disbelief before walking over.
"I can't believe it! Ada, you've changed so much!"
Indeed, Ada's transformation was remarkable. The frail girl he remembered had gained a new, confident stature. She stood tall and proud, exuding a composed, almost heroic charm.
Ada raised her long, slender eyebrows in response.
"My personality hasn't changed."
Zhao Lun chuckled.
Ada didn't say much more, simply opening the rear door of the car, signaling for him to get in.
"Ada, where's Maria? How is she?"
Once inside, the warm air from the car's heater quickly dispelled the cold that had seeped into his bones.
"She's fine. She was supposed to come pick you up, but Nicole and the others didn't let her."
With that, she fell silent.
Her straightforward nature was evident—speaking as much as was necessary, and Zhao Lun didn't press further.
The car, equipped with anti-slip chains, smoothly navigated the station's exit, hitting the highway with swift precision, unaffected by the snowstorm.
As the chill melted away, Zhao Lun felt his spirits lift.
"Nice car, huh? It looks familiar. Could it be one of our custom builds?"
Zhao Lun couldn't be certain; after all, he knew their workshop didn't have the facilities for such a vehicle.
"Or is this the surprise you were talking about?"
The mass-produced cars on the market didn't satisfy him, so when he acquired a super-brain, he had developed several car designs he dreamed of building.
However, with his entry notice arriving, he had temporarily abandoned the project. He never imagined he would see one of his dream cars completed.
Ada smiled and joked, "Yes, boss, surprise!"
The car's design was based on Athena's database, and they had found it there, resulting in the vehicle's creation.
"Surprise, huh? Well, at least I won't be driving one of those outdated antiques anymore."
"However, the bigger surprise is that you, Ada, actually made a joke. Now, that's a surprise!"
Zhao Lun teased as he opened a compartment on the side of the car. Inside, there was a double-layered drawer filled with drinks, food, and medical supplies — it looked like a treasure chest.
"Not bad, all the essential functions are here."
Without waiting for Ada's reaction to the joke, Zhao Lun started browsing through the items and asked, "What's the meaning of the logo on the car?"
"Inspired by Gray Shadow."
"Ah, it's that."
"So, how's Zhizhi, Nicole, and Monica?"
"All good."
With a relaxed air, Zhao Lun continued asking Ada about everything that had crossed his mind earlier.
As the car sped along, Zhao Lun turned his gaze to the window.
The window was fogged up, obscuring his view. Zhao Lun wiped the fog away, revealing the snow-covered night outside. He turned on the music box, played a song, but turned it off when he couldn't find one he liked. He kept switching songs until the car reached the familiar small town.
The town had expanded since his last visit; the streets were wider.
With the holiday season approaching, many shops had been redecorated, making the town look livelier than usual.
"The development here is pretty fast," Zhao Lun marveled, noting how much the town had changed in just half a year. Would it become a city in a few years?
The new buildings stood out, as though a white crane among a flock of chickens.
They combined the essence of this country, Eastern civilization, and the colors of the new era.
The streets were cleverly designed, like lines dividing the city into sections, simple yet beautiful.
"It feels good!"
As the car slowed down, Zhao Lun could see a corner of the town under the night sky.
Snow had started falling, and the streets were quiet with few pedestrians.
The shops were closed for the holiday, and the town seemed peaceful.
In homes, lights shone brightly through windows adorned with Christmas wallpaper and decorated Christmas trees.
Occasionally, children in new clothes and adults dressed as Santa could be seen, gathered around tables for what looked like a Christmas dinner.
Zhao Lun sighed, "How did I forget about this?" He tapped his head, then closed his eyes.
His mind linked to the light brain, and through the cameras in the town, he could see a clear image of everything. In that moment, the town's secrets were no longer secrets.
Leaving the town, a bright light in the distance appeared, like a lighthouse guiding sailors.
"Almost home?"
Zhao Lun looked at the light, his heart racing.
"Almost there."
Ada's lips curved into a faint smile as the car grew even steadier.
"Alright, almost there."
Zhao Lun muttered as he stared ahead, his mind already elsewhere.
The road leading to their estate was straight and clear, and within three minutes, they had arrived.
The estate gates opened as the car approached.
Without stopping, the car drove straight in, pulling into the familiar courtyard.
Woof! — Roar! —
Chirp! —
The sound outside stirred the pets in the yard. Several of them barked and ran towards Zhao Lun.
Gray Shadow and the others were howling, eager to jump on him.
The two snow sculptures were too large to land and stirred up a gust of wind, scattering snow everywhere.
"Brother! —"
Maria, rushing out from the door, was immediately covered in snow. She seemed unaware as she ran toward Zhao Lun, leaping into his arms, hugging his neck tightly.
"Maria!"
Shivering, Maria made Zhao Lun hold her even tighter.