The two of them waking up brought joy to Zhao Lun, and he celebrated with them.
Hermione recovered quickly, soon behaving as if nothing had happened, diving into the investigation of the murderer and the methods to catch him.
As for Penelope, once she awoke, she appeared gloomy. This girl seemed to have encountered some unfortunate events lately; her spirits were low, and she showed signs of self-harm, which made Zhao Lun very concerned.
After learning about her situation, Zhao Lun found out that her family was in turmoil; her parents had fallen out, and she was faced with the choice of living with her father or her mother.
Her parents were Muggles and showed disdain for her being a witch, wanting nothing to do with her, which left her feeling quite hurt.
With Christmas approaching, many people could return home, but her home no longer felt like a refuge for her.
"Come home with me. Consider my home as yours; from now on, we'll be family."
Zhao Lun encouraged her, hoping to share a joyful Christmas together.
"Okay." The girl nodded in agreement.
"…"
Zhao Lun had expected it would take some convincing for her to agree, but to his surprise, she readily accepted, indicating her emotional instability.
As they stepped outside, the autumn warmth lingered, but upon returning, they found the world covered in white snow.
Departing alone and returning with someone was a familiar feeling. The difference lay in the changed time and the different company.
Upon their return, they felt closer, walking hand in hand as they exited the train station.
Others looked at them with warmth, but Zhao Lun knew that the girl was quite nervous, gripping his hand tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh.
"It's alright; everyone at home will be just fine."
Zhao Lun gently reassured her.
It was already late, and as they stepped outside, a strong wind blew, and the snow fell heavily, making it even colder.
Christmas was an important holiday in this country; aside from a few people, most returned home early to celebrate with their families. Those who hadn't gone home were hurrying back as well, making the station less crowded than usual.
Outside the station, several cars waited, looking for their passengers. One car stood out prominently, instantly capturing the attention of those exiting the station.
The car was large, adorned with lights flashing the name "Alan," and as Zhao Lun stepped out, he saw it and led the girl towards it.
As they approached, the car door opened.
"Brother!"
Maria called out from inside the car, yet she didn't acknowledge the girl beside him.
Zhao Lun realized she was upset because he had brought someone back. If it were just him, she would have leapt into his arms by now.
"Maria."
Zhao Lun guided the girl into the car, then sat beside Maria, while the girl sat on the other side, separated from him.
"Come here; let me see if Maria has become even prettier."
Zhao Lun gently patted her cheek, soothing her softly.
The little girl hadn't seen her brother in a long time, and now being cared for, her earlier irritation dissipated.
Among the passengers was Monica, who was currently welcoming the girl into the car.
"Welcome back, sir!"
"Oh, it's Michael! Have you been given a gender by them? Hmm, not bad; your voice is pleasant. I bet you're a beautiful angel."
The name he chose held significant meaning, but he didn't explain it, allowing them to interpret it.
The car drove out of the station under these circumstances.
On the highway, the snow blanketed the ground, but the car sped along without a hitch, undeterred by the harsh weather.
Zhao Lun felt it was even faster than the first time he rode such a car, and it felt steadier.
He felt no discomfort, though the girl beside him was a bit anxious, fully strapped in, gripping the handle tightly.
"Aida, don't drive so fast in this weather."
"Boss, the satellite is active, monitoring road conditions at all times."
Zhao Lun said nothing; with the satellite activated and road conditions being monitored, the tires were specially designed to be slip-resistant. The car's quality was assured, and they weren't ordinary people, so there was no need for concern.
Tracy Town was within sight.
As they arrived in the town, an atmosphere distinctly different from the one before enveloped Zhao Lun, making him feel as if the town had changed.
The town exuded a wild, cold aura, and the chill from the air made the windows of the car creak subtly.
Checking the temperature records, it was indeed colder here than elsewhere.
The streets were quiet; nearby shops were closed, and apart from the dim yellow lights, there was hardly a sound—a rather eerie scene.
Thick snow lay unshoveled on the town roads, and old cars could be seen abandoned in the snow, their windows shattered; fortunately, the occupants had long since vacated.
"What happened here?"
"The temperature dropped drastically, causing the glass to shatter; the people inside temporarily abandoned their vehicles."
"Can such weather really shatter glass?"
It was truly unbelievable that such low temperatures could break glass! This feeling was increasingly strange and surreal.
"So, what about the glass in the houses?"
"Only the car windows shattered; the glass in the houses isn't affected much."
"That's good."
If the windows in the houses had shattered as well, it would have been a disaster for the townsfolk this winter.
The blanket of snow weighed heavily on the branches, while the car sped along like a swift vessel on a sea of snow, undeterred by obstacles, quickly returning to the estate.
The estate stood as a beacon in this white world, and when they arrived, a comforting and gentle atmosphere enveloped them, bringing feelings of ease, joy, and happiness.
Everyone in the estate was waiting for them.
"Come! Let me introduce you to my friend!"
"This is Penelope Clearwater; here are my family members."
Although both sides had been informed through letters, Zhao Lun still introduced them to each other upon meeting.
"This is Master Mulan, a brilliant culinary master and a friend of our family!"
Upon noticing Mulan sitting quietly in the corner, Zhao Lun paused for a moment, surprised that she was there, then continued with the introductions.
"Mulan has arrived; we didn't tell you she was coming. Now that you see her, isn't it a surprise?"
As if sensing Zhao Lun's intent to ask her questions, Angela spoke up before he could.
"Surprise? Of course, it's a surprise!"
"Welcome, Mulan!"
"Well, we can't forget the other members. Look, they're all eager to see you."
"Ivy, Gray Shadow, Prince, Snow; they are brave and loyal companions, and Quick Flash and Snow Shadow are the fiercest birds of prey, able to spot any movement in their vicinity."
Zhao Lun introduced a few pets.
"What do I see? This place has become even more beautiful! The girls have done well!"
As for the changes in the estate, they were indeed significant. Following Zhao Lun's designs, the renovations had reached a conclusion, and now it looked remarkably different.
"It's getting late; let's have dinner first, then rest well. Any matters can wait until tomorrow."
Inside, it was warm; the fireplace crackled with flames, and some meat was roasting on a rack above it, coated in fragrant spices. The rack rotated steadily, heating the meat evenly, which glowed a golden brown in the flames, continuously sizzling with tantalizing aromas.
There were also fish and seafood soup, two different types of meat that made one's mouth water.
Besides the meat, vegetables and fruits were prepared like jewels, pleasing to the eye.
"Everyone, help yourselves."
Dinner began, and the atmosphere warmed up like the comforting fire.
This meal was quite casual, primarily served buffet-style, but the food was abundant, and the flavors were undoubtedly irresistible.
After dinner, everyone sat quietly, sharing candies and distributing gifts. Regardless of how many gifts there were, as long as there were red envelopes, people would rush to claim them. The point wasn't the gifts but the atmosphere—interactions akin to family, not blood relations, but closer than family.
A beautifully decorated Christmas tree stood by the window, adorned with various gifts, glimmering ornaments, and stockings.
After midnight.
"Good night, sweet dreams."
The lively estate, after the bustle, returned to silence. Only the street lamps and the sound of the wind and snow remained.
The next morning, Zhao Lun was awakened early.
"Brother, look, Ivy caught a big rat!"
Maria rushed in, excitedly pulling him to see the dogs catching a rat.
"Dogs catching rats? What's so interesting about that?"
Zhao Lun was unfazed by his dogs catching rats; he was pulled up, and today's guests were also awake, following them to see how the dogs caught the rat.
In the yard, several dogs had formed a noticeable circle, and in the center lay a rat the size of a full-grown cat. This rat was large, and with its tail included, it was bigger than most adult cats.
At that moment, it was pinned in the snow, squeaking and struggling, its cries pitiful enough to evoke sympathy.
Unfortunately, this was a world that judged by appearance; the large gray rat looked terrifying and repulsive, its cries making it seem ghastly.
"Where did such a big rat come from! Could these rats have mutated? By the way, where are our cats? Why haven't we seen them?"
"Those cats were too weak; they got killed by rats."
"…"
The thought that a cat could be killed by a rat was something he never wanted to see.
Initially, he thought these rats would only kill the smaller kittens, that adult cats would be fine, but he hadn't anticipated that even the adult cats could be killed.
The idea of those adorable creatures being killed by such detestable vermin left Zhao Lun feeling disgruntled.
"Put it in a cage and send it to the guild; someone might appreciate it."
These rats were also a kind of high-grade experimental material, and Zhao Lun believed many would be interested in them, hoping to recuperate some losses by selling them.
"It's best to catch them all and send them to the guild."
After some consideration, Zhao Lun made that decision.
"It seems this holiday won't be so easy after all." (To be continued.)
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