Under Aida's guidance, the car arrived at the parking garage, where it was parked.
Everyone exited the vehicle and hurried towards Aida, pulling her into a warm and friendly conversation.
"Aida, you've grown taller!" Maria exclaimed.
During their time together at the estate, their shared experiences fostered a strong bond, and without realizing it, they had become quite close. They spent more time together than anyone else. Even after Aida left the estate and began exercising outdoors, she stayed in touch with Maria occasionally.
Their communication often included video chats, so Maria was aware of Aida's growth, although the reality of it felt more tangible in person.
Recently, Aida seemed to have tapped into new reserves of energy and had begun growing once again, entering a second phase of development. If she had once seemed somewhat slender and small, she now appeared to have developed a physique that rivaled some Western women, with a frame that stood out among her peers.
Through her training and the experiences she had undergone, Aida had undergone a remarkable transformation. No longer the ugly duckling she once was, her figure had matured. More than that, her self-doubt and timidity had vanished, replaced by a calm demeanor—one that exuded serenity, a "no matter the turmoil, I remain steadfast" kind of tranquility.
She now appeared as if she had seen through the world, unmoved by anything, save for the people who were truly close to her: those who had taken her out of the orphanage, those who genuinely cared for her.
Indifferent to strangers, she rarely even bothered to offer a smile.
"Maria, you've grown taller too!"
Aida was genuinely pleased to see Maria, her face softening as she embraced her. She compared their heights, and Maria was nearly at her chest now.
"Maria has been growing taller all along."
Maria had always taken pride in her height, especially when comparing herself to her peers, which gave her an unspoken sense of superiority.
"Alright, stop chatting here. Let's go outside and talk."
Although the garage was spacious and bright, it wasn't quite the right place for conversation compared to the outdoors.
Once in the courtyard, the vibrant greenery of the plants around them brought a sense of life and vigor, their fresh green leaves invigorating and brightening the spirit.
In stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the estate, this place was remarkably quiet, with no people or visible security. The contrast was striking, with the absence of a bustling crowd.
What it lacked in people, it made up for in birds. Before they even entered the building, they could hear a variety of bird calls.
These weren't just sparrows, but robins, skylarks, doves, and more—a veritable haven for birds.
In this large metropolis, to hear such bird songs was a rare luxury, and it was one that only the wealthy could enjoy daily. For the rest, such sounds could only be experienced in parks.
"This place, how is it arranged?"
Though it lacked the hustle and bustle of the estate, it was impeccably maintained and clearly the result of careful design.
"There are specialized staff for maintenance, and for security, we've followed the same methods as at the estate."
Zhao Lun felt reassured, pleased that this grand mansion now belonged to him. It would make future visits to London much more convenient, no need to keep searching for hotels.
The best part was that it felt comfortable to live in, a perfect match for his tastes.
They didn't need to hire maids here as they didn't live here often. They could take care of things themselves.
The estate's security featured two layers: one based on magic, and the other using technological arrangements. The critical component was Athena, the intelligent housekeeper, who provided round-the-clock surveillance and could deploy forces as necessary.
Though there were no people around, should anyone intrude, they would soon be dealt with, hit by tranquilizer darts or even bullets before they could enter the house's interior.
Naturally, this level of security wasn't activated under normal circumstances—it was just a precaution.
The house looked impressive from the outside, and Zhao Lun was even more pleased with the décor and layout inside. Some of it looked quite familiar to him, and soon he realized why—it was based on his own designs.
What was challenging for others was effortless for Zhao Lun. By combining his ideas with knowledge of decoration, using the light brain for analysis, and then designing the final product, it was incredibly simple for him. Whatever he wanted, he could have.
To make things easier, Zhao Lun had often designed blueprints and stored them in Athena's database, available for others to use as needed.
Zhao Lun: "Looks like you used the designs from Athena's database for the décor."
Everyone nodded, not surprised that Zhao Lun had recognized the layout.
The arrangements were practical, aesthetically pleasing, and elevated their quality of life—exactly what they had hoped for.
"The renovations are great, they've achieved exactly what I wanted."
"The layout is perfect, exactly as the blueprints suggested. That's how it should be."
After inspecting the entire place, Zhao Lun found a well-lit area, not too hot, offering a beautiful view of the outdoors, and sat down.
As the afternoon approached, the clear sky began to darken, with clouds gathering and moisture thickening the air, signaling an incoming rainstorm.
"Look at that, the weather changes in the blink of an eye, doesn't it?"
The change in weather reminded them of their previous discussion, and sure enough, it was happening just as predicted.
"Yes, from my calculations, we're about to experience a brief shower, followed by overcast skies."
Zhao Lun watched the shifting weather, speaking with certainty. With the help of his light brain, he had connected to local signals and satellite feeds, gaining real-time insights into the weather, which he could analyze for more accurate forecasts.
As predicted, the rain arrived, lasted for a while, and then quickly passed. However, the sky remained overcast, as if more rain might follow soon.
Thanks to the rain, the air felt cooler and fresher.
Lunch was ready, and as everyone sat down to eat, the conversation shifted to the afternoon plans of buying school supplies for Maria at Diagon Alley.
"No doubt, Maria must come along too."
"Penelope and I also need to pick up new books, so we have to go as well."
"As for you, since you're not a wizard, it's better if you stay behind."
After discussing for a while, Zhao Lun made the final decision.
"You've already decided who's going, so why even ask us?"
"Yeah, boss, this is just too much!"
Angela shot Zhao Lun a playful glare, and Monica joined in with a mock scolding, while Nicole remained silent, glaring at him.
At that moment, the three of them united, putting some pressure on Zhao Lun.
This was all in good humor, and after the jokes, the group headed out to the magical realm's entrance, where they parked the car.
This wasn't their first time here, so once the car was parked, there was no delay. They took out their wands and headed straight for their destination, easily entering the magical world.
P.S.: Thanks to the generous tip from Wuzhi Ah and Xiao Long! (To be continued.)