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Lina was cautious with each step she took. When Janine introduced her and Renee to the other members of the
Bakers, she paid close attention, not wanting to make any mistakes in the future.
“Some of them are distant relatives of the Bakers,” Janine told her with a smile. “But they’re quite capable!
“In the future, you’ll see. I don’t care about anything else when I assess people. I don’t ask about their background.
As long as they have good character and are willing to make progress, I’m willing to support them!”
Lina nodded and smiled back at her.
There were both males and females among the Bakers. Young people always had endless topics to discuss when
they gathered. Moreover, they were all familiar with Zuko and Toph, so Lina quickly fit in.
As they all chatted happily, someone entered the hall. Things seemed to pause momentarily as they watched the
girl walk straight to Janine and hug her with a bright grin.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Sorry, Grandma Janine! I snuck out of the hotel as soon as I arrived in Centrolis because I wanted to look around.
But I got lost and just came back now!” she apologized.
“I’m sorry for being late!” The girl turned to tell the others. “Don’t worry. I’ll down three glasses later as a penalty!”
Lina observed her carefully. The girl had a bold sense of beauty and a unique style of dressing. She tied her long
hair into a high ponytail and wasn’t wearing an evening dress for the party. Instead, she wore a tight-fitting denim
skirt with knee-high boots, making her stand out in the crowd.
Janine smiled faintly without saying anything and brought her over to Lina.
“This is Desiree, the Harpers’ young heiress,” Janine said, looking at her. “You two are about the same age… You’ll
probably have common topics.”
After saying that, Janine left to socialize with Cordelia and Zephyr’s company.
Once the elders left, the young ones relaxed. They listened to the music and chatted merrily.
After Desiree drank her penalty, she spotted Zuko and Toph and waved to them enthusiastically. “Hey, long time no
see!”
“It hasn’t been that long, has it?” Toph laughed. “When Zuko and I visited Melorian two years ago, we had dinner
together, didn’t we?”
“Yes, yes, my memory’s failing me!” Desiree’s voice was loud, and her laughter carried a hint of boyish charm.
She chatted with everyone happily, and Lina felt a little out of place.
Zuko noticed her expression and gently hugged her waist, whispering in her ear, “Toph and I did grow up with
Desiree. Every time we went to Melorian when we were kids, we always played together.”
“Really? Why didn’t you mention it before?”
“She’s just a childhood friend. I didn’t pay much attention to it.”
Zuko spoke the truth. He was a Hamerton, so he wasn’t as close to the Bakers as Desiree was and even further
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmaway from the Harpers.
Desiree was, at most, an acquaintance he did not dislike.
As he thought about it, a wine glass suddenly appeared in front of him, and then a clear voice said, “Z!”
Zuko was taken aback and saw Desiree standing before him, holding a glass of wine and ready to drink with him.
“Z, you used to come to Melorian every year. Why didn’t you come last year? That’s not okay. I have to penalize
you with a drink!” she said warmly, but the atmosphere around them suddenly quieted.
After a moment of silence, a distant cousin of the Bakers gently tugged Desiree’s arm and said, “Desiree, what are
you saying? That’s Zuko!”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, we should call him ‘Zuko’!” another guy reminded her. “Isn’t that how we all call him?”
Desiree burst into laughter. Slightly flushed from the three glasses she had downed, she seemed tipsy. “You guys
are really funny! What’s the difference between Z… and Zuko?”
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