GoodRead
On this rainy day, a rare moment of coolness, Zuko and Lina found themselves huddled in their room, engaging in
various activities like painting, reading, and playing chess, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company.
“Zuko, my parents mentioned that they’re planning to go back soon,” Lina shared.
“What?” Zuko exclaimed, taken aback. “Why so suddenly?”
“It’s not sudden!” Lina smiled mischievously, making a strategic move with a black chess piece. “Looks like I’m
going to win!”
Zuko chuckled and surrendered, playing along.
“What I mean is, why can’t they stay a few more days? There are still so many places in Centrolis they haven’t
visited yet.”
“Well… maybe they feel they’ve already stayed long enough, and they still have the supermarket to take care of,”
Zuko replied, his gaze dimming slightly. His expression became somewhat complex. He set the chessboard aside
and led Lina to the bookshelf, retrieving a photo album.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCuriosity sparked within Lina.
In a gentle voice, Zuko said, “Since we’ve come this far in our relationship… I shouldn’t have any secrets from you.”
“So, are you going to show me your childhood photos?” Lina asked playfully.
Zuko gestured for her to open the album.
She delicately flipped through the pages as if stepping into a magical time machine that transported her back to
Zuko’s early years.
She saw his one-month-old photo—a tiny, naked baby peacefully asleep, adorned only with a diaper.
His three-month celebration photo—dressed in a vibrant red shirt, chubby hands and feet, a golden charm dangling
around his neck.
His one-year-old photo—sporting a shirt with a bowtie, gazing innocently at the camera like a round, plump
dumpling.
There were also his three and five-year-old photos—once he could run and jump, he fearlessly engaged in play and
exploration.
“This is Toph, right?” Lina pointed to a baby in one of the photos.
“Yes, that’s him when he was just born.”
“Then… who’s this?” Lina noticed another baby, slightly puzzled. “She’s wearing pink clothes, so she can’t be Toph,
right? But I’ve never heard you mention having a sister or anything…”
Zuko’s brow twitched as he calmly looked at her. “That’s a little girl. She was born when I was already in elementary
school.”
“Is she your cousin?” Lina inquired.
“No.”
“Then who is she?”
Zuko moistened his lips and spoke slowly. “She… is the person I’ve been engaged to since birth.”
Lina’s expression changed, and she stared at him blankly.
Zuko’s voice quivered slightly. “Lina, keep flipping through the album.”
“I don’t want to see any more,” Lina snapped, closing the album abruptly.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAlthough her face didn’t reveal much, every pore of her being emitted a clear message to him—”I’m not happy!”
Panicked, Zuko retrieved the album and started flipping through the pages himself.
Simultaneously, he heard Lina’s voice filled with grievances. “You’re already engaged… Why did you come and
pursue me?”
“Lina—”
“This girl must come from a wealthy family, right? You’re a perfect match, aren’t you? And you still keep her
newborn photos all this time, you—”
“Lina Jenner!”
Zuko suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.
Lina struggled vigorously but found herself spinning helplessly within his grasp.
“That’s correct! She’s from the Thompsons, a wealthy heiress, and we were deemed a compatible match!
“And the reason I still keep her photos is that…”
Zuko held Lina’s shoulders firmly, gazing directly into her eyes. “She’s standing right in front of me now, and I want
her to see what she looked like as a child!”
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