Qi Yan was slightly startled by Kerry's overreaction, and his indifferent eyes moved up and landed on his angry face.
"Kerry, it's almost winter, I have to get out of here."
Unexpectedly, Kerry's face suddenly turned red with embarrassment. He hesitated and sat down, not looking at Qi Yan's face: "Is this an explanation?"
"Not an explanation. I'm just informing you."
"Can't you stay?" Kerry's voice contained a hint of pleading, and his eyes were hopeful: "I hope you can stay, and I will find a way to keep you warm."
"Kerry." Qi Yan interrupted his thoughts: "There is no way to survive the winter, except for the volcanic sea."
Kerry knew that Qi Yan would definitely not stay. Although he didn't know this friend of a different race very well, his most attractive feature was his ability to tell the same story.
He looked at him hesitantly for a long time, and finally sighed softly, picked up the delicate snacks on the side, and handed them down.
"You have to remember me and come back next year."
I hope you can come back early next year as the first friend to witness my strength.
Qi Yan did not answer, but picked up a piece of pastry and took an elegant bite. The sweet saccharine taste spread in his mouth. Qi Yan frowned secretly and swallowed the cake with cream.
He didn't like the taste very much. It was too sweet, like something a child would eat.
"Ayan."
Hearing Kerry's call, Qi Yan turned his head. Before he could see clearly, he heard the sound of heavy objects falling into the sea, and his eyes were dazzled by the splashing water. I stretched out my hand and wiped my eyes, but the more I wiped, the worse it became. I could only wait for my eyes to feel comfortable before opening them again.
Suddenly, a strong arm was wrapped around his waist. Qi Yan was startled and swung his fish tail violently, but he was no match for the opponent's strength. I just felt like I was being held in a hot embrace, the kind of warmth that mermaids don't have.
"If you can't go ashore, then I will come down and give you a farewell hug."
Kerry's reluctant words rang in his ears, and the arms around his waist and the hands on the back of his head tightened at the same time, making him press closer to Kerry's arms.
"I really...can't let you go."
No longer struggling violently, Qi Yan felt his helplessness and trembling, and finally reached out his hand and slowly hugged Kerry's broad shoulders.
"I will come back, for sure."
A promise is like a seed buried in the heart. As long as you water and fertilize it carefully during this period, it will grow overwhelmingly like a big tree, occupying the entire heart and becoming a part of the body.
[Kerry's favorability towards Qi Yan +10, current favorability: 50]
The next evening, when Kerry came to the beach again, he did not see Qi Yan. Every day after that, Kerry would sit on the rock after dinner, looking at the sponges blending in with the night in the distance, trying to find the shining light blue in the depths.
At the same time, the relationship between Kerry and Count Hilal became increasingly bad. Each time, after being framed by his brothers, he received a sneer from Count Hilary. He was obviously his father, and his words were merciless.
I once thought that I could stand out among my brothers and impress my father. Obviously this was a joke.
Now that the last family ties have been wiped out, there is no need to be soft-hearted anymore.
This winter, Kerry tried his best to become 'friends' with Master Gabor, the legitimate son of Count Guaguez, who was also a count.
Gabor Guaguez was three years old and turned fifteen after the New Year. He was a very simple child. Because he was so well protected, he was like a piece of pure white paper. Compared with those fawning nobles, Gabor liked this elder brother who ignored him even more from the first meeting.
When he learned that Kerry was just a bastard and had never heard Count Hilal talk about him, the simple Gabor showed great anger. He wanted to ask his father to argue with Count Hilal, but was stopped by Kerry. down.
—If you don’t care about my identity and still want to be friends with me. It doesn't matter whether you are taken seriously or not.
These words were very helpful to Gabor. For him, Brother Kerry was a man who was willing to take risks and not stick to trivial matters.
Therefore, when Gabor, as a friend of Kerry Hilal, came to visit Hilal's mansion on New Year's Day, everyone else's eyes were filled with shock and panic.
You know, they didn't even prepare a new piece of clothing for Kerry.
Earl Hilal was very frightened. He looked at the young master and felt uneasy: "Well, Kerry is still preparing..."
Gabor concealed the sarcasm in his heart and glanced at the packed European-style hall with his big round eyes strangely: "But all your people are here, why isn't brother Kerry here?"
Earl Hilal touched the beads of sweat on his forehead and said: "Krina's child has always been unfettered. I will ask someone to bring him here."
"No, it's just an unlucky time for me to come." Gabor raised a bright smile: "I'm going to find brother Kerry."
"Huh?" Earl Hilal's fat figure trembled, and he was shocked. If this kid went to find Kerry in person, wouldn't he know that Kerry lived in the Round Tower? Moreover, he and Count Guaguez were politically hostile to begin with, and they didn't get along very well. It would be really bad if this kid went back to talk nonsense and was used by Count Guaguez to frame him.
While thinking about it, Gabor ran towards the round tower by a familiar route. Count Hilal quickly sent someone to follow him to prevent any accidents.
The tower is about forty square meters, round, and made of old stones. It is neither warm in winter nor cool in summer. It is just a shelter from wind and rain.
Gabor walked up the stone steps and ordered that no one could follow him. Not to mention how surprised Kerry was when he quietly opened the door and walked in.
"Gabor?" Kerry asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"
"I'm here to give you a New Year's gift!" Kerry placed the large gift box on the wooden table against the wall.
Looking around this very small but very clean round room, Gabor showed a trace of displeasure: "Count Hilal is really too much!"
Kerry did not refute or accept, but changed the subject: "Thank you for the gift."
"You're welcome." Gabor walked around, picked up the book that Kerry had placed on the bed, and started reading: "Is this... a book about mermaids?"
Kerry nodded: "More interested."
Gabor didn't like reading this kind of book, so he put it aside and said unintentionally: "They all say that mermaids eat people, is it true?"
"No, they don't eat people, they eat sea fruits."
"Those rumors are so strange. Why do they describe mermaids in such a scary way?" Gabor walked around and said, "I saw mermaids in the museum in Erli City. They are so beautiful!"
When the topic of mermaids came up, Kerry was obviously very interested: "A living mermaid?"
"Yes. But my father said that if mermaids are kept in captivity, they will die soon."
- Just like a flash in the pan, it is beautiful for a moment, but also fades overnight.