Chapter 7 - 7: Meeting on the Balcony
Chapter 7: Meeting on the Balcony
"What are you trying to do!"
Clarissa Mason felt a sense of pressure, facing Daisy Zane's cold eyes, which left her stunned in place.
Those eyes were only lightly gazing at her, but they seemed like a bottomless abyss, hiding a lethal silence that sent chills down one's spine.
Daisy Zane took a step forward.
Clarissa suddenly felt the urge to flee, but her legs wouldn't obey, unable to move. It was as if every pore on her body was bearing the pressure and coldness from Daisy Zane.
"You, you..."
The streetlamps at school were bright, driving away the darkness. But Clarissa felt as if she was surrounded by darkness.
At that moment, voices suddenly sounded from a distance.
"Is that Clarissa? It looks like her."
"Yeah, she's a student in the Sophomore Performance Department, it must be her."
"Ah—— I can't believe I met the goddess. If I go say hi, will I disturb her too much?"
"No, Clarissa is really nice and gentle."
"I'll take a few photos first."
...
These voices snapped Clarissa back to her senses.
It felt like escaping from the enormous shadow of Daisy Zane.
It was at school, with so many people and surveillance. What could she do? What was there to be scared of?
Moreover, her fans were present as well. Even if this person caused her any trouble, her fans would help her out. Maybe she could even gain some sympathy and attention in the process.
Clarissa forced herself to calm down and retorted somewhat weakly: "Don't scare me. I won't be afraid!"
Hearing footsteps approaching, Daisy Zane's impulse was suppressed as well. She lowered her eyes, pinched her fingertips, and whispered, "Speak less, and stay alive. Understand?"
The voice was soft, but it was chillingly fierce.
Standing close together, Clarissa held her breath and clenched her hands tightly. For a moment, it felt like the person in front of her could take her life.
"Clar—Clarissa..." A timid and shy voice sounded.
Daisy Zane didn't linger, turning around and leaving.
Only after a few female students called out a few more times did Clarissa regain her senses, hastily turning to feign a smile.
The girls immediately expressed concern: "Clarissa, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"
Clarissa shook her head with a smile, glanced at Daisy Zane's receding figure, and then weakly replied with a hint of helplessness and vulnerability: "I'm fine."
**
Daisy Zane grabbed some food outside, and it was almost 11 o'clock when she returned to the Everlasting Palace.
She took a shower first, changed into a sleeping robe, and wrapped her hair in a turban. Then she sat down on the carpet next to the sofa and started organising today's experiment reports on the computer.
At almost midnight, she closed the computer and checked messages on her phone.
She had not checked her phone since leaving Truro University.
Around 9 o'clock, the Old Master of the Miles Family sent her a message.
[Lucia, tomorrow is your grandfather's birthday. We're thinking about having dinner together at the Sky Rights Hotel. Just come over, there won't be any outsiders, only our close relatives. Let me know your address, and I'll arrange for a driver to pick you up.]
Three minutes later, another message from Johanes Miles came.
Johanes Miles was Amelia Miles' father, and also her biological father, by blood.
Johanes Miles: [Tomorrow is your grandfather's birthday. The Anning Faction and the Hobson Family will be there. Don't come over. Think about how to explain it to your grandfather.]
The Anning Faction was Amelia's future in-laws, and John Anderson's father was the Mayor of Truro City. Even though the Miles family held a strong position in Truro City in recent years, the Anning Faction was always on the list of those they tried to win over.
As for the Hobson Family, they were Johanes' in-laws, living in the Imperial Capital.
The current status of the Miles family was in no small part thanks to the contributions of the Hobson Family.
Naturally, as her illegitimate daughter and the stain on Johanes Miles' life, she wouldn't be allowed to attend such an occasion.
Daisy Zane didn't reply to either message. She stood up and took off the turban, throwing it on the tea table.
Her long, raven hair cascaded down, almost reaching her waist. Half-dried, the fluffy and soft strands hung down in a somewhat disheveled state.
She poured herself a glass of wine in the kitchen, then headed to the balcony.
Leaning her arm on the railing, she enjoyed the night breeze while looking out at the view of the entire Truro City. It should have been a pleasant experience as the wine flowed down her throat, yet there was a faint hint of brokenness in Daisy Zane's eyes.
Unintentionally revealed.
She brushed her fingers against the pendant around her neck, through her clothes.
Suddenly, there was a sound of a door opening from the balcony next door.
She instinctively turned to look...
There stood a familiar figure on the adjacent balcony, making a phone call.
A silk black shirt, dress pants, one hand in his pocket, standing straight, an ethereal aura surrounding him.
Daisy remembered that no one had lived next door when she bought her home. She had no idea when someone had moved in.
Perhaps it was because Daisy's gaze was too bold and obvious, Kevin Clark, who was on the phone, suddenly looked over...
Those narrow eyes, cold and piercing gaze, he appeared highly aggressive.
But this aggression dissipated in an instant when his eyes met Daisy's, replaced by gentleness and a touch of surprise.
He said a few words to the person on the other end of the phone, hung up, then turned to face Daisy.
"I didn't realize I lived so close to Lady Zane."
Daisy straightened her body, tucking the wind-blown loose strands of hair behind her ear, and arched an eyebrow at the sound of his voice.
Ever since the night Kevin had escorted her home, she had suspected that he might be living in Everlasting Palace.
But she hadn't expected it to be such a coincidence.
"You're not asleep yet?" Kevin glanced at the wine in her hand.
"I can't sleep." Daisy lifted the glass, "Do you want to drink some?"
Kevin's eyes always seemed to carry a smile when he looked at Daisy. Upon hearing her question, he hesitated before saying, "Is it convenient at this late hour?"
A hint of amusement tinted the corners of Daisy's eyes as she said, "It's not late. A new day has just begun."
"So... should I come over?"
"Mhm."
It was only when Kevin pressed the doorbell that he realized he might have been a bit impulsive.
Knocking on a young lady's door at this late hour... it wasn't quite gentlemanly behavior.
But... oh well, he couldn't care too much about that now.
Daisy opened the door, now wearing home clothes. She stepped aside to let Kevin in, grabbed a pair of large disposable slippers from the shoe cabinet, and said, "Make do with these."
Kevin glanced at her shoe cabinet, filled with women's shoes, and bent down to change his shoes, saying, "Thank you."
Daisy walked towards the kitchen, asking, "What kind of wine would you like?"
"You have every kind?"
"More or less."
Kevin was slightly surprised by her response. He walked into the living room and said, "Whatever you like, I'm fine with anything."
Daisy casually grabbed a bottle of red wine and placed it with two wine glasses on the living room tea table, saying, "Feel free to sit down and make yourself at home."
Kevin sat on the sofa and glanced at the bottle of wine.
A seven-figure-priced wine.
Daisy used a corkscrew with ease and familiarity to open the wine, pouring a glass for him before filling her own, commenting, "It's not bad."
Her sitting posture was formal, but her actions were brisk.
Kevin took a small sip and asked, "How's your alcohol tolerance?"
"Quite good," Daisy replied, her phoenix eyes teasing, adding, "Good enough to invite an unfamiliar man into my home for a drink."
Kevin laughed, his lips as red as cinnabar, all the more enticing, "It seems I don't have a good image in Lady Zane's heart."
"Yeah, Third Master's reputation isn't the best."