My front door leads to a comic strip

Chapter 228, Section 227: Celia's Little Thoughts; Translation: What is a Surprise?

Celia took a deep breath and pressed, "What do you mean by 'a period of time'?" She stared intently at Gu Yuan, as if trying to find any trace of a lie on his face. "You're not trying to stall for time, are you?"

The question slipped out without her even realizing it, her tone already carrying a hint of resentment usually reserved for those closest to her: "Anyone can say nice things, but great strength doesn't guarantee a long life."

"So many brilliant human heroes from the mythological era, didn't they all eventually turn to dust?"

Celia listed names that had long since disappeared into the annals of history, attempting to refute Gu Yuan's claims with facts.

However, just as she was giving her examples, Gu Yuan suddenly reached out and gently pinched her lips again, silencing her before she could finish her sentence.

"Ugh!"

Celia's voice stopped abruptly, and a familiar touch came. She froze on the spot, her blood rushing to her head, and even her earlobes and neck were tinged with a beautiful blush.

She was both ashamed and angry, and raised her hand to slap that presumptuous hand away.

But Gu Yuan seemed to have anticipated her reaction and released himself before she could act.

He didn't even look at Celia's fascinating expression at that moment, but casually turned his head to glance at the palm of his right hand.

There, numbers seemed to flash by.

A moment later, he raised his head again, meeting Celia's eyes, which were almost spitting fire with embarrassment and anger, and gave a much more specific answer than before: "Not long, after the hero statue in the center of the square is completed."

The statue is completed?

Celia was startled, and subconsciously rubbed her slightly numb and itchy lips with her fingertips. She felt a sense of relief, as if a huge boulder had finally been lifted off her feet.

But then a surge of anger immediately rose within him—this bastard, why does he always get physical with me?!

She glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed, but then suddenly realized that the features between his brows seemed to make him look younger than before.

Is it an optical illusion caused by the light? Or is it that my perspective on him is different?

My former self would never have observed such subtle changes in the appearance of a human male so meticulously.

Gu Yuan calmly withdrew his hand, as if the slightly romantic interlude had never happened, and his tone returned to its usual composure: "That's my answer. Besides the questions about lifespan and relationships, do you have any other questions?"

'

Selene was speechless for a moment, then shook her head.

The biggest concern about lifespan has been temporarily appeased, but another, more pressing issue immediately arises.

"That's all. Except for your marriage to Miliad—"

What she wanted to ask was what would happen to his and Milie Alder's planned wedding.

If we follow his definition of "equality," then this wedding—

But before Celia could finish speaking, Gu Yuan interrupted her: "There's no rush. I can't show favoritism. Besides, you've taken the initiative to come and confront me, so I'm prepared—"

Everything happened exactly as it did in our dream.

Since the scenes in dreams reflect subconscious desires to some extent, then turning them into reality is the most natural choice.

Gu Yuan paused, then asked, "Do you have any other opinions?"

"If not, please keep it a secret from Miliard for now. I think—it might be a 'surprise'."

Surprise? Celia almost wanted to use magic to crack open his head and see what was inside.

She still can't imagine the scene of three people standing in the wedding hall at the same time. It is too far beyond her understanding and challenges the bottom line of her sense of shame.

But—circumstances dictate the course. After all, she's a "latecomer" and far less capable than him.

This feeling of being controlled by others made her grit her teeth inwardly.

However, Celia wasn't someone who would give in so easily! If open opposition wasn't working, couldn't she at least try something covert?

A bold and opportunistic idea quietly emerged, tinged with a bit of wishful thinking and defiance.

"When it comes to the wedding—when it's time for the kiss—can I use a clone instead of my real self?"

"In any case, the clone made of magic is exactly the same as the original in terms of touch, temperature, and appearance, almost indistinguishable from the real thing —"

"I wonder if this guy will be able to spot anything by then—"

"What if he finds out? Will he expose me on the spot? Or will he punish me in an even more 'excessive' way afterward?"

Just imagining the potentially dangerous consequences made her heart race uncontrollably again.

The heat that had just subsided surged back onto my cheeks, even hotter than before.

Amidst her tangled thoughts, with a complex mix of relief and uncertainty about the future, she glanced at Gu Yuan one last time and mumbled, "—Whatever you want."

Without saying another word, he left the warehouse in a hurry, almost as if he were fleeing, as if if he stayed any longer, he would see through all the messy thoughts in his mind.

Gu Yuan stood still and did not leave immediately.

He watched Celia's hurried but no longer confused figure disappear through the door, and a relieved smile finally appeared on his lips.

Fortunately, we weathered this sudden crisis without serious harm, and even managed to take our relationship a big step forward.

He thought to himself that he felt even more exhilarated than if he had won a battle.

Even if he can't find a way to achieve immortality once and for all in the next world, he can use this buffer period after answering Celie's question to go to the DanMachi world to level up and slow down aging, buying time to wait for the next world after that.

Although the upgrades in Dizang mainly improve physical abilities and have a limited effect on directly extending lifespan, for him, as long as he can live, as long as he can continue to grow stronger, and as long as he can stay with them for longer, there is still hope.

He looked down again, glancing thoughtfully at the palm of his right hand, where a blurry "7" flickered slightly.

Afterwards, Gu Yuan gathered his scattered thoughts and quietly worked for a while in the empty warehouse.

He put the last of the possible ores and materials into the "Thousand Realms Bracelet," making sure nothing was missing, before clapping his hands in satisfaction and leaving.

Boom—

The heavy warehouse door slowly closed behind him, separating the inside from the outside. Dust floated behind the door cracks, and then everything fell back into its usual silence.

Time passed swiftly in this tranquility, and in the blink of an eye, a few days later arrived, a day of extraordinary significance for the capital.

In the central square, a crowd began to gather, and the unveiling ceremony of the much-anticipated statue of the hero was about to take place.