I loaded the Mysticism panel.

Evelyn rolled over in the chair.

Her position differs from her mother's.

Margaret was embarrassed to bother her son, fearing it would interfere with his studies.

Even when I called Isabella, it took a lot of roundabout ways before I dared to ask her a single question.

Evelyn didn't have any psychological barrier about being disturbed; she simply didn't know what to say.

She wanted to call them several times, but she swallowed the words back.

What are you saying?

Did I make another batch of Professor Rabbit 7th generation today?

They said they don't have enough flour and need to go buy some tomorrow.

Mrs. Weir's cat gave birth to four kittens last week, one of which was orange and particularly fat.

These things are so boring to talk about.

Her brother studied Classics at the Imperial University, where he spent his days facing Latin, Ancient Greek, and all sorts of things she couldn't understand at all.

She posted a copy of the newspaper her brother was reading on the living room wall and tucked a copy into her notebook;

He sent one copy to Mrs. Weir, two copies to Greenwood's teacher, and locked the remaining five copies in his bedside table drawer.

Even though she knew it, there was always a little bit of unhappiness in her heart.

Richard, who used to be frail and sickly, huddled with her in the same slag heap alley...

I get out of breath if I walk fast, I don't have enough money for lunch so I can only drink free hot tea, and I wish I could bury my head in the desk when the teacher calls my name.

What now?

They were featured in newspapers, participated in debate week, and won first place in the pre-university group.

In a place like Imperial University, he stood on the same level as a scion of a prestigious family like Montagu.

If she were to run into her brother on the streets of the capital one day, would she not recognize him at all?

Evelyn pulled her face off the armrest of the chair and rubbed her nose vigorously.

What are you thinking? No matter how much her brother changes, he still eats like a pig.

The last time his family called, his mother asked him if he had eaten properly.

He said over there, "I have a school cafeteria meal allowance, a Greta Thunberg snack, and my aunt's grapefruit tea."

There were several people feeding him.

The food in the capital was even better than at home, which makes me angry just thinking about it.

Evelyn turned to a blank page in the notebook and began to draw a particularly fat rabbit.

As he drew, the pressure from the pen tip gradually decreased, his head tilted to the side, and he fell asleep on his laptop.

The clock in the living room was still ticking away.

The daylight outside the window had completely disappeared from the walls, leaving the alleyway a dark gray ditch.

The big dog next door stood up from the steps and pricked up its ears towards the alley entrance.

………………

When did she fall asleep?

Evelyn's consciousness hovered on the edge of a half-dream, half-awake state.

"It's been about fifteen minutes," the mother said softly.

"Let her sleep a little longer."

Another voice, male, very young.

Evelyn's eyelids twitched, and her nose regained its function before her brain.

A scent of cream and chocolate was wafting towards her face from a direction less than a foot away.

Her nostrils twitched twice.

On the third tap, her eyes opened.

On the coffee table in front of me was a brown paper package, the seal of which had been torn in half.

Inside the paper package was a box of chocolates.

The box has a small golden flag on it, and underneath the flag is a line of cursive script that reads "Valentine".

Her gaze moved upwards, landing on the paper package.

Next to the paper package was a small cloth bag, the opening of which was tied with a hemp rope, and a cream color could be seen through the gap.

Next to it was a tin can with a label that read: "34 Holburn Street, Pearson Handmade Toffee".

Right next to it...

"You're awake?"

Richard stood at the kitchen doorway, holding a cup of hot tea, a faint smile playing on his lips.

His shirt and vest fit him better than when he left home in August; he had grown a little taller.

"..."

Evelyn's brain has rebooted.

"elder brother!!"

The noise was so loud that the big dog outside jumped up from the steps.

Richard almost dropped his teacup.

The girl sprang from the armchair and crashed into his arms.

"Why...when did you...why didn't you..."

Her shoulders were trembling, and Richard wasn't sure if she was laughing or something else.

You've trampled my tea.

"Who cares about your tea!"

A muffled sound came from his chest.

The mother peeked out from the kitchen, glanced at the brother and sister in the living room, and then withdrew her head.

Something was being fried on the stove, and oil was sizzling and popping in the pan.

Richard patted his sister on the back of the head twice with the hand that wasn't holding the teacup.

"Let go, you're pulling on my collar."

Evelyn didn't loosen up.

She tightened her arms around him, as if to confirm that the person in her arms was real.

About half a minute later, she let go of her hand.

He took a step back and rubbed the corner of his eye with the back of his hand.

"Who told you not to tell me beforehand!"

"If I told you, you wouldn't be surprised."

"I don't want your surprise!"

He said no, but his hand was already reaching for the box of Valentine chocolates on the coffee table.

How much did you spend?

"Not expensive."

"You're lying." Evelyn pointed to the numbers on the label.

"Valentine's limited-edition holiday gift boxes start at at least three shillings and sixpence."

How do you know so much?

Evelyn blushed.

"I...I just know."

………………

While clearing the dishes after the meal, Richard made his grandfather's suggestion.

"This Christmas, the whole family is going to Beijing."

Evelyn almost dropped the plate in her hand.

"The capital city? The whole family?"

"Yes, there are empty rooms in that mansion over there; we can go and stay there."

He glanced at his mother.

Margaret was washing a pot by the sink, her hands never stopping, but her ears were clearly perked up.

"By the way," Richard continued.

"Let's complete the registration for Evelyn Culinary School as well, so we don't have to make another trip in the spring."

Evelyn stood still, her gaze shifting from her brother's face to her mother's back.

"mom……"

"I heard you." Margaret put the pot on the stove to cool.

She wiped her hands with her apron and turned around.

"What does your dad think?"

All three of them looked towards the living room at the same time.

Rogers sat on the sofa, still holding the newspaper he never parted with.

"What about the round-trip train tickets?"

"Grandfather is all ready." Richard leaned against the doorframe.

Rogers closed the newspaper.

"Go ahead."

"Just stay a few days, don't exceed the holiday period."

Evelyn had already started bouncing around in place behind him.

"yeah!"

"What are you jumping around for?" Rogers said without turning his head. "Have you prepared your application materials for culinary school?"

Evelyn's bouncing stopped abruptly.

"...I still need a letter of recommendation. My teacher said he'll write it for me next week."

"Keep pushing them, don't let it drag on to the last day."

Rogers went into the bedroom, and the door closed behind him.

The night of the harvest day passed quickly.

Evelyn was tidying up her things in her room, talking nonstop.

"Bro! Are there any stores in Beijing that specialize in selling baking tools?"

I'd like to get a piping tip to match the Ludwigs scraper set my aunt gave me last time.

"Yes," Richard replied from next door. "I'll take you shopping later."

"What about near Imperial University? What do you usually eat there?"

"canteen."

"Is it tasty?"

"good."

The wall clock in the hallway struck ten.

Her mother's footsteps came down the stairs and stopped at the door of her room.

"Go to sleep."

"Mom, I haven't finished collecting them yet."

"Christmas is still two months away, what are you going to accept now?"

"Let me make a list first."

"What list? Just bring yourself and that notebook. Everything else can be bought in the capital."

Evelyn's room was quiet for a few seconds.

"Mom, that list is a list of good restaurants in Beijing."

"...Where did you get this?"

"My classmate said so."

"Has your classmate been to Beijing?"

"Her cousin went there."

The mother sighed, stood at her daughter's door for a while, and ultimately did not urge her any further.

She knew the girl was too excited to sleep tonight, and urging her wouldn't help.

In the other room, Richard turned off the lights and lay down on his bed.

The clock ticked away in the corridor.

Richard closed his eyes.

He had the most restful sleep he'd had in over two months.