Everyone appeared slightly awkward.
Zuko smiled and spoke with a deep voice while tightly holding Lina's hand. "Of course, it's not the same.
"All the younger cousins call me 'Zuko', so you should call me the same." Zuko smirked, "As for 'Z', that's an exclusive title for our Pammy."
As he said that, he looked at Lina with a touch of tenderness rarely seen on his rugged face.
The younger cousins exchanged smiles but remained silent. Desiree's expression shifted slightly, and she managed to force out a smile.
The terms of address were only different by three additional letters, but for Zuko, they meant worlds apart. "Z" was only for Pammy and no one else.
Desiree's eyes flashed with a hint of complexity, and she felt the need to save her image in front of so many people. Half-jokingly, she said, "What Pammy? Hah! Isn't her name Lina Jenner?"
"Desiree, what's gotten into you?" Toph looked at her. "Don't you know? Lina is Pammy! She's the Pammy whom Uncle Nicholas and Aunt Linda finally found!"
Desiree forced a smile.
How could she not know? Janine had told them this story like it was a legend along the way.
The story was about how destined people would end up together, no matter how they went around, and no one could separate a destined couple. Even God supported Zuko in finding Pammy.
Desiree gripped her glass, and a shadow flickered in her eyes.
At the same time, she noticed that the darkness in Zuko's eyes seemed even deeper than hers.
She temporarily suppressed her thoughts and looked apologetically at Zuko and Lina. "I'm really sorry! I always speak before thinking! Sis-in-law, Lina, you're not angry, are you?"
Lina smiled.
"I'm just such a straightforward person. Please don't take it to heart, Lina. And Zuko, don't mind me too, okay?"
Desiree knocked her own head and laughed in a carefree manner. "I called you Z when we were younger, too! But—"
"But that was when we were young," Zuko interrupted her. "We're all grown now. Things that need to be taken note of should be taken note of. What do you think?"
"Mm, yeah!" Desiree quickly nodded. "You're right!"
Zuko nodded with a gentle smile. His hand had never left Lina, and she stayed being embraced by him the entire time.
-
After the welcoming banquet, Lina occasionally thought of Desiree.
Sometimes, Renee would also discuss with her. "How come Desiree seems to be good at everything? Basketball, soccer, horse racing, gaming... It's like she excels at everything!"
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