Valerie brought up the topic of Leon's birthday again during dinner. However, Wynn interrupted her.
"Didn't he already say that he wanted to celebrate it with someone else? We should stop worrying about it then."
The elegant smile on Valerie's face didn't falter at all. "Michelle won't be able to come back on Leon's birthday. She'll only arrive the day after, so I thought that maybe we should celebrate with him. And then he can celebrate with Michelle the next day."
Bryant shot a surprise look at his cousin.
According to recent observations, Valerie was in love with Leon. 'Why would she let him be alone with another woman if she likes him?
Women are really unpredictable.'
Nonetheless, Bryant remained silent. Meanwhile, Wynn asked Leon, "She hasn't come back yet?"
"Yes. She just called me this afternoon, informing me that she wouldn't make it for my birthday. But she'll try to make it up to me the day after. She even bought me an apology gift." Every time Leon mentioned Michelle, there was a sparkle of tenderness in his eyes. Likewise, nothing could hide the smile pulling at the corners of his lips.
He directed that smile towards Wynn. "Do you know what gift she bought for me?"
"Food? The local delicacy there?" Wynn raised his eyebrows. "I think it must be food."
"No. It's a necktie. And do you know what it means when a woman gives a man a tie?" Leon was so smug.
'So Leon knows what it means. Did he ask Michelle to buy him a tie on purpose?' Valerie found herself tightening her grip on her chopsticks.
"Of course, you wouldn't know. No one has sent you one after all." Leon smiled playfully at Wynn, teasing him.
Wynn glared at Leon and snorted. "Did you ask for the tie yourself? I bet she doesn't even know what it means to give one to you."
Leon continued to stare at him with his amber eyes. The smile on his face was still there.
But it had turned sharper and fiercer than before.
Wynn picked up a piece of meat and put it into Leon's bowl. "But it doesn't matter. I can just tell her what it means."
With that, Leon's face softened.
"Let's go to the Hot Spring Resort for Leon's birthday. We can go there tomorrow afternoon and come back the day after." Valerie had just spoken at the right time without interrupting Wynn's conversation with Leon. She smiled at Leon and asked, "How is it? Do you like it? Let's go to the Hot Spring Resort to celebrate your birthday."
"Are you referring to the Hot Spring Resort in the neighboring city?" As soon as Bryant finished eating, he wiped his hands with a wet towel. "That Hot Spring Resort is a good choice. It has a good reputation and a great atmosphere. We can even do some stargazing at night. I heard there are fireflies there as well."
"That's right. We can enjoy the stars and the fireflies." Valerie highlighted some of the best features of the resort, trying to leave a better impression on Leon.
She knew that Leon loved his sister Nina the most. She also knew that Nina was fond of stars and fireflies.
Back when she was still trapped inside the castle, Leon would often come to her to talk about Nina. He said that every year, Nina would go to an island just to watch the stars on her birthday. That island even had fireflies and an elk.
Leon had been living in Lexingport City for a few months now. She would sometimes catch him staring at the direction of the C Island. He missed his family very much, but the person he missed the most was his sister.
"Stars and fireflies?" Leon repeated this gently. "Let's go to that Hot Spring Resort and see their fireflies. I should also ask John to have some fireflies in the North Yard so that Nini can enjoy them in the future."
Their plans for his birthday was finally settled then.
And while Valerie looked calm and composed, she was overjoyed deep down.
She was the one who came up with the idea of the Hot Spring Resort. That meant she was fully responsible about the whole arrangement of Leon's birthday party. It was only natural that she would be very happy. The next morning would be very busy for her.
Nonetheless, Bryant was there to help her with that. Upon seeing that she tried to finish all her tasks that morning, he couldn't help but be worried about her. She must have been exhausted.
"You don't have to rush everything. We can just go there at night."
"That's okay. I have arranged everything. You guys can go there this afternoon," Valerie said with a big smile on her face.
"We will go there first?" Bryant asked. "What about you? Won't you go with us?"
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