Chapter 244
The driver helped load the luggage into the trunk, and the family of three got in.
Inside the train station, with half an hour until boarding, Sophia brought out the chestnut cake she had prepared earlier for breakfast.
Isabella didn't like things too sweet. The chestnut flavor was just right.
David Sullivan had a bowl of plain noodles before heading out, leaving him comfortably full.
He pulled a thick book from his backpack and began reading intently.
Twenty minutes later, the boarding announcement came over the speakers.
Isabella Sullivan and Sophia Sullivan traveled light and walked ahead.
They scanned their IDs and passed through the turnstile smoothly.
They waited inside for David.
David was dragging his suitcase and also carrying Isabella's bag.
He reached for his pocket and suddenly froze.
His wallet was gone!
He remembered being bumped from behind while in line.
The person who bumped him was quick, managing to swipe his wallet.
"Dad, hurry up!" Sophia waved from inside the gate.
David turned pale. "My wallet's gone. My ID was inside."
Sophia was stunned.
"Use your phone," she suggested immediately. "You can apply for a temporary ID on the app."
There wasn't much cash in the wallet, and the ID could be replaced.
David gave a wry smile. "My phone... was stolen too."
Sophia was completely speechless.
David suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.
It was the person who had bumped him earlier!
"Stop, thief!" He dropped his luggage and charged forward.
Sophia and Isabella tried to follow but were stopped by staff.
"Regulations state you cannot return after ticket inspection. Please use the exit and re-enter from there."
The exit was a long way from the waiting hall.
Isabella was anxious. "My husband went after a thief. I'm very worried about him..."
"Sorry, rules are rules."
Sophia calmed down. "Can you notify the police on duty to help?"
"Don't worry, we've already dispatched officers."
Sophia felt slightly reassured.
She picked up her father's suitcase and walked with Isabella toward the exit.
...
Meanwhile, David stopped, panting heavily.
A young man handed him his wallet and phone.
"Sir, check if everything's there?"
David checked. "Yes, it's all mine! Thank you so much, young man!"
"Just doing what anyone would do."
"What's your name?"
"Sebastian Evans."
...
"Dad—"
Sophia and Isabella rushed over, having walked for nearly twenty minutes.
David waved his wallet. "Got everything back!"
Isabella looked him over. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, just warmed up from running."
The family of three returned to the waiting hall.
Their train had already left. Sophia used her phone to rebook the next available one.
The earliest train was in an hour.
They found some empty seats and sat down.
David suddenly stood up and waved into the distance. "Sebastian!"
Sophia and Isabella looked up.
Sebastian didn't realize he was being called at first.
It wasn't until David called his name a third time that he turned around.
His eyes immediately landed on Sophia.
His expression brightened, and he strode over.
David warmly shook his hand. "What a coincidence!"
Sebastian's gaze swept over David, then settled on Sophia.
These two...
"Dad, you know him?" Sophia approached, sounding surprised.
Dad?
A slight smile touched Sebastian's lips.
He was originally supposed to fly back to Kyoto, but his flight was canceled due to weather.
His secretary had booked him a train ticket instead.
He never expected...
Such a pleasant surprise.
David laughed. "This young man here helped me get my wallet back just now!"
Sophia paused for a moment. "Thank you, Mr. Evans."
"Don't mention it. Anyone would have done the same."
Isabella was curious. "You two know each other?"
Sophia and Sebastian nodded simultaneously. "Yes."
As for how they knew each other...
Now was clearly not the time for details.
Isabella didn't press further.
David asked, "Sebastian, where are you headed?"
"Back to Kyoto."
"What a coincidence! We're going to Kyoto too. Which train are you on?"
Sebastian asked casually, "And you?"
David told him the train number.
Sebastian smiled. "What a coincidence, that's my train too."
"Perfect! We can go together!"
"Alright."
Sebastian let David pull him down to sit.
While chatting, he quickly took out his phone and changed his ticket.
An inconvenience could easily become a fortunate coincidence.
...
A railway police officer came to take David's statement.
Since the lost items were recovered, a signature was needed for confirmation.
David cooperated fully.
Isabella went with him, taking the chance to stretch her legs.
Only Sophia and Sebastian remained in the seats.
People milled around, but the atmosphere between them was subtly charged.
Sebastian spoke softly, "Earlier, in front of your parents, you still called me Mr. Evans."
His tone held a hint of complaint.
Sophia blinked. "What else should I call you? I always call you that."
"Mr. Evans is too formal. You're a student. Using such a corporate title might make your parents misunderstand."
"I don't know if they'd misunderstand, but you're definitely overthinking it."
Sebastian was speechless.
"Is calling me 'Seb' that difficult?"
Sophia shook her head seriously. "Yes. I don't make a habit of casually calling people 'brother,' unless you actually are my brother."
Like how she naturally called Ryan Sullivan.
Sebastian immediately waved a hand. "Then Mr. Evans is fine."
Better than being relegated to brother status...
He suddenly pulled a book from his bag.
Before he could speak, Sophia exclaimed, "So you were the one who bought it!"
It was the out-of-print original language book she hadn't finished reading at the West Street bookstore!
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "The owner is a friend. He reluctantly parted with it and gave it to me."
He just gave it to him...
Sophia felt a twinge of envy.
"Here." He offered her the book.
"...What?" She was startled and quickly waved her hands. "But he gave it to you..."
Sebastian smiled. "I was always going to give it to you."
What else would he do with such a specialized book?
He couldn't understand a word of it.
Sophia Sullivan accepted the card.
The temptation was too great.
She couldn't resist.
"Thank you."
"Call me Seb."
"..."
They arrived in Kyoto in the afternoon.
Sophia and her family were not in the same train car as Sebastian Evans.
She was about to call a ride after exiting the station.
Then she saw him standing not far away.
He was tall, standing out in the crowd.
Sebastian walked toward David Sullivan with a smile. "Sir, my car is right outside. May I give you a ride home?"
David was taken aback. "No need to trouble yourself. We can call a car."
"It's on my way." Sebastian took the suitcase from him and walked straight out.
"Well then, thank you, Sebastian."
"No trouble at all."
Sophia silently closed the ride-hailing app and put her phone away.
In the car.
Sebastian sat in the driver's seat, steering with practiced ease.
Sophia took the passenger seat.
Isabella and David sat in the back.
"That copy of 'The Comprehensive Mirror' you have, sir, is it the 2003 reprint?" Sebastian glanced through the rearview mirror.
David immediately perked up. "You know this book?"
"My grandfather studied history. I picked up a little. If I recall correctly, editions after 2010 removed two historical units. There seemed to be an earlier removal too?"
David's eyes lit up. "More than once! It was removed three times total!"
"The most recent was 2010, before that was 2004. The earliest one is unclear. I remember the version I read as a child had thirty-six units. The one you hold now is from before the second removal—thirty units. The last two removals took four units, so there must have been an earlier one."
"1996." Sebastian said suddenly.
David: "What?"
"If there was another removal, it must have been 1996."
"Why are you so sure?" David asked curiously.
"Wasn't sure before. But you said there was one before 2004. It was probably the edition my grand-uncle oversaw. That was 1996."
David was astonished. "What was your grand-uncle's name?"
"Shen Tangzhi."
"Professor Shen is your grand-uncle?!"
Sebastian nodded. "You've heard of him?"
"Of course! Such a renowned translator and scholar! How could I not?!"
Sebastian turned the steering wheel. His gaze occasionally flicked to Sophia, then back to the mirror. "Pre-1996 editions are hard to find. But my grand-uncle moved abroad when I was in high school. He left all his out-of-print books to me."
"I can look for it when I get back. Should be able to find it."
David's eyes shone, though he verbally declined. "That... seems like too much trouble."
They weren't related. Why would he show him?
Sebastian smiled. "No trouble. Books are meant for those who appreciate them. Better than gathering dust on a shelf."
"Heh... well then, I won't stand on ceremony. Thank you!"
Sebastian: "That's more like it."
They'd be family soon anyway.
Isabella listened to their book talk. She glanced at her daughter and asked casually, "Your family is very literary, Sebastian? What kind of books do you usually enjoy?"
"Mostly essays and novels at home. Personally, I like thrilling, unconventional stories. I just finished your new book, 'The Seven-Day Dialogue,' ma'am. The ending was stunning."
Isabella was surprised he'd read her work. "You know I wrote 'The Seven-Day Dialogue'?"
Sebastian's eyes swept over Sophia. "Yes, I know."
As for how he knew...
Sebastian didn't say.
Isabella didn't ask.
Only Sophia suffered, scrutinized by the gazes of these two clever people.
Sigh...
"So, was the killer really the physics teacher?"
Isabella was surprised. "Why do you ask that?"
The book's ending pointed all clues toward the physics teacher.
He used his scientific knowledge to plan the perfect crime.
The evidence seemed conclusive. Yet Sebastian asked if it was really him.
Isabella's gaze deepened.
Sebastian: "There were a few subtle descriptions..."
First, the misaligned shadow in the stairwell.
Second, the murder weapon that vanished inexplicably. It was found later, but its disappearance was never explained.
Third, two pairs of slippers in the lone girl's apartment. The book said they were for guests. But why were they men's slippers?
Would a woman living alone frequently invite men over and specially prepare slippers for them?
It didn't make sense.
Even if she did, they should be women's slippers.
"...These hidden clues suggest the real killer is someone else. Of course," Sebastian changed his tone, "this is just my personal theory."
Isabella smiled. "When you ask these questions, you must already have the answer in mind."
Sebastian also smiled. "So there will be a sequel, right?"
Isabella didn't answer.
But her silent smile said it all.
Sebastian stopped at the alley entrance. Sophia thanked him and got out with her parents.
"Thank you, Sebastian."
"You're welcome, sir."
While going upstairs, David suddenly stopped.
"Wait... I never told him our address. How did he know to stop here?"
Sophia: "..." She felt inexplicably guilty.
Isabella shot him a look. "That's a question for Sophia, isn't it, sweetie?" Isabella smiled meaningfully.
David looked at his daughter, finally catching on. "Sophia, are you and Sebastian very close?"
Uh...
"He's helped me a few times. We're friends, but not that close."
"Not close, yet he's helped you multiple times?"
Sophia: "Maybe he's just a helpful person? Didn't he help you catch a thief today?"
David thought about it and nodded. "True."
Isabella: "..."
"Dad, stop asking. Let's go. The luggage is heavy."
"Give it to me, I'll carry it..."
On the drive back, Sebastian was in a great mood.
"Hey, Charlie. Call Julian. Let's get tea."
"...Get what?!" Charlie Lowell thought he misheard.
Sebastian: "Tea."
Charlie: "..."
Tea in the middle of the day?
He didn't get it.
Elegant Teahouse—
Julian Winston walked in and looked around, clicking his tongue. "What's this new game?"
Sebastian poured him a cup. "Try it. Freshly brewed."
Julian glanced at it, disdainful. "Tasteless. Not drinking."
Charlie, who had already drunk two cups, nodded vigorously. This guy was brave, saying what he didn't dare to.
Ethan Roscente pushed the door open.
Julian and Charlie froze, looking back and forth between him and Sebastian in shock and confusion.
They started exchanging meaningful glances.
Charlie: Did you call him?
Julian: Would I dare?
Ethan Roscente strode to the tea table.
"Sebastian Evans, what do you mean by this?"
"Mean by what?"
"Why is the development zone project halted?"
Sebastian Evans took a leisurely sip of tea.
"Didn't feel like cooperating, so I stopped it."
"You can just stop it like that? Do you know how much we lose per day?"
Sebastian nodded.
"I have a rough idea."
"And you still stopped it?!"
Sebastian began brewing the second infusion.
His movements were graceful and fluid.
Ethan Roscente pressed down on the teapot.
"Hiding for three days, and now playing mute?"
Sebastian looked up.
"Who's hiding?"
"Your secretary said you were on a business trip. Wasn't that to avoid me?"
"A site inspection in the neighboring city. The itinerary was set long ago."
Ethan Roscente narrowed his eyes.
"Neighboring city?"
Sebastian gave a light laugh.
Charlie Lowell leaned in.
"Brother Sebastian went to the neighboring city? That place has great food... Sister Sophia's hometown is there... Why did you elbow me?"
Julian Winston frantically signaled with his eyes.
Charlie Lowell immediately shut his mouth.
Ethan Roscente stared at Sebastian.
"You went to find her?"
Sebastian's tone was flat.
"Inspection."
"But I did run into Sophia."
"What did you call her?"
"Sophia."
Ethan Roscente grabbed him by the collar.
"Sebastian Evans, I warned you!"
Sebastian pushed him away.
He smoothed the wrinkles on his collar.
"Warning? In what capacity? Her ex-boyfriend? How laughable."
Ethan Roscente took a deep breath.
"So this is why you stopped the project? I thought you separated business from personal matters."
"Sophia Sullivan hates men who can't separate business and personal feelings."
The teacup landed heavily on the table.
It made a dull thud.
"Reverse psychology won't work."
"Ethan Roscente, what exactly do you want to discuss today?"
"Using Sophia Sullivan to talk about the project?"
"Not just this project. I will sever all cooperation."
"From now on, we draw a clear line."
Ethan Roscente's pupils constricted.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly what I said."
"Just because I'm her ex-boyfriend? Sebastian Evans, are you insane? You don't want money anymore?"
They had over twenty joint projects.
A split meant all Initial investment would be lost.
A total loss.
"Is this necessary? If you want to pursue her, then go pursue her!"
"I haven't even mentioned splitting up, and you make the first move?"
"You think this will make her not mind?"
"Stupid!" Ethan Roscente snatched the teacup and smashed it.
"I never realized you were such a romantic fool before!"
Charlie Lowell and Julian Winston took two steps back.
They exchanged a glance.
Their hearts were pounding.
Sebastian was using such methods to cut ties?
Even when they had falling-outs before, it was only私下不来往.
They still made money as usual.
What did personal relationships matter in the face of profit?
They would never turn their backs on money.
What was wrong with Sebastian, that old fox?
Ethan Roscente was right.
They couldn't understand it either.
Sebastian looked at the fragments on the floor.
"What a pity."
"Just like Sophia Sullivan back then?"
Ethan Roscente frowned.
"What are you trying to say?"
Sebastian sneered.
"Petty? Immature? I'm happy to be."
"You can't bear to part with the money?"
Ethan Roscente gritted his teeth.
"You don't love money?"
"I do. But Sophia is more important."
Charlie Lowell and Julian Winston got goosebumps.
Sebastian continued.
"Even if I cut all ties cleanly, she might not agree."
"But so what?"
"I make my own choices."
"Whether she agrees or not is her consideration."
"I hope we are in sync, but if we're not, does that mean I shouldn't do it?"
"Ethan Roscente, this is the difference between you and me."
"You are unwilling to go all in for uncertainty."
"I will bet everything."
Ethan Roscente sneered.
"Even if certain to fail?"
Sebastian curled his lip.
"There is no certain failure, only people who don't give their all."
"You're crazy!"
"Perhaps."
He was happy to be.
Ethan Roscente said quietly.
"Does it have to be this way? Pursuing her and cooperating aren't mutually exclusive."
"In my boundaries, they are."
Ethan Roscente's eyes turned icy.
"If you want to go crazy, don't drag me down with you."
"I'm telling you in advance. Make plans early."
Ethan Roscente chukled.
"Throwing money into the sea."
Sebastian smiled faintly.
"Just to hear the splash."
Ethan Roscente turned to leave.
Sebastian spoke suddenly.
"This time in the neighboring city, I met Sophia Sullivan's parents."
Ethan Roscente's steps halted.