Surprises Keep Coming

Early in the morning, a handsome boy stared blankly at the envelope before him.

His name was Adam Lee. He was a half-blood, and today was the day before his eleventh birthday in this life.

His original plan for the day had been to get up early, go for a morning run... just like every other day before it. Yet that plump, round-faced Scottish chicken had shattered his peaceful day this morning...

Or rather, it had shattered his peaceful life.

His original life plan had been to study hard, improve every day, then inherit his mother's seven Chinese restaurants and his father's three French restaurants. He would enjoy the healthy body he had in this life and live out his quiet, uneventful days.

But now, looking at the school crest on the envelope—where a lion, snake, badger, and eagle surrounded a large letter "H"—Adam could practically see a noseless bald man barging into his future, grinning, "Heh heh heh."

He had just thought back on it. He and the famous Savior had been born in the same year, their birthdays only six days apart—in other words, if this letter was not some prank, he would be starting school in the same year as Harry Potter. Unfortunately, there was no fantasy novel called Harry Potter in this world or this era.

Which meant that, barring any surprises, he was about to spend seven thrilling, nerve-racking years at the safest magical school in the world:

In the first year, Voldemort would come to steal the Sorcerer's Stone. In the second year, the basilisk would invade. In the third year, Dementors would come to the school. In the fourth year, the Triwizard Tournament would resume. In the fifth year, Umbridge would punish students physically. In the sixth year, the headmaster would be attacked and die. In the seventh year, the school would become a battlefield outright.

Wow. How exciting. Ha.

"Hi, Mom. Has business been good today?"

"Mm, I miss you too."

"I mainly called because I wanted to talk about going to middle school in China... or America or France, anywhere is fine. Just not Britain."

"I'm not talking nonsense, and I'm not sick. My mental state is perfectly stable."

"I haven't told Dad yet... Okay, I'll wait for you to come back."

After hanging up, Adam opened the envelope. Looking at the wording inside, which was nearly identical to what he remembered, he sighed.

If he had been born seven years earlier or seven years later, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would have been his dream school. He would have jumped up in excitement the moment he received this letter—but not during this particular period.

All he could do was see whether he might have a chance to teach at Hogwarts for a year after graduation, and take a look around while he was there.

His parents returned even sooner than he had expected. The moment Madam Li got home, she hurriedly tossed her bag onto the sofa and entered family-meeting mode. After parking the car, Mr. Reed quickly rushed over to join the battlefield.

"Darling, if you're feeling tired from studying, we can absolutely take a year off from school first and let you rest."

"Although we've always praised you for getting good grades, we don't love you because your grades are good. No matter how you do in school, you are our pride. You mustn't put too much pressure on yourself."

"The restaurants haven't been busy lately. How about we go to Disney World together for a while?"

Perhaps they had talked on the drive home. The two of them clearly believed Adam had said those things because he was under too much academic pressure.

"Mom, Dad, it's not because of school pressure."

Adam took out the Hogwarts letter and showed it to them.

"It's because of this."

Adam did not hide the fact that he was a wizard. Though he did not plan to attend Hogwarts, he still intended to learn magic. Hogwarts was not the only wizarding school in the world.

His grandmother was French, and his mother was Chinese. Either side would work. Anywhere was safer than the Hogwarts mired in peril.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

After picking up the letter and reading it, the two exchanged a glance, each seeing confusion in the other's eyes.

Was this some kind of prank...

"Wait! I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before..."

Mr. Reed suddenly furrowed his brow and sank into thought.

What?! Was there actually someone Obliviate from the Ministry of Magic had missed?

Just as Adam was astonished, Mr. Reed slapped his forehead.

"Ah! I remember now. Wasn't this one of those fairy tales my parents told me when I was little? Dragons, magic, and all that. Looks like your grandfather and grandmother prepared this as a birthday surprise for you."

Recalling his childhood, Mr. Reed looked nostalgic.

"When I was eleven, they told me there would be a surprise too. In the end, they got me a three-tier cake. I wonder what they've prepared for you?"

Adam opened his mouth, looking at his father with a complicated expression. He seemed to... perhaps... maybe understand something now...

"How about we call Grandpa and Grandma to ask?"

Though he had more or less guessed what had happened back then, Adam still wanted to confirm it.

"Mm, wouldn't that be inappropriate? After all, it's a surprise your grandfather and grandmother prepared. They might be unhappy if I spoil it."

Mr. Reed hesitated, even regretting that he had let the truth slip so casually.

His relationship with his parents was somewhat complicated.

To say it was bad would not be right. He had been close to them since childhood, and when he wanted to start a business and open restaurants, they had fully supported him and even provided financial assistance.

But to say it was good would not be right either. On the day he became an adult, his parents had made him move out. Over the years, they rarely came to see them, at most giving them a phone call.

"Let's call and ask. I'm really curious. Let me ask."

Seeing Adam insist, the couple had no objections. Adam directly picked up the living room phone and dialed.

Before long, the call was answered.

"Jerry, what is it?"

His grandfather's voice came from the other end.

"Grandpa, it's me."

"Oh, it's little Adam! What does Grandpa's darling need?"

Hearing the voice on the other end instantly soften by several degrees, Adam inexplicably grew a little nervous.

"Grandpa, do you know about Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"..."

The other end suddenly fell silent. Then his grandfather's somewhat excited voice rang out.

"Hogwarts! You got the letter, didn't you, dear?! Merlin's underpants! I knew it! I've been waiting all month! Emma! Come quickly!"

Then came a call that sounded distant and muffled through the receiver. Soon, his grandfather's voice became clear again.

"Listen, child. Stay at home. Your grandfather and grandmother will be there right away!"

After saying that, Grandpa hung up. Adam put down the phone and looked at his parents, pursing his lips.

"Grandpa said they'll be here right away."

"Right away? But they're in Devon..."

Before Mr. Reed could finish speaking, the doorbell rang.

"..."

The three people in the house looked at one another. Mr. Reed got to his feet, walked to the door, and opened it nervously.

"Dad? Mom?!"

"Oh, son, we missed you so much~"

After Old Reed and his wife hugged Mr. Reed at the door, they immediately entered the house and headed straight toward Adam.

"Dear, hurry and let us see the letter!"

Mr. Reed, standing at the door: "???"

He felt briefly loved, and then... smack, it was gone.

Madam Li handed the letter to her parents-in-law, while keenly noticing that Adam had not mentioned the letter during the phone call.

If the letter had indeed been prepared by the elderly couple, then they could know about it, and their sudden appearance could be explained by them arriving nearby ahead of time, just to give their son a surprise...

But how had the phone call gone through?

"Good, wonderful, Merlin bless us..."

The elderly couple turned the letter and envelope over several times, examining them carefully. Suddenly, Old Reed looked up.

"Oh, right. Have we told your maternal grandfather about this?"

Seeing Madam Li's puzzled expression, Old Reed nodded.

"All right, I'll contact him. Let him be happy too."

Adam: "???"

There was another surprise?!