Something Fun Was About to Happen Again

Richie and Anya stopped their shamanic dance. The two children stared wide-eyed, their hearts brimming with boundless anticipation and worry about the future.

Anya, Richie, and Yor fixed their burning gazes on the telephone in Twilight's hand.

First, Twilight nodded and replied, "Yes. Mm-hmm."

Then, still expressionless, he said, "All right, I understand."

Twilight remained unusually calm throughout the call. The instant he put down the receiver, everyone held their breath.

At some point, Anya and Richie had sidled up to Twilight's legs. Even Yor's cheeks were faintly flushed, as though she were holding something back.

Twilight already knew the results. He had a party popper tucked in his trouser pocket and was just waiting for the official notice.

Twilight Dad could be pretty cute, too! He knew perfectly well that they had both passed, yet he wouldn't tell them.

Under everyone's expectant gazes, Twilight slowly took the party popper out of his pocket, raised it above his shoulder, and twisted it.

"Pop!!"

The popper burst, scattering colorful paper stars through the air. Anya's eyes sparkled.

Twilight exclaimed excitedly, "You passed!"

He was a spy and rarely showed much emotion, but today, he was truly happy.

Anya jumped up and down with excitement, shouting, "Father, Anya passed!"

Never had Twilight smiled with such relief. He picked Anya up and lifted her high. "You passed, Anya. Thank you for all your hard work."

Richie stood beside them with a faint smile, saying nothing.

The calmer Richie appeared on the surface, the more his heart tangled with panic like a patch of unruly weeds.

He didn't dare ask whether he had passed.

He felt like an outsider, out of place beside this family of three.

Twilight was the first to notice Richie's mood. He set Anya down from his shoulders and, before Richie knew what was happening, picked him up, lifted him high, then lowered him into his arms.

"Richie, you passed too! Why don't you look happy at all?" Twilight held Richie and gently stroked his back.

Richie's dull little eyes suddenly lit up. He had passed too! He could keep staying in this home!

Without Twilight Dad knowing, Richie's feelings shifted from dejection to wild excitement, then from excitement to calm.

In that brief instant, towering waves surged through Richie's heart, then quietly subsided.

"Father, I was sure I would pass, so I'm not as surprised as my little sister Anya. Of course, I'm very happy that I passed," Richie said, resting against Twilight's shoulder and speaking into his ear.

Richie had lied. Deep down, he had been scared too, but his stubborn pride wouldn't let him admit it.

Twilight thought very highly of Richie. At the very least, no matter how he looked at it, Richie seemed far more reliable than Anya when it came to carrying out the mission.

At that moment, Twilight had already begun making certain decisions in his heart, such as letting Richie handle the mission while Anya simply grew up happy and healthy!

But the thought was so faint that even Twilight himself hadn't noticed it.

Holding Richie, Twilight turned to Yor. "Thank you very much, Miss Yor."

Less than three minutes after they received the news that the children had passed, Franky burst through the door. "Hello! I heard you passed! Let's celebrate and get this party going!"

Twilight still had Richie in his arms. "You certainly hear things fast!"

Richie, meanwhile, was more concerned with why Mophead could just burst through the door. How had he gotten straight inside?

Mophead leaned toward Twilight and murmured, "Don't underestimate an information broker."

Leaving Twilight standing at the entrance, Mophead walked straight into the Forger home as though he belonged there and greeted Yor enthusiastically. "Hello, ma'am! It's nice to meet you. Let me introduce myself. I'm Franky, a friend of Loid's."

The man with the fluffy, explosive hair acted so at home that Richie almost thought they were the guests and Mophead was the host.

He really was extraordinarily friendly.

Gentle and reserved, Yor gave Mophead a polite little bow and greeted him. "Hello."

Anya pointed at Franky and called out bluntly, "Mophead-"

Franky waved a hand. "All right, all right, let's have a party! I brought wine, and I've already ordered takeout."

Even Twilight couldn't help remarking, "Is this your house?"

Franky looked thoroughly proud of himself. "Would you have passed if I hadn't gone to all that trouble to steal the exam papers?"

Twilight started. "Idiot, someone will hear you."

Sure enough, Yor had heard. After a glass of red wine, her cheeks were flushed, and she swayed unsteadily, her head muddled:

"Mr. Loid, what were you saying?"

Yor was sitting there in a daze, and Loid could tell at a glance that she was already drunk.

Anya, that relentless eating machine, had absolutely no idea what was happening around her.

A glint flashed through Richie's eyes. Another good show was about to begin.

"Have you even had anything to drink, Mr. Bottomless Tolerance?" Mophead casually challenged Twilight.

Twilight merely muttered reproachfully, "None of your business."

"Anya, Richie, your dad will buy you anything you want as a reward!"

Anya stopped eating, her eyes sparkling.

Richie also put down his spoon, revealing an intriguing smile.

Twilight frowned. "Hey, don't go making promises."

Thank you to the sweetheart "Freedom-Loving Passerby" for sending three gifts of support. Xiao Qi received so much love.

Thank you to the sweetheart "Just a Soul" for your gift of support. Xiao Qi felt your love.

Thank you to the lovely "What a Strange Ma Fufang" for your gift of support. Xiao Qi loves you so much. Mwah, mwah.