I Learned Scene Transitions from mhy
Raindrops gently tapped on the windowsill of the Palais Mermonia, Neuvillette held the report submitted by Melusine between her fingertips.
The intelligence clearly states that Sandrone and Columbina's visit to Fontaine was to negotiate a technological cooperation with Xingsu. The intelligence even detailed everything about the portable communicator technology, from its basic principles to its practical applications and how to mass-produce it.
The intelligence report specifically noted the most crucial reason at the end:
Several months ago, Xingsu submitted this complete set of technical papers and schematic diagrams to the Fontaine Research Institute, actively seeking its inclusion and application in the country.
After submitting the application, there was no response whatsoever; it seemed to have vanished without a trace. The Chinese Academy of Sciences did not provide any review response or conduct any project approval communication, and simply shelved this disruptive new technology.
Neuvillette: "..."
Neuvillette carefully put away the thick intelligence file, looked at Melusine in front of her, and said with a much gentler expression, "Thank you for your hard work. This intelligence is very detailed, covering everything from technical principles to application prospects. I will personally go to the Fontaine Research Institute another day to verify all the circumstances surrounding the shelving of the manuscript."
He paused slightly, a genuine curiosity appearing in his eyes, and pressed on:
"I'm just curious, how exactly did you obtain such detailed and almost complete information about core technologies? The technical cooperation related to the Fatui has always been secretive, and ordinary investigations could never uncover such a thorough understanding."
Upon hearing this, Melusine blinked her clear eyes sweetly and said in a light and innocent tone:
"Because all of this was proactively told to us by that technology developer, Mr. Xingsu!"
"Xingsu?"
Neuvillette paused slightly, her eyes filled with obvious surprise.
Melusine carefully recalled the scene from a few days ago, recounting it truthfully and meticulously:
"At the time, we were following instructions to conduct a routine patrol around the Hotel Bouffes d'ete and secretly observe its movements. We happened to see Mr. Xingsu coming out of the mansion, so we went up to him politely to inquire about the situation."
She paused, recalling the scene, her tone becoming even softer:
"Mr. Xingsu turned out to be very easygoing. He gently grasped my hand and stood there talking non-stop, from the initial purpose of developing the communicator and the principle of element conduction, to its practical applications and advantages in mass production. He even clearly told us about the frustration of our submissions to the Chinese Academy of Sciences being rejected. It was as if he were having a casual chat with us."
Neuvillette: "..."
It's really true... one dares to ask and the other dares to answer.
Wrong!
Neuvillette suddenly remembered the name, back when it was a rumor circulating in Melusine, the Maison Gardiennage. A concerned citizen who came to report L㏒s had grabbed Melusine's hand and made up a story for over an hour.
He could almost picture Xing Su enthusiastically holding Melusine's hands Xingsu the Hotel Bouffes d'ete.
Xingsu gently held a pair of scarred hands in his palm, soothing the trembling at her fingertips, softly comforting the Damselette's emotions that were on the verge of collapse, and trying his best to bring her a little warmth.
The ward was deathly quiet, save for the monotonous, cold ticking of the second hand of the clock on the wall, one tick after another, never ceasing, like the relentless flow of life, refusing to pause for anyone even for a moment.
Arlecchino stood quietly in the shadows, her usually sharp and cold eyes now shrouded in an unyielding melancholy. She silently gazed at the frail child on the bed, at this flower that had struggled to grow in the wind and snow, only to wither away in the end.
Time marches on, life flows on, and the fate of the children under her wing is always so involuntary and fleeting.
"I'm sorry... Father... I was too impulsive... cough cough..."
Xingsu held her hands in one hand and stroked the child on the bed with the other, trying to make her feel better.
"I'm sorry... But when I saw the eyes of those thin children... their futile expectations... their eyes were full of hope... They helplessly tugged at my clothes, trembling as they asked me, 'Sister... as long as we get out, we'll definitely have bread to eat... right?' I couldn't look them in the eye... I didn't know what to say... I..."
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
The second hand continued its relentless ticking.
The Damselette was breathing heavily, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, her thin body trembling slightly, her heart filled with self-reproach and helplessness for her reckless actions.
Arlecchino, who had been standing silently, finally stepped forward. Her slender fingertips gently touched the top of the Damselette's dry, soft hair, carefully stroking the messy strands and easing the fear and guilt in the child's heart.
A clear, deep voice echoed quietly in the ward.
"I've told you before, acting impulsively is the closest you can get to failure."
Her words were a consistent admonition, but without a trace of reproach. She knew where the child's recklessness came from; it was the purest and most fervent kindness in the heart of the children of the House of the Hearth.
Arlecchino lowered her eyes, looking at her dying state, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes, and slowly continued speaking.
"But you haven't come away empty-handed. Leave the rest to us."
Tick-tock, tick-tock
The clock in the ward continued its tireless ticking, shattering the silence of the room.
Xingsu slowly released his palm and carefully placed her scarred hands back onto the bed.
He leaned down, his fingertips gently brushing across the Damselette's slightly furrowed brows, then softly closing her watery eyes, concealing the lingering guilt and helplessness within them.
His deep, gentle voice, as soft as the evening breeze and falling snow, lingered in her ears, gently soothing her soul on the verge of sleep.
"Child, go to sleep."
"The House of the Hearth will always be your strong support."
Xingsu stood quietly by the hospital bed, his gaze fixed on the Damselette's serene face.
He didn't know the child, or rather, the child from the House of the Hearth who was away on a mission; he knew very few people.
Witnessing her struggles and guilt, witnessing the sincerity from the bottom of her heart, an indescribable emotion slowly spread through my chest.
Perhaps this is the meaning of House of the Hearth... or rather, the meaning of "home".
This place welcomes souls with nowhere to go, providing a haven for children who have wandered and suffered greatly.
Even though this child caused a tragedy due to her impulsiveness, her pure kindness was still accepted and cherished. When the outside world could not accommodate her gentleness, the House of the Hearth was willing to be her final resting place.
A place that allows children to retain their kindness and is willing to fulfill their unfulfilled wishes.
Xingsu slowly sat up from the hospital bedside, casually picking up a newspaper that was lying on the table in the ward. The large, eye-catching headlines read, "Rising Tycoon Daerdufu - A Practitioner of Benevolence, Savior of the Poor."
"Oh."
The second hand behind me continued to tick, as if silently mocking this upside-down world.
Tick-tock, tick-tock