Chapter 712: Chapter 502: Happy New Year, Kaelis (3)

Dishes, like flowing water, were brought out one after another from the villa by Lin Guang and Chelina. Everyone watched the New Year’s program on the TV that had also been moved outside — it seemed the publicity for the Mechanical Spirit Cup had permeated every aspect, appearing everywhere — while enjoying the food and chatting occasionally.

Liko and Lisa, the two little ones, for some reason seemed to have a lot in common, chattering and whispering.

Zumama occasionally tried to join the conversation as well.

Although her common knowledge seemed a bit different from ordinary people, the effect of her chatting was not bad. She often brought a topic to a standstill, making the rest laugh until they leaned back and forth.

While everyone was eating and making merry, Lin Guang glanced at the time, stood up, and said he would step away for a moment.

He then held a cup of juice, lightly tapped his toes, lifted himself up with spiritual power, flew to the rooftop, sat down, and then looked up at the vast starry sky, slowly taking out his mobile phone.

In Coastal City, as long as you have money and credit level, few things cannot be accomplished.

Naturally, this includes real-time communication across most of Great Xia.

Moreover, from December 31st every year until the old lunar New Year, the official of Great Xia opens special ether communication lines nationwide, whether it’s text messages, voice calls, or video calls, the cost is only one-third of the usual price.

Of course, Lin Guang did not specifically need to wait for this discount.

But when this time comes, he inevitably had someone he needed to contact.

He took out his phone, paused for a moment, turned his wrist, and from the spatial spiritual artifact, took out a small mint-flavored lip balm. As he applied it to his lips, he pressed the name on his phone that he hadn’t contacted for a long time.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

After several rings, the video was connected.

On the other side of the screen appeared a face Lin Guang was incredibly familiar with, bright and charming. Bangs covered her forehead, and a cascade of hair bound by a golden birch leaf hairpin hung down, appearing smooth and soft.

It was Miaomiao.

She seemed to be sitting in a warmly decorated café, dressed in a stylish off-white cashmere coat, a soft plaid scarf around her neck, making her face appear even more fair and delicate.

Behind her was the café’s bright floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window, the night sky over Zhen Sheng City was also blooming with splendid fireworks.

When she saw Lin Guang’s face on the screen, Miaomiao’s golden eyes instantly lit up with a soft glow.

"Ah! Lin Guang!"

She exclaimed in surprise, then somewhat flustered, said, "Wait a moment!"

She took a pair of white wireless earphones from her bag, quickly connected them, and put them on.

Instantly, the background noise on her side became much quieter.

"Happy New Year, Miaomiao."

Lin Guang looked at her, with a genuine, gentle smile on his face.

"Happy New Year!"

Miaomiao also smiled, adjusting her bangs, her golden eyes staring at the camera as if trying to see her reflection in Lin Guang’s eyes a thousand miles away.

She smiled and asked, "How are you doing there...?"

"Is Coastal City fun? Is it really full of skyscrapers and flying cars everywhere?"

"Well, pretty much." Lin Guang nodded, "More exaggerated than you imagine."

The two chatted back and forth, sharing their lives over the past half year.

Miaomiao spoke of Zhen Sheng City’s interesting stories, about how Wang Dawei made a joke in a simulation battle that even she heard about, and how delicious the new dessert shop was.

Lin Guang spoke about the experiences at Longteng University, mentioning those eccentric teachers and classmates, chatting about his new home in that valley.

As they talked, Miaomiao suddenly blinked mischievously at the screen.

"By the way, Lin Guang, let me show you something surprising!"

She said playfully, holding her phone as she stood up from her seat and moved across.

With the movement of her camera, a figure originally out of Lin Guang’s view came clearly into focus on the screen.

Lin Guang’s eyes instantly widened.

Even his breath paused for a moment.

It was a figure he knew so well, sitting quietly by the café window, also watching the fireworks outside, the profile softened in the warm light.

It was Kaelis.

Like Miaomiao, she still maintained her disguise as a Terran, but today she wasn’t wearing her signature white coat, instead, she had on stylish and simple casual wear Lin Guang had never seen.

A well-fitting black turtleneck cashmere sweater, covered by a dark gray long coat, accentuating her slim figure, her temperament less sharp and more gently intellectual than usual.

"How about it?"

Miaomiao’s voice came from the side, carrying a hint of pride.

"I dragged Teacher Kaiwen... Teacher Kaelis out of the office today! I also picked out these clothes for her. Nice, right?"

She said as she removed one of the wireless earphones and handed it to Kaelis.

Kaelis seemed a bit helpless, glancing at Miaomiao, but upon seeing Lin Guang’s bewildered expression on the screen, her emerald eyes hesitated for a moment and eventually accepted the earphone, slowly wearing it and looking at the screen.

Lin Guang silently looked at her.

Kaelis’s eyes blinked, seemingly instinctively trying to dodge something, but under Lin Guang’s gaze, she did not ultimately divert her eyes.

She seemed to be waiting for Lin Guang to say something to her.

Whether questioning or reproachful.

Yet Lin Guang’s expression showed no change, only softly saying:

"The content of your necklace helped me immensely, teacher."

As if the letter had never appeared, his tone was calm and gentle, the pace neither fast nor slow, with a certainty.

"I have learned a lot here."

He began to speak calmly, like every child who has left home for study, reporting their growth, sharing their accomplishments, the power and status soon to be acquired, to their most trusted elders, their parents.

"...Teacher Liu is a very talented scholar, the research project we collaborated on has just achieved a breakthrough recently. The paper should be published soon."

"Next year, I should be an advanced researcher of one star, not far from your three-star position."

"Oh, and I met that old friend you mentioned."

"She is indeed remarkable, although I’ve never seen her true visage, her art is truly unfathomable."

"I visit her every week to learn, and it has been rewarding."

Mostly, it was Lin Guang speaking.

Kaelis quietly listened, her often weary eyes watching the spirited young man on the screen without blinking.

She spoke sparingly, only occasionally expressing soft concern when Lin Guang touched on key points.

Finally, when the distant fireworks reached their climax and the New Year’s chime was about to sound, Lin Guang also paused his storytelling.

He tightly watched the screen, where the woman he regarded as both mentor and mother was, silent for a moment, then softly spoke.

"Happy New Year, teacher."

"And..."

He earnestly said, word by word, "Wait for me."

Kaelis quietly looked at him, her emerald eyes clearly reflecting the undeniable promise and determination in his.

For a long while.

Her perpetually tense mouth, as if bearing endless burdens, slowly, slowly lifted upwards, revealing a rare, serene and warm smile like the first thaw of ice and snow.

"Hm."

"Happy New Year, Lin Guang."