"Augustus Horlen," the face blind man introduced himself politely.
Jian Jing noticed that he paused slightly when he reported his surname, as if he had abbreviated the syllables, but she did not pay much attention to it. She simply reported her surname: "Jian."
This was a friendly form of address, and Horlen quickly accepted it: "Are you Melanie's friend?"
"The groom's friend's friend, what about you?" Jian Jing sized him up. This man had a typical Western face that could be found in many foreign historical dramas with a similar temperament.
Horlen said, "I'm a good friend of Leo's, so your friend must be the Eastern friend Leo met in college?"
"Obviously."
"Leo is very happy that he can come with his friend." Horlen finished smoking the cigar in his hand and smiled, "He has always wanted to have a lively wedding."
Jian Jing listened strangely: "So how many guests will there be?"
"Not too many, fortunately not too few either." Horlen said.
"I see." Jian Jing smiled and changed the subject, "Excuse me, where can I find coffee?"
Horlen pointed to the hall at the end: "The conservatory should have what you want."
At the end of the first floor hallway was a protruding reception hall with beautiful floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows on three sides. Several armchairs of different styles were casually placed, cushioned, carved walnut, copper-clad redwood, obviously from different historical periods.
There were also many oil paintings on the walls, mostly depicting the theme of Winterfell Castle, in a gloomy style.
Against the wall there was a desk, piano and cabinet. On top of the cabinet there was a coffee machine, cigar box and a set of blue and white porcelain tea set.
"There is black tea in the cabinet." Someone said from behind.
Jian Jing turned around and saw a gaunt and pale face. The nose was high and straight, the eye sockets were deeply sunken, and the iris was an extremely rare violet color. In terms of looks, it was not particularly beautiful, but there was an omnipresent gloom between the eyebrows that was very special.
She thought for a moment and asked, "Are you Sal?"
"You can call me Lei Ao." His voice was very gentle, effortless to listen to, "You are Little Jian Jing from Twilight City."
The pronunciation of "little" was slightly uplifted, rolling out an intimate tone.
"You got our names right." Jian Jing was equally friendly, "Just 'Jian' is fine for me."
Lei Ao nodded slightly, opened the cabinet: "Tea?"
"Coffee." she said.
Lei Ao took out coffee beans, put them in a grinder, turned the handle, and slowly ground them into powder. At the same time, the water in the kettle was also heated to the right temperature.
The coffee powder was put into a filter, and thin streams of water were poured in, brewing several times.
The extracted brown coffee dripped down, giving off an aromatic fragrance.
He opened the built-in small fridge, which was completely empty. He hurriedly took out his phone, "Mary, please bring fresh milk and sugar to the reception room."
He explained apologetically to Jian Jing, "There are so many wedding affairs that I have neglected to accommodate you properly."
"It's alright." Jian Jing said, "I'm very happy to be able to attend your wedding, and in such a castle too."
Lei Ao seemed a little surprised and even asked, "You like this castle?"
She said, "It's very interesting."
Lei Ao blinked quickly: "Thank you, but this is...unexpected." Facing her puzzled eyes, he had to explain, "After all, this is a very old house that doesn't get much sunlight and is very old and shabby, not a particularly comfortable place."
"Yes," he emphasized, "this is not a good place, don't fall in love with it."
Jian Jing was surprised. Lei Ao's tone was as if he was warning her not to fall in love with a scumbag.
"The milk and sugar you wanted." Mary came in with a jug of fresh milk, and spoke unpleasantly, "Why don't you go to the kitchen yourself for such little things?"
Lei Ao immediately said, "I'm sorry, Mary, for adding to your work."
Mary's face softened: "You don't need to apologize, but I hope you seriously consider..." She glanced at Jian Jing and switched to French, "It's best to rethink your marriage, I still don't approve of you doing this."
Jian Jing: Pretend not to understand.
Lei Ao's reply was concise and powerful: "I have already thought it through."
Mary left here disappointed without looking back.
"Jian, I'm afraid I have to leave for a moment." Lei Ao said, "Twilight City and I were very good friends in college, he helped me a lot. Please feel free to look around."
Jian Jing said, "Thank you."
He hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Jian, this is an old house."
She didn't understand: "Oh?"
"I'm rarely at home, and haven't had any repairs done for a long time. If," he paused, and said slowly, "there are any strange sounds, it must be the wind blowing through the cracks in the bricks and stones, don't be afraid."
As if to prove what he said was true, as soon as he finished speaking, a strange moan came from some part of the room. It was barely discernible, wispy and faraway, eerie like the whistle of a steam locomotive, weird like the cackle of a witch.
Jian Jing's expression changed instantly. The facial muscles, loose from the long journey, were tightened by invisible lines, and in just a few seconds they did a facelift. Her whole being became spirited.
"Oh my." She laughed, "Now I believe it, old houses can be a little scary."
Lei Ao showed imperceptible relief.
Dinner began promptly at seven o'clock.
Kang Mu Cheng and Si Yingjie arrived fifteen minutes early in the dining room, followed closely by Horlen. Kimberley and her husband went downstairs around six fifty, and inevitably got acquainted with strangers again.
At six fifty-five, Jian Jing arrived on the scene.
She sat down next to Kang Mu Cheng and said, "It's snowing again outside."
Si Yingjie was full of weariness and muttered, "What's so strange about that?"
Jian Jing said, "I'm afraid of the temperature dropping."
"Don't worry, the castle is warm enough." Horlen chimed in.
At this point, a slender woman walked down the stairs.
She was extremely beautiful, with long black hair, snow white skin, azure blue eyes, and a fragile and dreary demeanor that resembled the famous French beauty Agyness.
Perhaps to highlight her cherishment of friends and family, she wore an evening gown that outlined her slender figure. Around her neck hung a freshwater pearl necklace, and on her hand was a ruby ring, like a noble lady going to a banquet, graceful and elegant, blending in with the atmosphere of the castle.
Si Yingjie made a slightly audible gasp.
"Melanie." Kimberley affectionately called her sister's name, "It's good to see you at last."
"Kimmy." Melanie called her sister's nickname, a shallow smile appeared on her beautiful face, "I'm so glad you could come."
Kimberley introduced her husband: "This is Carl, my husband."
Melanie nodded amiably at Carl.
"It looks like everyone is here." Lei Ao came in through another door, holding his fiancée's hand and sitting down. He raised his glass and said, "Thank you all for coming from afar to attend my wedding."
Everyone cooperated by taking a sip of champagne together.
"Dong-" the antique clock in the dining room struck seven.
Mary pushed in a trolley and deftly served everyone.
The starter was a mixed vegetable soup with local vegetables, lettuce leaves, spinach, potatoes and strange beans, with a lot of tomato sauce, sour and sweet.
There were also a few slices of bread, topped with raw fish slices, lemon and rosemary.
Jian Jing tried taking a bite. The bread was baked crispy, and the raw fish slices were very fresh and tender.
"Dear, these fish slices remind me of Carl's and my honeymoon." Kimberley was in high spirits, constantly chatting with Melanie, "Sushi, hot springs and cherry blossoms, what about you? Antarctica, Africa or Asia?"
Melanie didn't seem to have much of an appetite, only drinking a couple sips of the soup. She said, "I don't know, maybe Egypt, maybe South America. Lei Ao doesn't like places that are too cold."
Kimberley: "Egypt is a good place, isn't it, Carl?"
Carl: "Yes, I really like the culture there."
"How do you plan to go there?" Kimberley was eager to make some observations about the wedding preparations.
But Melanie was preoccupied and barely managed to respond: "We'll talk about it when the time comes."
Kimberley put down her knife and fork, took a sip of champagne, and muttered, "Melanie, you really don't look like a woman about to get married."
Melanie smiled bitterly: "I don't know why, but the closer I get to the wedding, the more nervous I become."
"Dear, you must be too tired. Do you want to go back and rest?" Lei Ao asked with concern.
"Just a bit of a headache, I'll be fine after taking some painkillers," Melanie replied.
Si Yingjie commented: "Premarital jitters."
At this time, Mary's food cart came around again, and everyone got an extra small hot pot.
That's right, hot pot, but not clear soup or beef tallow, but cheese hot pot. Meat, vegetables, mushrooms and other ingredients were prepared in advance and cooked in the cheese pot. If you like, you can also sprinkle some chili powder.
Jian Jing tasted two bites, her stomach protested: This is not hot pot!
The staple food was Italian dumplings, with ham filling, which was quite tasty.
"I hope you'll enjoy today's meal," Lei Ao said. "Mary, if you're not busy, why don't you sit down and eat with us?"
Mary said coldly: "Come on, George can't handle it alone."
Lei Ao looked helpless without insisting further.
"Strange," Si Yingjie said again.
Jian Jing didn't respond, and drank up the champagne in her glass.
Mary immediately took a new bottle, popped the cork and then set it aside, showing no intention of pouring the wine.
It was Lei Ao who immediately got up, took the bottle and poured wine for everyone, explaining: "The weather is bad, everyone else went home, Mary and George have too much work, so let me serve you."
Augustus Horlen shrugged: "You know me well, no problem."
The accident happened at this moment.
First there was a "clang", and Melanie's wine glass in front tipped over, startling everyone.
Everyone looked over to see her clenching her teeth, neck and back stiff, with obvious spasms.
Lei Ao's face turned pale at once: "Melanie!"
"Does she have epilepsy?" Jian Jing asked.
Kimberley screamed: "Melanie doesn't have that!"
"Then she must have been poisoned," Jian Jing said as she walked over quickly, holding Melanie's body while glancing over the food and drinks in front of her.
After a little thought, she dipped her finger in the champagne and tasted it.
There was a hint of bitterness in the sweetness.
On the status bar of the character panel, a new line appeared: Bufotoxin poisoning.
Two seconds later, the words disappeared.
Ever since the Immunity skill was activated, the character panel had shown new tricks. She spat twice, affirmatively saying, "Send her to the hospital, she needs her stomach pumped."
Lei Ao picked up Melanie in a panic and rushed out the door.
Kang Mu Cheng immediately said, "I'll go start the car, where is it parked?"
"In the garage, I'll take you there," Augustus' reaction was not slow either.
But less than ten minutes later, Bear George's loud voice rang out: "No, the snow is too heavy, cars can't get to the hospital or they'll get stuck. Where's Mary, ask her if she can help, she's a doctor!"
Amidst the chaos, Mary calmly directed: "Take her back to her room, Uncle George, please go get the first aid kit - can anyone tell me what happened to her?"
Lei Ao said, "I don't know, she was fine just now."
Kang Mu Cheng said, "Maybe it's food poisoning."
Augustus said: "Everyone ate the same thing, she ate very little."
"Strychnine poisoning," Jian Jing said loudly with her hand to her mouth. "Can we induce vomiting?"
There was silence at the door.
Mary: "We can try."
