freenovelworld Chapter 119
Chapter 119
119: Childhood Friend Plus Sudden Encounter, How Could I Possibly Lose?
"Zhang Anran?"
Evelia tilted her head and asked with some confusion.
What was this kid doing here?
"Um... what a coincidence, Classmate Evelia. Classmate Amya too... Evelia, are you... working as a nun?"
Zhang Anran looked at Evelia with some embarrassment. The first thing he noticed was the nun's habit Evelia was wearing. Since his own uncle was a member of the Church, he was fairly familiar with some of the symbols indicating rank within the Church.
Moreover, the nun's habit Evelia was wearing was clearly different from those worn by the nuns in the cathedral's public areas. Evelia's habit had many more ornate golden patterns, and the fabric's color was quite vibrant. One look and you could tell it wasn't some cosplay costume that could be randomly bought online.
"A nun? Hmm, you could say that."
Evelia also felt somewhat awkward as she tugged at her skirt. Being discovered by a classmate she had a pretty decent relationship with that she was working as a nun... there really was a particular kind of shame and embarrassment to it.
The feeling was somewhat similar to working a part-time job at a restaurant and then unexpectedly being recognized by a classmate who came to eat there. Only someone who had personally experienced it could truly understand that feeling.
"So, Classmate Zhang Anran, why are you here? Are you also participating in the orphanage consolation activity?"
Amya clung to Evelia's side and asked Zhang Anran curiously.
"Oh? Miss Evelia, do you two know Anran?"
At the same time, Harrison, who had just noticed them, also joined in. He was quite curious about why his nephew, who hadn't even come into contact with the existence of magic, would know Evelia, a magical genius personally recruited by his own Lady Saint, and Amya, an angel. In response, Evelia simply nodded and answered, "Yes, we're classmates."
"Classmates?"
Harrison nodded with some surprise. It was quite normal for Evelia, as a normal human girl, to attend school. But he was very surprised that Amya, an angel, would also attend a human school.
"I didn't come to participate on my own accord. Classmate Evelia, you know me. For this kind of thing, rather than coming personally to participate, I'd be more inclined to just send some supplies or donate some money. Like this time, for instance. I'm here delivering things on my dad's orders."
As he spoke, Zhang Anran deliberately shifted the items he was holding in his arms.
"What is that? Why is it covered with cloth?"
"Movie projection equipment. Haven't you heard? Tonight the orphanage will be showing a movie for the children. My dad provided the hardware like the projection equipment. I'm just here as a pure errand boy. But I guess you could say this is... an unexpected surprise!"
Zhang Anran handed the items in his hands to an orphanage teacher who had come over to carry them, then turned back to continue smiling at Evelia.
"What about you, Classmate Evelia? Did you come with the Church?"
"Yes, as you can see, I'm working as a nun at the Church now. Naturally, I have to participate in this kind of activity too."
Amya clung to one of Evelia's arms, standing behind Evelia and looking at Zhang Anran in front of her with a somewhat unfriendly expression. Now that she had recognized Evelia's identity, she firmly believed that once she confessed the truth to Evelia, Evelia, who had already nearly fallen for her, would absolutely not choose anyone else. Childhood friend plus sudden encounter, the version T0 attributes. Amya genuinely couldn't think of how she could lose.
But even with such a determination to win, Amya still didn't plan to give Zhang Anran any good looks. She held a faint hostility toward this guy who clearly wanted to pursue her older sister. This hostility had nothing to do with winning or losing. It was pure animosity toward a romantic rival.
Of course, calling him a romantic rival was still a stretch. After all, this guy never had a chance from the very beginning.
Her older sister's preferences used to be quite normal, after all.
"...By the way, are Father Harrison and Classmate Zhang Anran related? I remember just now when you arrived, Zhang Anran, you seemed to call Mr. Harrison... uncle?"
After chatting with Zhang Anran for a while, Evelia suddenly recalled that when Zhang Anran had called out before being seen, he had addressed Harrison as uncle. She asked the two of them with a curious expression.
"Hahaha, indeed so, Miss Evelia. Do you remember what I told you, Miss Amya, and Lady Saint when we were on our way here? My mother is a local from Wangyou City, surnamed Zhang, and her family is quite wealthy. Because I was living abroad with my father at the time, my mother had my younger twin sister take her surname, Zhang."
"I see. But in that case, shouldn't you have taken your father's surname, Zhang Anran? Unless your father is also named Zhang?"
"How could that be? Actually, when my mom married my dad, my dad's business hadn't taken off yet. At that time, my grandmother told my dad that the Zhang family could help him unreservedly, but I would have to take the surname Zhang. My dad isn't someone with very rigid thinking. He told me that at the time he figured it didn't matter. Whether I took his surname or my mom's surname, I would still be his son. So he readily agreed."
Zhang Anran shrugged his shoulders. Judging by his appearance, he didn't seem to care at all about the question of whether to take his father's or his mother's surname.
"Father Harrison! Can you come help over here? We're a bit short on hands!"
Just then, several practitioners who were setting up entertainment equipment on the orphanage grounds shouted breathlessly toward Harrison. Harrison could only smile helplessly. He turned around, patted Zhang Anran on the shoulder, and pointed to the children playing inside the orphanage building as he said to Zhang Anran:
"Anran, you don't have anything to do right now anyway, right? Why don't you take Miss Evelia and Miss Amya to play with the children? There are too many things in the courtyard right now, and we can't spare anyone to watch over the little ones. I'm afraid those little rascals might hurt themselves while playing. You three can go keep an eye on them. I remember you've been here a few times before, so you're familiar with the orphanage's layout. Miss Evelia and Miss Amya are here for the first time, so please show them around."
"Sure thing, Uncle!"
Zhang Anran cast a grateful look toward his uncle. Harrison simply smiled calmly in response. He had managed to attain the position of Father at a young age. His ability to read people and situations was definitely maxed out. Naturally, he could see the unusual look in his nephew's eyes when he looked at this Miss Evelia.
Since it was his own nephew, he might as well help him out a little.