Chapter 582: Happy Birthday
"I was just kidding. Why so angry?" While Quincy said he was just kidding, his mind was picturing something else entirely.
Seeing his mischievous grin, Ethan Dawson’s expression soured, and he shot Quincy a vicious glare.
"What’s so funny?"
Quincy rolled his eyes. "Can’t I even smile? Ethan Dawson, don’t go too far."
"Don’t think I don’t know what kind of dirty thoughts are running through your head."
Quincy put on an innocent expression. "I was just wondering if the sun will come out tomorrow. Is that a dirty thought?"
"Ronan Kendrick, do me a favor. Hypnotize Quincy. I want to know what he was really thinking just now. If it’s not what he just claimed, hmph..." Ethan Dawson cracked his knuckles, looking ready for a fight.
Quincy clicked his tongue. "Men who get so hung up on details are terrifying. Unlike me, I’m generous and broad-minded."
Ethan Dawson’s brow furrowed, his face contorted in disgust as if he’d just swallowed a fly.
"Dad, are you acting up again?" Zoe ran PATTER-PATTER-PATTER over to Quincy, raised her hand, and gave him a hard pinch right under the nose.
"Zoe, what are you doing?"
"Dad, don’t talk. I’m treating you." Zoe’s nails were a little long, and the pinch made Quincy yelp.
"The resuscitation was a success! Dad, you’re back to normal now."
Quincy... ’How could I dare be anything but normal now?’ The spot under his nose was already turning purple from the pinch.
Evelyn Ford clapped from the sidelines. "Good job, Zoe! If your dad acts up again, you give him the same treatment."
Zoe puffed out her little chest. "Auntie Evelyn, I’m going to be a doctor when I grow up, one who specializes in treating my dad."
Quincy’s mouth twitched. "Oh, thank you so much. I’ll never dare get sick again."
Everyone else burst out laughing. It seemed only Zoe could keep Quincy in line; she had instantly become their little hero.
Quincy sighed dramatically. "The woes of a father are truly unspeakable."
The new plague antidote that Evelyn Ford and the pharmaceutical team had been developing was finally complete. Unlike the previous version, this antidote came in the form of green pills the size of mung beans. Each pill was coated in a layer of syrup, but the medicine inside was a scorched-yellow color and intensely bitter. It dissolved the moment it entered the mouth, making it necessary to immediately drink a glass of water to wash away the awful taste.
Evelyn learned a great deal from the pharmaceutical team. She held an honorary position with them; although she wasn’t required to clock in every day, she still received all the associated benefits. Every week, the lab sent her vegetables, fruits, and drinks. This week, Evelyn even received a pound of cotton and a piece of floral-print fabric.
Ronan Kendrick hadn’t left The Undercity at all lately. After finishing his chores in the space, he would use a cutting machine to process raw jade.
Medicinal herbs were different from regular crops; they required much more delicate care. Even with the boost from the black soil, Evelyn worried about the herbs losing their medicinal properties. Every day, she would walk a full circle around her medicinal fields, carefully noting any seedling that showed the slightest sign of a problem.
Evelyn had retrieved the ginseng from the Hooper Family’s safe. It was perfectly preserved and appeared to be about eighty years old. Unfortunately, the root system was completely dried out, so it couldn’t be planted.
The Poison Arrow Wood was growing quickly and had already reached a height of three meters. Evelyn put on a hazmat suit and gloves before carefully plucking all of its leaves. She planned to make some poison for self-defense; adding the leaves of the Poison Arrow Wood would increase its toxicity tenfold.
Evelyn busied herself in her personal laboratory for two days and finally finished making the poison. She had been so busy lately that she felt she’d been neglecting Ronan Kendrick. To make it up to him, Evelyn had secretly made three boxes of Fairy Sticks. She had originally wanted to make actual fireworks, but the cost and difficulty were both high—she’d nearly blown up the lab in one attempt. In the end, she had to settle for the next best thing. Looking at the finished products in her hands, Evelyn couldn’t wait for Ronan to see his one-of-a-kind gift.
Evelyn went to the wooden cabin to take a shower. Her hair had grown out quite a bit, so she dug out a curling iron to style it. Then she found a brand-new tube of lipstick and carefully applied it.
Looking at her made-up reflection, Evelyn let out a satisfied whistle.
She rummaged through her wardrobe until she found a red, backless dress. Forming a gun with her right hand, Evelyn aimed at her reflection and fired a mock shot.
"Perfect."
None of the others were in the space, so it was the perfect opportunity to have some time alone together.
Ryan Rowe had come looking for Ronan Kendrick earlier, so he had stepped out for a bit. Evelyn took out a small card, wrote an invitation on it, and placed it on his pillow. She hoped he would see it the moment he got back and come meet her.
Evelyn returned to the space and worked nonstop to set everything up at the far end of the planting area.
「Three hours later.」 Ronan Kendrick returned. Just as she’d hoped, he immediately noticed the card on his pillow. On it were written four words: ’A Date with Evelyn.’ Ronan chuckled softly, then carefully tucked the card away for safekeeping.
Upon entering the space, Ronan didn’t rush to meet her. Instead, he went to the wooden cabin to get himself ready.
Evelyn waited so long she felt like the flowers were about to wilt before Ronan Kendrick finally, fashionably late, made his appearance.
The moment they saw what the other was wearing, a strange silence fell over them.
Ronan Kendrick was wearing a black suit. He was tall with an upright posture, and the entire outfit exuded a sense of distinguished elegance.
’His hair was obviously styled. If I’m not mistaken, he even used hair gel.’
Evelyn made no attempt to hide her awe and affection. She lifted the hem of her dress and ran toward Ronan Kendrick as fast as she could. In that instant, her figure seemed to overlap with the one from the snowy fields of Broken Cloud Mountain all those years ago.
"Ronan Kendrick, you look amazing."
A smile tugged at the corner of Ronan’s lips as he reached out to smooth her wind-tousled hair.
Evelyn smiled and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
Ten seconds later, the embrace ended. Evelyn spun around once. "Happy birthday, Ronan Kendrick."
Seeing Ronan Kendrick staring blankly, Evelyn grabbed his hand.
"Come with me." She pulled him along, running toward the far end of the planting area. There, using all the beautiful stones she had collected, Evelyn had built a little secret hideout.
Evelyn led Ronan up a path of stepping stones until they reached the highest point. Then, she took out two Fairy Sticks and pressed them into his hands.
"If one Fairy Stick grants one wish, then I have three hundred of them right here. Ronan Kendrick, you get to make three hundred wishes."
Evelyn took out a lighter and lit both Fairy Sticks.
With a SIZZLE-SPARKLE, the Fairy Sticks erupted in a shower of colorful light.
Through the shower of sparks, Ronan Kendrick quietly watched Evelyn’s excited face.
"My first wish... is for Evelyn Ford to always be happy."
"My second wish... is for Evelyn to live a long life, free from sickness and misfortune."
"My third wish... is for Evelyn to love me forever."
"My fourth wish..."
He didn’t waste a single one. With every new Fairy Stick that ignited, he looked at Evelyn and made another wish.
Evelyn watched him with anticipation. "Are you done?"
"Mm."
"Did you really make three hundred wishes?"
"I did."
Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh.
Ronan picked up the last Fairy Stick. After lighting it, he looked at Evelyn with a smile. "Happy birthday, my love."