The Novelist Forced to Become Famous Chapter 219

"Augustus Horlen," the face blind man introduced himself politely.

Jian Jing noticed that he paused slightly when he reported his surna, as if he had abbreviated the syllables, but she did not pay much attention to it. She simply reported her surna: "Jian."

This was a friendly form of address, and Horlen quickly accepted it: "Are you lanie'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 temperant.

Horlen said, "I'm a good friend of Leo's, so your friend must be the Eastern friend Leo t in college?"

"Obviously."

"Leo is very happy that he can co 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 , 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 the 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." Soone 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 extrely 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 mont and asked, "Are you Sal?"

"You can call 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 nas right." Jian Jing was equally friendly, "Just 'Jian' is fine for ."

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 sa ti, 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 tis.

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 seed 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 ca 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 imdiately 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 mont." Lei Ao said, "Twilight City and I were very good friends in college, he helped a lot. Please feel free to look around."

Jian Jing said, "Thank you."

He hesitated for a mont, and said in a low voice, "Jian, this is an old house."

She didn't understand: "Oh?"

"I'm rarely at ho, and haven't had any repairs done for a long ti. 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 ca from so 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 beca 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 chid in.

At this point, a slender woman walked down the stairs.

She was extrely beautiful, with long black hair, snow white skin, azure blue eyes, and a fragile and dreary deanor that resembled the famous French beauty Agyness.

Perhaps to highlight her cherishnt 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.

"lanie." Kimberley affectionately called her sister's na, "It's good to see you at last."

"Kimmy." lanie called her sister's nickna, a shallow smile appeared on her beautiful face, "I'm so glad you could co."

Kimberley introduced her husband: "This is Carl, my husband."

lanie nodded amiably at Carl.

"It looks like everyone is here." Lei Ao ca 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 of Carl's and my honeymoon." Kimberley was in high spirits, constantly chatting with lanie, "Sushi, hot springs and cherry blossoms, what about you? Antarctica, Africa or Asia?"

lanie 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 Arica. 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 so observations about the wedding preparations.

But lanie was preoccupied and barely managed to respond: "We'll talk about it when the ti cos."

Kimberley put down her knife and fork, took a sip of champagne, and muttered, "lanie, you really don't look like a woman about to get married."

lanie smiled bitterly: "I don't know why, but the closer I get to the wedding, the more nervous I beco."

"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 so painkillers," lanie replied.

Si Yingjie comnted: "Premarital jitters."

At this ti, Mary's food cart ca 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. at, vegetables, mushrooms and other ingredients were prepared in advance and cooked in the cheese pot. If you like, you can also sprinkle so 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 al," Lei Ao said. "Mary, if you're not busy, why don't you sit down and eat with us?"

Mary said coldly: "Co 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 imdiately took a new bottle, popped the cork and then set it aside, showing no intention of pouring the wine.

It was Lei Ao who imdiately got up, took the bottle and poured wine for everyone, explaining: "The weather is bad, everyone else went ho, Mary and George have too much work, so let serve you."

Augustus Horlen shrugged: "You know well, no problem."

The accident happened at this mont.

First there was a "clang", and lanie'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: "lanie!"

"Does she have epilepsy?" Jian Jing asked.

Kimberley scread: "lanie doesn't have that!"

"Then she must have been poisoned," Jian Jing said as she walked over quickly, holding lanie'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 lanie in a panic and rushed out the door.

Kang Mu Cheng imdiately 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 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 sa 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."