Chapter 29: Big Star

How should I put it?

Luo Xi’s first experience riding in a carriage wasn’t exactly pleasant.

The Main Avenue was decently paved with granite, but once they turned into the alleys and side streets, the roadwork got shoddy, with just some loose stones thrown down carelessly.

When the road conditions were really bad, the carriage bumped and jolted so much that if you added a coin-operated meter and a couple of children’s songs, you could toss it into a shopping mall as a Coin-operated Car.

Since she couldn’t eat anyway, Luo Xi stuck to the principle of “out of sight, out of mind.”

She didn’t look at the man feasting away, instead turning her head to gaze out the window, planning to get a feel for the local customs and maybe gather some information while she was at it.

They were traveling along the Main Avenue now.

The buildings on both sides of the road had all sorts of architectural styles, with walls decorated in colorful brick mosaics.

Glass was commonly used, and the separation between the sidewalk and the street was clear. The basic greenery was nicely done too.

It looked like the local government had plenty of money.

When they turned into a residential area, the architecture changed from wide-spanning buildings to rows of townhouses formed by terraced villas.

The entrances were on the ground floor, often with a canopy.

Triangular gables were common, the roofs were tall and sloped, and the gable ends had protruding decorations—usually carvings or lace-like outlines.

Bay windows and balconies with iron railings were also standard features.

It was still early, so the streetlamps—whether oil or gas—hadn’t been lit yet.

All sorts of people bustled through the streets and alleys. Their clothing wasn’t as conservative as Luo Xi had imagined.

While most men wore formal attire, there were also young people dressed more casually.

The women’s fashion was even more open.

Someone like her, with a skirt reaching her ankles, was in the minority.

Most favored simple, light outfits.

Of course, perhaps due to the times or current trends, lace and frills were ever-present on dresses and skirts.

“Fried fish, fried fish! Freshly caught from the Port!”

“Jiang Ginger Beer! Cool and refreshing Jiang Ginger Beer, only one penny!”

“Saint Marguerite Brand Ice Cream! Even Miss Morton says it’s delicious! One stick for three pennies, two for just five!”

Luo Xi, “……”

Looks like she was a minor celebrity after all.

Ignoring the teasing glances shot at her from across the street, Luo Xi fell into deep thought.

How should she put it?

This era clearly hadn’t stepped into the age of electricity yet.

After all, carriages, oil lamps, and gas lamps were still common. But in some areas, there were characteristics that seemed ahead of their time.

Was this because of the existence of ‘Secret Keepers’—groups with extraordinary powers?

No phone calls, no video chats, but you could have Soul Link, or connect through a Magic Mirror?

How strange…

Lost in these complicated feelings, the carriage entered a peaceful and serene area.

Here, the homes were no longer terraced, but large and sprawling. To call them detached villas didn’t quite do them justice—they were more like luxurious manor houses.

The pedestrians’ clothing changed once again.

The women’s outfits were elaborate and complex, the men’s refined and elegant, each surrounded by a group of attendants.

The female attendants mostly wore long dresses in black, gray, or navy, paired with white aprons.

The male attendants’ uniforms resembled court attire: knee-length coats, metallic buttons and tassels, long striped vests, balloon pants, gaiters, and buckled shoes.

They followed their masters and mistresses closely, responding to every request and carrying out their tasks in an orderly manner.

Ah, the evils of capitalism.

Luo Xi sighed inwardly.

This was probably the area where nobles and wealthy merchants lived. In other words, she was almost home.

As the carriage continued, the scenery on both sides of the street gave Luo Xi a strange sense of déjà vu.

It must have been Miss ‘Morton’ feeling nostalgic, awakening some deep-seated memories in her mind.

Norma Morton, Ted Morton—these names suddenly surfaced in her mind.

They felt both familiar and strange.

She could sense the bond of blood, yet couldn’t recall what the people behind these names looked like or what kind of personalities they had.

For ‘Luo Xi Morton,’ they were relatives she could meet but couldn’t remember.

For ‘Lin Yu,’ they were relatives she remembered but could never meet again.

Her heart felt empty, filled only with sorrow.

What a pity she didn’t have a Smartphone.

Otherwise, Luo Xi could have posted in her Friend Circle or written a post on Bilibili: XXXXXX, just letting everyone know, venting some of her youthful, tragic literary emotions.

Maybe she’d even get a few shares and likes.

Lost in her wild thoughts, the carriage slowly came to a stop. By her side, Ivette Lamb reminded her in a businesslike tone:

“Miss Morton, we’ve arrived at Viscount Morton’s Mansion.”

With that, she stepped out of the carriage first, then extended her hand to help Luo Xi down.

Ivette would be temporarily staying in this mansion to ensure the key ‘witness’ Luo Xi Morton’s ‘personal safety.’

“Thank you.”

Honestly, the carriage’s footboard was quite a distance from the ground.

In the past, Lin Yu could have just jumped down boldly, maybe even struck a diver’s pose and made a dramatic landing.

But times had changed.

Now, she was the famous star carrying the endorsement for Saint Marguerite Brand Ice Cream, the young lady of the Viscount’s household, Luo Xi Morton.

With so many eyes watching—who knew, one might be a neighbor or a familiar face from a banquet—she couldn’t afford to break character.

Luo Xi sighed softly in her heart, took Ivette’s arm, stepped down with her left leg first, then used her other hand to gently gather her long skirt.

The soft fabric hugged the inside of her thigh, tracing a beautiful curve.

Then, she stepped down with her right leg and gracefully descended from the carriage like a true lady.

Luo Xi (smiling): I have exited the warehouse. Status: all systems normal.

The evening breeze passed by, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples.

A voice she’d recently grown familiar with drifted to her ears.

“Goodbye, Miss Morton. And thank you for the puffy pie.”

Luo Xi tidied her hair, tucking the strands behind her ear. Then, with large—no, small—steps, she headed toward the mansion.

Hmm, was the wind too strong? Did someone say something?

Can’t hear, can’t hear.

This mansion belonging to Viscount Morton wasn’t ostentatious in its design.

Aside from the garden, lawn, and stables, there was just a single, multi-story detached villa.

The villa was mainly reddish-brown, with a pointed roof. The windows jutted out from the walls, and outside, there was a porch and balcony surrounded by railings.

The exterior walls were covered with shingle-like wood tiles.

There was a pointed tower and square pillars—the whole building exuded a sense of exquisite craftsmanship.

Luo Xi walked ahead, Ivette following behind. She stopped in front of the door, reached out her hand, but paused halfway, hesitating.

“Young Lady?”

A somewhat aged voice came from the other side of the iron gate.

A man with hair streaked brown and white stood by a bush, looking in their direction.

Luo Xi turned her head and looked at the man dressed like a steward, frowning slightly.

“Steward White?”