Chapter 418: What?? When??

Miles and Chloe stood near the entrance of the art gallery.

The auction hall behind them had already started emptying.

Staff were moving quietly around the corridor, guiding guests out while others began securing the remaining artifacts.

Chloe stood beside Miles, both hands loosely holding her handbag.

For a while...

Miles simply looked toward the gallery.

Chloe noticed.

"What are you thinking?"

Miles looked toward her.

"Nothing."

Chloe narrowed her eyes.

"That doesn’t look like nothing."

Miles smiled.

Then looked ahead again.

"I am just enjoying the time with you."

Chloe’s expression softened.

Miles continued,

"I was thinking..."

"I hope we never run out of things to talk about."

Chloe stared at him for a moment.

Then slowly smiled.

"What?"

Miles looked confused.

She covered her mouth.

"Are you afraid you’ll get bored of me one day?"

Miles immediately turned.

"I didn’t mean that."

Chloe started laughing.

"Of course."

"I’m kidding."

Miles sighed.

"You scared me for a second."

Chloe stepped closer.

Then gently held his arm.

"Don’t worry."

She looked up at him.

"If someday we don’t have anything sweet to talk about..."

She smiled mischievously.

"Quarrel with me."

Miles raised an eyebrow.

"Argue with me."

She continued.

"Fight with me."

Miles stared.

"And then..."

Chloe smiled.

"...we persuade each other."

Miles laughed.

"So the conversations never end?"

"Exactly."

Miles shook his head.

"I wonder if I can ever argue with you."

Chloe looked thoughtful.

"Actually..."

Miles became cautious.

"What?"

"I might like it."

"Like what?"

"If you show a little dominance sometimes."

Miles froze.

"Hun?"

Chloe’s smile widened.

Miles stared at her.

"What kind of weird fetish is that?"

Chloe immediately laughed.

"Hehe."

Miles shook his head helplessly.

Before he could say anything else...

Footsteps approached.

Miles turned first.

Chen was walking toward them.

His pace was quick, but the tension that had been on his face earlier was gone.

Chloe noticed immediately.

"All sorted, Mr. Chen?"

Chen stopped before them.

Then looked toward Miles.

"Yes."

He took a deep breath.

"Thank you."

His voice carried genuine gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Miles."

Miles smiled.

Chen continued,

"I honestly don’t know how I can repay this."

Miles shook his head.

"You don’t need to."

Chen looked at him.

Miles continued,

"It was more like an unfinished task from all those years ago."

He smiled faintly.

"I’m happy I finally finished it."

Chen remained silent for a moment.

Then smiled too.

"Come."

He gestured toward the exit.

"My wife is already home."

"She started preparing dinner."

Chloe immediately brightened.

"And your Father?"

Chen’s smile became slightly awkward.

"He’ll join us soon."

Miles looked at him.

"Good."

Chloe smiled.

"Then let’s go."

...

They traveled in separate cars.

The drive toward the Chen residence was peaceful.

Chloe spent most of it looking through the pictures they had taken during the day.

The Great Wall.

The museum.

Several ridiculous selfies.

A few photographs of Miles where he clearly didn’t realize she had taken them.

Every now and then...

She smiled to herself.

Miles noticed.

But he didn’t ask.

...

The Chen residence was elegant without being overly extravagant.

There were traditional elements throughout the property.

A quiet courtyard.

Warm exterior lighting.

Carefully maintained plants.

Wooden details around the entrance.

Chen stepped out of his car first.

Miles and Chloe followed.

He opened the door himself.

"Please."

"Come in."

The moment they entered...

Chen raised his voice.

"Xi’er."

"They’re here."

Footsteps came from inside.

Ruoxi appeared from the direction of the kitchen.

She had changed out of the traditional outfit she wore during the auction.

Now she looked much more relaxed.

Miles and Chloe greeted her politely.

"Good evening, Mrs. Chen."

Ruoxi smiled.

"Welcome."

Chloe immediately added,

"You were amazing at the auction."

Ruoxi laughed softly.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Then she looked toward Chloe.

"So..."

"You’re the one who bought the compass."

Chloe smiled.

"Yes."

Ruoxi looked toward Miles.

"Your husband is very lucky."

Chloe glanced at Miles.

Then smiled.

"I’m luckier to have him."

Miles looked toward her.

Ruoxi immediately laughed.

"That’s even better."

She gestured toward the living room.

"Please."

"Come sit."

Chloe suddenly remembered something.

"Oh."

She turned toward Miles.

He handed her the gift bag they had brought.

Chloe passed it to Ruoxi.

"Mrs. Chen."

"We brought something."

Ruoxi looked surprised.

"Oh."

"You really didn’t need to."

Chloe smiled.

"We couldn’t come for dinner empty handed."

Ruoxi accepted it.

"Thank you."

"Really."

She looked inside briefly.

Then smiled warmly.

"You two are too polite."

Miles and Chloe sat comfortably on the couch.

Ruoxi looked around.

"Where is Father?"

Chen answered,

"On his way."

Ruoxi nodded.

"Dinner is almost ready."

Then she looked at Chen.

"You stay with the guests."

"I’ll finish everything."

Chen smiled.

"Okay."

Ruoxi returned to the kitchen.

Chen sat opposite Miles and Chloe.

For a few seconds...

He simply looked at Miles.

Then smiled.

Miles noticed.

"What?"

Chen laughed.

"Last night..."

"I kept wondering where I’d heard your name."

Miles’ expression immediately became suspicious.

Chen continued,

"So I searched online."

Miles sighed.

Chloe started smiling.

Chen shook his head.

"And what do I find?"

He looked toward Miles.

"A national hero."

Miles leaned back.

"That isn’t really a secret anymore."

He sighed.

"I have our President to thank for that."

Chen laughed.

"Not only that."

He continued.

"Successful businessman."

"Chairman."

"Several companies."

Chen narrowed his eyes.

"You might even be wealthier than the Chen family."

Miles immediately replied,

"I wouldn’t say that."

Chen laughed.

"Secretive as ever."

Miles smiled.

Chen then looked toward Chloe.

"What about you, Miss Chloe?"

Chloe looked up.

"Where are you from?"

"Are you from Haven too?"

Chloe shook her head.

"No."

"I’m French."

Chen raised his eyebrows.

"France?"

"Yes."

Chen looked between them.

"So..."

"International marriage."

Chloe smiled.

Chen continued,

"You two married recently, didn’t you?"

Miles nodded.

"A few weeks ago."

Chen suddenly looked thoughtful.

"Then I should prepare a red packet."

Miles immediately straightened.

"Ah."

"That won’t be necessary."

Chloe turned toward him.

"What’s a red packet?"

Miles coughed.

Chen smiled.

"It’s a wedding gift."

Chloe looked interested.

"Gift?"

"Usually an envelope containing money."

Chloe’s eyes widened slightly.

"Really?"

"So that’s normal here?"

"Of course."

Chen smiled.

"Red packets are also commonly given during New Year."

"Birthdays."

"Special occasions."

"Especially from elders."

Chloe nodded slowly.

"That’s nice."

Chen laughed.

"When I was young..."

"I used to collect every red packet I received."

Miles smiled.

"For what?"

Chen looked toward the auction house memories.

"I wanted to save enough money to buy something from Father’s auction."

Chloe laughed softly.

"Did you ever manage?"

Chen shook his head.

"No."

"It remained a dream."

Miles smiled.

"Well..."

"From receiver to giver."

"Not bad."

Chen nodded.

"Yes."

Then...

The doorbell rang.

Miles looked toward the entrance.

"Looks like Senior Chen is here."

Chen stood.

He walked toward the door.

Then opened it.

"Father."

"Please come in."

The old man stepped inside.

He was dressed simply now.

No auction atmosphere.

No formal presence around him.

Just an elderly man walking into his son’s home.

His eyes moved around the living room.

Then stopped.

Miles.

Chloe.

A smile slowly appeared.

Miles stood.

"We meet again."

The old man looked toward him.

"Miles."

Then toward Chloe.

"And..."

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Chloe, was it?"

Chloe smiled.

"Yes, sir."

Miles nodded.

"Correct."

The old man looked toward Chen.

"Son."

He smiled.

"You really have interesting guests."

Then he turned toward them again.

"Welcome."

Chloe stood politely.

"Thank you so much for having us, sir."

The old man waved his hand.

"No need to be formal."

He took a seat.

Chen sat nearby.

For a few seconds...

He kept looking between his father and Miles.

Then finally...

Chen smiled.

"Father."

"Hmm?"

"You really don’t recognize him, do you?"

The old man frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He looked at Miles again.

"I already told him earlier..."

"He feels familiar."

The old man studied Miles carefully.

"But I can’t remember where I’ve seen him."

Miles smiled.

"It’s not like my face changed that much in six or seven years."

The old man’s eyes widened.

"Six or seven years?"

He looked Miles over again.

"You look extremely young."

Then realization slowly appeared.

"So..."

"I saw you when you were a child?"

Chloe immediately lowered her face.

She was trying not to laugh.

Chen looked toward his father.

Then asked quietly,

"Does the name Ghost ring any bells?"

The old man’s expression froze.

For a moment...

He said nothing.

Then his eyes slowly moved toward Miles.

"Ghost..."

His expression changed completely.

"You mean..."

Miles smiled politely.

"Miles Sterling."

The old man stared.

Then suddenly laughed.

"Of course."

He shook his head.

"Of course it’s you."

Chloe looked amused.

The old man continued,

"I heard you retired."

"My daughter-in-law mentioned that you weren’t at the Conclave this year."

Miles smiled.

"Well..."

"Yes."

"I’m retired."

Then he added,

"But I was at the Conclave."

Silence.

The old man turned.

"What?"

Chen immediately looked at him.

"What?"

From the kitchen doorway...

Ruoxi appeared holding a dish.

"What?"

Chloe looked around.

Everyone had reacted.

She blinked.

Then slowly said,

"What?"

Everyone turned toward her.

Chloe froze.

"Ahh..."

She smiled awkwardly.

"I didn’t want to be left out."

Silence.

Then everyone laughed.

Even the old man.

Ruoxi placed the dish on the dining table.

Then looked toward Miles suspiciously.

"Wait."

"If you were at the Conclave..."

"How?"

She stared at him.

"I’m sure you weren’t there."

Miles smiled.

"You were actually the one who invited me to Beijing."

Ruoxi froze.

Chen looked confused.

Miles continued,

"You told me to visit the auction."

He smiled.

"And you said you would answer some of my questions."

Ruoxi’s expression changed.

"What?"

"When?"

Miles said nothing.

He just smiled.

Then...

Ruoxi stopped.

Her eyes widened.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

Everything connected.

The expression on her face became priceless.

"You..."

Miles smiled.

Ruoxi pointed toward him.

"You are him."

Chen frowned.

"Xi’er?"

The old man looked equally confused.

Ruoxi stared at Miles.

"Of course."

She shook her head.

"That makes perfect sense."

Chen became impatient.

"Who is.... he?"

Ruoxi looked toward her husband.

Then said one word.

"Light."

The old man’s eyes widened again.

"That Light?"

Chloe looked around.

The old man continued,

"The one who bought the cursed sword?"

Chloe immediately turned toward Miles.

"A cursed sword?"

The old man coughed.

Then corrected himself.

"I mean..."

"The sword connected to the Ancient Clans."

Chloe narrowed her eyes.

Miles silently looked away.

Chen stared at him.

"Wait."

"Light?"

He looked toward Ruoxi.

"You mean..."

"The Light you talked about before..."

"Is him?"

Ruoxi sighed.

"Yes."

She looked toward Chen.

"When I told you that he’d met you personally..."

"And you didn’t even know who I meant..."

She shook her head.

"Now it makes sense."

Ruoxi pointed toward Chen.

"The man you knew was Ghost."

Then toward herself.

"The man I knew was Light."

The old man suddenly started laughing.

A loud, genuine laugh.

He leaned back in his chair.

Chen simply stared at Miles.

"You really enjoy hiding your identity, don’t you?"

Miles smiled.

"Sometimes."

Ruoxi shook her head.

Then gestured toward the dining room.

"Dinner is ready."

She looked at all of them.

"How about we continue discussing Mr. Ghost, Mr. Light, or whatever else he calls himself at the table?"

Chen chuckled.

"Yes."

"Let’s do that."

Everyone began moving toward the dining table.

Chloe walked beside Miles.

She leaned closer.

"Light."

Miles looked toward her.

She smiled.

"Not a bad name."

Miles sighed.

"It was temporary."

"Who gave it to you?"

"Ray."

Chloe nodded thoughtfully.

"Hmm."

Then she suddenly frowned.

Miles noticed.

"What?"

Chloe looked genuinely dissatisfied.

"Why do you get all the cool names?"

Miles blinked.

"What?"

"Ghost."

"Kai"

"Light."

She started counting on her fingers.

"And probably several others I haven’t heard yet."

Miles smiled.

Chloe pointed toward herself.

"And I’m just Chloe."

Ruoxi heard her.

She turned with a smile.

"How about I give you one?"

Chloe’s eyes immediately brightened.

"You would?"

Ruoxi nodded.

Chloe smiled.

"I’d love to have one."