Chapter 1243


    Lina was cautious with each step she took. When Janine introduced her and Renee to the other


    members of the Bakers, she paid close attention, not wanting to make any mistakes in the future.


    “Some of them are distant rtives of the Bakers,” Janine told her with a smile. “But they’re quite


    capable!


    “In the future, you’ll see. I don’t care about anything else when I assess people. I don’t ask about their


    background. As long as they have good character and are willing to make progress, I’m willing to


    support them!”


    Lina nodded and smiled back at her.


    There were both males and females among the Bakers. Young people always had endless topics to


    discuss when they gathered. Moreover, they were all familiar with Zuko and Toph, so Lina quickly fit in.


    As they all chatted happily, someone entered the hall. Things seemed to pause momentarily as they


    watched the girl walk straight to Janine and hug her with a bright grin.


    “Sorry, Grandma Janine! I snuck out of the hotel as soon as I arrived in Centrolis because I wanted to


    look around. But I got lost and just came back now!” she apologized.


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    “I’m sorry for beingte!” The girl turned to tell the others. “Don’t worry. I’ll down three ssester as a


    penalty!”


    Lina observed her carefully. The girl had a bold sense of beauty and a unique style of dressing. She


    tied her long hair into a high ponytail and wasn’t wearing an evening dress for the party. Instead, she


    wore a tight-fitting denim skirt with knee-high boots, making her stand out in the crowd.


    Janine smiled faintly without saying anything and brought her over to Lina.


    “This is Desiree, the Harpers’ young heiress,” Janine said, looking at her. “You two are about the same


    age… You’ll probably havemon topics.”


    After saying that, Janine left to socialize with Cordelia and Zephyr’spany.


    Once the elders left, the young ones rxed. They listened to the music and chatted merrily.


    After Desiree drank her penalty, she spotted Zuko and Toph and waved to them enthusiastically. “Hey,


    long time no see!”


    “It hasn’t been that long, has it?” Tophughed. “When Zuko and I visited Melorian two years ago, we


    had dinner together, didn’t we?”


    “Yes, yes, my memory’s failing me!” Desiree’s voice was loud, and herughter carried a hint of boyish


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    She chatted with everyone happily, and Lina felt a little out of ce.


    Zuko noticed her expression and gently hugged her waist, whispering in her ear, “Toph and I did grow


    up with Desiree. Every time we went to Melorian when we were kids, we always yed together.”


    “Really? Why didn’t you mention it before?”


    “She’s just a childhood friend. I didn’t pay much attention to it.”


    Zuko spoke the truth. He was a Hamerton, so he wasn’t as close to the Bakers as Desiree was and


    even further away from the Harpers.


    Desiree was, at most, an acquaintance he did not dislike.


    As he thought about it, a wine ss suddenly appeared in front of him, and then a clear voice said, “Z!”


    Zuko was taken aback and saw Desiree standing before him, holding a ss of wine and ready to drink


    with him.


    “Z, you used toe to Melorian every year. Why didn’t youest year? That’s not okay. I have to


    penalize you with a drink!” she said warmly, but the atmosphere around them suddenly quieted.


    After a moment of silence, a distant cousin of the Bakers gently tugged Desiree’s arm and said,


    “Desiree, what are you saying? That’s Zuko!”


    “Huh?”


    “Yeah, we should call him ‘Zuko’!” another guy reminded her. “Isn’t that how we all call him?”


    Desiree burst intoughter. Slightly flushed from the three sses she had downed, she seemed tipsy.


    “You guys are really funny! What’s the difference between Z… and Zuko?”