Seriously

Observing the orderly and tidy room, Renly was satisfied and lifted his chin slightly. It was fortunate that Matthew helped with the organization; otherwise, he wouldn't have known where to start. "I'm about to play Santa Claus. How about you? Interested in being Rudolph?"

No formal thanks, no deep probing, no unnecessary small talk—everything was so familiar.

A faint smile appeared in Matthew's eyes. Time and space seemed to have changed nothing. London, New York, Barcelona, London again, New York—the Renly from before remained the same Renly. The traces left by time were almost imperceptible, and the vivid impression from their first meeting in childhood still felt alive today.

"Sure," Matthew straightforwardly agreed. "Great, on the way back, we can stop by the market. Your fridge could use some replenishing; I imagine it's feeling quite lonely."

"Grocery shopping?" Renly's elegant eyebrows knitted together. "But I have work coming up, and I might not be home for long. Is it necessary? Even if I buy things, they'll just gather dust..."

There was no need to turn around and see Renly's expression; Matthew knew what he meant.

Grocery shopping was another of Renly's shortcomings. Every time he went to the market to buy everyday items, he always forgot something or misplaced something, often remembering one thing but forgetting another, resulting in multiple trips back and forth. Interestingly, Renly loved going to the market and often used it like a library. However, every time he returned from the market, his hands would be empty.

So, Matthew supplemented, "Don't worry, leave the shopping to me. You just handle the transportation."

Renly's brows immediately relaxed, and he pursed his lips, reluctantly nodded. "Driving and carrying, I'm fine with that. I think we can get some snacks and wine glasses. Last time, I wanted a glass of whisky, but I searched for a long time and couldn't find one. Oh, and let's also buy a humidifier. I forgot where I left the old one when I moved."

With a "bang", the sound of the door closing echoed in the stairwell. Matthew rehung the key on the doorframe and followed behind Renly, heading downstairs.

Renly and Matthew had spent the entire afternoon at Mount Sinai Hospital. Tomorrow would mark the start of the year 2011. New Year's Eve parties in New York were always grand and extravagant, unique even on a global scale. Mount Sinai Hospital was also adorned with lights and decorations, joyfully welcoming the arrival of the new year.

Although Christmas had passed a few days ago, Renly still brought his own prepared Christmas and New Year's gifts for the children in the hospital. The gifts weren't anything valuable—just small items that Renly had collected and bought during filming and travels, items with special cultural marks and memorabilia.

This time, all the items were from South America and Hawaii, with a distinct style—primitive, rugged, rustic, simple, colorful, and handmade. After opening the gifts, the children curiously asked about the stories behind the items, and Renly generously shared his experiences from the past four months.

As time passed, it became less relevant.

Hazel looked at the gift in her hand, a colorful woven bracelet. Leather and braided cords intertwined, creating a mosaic of red, blue, yellow, black, gray, brown, and various other colors. The sensation under her fingertips was marvelous, as if a segment of rainbow from the horizon had been captured and crafted into it.

"This was a gift from a wandering artist in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. He was inspired by Iguazu Falls when he left, and he wove this. He believed it was the end of the world and also the starting point of life. He always dreamed of returning there, but before doing so, he would continue wandering. As an exchange, I wrote him a song."

"What song?"

"'Old Pine.'"

After saying goodbye to Renly and Matthew, Hazel's fingers caressed the bracelet carefully. Then, with a bit of clumsiness, she attempted to put it on. It wasn't an easy task, but this time she didn't give up easily. After thirteen attempts, she finally managed to put on the bracelet all by herself, without anyone's help.

Because she hadn't basked in the sunlight for too long, her skin appeared somewhat pale. You could even clearly see the blue veins flowing gently beneath her nearly transparent skin. The rainbow-colored bracelet quietly rested on her wrist, and its vibrant colors slowly began to unfold, releasing a lively energy that added a hint of color to her fair skin.

Quietly gazing at the bracelet, a smile graced her lips.

Upon returning to the apartment, night had fallen. Winter in New York was becoming unreasonably harsh—fierce winds, bone-chilling cold. The entire city seemed to be covered in a thin layer of frost, and an air of cold indifference permeated everywhere the eyes could see. Under the cover of darkness, it spread slowly and quietly.

Pushing open the door, Renly held heavy shopping bags and walked towards the kitchen. "...Are these things too much? Seriously, next week, I might have to leave again because of work."

Matthew lagged a couple of steps behind but noticed a figure sitting in the living room, his gaze alert.

The figure was a man in his thirties, perhaps older due to his fair, slightly plump cheeks. He wore a charcoal grey shirt and a black suit, his tie neatly done. A slight paunch caused his shirt to stretch taut, and his face bore a kindly smile. A harmless, amiable appearance that could easily disarm others.

However, it didn't work on Matthew. He could tell that the eyes, narrowed into thin slits, didn't hold much warmth. He seemed like a calculating businessman or a Wall Street elite.

Despite Matthew's wariness, the man remained composed, nodding politely.

Then, Matthew noticed the young man seated diagonally opposite the middle-aged man. This young man was significantly younger, probably around Matthew and Renly's age.

He wore a smoke-grey cable-knit sweater on top, while his lower half was clad in worn-out jeans with deliberate slashed designs that made them look like they'd seen better days. Unexpectedly, he wore a pair of intricately patterned black brogues on his feet, a stark contrast to his casual outfit. The formal brogues paired with the punk-style clothes and pants created a significant dissonance, yet somehow harmoniously fused together. A topknot resembling a packet of instant noodles crowned his head, completing the ensemble.

Merely a brief encounter, yet the vibrant and somewhat youthful countenance left a strong impression.

"Eaton Dorman?" In the presence of a stranger, Matthew's expression remained unwavering, with minimal change. Even the slight furrow of his brows had disappeared. However, a faint inflection in his voice conveyed his confusion.

The young man looked equally surprised, his expression more animated. Wide-eyed, he exclaimed, "Matthew Dunlop? Weren't you applying for the Royal Bar in London?"

"Do you two know each other?" The slightly plump man sitting in the middle interrupted their exchange. His gaze shifted between the two, tinged with a hint of amusement.

Walking toward the fridge, Renly heard the commotion behind her and turned around. "Hey, Andy, why are you here? And why didn't you give a heads-up at this hour?!"

The person sitting in the center was Mr. Andy Rogers, Renly's agent.

Andy appeared somewhat exasperated. "I called you five times, and you didn't pick up." Without further explanation, his gaze fell on the coffee table, where Renly's phone lay silently. Lifting his head, he saw Renly shrug nonchalantly. With a sigh, Andy asked, "Where's Nathan?"

"I asked him to go back first. He's looking for an apartment, and he's going to be in New York for a while." Renly temporarily closed the refrigerator door and walked into the living room, where she spotted another figure. "Eaton? Are you in New York on business? Or did you come with Charles for work?"

Charles Dorman, one of the senior partners at the law firm Matthew recently joined, and Eaton was his younger brother.

The Dorman family wasn't a traditional aristocratic family. They were known for their tailoring lineage, the first to settle on Savile Row, the pinnacle of high-end custom tailoring worldwide. For generations, the family produced exceptional talents with a close relationship to the British royal family. In Charles's grandfather's generation, they were awarded a knighthood and could be addressed as "Sir Dorman."

Eaton, Renly, and Matthew were classmates in primary and secondary school. After entering university, they separated due to different aspirations. Renly and Matthew went to Cambridge, while Eaton attended the London College of Art.

Apart from Charles, Eaton had an older brother and two sisters. However, only Eaton carried on the family's design legacy. Assuming all goes according to plan, Eaton would inherit the high-end custom shop on Savile Row.

"Charles is also in New York?" Eaton's expression showed surprise, indicating he was unaware. However, he soon chuckled. "No, that's not it. I came here specifically to expand the high-end custom market. I believe I've found a perfect collaboration opportunity, and I certainly wouldn't want to miss it."

Before Renly could fully digest these words, Andy stood up and provided a simple explanation. "Eaton is an up-and-coming stylist in London. He's here to propose working on your appearance for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. But, I've noticed you two knew each other before? And this person..."

Renly raised an eyebrow, looking at Eaton with surprise. "You switched careers to become a stylist? What about your family's shop?" Every store on Savile Row had endured numerous trials and tribulations over the years, carrying rigorous traditions comparable to those of nobility.

Andy looked at Renly helplessly, chuckling softly and coughing twice. "Renly, why not start with introductions? I think that's the most urgent matter."