I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

"Elegant lady, would you like me to take you upstairs?"

At this moment, the little tiger had to admit that Pado was right. The elegant beauty in front of her was indeed very much to her liking.

At that moment, her innate elegance combined with her beautiful appearance made her seem like a dazzling, walking work of art, making her irresistible to admire.

Damn it, I've really been manipulated by that Padofelis guy! No, where did she even meet such a perfect beauty?!

"Heh~" Eden chuckled softly, calmly accepting Swire's address. "My name is Eden, you can just call me by my name. And what about you, Miss?"

"You can call me Swire, but since Miss Eden doesn't seem to be from Yan, you can also call me by my real name, Beatrice Swire." Facing the elegant and composed Eden, Swire rarely used her real name, which she hadn't used in a long time.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Swire."

Without hesitation, Eden quickly made her choice and extended her slender, snow-white hand to her. "Although I am not from Yan Country, judging from the order in which you introduced things, Miss Swire, I suppose you are more accustomed to the former."

“Both names represent me, so you can choose whichever you prefer.” With that, Swire gently grasped Eden’s outstretched hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Eden.”

"I'll need Miss Swire's help to show me the way." After the handshake, Eden calmly withdrew his hand and smiled at the person in front of him.

Although the singer was quite familiar with this place, she didn't mind giving the young lady in front of her a chance to perform.

“It was nothing, Miss Eden, please come with me.” Swire gently shook her head, then turned and led the way. At the same time, she couldn't help but mentally grumble again, “Where did Pado even get to know this person…?”

Seeing Swire already taking action and leading the way, Eden's eyes flashed with a smile. He picked up his things from the car and followed her.

……

"Hey, Eden, you're here! Welcome, welcome! Now everyone's here." Padre, who had just finished serving the dishes and then been kicked out of the kitchen, quickly greeted the wine-red figure following Swire with a smile.

Upon hearing this, everyone else present also began to observe the person discreetly.

"Heh~ Good afternoon, Phyllis." Eden smiled gently upon hearing Paddo's words, and then handed her the gift he had prepared in advance. "I was a bit rushed this time, and I couldn't find a suitable gift for you right away. This is one I picked out from my collection. I believe you will like it."

"Wow, thank you, Sister Eden!"

Although there were no secrets between them because of their mutual understanding, and Pado already knew what was in the gift box, she still couldn't help but feel a little excited.

After all, Eden's collection consists of large items!

With a joyful heart, the cat gently swayed its tail, accepted the gift from Eden, and unwrapped it.

As the packaging was opened, a flawless, exquisitely cut sapphire was revealed under the light, refracting a dazzling brilliance.

“This gem is called the Tear of the Water God. It’s the purest one in my collection. Its color really resembles one of your eyes, so I chose it as this gift.” As Pado unwrapped the package, Eden’s gentle explanation followed.

"Sister Eden, you're practically our goddess!"

Looking at the sparkling gem in her hand, even the prepared Pado couldn't help but show her starry eyes, almost ready to pounce on Eden and give him a loving hug.

"Oh, whatever you like."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Paddo, Eden turned to the others and slowly began to introduce himself.

Although everyone present was an old acquaintance, they were not Eden's acquaintances, so a systematic introduction was still necessary.

After the introductions, Eden was fully integrated into the gathering.

Afterwards, Chen and the others were also surprised that Padofelis, the "Dragon Gate Thief," would know someone as elegant as Miss Eden, who looked like a young lady from a prominent family.

However, because I wasn't familiar with them and wasn't particularly interested, I didn't really try to strike up a conversation.

Swire, however, who had been kept in suspense for some time, remained intensely interested in and curious about Eden. She couldn't help it; she was genuinely curious about certain things, such as how they had met.

This alone is something that has kept the little tiger racking his brains, but he still can't figure it out. How did these two people with such different personalities, temperaments, and family backgrounds get to know each other?

What? You're asking how Swire knew about Eden's family background? Well, she figured it out through analysis, of course. Putting aside his demeanor, which clearly indicated he came from an ordinary family, just look at what she just casually...

The way someone casually gives an expensive gift suggests they are definitely wealthy.

Finally, because she was just too curious, Swire couldn't hold back any longer and invited Eden aside for a chat.

"Miss Swire, is there something you want to ask me?" Eden asked with a smile, swirling the golden goblet filled with wine in his hand as he looked at Swire beside him, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

"cough……"

Upon hearing this, Swire coughed lightly, feeling a little awkward, then composed herself and said gracefully, "It's nothing serious, I'm just curious and would like to chat with you, Miss Eden."

"Besides that, I also wanted to get to know you better. After all, this is the first time I've met someone as elegant and with such a unique temperament as you."

Although the little tiger can be a bit arrogant at times, she usually considers herself to be straightforward enough, like right now. Since the person beside her is indeed to her liking and she wants to get to know them, she naturally won't act coy or hesitant.

She strives for what she desires; that's the essence of Swire.

“Miss Swire also has a special charm in my eyes.” Eden smiled gently at Swire before continuing, “Alright, tell me what it is. I’ll let you know if I know.”

"Hmm." Upon hearing this, Swire nodded gently, then began to organize her thoughts.

Chapter 169 Inquiry and the Piano

"Although it may be presumptuous of me to ask such a question right away, I am indeed very curious about how Miss Eden met and became friends with Padrephilis?" Swire carefully asked the question that had always been a source of curiosity for her.

"You two look like you've known each other for a long time..."

Upon hearing this, Eden, who was sipping his wine, slowly put down his glass and smiled, saying, "So this is what Miss Swire wanted to ask."

"It's because my identity seems so different from Phyllis's that you're curious about me." Although it sounded like a question, the singer's tone was quite certain.

Looking at Eden's smiling, delicate face, Swire nodded gently and said truthfully, "Yes, I know a little about Padrephilis's past, but that's precisely why... I'm curious about her having such an elegant friend as Miss Eden."

"Actually, according to the original trajectory, Phyllis and I would not have had any interaction, just as Miss Swire thought. But it is precisely under these circumstances that the wonder of fate is even more evident."

Eden glanced back at Paddo, who was chatting and playing with others, before continuing, "Let me think about how to tell you about that past, but I think the story will be much more mundane than you think."

On this point, Miss Singer did not deceive Swire; in her memory, the acquaintance between "Eden" and "Padoflis" was not anything dramatic.

While Eden was reminiscing with Swire about some "past" events, Pado, who was chatting with everyone not far away, glanced over and then, as if remembering something, smiled and said, "I knew it, Swire and Eden really get along well."

“I can see that Swire rarely shows such interest in someone, but more than that…” Lin Yuxia looked up and raised her eyebrows at Paddo, “I’m more curious about how Miss Paddo Phyllis knows such a person.”

"You two don't seem like you'd have anything in common..."

Although Lin Yuxia no longer harbors any hostility towards Pado (otherwise she wouldn't have accepted the invitation), she still retains some prejudice.

She can't help but wonder how this guy and that elegant lady met in such an "abstract" way...

"Well, it's probably because of fate." Upon hearing this, Pado narrowed her eyes slightly, without any intention of explaining in detail.

"If you're really curious, you can ask Swire later. I'm 100% sure she asked Eden the same question you did."

"By the way, you guys shouldn't get any ideas. We've never really bought anything from Sister Eden, and that's not how we met."

"..."

Pado's words only made the three "outsiders" listening even more curious.

"Is Miss Padrephilis treating this as preferential treatment?" Lin Yuxia said, glancing at the two people in the corner. "Miss Eden's family background seems to be no less than Swire's."

"Well... you can't really say that. The two are not comparable." At this point, Pado paused slightly, "And there's absolutely no need for Sister Eden to stock up on their products!"

To be honest, if that lousy system hadn't been so terrible, I wouldn't have wanted to exploit Swire so many times! We can't put all the blame on her!

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Lin Yuxia's eyes flashed with curiosity, waiting for Pado's explanation. Not only her, but the other two felt the same way.

"What's there to be curious about? Didn't you all see it just now? Sister Eden is a super generous big boss, the kind who can just give away her collectibles."

“Is there any need to go and buy goods? Besides, we’re not buying goods entirely for the money, okay?” Pado glanced at the three of them and then said “righteously.”

"..." After learning the real reason, Lin

Yuxia and the others couldn't help but twitch their lips. But they also had to admit that Pado's words made some sense.

After all, if someone is willingly giving you "money," why would you steal it?

"Never mind." Lin Yuxia composed herself, suppressed her curiosity, and then said, "Miss Padofelis, would you mind if I went to the kitchen to help out?"

Lin Yuxia had been quite curious about the chef in the kitchen, who had never shown his face, ever since she saw the delicious-looking dishes that Pado brought out from the kitchen.

Although she didn't see the person, she judged from the vague conversation that the person in the kitchen should also be Padofelis's friend, and a woman at that.

"Although there's probably nothing in the kitchen that needs help right now, Lin Yuxia, if you'd like to go take a look, then go ahead."

In response to Lin Yuxia's question, Pado raised an eyebrow and then replied with a smile, "Maybe you'll get along well with the people inside, just like Swire and Sister Eden!"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Lin Yuxia wasted no time. After nodding to Pado, she stood up and curiously walked towards the kitchen.

Among the dishes already served were many that she had never seen before. Now she wanted to see what kind of person had made these dishes...

……

At the same time, on the other side——

Having received an answer from Eden, Swire felt a sense of satisfaction, yet not complete fulfillment. Because, just as she had initially said, their meeting hadn't been as "exciting" as she had imagined.

"Ha~"

Looking at Swire's expression, Eden couldn't help but smile gently and said, "Miss Swire, you must have had an interesting encounter with Phyllis to be making such an expression."

“No… I don’t think that could be considered interesting at all.” Swire recalled her past with someone, a look of frustration on her face, and shook her head.

"By the way, I have another question I'd like to ask Miss Eden."

"Hmm?" Faced with the question again, Eden paused slightly, his hand about to bring the wine glass to his lips. He calmly replied, "Go ahead and ask."

"Padophilia gave you a piano before, didn't she?"

"Hmm, what's wrong? Is that piano important to Miss Swire? If so, I can return it to you."

“No, no, that’s not it.” As soon as Eden said this, Swire quickly waved her hand in denial.

“Although I don’t particularly like the method, Padofelis has already paid for the piano. The reason I said that is because the question I’m about to ask is related to this.”

"Miss Eden, why do you merely collect that piano instead of using it?"

P.S.: It's a little early. Actually, I didn't want to stay up late, but I was really stuck at the end of this volume, and I also wrote about Eden. I was writing one sentence at a time, thinking it through as I went, like squeezing toothpaste. I'll try to finish earlier and adjust my sleep schedule. Thanks for your concern.

Chapter 170 The Golden Inscription

"Miss Eden, why do you merely collect that piano instead of using it?"

Thinking about the information that Paddo had inadvertently revealed earlier, Swire still asked the question about the piano.

"Hmm... Did Phyllis tell you?"

"Yes, that's why I'm a little curious about it. Is there something wrong with that piano? Or has it aged because no one has played it for a long time?" As soon as she finished speaking, Swire subconsciously began to recall the configuration of the piano that was placed in her home in Taiko Plaza.

“Heh~ Miss Swire, you’re overthinking it. It’s not for these reasons that I don’t use it. It’s just that it’s a gift, and I haven’t had the chance to use it yet…” With a sigh, a complex look appeared in Eden’s beautiful eyes that Swire couldn’t understand.

“No chance…” Swire immediately grasped the key word, confirming her guess, “So Miss Eden is indeed very good at the piano.”