Columbia Day.
This was the biggest holiday of the year in Columbia, equivalent to Yan's Spring Festival or Higashi's New Year.
Of course.
Columbia itself didn't have a very long history, so this holiday naturally lacked much depth. It was created in imitation of Victoria's "Victoria Day," resulting in "Columbia Day."
This holiday was to celebrate the birth of Columbia, with the day the predecessor to the Columbian Federation completely broke away from Victoria being designated as Columbia Day, falling in late December each year.
Then, the celebration method imitated Yan's Spring Festival with family reunions and Victoria's Thanksgiving with gift exchanges. After all, you could count Columbia's history on your fingers, so its holidays naturally couldn't have the same historical origins and depth as those in Yan and Victoria.
Bad news: It's a mishmash.
Good news: It's a complete mishmash.
Due to the holiday, almost ninety percent of the businesses in Columbia had closed down for days in advance.
The most prosperous city square was already decorated with lanterns and colored banners, bustling with excitement. It gave off a festive and peaceful feeling, although... why were they hanging large red lanterns on the streetlights for a Columbian holiday??
Lucas Reeve was exceptionally puzzled. Weren't those hung only for Yan's Spring Festival?
In previous years, Franka would have spent the holiday with Liskarm, but this year was different.
At Jessica's invitation.
Franka, Liskarm, Magallan, Ceobe, Zumama, the High Priest, Shamare, and Little Moti were all going to Jessica's home to attend the family gathering together. Although Franka and Liskarm had attended before, last time it was just Jessica's parents. This time was different; all the important figures from Jessica's entire family would be present.
In addition, there was Lisa.
Franka had specifically asked Lucas Reeve to bring Lisa over as well. Although they didn't celebrate this holiday in Siracusa, Lisa didn't know where her mother was right now. Leaving her all alone in Siracusa would be a bit pitiful. So, she might as well take a break and head to Columbia to get together with everyone.
As for Silence, Ifrit, and their group, they would be gathering as a family of three.
Shining, Liz, and Nearl would also be gathering as a trio.
Jessica had told her parents about bringing so many friends home this time, and her parents naturally approved with both hands. The two once again sighed with relief and gratification.
Their daughter had grown up and started making many friends.
Not wanting their daughter to lose face in front of her friends, they even personally instructed the servants to clean the house thoroughly. It was truly hard to believe that such easy-going parents were the two titans of Raythean Industries.
"Huh? Jessica, isn't your house in this direction?"
Franka was a bit confused. She remembered that the last time they went to Jessica's house, it was a huge manor in the opposite direction, away from the bustling city center.
Jessica replied, "That manor is mostly used for cocktail parties. The place we're going to now is where the family gathers for dinner on major holidays every year."
"?"
Franka was taken aback for a moment, then said helplessly, "Alright, my world is too small."
According to Jessica's explanation.
The house they were going to this time was the old house where her father lived as a child. He was a nostalgic person. Even after he became successful, he had no intention of making major changes to the old house. On the contrary, he cherished it even more, even spending a large sum of money to hire people to maintain it to preserve its original appearance. Although they only stayed there a few times a year, servants cleaned it meticulously every day.
"We're almost there."
Jessica said, pointing ahead.
"The old house isn't that big, only six hundred square meters."
"Six hundred square meters... only..."
Magallan clicked her tongue. The life of the rich was indeed simple, unadorned, and boring.
After walking a little further.
The group found Jessica's family's 'old house' in a villa complex in a corner of the city center.
A standalone house with a private courtyard.
Although the residents of this villa community were all wealthy bosses, in the eyes of Raythean Industries, these so-called wealthy bosses were no different from ordinary people. Their assets might be in the hundreds of millions or billions, but... Jessica's parents casually gave their daughter tens of billions to start a business for fun. There was simply no comparison.
From the outside.
Jessica's family's old house did indeed look a bit old. According to Jessica, this was intentional to maintain its aged appearance.
In the small courtyard in front of the villa, a crowd of people was already standing, talking and laughing, with less flattery and more kinship and affability.
Someone seemed to have spotted Jessica walking in from outside.
Many of the middle-aged people in the courtyard quickly turned to look at Jessica, then eagerly took the initiative to greet her.
"Niece Jessica, you've grown up again after a year!"
"Quick... quick, call her big sister Jessica."
Jessica responded generously to each of them. Her magnanimous attitude surprised many of the elders who hadn't seen her in a year or two. In their memory, Jessica was supposed to be a very introverted and shy girl, who would even hide behind her parents when making an appearance at family banquets.
What...
How could she have changed so much in just a year?
Although her looks were still the same, without much change—if you had to point something out, maybe she had matured a bit and grown slightly taller—her personality and temperament were completely different from a year ago...
Some elders couldn't help but marvel at how much a girl can change.
However.
The attention of the vast majority was entirely on the young man whose arm Jessica was holding.
Some elders gasped.
Such an intimate gesture with a boy!!!
Jessica found a boyfriend?!!
This came as a shock to many of the elders who had originally planned to play matchmaker for Jessica today.
They had never heard that Jessica had a boyfriend. Many had already started to feel sorry for this young man. With how much her father doted on Jessica, he would probably break one of this man's legs.
However...
Judging by his aura, he should also be from a prominent family. And he was so confident, perhaps he had already met her father. But, there were only a few prominent families in Columbia, and they knew basically all of those young masters.
A young master from another country...
A slight possibility...
This appearance, black hair and black eyes.
It was rarely seen in Columbia. People with this appearance were more common in Yan.
Yan royalty?!
If he was from the Yan royal family, it would be a good match for the daughter of Raythean Industries. But... that didn't seem right either. The Yan princes were all Dragons, and there were no signs of anything related to dragons on this young man, not even the iconic dragon horns. Not Yan royalty...
However, that aura—profound... ancient. Although his appearance was like that of a youth, his aura was completely at odds with it, giving off a sense of ancientness that had settled over a long time.
They figured that even if he wasn't from the Yan royal family, he must hold a high position in Yan, perhaps a high-ranking official from a special agency like the Dali Temple or the Tianshi Fu.
However, with the transcendent status of Raythean Industries, as long as he wasn't from the Yan royal family, it would basically be the man marrying up.
Confusing...
But, naturally, no one dared to say much. At a family gathering of this level, there were no gossipy relatives, because... no one dared to gossip. Jessica was the sole heiress of Raythean Industries, doted on by her parents. No one could guarantee that a single thoughtless remark wouldn't offend her father.
For such a prominent family, the hierarchy was often much stricter than in ordinary families.
Since the banquet was still being prepared.
Jessica took her friends to see her parents first.
This was the second time Lucas Reeve, Franka, and Liskarm had met Jessica's parents. The last time was a few months ago. Their appearance hadn't changed much, still just as amiable. However... just as Jessica's father was about to stand up and hug his dear daughter whom he hadn't seen in a long time, suddenly, *swoosh*, his expression changed, becoming exceptionally grim.
Then, the domineering aura belonging exclusively to the chairman of Raythean Industries surfaced on his face. To be in his position, how could Jessica's father be weak? Just as Lucas Reeve had said back then, Jessica's father's strength alone far surpassed that of an Elite Operator. Even if not as good as Patriot, he could be on par with the current Talulah. His strength was terrifying.
The pressure of his Originium energy was overwhelming, seeming as if it would shatter the entire room. Many objects in the study flew about with his aura.
The previous pleasant expression vanished, replaced by a cold and scrutinizing gaze.
His attention was entirely on the intimate way his precious daughter was holding hands with the man beside her.
As a father.
The thing he feared most had happened.
His precious cabbage had been stolen by a pig!!
Who was this man?!
Why did he have no impression of him at all, and his daughter had never mentioned him.
Even...
Jessica's father was already prepared. If this man was some good-for-nothing scumbag who dared to take advantage of his daughter, he wouldn't mind making sure this man never walked out of here.
"Dad, Mom... let me introduce you two again... This is Mr. Reeve... a 'teacher' who has helped me a lot... we had a meal together during the last gathering..."
When she said this, Jessica was a bit shy and also nervous. Although they were already married in the dream, this was the first time in reality that she had introduced Lucas Reeve to her parents.
"Lucas Reeve?!!!"
This time, it was Jessica's father's turn to be confused.
Lucas Reeve...
Wasn't that the name of that Perro girl?
How...
However.
Jessica's father sized up Lucas Reeve carefully.
But after a careful first look, Jessica's father could be certain. Although he didn't know the reason, this young man's aura was exactly the same as the one he saw at the last gathering, and even more... mysterious.
Jessica's father frowned at this moment.
Last time, he gave off a feeling of being deep, profound, and ancient, like a deep pool. But now... he had much more of a sacred quality.
Jessica also knew her parents were confused and quickly explained.
"Last time, Mr. Reeve was out of town and wasn't free, so he used his Originium Arts to borrow Ceobe's body to communicate with you two..."
Jessica made up a random excuse.
Anyway, anything that couldn't be explained could just be attributed to Originium Arts.
Upon learning that this was the same Lucas Reeve from before, Jessica's father slowly retracted his aura and breathed a sigh of relief. They were quite satisfied with Lucas Reeve; at least in terms of character, looks, and aura, he was impeccable. Thank goodness it wasn't just some random guy...
And after so many years in the world of business.
Jessica's father knew very well that a person's aura could often reflect their character, foundation, and future achievements. Aura is cultivated along with one's own strength and status. Just like an ordinary person, no matter how they are trained, they can never possess the aura of an emperor. Only by being in that position for a long time can one cultivate the corresponding aura.
To be honest.
He had seen very few people with Lucas Reeve's profound aura, let alone a young man of his daughter's age.
This person named Lucas Reeve is definitely not ordinary!
He was far from being as simple as he looked.
Judging by his name and appearance, he was clearly from Yan. Could he be a major figure from Yan?
Of course.
If he were to marry his daughter in the future, he would definitely need to know this young man named Lucas Reeve's family background and other details. Only by knowing everything about him could he confidently marry his daughter off. If he knew nothing, who knew what intentions this Lucas Reeve might have.
As a father who doted on his daughter, he would not allow his daughter to face any danger or unhappiness.
After a while.
The preparations for the banquet were complete. Since they knew in advance that their daughter's friends were coming, Jessica's father arranged for two tables, letting his daughter and her friends have a separate table in another room to avoid awkwardness. After all, a group of young people eating with a group of middle-aged people would definitely feel uncomfortable.
In an ordinary family.
Someone would definitely ask about Lucas Reeve.
But none of these relatives dared to gossip. Even if they were incredibly curious, they still didn't dare to ask.
The banquet lasted for a long time. Even Jessica, who usually didn't touch a drop of alcohol, drank a little red wine, because she was happy...
At the beginning of the year, she accidentally met Lucas Reeve; it was a fateful encounter. And today was the first major holiday she had spent with Lucas Reeve. It would be impossible to say she wasn't happy.
The group chatted about everything under the sun, looking forward to the coming year. Franka, who had had a bit too much to drink, even teased Lucas Reeve and Jessica about when they would get married, making Jessica blush furiously.
Lisa hadn't experienced such a lively atmosphere in a long time and was very happy. The sensible her even took the initiative to pour Lucas Reeve a drink, although alcohol had no effect whatsoever on Lucas Reeve in his special spirit form; it would be completely broken down by energy the moment it entered his body.
In the past, although her mother would be by her side, she was always busy. When Lisa was little and didn't know better, she thought her mother was an employee at a company. Her mother often worked overtime, sometimes being away for days at a time. And her father was far away in Higashi. In Lisa's memory, it had been a long time since she had felt the warmth of a family. It was precisely because she was often at home alone...
that Lisa was much more sensible than ordinary children her age and also more diligent in doing various things.
However, at tonight's banquet.
Lisa once again felt a warmth similar to that of a family, which she enjoyed immensely. Even if she said nothing and just sat by and watched, this cozy atmosphere was enough to satisfy Lisa.
"I've decided! I'll follow my dream!! I'm debuting next year!!!"
Franka, drunk, shouted at the top of her lungs.
"In my dream, I was the most famous superstar in the world! I think I can do it in reality too!"
And Little Moti, sitting in Shamare's lap, retorted loudly.
"But... the dream just follows your deepest desires. It's basically the life you most want. Being successful in the dream only means you desire success; it has nothing to do with reality."
At Little Moti's words.
Franka's sharp gaze suddenly shot towards her, startling Little Moti.
Shamare was not good with words. Jessica took the initiative to feed Shamare and talk to her the whole time. After getting a little used to it, Shamare also used Little Moti's mouth to say which dishes she wanted to eat.
Zumama also seemed a bit drunk.
Originally, with her constitution, she shouldn't have gotten drunk, but she drank way too much. Moreover, the alcohol content in the city was generally much higher than the primitive brews in her tribe. After chugging several large bottles of high-proof white liquor from Yan, totaling two liters, Zumama was completely wasted and started talking nonsense.
Something about how she still had 5 failed classes for today's subjects!!
And that next year, she must pass the remaining five.
Meanwhile, the High Priest fluttered around the entire time, fighting with Ceobe for food.
The whole banquet lasted for a long time, peaceful and warm, also marking the end of this year and the beginning of the next.