The hall was much livelier than before.
The string lights had been hung, the tableware had been set out, and several bouquets of fresh flowers had appeared on the tables, though no one knew whose handiwork they were.
Cyrene stood by the window, chatting with a woman.
The woman wore an exquisitely tailored outfit and carried herself with calm elegance.
Aglaea.
Back at university, she had been nicknamed the Goldweaver.
Not because she knew how to weave fabric, but because everything she did seemed to come together into a flawless work of art.
Hearing footsteps, the two of them turned around at the same time.
Aglaea's gaze settled on Arthur.
"It's been a long time, Arthur. We asked you to come several times before, but you never showed up.
What changed? Did you finally decide to grace us with your presence today?"
Arthur scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Things at the studio have been busy."
"We know. Everyone knows what's been happening with you."
Aglaea cut him off.
She paused.
"Originally, we all wanted to help your studio."
Arthur looked at her.
"But then?" Aglaea's voice took on a teasing note.
"Someone beat us to it. Those powerful connections behind your studio are anything but ordinary."
"Connections?"
"One Kaslana, one Raiden, and Anti-Entropy. Even if the rest of us wanted to help, there was hardly any room for us to get involved."
Arthur could not help laughing.
"Thank you for wanting to help."
Aglaea waved a hand.
"What are you thanking us for? We did not actually manage to help. Still, we are all happy to see you taking another step forward on the road toward your dream."
"By the way, Aglaea, how did you end up running a restaurant?"
Arthur paused.
"Back at university, we all thought you would become a designer or open a clothing store."
Aglaea smiled.
"Of course I opened a clothing store, and it is extremely successful." A hint of pride entered her voice.
Arthur blinked.
"Then this restaurant…"
"This place? I simply wanted everyone to have somewhere they could gather."
Aglaea walked to the window and gazed outside.
"After graduation, everyone went their separate ways.
Plenty of companies approached me, and the salaries they offered were quite good, but I always felt as though something was missing."
She turned and looked at Arthur.
"Eventually, I thought I might as well open a restaurant and ask everyone to come help.
That way, at least we would all remain in the same city. Whenever we wanted to see one another, we could."
Arthur fell silent.
"I am only the owner in name."
Aglaea smiled. "The real owners are everyone who works here."
She looked at Arthur, amusement glinting in her eyes.
"Arthur, you live in this city. How many times did we invite you? You stood us up every single time."
Arthur scratched his head, unable to argue.
Aglaea laughed.
"But at least you finally came today," she said. "It is not too late."
Beside her, Cyrene laughed softly.
"All right, stop lecturing Arthur. What matters is that he came."
Aglaea shrugged.
"Fine. Go take a seat. The others should be arriving soon."
Arthur nodded and turned toward the seating area.
Behind him, Aglaea's voice rang out softly.
"Arthur."
He looked back.
"Welcome home," she said.
People began arriving one after another.
The first to enter was Stelle.
Arthur nearly spat out his tea.
With her unmistakable mess of unruly gray hair, she swaggered into the hall, followed by someone else.
"Madam Herta?!"
Herta, the woman hailed as a genius in academic circles and Stelle's mentor.
At that moment, she was surveying her surroundings without expression.
Her gaze swept across the string lights in the hall, and one eyebrow rose slightly.
"This is the place you mentioned?"
She questioned Stelle, a trace of criticism in her voice.
Stelle grinned. "That's right, Professor. Didn't you say you wanted to meet my friends?"
Herta was silent for two seconds.
"Fine."
She walked over to a sofa in the corner and sat down, shutting out everything around her.
Arthur watched the scene, then quietly asked Stelle, "How did you end up bringing your professor?"
Stelle blinked. "She wanted to come. When she heard I was attending a gathering, she said, 'I'll come and have a look too.'"
"And you just brought her?"
"What else was I supposed to do?" Stelle looked completely innocent. "Did you expect me to refuse?"
Arthur fell silent.
True. She would not dare.
The next arrivals were two professors.
Anaxa entered first, still wearing his usual stern expression.
His gaze swept across the hall, and when he saw Arthur, he gave him a slight nod.
Professor Tripios followed behind him, carrying an unfamiliar book.
"Arthur, it has been a long time."
Arthur quickly rose to his feet.
"Professor Tripios, you came too."
"Phainon invited me. He said he would serve me the finest food. How could I possibly refuse?"
Professor Tripios smiled.
Beside her, Anaxa had already found a seat and begun discussing the evening's dishes with Phainon.
"Did you control the heat properly for the red-braised pork?"
"Of course! I watched it personally!"
"And the ratio of scallions, ginger, and garlic?"
"Exactly as you taught me last time!"
Anaxa nodded in satisfaction.
The third to arrive was March 7th.
She bounded into the hall, followed by a girl.
Arthur's gaze landed on the girl, and he froze.
She bore some resemblance to March 7th, but her presence was entirely different.
She wore dark clothing, and her hair fell neatly behind her shoulders.
Her face showed little emotion. As she surveyed the hall, her gaze carried a composed, almost calculating quality.
"This is my little sister, Nattia!"
March 7th introduced her proudly. "She's incredibly well-behaved!"
Nattia glanced at her.
The look clearly said, Are you spouting nonsense again, Sis?
Arthur stared at her, silently commenting to himself.
This was the incredibly well-behaved sister March 7th had talked about?
With that gaze, that presence, and that almost unnatural composure?
No matter how he looked at her, the word well-behaved did not seem to fit.
She was more like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
"Hello."
Nattia spoke in a cool voice. "You are Arthur? My sister's boss?"
Arthur nodded.
"She has probably caused you plenty of trouble. Tell me at any time if necessary."
March 7th protested from beside her, "What do you mean, caused trouble? I'm very well-behaved, okay?"
Nattia looked at her.
March 7th immediately fell silent.
Arthur was speechless.
She really was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The fourth group to arrive consisted of two people.
The first woman entered the hall and swept her gaze across everyone present before giving a slight nod.
Cerydra.
She had served as the class disciplinary officer at university, and people claimed no one could cheat beneath her watchful eyes.
After graduation, she had reportedly gone traveling around the world. Arthur had not expected her to come today.
The woman following her had an entirely different air.
She wore an understated, elegant dress, and the aura of an artist seemed to surround her.
Hysilens.
She had been the star of the university music festival, and her violin playing had been breathtaking.
After graduation, she had become a renowned musician and was said to have held several solo recitals.
"Arthur."
Cerydra approached and extended her hand. "It has been a long time."
Arthur shook her hand.
"I heard you went traveling around the world?" he asked.
"Yes. I only recently returned. Phainon told me there was a gathering today, so I came."
She paused, her gaze moving across the hall.
"There are quite a few people here."
Hysilens followed behind her and greeted Arthur with a gentle smile and a nod.
"It has been a long time, Arthur."