118 Eliza, Harmony City 2 (2/2)
”I've heard that Harmony City is famous for its music events. It wasn't originally called Harmony City, but it was later changed to that,” Garen recalled some Geography trivia he had learnt before.
”Indeed.” Su Lin nodded, ”There are three types of music events in Harmony City: large-scale ones, salon-style events and private concerts.”
”I've been to the large-scale ones. It feels very comfortable,” the girl Eileen continued. ”You seem to have a strong physique, you must like to train? Your body should be very healthy, right?”
Her words were directed at Garen.
”I'm alright, I guess.” Garen smiled. His physique was indeed quite buff compared to his peers.
”I'm so jealous. The weather has been really unpredictable this season; it's so easy to catch a cold if you don't take care. The last time I went to a concert I caught a cold which developed into a high fever, and it took me a long time and a lot of rest before I recovered,” the girl said helplessly. ”Have you been to a concert?”
”Uh…no.” Garen shook his head. He couldn't tell the sound of a violin from the sound of an erhu, let alone been to any concerts.
”Lakeland”
”I went to a concert at the Lakeland Convention Center, it was a violin solo. I felt it was mediocre. Ever since Auter has been back from Weisman, his form has been getting poorer,” the thin boy, Sharman, continued. ”If you're interested, you can buy box tickets. They're only slightly more expensive than ordinary tickets, but there are staff who tend to a fireplace in the box, it's much warmer.”
”Forget it. The money savings could be used for a lot of other things.” The girl stuck her tongue out cheekily. ”The tickets are expensive in the first place; I wouldn't be willing to buy box tickets.”
Sharman smiled as he looked at Garen and Su Lin. ”Compared to Auter, Cusey Freita's piano is much more pleasing to the ears.”
”You like Cusey's piano too?” Said one of the three people who were playing cards to a side, a youth in a white shirt sat over in interest. The Confederate Legislative Council has passed a document to regulate the scale of musical events, and Cusey was one of the people who have been asked to rectify it. It's still uncertain how that will affect his form.”
”Did they pass such a document?” The other people playing cards also came over to chat. A curly-brown-haired girl looked towards the white-shirt boy. ”Where did you hear that, Hershey? From your dad?”
”It was the news that came out after an executive of the province, Mr Harris, came over some time ago and went fishing with the governor. Dad was at the governor's office handling the document. After a few days, your mother's department will receive the notice too. I've just known it a little earlier.”
”Executive Harris?” Su Lin suddenly said. He looked stunned.
”Ordinary people probably haven't heard of him.” The white-shirt youth took a look at him. ”Working his way up from the municipal general department, it merely took him ten years to reach the sub-provincial level. He's the rising star among officials in Eliza now.”
”That's not the point. It’s Mr Harris! He's the youngest sub-province official, tsk tsk. Has your dad met him before? How is he like?” the girl asked curiously.
”He's never met him in person. I've heard he's a very serious man.” The white-shirt youth smiled and seemed pleased with himself. ”About the thing I mentioned earlier, those are documents coming down from the central government, to the province and then the city. It can't be wrong.”
The three people here were listening to the other three chatting, and couldn't get a word in edgewise. Their level was too high for them, and their topic wasn't a common one that youths their age would be exposed to, even relating to policy from the Governor's Office.
”k3”
Perhaps they were too absorbed in their conversation, and after gaining face in front of a pretty girl like Eileen, the white-shirt youth named Hershey got enthusiastic. ”How about this? It's lunch time. Let me treat everyone to a meal in the restaurant! Don't say no. Whoever refuses is not giving me face! The taste and grade of the meals at the restaurant on K3 trains are fairly decent. I've eaten there many times.”
He pointed a finger at the five of them on Eileen's side.
Su Lin politely refused.
The others found it hard to refuse such generosity, so Eileen and the other two followed Hershey towards the carriages in the front of the train. Among them, Sharman who originally had some sense of superiority had been suppressed to an intimidated state. He seemed shy to even speak loudly.
The six of them left temporarily.
Only Garen and Su Lin were left in their row of seats. The surrounding became quiet all of a sudden.
Garen looked at the odd expression on Su Lin's face.
”Is something wrong?”
”Nothing.” Su Lin snapped out of it. ”Seeing youths their age, I feel very old. I wish I could go back to the time when I was young…”
”You're not too old yourself…” Garen was speechless.
”43”
”Oh ya. I've arranged your accommodation for you. It's a newly acquired property at 43 Garden Street. Someone will deliver the keys when we alight. What type of car do you want?”
”I don't have a driving license.”
”One order and it's settled.”
”Then give me whatever's the most expensive,” Garen threw all air of courtesy to the wind.
”S7”
”You don't stand on ceremony, do you!?” Su Lin jokingly punched Garen and said. ”I've give you my current Rossland S7. With a market price of 12 million, you've got a steal there!”
”Oh yeah. Why did you have a strange expression on your face earlier? Did you still have the nerve to show off and compare yourself to these kids?” Garen asked.
”Do you know who that Executive Harris that they mentioned is?” Su Lin questioned.
”Who knows!” Garen rolled his eyes.
”He's my brother.”
”…”