"
The capital of Mandu, Backlund.
night.
In a garden villa in the middle of Williams Street, all the beautifully decorated rooms, large and small, were lit up.
However, the huge house is deserted.
After the few servants completed their duties, they all returned to the servants' room outside to rest early.
Two people, the host and the guest, gathered in a small lounge in a spacious and bright room.
Through the dark gray glass lampshade, the gas lamp emits a slightly dim light.
In front of the soft velvet sofa, a thick white candle was lit on a small black carved wooden table.
Several plates of relatively simple food were placed around the candles.
There are Fenebout pasta, paella, peas and lamb, lemon pudding...
Valeera raised the goblet on the table and said with a smile:
"Happy New Year, Klein."
After a slight pause, she added in a somewhat narrow tone, "Or should I call you Sherlock now?"
Klein, who had grown a beard and wore gold-rimmed eyes, had an exaggerated smile on his face and raised his glass in response.
"Happy New Year, Valeera."
The two of them clinked their glasses together and each took a sip of the dark red wine.
"This wine tastes very good." Klein praised.
Valeera smiled slightly, blinked her eyes, and asked: "Would you like to eat the vegetables first, or..."
Klein coughed and almost choked on his drink.
After he regained his breath, he said angrily, "Don't forget, I am no longer a 'clown'."
"Well, indeed." Valeela put down her wine glass, "Before eating the food, we still have one important thing to do."
The two looked at each other in tacit understanding, and suddenly turned to look sideways at the same time, looking at the full-length mirror beside them, and shouted in unison:
"Happy Year of the Rabbit to all my book friends!"
.
