Chapter 116-kangaroo

Lucca pov

My phone was broken, and I couldn't take any pictures for memories.

Vincent sipped his tea without a hint of guilt.

It wasn't until I asked him, "Would you be upset with Raffle and Rino?"

"Why would I be?" Vincent put down his cup.

"Not as a father," I looked at him defiantly.

"But as a man."

Seeing Vincent remain silent, I pressed further, "Rino sends me postcards every day and even gave me a diamond ring. Raffle calls to check on my life. It feels like you might be a little uncomfortable with that."

"One of them has a faulty brain, thinking diamonds can make up for all mistakes, while the other is just habitually displaying gentlemanly manners to everyone.

Ask any woman who has spent time with Raffle, and she'll think he likes her—until she gathers the courage to confess," Vincent commented sarcastically.

He knew his two sons too well. However, he still believed that Raffle should get married soon.

Once he did, he wouldn't socialize excessively with eligible women.

"So, do you actually mind?" I pinned him down with the question, leaving no room for evasion.

"...," Vincent took a step back.

"I've already kept my distance," I told him.

"If you do mind, you should talk to them."

Vincent started considering when Raffle's wedding would be most suitable.

We landed in Australia.

I thought we were going to see wildlife, but our first stop was the theater.

Vincent got me a temporary phone, and he discreetly observed what I saved his contact as. To his surprise, I didn't save it at all.

I hadn't even created any contacts on the new phone.

"I can remember the numbers," I said.

Vincent made a slight grunt, reminding himself not to care about this.

"But why would I need a phone?" I asked curiously.

"You can't take photos at the Pack Theatre in Australia, right? By the way, what's the show? Did you book the whole theater?"

Vincent rested his eyes and didn't reply.

When we arrived at the Grand Theatre, the show had just ended.

I thought they were going to see the next performance, but when I checked the theater's official website, there were no more scheduled shows.

I was thoroughly puzzled when Vincent's car pulled up to the VIP entrance.

A tall, slim, meticulously made-up and exhausted-looking actress emerged from the entrance. She intended to go from the VIP entrance to the parking lot but found the entire gate blocked by an extravagant black limousine.

"Oh my...," I was genuinely shocked.

The woman who had walked out of the entrance was the director and actress of "The Vagina Monologues." The play adaptation had received widespread acclaim, and no one could forget the effort she had put into it.

Considering Vincent's level of disdain for the play, I was certain he didn't even know the director's name.

However, not only did he know it, but he had also managed to track her down in the midst of a tight schedule.

I opened the car door, grabbed the new phone, and ran down, excitedly saying, "Excuse me, could I take a photo with you?"

The woman looked at the luxurious car blocking her path with caution.

"Don't mind that," I babbled.

"It's not... I'm sorry for bothering you."

I stumbled through an explanation, mentioning that I had also participated in her play.

The woman quickly understood.

"I'm proud of you," she encouraged with a smile.

They happily took a photo together, and I returned to the car.

Vincent was still resting by the window, looking completely indifferent and unconcerned.

"My heart is really racing," I said.

Vincent immediately opened his eyes.

"It's not uncomfortable," I quickly explained, holding my chest, "but it's really racing."

Vincent reached out to feel my heartbeat.

"Is it necessary..." he began.

"Not necessary?" I countered. "You don't get excited when you meet a celebrity or idol?"

Vincent shook his head indifferently.

"What about meeting the Wolf Queen?" I asked.

"It's an honor," Vincent felt the strong beats beneath his hand, "but it doesn't make my heart race..."

"Impossible!" I suddenly leaned closer, as if I was going to get to the bottom of this.

The scent of my hair wafted right under his nose.

There was a resounding thump in my chest.

"Doesn't make my heart race," Vincent lowered his gaze.

They stayed at the theater for half a day, then ventured into the plains. Australia is surrounded by the ocean, but I couldn't swim, and Vincent didn't like places that were too sunny, so they headed inland.

Vincent had carefully gone over my wish list. I had a deep love for natural landscapes and a curiosity about different cultures, whether they were in bustling cities or remote wilderness.

I seemed to want to see it all.

Vincent, on the other hand, had long lost that desire for exploration. He found the sea boring, the mountains dull, and the wildlife not only boring but also smelly.

He didn't appreciate my habit of expressing amazement at everything I hadn't seen before. In moments like these, I looked particularly young – a kind of "youthfulness" that had contrast.

Vincent couldn't believe he had agreed to accompany me to a wildlife park.

How did I even convince him at the time?

"I've never been to a zoo before," I had said, desperately trying to recall.

"No, wait, I went last semester as a volunteer at the entrance."

After hearing that, Vincent surprisingly agreed to this unplanned activity. The sun was intense, and the weather was hot and dry.

As we watched groups of kangaroos hopping past the car window, Vincent felt that "regret" didn't quite capture his feelings.

I leaned against the window and asked, "Speaking of which... this used to be a Pack colony, right?"

"Yes, it's still one of the Federation Nations."

On the way here, I saw vehicles resembling slave transport wagons. They had two flags, one of which was the Pack flag. rouge, the product I currently used, was only available in Pack, so I wasn't sure if those were slave transport wagons.

Perhaps I had seen it wrong?

"It's still one of the Federation Nations?" I asked. "I thought it had gained independence a long time ago."

Vincent saw another group of kangaroos passing by and couldn't help but furrow his brow.

"The Federation Nations refer to all the countries under the reign of Her Majesty the Wolf Queen, including this one and the Republic of Pack to the north..."

There was a sudden thud from behind the car. I instantly turned to look, but there was nothing there. The driver said the chassis had hit a rock and needed to be checked.

I immediately thought of various news stories – people getting out of their cars at wildlife parks and being eaten by lions or tigers. I felt anxious and didn't dare to move in the car. Vincent pressed his temples, starting to get a headache.

I suddenly turned to him and asked, "Are you scared?"

"What?" Vincent deeply regretted coming to this place.

There was another sound from behind as the driver checked the vehicle.

"What if some wild beasts attack us right now?" I asked nervously.

Vincent impatiently interrupted, "If wild beasts attack us, we'll have to pay compensation for hunting them."

I opened my mouth, "But..."

"I think I can afford one or two lions; you don't need to worry about it." Vincent pointed at the dark violin-case-like box behind him.

"Do you have a gun?" I asked.

"What else?" Vincent replied.

My expression suddenly relaxed, then slowly became somewhat solemn. I remembered the Wolf Queen's hunts. Vincent participated every year, but he was never the one with the most kills.

Instead, he would track down the prey that the Wolf Queen selected, avoid vital spots, immobilize it, and let the Wolf Queen take the shot.

That's why the Wolf Queen always let him choose the rewards.

I, too, was a "reward" of the hunt. I wondered what the Wolf Queen had given out in these past two years...

"What are you thinking?" Vincent was surprised not to hear my usual exclamations of excitement and discomfort.

"Nothing," I replied, sinking into my uneasy thoughts again.

— Rogue slave transport wagons on the road, a concealed something in the backseat, and Vincent, who appeared more predatory than wild lions.

I thought that going on this trip would allow me to escape the shadow of the Pack.

However, that shadow had been following me closely all along.

If the Pack successfully pushed through their racist laws, other nations in the world, even the Federations, might be affected, leading to a global decline.

"Are you really here to accompany me on this trip?" I suddenly asked Vincent.

My question seemed to anger Vincent. After all, why else would he sit in the wilderness, basking in the sun, surrounded by the smell of animal dung?

Vincent tried to keep his composure. "What's wrong? Do you feel like I'm not engaged? If you need a tour guide to explain animal mating behaviors to you, I can find one..."

"I'm not talking about that!" I frowned, staring at him.

He had a light sheen of sweat on his forehead, his skin as pale as snow, and his suit shirt meticulously buttoned to the top, with no hint of extra skin showing.

"What?" Vincent felt even hotter now.

I suspected, "On the Southern Island, you were visiting the soon-to-be-retaken Pack colony. And here, you're pushing a new policy on the Federation."

"Do I look so engrossed in official business?" Vincent sneered.

"Yes," I nodded.

Vincent beckoned me closer with his finger.

I cautiously said, "Antagonists never take a break. I think you're just using this trip as a cover to plot something sinister here."

"Sinister?" Vincent's smile became even less substantial.

He approached slowly, his fingers grazing my skin, almost imperceptible.

"I am, indeed, plotting something sinister," Vincent lowered his gaze to my silk shirt, "From the moment you got on this car, I've been thinking that there should be something more interesting for us to do than watching wild animals."

"What?" I was taken aback. "Did you prepare a surprise?"

Vincent held my wrist and pressed me against the windowpane.

"A surprise? You could call it that," he smirked briefly, then kissed my lips.

I stiffened briefly and then immediately pulled away.

"Get lost!" I whispered angrily. "There are so many eyes watching!"

Were there?

Vincent followed my gaze and turned to see a large group of kangaroos standing in the distance.

"..."

The entire wildlife park seemed to consist of nothing but kangaroos, followed by koalas, and then pigeons. I hadn't seen any other animals.

Vincent rolled up the car window and put the partition back up, plunging the back seat into semi-darkness.