The sun hung high overhead by the time Jacob made it home, just in time for lunch.
He had barely settled onto the sofa when his older brother, Asher, wandered over with a knowing grin. "So, Jacob," he said, looking him up and down, "where did you disappear to yesterday? You never came home last night."
"Oh, that... I went out drinking with Kyle," Jacob said, the excuse coming out a little too smoothly. "It got late, so I just crashed at his place."
"Is that so?" Asher's grin widened. "You and Kyle really do have quite the complicated relationship. Might want to cover up those marks on your neck before Mom and Dad see them."
Jacob choked mid-bite and sprayed rice across the table. In his hurry to leave that morning, he hadn't thought to check a mirror. "Cough— brother, you're reading way too much into this."
"Come on, don't play innocent with me," Asher pressed, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Who was she?"
"Don't worry about it," Jacob said, waving him off. There was no way he could admit the truth—that the night had been spent with Amelia.
"Fine, fine, keep your secrets." Seeing that his brother wasn't going to budge, Asher let the matter drop.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"That'll be Mom and Dad. Go change and hide that neck of yours," Asher said, already heading for the door. "I'll get it."
"Right." Jacob hurried off to his room to change.
Asher pulled the door open and found himself facing a striking young woman in sunglasses, dragging a suitcase behind her. He frowned slightly. "Hello—can I help you?"
She wore fitted jeans and a soft knitted sweater, looking every bit as delicate as a snow lotus blooming in winter. She slid off her sunglasses, and a bright smile spread across her face.
"Brother Asher, don't tell me you don't recognize me."
"Oh—right, right, I remember now." Recognition dawned on him. "You're Jacob's classmate. Julia, wasn't it?" He remembered her well; she'd placed runner-up at the High School Cup, and she'd also come to Jacob's birthday party once before. "Come in, come in, have a seat."
As Julia stepped past him, Asher's gaze drifted down to the suitcase she was towing, and his brow furrowed.
What exactly was going on here? Why would she show up with luggage, out of nowhere?
Then again, looking at her—freshly arrived, clothes unwrinkled—she clearly wasn't the mystery girl from the night before.
Asher called back into the house. "Jacob! Your classmate's here!"
"Coming!" Jacob emerged a moment later in a high-collared sweater, having successfully hidden the evidence of the previous night.
The instant he saw Julia standing in his living room with a suitcase at her side, he froze in place, rubbing his eyes as though he'd had one drink too many and was seeing things.
"Julia?" he asked, unsure he trusted his own eyes.
"Jacob! Aren't you happy to see me?" Julia beamed at him. "I came straight here after getting off the plane. I haven't even booked a hotel yet—I'm not sure where I'll even be staying tonight..."
Asher, catching every word, jumped in before Jacob could respond. "Why bother with a hotel? We've got plenty of empty rooms. Just stay with us. It's not every day you visit Starlight City—we'll make sure you're well looked after."
"Then I hope I'm not imposing too much, Brother Asher." Julia's eyes curved into crescents, as though she'd been hoping for exactly that invitation. "Let me put my things away first. Oh, and Brother Asher—these are for you, your wife, and your little son."
She produced three neatly wrapped gift boxes and handed them over with such practiced grace that Asher couldn't help but be impressed. Every inch of her carried the polish of a well-bred young lady from a prominent family.
"Jacob, take Julia to put her luggage away—the guest room on the second floor, right next to yours." Asher gave his brother a nudge, silently marveling at how much luck Jacob seemed to have with women.
"Julia, you haven't eaten, have you? Come join us for dinner. We'll head out and show you some of Starlight City's best food," Asher added. "Dad just called—he said we're free to head out."
Still half-dazed, Jacob could only nod. "Okay."
"Well? Don't just stand there—help her with her bags."
When Jacob arrived at the restaurant with Julia at his side, his parents, Rory and Zoe, both stopped short at the sight of her.
Heavenly King Raya's daughter? Here?
"Uncle Rory, Aunt Zoe," Julia greeted them warmly, her smile every bit as confident as before, without a trace of shyness. "Uncle Rory, this is for you—I heard from Jacob that you enjoy a good drink, so I brought some wine I snuck out from home."
"And Aunt Zoe, you mentioned wanting a new bag the last time we spoke, at Jacob's birthday. This is the newest style—do you like it?"
Jacob's eyebrow twitched. There was no denying it: Julia was exactly the kind of girl parents adored.
Her family background was impeccable, and she herself was accomplished in every way—composed, refined in appearance, warm and considerate toward others, graceful and well-mannered. In the eyes of Rory and his wife, she was the picture of an ideal daughter-in-law. If Jacob ever married someone like her, it would be nothing short of a stroke of good fortune.
"Julia, you didn't need to bring gifts. Come, let's go sit down and eat," Zoe said, growing more delighted with the girl by the second. She took Julia's hand and led her toward the restaurant.
Rory, for his part, greeted Julia with genuine warmth as well—though if he were being honest with himself, he still had a soft spot for his student, Amelia.
Watching the whole scene unfold, Jacob felt as though he were sitting on a bed of needles, tugging at his collar out of pure nerves. Wasn't Julia supposed to be on Treasure Island right now? Why had she come straight here instead? And how on earth was he supposed to explain any of this to Raya?
After the meal, Rory and Zoe told Jacob to take Julia out and show her around Starlight City—understanding, better than anyone, exactly why a young woman would travel alone with luggage during the holidays.
Once outside, Jacob and Julia strolled down the street together. Julia took in everything around her with obvious curiosity. "You grew up here?"
"Yeah," Jacob said, nodding. "Though it used to just be a small town—it's only really grown in the last few years. There's not much to see here, honestly. Where do you want to go?"
"How about a movie?" Julia turned to him with a smile. "I already called Amira and Kyle. Let's all go together. Weren't you heading to a class reunion, too? I'll tag along."
Realizing she'd already mapped out his entire schedule, Jacob could do little but sigh and agree. "...Sure, alright."
At his answer, Julia's smile widened further. She pulled out her phone at once to call Amira, and the two of them settled on meeting up at the cinema.