"Alice, why exactly did you ask me to buy a cake?"
Raymond handed the box over to the servants with a puzzled look.
"Is today some special occasion?"
The moment those words left his mouth, both Alice and Sean turned to stare at him simultaneously.
Sean's expression remained calm. After all, as someone who had lived two lives, birthdays didn't mean much to him anymore.
Alice, however, looked ready to murder her husband.
"Raymond," she said slowly, "what happened at the factory?"
Sean sat cross-legged on the sofa and casually changed the subject.
Raymond immediately relaxed.
"Thanks to your method, the workers dispersed almost immediately. They're already competing with one another now."
Then he suddenly grinned and flicked Sean lightly on the forehead.
"And stop calling me Raymond, you little brat. I'm your father."
Alice instantly folded her arms.
"Most fathers also remember their son's birthday."
Raymond froze.
A second later, his face turned bright red.
"That— Sean, how could I possibly forget your birthday?" he said loudly. "I even bought you a game console! The newest model!"
Sean looked at him expressionlessly.
"Raymond, I designed that console."
Raymond's smile stiffened.
After a long pause, he awkwardly scratched his head.
"Right… then I also bought you the newest Lamborghini sports car!"
Sean sighed helplessly.
"You don't need to force yourself to prepare gifts. I'm not angry."
"And for the record, I also designed the Lamborghini."
Raymond's face twitched violently.
Sean continued calmly, "Besides, I'm only eleven years old. I can't legally drive yet."
He glanced down at his short legs.
"I can barely reach the pedals."
Alice instantly burst into laughter.
Watching Raymond get completely crushed by his own son was one of her favourite forms of entertainment.
"Alright," she said cheerfully while tugging Raymond toward the kitchen. "If you really want to make it up to Sean, then help me cook dinner."
Sean nodded seriously.
"And I'll go read."
Raymond looked utterly defeated as he was dragged away, causing both Sean and Alice to laugh again.
Outside, the August night breeze carried a faint chill.
Inside the Sebastian mansion, however, warmth and laughter filled the air.
…
Dinner time arrived quickly.
The dining table was covered with luxurious dishes while a beautifully decorated birthday cake sat in the centre beneath the soft lights.
"Sean," Alice said gently, "make a wish and blow out the candles."
The flickering candlelight reflected in Sean's dark eyes.
For once, genuine emotion surfaced within him.
In his previous life, he had never even known his parents.
But in this world, he had received something he never expected.
A family.
Real warmth.
Which was why Sean valued everything in front of him far more than anyone realised.
After a brief silence, he calmly said:
"I wish for world peace."
Then he blew out the candles.
Raymond stared blankly.
"What kind of ridiculous wish is that?"
Alice, meanwhile, clapped happily as if she found nothing strange about it.
"Time to cut the cake!"
Raymond picked up the knife dramatically.
Then suddenly—
Coo! Coo!
A strange bird cry echoed from outside the mansion.
Everyone paused.
The next second, the mailbox beside the entrance door began shaking violently.
Click!
An exquisite envelope suddenly shot through the air as though propelled by invisible magic. It flew straight across the room before landing neatly in front of Sean.
The entire dining room fell silent.
Sean's hand trembled slightly as he picked up the envelope.
The moment he saw the seal, his expression froze.
Then it became increasingly ugly.
"Sean?" Raymond frowned immediately. "Who sent it?"
For the first time in years, he saw genuine shock on his son's face.
Not irritation.
Not calm calculation.
Actual panic.
Sean's face had practically turned green.
At that moment, countless emotions exploded inside him.
His fingers tightened around the envelope while his thoughts descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, Raymond could no longer endure the suspense. He snatched the letter away and opened it together with Alice.
"Hogwarts?" Raymond read aloud in confusion. "What on earth is that?"
His eyes scanned the parchment.
Then his expression slowly became stranger and stranger.
"Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore…"
Raymond frowned before continuing:
"Dear Mr Sean Sebastian,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of required books and equipment.
Term begins on the first of September. We await your owl no later than the thirty-first of August.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress."
The room became deathly quiet.
Raymond blinked.
"Magic school?"
He flipped to the second page.
"Three sets of plain black robes… a pointed hat… a wand… a cauldron…"
Raymond slowly raised his head.
"Is this some kind of prank?"
Alice looked equally confused.
Only Sean remained completely rigid.
Because at that exact moment, a cold mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.
[System initialising…]
[Check-in System successfully activated.]
[Mission Released: Please arrive at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters to complete check-in.]
[Reward: Random Treasure Chest ×1]
Sean nearly stopped breathing.
His scalp went numb instantly.
A thousand curses rose in his chest at once.
He had spent eleven years painstakingly building a financial empire just so he could comfortably enjoy life as an ultra-rich heir.
And now—
Now someone was telling him this was the world of Harry Potter?
Sean wanted to swear.
Violently.
After a long silence, he finally forced out a smile uglier than crying.
"Raymond. Mum."
His voice sounded strangely hollow.
"I'm going to school."
Raymond and Alice instantly lit up with excitement.
"Really?" Raymond exclaimed. "That's fantastic!"
"We'll contact the best schools in the world immediately!" Alice added happily.
God knew how relieved they felt.
Sean had always refused formal schooling.
According to him, most professors knew less than he did and weren't qualified to teach him.
After several humiliating incidents involving university lecturers being corrected by a seven-year-old, Sean had simply remained at home permanently.
For years, Raymond and Alice had secretly worried their son might grow up completely isolated from society.
But now he wanted to attend school voluntarily.
How could they not be thrilled?
Unfortunately…
Sean slowly pointed at the letter on the table.
"No," he said weakly.
"I'm going to Hogwarts."