Chapter 430 Memories of the Past

"Is this where Tilan used to live?"

Standing in front of the ground entrance of Arpeggio City, Avni and Dolores looked around with a little curiosity.

The wind and sand blew across the ground, passing through the erected metal partition wall, and the red giant well appeared in front of them. From time to time, transport ships rose from it, and cargo was sent out from the industrial elevator beside the giant well and loaded onto heavy trucks waiting to receive it.

"Yes." Tilan stood in the passage at the edge of the giant well and led the two people down the stairs.

The three of them stepped on the non-slip metal floor like rivets, walking and stopping along the way, and Tilan explained to them the purpose and origin of the surrounding buildings.

"Such passages can be blocked and closed at any time during war, and can be effectively defended even if nuclear bombs are dropped."

"The main body of the city is deep underground, and we will have to take the elevator to reach it later."

Listening to Tilan's explanation, Dolores held up her black skirt and walked down the stairs carefully. The heels she wore today were slightly high. Although they looked good, they were a bit inconvenient when facing the large steps. In addition, she had a good figure, and she had to press her chest with one hand to keep the ups and downs not too big.

It seems that such a place is really not suitable for this usually decent and elegant lady.

As for Avni, it was much better. Although she also held up her skirt, it was just a habitual action. Even if she didn't look at the ground, she could easily keep her balance and walk down the stairs as lightly as dancing.

Tilan, who was in front of the two people, was wearing a common school-style coat dress today, a white fitted top with a simple black ribbon tied at the collar, and a knee-length skirt. However, in order to avoid attracting attention, she kept her hair gray today and wore a hat.

"This is the elevator." Tilan said, and led the two to the door of the industrial elevator.

With the sound of gears turning and iron locks roaring, the heavy elevator box rose from the ground, and finally slowed down, hitting the buckle on the top floor and stopped. With the sound of steam gushing out, the elevator door opened, and dozens of passengers walked out, including a suspended car and two containers for elevators.

The three stood aside, waiting for the people and goods in the elevator to be unloaded, and then walked in.

Stepping on the metal fence on the ground, the crisp echo echoed in the elevator. Dolores covered her nose with one hand, not wanting the dust to dirty her cheeks, but her eyes were wide open and looking around. The beautiful hairstyle and clothes showed that this young lady was of extraordinary value and was incompatible with the surrounding environment.

Since the three entered the elevator, many passengers have focused their attention on them. This is not surprising. The appearance of the three is indeed very special, which is particularly rare in such a small city.

"Hmph."

Avni snorted lightly, and there was a faint golden flame flowing in her orange eyes. Everyone who was swept by her had an illusion of being burned, so they avoided her sight. This was a world with extraordinary power. Everyone soon realized that the young lady with blonde hair and red eyes was not easy to mess with.

Since entering the fourth grade, Avni's personality has gradually returned to her former self-confidence, like a proud and blooming red lotus, but compared to the past, some of her aggressiveness has been filtered out. If it were her four years ago, she would probably summon a few fireballs at will, so that people around her would not dare to approach or peek.

While riding the elevator, Tilan told the two about the past of Arpeggio City and why the elevator they were riding was so large and rough in style.

"Everything is prepared for war. Arpeggio City is a product of that era. Even now, there are traces of that era left."

The elevator is so large so that it can load tanks and transport soldiers and goods. Going deep underground is also to avoid orbital bombing in space.

Dolores and Avni had learned about this history in class before, but seeing and experiencing it with their own eyes like today is another story.

The three chatted until the elevator descended into the ground.

After getting out of the elevator, it was the 42nd floor underground. Here you can see the huge underground space of Arpeggio City. The high dome projects a simulated starry sky image, so that people underground do not feel too depressed. Between the undulating buildings, a number of suspended cars shuttle in the neon light and shadow, like a city in the eternal night.

"Don't rush to my house. I'll take you for a walk in the commercial district."

Although she was the host to entertain the two friends, Tilan herself was not very familiar with the commercial district of Arpeggio City. She was not a person who loved shopping. She used to go out with Lina because she invited her. Later, she went to school and never went shopping in Arpeggio City.

Some of the shops in her memory are still there, while others have changed their appearance.

The brightly lit spiral street is still prosperous, with people coming and going. A characteristic of small cities is that they are concentrated. For example, there is only one good hospital, one most prosperous commercial street, and one best school. Unlike big cities, which are scattered everywhere, there are some places where it is difficult to distinguish the superiority.

Compared with four years ago, there are a lot more musical instrument and audio-visual stores here. In the past, there were only 1-2 scattered stores, but now there are 5-6 stores. In front of the stores, there are life-size standees of Heshia Tilan, and the albums and stereoscopic performances of this singer are sold inside.

"I don't remember there were so many before." The girl blinked, trying to explain to her companions that she didn't take them to visit such stores on purpose.

"It's okay, we understand." The two responded with a smile.

"In fact, this is not surprising. There is a singer in Arpeggio City. Such a thing can be said to be extremely rare. The locals will naturally favor you. When they meet foreign tourists, they will definitely introduce it proudly. This is Tilan's hometown, and then tell you stories for three days and three nights." Avni said various routines skillfully.

"Are there so many stories?" Tilan recalled that she didn't do anything particularly eye-catching when she was a child or in junior high school.

"Of course there are. As long as there is a little bit of a story that is based on hearsay, someone will spontaneously add bricks and tiles to it and make it sound particularly true." Avni laughed.

"For example, you used to go to a breakfast shop frequently. Now the owner of that breakfast shop will tell you what food Tilan likes the most, and will also make up a beautiful story, saying that it was because of a certain past event, or that you helped a child out of kindness. I have heard no less than ten versions of you helping children in the past."

"There are so many already." The girl held her forehead slightly, knowing that there was not much point in explaining now.

"Speaking of helping children, I think it was that time when I took a few little guys through the tunnel and was attacked." Tilan recalled that unforgettable experience.

"Hey, is it true?" Avni was surprised now. She had always thought it was made up on the Internet.

"There was such a time." Tilan shook her head slightly, feeling that it was a bit strange to say it out loud, as if she was bragging, but it was indeed very dangerous.

"Tell me about it."

Avni grabbed Tilan's hand and said in a slightly coquettish tone. Although Dolores didn't say anything, the curiosity in her eyes was about to overflow.

"Okay, okay, no need to shake." Tilan pulled her hand out of Avni's arms. Avni is getting more and more lively now.

"Let's go to the beverage store over there and talk." Tilan pointed to a store not far away.

Afterwards, the three of them came to this store and found a quiet place in the corner to sit down. Then Tilan slowly talked about the past.

"I had just graduated from junior high school and was only Sequence 2. It seemed that I had just participated in the enrollment review that day, and then I came back..." The girl held the iced drink juice, recalling and talking about the past.

"Then Tilan ran into the out-of-control person in the tunnel, and almost died there?" When Dolores heard the part where Tilan and the other party were fighting, her heart was inevitably lifted.

In the eyes of the two, Tilan was almost synonymous with mystery and top genius. They never thought that the girl in front of them almost died silently in the dilapidated underground tunnel.

"Uh..." Although she wanted to say it lightly, some plots were still unavoidable. In addition, she was not the kind of person who liked to lie, so the result still made the two worried.

"That's right, but it's over." Tilan looked at the glass in front of her, gently turned the ice in it, listened to the crisp sound, and her thoughts gradually drifted away.

It turned out that so much time had passed. Four years, it really seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Are there any scars?" As a girl, the most important thing is beauty.

"No, you know, I'm good at healing." The girl blinked, saying there was no need to worry.

"Tilan is always like this, hiding some sad things in her heart." Dolores wanted to touch Tilan, but because the two sat opposite each other, Tilan dodged lightly.

"No need to touch my head, I'm not a child anymore." Although Tilan looked the most immature among the three, it didn't mean that she really wanted to be taken care of as a younger sister.

"Okay~~ Sister Tilan is the best."

Avni smiled and talked about Tilan's nickname. Because of Tilan's fame and prestige in Edes Academy, many girls in the lower grades admired and worshipped her. Later, this nickname gradually became popular among girls.

The three continued to chat about the past. When Tilan talked about the scene when she was bullied by Lina in the past, both of them were a little angry.

"Tilan was so naive at that time." Avni sighed.

"How did you solve it later?" Dolores wanted to know this.

"I wasn't as confident as I am now, after all, I was like an animal curled up in a corner." The girl no longer shy away from mentioning her timidity and weakness back then.

"But I'm still very grateful. I once had a group of good playmates and classmates. With their support and help, I fought back against Lina and broke the impression of my junior high school classmates."

"This time I came back, I also wanted to invite everyone and hold a party. I always attended parties hosted by others before, but now if I don't host, everyone probably won't invite me." Tilan talked about the last thing she wanted to do during this holiday.

"Indeed, after going to the Central Star Region, I'm afraid that the opportunities to return to the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region will become fewer and fewer." Dolores also sighed. As a rich lady, she has seen many familiar brothers and sisters. After going to the prosperous star region to study in college, she rarely returns to the Four-Leaf Crystal.

Either she is busy with school or she joins the work after graduation. According to the arrangement of her family, after she finishes college in the Central Star Region, she will stay in the Central Star Region to exchange and study in some large companies, and then she will return to the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region to officially take over the family business when she is in her 30s.

After finishing the drinks and juice, the three continued to walk along the commercial street. During this time, Avni took Tilan into a music and video store and asked the clerk in front of Tilan if there were any albums of Heshia Tilan, as well as various performance records.

"Actually, I am a true fan of Tilan and I really want to know everything about her. This time I came to Arpeggio City to learn about these things. Do you have a storybook about Tilan's growth experience?" Avni blinked her eyes and said seriously, while Tilan turned her face away, trying not to let people around her notice her.

"There is no storybook, because it has not passed the review of the Publishing Bureau and cannot be printed casually, but we do have some interesting stories and photos about Miss Tilan, which are all collected by everyone." The clerk made a special gesture.

"Hey, really, can you show it to me?" Avni continued to ask.

"Well, it's not impossible, but it's inconvenient to collect these things. Our Tilan Fan Club spontaneously perfected them, and it took a lot of effort. If you are a member of our Tilan Fan Club, we can provide them to you for free."

"I am willing to, so how can I join?"

"This is very simple, just register and sponsor a little membership fee." The clerk introduced familiarly.

Watching the clerk and Avni's operation, the girl next to her opened her eyes wide in surprise. Why didn't she know that there was such an organization, and she had never heard of it before.

"Okay, now you are one of us, remember to sign in and punch in every day, there will be points reward, and a photo of Tilan will be posted in the group every day."

Huh? Photos, mine? Tilan turned her eyes, wanting to see who took it and where.

"Okay~"

Avni did it skillfully, and then opened her personal terminal to receive. Soon, she entered a large group numbered 563, where there were also many topics to chat about, and then she found what she wanted in the public file library in the group.

The information about Heshia Tilan was particularly detailed. There were not only various images and photos of Tilan's performances after entering Edes Academy, but also photos of Tilan when she was a child. One of them was a group photo when she was in the second grade of elementary school. At that time, Tilan was sitting in the middle of the steps, surrounded by familiar classmates and friends. Everyone was holding hands and smiling.

"Wow, Tilan was so cute when she was a child, and her face was still a little chubby." Avni's eyes were full of stars, feeling like she had discovered a new world.

I even forgot how they found this photo. Tilan thought to herself after seeing the photo.

Later, Avni also found other photos of Tilan when she was a child. In general, most of them were taken in elementary school, and there were very few in junior high school. It was probably because there were many activities in elementary school. At that time, Tilan was also the center of the group of children, and some other parents also loved to take pictures of her, so there were many precious moments left. Some of these photos were not even known to Tilan herself, such as a photo of her climbing a tree to pick fruit, a photo of her swinging with Yilin, and a photo of her reading aloud on the stage in the classroom.

Looking at the scene full of memories, Tilan seemed to have returned to that forgotten season, the innocent self, a little timid, but also playful and lively self.

Finally, a photo stayed on the screen for a long time. It was a rare photo of Tilan and her sister Themisia.

The background is still the school. As a big sister, Themisia holds Tilan's hand and hands her the ice cream she just bought to the little girl. There is a smile and love in her eyes, not as cold and distant as Tilan remembered.

It turns out that she and her big sister Themisia used to have such a good relationship.

(End of this chapter)