Chapter 79: Chapter 079: Disguise and Invitation
Kelly’s smile froze on her face; she even let out an involuntary cry of alarm.
Roger chuckled, “Don’t get me wrong, you’re a nice girl but I’m just not convenient today…”
You’re not convenient?
Roger could see the burning fury in the girl’s eyes, but he said nothing, offered an apologetic smile, and turned to walk away.
Kelly stood rooted to the spot with an ashen face. At that moment, a black guy who seemed to be eavesdropping from behind a tree adjusted his hair and walked over with feigned nonchalance.
Before he could speak, Kelly roared furiously and stormed off in her high heels.
She hadn’t gone far when her phone rang. She answered, “I only saw you leaving alone. Where’s Roger?”
“He rejected me…” Kelly said with a bitter smile.
“Nick, I know Roger embarrassed you back in school, but that’s in the past. You don’t need to…”
“Shut up!” a roar came from the other side.
“Help me humiliate him, and I’ll return those photos to you; otherwise, get ready to become Baytown’s celebrity.”
“By then, whether it’s your neighbors or strangers on the dock, they will all be holding your photos and doing those filthy things.”
“You better think it through!”
Nick’s cold voice came through the phone.
Kelly shivered involuntarily, fear flashing across her face, “Don’t… please, I beg you. Give me another chance. Next time, I’ll make sure to bring him along.”
“Good, remember you only have one chance left.”
Then he hung up the phone.
Kelly sobbed with her head in her hands when she heard the busy signal.
The bonfire party would continue all night, but Adeline had work the next day, and Roger wasn’t too interested in these things. After hanging out for a while longer, everyone went back home together.
Roger sat quietly on the floor, breathing evenly, his mind becoming serenely empty.
He didn’t show up at school very often and didn’t exactly fit the mainstream aesthetic of Western girls. Though he focused on his own matters, he wouldn’t disregard the people who appeared around him.
That girl named Kelly, he was certain he’d never seen her before, and thinking back to the figure Anna had shown him recently, Roger had some conjectures.
“Let’s see what you’re going to do.”
The rest of the night passed without incident, and time flew by as he practiced.
After breakfast the next morning, Roger left the house alone.
Roger looked at the sign above the door and pushed it open.
“Can I help you with anything?”
The owner was a middle-aged man with a thick beard, who asked kindly.
“I’m just looking around.”
Roger glanced around.
“If you’re looking to pick an instrument, I can help you choose. This store has been in Baytown for twenty years, and everyone who comes here praises it highly.”
Roger’s gaze swiftly scanned the various instruments hanging on the wall and finally pointed to one, “What’s that?”
“Oh… that’s an oboe.”
The middle-aged owner took down the instrument, “It’s an excellent solo instrument, often playing the main melody in bands.”
He looked at Roger, who failed to recognize even the basic instruments; clearly, this young man was an outsider.
“Do you need me to play it for you? It sounds wonderfully melodious, with a reedy, nasal tone, but it’s also one of the trickier instruments to master.”
“If you’re a beginner, I wouldn’t recommend it for you.”
The shopkeeper seemed very patient.
“No need, this will do,” said Roger without any hesitation as he pulled out his wallet. “How much?”
The decisive customer somehow put the shopkeeper at a loss. Although he was a merchant, deep down he considered himself a connoisseur with an artistic taste.
“Don’t you want to know more about it?” he asked.
“No, there’s no need,”
Roger shook his head.
“I’ve already looked into it.”
Long enough to fit my Steel Sword, Roger silently added in his mind.
The middle-aged shopkeeper blinked, looking perplexedly at the young man before him. When had length become the criterion for choosing an instrument!?
Looking at Roger, he said earnestly, “Young man, not everything is better when it’s longer; the key is that it suits you.”
Roger slapped some banknotes on the counter.
“I’ll take it. The most important thing is that I need a case that can fully accommodate this length.”
The oboe that Roger had his eyes on was over 80 centimeters long. Normally, this kind of instrument can be dismantled for assembly, but what Roger needed was its length.
That way, he could conveniently disguise himself. A person carrying a Steel Sword every day would definitely be considered a Madman, but with a musical instrument, it wouldn’t be so conspicuous.
Half an hour later, Roger left the music store with the oboe on his back, feeling elated. But just as he reached the doorway, he saw a figure approaching him.
Kelly said with a look of surprise, “What are you doing here?” She glanced at the instrument case on Roger’s back.
“I never would have guessed you were a musician.”
“It’s just a hobby,” Roger claimed shamelessly.
“Actually, I also took some time to learn an instrument.”
Her intense gaze swept over Roger, “It was the flute, the only instrument I’m really good with.”
Kelly took a step forward.
“There’s a party the day after tomorrow, and we’re looking for outstanding performers. Do you have time? Maybe we can have a little exchange.”
Before Roger could respond, she continued, “A gentleman doesn’t refuse a lady twice.”
Roger smiled, “Time and place?”
Kelly took out her phone, “There’s only a preliminary plan for now; the exact time isn’t set. Give me your number, and I’ll let you know later.”
“Alright,” Roger nodded.
“I hope this time, it will be convenient for you,” said Kelly with a double entendre, then waved and turned to leave.
“I’m already prepared. This time I want to see what tricks you’re planning to play,” Roger muttered under his breath, then headed home with his instrument.
Next, he needed to make some modifications to the instrument case to perfectly conceal the Steel Sword while still allowing easy access.
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It wasn’t long before Kelly notified Roger of the exact time. Over the phone, she was extremely flirtatious; had it been an ordinary boy, he might have already lost control of his hormones.
But the more she acted this way, the more composed Roger became.
During the wait, he didn’t sit idle, continuing his training.
Time flew, and soon it was the evening of the party day.