I Read Their Tragic Fates, and My Family Reads My Mind?

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: A Melon We Haven’t Tasted Before

Let’s analyze the text first to understand the context:

[Step 1: Contextual Analysis]

Literary genre: Chinese web novel/urban fantasy with supernatural elements

Language style: Modern, casual with supernatural/mystical elements

Tone: Light-hearted, humorous, with elements of mystery

Plot keywords: Family reunion, New Year celebration, supernatural abilities, "Love Worm" (情人蛊), mind-reading abilities

Characters:

- 席璟越 (Caspian Rhodes): Male protagonist, appears to have some ability to hear 杜安饶’s thoughts

- 杜安饶 (Arabella Donovan): Female protagonist, has supernatural abilities to remove curses/spells

- 杜亦晗 (Aurora Donovan): Arabella’s sibling (sister)

- 杜赫轩 (Hector Donovan): Arabella’s brother (referred to as "二哥" - second brother)

- 杜语曦 (Eloise Donovan): Family member of Arabella

- 杜君彦 (Justin Donovan): Arabella’s oldest brother ("大哥")

- 刘先生 (Mr. Lewis): Character who needs Arabella’s help

- 戚女士 (Ms. Cain): Another character seeking help

- 刘天源 (Terence Lewis): Related to Mr. Lewis, involved with the "Love Worm" curse

- 严先生 (Mr. York): Business partner of Mr. Lewis whose son is afflicted by the "Love Worm"

- 邱阿姨 (Miss Kerr): Character who contacts Arabella

- 杜父/杜母 (Mr./Mrs. Donovan): Arabella’s parents

Now I’ll translate the text following all the rules and guidelines:

[Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing]

Starting my translation:

This Chapter focuses on Caspian Rhodes and Arabella Donovan’s interactions during New Year, and introduces a supernatural element called the "Love Worm" that Arabella needs to remove from someone. The Chapter also reveals family dynamics and hints at some special abilities that both main characters possess.

Let me begin the translation:

When Caspian Rhodes walked out of the room, this was the scene that greeted him.

He watched as several elders, their faces ashen with anger toward his parents, stormed off. His cousins shot him and his parents indignant glares before reluctantly following the elders.

The once-bustling courtyard now stood empty, yet to Caspian, this felt like the happiest New Year he had experienced in his entire life.

As grand fireworks illuminated the sky outside, Caspian couldn’t help but take out his phone and send Arabella Donovan a text message.

「Happy New Year! And thank you.」

At that moment, Arabella was busy lurking in her family group chat, snatching up red packet after red packet. Seeing his message, she was completely puzzled.

「Happy New Year to you too, Mr. Rhodes! But what are you thanking me for?」

「It’s nothing. Have you gone back home? Are you at your family home now?」

The day he had attended Dennis Donovan’s wedding banquet, Arabella’s third brother had subjected him to a thorough interrogation. He had nearly revealed his ability to hear Arabella’s thoughts.

They had engaged in a battle of wits, each harboring their own secrets.

Facing the Donovan family’s tight security, Caspian knew he had no chance of success. Coincidentally, his company had encountered issues with a payment, forcing him to leave before the banquet concluded.

Therefore, he was unaware that Arabella hadn’t left Brynn, but was instead spending the New Year with her family in Imperia.

Arabella briefly explained why she had stayed in Brynn. Caspian immediately seized on the key information.

「Mr. Lewis and Ms. Cain went to find you? What about their fate patterns and that...」

"I already sent that little ghost away and restored their fate patterns. But Mr. Lewis’s business partner, Mr. York—his son was afflicted by the Love Worm cast by Terence’s family, making him hopelessly devoted to Terence’s sister. I still need to help them remove that curse. Every day is like this... I feel so busy."

She had initially thought that coming down from the mountain to be retrieved by her wealthy parents meant she could finally relax, but instead, one issue kept following another, which was quite vexing.

Arabella sent her last message as a voice recording. Though thousands of miles away, Caspian could perfectly imagine her tone as she said those words, and he couldn’t help but smile.

"That’s because you’re extraordinary. You can do what others cannot, which is why they like asking for your help."

Arabella froze, her face warming: "When you put it like that, I’m almost embarrassed."

"Serena, who are you talking to?" Not far away, Aurora Donovan, who had been setting off fireworks, turned to see her sister on the phone with a flushed face. Alarm bells immediately rang in her head.

The other brothers and sisters also looked over upon hearing this. Arabella felt self-conscious under their scrutiny and instinctively denied: "No one. I’m not talking to anyone."

"Then why is your face so red?"

"It’s just the reflection from the fireworks. By the way, second brother, that double-bang firecracker you set off was beautiful, especially the green one. Could you set off another one?"

Hector gave his sister a suspicious look but didn’t question further, obediently going to set off more of the pretty fireworks his sister liked.

Seeing that everyone’s attention had been diverted, Arabella discreetly let out a sigh of relief.

Looking down at her phone, she saw another message from Caspian Rhodes.

「Was that voice just now your third brother?」

「Yes, Mr. Rhodes, let me tell you how amazing my third brother is. He’s only a junior but was granted special permission to skip a grade and secure admission for graduate research at Brynn University. He’s even joined a lab there. He said after the New Year, when school starts, he’ll take me to visit his lab. I’ve never been in a laboratory before, so I’m a bit nervous. Hope everything goes well.」

When Arabella mentioned this, Caspian couldn’t help but recall her previous speculation about Dr. Donovan. Could her third brother possibly be that Dr. Donovan whose identity had been redacted?

Even if he wasn’t, considering the situations involving Arabella’s family members and recalling how quickly the man had nearly figured him out during the banquet with just a few questions, Caspian instinctively felt that this third young master of the Donovan family wasn’t simple. By extension, any drama involving him would likely be substantial.

Thinking this way, Caspian suddenly felt the urge to fly to Brynn again, wondering if going to find Arabella after the New Year would be in time to catch some fresh gossip.

「Don’t be nervous. Since your third brother invited you, he’ll definitely take care of you. Just treat it as a fun outing and an opportunity to make new friends. It’ll be convenient for future visits to your brother too.」

「That’s true.」

Reassured by Caspian, Arabella felt much more relaxed.

After New Year’s Eve, Arabella moved into the spacious apartment her parents had recently purchased, making it convenient for her to accompany her parents and Eloise Donovan on shopping trips during her free time over the next few days.

However, no one expected that before the New Year celebrations were half over, Mr. Lewis and his group would come looking for her again.

Because Arabella had moved, they first went to Vistagrove Avenue but found no one. Only then did they think to call her to inquire about her whereabouts.

At that moment, Arabella had just woken up not long ago. Dressed in the panda pajamas her mother had bought her, she sat at the dining table eating breakfast when her phone suddenly rang, drawing the attention of all family members nearby.

"Miss Kerr? Oh right, I moved out of my great-uncle’s place. My parents and siblings came to Brynn for the New Year and bought a new house, so I moved here to stay with them for a few days. You’ve brought Mr. York’s son? Then just bring him directly here. My address is..."

After hanging up, Arabella continued her breakfast, stuffing a fried dough stick into her mouth while contemplating how to remove the curse from Mr. York’s son.

「Come to think of it, I’ve only heard my master mention this Love Worm before. This is the first time I’ll actually see it. I wonder if the afflicted person is really as my master described—so obsessed with romance that they wouldn’t even bite a zombie if one appeared.」

Love Worm?!

After confirming what they heard, everyone realized this was juicy gossip none of them had experienced before. And so...

Thus, Arabella watched as her family members, who had previously claimed they were heading out, remained firmly planted on the sofa as if their bottoms were glued to the cushions, not moving an inch.

Seeing that Mr. Lewis and his group were about to arrive while the house was still packed with people, Arabella blinked in confusion and asked: "Oldest brother, didn’t you say you had a meeting at nine? It’s now..."

Arabella turned to look at the clock behind her: "Nine-ten." Shouldn’t you be in your room working?

Being singled out, Justin Donovan tensed but remained seated on the sofa, his expression unchanged: "A director responsible for an important project was cooking breakfast and accidentally blew up his kitchen, causing a power outage in that area. We can’t reach him. My secretary is heading to his house now. The nine o’clock meeting has been rescheduled for this afternoon."

Everyone: *snickers*

Arabella: "???" Is that story really believable?

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