Tied to the Train Tracks and Sliced into Three

Carrying his luggage, Wayne walked through the sleeper carriage in search of his private compartment. It was a train of consummate luxury. Every one of its ten-odd carriages was built in an elegant classical style, complete with sparkling clean windows and plush velvet curtains. A crimson carpet stretched along the floor, and the ceiling was painted with exquisite murals boasting artistic flair several stories high, looking utterly magnificent beneath the soft glow of crystal chandeliers. This wasn't just a train; it was a rolling palace radiating opulence and romance at every turn, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the world-famous Orient Express. Any other pretty boy living off a wealthy patron would have lost himself in the glamour by now. But Wayne was different. Having lived through an even better era, this sort of display failed to move him. "What a piece of junk. Doesn't even have Wi-Fi, yet they have the nerve to charge this much. Veronica was so pissed." Wayne muttered under his breath as four or five men in black suits approached from the other direction, resembling an entourage of bodyguards escorting their master. Lowering the brim of his gentleman's hat, Wayne stepped aside to make way. The corridor of the sleeper carriage was narrow. As they brushed past each other, a man with a mustache bumped hard against Wayne's shoulder. The man strutted forward with an obnoxious swagger without yielding an inch, as though he owned the entire hallway. *Where are your manners?!* Wayne rolled his eyes. It was only a petty slight, so he chose not to make a fuss. Under the conductor's repeated apologies, he stepped into his compartment. Inside, there was a lower berth, a writing desk beneath the window, and an upper rack for luggage. It was remarkably spacious. Wayne enjoyed dinner inside the compartment. Once the steam locomotive chugged to life, he locked the door, took off his hat, and gave it a light flick. "Coo, coo, coo—" The white dove leapt out and landed steadily on the desk. Wayne opened his suitcase and tossed it some feed. He had assumed his dinner would be modest fare—potatoes with corn and peas—and that he might even have to lean on his feathered friend for some sustenance. Who would have thought that life's fortunes would turn around so dramatically, replacing his meal with a high-end Western course paired with red wine? Whether it tasted good was beside the point; what mattered was the prestige! As the train slowly pulled away from Londan, Wayne switched on the wall sconce and produced the magic grimoire Villy had given him. He wanted to try his hand at the basic spells for carrier birds, but worried that the white dove wouldn't survive clumsy handling and might end up as tonight's midnight snack instead. After some thought, he decided against it and simply flipped through the book to commit the contents to memory. *** The night passed without incident until dawn. March 21st. Feeling refreshed and energetic, Wayne rose early. After washing up, he headed to the dining car for breakfast. The train wasn't built for speed; it was a luxury tourist train centered around scenic views and gourmet food. It traveled slowly during the day, and even slower through the night. Wayne was to disembark at Enrold Town Station. Veronica had already handled the arrangements: someone would pick him up at the platform and escort him directly to a luxurious countryside estate. Once Mr. Landau settled matters with that formidable big shot, Wayne would wait for Veronica's call before returning to Londan. The exact date remained open. Veronica didn't know the timeline yet; she would notify Wayne as soon as Mr. Landau informed her. Wayne mulled it over. His future father-in-law was a banker and an influential figure in his own right, so clearing up the mess shouldn't take too long. This was in the bag! …… The dining car. Wayne had arrived early. The car held few patrons, and most tables were empty. Picking a random seat, he ordered a hearty, filling breakfast. Barring any delays, he was scheduled to arrive around noon, right before lunchtime. Just to be safe, he intended to pack in plenty of calories. Before his breakfast was served, a woman dressed in a sharp black suit jacket paired with a long skirt walked into the dining car. Ignoring the dozens of empty tables around them, she strolled straight to Wayne and sat down directly across from him. She wore her golden hair in a capable, short cut that gleamed with the soft sheen of silk. Pearl earrings and a matching necklace accentuated the slender grace of her neck, rendering her both alluring and undeniably refined—a sight that immediately caught the eye. Wayne: (¬_¬) *What a stunning beauty!* *Still, with so many empty tables, what's with sitting right in front of me?* Her features were strikingly sharp and radiant, without a single flaw. She looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. That, combined with a profound self-assurance woven into her very core, lent her an aggressive presence that naturally inspired a twinge of inadequacy in those around her. At the same time, her meticulous makeup and attire, down to the neat curve of every lock of hair, signaled an exacting discipline and immense expectations of herself. "Excuse me, sir, you wouldn't mind sharing a table, would you?" Noticing Wayne's gaze, the beauty smiled softly. The gentle morning sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the table, lending a touch of warmth to her picture-perfect face. "Not at all!" Wayne nodded, adding inwardly that by "not at all," he only meant he didn't mind sharing a table with an older beauty, nothing more. Scientific studies showed that men who looked at beautiful women every day could extend their lifespan by four to five years. Furthermore, visual beauty was a feast for the eyes that aided digestion. There was no reason to refuse something beneficial to his health. And yet... He returned to his initial suspicion: with so many seats available, insisting on sharing a table smelled like a hidden agenda! Under the beauty's speechless gaze, Wayne polished off his breakfast at lightning speed and darted away without glancing back once. "Heh..." The woman let out an amused laugh, raising a hand to lightly touch her cheek. "Well, he's an honest boy—or rather, cautious enough, which is a plus. But he really didn't give me any face, did he?" Xifei Landau! Her daughter was Veronica Landau, and her husband was Auston Landau. Due to marital discord, the couple had lived apart for years. To the outside world, she went by Xifei Valentine and rarely mentioned her marriage. Mrs. Xifei was an ambitious career woman. After separating from her husband, she had been working abroad, establishing herself as an exemplary female leader. Thanks to her outstanding performance, she earned a promotion and actively requested a transfer back to Londan to assume an important post. With Veronica nearing graduation, she wanted to celebrate with her daughter in person. To make it a surprise, she hadn't given advance notice. When she spotted Veronica at the train station, Xifei had initially thought her own movements had leaked. Only then did she realize she was flattering herself: Veronica had no idea she had returned to Londan, and had come to the station purely to see someone off. A man! The present mirrored the past: the way the girl stood there grinding her teeth looked identical to how Xifei had seen off her scoundrel husband at the station all those years ago. Mrs. Xifei was utterly shocked. Her precious little cabbage actually had a boyfriend! How long had this been going on? How far had they progressed? Had they done *that* yet? Veronica had looked so angry—was she being mistreated? And that bastard of a husband hadn't bothered to do a thing about it! Cursing her scoundrel husband beneath her breath, she had altered her travel plans on the spot, intending to inspect her daughter's boyfriend up close and see what kind of character he possessed. If he turned out to be social trash sniffing around for money and beauty, she wouldn't hesitate to personally stuff him into a barrel of cement and toss him into the river—or perhaps tie him to the train tracks and slice him into three parts. From the looks of it so far, he wasn't after her looks, unlike her scoundrel husband, who was pure, unadulterated trash! Mrs. Xifei was quite satisfied with Wayne's conduct, but that alone wasn't enough. Supporting free romance didn't mean washing her hands of the matter. Earning her approval wouldn't be that easy.