Count of Monte Cristo

Six days later they reached the small town.

The town was still as quiet and peaceful as ever. Lin Ke and Edmund were walking on the country road surrounded by tall and low houses.As soon as he arrived at the destination, Lin Ke took out his own notes. When he was in Marseille, he collected local gourmet newspapers. There was also a reporter who wrote a food column. He introduced a lot of delicious food, which made Lin Ke salivate.

After staying in the small town for three days, Lin Ke failed to see Fabre again, maybe he had already gone to other places.However, he has met the local gangsters. Lin Ke deliberately dealt with them and gave them a few gold coins. He said that he didn’t learn well when he was away. His uncle wanted him to live on a boat, but Fabre refused, because he was comfortable here. In fact, he could rob or steal when he had no money, and as long as he went back, he would Mother will definitely give him money.

Lin Ke was very unbelievable after hearing this, the Fabre he knew was not such a person!

Edmond didn't say a word, just like he didn't like Fabre at the beginning, he didn't comment on it.

Lin Ke was a little depressed. He felt that there must be some misunderstanding, and maybe he would see Fabre again.Then they went to inquire about the Maiden, but no one knew about it. They went to the port to inquire with the sailors who often went to sea, and without exception, they did not get any useful information.

There was nothing worth entertaining in the town, so Lin Ke and Edmund started playing chess again. Originally, Lin Ke wanted to play backgammon. Forgive him for only playing backgammon. After a few sets, the man quit.So Edmund asked him to play chess.They customized a chess set with white jade, which is simply a work of art.Lin Ke sighed for a long time every time he picked up the chess piece, and then put it down carefully.

Facts have proved that his chess skills are too bad!He always lost no matter what the pieces were, and at last the man thought of a new way to play, and he played checkers, checkers made of jeweled beads!Edmund seemed to understand his heart. When Lin Ke told him the rules of the game, he always pretended not to understand, and then he lost when he played chess.Lin Ke was finally refreshed and elated!

The two stayed in this small town for three days and two nights, and then began to prepare for the next journey.This time they are planning to go to Florence, Italy, which is the birthplace of the Renaissance, the ancient capital of art, and has eternal charm, which has attracted countless people.

The small town of Florence is full of visible art carvings, art galleries, and exhibition halls. Before they arrived, they heard that there was a flower exhibition going to be held there.Lin Ke originally went to Morocco as the next stop to see the beauty of this small country, but Edmund read the news about Italy from the newspaper, and heard that it was not only the first stop of the European Flower Exhibition, but also a small investment exchange would be held there Yes, he still saw the news in the margins of the newspaper.Lin Ke was speechless. Edmund didn't know when he developed the habit of reading several newspapers every morning, and he would write down some things when he encountered them.

And when Edmund went to a certain place, he would take Lin Ke to the local bookstore, and then he would buy a few books. After reading it, he forced Lin Ke to read it, and after reading it, he had to write reading notes.Lin Ke once complained that his behavior of writing notes while reading would affect his interest and mood in reading.Edmund answered him, you can take food notes like you do, if you can put half of your heart on study, I will be very satisfied.When he said this, Edmund's expression reminded Lin Ke of his high school head teacher!Lin Ke was speechless, so he had to start struggling silently.Forgot to say, he still hasn't finished reading that "Geometry"!After urging him a few times, Edmund found that he was broken, so he let him go.

I can't understand the headache!I can't understand the headache!I can't understand the headache!Say important things three times!

There were only two months left before Lin Ke's birthday when he arrived in Italy.Edmund was still thinking about the birthday gift he wanted to give Lin Ke, but Lin Ke seemed to have forgotten about it.

The scenery in Italy is infinitely beautiful. Edmund and Lin Ke are not traveling poorly this time, and enjoy the fun of traveling completely in the way of local tyrants.Eat, eat, eat!Buy buy buy!

They lived in a hotel, and there were many art galleries in Florence with thousands of collections, and Edmund bought a few oil paintings.Lin Ke can't appreciate these oil paintings at all, but he likes those flowers very much. Unfortunately, they are only exhibited and not sold.

That day Edmund accompanied him to the exhibition, and Lin Ke lingered outside the booth, admiring the flowers very much.

"Edmond, you like these flowers. How lovely do you think they are?"

"The beauty of flowers is to be admired."

"Yes!" Lin Ke said, and was about to say a few words, when he suddenly saw a lot of people surrounded by another place, he hurried over and thought there were some peerless flowers.

Only when I walked over did I realize that the flowers on an exhibition stand were missing...

People were talking about it, and there were two tourists who looked like foreigners surrounded by people. Lin Ke stood there and listened for a while, as if they found that the flowers were missing, and people from the exhibition center also came, but people didn’t I know where the flowers are.It seems to be a newly cultivated tulip, which has high ornamental value, but is of no use value. The other lost pot seems to be a jade butterfly, which has high medicinal value and high price, so it is very precious...People are guessing who got it Those flowers are gone, but no one knows.The gatekeepers have already gone to the military police to check on the tourists.

Lin Ke was quite depressed, "I don't know who is so wicked, what are you doing by stealing two pots of flowers?"

"Don't guess, go to the next exhibition hall." Edmund pushed him forward, Lin Ke finished visiting all the exhibition halls sullenly, and after returning to the hotel, he ran to the kitchen to prepare for half the night, and finally brought it out A large bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup, I drank it all in one gulp and then sighed at Edmond.

In the end, he rubbed his belly and said, "I won't study tonight, so I ran away."

He decided to find out what happened to those flowers?Who to ask?Of course the owner of the hotel!

When Lin Ke came to this hotel for the first time, he discovered his talent. The owner is not a local, but married with his mother. He was originally from Bavaria, the one who lived in the same place as Princess Sissi and Prince Ludwig. .But Princess Sissi and Ludwig are not born yet.The guys who come and go are called the boss Mel. He is a very charming little old man with a short mustache, extremely bright eyes, and a big mouth. He smiles when he sees everyone.He is very gossip, claiming that there is no place in Florence that he does not understand, no gossip that he does not understand, no food that he has not tasted, and no secret that he does not know...

He claimed that some reporters would also come to him to inquire about some news.Of course he is not free, if you want to know some more valuable news, you have to pay.Lin Ke went to him, believing that he already knew what happened at the exhibition, and maybe he could learn something from him.Sure enough, when Lin Ke found him, there were already a dozen people around him, and Mel was talking happily.When Lin Ke squeezed in, he heard him talking... the story of the green forest hero spread in Italy.Isn't this the Italian version of the Liangshan hero, Lin Ke muttered, listening to it according to his temper, and gradually got the taste.

It turns out that there is a group of powerful robbers in Italy who often commit crimes. They specialize in robbing the property of the rich. However, he does not distribute wealth to the poor like the robbers in traditional stories, but enjoys it himself.This group of robbers often traveled around, they robbed rich people, sometimes they also robbed some beautiful teenagers and girls, or kidnapped some tourists.What's more, they will act recklessly and don't talk about the principles of the rivers and lakes.So the Italians hate them very much, and the government also wants them.

Mel said that these flowers might have been stolen by them, because their leader seems to be called Cucumetto, and I heard that there are three things he likes, murder, beauties, and flowers.The listeners booed, the boss took a sip of coffee, and didn't care that he slowly talked about Kukumetto's deeds, such as how he kidnapped the girl, how he blackmailed him, and how those robbers listened to him ... At the end, he also said something that made everyone afraid.He said that the gang of robbers seemed to have arrived in Florence, and that the next target might be the tourists in their hotel.I heard people accusing Mel of intimidation, but Mel shrugged and said that he opened this hotel as the best hotel in Florence, and the people who stayed here were very rich, and those robbers dared not treat him Political celebrities or aristocrats, or some powerful local people, of course they will choose foreigners who come here to play.If they have money but no power, they can't help them.Moreover, Florence will hold several exhibitions this month, so there should not be too many wealthy businessmen coming here, they are all good prey!

Lin Ke felt that his analysis was quite in place, "According to what you said, we are going to run away!" He joked with a smile, and others also echoed, "Mel, should we not live in the Here, find a lesser hotel!"

"Yes! Yes! We are not rich!"

"As long as you are willing to part with the delicious food here..." Mel shrugged, looking indifferent.

The others laughed too, and then asked a few more casual questions before leaving.

Lin Ke returned to the room. Edmund was still in his room, writing something on the desk. He lowered his head and couldn't see his brows and eyes clearly, but his movements were serious.Lin Ke slowly moved over and saw that Edmund was actually drawing. Instead of using a watercolor pen to create, he used a quill pen to outline on white paper.This painting has not yet been formed, it is just a rough outline, but it can be vaguely seen that it is his appearance.Edmund had already spotted Lin Ke, but he was still concentrating on the paper, and said, "What did you find out?"

"I heard that there are bandits here." Lin Ke replied without thinking.

"Huh?" Edmund stopped writing and looked up.

"Mel talked about a robber named Cucumetto, and said that he might have arrived in Florence." Linko repeated, "He might have taken those flowers." The last sentence contained a bit of resentment.

Edmund understood and smiled.

"Still thinking about those flowers of yours? You can go to the exhibition hall tomorrow to have a look, and the lost flowers will definitely appear." Edmund pulled him to his side, let him sit down by himself, and took another quill pen Handed it to him, "Come, I will teach you how to draw."

"Really?" Lin Ke asked in surprise, he took the pen casually, and then stared at Edmund with bright eyes, "How do you know? What's going on? Do you know those robbers?"

Edmond laughed, "It's just a smoke bomb released by the people in the exhibition center. To arouse people's interest. As for Cucumetto, he may have really come to Florence, but he is now a wanted criminal by the government. How could it be possible? I will reveal my whereabouts for one or two pots of flowers." Edmund analyzed them one by one, "And those flowers you like after the exhibition hall is over, I promise you can take them home." Edmund knew that Lin Ke was very I like those flowers, and I have inquired about them secretly. The non-sale items mentioned at the beginning will be auctioned secretly after the exhibition ends.

"Then how long are we going to stay here?" Lin Ke also heard the meaning of Edmond's words. Edmond must have some plans. Lin Ke knew that Edmond had known many nobles in Florence. He used the The name on that fake passport—Sir Wilmore, a wealthy nobleman from England.

A light flashed in Edmund's eyes, "One month, one month later we will go to England."

"Oh." Lin Ke has no objection, it seems that Edmund has found his direction.

Edmund rubbed his head, then carefully put the unfinished portrait away, "Now it's time for you to study."

Lin Ke wailed, "I told you not to study tonight!" He protested, "Didn't you tell me that a man should keep his word?"

"You still have two months to come of age!" Edmund coldly pointed out the loophole in his words.

Lin Ke muttered, "You are so annoying, I don't want to read those tadpole articles at all..."

"So tonight we will learn line drawing." Edmund smiled. He got up and stood behind Lin Ke, bent down and held Lin Ke's right hand with his right hand. "What do you want to learn to draw first? How about a rose?" ?” The voice was low, ringing in Lin Ke’s ear, and his breathing could also be heard.

Before Lin Ke nodded, his right hand had already moved, and a moment later, a beautiful rose appeared on the paper, lifelike and as white as snow.

White Rose!

Lin Ke's whole body froze. He could feel Edmond's breath on his face. His palm held his hand. The temperature close to his skin was hot. Edmund's breathing was heavy. Lin Ke's whole body was already In Edmond's arms, he could touch Edmund's lips just by turning his head, and he could touch Edmund's beating heart as long as he leaned back slightly.But Lin Ke didn't do anything, he just held his breath and didn't move.He didn't move, but Edmund moved, his right hand suddenly left, and the heat behind him disappeared.Before Lin Ke had time to sort out what his loss at that moment meant, he raised his head with one hand, and Edmund's kiss fell down!It fell straight onto his lips!

Lin Ke's hands were spinning in the air, his head lacked oxygen, and the heart in his chest was beating violently, as if a heart was about to pop out!

Edmond's tongue, Edmond's breath, and Edmond's strength all pressed down together. He pressed the back of Lin Ke's head with his left hand, and supported Lin Ke's back with his right hand. She was soon lost in his kiss, her hands wrapped around his back unconsciously.He thought, he likes this kiss, a safe, bewildered, loving kiss.

When the two came back to their senses, Lin Ke was in Edmond's arms, disheveled, out of breath, flushed, and blurred in his eyes.And Edmund was leaning against the table with his collar open, his breathing was unsteady, and his usually calm face also had an expression of involuntary emotion.

Lin Ke said softly, "Edmond, you like me." This is no longer a question, but an unmistakable affirmation.

Edmund sighed deeply, "Yes, I like you." In these words, one can hear the deep helplessness and struggle, and of course the trembling and sincerity in the voice.Lin Ke moved, his action was to kiss her directly, no, he directly bumped into her!Lin Ke also felt pain because he could clearly hear the sound of teeth colliding.Edmond's deep laughter came, his chest vibrated, and then with a soothing tongue, he easily relieved Lin Ke's pain and annoyance.The two started a new round of study.

Outside the window, the bright moonlight leaked in through the cracks in the curtains, and shone on the bodies of the two embracing each other, and also shone on the white rose.

Under the moonlight, the white rose seemed to bloom more beautifully.