Chapter 10 – Rick! You're Committing a Crime!
Tonight was the freest night Hydras had experienced since her reincarnation.
Even though she had lost her beloved little treasure, after eleven years of hiding her true self, at this moment she finally let go.
She soared through the sky freely, the wind roaring past her, flames dancing on her tongue!
The sensation of having power… she absolutely loved it!
Like a child with a brand-new toy, the thrill of flying was irresistible. Hydras flew straight from Romania to Hungary in one go.
Only when she felt her strength waning did she realize she was still just an eleven-year-old child.
...
The next morning, nine o'clock.
Audrey opened her eyes. Having arrived home at three a.m. the previous night, she had overslept a bit.
She pushed the door open and stepped out.
Ah, Rick hadn't prepared any toiletries for her last night.
After all, Rick was just an inexperienced twenty-year-old, barely capable of taking care of himself—how could he think of everything?
Audrey shook her head and went down to the kitchen.
A clever cook is helpless without ingredients, so she'd just make do.
She made a few pancakes and sighed a little. Years of living as a young lady had dulled her once-skilled cooking abilities.
Still, the golden, slightly crisp pancakes were certainly far better than Rick's oatmeal.
She sprinkled some sesame seeds and inhaled the aroma, squinting with pleasure.
Too bad there were no scallions. She'd have to send Rick shopping later!
Today, she would enjoy a rare taste of Muggle life. Tomorrow, a fierce battle awaited!
"Ah! No! No! No!"
Screams echoed from upstairs. Audrey, puzzled, left the breakfast on the small kitchen table and rushed up.
"No! No! No!"
The sound came from the study. Audrey pushed open the door to see Rick frantically rubbing his head, his brown curls in disarray.
"How did I fall asleep?! My new song isn't finished yet, Mr. Waterman will be upset!"
"No—!"
...
"Brother, Rick?"
Audrey's gentle voice made Rick freeze. He turned around, embarrassed.
"It's… Audrey," he stammered. He almost forgot there was someone else in the house. "Uh… normally, I'm not like this."
Rick hurried to explain, not wanting to appear insane: "I was supposed to show Mr. Peter Waterman my new song today, but I somehow fell asleep last night and didn't finish it…"
He quickly gathered all the sheets on the desk. "I don't even know what to do!"
Audrey smiled. "Forget the song for now, come down and eat breakfast!"
"But… my song…"
Audrey felt a twinge of guilt. If she hadn't dosed Rick last night, he would have finished it…
Of course, the guilt was minimal. After all, they had only met the night before. Calling each other brother and sister was cozy, but they barely knew each other.
"The song isn't finished? Worst-case, you get scolded. But breakfast will make you sick if it gets cold!"
Rick was pushed downstairs by Audrey, utterly helpless.
...
"You made this?"
"Yes, who else in the house would?"
Rick nodded. Audrey was right—worst-case, he'd get yelled at. But cold breakfast? That was truly a waste!
Rick eagerly cut a piece of pancake and stuffed it into his mouth.
Mmm, delicious!
The "siblings" were enjoying their pancakes with milk when the doorbell rang.
Rick shot up like a rocket. "No, no, no! It's Mr. Waterman! It has to be Mr. Waterman!"
Audrey sighed. "Brother, calm down. Sit, relax a bit. I'll get the door."
Rick sat like a puppet on strings, unable to calm his eyes darting to the door.
Audrey opened it.
Outside stood a very competent middle-aged man.
His brown hair was neatly combed, gold-rimmed glasses gave him an intellectual air, and a small mustache stood out above thin lips pressed into a straight line, making him appear strict.
"You must be Mr. Peter Waterman!" Audrey greeted, smiling. "Please, come in!"
Peter Waterman looked surprised but followed her inside politely. "Hello, as you know, I am Peter Waterman. May I ask who this lovely young lady is…?"
"I'm Audrey Astley, Rick's sister," Audrey said, leading him to the kitchen. "Have you had breakfast, Mr. Waterman? Would you like some with us?"
Rick's sister?
Peter glanced at the reserved Rick and then at the poised, confident Audrey.
The girl's name was Audrey, her looks… well, nothing like Rick. He wondered how Rick's mother had produced two such different children.
But the moment Mr. Waterman tasted Audrey's pancakes, any doubts vanished.
Delicious!
Of course, these were magical pancakes, though the cook herself had no idea.
Audrey was slightly frustrated. She had only been polite, yet Mr. Waterman so casually sat down. The batch she made was for two, meaning she didn't even have enough for herself.
Reluctantly, she fired up the stove to make another batch.
"Rick," Peter asked after sipping milk and savoring the oily aroma of the pancakes, "is your new song finished? I've arranged the best recording studio for you!"
Rick tensed. "The song… it's finished…"
Though he wasn't satisfied with the third draft. The fourth draft had great ideas, but he hadn't completed it.
"Great! After we finish eating, show it to me."
Sweat poured down Rick's forehead. He felt he had let Mr. Waterman down. Worst case? If Peter abandoned him, he'd just return to the countryside and play in his little band.
While Rick was lost in thought, Audrey was mixing batter and began to sing:
"Clearly things are not as I imagined,
I realize you love yourself
More than you love me,
Go tell your friends,
I'm a crazy, troublesome girl,
It's okay, I'll tell my friends,
You're a homosexual…"
A song from over twenty years later—Taylor Swift's Picture to Burn, a classic country-rock number.
Audrey's singing was enchanting. The lively melody immediately captivated both Peter and Rick.
"Watch me light this match,
Burning all the wasted time of my past;
Now I finally see,
You're just another picture to burn;
Burn, burn, burn, baby, burn;
Just another picture to burn,
Baby, burn!"
Hydras spread the batter in the pan, keeping an eye on the room behind her.
Rick, I'll make up for your unfinished song with this one!
"Rick!"
Peter Waterman stood up excitedly.
"This is your new song? You wrote it for your sister?"
He murmured to himself:
"Although the lyrics don't match her age, hearing it from her mouth creates such a strong contrast… that… that…"
"Innocence! Yes, innocence!"
He patted Rick's shoulder. "Well done, Rick!"
"But… you're going to let your sister record it?"
Rick was stunned, unsure how to answer.
Audrey flipped the pancakes skillfully. "Mr. Waterman, of course my brother will record it!"
Peter was shocked. In his eyes, while Rick could perform the song, Audrey was perfectly suited for it.
He looked at Rick. "Rick, is what Miss Astley said true?"
Rick, overwhelmed by Audrey's frantic signaling, nodded blankly.
"Ah… yes, yes…"
"Rick!" Peter slammed the table, clanging the fork to the floor, startling Rick.
"This is a crime! A crime!" Peter exclaimed as if Rick had committed a real offense. "Your sister's singing talent is unparalleled, and you can hear it yourself—this song suits her perfectly!"
"But…" Rick tried to find an excuse. Honestly, the situation was out of his control. In front of Mr. Waterman, he never had control. He couldn't tell Peter the song was Audrey's own creation; Audrey was just the lost, homeless girl he picked up last night.
"But Audrey is still a child!"
Somewhat reasonable, he thought.
Peter shook his head. "Michael Jackson performed on stage at seven years old. Age is not an issue."
Rick added, "But Audrey needs to go to school."
Peter still shook his head. "School is just to prepare for a decent job later. With her talent, she can be a superstar! Let her fulfill her singing potential rather than waste time on useless knowledge!"
Rick was utterly helpless. Audrey, meanwhile, was surprised.
She hadn't expected tossing out a song from twenty years in the future to cover for Rick would drag her into all this.
Peter walked up to Audrey, asking seriously, "Audrey Astley, would you like to become a singer? With your talent and appearance, you could be famous across Britain and the world!"
Audrey thought: …I just wanted a lazy, comfortable life, not stardom. What should I do?
…But maybe being a Muggle star isn't bad?
Her previous life had once dreamed of it, and now, with this disguise, she could better conceal her true identity as Hydras.
After considering, with Rick anxious and Peter expectant, Audrey answered:
"Sure! But I must stay with my brother. Let's form a duo!"
She couldn't let Rick fade into obscurity while she shined. He was also a seed for a future superstar. She had to take him along!
Joyfully, she suggested, "The Astley Siblings—how about that for a group name?"
Peter thought for a moment. "That's a great idea!"
Rick Astley, utterly bewildered, didn't know what expression to use.
Since meeting Audrey last night, his life seemed about to change dramatically, for better or worse…