Chapter Twenty-Eight: Reunion

"Sister, sister, wait for me!" Just as father and son were engaged in their conversation, a voice recently heard echoed once more.

Wasn't his name Liu Wenqian?

Liu Tian turned his head toward the caller. Sure enough, it was the young man who had struck up a conversation on the train. Ahead of him walked a girl he'd never met, dressed simply in what resembled an old-fashioned school uniform from Earth, her black hair parted into two braids, one on each side. She was not beautiful, yet there was a quiet charm about her.

This girl with the cold expression must be the Wenhan that Liu Wenqian had mentioned.

"Hey, that girl looks familiar. Wait, I remember now—she's your second uncle's daughter, isn't she?" Liu Yun's attention was immediately diverted. With his sharp eyesight, he could make out the girl's features even from a distance; she was the niece whose photo he'd seen last time he visited the countryside. "So those two were the ones talking to you on the train?"

"So they really are relatives?" Liu Tian was not the least bit surprised. He watched indifferently as the child dragged a suitcase, chasing after the older girl.

"Son, you guessed it already?" Liu Yun turned his head abruptly to look at Liu Tian, who stood with arms crossed.

"Isn't it obvious?" Liu Tian replied. "Same generation, same destination, and an inexplicable interest in the distant Kingdom of Hundred Flowers. If they weren't related, how could all these coincidences happen?"

"But I didn't expect they were the children of second uncle, as you mentioned, Dad. Had I known, I'd have thought up a better excuse." Even knowing they were his kin, Liu Tian remained indifferent. Born with a cold detachment toward relatives with whom he had no real interaction, only a blood connection, he did not consider these strangers as friends.

"Your mother is staying with second uncle while she's expecting, right?" Liu Yun sighed and walked forward, speaking as he went. "You really ought to change your temperament, son. This attitude will only get you into trouble someday."

"Second uncle does you favors, not me," Liu Tian replied carelessly. "Besides, this is just who I am. I can't change, nor do I want to."

...

"When you returned last time, I warned you," Wenhan scolded her younger brother, though her anger was brief. She halted and waited for him. "You must keep an eye on your belongings. Don't let valuables out of sight."

"That was a gift I bought in the capital for our fifth aunt. You said keeping an eye on it would be enough, but now it's gone? How could you let that happen?"

"I didn't expect someone would actually steal something on the train!" Liu Wenqian, sheltered all his life, was crestfallen. He apologized, racking his brain for a solution. "I was wrong, I was wrong, sister! Maybe we shouldn't go back right away? We could buy something here instead?"

"I have some New Year's money saved. It should be enough. If not, I'll lend you some, and you can pay me back at the end of the year."

Thanks to his good upbringing, Liu Wenqian didn't try to gloss over his mistake. Instead, he earnestly sought a remedy.

"Money isn't the issue. The gift was only available in the capital, newly imported from the Morningstar Alliance, and I chose it with care. There's no way we'd find something similar in a small city like Pei County." Wenhan sighed again. "I thought your studies away from home might cure your habit of losing things. But you're still the same."

"Always misplacing things! And haven't I told you before? Don't strike up conversations with strangers outside! No matter how excited you are! You must be careful when traveling, pay attention to safety!"

"Just look at what you've done on the train!"

"You aren't a little boy anymore—you should start thinking for yourself. Next year, you'll attend the officer's academy. There will be people from all over. If something happens, the family might not be able to protect you."

"I know, I know." Liu Wenqian grew impatient. "Sister, you always harp on these little things. My ears are getting calluses..."

"Is this a little thing? It's for your own good!" Wenhan, swift beyond ordinary measure, deftly evaded his reflexive resistance and seized his ear with uncanny precision. "You dare fight back? Getting bold, are you?"

"Heh heh..." Once his weak spot was caught, Liu Wenqian became obedient. "I was wrong, I was wrong, sister, good sister, sweet sister, don't twist, don't twist, it really hurts!"

"Let's think about finding a new gift."

"No need to think. I had prepared another gift anyway. I heard fifth uncle's son would come, so I'll give it to him instead."

"Sometimes, giving a gift to the son is as good as giving it to the mother—consider it a lesson for you."

"Excuse me, are you the children of Liu Zhengde?" Just then, Liu Yun approached and asked.

...

"It's the quiet uncle from the train!" Upon seeing Liu Yun, Liu Wenqian perked up and wriggled free from Wenhan's grasp, shifting the conversation. "How did you know our father's name?"

"I'm Liu Zhengyun. By seniority, you should call me fifth uncle." After introducing himself, Liu Yun turned and pointed at Liu Tian. "This is my son, Liu Wentian—you met him on the train."

"Just call me Liu Tian," Liu Tian said, making no attempt to evade further. "My name doesn't follow the generational naming tradition."

"..." Wenhan did not immediately trust them. Though Liu Tian's blood-red eyes were a distinctive feature, her cautious nature prevailed; she pulled her brother back a step. "If you're really fifth uncle, why didn't you recognize us on the train?"

"So we're suspected," Liu Tian glanced at his father, but offered no answer. Instead, he turned his gaze elsewhere. A black sedan was slowly approaching. "That must be the one picking us up. Do you recognize it?"

"I only saw your photo once, niece, so I didn't recognize you right away," Liu Yun explained, scratching his head. He then heard Liu Tian speak. "Where? Let me see!"

When he turned, the sedan had already come to a gentle stop before them.

The window rolled down, revealing a square-faced man with a scar whom, except for Liu Tian, everyone else recognized instantly. "You're all together, how fortunate! Come, don't stand in the sun. Get in the car. Lunch is already prepared at home."

"Dad?" x2

"Second brother!"

From the trio's response, it was clear the square-faced, scarred man was none other than Liu Zhengde, whom Liu Yun had mentioned.