Take the Chance [RED SON] ☆COMPLETE☆

8 Helping Hand

Saturday 3:30 AM

"Let Me Help"

The two women stopped in their tracks, both staring at him in surprise.

“You said the library is closing down, right? Let me help,” Red Son offered, nodding to Emily with a determined expression “But, Red—” Emily began, her voice faltering. How could he possibly do anything about this? The man in charge of the museum, Manager Luo, was notoriously hardheaded. No matter how much they pleaded, no matter how reasonable their arguments, Luo wouldn’t budge.

“We… really appreciate your offer, sir, but our boss isn’t exactly easy to deal with,” Emily’s coworker added, her voice hesitant.

“What? So, he’s a grumpy, grouchy old man?” Red Son quipped, crossing his arms.

The coworker winced, not offended but oddly amused. “Well… he’s not old, but he is grumpy and grouchy.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Red Son replied with a shrug, his mind made up. “I’ll still do it.” Emily blinked at him, baffled.

“But Red, you don’t understand—”

“Listen,” he cut her off. “This library means something. It’s close, it’s familiar, and I know people who work here—people who don’t deserve to lose their jobs because someone upstairs doesn’t see its value. Besides…” He trailed off, glancing briefly at Emily before continuing with a faint smirk. “…maybe I’ve got something to prove.”

Emily flushed slightly, unsure how to respond. “We can handle this in a civil way. You don’t have to go to extremes.” She placed a hand on his arm, her voice softer now. “Civil, huh?” Red Son’s expression softened for a moment before he shook his head. “You don’t get it. When I say I’ll help, I mean I’ll help. Like, actually do something. Just standing around and doing nothing? That’s not my style. Never has been.”

Emily hesitated. “If Luo wants to shut this place down, what could we possibly do to stop him?”

Red Son’s smirk returned, sharp and confident. “Simple. Prove to him this library isn’t just some dusty decoration.”

“How do you plan to do that?”

His grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes that made both women take a cautious step back.

“He’s not going to kidnap our boss, is he?” the coworker whispered, leaning toward Emily.

“I hope not,” Emily whispered back, her eyes narrowing at Red Son. She really hoped not.

“Oh, don’t worry,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “I’ve got my ways.” Clearing his throat, he added, “Anyway, you two do your thing. I’ll just… browse for a while.”

“S-Sure,” Emily replied, blinking in confusion as he walked off toward the novel section.

Red Son didn’t mind waiting, especially when surrounded by shelves full of stories. The library’s collection wasn’t bad, even if some books were repetitive or outdated. He browsed for a while, picking up short novels to pass the time.

As he flipped through the pages, memories of his childhood surfaced—his mother, Iron Fan, sitting with him and reading stories from old scrolls. Her voice, clear and expressive, brought the illustrations to life, filling his young mind with awe and wonder. Those moments had sparked his love for storytelling.

“Still,” he muttered, setting a book aside. “This place could use some updates…”

An idea struck him then, almost embarrassingly late. He smirked. “Wait. I could just hack their archives.”

Of course! How could he forget about his own genius? Bragging rights aside, accessing the museum’s restricted files could reveal valuable data—inventory lists, ancient collections, the works. With the right information, he could find a way to prove the library’s worth.

He nodded to himself, mentally laying out his plan. First, hack the archives. Next… well, he’d need his parents’ help—or at least their access cards.

“Yo! You look like you’re enjoying yourself over here!”

Red Son nearly jumped out of his skin. Turning sharply, he found Emily standing there, her bag slung over her shoulder. He scowled. “Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to sneak up on someone?” he muttered, careful not to raise his voice in the quiet library.

Emily just laughed. “Don’t be so dramatic! You’re fine.”

He huffed. “Done with your work?”

She nodded, and he wasted no time grabbing her bag, ignoring her surprised expression. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

---

By 7:20 p.m., the library was nearly empty. The staff were tidying up, locking windows, and preparing to close for the night. “You really waited for me?” Emily asked as they walked down the marble stairs. Red Son shrugged. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?” She chuckled, shaking her head. “You’ve got some serious patience.”

“Not really.” He smirked, holding the door open for her.

Outside, his car—a sleek red-and-black vehicle—was parked under a streetlight. He opened the passenger door for her, earning a roll of her eyes.

“Let me guess,” she said as she climbed in. “This isn’t your only car.”

“Correct. Got more questions?”

She grinned. “Plenty.” The two laughed as he started the engine, their lighthearted banter filling the car as they drove through the quieter parts of Megapolis. Emily guided him through the streets, pointing out landmarks and sharing bits of her neighborhood’s history.

Eventually, they arrived at her family’s shop—a modest but brightly lit lantern store nestled between other small businesses. A tall blonde man stood outside, wearing a brown apron and a friendly smile.

“Emily! Finally back,” the man greeted, pulling her into a hug.

“This is my brother, Ying,” Emily explained, introducing him to Red Son.

“Your boyfriend?” Ying teased, his green eyes gleaming mischievously.

“What?! No!” Emily sputtered, her face flushing as she swatted her brother.

Red Son cleared his throat awkwardly. “Just a friend. Nice to meet you, though.”

Ying laughed, brushing off his sister’s protests. “Well, thanks for bringing her home. Don’t let her boss you around too much.”

After a brief farewell, Red Son handed Emily her bag. “Hey, about the library—if I need help, can I call you?” She nodded, scribbling her number on a crumpled piece of paper. “Here. It’s a bit messy, but it works.”

He smiled, carefully folding the paper and tucking it into his coat pocket. “Don’t worry. I’ll figure things out.”

As he drove away, a grin spread across his face. Step one of his plan was complete.

“Smooth,” he muttered to himself, feeling a rare sense of pride. Now, onto step two: saving the library.

-Take the Chance