Tangled Threads of Tradition and Love

Chapter-5 🅿🅰🆁🆃 2

⚠️VIEWERS DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING FLASHBACKS IN THIS CHAPTER MAYBE UNSETTLING TO SOME VIEWERS. PLEASE DON'T READ IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH TOPICS SUCH AS CHILD ABUSE

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Huan just wanted to sleep. Yet here he was, being dragged out to yet another ceremony. He had thought it would take place tomorrow, but no, it was happening right after the examination ended.

The exhausted students were instructed to go to the stadium. At least they got free snacks. Huan was quick enough to grab a jumbo pack of Panda cookies—small round biscuits shaped like panda heads, filled with chocolate. They were his favorite snack, along with pancakes and anything sweet.

Akira, however, didn't get anything, even though a caretaker android urged him to.

As they made their way to the stadium, Huan spotted a giant mech approaching. It—no, she—made sure not to hurt anyone. He looked up and smiled. "Hi, Ella! How was your exam?"

The hood of its chest opened, revealing Ella sitting inside. Her blonde hair was in a bun, and she wore the same suit as everyone else, minus the gear. "Great, I guess, but you did amazing!" she cheered. "I checked the leaderboard last minute and saw you and Akira. Great job, you two!"

"Thanks! But honestly, Akira did most of the work." Huan turned to Akira, but he was absorbed in his phone, scrolling through messages.

Akira seemed to notice Huan looking at him, and he put his phone away, tucking it back into his nagagi. "Did you know this was going to be live?" His voice was blunt, but he seemed a little annoyed.

"Yeah, everyone knows that," Marcus shrugged nonchalantly.

Sanji raised an eyebrow. "I didn't."

"Oh, right, because we were meant to inform you guys," Marcus said, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, our bad."

Huan had completely forgotten that the examination was usually broadcast live, with cameras everywhere in the simulated ruined city, not just for the invigilators but also for the public. That meant his little brother, Nian, must have seen it. He immediately took out his phone, given to him by the caretakers at the recruitment center when he was sixteen. As he guessed, there were a lot of messages from his brother, who seemed worried sick. Sighing, Huan put it away, deciding to reply to him later.

"Well, it's not a big deal. We did well," Sanji said. "Right, Akira?"

Akira seemed to be in a daze, staring at the floor as if he had done something wrong. He looked up at Sanji's voice. "Yeah... I guess we did well..." he mumbled under his breath.

"Guys...? We need to go to the hall," Jimin reminded them for the ceremony.

"I'll join you guys in a bit," Ella said as the hood of her mech closed. "I need to get into my wheelchair. See ya!"

The rest of the group began making their way toward the stadium. Huan lagged slightly behind, distracted as he opened his bag of Panda cookies. The sweet scent of chocolate-filled biscuits instantly calmed him, and he popped one into his mouth, savoring the taste as he tried to play out all the possible scenarios in his mind. This ceremony was either going to go well, or terribly wrong. He had no idea which, and he didn't particularly want to find out.

But at least he had Akira with him. Chen Xian or even Chen Zixin wouldn't dare pick on him with Akira by his side and everyone watching. Still, the thought of the Chen clan recognizing him sent a chill down his spine.