eunoia | bl | tgcf

Chapter 2: Part Four

Chapter 2
beloved by all

Part Four
parting

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Xiao Lan squeezes the handle of the parasol before silently disappearing from where he stands. The hustle and bustle makes it possible for him to disappear without a trace. He appears once more by the Grand Avenue of Divine Might, overlooking the street that the procession will pass through.

A human who wishes good for all. God-Pleasing Warrior, how shall you achieve this impossible feat?

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"..."

Hong-er is a little speechless.

He has never seen someone haggle prices to an extent that the vendor looks as if he is about to bawl his eyes out like a baby. Min-ge even looks smug and proud of his achievement, whistling a merry tune as he carried Hong-er and the bag of fruits away.

"Min-ge, you're a bully." The child cannot help but comment while riding the young man's shoulders.

"Does that matter?" Is Min's nonchalant reply. "As long as you don't tell Xiao Lan, we'll still be friends, got that?"

"..."

"Good kid."

Hong-er no longer responds. If he does, he may just end up getting bullied by this person.

"By the way," Hua Min calls after buying a candied fruit from a stall, handing two sticks to the child. "What are your plans, kid? Xiao Lan and I are only here temporarily. Soon, we'll have to go back to the eastern plains."

Hong-er listens without answering. What will he do? Even he himself does not know what must be done next. He wishes that he can stay with Yun-ge and Min-ge, that he can have a taste of home every time he wakes up in the morning and before sleeping in the night.

He wishes that he can be embraced by Yun-ge every day, that he is tucked in by Yun-ge every night.

However, he knows.

This child who only had a taste of familial love for a short time knows that he does not deserve to be loved by someone like Yun-ge. That person is someone who lives in a world far different from the one Hong-er lives in. Yun-ge is kind and gentle and so loving that this filthy child is afraid of dirtying that kind of person.

"I don't know," Hong-er rests his chin on Min-ge's head. "Min-ge, what do you think I should do?"

...

Hua Min does not answer immediately.

How can he when he knows that his answer will be selfish. In his opinion, he would rather have this human child disappear soon because he is afraid of Xiao Lan forming attachments with Hong-er.

It took years for Xiao Lan to speak again after Grandma Yun passed away. Hua Min cannot remember how he managed to stay sane while taking care of this voluntary mute. Once, he even thought that Xiao Lan can no longer speak due to shock.

Fortunately, that brother of his managed to find the courage to take a step forward again.

Just like what he said, he and Xiao Lan will leave a few weeks later to return back to the eastern plains. Here he is hoping that this is not enough time for Xiao Lan to grow too fond of this human child.