Always by your side

Ch 2. I will be there for you

20 years ago.

Wei Ying POV

I woke up from the nap that I was taking in a tree branch, thanks to the ball my classmates have thrown at me. Of course, it makes me fall, but I can avoid getting hurt.

"You okay?" –said a tall guy that I think is the captain of the team.

"Yeah, sure, but I have better go to music class," I said.

First-year high school is kind of cool, but as my classmates are trying to learn about boobs and discovering that girls develop faster than boys in different ways, I kept dreaming about making out with this man in ancient white robes. I have dreamt about this guy for quite a long time. I also have robes too, we fight monsters and use magic, and we make out a lot. I am probably gay, but I do not really want to think about romance at this age, even if the guy in white robes looks like a prince. However, music and monsters... that's much more interesting.

"Hey. Wei Ying. The director asked me to call you. He was earnest. It seems that you are in trouble," said a classmate.

"What? I didn't do anything this time," I said.

"Sure, pal," said this kid sneering.

I go there wondering if they realized that I was the one that filled the room of our art class with balloons a week ago...

When I open the door, the director and two gentlemen are inside. One wears a white suit, and the other has a blue suit. All look very solemn. The director signals me to sit in a chair, and I follow, having a strange sensation in my stomach.

"Wei Ying, I have to regrettably inform you that your mother had a car accident and died. These two gentlemen have come to pick you up," said the director.

" Hey kid, My name is Jiang FengMian, and this man here is Lan Qiren; your parents were our dear friends," said a man in blue clothes.

"We promised them long ago that if something happened to them, we would make sure you will be fine," said the other guy in white.

I sit there thinking about her and the pancakes she just made this morning. Her beautiful smile, her kind eyes. The bike she got for me on my birthday and how much she cried when dad died three years ago in the line of duty.

"She can't be dead," I murmur.

I start sobbing. Someone is crying loudly in the room. After a moment, I realize it is me. They let me cry at my heart's content. I am not sure how much time had passed when the man in white said.

"My brother and his wife died six months ago. So my two nephews are living with my wife and me. They are about your age. We have a huge resort in the mountains, and you can live with us. We have plenty of space, and I am quite sure you will be happy there".

"In my case," said the man in blue, "I have a restaurant chain of traditional Chinese cuisine. I am quite busy, but my wife is an amazing woman. I also have two children, a boy and a girl that also have about your age. Our house is a bit cramped since we use most of the space to expand our business's operations base. So, you will have to share the room with my son".

I kept looking at them. Both men look decent guys. However, I have the gut feeling that the man in blue will be in trouble if I go to his house. But then, I see the guy in white. It is like his face has the word "strict" written all over him. Also, this guy was the first one that offered me a home. I took his hand in mine.

"I will try to be a good son for you, Mr. Lan."

I try to smile but fail miserably.

They offered to arrange all the stuff related to the funeral. Then, they drove me to my house and ordered me to pack my clothes. Then, the man in white drove me to his house. Two kids and a skinny woman are at the entrance. They greet me.

"Welcome to our home. My name is Xichen, and this is my brother Zhan".

I thought they would stand there, but the small one hugs me. I close my eyes involuntarily, and I see the man in white, and I hear a voice saying...

- From now on, what you say to me, what you do for me, I'll remember all of them—I won't forget a single thing.

I open my eyes, and this Lan Zhan kid has his arms still wrapped around me. His eyes closed too.

"Cough, cough. Lan Zhan, please, manners. You are always reserved. Why are you hugging him like this?" said Lan Qiren.

We separated.

They show me my room, and then we left for the service.

As the coffin of my mother is buried. I just wondered if I can make her proud and if this new family I am part of was the right one for me. Then, as they start to seal the tomb, Lan Zhan took my hand. He doesn't say a word, and neither do I, but I silently thank him, and I promise to myself I will be there for him too.

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So yeah, in this reincarnation, our protagonists met a little bit earlier than in the novel. This was going to be originally the first chapter, but I like the structure of going back and forth in time. So I hope you like this.