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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Seventeen
It was a familiar fire and warmth, but he was not close to it now.
Xin Yi drove up to the small shop in Bunan, parking in a corner where he wouldn't be seen by anyone coming out. He watched the flickering light from the dilapidated building, memories of that night flooding his mind. The only vitality here came from that man, small yet bursting with energy, capable of surprising him at the most unexpected moments.
After his leader had pierced through his mood, he reflected on it. That emotion was less about envy and more about jealousy. The unique living environment set him apart from his teammates; those with families and social circles could do many things he could not, like traveling together or having family gatherings.
His teammates treated him well. When he first joined Mighty Falcon, he was weak and overwhelmed, but a friend a year older than him took him under his wing, teaching him the ropes. The leader didn't visit often, but when he did, he always brought something—sometimes books, sometimes clothes, and often various tools.
He had never fallen behind in culture or skills. From a young age, he understood that he would never have a Normal Life and desperately wanted to carve out a place for himself in Mighty Falcon, to become someone who belonged there. Decades of rigorous training had worn away his excess emotions but had also taught him the joy of survival—observing others' lives outside of missions. Occasionally, when drunk in his room, he would daydream about what life might be like if he lived differently.
Among all his imaginings, the most perfect template appeared in the life of his forty-two-year-old self.
The myriad people he had encountered over the decades paled in comparison to Song Bunan's words and actions. Even if this person engaged in work he looked down upon and spent his days praying for divine favor while occasionally seeking psychological comfort for himself—calling it divine protection—it still left an impression.
If there truly were gods in this world, why didn’t they show themselves to visit orphanages and provide homes for abandoned children?
However, after spending time with Song Bunan, he found himself less concerned about the man's superstitions and more focused on the person himself. He felt that Song Bunan was like a book; though its cover was off-putting, delving inside revealed different flavors and many unexpected surprises.
And the catalyst for all this was fire—the eyes filled with stars melted by flames and that red string.
When he was tied with the red string, Xin Yi felt uncomfortable at first but accepted it to avoid losing face in front of his teammates. When Song Bunan got injured and blood stained it, he couldn’t bear to take it off. That thin string might become the only memento of Song Bunan for the rest of his life.
Standing by the car, Xin Yi smoked one cigarette after another until the box was empty, watching as the flames faded away. The night turned cold again, and this desolate village fell silent once more. He got into the car and drove off, seeing through the rearview mirror that the lights of Song Bunan's shop were gradually fading into the distance.
Had he become particularly sentimental? Xin Yi wanted to ask someone this question but gave up after scrolling through his phone. He was unwilling to share his thoughts with others, even though those around him insisted that he needed to be more cheerful. Cheerfulness did not belong to him; it never would.
This time, the postal operation went quickly thanks to Xiao Mei's help. By the time they returned to the shop soaked from the rain, Uncle Meng had already prepared sweet soup and watched affectionately as the two Dirty Cats drank three bowls each. He had worked for the Jiang Family since childhood and had seen countless children grow up over decades; as they aged, he became increasingly indulgent towards new additions to the family. The head of the family often said he spoiled children and granted him many privileges to do so.
When Xiao Mei first brought Bunan back to the Jiang Family at around twenty years old, she found a sturdy young man in military training clothes holding a tear-streaked child in his arms. Upon entering, he asked where the adults were. He was ten years older than Xiao Mei and explained that he had encountered her being bullied by bad kids at school while out having fun; unable to leave her alone after saving her, he brought her back.
He earnestly educated them on what problems could arise when parents neglected their bullied children and advised that if possible, someone should pick them up from school every day since they were still young. If they noticed any emotional distress, they shouldn't rush; instead, they should guide them gently to express what had happened.
Uncle Meng felt that he would definitely like this righteous and well-behaved child. Upon learning that he was attending a military academy, he even asked the family head if they should wait for him to graduate and invite him into their home. Many subsequent events confirmed his judgment; Song Bunan was indeed a good child.
As Xiao Mei grew up, the two became very close friends. Whenever Song Bunan was around during nights out, the family head felt at ease and would even send some funds for the two to enjoy themselves. He once asked Xiao Mei what she thought of Song Bunan, and received an answer that they were sworn brothers.
"If he gets married, I must be the best man!" This was written in Xiao Mei's diary when she was just starting middle school.
After Bunan went through a series of challenging experiences, he chose to open a shop here. Although it was regrettable, they respected his decision, especially since the child's exceptional talent allowed them to solve many problems from a different perspective. This brought the two families closer together, and the family head had hinted several times that he had already considered Bunan as his godson.
"Have you decided whether to spend the night at the Jiang Family or at Bunan's place?" When Dirty Cat came out after cleaning himself up, Uncle Meng handed over the last snack of the night.
"I have something to ask Shui Su, so let's go home tonight! I also want to sleep with Xiao Mei!" Bunan raised his hand to answer, causing Xiao Mei to roll her eyes in response, indicating her refusal of this proposal since she had her own home and family. However, the older man did not give her a chance; he transformed into a koala bear and hugged her tightly, blinking his big watery eyes and pouting as he asked if she could bear to refuse him.
"I can bear it." Xiao Mei feigned indifference but smoothly took the snack from Song Bunan's hand and stuffed it into her mouth.
Song Bunan grinned mischievously, saying that eating his snacks meant agreeing with him; family matters were insignificant. "Nothing compares to our bond; partners can't compete with brothers."
Watching the two brothers playfully bicker, Uncle Meng skillfully packed up the sweet soup and announced that they could head home now.
The Jiang Family was located a bit outside the city and had its own estate. The vast land enclosed by red bricks housed large courtyard buildings where the entire family lived together. The family business, built through generations of hard work, now held a high status in the city and controlled much of Rongcheng alongside three other prominent families.
Before sending Xiao Mei home, Song Bunan only had a general understanding of their families. It wasn't until they arrived at the entrance, guided by the child, that he realized how shallow his knowledge was. The ornate carvings and colorful eaves adorned with glazed tiles were as grand as palace buildings in television dramas, leaving him awestruck; just by looking at it, he could tell that this gate occupied more area than his own home.
"Are you sure this is your house?" He asked the child one last time before stepping up the stairs. Passersby occasionally emerged from inside and regarded him with strange looks but turned away nonchalantly upon seeing the child in his arms. He got lost upon entering, wandering around twice without finding the Main House as described by Xiao Mei.
The corridors were more complex than a maze, branching out in all directions. Finally, near the garden, he encountered an elegantly dressed uncle picking flowers who looked quite imposing. Upon seeing the silent child in his arms, the uncle exclaimed and began to cry again. Then he was led into an enormous room where a formidable middle-aged man sat at a round table and coldly inquired about what was happening.
Noticing that Xiao Mei seemed to have an unusual relationship with this man, Song Bunan instinctively categorized them as father and son. While explaining everything that had transpired, he educated them on issues related to bullying based on their apparent lack of concern for the child's well-being. He bid farewell to the now calm child amidst the man's unchanging cold gaze and declined an invitation to stay for dinner.
At that time, he never imagined that simply helping a child would earn him a powerful ally for his future.
He had his own small courtyard within the estate right next to Xiao Mei's. Not only that, but he was also invited by the family head to various gatherings and received red envelopes and gifts during holidays. He had heard many times that he was counted among their children. Initially confused about this status, it was Xiao Mei who first explained it to him: everyone liked him very much, and the family head wanted to adopt him as a godson.
"Would your biological son be willing?" He finally asked when he could no longer hold back. The answer came from Shui Su, the family head's biological son: he said he would be very willing.
Perhaps this is what it means to be lucky. Song Bunan thought this more than once, and then happily went to Uncle Meng's place to ask for some snacks.
Lying on Xiao Mei's bed, Song Bunan couldn't stop yawning. After his injury, his stamina had returned to a state of insufficiency; even the effort of burning some paper left him too tired to keep his eyes open. The wound on his side ached a bit, scratching at him uncomfortably. Next to him, Xiao Mei was tapping away on her phone, chattering away without missing a beat.
He was analyzing the news brought by Ghost Messenger today and asked Xiao Mei if there was any information about the laboratory. She said there was, but it came with conditions. "What are you trying to pull on me this time?" Song Bunan sat up with a start, seeing Xiao Mei's familiar wolfish grin and thinking that whatever little treasures he had in his shop were no longer safe.
"Relax," the boy raised an eyebrow at him. "I just want to ask you one thing."
Song Bunan felt like he was facing a formidable enemy, fearfully wrapping himself in the blanket, fully aware of Xiao Mei's mischievous nature and sensing that she was about to dig a pit for him.
"You and I along with Brother Hua have been raving about how perfect Xin Yi is for you. Now that you're not working with Mighty Falcon anymore, do you still have any contact? Have you decided to pursue her? You're thirty now; if you don't find someone soon, no one will want you."
"Where did you learn this stuff?" Song Bunan wished he could pry open Xiao Mei's head. "You sound just like my mom!" He tried to throw a tantrum.
Xiao Mei remained calm and elegant, shifting into a more comfortable position as she said, "I went to your house this afternoon and had a friendly chat with your mom. But I accidentally let slip that you might have someone you're interested in. So, your mom specially sent me to supervise whether you're going to give up or decide to pursue."
"Please spare me! I’ll even bow down to you! Just because I find someone attractive doesn’t mean I have to chase after them! What if they’re already married? I’d just be a clown!" Song Bunan felt his chest tighten, as if little people were blowing horns in his ears.
However, his good friend had no intention of letting him off the hook. She pulled out a picture from her phone and waved it in front of him; it was a simple profile of Xin Yi. "Marital Status: Unmarried. And don’t argue with me about her having a boyfriend or anything; I asked around—this guy is open-minded but single."
"Why don’t you just strangle me instead?" Song Bunan slumped back in defeat.
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