The young man is very handsome with a refreshing appearance. The teen idols of the entertainment world would feel embarrassed just seeing his face. Meanwhile, the woman sitting across him as they drink coffee is very beautiful. Her eyes are clear and pure, and her aura is untainted.
"Daddy! It's them!" Tian Tian said and pointed at the young man and woman.
Hao Baiyun, Lan Tian, Zheng Jian, Zi Chen and Jin Chulin were stunned. Actually, they have already sensed it as they walked closer to the coffee shop. Now, the aura is very overwhelming.
"This is definitely… a nine-tailed fox…" Hao Baiyun muttered under his breath.
Lan Tian, Zheng Jian, Zi Chen and Jin Chulin froze. Although they have already expected it, it still can't compare when they heard Hao Baiyun confirmed it.
Then, suddenly, they heard Yi Bing spoke. "Huo Ling." he called as he stood behind Huo Ling.
Huo Ling froze and his eyes widened when he heard the familiar voice. He sharply turned and saw Yi Bing's cold but very handsome visage, exuding a rich maturity. "Yi Bing?!" he exclaimed in shock. But, there was a trace of joy in his voice.
Yi Bing's lips curled up, very pleased at Huo Ling's reaction. Although he was also shocked, his joy overpowers it. "So, your task is actually here." He said as he stared at Huo Ling's face. His gaze is burning like that of a starving man in a desert.
Xiao Hualing. "…" hello? I am still here! She thought, but she decided to suppress her presence as much as she could to not disturb these two. "Hm? Who are they?" she asked when she saw the stunned expressions of Hao Baiyun, his children, and his subordinates.
"Oh. Right." Yi Bing muttered when he finally remembered them. He unwillingly retracted his gaze from Huo Ling's face.
Huo Ling turned. "Eh? Hao Baiyun…" he muttered in surprise.
As soon as Hao Baiyun saw that face, he was astonished. Not because of Huo Ling's handsomeness, but because of something else. He felt that he is familiar… extremely and achingly familiar… for some reason, his eyes turned red due to tears.
Yi Bing's expression changed. But, he didn't say anything since he wanted to know to which extent this word can overrule the rules of their world on them, grim reapers. Meanwhile, Lan Tian, Zheng Jian, Zi Chen and Jin Chulin, as well as Tian Tian and Tang Tang, were puzzled about Hao Baiyun;s reaction. Xiao Hualing, too, feels intrigued.
"… you are?" Hao Baiyun asked as he stared at Huo Ling's face, trying to figure out where he has seen him. He is sure that he knows him from somewhere! Just that, he forgot… but for him to forget… it is impossible, especially since he feels that Huo Ling is someone important to him!
"Eh? Uh…" Huo Ling muttered and glanced at Yi Bing. "I have heard of you." He smiled. "I am Huo Ling." he said.
"'Huo Ling'…" Hao Baiyun muttered in a daze. This name… where has he heard of his name?
"Boss…" Zi Chen called, trying to pull Hao Baiyun back from his thoughts.
Hao Baiyun blinked. "… sorry." He apologized. "I am Hao Baiyun." He spoke. Then, he glanced at Xiao Hualing who rose from her seat with elegance and she politely smiled.
"I am Xiao Hualing." She said.
"You two…" Lan Tian spoke and glanced at Hao Baiyun. Seeing that the other didn't stop him from speaking, he continued. "You are a fox yao and a flower spirit, right?" he asked.
Huo Ling was surprised. "You know?" he said and glanced at Yi Bing.
"Ah, yes. We are also yao." Zheng Jian said.
"You… Mr. Bigshot… ehem." Jin Chulin nervously called.
Finally, Yi Bing spoke. "Just call me 'Yi Bing'." He said. "Huo Ling and Xiao Hualing are my friends." He told them.
Lan Tian, Zheng Jian, Zi Chen and Jin Chulin immediately fell into a daze. "…" 'friends'? Then… they are from the Stable World, too?! They thought and looked at Huo Ling and Xiao Hualing in shock. But – they thought as their brows knotted.
"He… is a fox yao like me…" Hao Baiyun said as he stared at Huo Ling who was puzzled by his reaction. "And also her." He added as he glanced at Xiao Hualing who almost turned into a background. "But, you are not." He looked at Yi Bing.
"… special circumstances." Yi Bing just said.
…
"Cake! Cake!" Tang Tang excitedly exclaimed after the cake they ordered was served.
Tian Tian, already a youth, is silently observing the adults. Lan Tian, Zheng Jian, Zi Chen and Jin Chulin were outside.
"Is it delicious?" Xiao Hualing asked Tang Tang after the other took a bite.
Tang Tang cutely nodded. "Delicious!" he answered.
"Then, I will also try some." Xiao Hualing said.
It was Huo Ling who ordered the cake, but due to him feeling distracted by Hao Baiyun's expression, he is silent as they shared a table. However, Yi Bing sliced a piece of cake for him and placed it on his plate, so he was forced to eat.
"What do you mean by 'special circumstances'?" Hao Baiyun finally asked after he calmed down.
Xiao Hualing silently listened.
"There are many things that are deemed as a special circumstance in our world." Yi Bing slowly said as he poured Huo Ling's cup coffee. "But, I know what you wanted to ask." He straightforwardly said.
Hao Baiyun's expression turned serious as he stared at Yi Bing.
"Huo Ling indeed is a member of your fox clan." Yi Bing said.
Huo Ling was stunned. So, am I a fox or a human?! He thought with widened eyes.
Xiao Hualing: that's your point?!
Hao Baiyun froze and his heart skipped a beat. "But… I…" he said and clenched his fists as he stared at Huo Ling.
Yi Bing was annoyed with Hao Baiyun staring at Huo Ling. "The 'special circumstance'… isn't it already obvious? You can already guess, right?" he asked in an irritated tone. "Huo Ling has once lived in this world." He said.
Huo Ling's and Xiao Hualing's jaws dropped.
Hao Baiyun was stunned and he looked at Huo Ling in disbelief. "Then… he… he…" he said. His pupils are shaking as he tried to calm himself.
"Director Hao. Where could Huo Ling come from since there is only one fox clan?" Yi Bing frowned. "Of course, he is your family member." He told him.
Hao Baiyun sharply inhaled.
Tian Tian's eyes widened. "He… is my uncle?" he asked as he looked at Huo Ling.
Tang Tang raised his head. "Uncle…?" he muttered.
"As for why you can't remember, it is because Huo Ling has become a grim reaper, thus his existence has been erased." Yi Bing continued. "In any world that he once lived in." he said.
Huo Ling's face turned serious as he stared at Yi Bing while Xiao Hualing froze in her seat. "…" will I be silenced after I heard all these? She thought and coldly sweated.
Hao Baiyun's body shook as he used all of his power to suppress his emotions. "Then… he – " he looked at Huo Ling as his tears fell from his eyes. "… you should be aunt Hao Ning's son…" he said. "You are my cousin." He said and choked back a sob. "All these years, I am wondering why aunt Hao Ning has never had any children. We all thought that she died somewhere in this world since she never came back…" he said.
"Daddy… don't cry…" Tang Tang pulled Hao Baiyun's sleeve when he saw him crying.
"Tang Tang, shh!" Tian Tian pulled his younger brother towards him so that they won't disturb the adults. "Uncle…" he called as he looked at Huo Ling.
Huo Ling forced a smile while he clenched his fists under the table. "I… sorry. I also don't remember." He said.
Xiao Hualing looked at Huo Ling, then Yi Bing. She then lowered her head. Damn… I will really be silenced after this! She thought and inwardly cried. Why do I have to hear these things?! She wanted to go back to the Stable World. She wants to quit! She can't do this anymore! Wu! She will definitely be silenced! She looked at Huo Ling and Yi Bing as she cried in her heart.
Obviously, there is a tense atmosphere between Huo Ling and Yi Bing!
"You are right. He is Hao Ning's son." Yi Bing answered Hao Baiyun's question. "He has lived in the Caribbean with his father. Do you remember Harry Walter?" he asked.
"Harry Walter…" Hao Baiyun muttered. "Yes. But, the Walter family was no more since ten years ago." He said.
"En. Harry Walter is Huo Ling's biological father, but the one who sired Huo Ling through Hao Ning is his clone, Harry Jackson." Yi Bing explained.
Xiao Hualing. "…" information overload! Stop! I don't want to hear these things!!! She inwardly screamed yet she maintained a calm expression on the surface.
Yi Bing must be deliberately doing this!
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