1327 Defender
"Take Justin to wash his face," said Xiang Weimin.
Raelle pointed at herself, "You mean me?"
"Is anyone else here?" asked Xiang Weimin in return. Raelle looked around and it was indeed only her around right now so she shook her head. "Then, of course, I'm talking to you."
"But I've never done this before," she told him.
"If you won't do it how else would you know that you can't do it?" asked Xiang Weimin. "You thought you couldn't go camping too. Didn't you survive yesterday? So, why are you so indecisive now? That's so not like to give up even before trying."
"You don't have to give me such a big lecture over such a small matter."
"Then do it. Go ahead. He is your nephew and he likes you very much too. You need to interact with him more so that you don't feel so lost when you have your own child in the future."
Raelle looked at Xiang Weimin and asked, "This is your first time being a father too. How do you know so much about taking care of a child?"
"I have been taking care of Wai since she was a baby. It might not seem like it but I practically raised her," told Xiang Weimin. "And trust me, it wasn't an easy task. Justin is comparatively a very calm person and easy to take care of."
Raelle didn't doubt his words. She had already noticed the way he actually babied Xiang Wai. Why else would she be so unrestrained at this age? It seemed like having Xiang Weimin as an elder brother was the silver lining that saved Xiang Wai.
"Justin, come with me," said Raelle and took her nephew with her to help him wash up. But actually, there was no need for anything special because Justin was already very independent at this age and he didn't want her help much.
So, Raelle didn't learn anything except for realizing that kids should be independent early on in life. Hmmm... This was something she knew from experience so she chose to stick with this idea without caring how her future munchkin would feel about this arrangement.
"Good morning, everyone!" came Hyson's voice as he stretched his body and yawned tiredly. "What's so good about this morning?" asked Raelle to him.
"I'm able to wake up and breathe in the fresh air, this blessing is enough to make this morning a good one," came Hyson's prompt response. "You're saying weird things again," said Raelle.
"I'm telling the truth," said Hyson. He went to Justin and squatted down to his eye level as he said, "You should also learn this, little one. Every day you are able to wake up and breathe is a blessing. Having good health is a blessing you should be thankful for. Don't be thankless like your little aunt. Always be thankful for every little blessing."
11:19
"I'm telling the truth," said Hyson. He went to Justin and squatted down to his eye level as he said, "You should also learn this, little one. Every day you are able to wake up and breathe is a blessing. Having good health is a blessing you should be thankful for. Don't be thankless like your little aunt. Always be thankful for every little blessing."
"Got it," replied Justin seriously.
Hyson rubbed his head, "Wow! Such a good boy you are!"
"Are you treating him as a dog?" asked Xiang Wai.
"Oh, I hear a dog barking early in the morning. So annoying!" retorted Hyson without even looking at Xiang Wai.
"I'm your elder sister," said Xiang Wai as she pulled his ear. "Talk nicely to me."
"Elder sister, good morning! How are you feeling? Did you have a good night's sleep? Did you have good dreams? Are you tired? Do you want me to bring you some water for washing up?"
Xiang Wai shuddered seeing him acting like this and pushed him away, "Don't talk to me like that. It's creeping me out."
Hyson shrugged, "See? People like you can't digest me being nice. So, just get used to me like this. Anyway, life wouldn't be so fun if we didn't butt heads every time we meet. Don't you agree?"
"I do!" said Justin.
Hyson smiled at him and said, "Even Justin agrees."
Xiang Wai sighed and went to wash up first. "Ge, what are we having for breakfast?"
"Whatever you want to eat," replied Xiang Weimin to her.
Shui Xian also woke up from their voices and came out. "You should have woke me up. I could have helped you in making breakfast."
"It's okay. You did the most work last night. Breakfast is simpler. I can handle it on my own," said Xiang Weimin. "Everyone, get ready to eat. Then we'll pack up everything and start our return journey. We have to get back home on time."
"Uncle Fai, you said we'd see fireflies," said Justin to Hyson.
"I thought we'd be able to see some fireflies but I forgot that times have changed. Fireflies are not as common as they used to be when I was young. I could find them everywhere when I was young. I even caught some and made my own glass lamp with them. It was very beautiful. But now, finding fireflies has become a luxury. I understand why people go to fireflies park now to see them. Because we can't find them outside."
"Times have changed," said Xiang Wai.
"No, you should say. Climate has changed. The human race has brought fireflies to almost extinction. It's no longer easy to even stars in the sky above your head. How could it be easy to see fireflies?"
"True," said Shui Xian. "I also had a glass lamp with fireflies inside."
"You did?" asked Hyson. "Yeah. My mom got it for me. Apparently, she caught the fireflies too so that I won't be sad anymore about losing my hamster. But I was sad seeing the fireflies caged inside that glass jar so I set them free."
"You wasted your mom's effort."
"She didn't mind," said Shui Xian. "Anyway, she said I was a kind kid. And she was happy that her son has such a good heart."
"Well, there is no doubt about that," said Hyson. "Xian Ge has the best heart here."
"That's not true," argued Shui Xian.
"No, he is right," said Xiang Weimin. "Between all of us, you have the kindest heart."
"I think Fai is not bad," said Shui Xian.
"He isn't like you," said Xiang Wai. "He seems pure but his thoughts aren't all that pure. He might have a good heart but there is still a tinge of evilness in it. You on the other hand have a genuine heart. That's why you're the easiest to get hurt too."
Shui Xian couldn't deny that. He knew what kind of a person he was. He had tried hard to change himself over the years too but it was of little effect. He still was the easiest to get hurt because of his goodness. But at least, he wasn't as blind as before to show his goodness to everyone.
"That's why, it is shocking to know how you and Raelle became a couple," added Xiang Wai. "At least, I didn't think it'd work. But you two seem to really make this mismatched pair work."
"You need to have the will to make something work. Everything can happen as long as your efforts and your belief are in place," replied Shui Xian. He would never allow anyone to question how or why everything worked so well between him and Raelle.
"Justin, I'll take you to the firefly park when I'm free the next time," promised Hyson to Justin. "This time, it was my mistake. I really didn't expect not to encounter even one firefly last night."
Justin accepted the apology readily, "It's okay. I'll wait then."
"Yes, you wait and I'll take you to see the fireflies for sure. I'll make sure you have lots of fun."
"I had a lot of fun this time too," told Justin. "Let's do it again. I wanna hear more stories."
"Just to listen to more stories, you're willing to go through so much?" asked Raelle. "Isn't it better to pull one of them to your room to tell you bedtime stories at any time?"
"But that's different," replied Justin. "I think it's more exciting when everyone is together."
"Here I thought you didn't like a crowd."
"But family is not a crowd," Justin argued and Raelle shut up.
His statement made every one of them feel warm in their hearts and they smiled heartily. "Yes, family is not a crowd. What a solid statement!" said Hyson happily. "Ellie, learn something. You're not even as good as a kid. You even found the space with me around. Even though I'm just another part of you."
Raelle gave him a look, "How are you a part of me now?"
"I have always been a part of you. You just refused to acknowledge this part of yours."
"I don't dumb parts like these."
Hyson humphed, "I was never dumb. I was always the clever between the two of us. You're the dull one and slow one and even a little disoriented one."
"You can stop there," said Shui Xian.
"Here comes the defender."
"It's my responsibility to defend and protect my wife."
"From what?" asked Hyson.
"From evil like you," answered Raelle with a blank expression.
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