Chapter Twenty-Four: We Are Family

The four of them—Nangong Yuchen, Huiyan, Lili, and Nangong Kexin—ran from the Star Emperor Tavern all the way to the entrance of the B District Motor Transport Station before finally stopping, gasping for breath. They had truly believed death was imminent, but at the last moment, Zhou Lingtian had unexpectedly changed his mind, letting them go.

The relief of surviving a disaster lingered in all their hearts, especially for Nangong Yuchen; this was already the second time he’d tasted such emotions. After a moment, as the shadow of death finally receded from their hearts, Nangong Kexin realized her little hand was still clasped in her brother’s. She immediately struggled and said, “Let go!”

“Oh! I didn’t mean to!” Nangong Yuchen apologized hurriedly. He had grabbed her hand instinctively during their flight, but now that the danger had passed, he let go at once. The lingering warmth of his sister’s delicate, slender hand faded from his palm, leaving behind a sense of loss and sadness in the aftermath of survival.

Just then, Nangong Kexin turned, pulling Huiyan and Lili along. “Let’s go!”

“But… your brother…” Lili began, her pale face still showing signs of lingering fear. Seeing Nangong Yuchen standing nearby, head bowed in sorrow, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

“You don’t… need to care about him!” Nangong Kexin shot back.

Lili, a bit annoyed, protested, “Kexin, what’s gotten into you?”

Huiyan, also unable to bear it, added, “Yes, it’s thanks to your brother that we’re able to stand here safe and sound!”

At these words, Nangong Kexin’s slender frame trembled. She retorted in anguish, “Huiyan? Lili? You…”

As she spoke, she gripped their hands even more tightly, but the two girls didn’t budge. In the end, Nangong Kexin’s expression turned desperate, and she shouted, “I don’t care! I just don’t want to see him!”

With that, she ran off alone.

“Kexin…”

“Thank you, both of you. Please go home first. I’ll catch up… with Kexin!” Nangong Yuchen, unable to rest easy with his sister running off by herself, quickly thanked the two girls before hurrying after her.

Watching the two siblings’ figures fade into the distance, Lili asked in confusion, “Huiyan, what’s going on with Kexin? She’s never like this, but when it comes to Nangong Yuchen, why is she—"

“I don’t know, maybe there’s some conflict between them.”

“I hope they can make up…” With that, the two girls finally moved, hurrying toward the station. After all, they were only sixteen or seventeen, and the day’s events had left them deeply shaken.

On another street, Nangong Kexin ran with all her might, not knowing where she was headed—only that she wanted to leave behind the figure she so despised.

But she was disappointed again. Nangong Yuchen was much faster, and soon caught up, grabbing her soft arm. “Kexin!”

“Let go of me, you bringer of disaster!” With no one else around, Nangong Kexin shed all restraint, shouting in anger.

“Let me take you home,” Nangong Yuchen refused to release her. It was already past midnight; he couldn’t leave his sister alone, not with the possibility of more danger.

Just then, a taxi passed by. Without hesitation, Nangong Yuchen picked up his struggling sister and got into the car with her.

“Where to?” the driver asked.

“District C, Brookside Gardens.”

Just as the car was about to start, Nangong Kexin struggled free from Yuchen’s arms and shouted furiously, “Nangong Yuchen! There’s no way I’ll let you into my house!”

A stab of pain went through Yuchen’s heart. How familiar the name Brookside Gardens sounded, yet...

“Don’t worry. I’m only taking you back to our home.”

“Our home?” Nangong Kexin laughed bitterly. Her face, flushed with rage, now looked almost desolate. Even her beautiful eyes were starting to redden. Hysteria edged her voice as she shouted, “It was never your home! You were never part of our family!”

She straightened and turned to the driver, screaming, “Stop! Please stop, driver—!”

“Don’t stop! Keep driving!” Nangong Yuchen, suddenly agitated, covered his sister’s mouth with his hand.

“Mmm! Mmm—!”

“Smack!” Unable to break free, Nangong Kexin’s anger peaked and she slapped Yuchen hard across the left cheek, leaving a vivid red handprint.

After the sound of the slap, all was still. Nangong Kexin fell silent, and Nangong Yuchen lowered his head, wordless.

The taxi driver saw it all in the rearview mirror and shook his head with a helpless sigh. He thought they were just a quarreling young couple.

“I… I’m only taking you back to our—your home, and then I’ll leave. Don’t worry,” Nangong Yuchen said quietly.

In the silence, Nangong Kexin felt a sudden ache in her chest, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them away, but turned her head to gaze out the window, her eyes reddened with sorrow.

“Why do you care about me?” she asked in a choked voice.

“Why?” Nangong Yuchen repeated the question to himself. Then he smiled softly, raised his head, and answered gently, “Because we’re family.”

“Family!” At those words, Nangong Kexin broke down, sobbing uncontrollably as tears poured from her eyes. She herself didn’t understand why, in front of Yuchen, she became so willful and unreasonable. The pain in her heart left her at a loss for how to treat the brother she’d always loved. She didn’t know how to convince herself otherwise.

Every time she saw his suffering, her own heart twisted as well. Deep down, she longed to comfort him, but she simply couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

At last, the car fell quiet, but only at the price of shared sorrow and grief.

Half an hour later, the taxi stopped at the entrance of Brookside Gardens. Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin got out.

Within the apartment complex, night lights illuminated the empty paths. The siblings walked in silence, one behind the other. As their home drew closer, Nangong Yuchen stopped.

Only then did he raise his head to look at his sister’s back, his voice unwavering. “Kexin, just give me a little more time.”

Nangong Kexin didn’t know why she turned around, but as her gaze met Yuchen’s determined, reddened eyes, she shuddered. His next words, solemn as an oath, broke the silence.

“I will bring Mother and Father home safe and sound.”

With that, Nangong Yuchen turned and walked out of the complex. His slender, upright figure slowly disappeared into the night.

Kexin stood in place, dazed. She didn’t know why, but deep inside, she actually believed her brother’s words.

Who knows how much time passed before, exhausted and numb, she dragged herself home. Soon, she entered a building, climbed to the fourth floor, took out her key, and opened the door.

Bang! She did not, as usual, turn on the living room light, but leaned back against the door and slowly slid to the floor.

In the darkness, the room’s furnishings could not be seen, nor could her face be made out—only the sound of sobbing echoed through the empty space.