"And what about Fang?", Li Jungah didn't push the man any further. She knew it would do no good to him. Moreover, he wasn't wrong on his part either. He had seen someone extremely close to him, die right in front of his eyes when he was what, merely fifteen? It took him so much time to just start talking with her and his father. For someone as reserved as Xi Yuan, there was no point forcing him into mending fences with others. He was bound to take his own time, it didn't matter how desperate they were. Li Jungah understood that very well.

"Xi Chonglin is his father, Yuan.", the woman had no choice but to change the course of their discussion, "Can't you-"

"Mom.", the man sighed, picking out the bottle of vegetable oil from the shelves, "I am not going to question any of his decisions. Even if I sort things out with Uncle, I am not going to talk to Fang about this unless he needs any advice from me.

"If there's one thing grandfather taught me more than anything, it was that relationships, grief, and setbacks are few of the most personal possessions of mankind. Fang's life should be shaped by his decisions, not his elder brother's. Right?"

"You both young men...", Li Jungah smiled at the man, helplessly, "I have no idea what I am going to do of you two."

"Just let us be.", Xi Yuan smiled back, "And tell me if you want to join me for dinner?"

"Really?", the woman tried to process her son's words, "Sure... should I help?", she asked, nervous. He was trying, to welcome her, into his little space. She could see it. More clearly than ever. Piece by piece, the man was trying to tie the broken thread of their relationship. And she didn't know if it was because someone as radiant as Rong Xinghe had walked into his life or because she and Xi Chonglin had been deemed unassociated of his Grandparents' murder incident. But whatever it was, she couldn't be more grateful for these moments with her son.

"Well, I'm almost done. It's Xinghe's favorite if you don't mind?", the man raised his brows, as he removed his apron, "Mongolian Meatball Ramen and hotpot."

"I don't mind... tonight?", Li Jungah laughed, "But my daughter-in-law needs to switch to something more nutritious, won't you agree?"

Letting out a breezy sweet laugh, Xi Yuan served two dishes for the two of them. And for the first time, in the next half-hour-long conversation with the lady, he realized how genuine and ingenuous his mother was. It really was a shame that he didn't get to know such an amazing and ambitious woman in-depth, even though he was birthed by her. But as he spoke to her, he came to the conclusion that she regretted those lost moments, those lost months, more than even he did.

"I had gotten too indulged, Yuan, into that power-hunger of your Uncle's and your Father's. Every time I look at you hold onto an award or achieve something, I feel how stupid I was to not be a part of that journey of yours. I should've been there, honey. For you. And I am sorry that I wasn't. But I want to be a part of your excursion ahead, if you'd like me to be, that is.", the woman confessed, as she stared at the bowl of Vanilla ice-cream in her hands, guilt as plain as a pikestaff in her tone.

"I would love that, mother.", Xi Yuan smiled, "Both me, and Xinghe would love that."

As a smile occurred across the woman's lips, Xi Yuan heard the sounds of hurried footsteps approaching them. And at that very instant, his instincts screamed to him, that those weren't really his 'well-wishers'.

________________

3:00 a.m., Military Chief Mansion ;

"Do not call me Uncle!", Zhi Al squinted his eyes at Little Alix, as he plopped down by her side on the floor, "I am not that old."

"Will you stop it already, Al?", Ningtao sighed, "She needs to sleep. It's already so late. And why the hell are you two lying on the cold floor?!"

Ignoring her mother, Lu Alix crossed her arms, akin to some mature saint, as she rolled over the floor and smiled at Zhi Al, "Then what should I call you?"

"Cool-bud.", Zhi Al shrugged in an obvious manner, "All my friends call me that."

"Seriously?!", Songyan rolled her eyes.

"Okay.", Lu Alix giggled, "But I have a condition."

"What?", Zhi Al rested his head against his palm, as he glanced at the littlest girl in the family.

"Will you marry me when I grow up?", the girl blinked expectantly.

"Alix, you-", Ningtao was about to reprimand the girl but Zhi Al interrupted her amid, "Sure. Sister-in-law Tao, could you inform Mian that we're breaking up? Please?"

Ningtao: "..."

________________

Meanwhile, Elite Saphire Penthouse ;

"What was that noise?", Li Jungah whispered, worried, as she followed behind Xi Yuan cautiously out of the dining room, "Did the men who attack Zixuan-"

"It's okay, Mom.", Xi Yuan replied as he pulled out a licensed revolver from under one of the wooden intersecting wall shelves, in the corridor, and checked the number of bullets in it, "I will handle it. It's Xinghe I am worried about."

"Oh, yes... That kid is still asleep outside.", the woman felt her arms shaking, "Yuan..."

"Just stay by my side. Do not leave my sight.", the man stated his tone earnest.

It had been quite some time since the intrusion, and yet, none of the attackers had reached them. Whether that was positive news or negative, it hadn't been determined still. The man was about to walk into the living room when a squeal resounded throughout the place, sending a chill down Li Jungah's spine. It wasn't feminine, thankfully. But it was loud enough to surmise that the blow was brutal, mirthless even.

The man strode in, only to find roughly ten men lying around, bleeding, dead. Over their bodies, stood the mighty Military Chief Rong Xinghe, her back facing him. As the reflection of light falling over the pool water on the other side, danced over her thin yet fit and toned body figure, in that darkness, she looked alluring and even so, wild and untamable.

The woman held no weapon. Not even a fruit knife. And despite that, they'd all been beaten to death. No wonder she was ranked as the best assassin across the continent of Asia.

"Baby... you okay?", the man questioned, anxious, as he tossed the revolver in his hand upon, one of the couches. He then stood behind her, both there bodies inches apart.

Turning around, Rong Xinghe smiled weakly as she pulled him into a comforting hug, "They disturbed my sleep.", she mumbled innocently, "So loud!"

"Some nerves they had!", the man laughed, "Come here. I'll put you to bed again."