Chapter 305 - Grandpa Rue

Chapter 305: Chapter 305 - Grandpa Rue

The old man’s bony hands began to tremble violently.

Grandpa Rue held the little glowing flower closer to his face, staring at the image hovering above its petals. His eyesight was not as good as it once was, but he did not need to see every detail.

He knew that face.

His grandson was back home.

Jian was home.

His fingers curled protectively around the stem. For so long, he had wondered where that child was, whether he was safe, whether he was even alive. There had been nights when he lay awake staring into the darkness, afraid that he might die on this unfamiliar planet without ever seeing Jian again.

And now, without warning, his face had appeared right in front of him.

A small body suddenly pressed against his side.

The little girl had run over to him, while Quangya quietly came closer and clung to his arm. Grandpa Rue looked down and found both children staring at him.

"If Brother is back..." the little girl whispered hopefully, "are we safe again?"

Grandpa Rue froze.

The joy inside him dimmed almost immediately.

Safe?

They had never truly been safe since arriving on Gia.

The first few months had been the worst. They knew nothing about this planet. They could not properly read the language, did not understand the customs, and could hardly tell which foods were safe for humans to eat. Without help, Grandpa Rue doubted they would have survived for very long.

Thankfully, the Crown Prince’s men had found them first.

They had given them food, taught them enough about Gia to survive and quietly moved them from place to place whenever there was danger.

Because the palace had been searching for them as well.

Every month or two, sometimes even sooner, they would be forced to leave whatever little home they had settled into. Grandpa Rue had learned not to unpack too much. Their belongings could fit into a few small bags now. The moment one of the Crown Prince’s men appeared and told them it was time to leave, they left.

No questions.

No delays.

He had gotten used to it.

But the children should never have needed to.

Grandpa Rue lowered his gaze to the little girl.

She was looking at him with such hope that he couldn’t bring himself to tell her that he didn’t know.

His eyes moved toward Quangya.

That child had become frighteningly good at running too. He knew exactly what to pack first whenever they had to leave. He knew not to cry or ask questions when Grandpa Rue woke him in the middle of the night. He knew to remain quiet when strangers passed nearby.

Children shouldn’t have to learn those things.

Grandpa Rue tightened his grip on the flower.

But if Jian was really back...

Maybe things had changed.

Maybe the palace was safe now.

"We can check," he murmured.

The little girl blinked. "How?"

"We can send a message."

There were only a few people on Gia whom Grandpa Rue trusted, and every single one of them belonged to the Crown Prince. Before leaving them in this remote place, one of the soldiers had made sure Grandpa Rue had a way to contact them in an emergency.

He had never used it unless absolutely necessary.

This counted.

Grandpa Rue carefully pushed himself up and walked toward the small makeshift bed in the corner. He knelt beside it and began rummaging through the belongings hidden underneath.

"Where did I put it..."

His fingers moved through folded clothes, small containers and the few things they had managed to keep through all their moves.

Finally, his hand touched something smooth and cold.

"There."

He pulled out a small transparent sphere.

The children immediately gathered around him.

Grandpa Rue rubbed his thumb across its surface several times. At first nothing happened, making his heart sink, but then a faint golden light appeared inside.

The sphere warmed in his palm.

A blurry figure slowly came into view.

Grandpa Rue recognized the armor first.

It was one of the Crown Prince’s soldiers.

The moment the soldier’s face became clear, Grandpa Rue didn’t bother with greetings.

"Jian..." His voice came out rough. "Is he back?"

The soldier paused.

Then he smiled.

"Yes."

Grandpa Rue’s breath caught.

"Your grandson is back."

For a second, Grandpa Rue couldn’t speak.

Hearing it from someone he trusted felt different from reading an announcement carried by a glowing flower.

It was real.

Jian was really here.

"It’s time you came back too, old man."

Grandpa Rue’s eyes stung.

He quickly lowered his head, pretending to adjust his grip on the sphere.

The soldier’s expression became more serious.

"But it is still risky here. Don’t travel on your own. I’ll personally inform the Crown Prince of your location. Stay where you are and don’t contact anyone else. You’ll be picked up in a few days."

Grandpa Rue nodded immediately.

"All right."

"Until then, be careful."

"I will."

The image flickered before disappearing.

Slowly, the communication crystal dimmed until the small home was once again lit only by the faint green glow coming through the walls.

Grandpa Rue remained where he was.

His fingers were still wrapped around the crystal, but his eyes had fallen to the flower resting beside him.

Jian’s face was still there.

He reached for it and carefully brought it against his chest.

His shoulders trembled.

After all these years, he was finally going to see his grandson again.

Jian had barely made it halfway back to his room when he suddenly sneezed.

"Ah—choo!"

He stopped and rubbed his nose hard, his brows furrowing. Someone had better not be talking badly about him on the very day the whole planet was supposed to be celebrating his return.

When he raised his head again, a neatly folded handkerchief was already being held in front of his face.

Jian slowly looked from the handkerchief to the man holding it.

Xing Yu had been walking quietly beside him since dinner, seemingly completely unaware of the irritation Jian had been carrying all the way from the dining hall.

Jian plucked the handkerchief out of his hand with a glare.

Xing Yu watched him wipe his nose before finally asking, "Are you cross with me?"

Jian scoffed.

"Why would I be cross with you?" He folded the handkerchief with unnecessary force. "I mean, what possible reason could I have, high and mighty General Xing?"

Xing Yu paused.

That tone alone answered his question.

Before Jian could continue walking, Xing Yu caught his hand and pulled him toward a quiet corner of the hallway.

"You are angry with me."

"You think?"

Jian slammed his fist against Xing Yu’s chest.

"You!"

Xing Yu barely moved from the hit.

"You told me Farians don’t have sex before marriage!" Jian hissed, keeping his voice low in case someone passed through the corridor. "Well, look at my brother! They’ve already done things!"

For a second, Xing Yu simply stared at him.

Then the corner of his lips slowly lifted.

Jian’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You’re smiling?"

So that was what had been bothering his little prince all through dinner.

"Patience, my prince." Xing Yu’s voice was infuriatingly calm. "All will come in good time."

"Patience my ass!"

Jian stepped closer, pointing at him furiously.

"I waited five years for you to even confess that you love me. Five years! How long do you expect me to wait to fuck you?!"

Xing Yu’s expression finally changed.

His eyes widened slightly, and Jian saw the tips of his ears turn red.

Good.

At least one of them was finally embarrassed.

Jian grabbed him by the collar.

"Come here."

"Jian—"

He dragged Xing Yu the remaining few steps toward his room, opened the door and hauled the much larger man inside with him.

The door slid shut behind them.

Only then did Jian release his collar.

He stood there breathing a little harder, still glaring at him.

Xing Yu straightened his clothes slowly.

"You do realize dragging me into your bedroom after saying something like that is dangerous."

"Dangerous for who?"

Xing Yu looked at him.

The amusement in his expression disappeared.

Jian’s confidence faltered slightly when he saw the change in his lover’s eyes.