Jian sighed deeply, finally agreeing, though his doubt-filled eyes lingered on the pair—his grandmother and her grandson—whispering to each other in glee. Something's wrong... he thought, uneasy. Why did she come along? Why go home? Did they reconcile?
He gently gripped his grandfather's frail, slender hand. "She... do we have to live together again?" His voice trembled as he asked the question. If he had to live with those vile people again, he'd rather be on the streets than in that cursed house.
His grandfather's shoulders sagged as he sighed, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "No... we'll talk about this." His voice was soft, almost broken.
Why is he crying? Jian's heart clenched. He pulled his grandfather closer, whispering, "Did Grandma threaten you, Grandpa?"
"No, child, it's not that." The old man gently patted his back, the sadness heavy in his touch. "We'll talk at home." He nudged Jian toward the door, but the sorrow between them hung in the air, thick and unspoken.
Jian bowed to his teacher before leaving, following his grandfather with the others trailing behind. At the school gate, a sleek, expensive car waited. Jian glanced at it warily, his brows furrowing.
Suddenly, a man stepped out and opened the door as if he had been waiting for them. Jian's eyes narrowed, watching his grandfather walk toward the car with slow, deliberate steps.
"Not that way..." Jian grabbed his grandfather's arm, his voice low and urgent.
The old man smiled weakly, patting his hand as if to reassure him, before continuing toward the car. Something's not right, Jian thought, walking closer. The man who opened the door was familiar—he was the same one who had chased away the thugs that had beaten him up.
"It's you." Jian managed a small smile. "Thank you for yesterday."
The man blinked, his expression confused as he looked Jian up and down. "You... weren't hurt?"
Jian froze for a second, his heart skipping a beat. Shit, my wounds... they're healed. Clearing his throat, he forced a laugh. "Oh, that... that was fake blood. My friend and I were just filming a movie. I think you thought it was real, so we kind of just ran off."
The lie tasted bitter, but he had no other choice. Even he didn't believe the ridiculous story he'd just spun.
The man raised a skeptical eyebrow but nodded. "Well, I'm glad you're safe, young master. I'm Roland, by the way. You can call me Ro if you like."
Jian blinked in confusion. "Roland... Why are you calling me young master?" He peered into the man's brown eyes, feeling a knot form in his stomach.
Roland smiled warmly. "You'll understand soon, young master. Please, get in. The master is waiting."
Jian's heart skipped a beat. The master? In that moment, everything clicked. Who this man was. Who his "master" was. The Wen family. They were finally here.
Jian's pulse raced. They're early. In my last life, they didn't show up until just before the alien invasion. Why have they come so soon?
His mind spiraled, panic settling deep in his chest. The events are changing. His heart pounded louder and louder. Does this mean the invasion will happen earlier, too? He cursed under his breath, his hands trembling slightly.
He wasn't ready. Not for that catastrophe. His archery skills were still lacking, and his fencing was below average. Fuck... What am I going to do?
His gaze flicked to his grandfather, who stared out the window, distant. The old man hadn't looked at him once after getting into the car.
Then, Bian stepped in and sat opposite him, along with her annoyingly smug grandfather. Her radiant smile was a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling in Jian's heart. She thanked Roland sweetly.
The car started moving, and for a few moments, silence reigned. But it was Bian's grandmother who broke it with her sharp voice.
"Bian, you must listen to everything they say. Be a good boy, okay? Eat well, study well when you're there." She pulled Bian close, her grip possessive. "Don't forget your grandma. Come visit me every weekend, without fail. I'll miss you so much." Then her sharp, glaring eyes landed on Jian. "And don't let that worm talk down to you. You're the best-behaved kid in the world. He's the worst. The Wen family will definitely not like him."
She gave Jian a triumphant, malicious glance.
Jian's face remained calm, but inside, anger simmered. "It would be best if they didn't like me," he said quietly.
After all, it was that family that led to my ultimate demise. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. It was the Wen family that caused my death.
How else could Bian have gained the power to capture him? The technology to steal his blood? The influence to meet with the alien race?
It was all the Wen family.
They were the true villains, the jackals dressed in sheep's clothing.
And none of them could be trusted.