The car rolled to a stop outside a huge hotel, a far cry from the dingy little home Jian was used to. A knot twisted in his stomach as he stared at the building. Inside was the man who had caused his death in a past life, and now he was about to face him again. Dread mixed with a burning anger surged through him. How could life throw him back into this mess?
As the driver opened the door, a polished butler stepped forward to greet them. Jian watched his brother, Bian, who was playing the part of the shy little brother. Jian could see right through the act; Bian's innocent smile was nothing more than a facade. It was a game to him, one he played to manipulate everyone around him. The sight made Jian's blood boil. Bian had always been good at pretending, and it infuriated Jian to watch him act so innocent while hiding his true intentions.
Jian felt a rush of frustration but quickly pushed it aside. He had no interest in being swept into the Wen family's world, and he certainly wasn't about to let Bian drag him down with his schemes. Even if they begged him to come with them, he wouldn't. His heart belonged to his grandfather, to the cramped bunk bed in a construction site where they had made it through tough times together. That was where he needed to be, especially when the invasion hit.
The alien invasion.
Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine. This time, he was determined to keep his grandfather safe. He wanted them to share a good life for however long they had left.
Jian's mind raced with the urgency of it all. The Wen family arriving ahead of schedule was a bad sign; everything was changing, and he had to be prepared. He wouldn't let himself get caught off guard again.
As they walked into the hotel, Jian quickly pulled out his phone, fingers shaking a bit as he searched for any unusual sightings in the sky. The results flooded in, but most of it was junk—fake videos of aliens, ridiculous abduction stories, and wild conspiracy theories. His heart sank.
But then he spotted something that made him pause. A news article about a young guy who had seen something strange through his telescope. It looked like just a tiny smudge in the sky at first, but Jian leaned in, heart racing as he focused on the picture.
It was an alien ship.
The very same ship that had descended on their city before, bringing chaos and destruction.
Memories flooded back, sharp and painful. He could still picture it: the dark silhouette against the bright sky, how it seemed to glide through the air effortlessly. In seconds, the world around him had crumbled into screams and flames, a whirlwind of fear. He remembered feeling utterly helpless. This time, though, he couldn't let it happen again.
They were led into the dining room, and he couldn't help but roll his eyes at the opulence. The table was overflowing with steaming dishes, and the air was thick with mouthwatering aromas, but he wasn't impressed. None of it mattered to him. His gaze landed on a well-groomed middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table, his intense stare boring into them.
Jian studied him, recognizing the resemblance immediately. The same striking eyes he and Bian had stared back at him. This was their father. No, scratch that—Bian's father. Jian felt a surge of resentment but refused to acknowledge it. He wasn't about to greet him or even meet his gaze. What was the point? This man had nothing to do with him. He had made a silent vow to himself: if this guy did not provoke him, he was willing to even let go of the grudges from his past life.
Because right now, he had bigger problems on his mind.
The alien invasion was the real priority.
He quickly pulled up the post about the sightings on his phone. The report mentioned that the ship had been spotted in Y Province, just a six-hour drive from here. Jian's heart raced at the thought. That alien ship had to be one of the first scouts sent to check out their new world.
Time was running out. If he didn't act fast, everything he cared about could be at risk all over again.