Fatty caught Kim Kim effortlessly, spinning once before settling her on his hip. "You’ll have to fight me for the last one!" he teased, tickling her side.
"I’ll win," Kim Kim declared, puffing her cheeks.
Chin Chin approached more calmly, her eyes already locked on the dumpling boxes. "Are there shrimp ones?"
"Shrimp, crab, truffle, and even chocolate," Fatty said proudly. "I raided every kitchen from Brussels to Beijing."
Four Eyes chuckled, stepping forward to shake Fatty’s hand. "You always arrive like a festival."
Fatty winked. "And you always look like you just survived one."
Goldie gave a faint smile, his gaze briefly meeting Shi Min’s. "The perimeter’s secure. No unusual movement."
Shi Min nodded. "Good. We’ll need that vigilance."
Ling Li appeared from the side corridor, her expression softening at the sight of the reunion. She walked over, brushing a kiss across Kim Kim’s forehead and giving Chin Chin a gentle pat on the head.
"Uncle Ye brought dumplings," Chin Chin reported solemnly, as if delivering state news.
Ling Li smiled. "Then let’s eat before the next wave arrives."
Fatty clapped his hands. "To dumplings and family!"
The courtyard filled with laughter, the scent of food, and the warmth of reunion. But beneath the joy, each adult knew the truth: this was not just a gathering. A shield was forming around Lily.
And the storm was still circling.
Then came Mushu, Rockie, Pharsa, Chatty, and El Padre from Myanmar — El Capitan fresh from his diplomatic visit to Colombia, his aura calm but commanding, his steps measured like a man who carried nations in his stride. Their arrival added a final layer to the mosaic of allies now gathered at Peonies’ Castle.
The courtyard was very lively.
Peonies swayed in the breeze like dancers welcoming royalty, their petals catching the afternoon light in bursts of crimson, ivory, and gold. The air was fragrant with the scent of flowers and laughter, the atmosphere charged with reunion and purpose.
Fatty had transformed the mood hours earlier. His booming laughter still echoed through the halls, and the scent of dumplings lingered like a warm memory. He had insisted on feeding everyone — staff, guards, guests alike — until the courtyard felt less like a fortress and more like a festival.
Kim Kim and Chin Chin had claimed Fatty as their personal jungle gym, climbing over him between bites of shrimp dumplings. At the same time, Four Eyes watched with quiet amusement, occasionally flicking a dumpling from Kim Kim’s hand when she tried to sneak a seventh.
Now, with the arrival of Mushu and the rest, the courtyard brimmed with energy — joyful, protective, and quietly fierce.
Ling Li stood at the center, her heart full as she greeted each one with a bow, a touch, a word.
"You’re all here," she said, voice thick with emotion. "Thank you."
El Padre bowed deeply. "We came for Lily. But we stay for you."
Pharsa nodded, her eyes sharp. "We protect what matters."
Ling Li’s gaze drifted toward the gym in the distance, where the sound of rhythmic landings and barked commands echoed faintly. "She’s training harder than ever. And Solaris is circling."
Rockie cracked his knuckles, his grin feral. "Then let him circle. We’ll be the thorns in his orbit."
The group laughed, but beneath the humor was steel.
They weren’t just friends.
And Lily was no longer just a gymnast.
She was the flame they would shield.
Just then, the main doors opened.
Lily stepped into the courtyard, her training gear still clinging to her frame, her hair damp with sweat, her expression focused — but the moment she saw the crowd, she froze.
Shi Min waved first, followed by Shun and Ren, who held up a banner that read "Shanghai’s Star!" in glittering calligraphy. Mushu and Chatty threw confetti into the air. Pharsa offered a quiet nod. El Padre placed a hand over his heart.
Fatty broke into a run.
"LILY!" he cried, arms wide, dumpling box still in hand.
Lily blinked. "Ye — wait — what are you —"
Fatty didn’t slow. He scooped Lily up mid-sentence, spinning her in a full circle before setting her down with theatrical flair. "I brought dumplings, devotion, and a dangerously handsome smile!"
Even Kim Kim dropped her dumpling.
Lily’s face turned crimson. "Ye!"
Fatty grinned, utterly unrepentant. "You trained hard. I reward hard."
Ling Li, who was drinking tea, almost choked. "COUGH... COUGH... COUGH...”
Lily covered her face with both hands, overwhelmed by the cheekiness, the affection, the sheer absurdity of it all. But beneath the embarrassment, her heart swelled.
Before anyone could react, Chatty — who had been eating dumplings and waiting for the perfect moment — leaned forward with a dramatic gasp.
"Oh-ho-ho! Is that your new pickup line, Fatty? Because if dumplings are the reward, I’ve been emotionally training for years!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Even Four Eyes smirked, shaking his head. "You’ve been emotionally eating for years, Murphy."
Chatty placed a hand over his heart. "Exactly! Emotional stamina is underrated. Where’s my dumpling bouquet?"
Lily, still blushing from Fatty’s dramatic entrance, couldn’t help but laugh. "You’re all impossible."
Fatty winked. "But irresistibly loyal."
"You’re just envious," Fatty smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Heh! I get to snuggle with my wife every night," Chatty declared triumphantly, pulling Pharsa into his embrace, a wide grin plastered across his face.
Pharsa looked at him, her expression a mix of confusion and bemusement.
’What did I just get myself into?’ she thought, catching a glimpse of the playful chaos unfolding around her and shaking her head.
Lily’s face flushed a vibrant shade of red, reminiscent of a freshly boiled shrimp, as embarrassment washed over her.
However, she was surrounded.
By warriors. By friends. By love.
And for the first time in weeks, she felt safe.
Ling Li watched from the steps, her eyes soft. The storm was still circling. Read full story at noⅴelfire.net
But the fortress was built.
And Lily was ready to rise.
The moon hung low over Peonies’ Castle, casting silver light across the garden paths and peony petals that shimmered like silk. The laughter from dinner had faded into quiet hums and distant footsteps. Most of the guests had retired to their rooms or gathered in small clusters, sipping tea and sharing stories under the glow of lanterns.