Ahhh! You call these ’little injuries’?" Ren’s voice broke into a cry, tears welling up as she saw the evidence of his suffering. "Why?! How did you get ?"
"Ren, calm down," Shun urged, the warmth of her concern fluttering in his chest. "This is all part of our training. I’m actually better off than Murphy and Quan Ye. You should see them; they’re in much worse shape. Your dad took good care of me after it happened, so don’t worry too much."
"But how could you get hurt ? You’re not just training like before!" Ren exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and worry. "Shi Min said you were pushing through some intense drills!"
"Trust me, I’ll show you later. Right now, I just need a little bit of rest," Shun said, pulling Ren closer again, wanting nothing more than to bask in her presence while tuning out the world outside.
"Shun Chang!" Ren yelled again, her tone playful yet commanding, which made Shun chuckle, and he knew then that he was utterly helpless against her determination.
Reluctantly, Shun revealed more of his injuries, but the warmth of her worry wrapped around him, making the pain seem less significant in the grand scheme of things.
Come here and stay with me while I sleep. I want to rest more." Shun pulled Ren back into his arms.
Ren silently complied with Shun’s request with tears in her eyes, embracing Shun to sleep, careful not to touch his wounds again. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel·fire·net
As Ren lay beside Shun, Shun watched the way Ren’s brows furrowed with concern, and he felt a pang of guilt but also a swell of gratitude for her care. "It’s not as bad as it looks, I promise," Shun whispered, closing his eyes and leaning back into the comfort of their shared moment.
After some time, when Ren finally saw Shun sleeping soundly, Ren gently peeled herself away from his embrace, her curiosity overpowering her urge to stay close and prepared to look for her mother and brother. She wanted answers, especially since her mind was racing with questions about his injuries and the training he’d endured.
In the quiet of the house, Ren found Mushu, who was stirring from his post, a goofy grin spreading across his face. "Mushu, where are Mom and Shi Min?" Ren asked.
"Good morning, Young Miss. They are in the study." Mushu replied.
"Thanks, Mushu. And good morning to you, too," Ren replied, her expression shifting towards urgency as she made her way to her mother’s study, failing to knock before entering.
Inside, Ling Li and Shi Min looked up in surprise. Desks piled high with papers, and the scent of fresh tea lingered in the air, a curious contrast to the tension hanging in the room.
"Mom! Shi Min! Why is Shun severely injured?" Ren’s voice pierced through the serenity, terror, and worry evident in her teary eyes.
Ling Li exchanged a concerned glance with Shi Min before kneeling to meet Ren’s gaze. "Ren, sit down. We need to talk about this," she said, her tone gentle but firm.
"Mom, you need to tell me what happened! This isn’t some random injury!" Ren’s voice trembled, a mixture of fear and disbelief forming a knot in her stomach.
"Ren, we have not been able to discuss this with you, but now is the right time for you to know. "Shun was given a critical mission by Otako, and you need to be ready yourself."
"Shun needs to train harder than the rest of them. You have to be prepared for what lies ahead. We cannot defy Otako. You have to be prepared for what lies ahead, Ren, to be beside Shun in the future when he takes over the Chinese government." Ling Li explained the mission to Ren, her voice steadying her daughter.
Ren’s heart raced as her mother’s words echoed in her mind. "When did they even meet Otako? And when are they leaving for the Amazon?" The questions spilled like water from a broken dam.
"They met Otako before the training began," Ling Li replied softly, her gaze unwavering. "They’ll leave in less than two weeks for the Amazon."
Ren knew she couldn’t change the events and needed to accept that these were facts she needed to face. But the information she just heard is too much to take all at once.
A sense of helplessness washed over Ren. The reality settled like a stone in her stomach. The world was shifting beneath her feet, and all she could think about was Shun. "Why? Why Shun?" Ren murmured, the disbelief making her voice falter.
Ling Li reached out and held Ren’s hands, grounding her in the face of this daunting truth. "You need to understand this is bigger than us. Shun has a role to play, and so do you."
The air in the dimly lit room buzzed with tension, punctuated by Shi Min’s unsettling revelation. "The Chinese President’s son is also named Shun Chang," he began, his voice low and serious. "This makes it a lot easier when we capture the President’s son and swap their identities. He is well hidden, and no one knows his real identity."
Ren’s heart raced, each beat echoing in her ears like a war drum. The gravity of Shi Min’s words settled heavily on her shoulders. ’So, this is inevitable, and Shun will truly take over the Chinese government as the Chinese President’s son.’ Images of Shun flooded her mind, his earnest smile and fierce determination etched against the backdrop of an uncertain future. Doubt twisted in Ren’s stomach like a coiling serpent.
"Ren, are you alright?" Ling Li’s voice cut through Ren’s swirling thoughts, concerned and maternal. The warmth of her presence was a tether in the storm.
"Mom, what should I do? I am not as strong as you," Ren replied, her voice thick with emotion. Desperation clung to her words as tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision.
Ling Li leaned closer, her gaze steady and reassuring.
"You love Shun very much. I’ve seen how powerful and capable he is. You need to have trust in him. Being with Shun will make you firm and stable. We are all here for both of you. While Shun is in training, focus on your training as well." Ling Li’s words were a lifeline, pulling Ren from the depths of self-doubt.