Xiang Yu stood at the doorway, his stern gaze softening as he watched Lian and Mei brush their teeth and hair. The twins, with their matching pigtails and mischievous grins, were a handful, but he couldn’t help but feel a surge of affection for them. Once they were ready for bed, he guided them to their room, the soft glow of the nightlight casting a warm hue over the walls.
"Into bed, both of you," Xiang Yu commanded gently, his voice firm but kind. The twins scrambled into their beds, pulling the covers up to their chins, their eyes wide with a mix of guilt and innocence. If anyone were to walk in at that moment, they might think he was bullying them, but Xiang Yu knew better. He had to be firm. Their latest prank had gone too far.
"You shouldn’t prank him too much," Xiang Yu began, as he stood at the foot of Lian’s bed. "You turned him blue! He is an adult, and he has to go to work."
Lian and Mei exchanged guilty glances. Mei spoke up first, her voice small. "Master, we really didn’t mean to. We thought it would turn his hair blue only."
Lian nodded vigorously, pulling her quilt up higher. "When we poured it into the shampoo, we accidentally put too much."
Mei added, "Yeah, and when we heard him come upstairs, we were so scared that we ran out of there."
Xiang Yu slapped his forehead, feeling a wave of exasperation wash over him. "Next thing we knew, he was screaming and running out while calling Uncle Qing," Lian continued, her voice barely above a whisper.
The chaotic scene from that morning was something out of a comic. Han Zhan, looking like a smurf, had burst out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, his skin a shocking shade of blue. The twins had already fled to the car, hoping Han Zhan would calm down by the time they returned from school. They were right. Han Zhan had indeed calmed down. When he came back he even chased them around happily while yelling, "You like me! You two actually like me!" Who didn’t want to be liked by two adorable monsters. It was human nature.
"You need to apologise to him tomorrow," Xiang Yu said, his tone leaving no room for argument. The twins smiled, but Xiang Yu quickly added, "A real apology."
The smiles faded, and the twins bowed their heads. Xiang Yu stood up, his expression softening. "No more pranks. If you are good, I will show you fireworks soon."
Lian and Mei’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Okay, night night, Master," Lian said, her voice filled with anticipation.
"Night night," Mei echoed.
Xiang Yu smiled as he turned off the main light, leaving the nightlight on. The room was bathed in a soft glow, with galaxies and stars projected onto the ceiling. As he closed the door, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace. Despite the chaos, these moments made it all worthwhile.
He stepped out of the twins’ bedroom, the soft click of the door echoing in the quiet hallway. He took a deep breath feeling exhausted. As he turned, he suddenly bumped into Han Xin, who was standing there, his presence almost ghostly in the dim light.
Xiang Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and he took a step back, startled. "Han Xin," he breathed, trying to steady his racing heart. The guilt gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the secret he was keeping. He had been plotting an attack against the Die clan, and Han Xin had no idea.
Han Xin’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing something amiss. "What wrong?" he asked, his voice low and probing.
Xiang Yu forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Nothing, I was just um... scolding the twins," he replied, hoping to deflect the question. But Han Xin’s gaze remained fixed on him, unyielding.
In his warehouse, Xiang Yu had enough C4 to lay a megacity to waste. How had he gotten his hands on such a dangerous arsenal? It was all thanks to Old Song. When Xiang Yu had confided his plan to the old man, he had feared that Old Song would try to stop him. But to his surprise, Old Song, who had always preached caution, was so angered by the attack on the tattoo shop that he had agreed to help.
Old Song had been furious that someone had dared to attack Xiang Yu and the twins. To him, they were like family, and anyone who messed with family had to pay the price. With Old Song’s support, Xiang Yu was not only supplied with the tools but also the manpower needed for his plan. It had shocked Xiang Yu to discover that the old doctor, who owned a small clinic on a dodgy street, had such extensive connections.
"Are you secretly a mafia boss?" Xiang Yu had asked Old Song, half-jokingly.
Old Song had laughed, shaking his head. "No, but your father was not stupid. He had plans in place just for you, for your protection."
Xiang Yu had been incredibly touched by this revelation. He wished he had met this man who loved his son so much that he would plan his life around him. If only he had had a father like that in the real world. But it was just a wish, and the love Xiang Shu had for his son was not his to claim.
Han Xin noticed that Xiang Yu’s mind was elsewhere and with a quick snap of his fingers, Han Xin brought Xiang Yu back to the present. "What are you thinking?" he asked, his voice cutting through the silence.
Xiang Yu blinked, a puzzled expression crossing his face. "Huh?"
Han Xin bit his cheek lightly, finding Xiang Yu’s distracted look a little... cute. "Never mind," he said, his tone softening. "Are they sleeping?"
Xiang Yu nodded. "Yes, they are asleep."
Han Xin had overheard Xiang Yu scolding the twins earlier and had found it amusing. As they walked down the hallway, Han Xin couldn’t help but probe further. "What have you been busy with at the tattoo shop? You always leave early and come back late. If I didn’t pick you up today, you would have come late again."
Xiang Yu felt a pang of guilt. He always believed that if he lied, Han Xin would see right through him. "You know, customers and getting new stock," he said, quickening his pace.