Kang Mingyu had barely recognized T City when he had landed at the airport. It had been years since they'd left, and so, he had no attachment to it.
Even when he had gone to the Kang residence, only bad memories had filled him but once he had entered Kang Jun's home, he had felt like a load had been lifted off of him.
He wanted to stay there until they left but he knew that him and his whole family were going to a wedding.
Kang Mingyu sighed.
His time in T City had been like a blur. And so now, he barely felt an attachment to anything or anyone. Or at least that was what he believed.
After the wedding ceremony, everyone made their way to a venue for the after party.
Once there Lu AnLing had excused herself for a moment and Kang Jun had followed.
Kang Mingyu had been left with his sisters and this left Rong Xin and Rong Lihua to babysit them.
Kang Mei Xue and Lu Yuxi were quite used to parties. They had many friends in France and so they forced Lu AnLing to bring them to many things but as for Kang Mingyu and Kang Lili, they were still relatively new to such scenes. However, they had complete adverse reactions.
While Kang Mingyu was in a sort of broody mood, Kang Lili felt herself wandering from place to place, not too far away from the group. She examined the people, the decoration, the lighting... everything. It was a brand new world for her. And her little mind felt amazed. However this forced Rong Lihua to chase after her.
After a small while, Ring Lihua was finished chasing.
Picking up Kang Lili, Rong Lihua turned to Rong Xin, "I'll be taking this little one around."
Rong Xin wordlessly nodded.
Once it was just him and the kids, Rong Xin has forced them to sit at a table with him.
Kang Mei Xue and Lu Yuxi frowned at the prospect of spending the whole evening sitting so at every moment, they tried to find ways of annoying Rong Xin.
"Uncle Xin!" Kang Mei Xue called.
"What?" Rong Xin answered with slight annoyance. It was the tenth time either Kang Mei Xue or Lu Yuxi had called him.
"Shouldnt you be bringing us some—" before Kang Mei Xue was able to finish her sentence, Lu Yuxi's voice boomed.
"Grandpa Shen!" Lu Yuxi said running to Xu Shen. She wasn't able to see or meet him before this moment and she felt herself explode from happiness when she saw him. Tears even began to stream from her usually elegant face.
Xu Shen picked Lu Yuxi up in his arms and smiled softly. He held her to his heart, feeling himself at the brink of tears. "My little Xixi, it's been so long."
Hearing his voice crack, Lu Yuxi whipped her tears away.
Kang Mei Xue watched her twin in utter happiness. A part of her wanted to go join in on that too but she couldn't. This was a moment only for the two of them, and to intrude would be wrong. At least that was what Kang Mei Xue believed.
After a small chat, Xu Shen came up to Rong Xin and greatest him and everyone else at the table.
Xu Shen: "If you don't mind, can I take her around?"
Rong Xin nodded.
When Lu Yuxi was gone, Kang Mei Xue sat beside Kang Mingyu with slight sadness in her eyes.
Seeing this, Kang Mingyu took her hand and held it tightly.
It was comforting. It was warm and soft; reminiscent of many moments from their past. The two had been through a lot together. T city had been hell for them... once upon a time.
Kang Mei Xue looked at her side, towards Kang Mingyu and smiled.
She was okay now.
A moment passed with just Kang Mingyu, Kang Mei Xue and Rong Xin at the table, with random people coming to see them, every so often.
They all did the normal small talk,
"Are you Lu AnLing's kids?"
"How old are you?"
And by the end, Kang Mei Xue, who was forced to answer the questions due to Rong Xin and Kang Mingyu's way of being, felt herself wither into her chair.
Kang Mingyu patted his sisters head, but she looked up to him a frowned.
"You're on your own next time." She threatened.
Kang Mingyu shrugged. "Maybe."
As he said this, Kang Jun appeared from the distance. He was tall and handsome as ever, but in a crowd of people, he stood out very obviously. He wore a dark blue, which seemed like it was tailor made for royalty. Anyone would hold their breaths at the sight.
Maybe Lu and Tang family members who had never met him before, turned to look at him with shock, up until he walked up to Rong Xin and the table of children.
The three Kang's were completely oblivious to how the others were looking at them. Instead they were immersed in their own problems.
Kang Mingyu pinched Kang Mei Xue. Feeling this pain, Kang Mei Xue turned to Kang Mingyu to scold him but before she could she was stopped by Kang Mingyu's piercing gave.
"Go." He said gesturing to Kang Jun who spoke to Rong Xin.
Kang Mei Xue was confused for a moment but then, Kang Mingyu spike again.
"You want to go right?"
She had a small window of opportunity to get out of this table and go into the crowd of people...
Kang Mei Xue nodded.
Without wasting a beat, Kang Mei Xue got up and pulled on Kang Jun's pants. "Dad... can you take me around?"
Kang Jun paused for a second. He looked at Rong Xin who just shrugged. And then he gestured to Lu Yuxi who was being cradled by Xu Shen.
Understanding, Kang Jun held out his hand towards Kang Mei Xue.
She looked at it like it was a piece of shimmering gold and the she took it happily, showing a toothy smile.
In a matter of seconds, The two were gone.
After Kang Jun had left, many girls came up to Rong Xin with plastic smiles and disgusting intentions.
Rong Xin ignored then all
"Do you know Kang Jun?" One asked.
Rong Xin shook his head. "I'm just a babysitter."
"A male babysitter?" A girl looked disgusted.
It didn't take long for the girls to dissipate and for the two left at the table to come back to silence.
"Vultures." Rong Xin said under his breath.
He didn't intend for Kang Mingyu to hear but the boy did and he couldn't help but crack a smile.
"That's a bit rude to say." Someone suddenly said causing both Rong Xin and Kang Mingyu to turn their way.
Walking towards them was Mo Sheng.
Seeing Mo Sheng, Rong Xin was not shocked. He remembered that Lu AnLing had invited Mo Sheng on the pretence of emotional support. Though, Rong Xin knew she invited him for other reasons, he didn't know what those reasons were.
Immediately, Rong Xin and Mo Sheng began to speak to one another. Seeing this, Kang Mingyu felt a bit left out. He looked around to see if there was something interesting he could observe or if he could find Lu AnLing but his eyes landed on someone else instead.
Without meaning to, Kang Mingyu got off his chair and, he said,
"I'll be back..."
Rong Xin frowned. "Where are you going?"
Kang Mingyu pointed to one side, where Kang Zhi stood.
Rong Xin frowned more. "I don't think it's a good idea."
"Don't worry," Kang Mingyu said, "I'm not like my sisters. And I'll still be somewhere where you can watch me."
Rong Xin paused to think for a second, and then he looked towards Kang Zhi and then back to Kang Mingyu.
Rong Xin: "Fine."
With that said, Kang Mingyu left Rong Xin and Mo Sheng alone.
From where he was, Kang Zhi stood alone against the wall.
Kang Zhi, who was now permanently living in France to stay with his son and mother, had come with them to the wedding. It was important to Lu AnLing to be here, and Kang Zhi didn't want to be rude and wait for them in France. So he came.
Seeing him, Kang Mingyu made his way to him but Kang Zhi didn't notice him. Instead, Kang Zhi's eyes were focused on many happy couples in the crowd, his eyes singling out Lu Xiaoling and Tang Yian in the end.
"... Are you getting married again?" Kang Mingyu asked a bit awkwardly.
Kang Mingyu was not a child anymore. At least, in his opinion. But he still asked very pure and simple questions.
Finally realizing Kang Mingyu was there, Kang Zhi brushed his arm awkwardly.
"Probably not..." Kang Zhi said. As he did, the faces of both Anna and Qiao Lan appeared at the back of his mind. He had messed up twice and hurt two people so badly that he no longer felt he could date, let alone marry. Suddenly, he felt something warm his heart, "Instead, I'll concentrate on being here for you."
Kang Mingyu looked up to his father, but he didn't say a word.
The two stood there quietly for a second watching everyone. It was a long long stretch of silence yet, neither of them seemed bothered. This was normal.
However, suddenly, Rong Lihua appeared.
"Why are you two just standing here like bumps on a log?" Rong Lihua scolded.
Seeing his own mother, Kang Zhi just froze. He always saw her back in France. He had made the effort to be by her side even if she didn't remember they were parent and child.
There was still a level of intimacy between them but sometimes, Kang Zhi felt a bit scared. Scared that one day she would wake up and forget him once again. Sometimes that thought would creep into his mind.
Kang Zhi palled slightly.
Seeing this, Rong Lihua touched Kang Zhi's face, checking for a fever.
Kang Zhi was taken aback but he didn't move a muscle. He just looked at her.
"You know you need to rest if you're tired!" Rong Lihua's soft voice changed and became slightly shrill.
"Yes, Mother I know..." Kang Zhi said with slight exasperation.
Rong Lihua did not remember being his mother, but still, she never stopped him from calling her that.
After everything with the Kang family had been solved, Kang Zhi thought it was fine for him to relax and to act in the truth. Kang Mingyu was his son. Rong Lihua was his mother. Those were facts. And they made him happy. Even if he wasn't able to do anything for them, he wanted to do things now.
It sounded like an atonement. However, it was not. Kang Zhi has changed a bit. He just wanted their happiness because he was their family. And family wished well for other family.
Rong Lihua smiled to him. "You really do look like your father, you know?"
Hearing this, Kang Zhi's eyes widened.
"I don't quite remember many things but that man, Guangting, I visited him. He showed me pictures and such from a long time ago." Rong Lihua started.
Kang Zhi: "Are you remembering anything?"
Rong Lihua laughed bitterly. "No. I'm sorry. I couldn't even remember my sister before she died. At this point, I wish never to remember... at least to spare me from self hatred and regret."
Listening to this, Kang Zhi held his breath and nodded.
Rong Lihua: "But... I understand that I was someone before I became me... so I don't mind mending the relationships I had beforehand."
"So, you're going to be my mother, and fathers wife?" Kang Zhi asked awkwardly.
Shaking her head, Rong Lihua sighed. She then touched Lang Zhi's shoulder.
"Whether I knew it or not I was always you mother." Rong Lihua said. She then put Kang Lili down beside Kang Mingyu who had been watching the scene unfold. She then wrapped her arms lovingly around Kang Zhi, who couldn't help but reciprocate.
When she let go, Rong Lihua started deeply into her sons eyes. "You don't have to try so hard anymore."
Kang Zhi felt his whole body lighten in seconds.
"As for your father, we've spoken and we've decided to be friends. If I understand correctly, our relationship has caused pain for many people... we disregarded others and then it just created a vicious cycle. Sure, Feng Zhengyi isn't around anymore but still... everything is peaceful now and..." Rong Lihua looked down towards Kang Lili and Kang Mingyu who stood close to each other holding hands. "I don't want to change a thing."
Kang Zhi looked down to the scene himself. He smiled slightly and then said, "Yes..."
***
After staying with Kang Zhi a bit, Kang Mingyu felt himself tired and so he headed back to sit with Rong Xin and Mo Sheng. The two, this time, included him in their conversation and Mo Sheng began recounting moments from his past with Lu AnLing.
Mo Sheng smiled Kang Mingyu's way. "You know, your mom is a bit scary when she wants to be. Once a guy was about to fight with me since his girlfriend started liking me. He was going to hit me but then, your mom suddenly came and—"
"Don't ruin my reputation." Lu AnLing said as she pinched Mo Sheng's cheek until it became red.
The boy almost yelled in pain but he didn't want to make a scene and so he held back.
Lu AnLing had been walking around the venue this whole time greeting people and making some small talk.
"Just go!" Lu AnLing said, pushing the two out into the distance.
They had no choice but to abide by her demands.
Once they were gone, Lu AnLing took a seat beside Kang Mingyu and then she gave him a hug and kissed him on the forehead.
"I'm sorry, this must be so boring for you." She said.
Hearing this, Kang Mingyu shook his head. "It's fine, mom."
Hearing him say 'mom' Lu AnLing touched his nose and said, "You know you don't need to act so grown up."
"I don't." Kang Mingyu said slowly.
Lu AnLing smirked. "Oh yeah? Then call me mommy.
"M-mommy..." Kang Mingyu blushed.
Hearing this, Lu AnLing couldn't help but give him another kiss.
Lu AnLing: "Good boy!"
Lu AnLing and Kang Mingyu sat at their table in silence. They were both fairly introverted and so, they needed some time to recharge and that meant having some quiet.
The two observed people in the room, and every time people would come close to them, they would hold their breaths until the person would pass by.
They were very similar and no one would ever expect that they weren't biological mother and son.
As the time passed by, Kang Jun, Kang Mei Xue, Rong Lihua, Kang Lili and Lu Yuxi all ended up coming back to the table. They were all tired in their own right but for the most part it seemed as if they were enjoying themselves.
Now the family was just looking around.
Thinking about his day, Kang Mingyu believed that looking at Lu Xiaoling and Tang Yian get married, was just a simple event. He didn't feel a thing. He didn't quite understand the appeal of being there, and he just wished that he, his sister and his parents could quickly go back to France, in the paradise that they had created together.
However, he knew that would be selfish of him. So he didn't speak. Looking over to his family members Kang Mingyu saw that his sisters were in aww, especially Kang Lili who had never experienced being at a venue with so much people, let alone a wedding...
His eyes then glanced over to his father who wore his usual bored expression before his eyes moved to his mother who stood beside him.
Lu AnLing looked at her parents who stood alongside Xu Shen and Han Qiang. The group of four smiled and spoke amicable. This made Lu AnLing's lips tug up.
Kang Mingyu looked at his mother's features deeply. By now, he knew that Lu AnLing was not truly his mother. Well she was, but not by blood. He understood it well and it didn't bother him. He loved her, and she loved him. And seeing her smile was his greatest pleasure. She completed him in ways he didn't understand and this was a connection Kang Mingyu cherished.
Kang Mingyu's eyes could not move from his mother. It was like he was mesmerized.
Looking at her, Kang Mingyu wondered why her expression drifted as if did.
He held her hand and suddenly tugged her.
"You need to go to the washroom?" Lu AnLing asked simply.
Kang Mingyu shook his head, and then he opened his arms wide.
Seeing his action, Lu AnLing smiled once more. This time wider than before and she scooped Kang Mingyu into her arms and squeezed him.
"I love you, mom."
Lu AnLing kissed Kang Mingyu's forehead. "I love you too."
***
Once Tang Yian and Lu Xiaoling decided it was a good time, music began to play. Some people danced, some didn't but at one point, a slow song suddenly began to play.
Tang Yian and Lu Xiaoling made their way onto the dance floor and then, Xu Shen and Han Qiang and then Lu AnLing and Kang Jun followed.
Hearing and seeing this, couples were drawn to each other, naturally. Everyone partnered up and those who didn't have a partner moved to the side but they stayed close.
Lu Xia looked at Kang Liu Ran, she kissed him gently on the cheek but then, she passed him and grabbed Tang Bingyi by the hand and dragged her onto the dance floor.
Tang Bingyi looked towards Kang Liu Ran with confusion, but Kang Liu Ran was calm.
"Look after my wife!" He said simply. And that was that.
From afar, witnessing this, Lu Shuya looked at Kang Liang and then towards the door of the venue. Impatiently.
Looking at her, Kang Liang frowned.
"Is my presence not enough for you? Did you order another escort?" Kang Liang said with a face hurt voice.
Lu Shuya rolled her eyes. "Maybe I should."
Hearing this, Kang Liang grabbed Lu Shuya by the waist and then he pulled her closer to him.
"You wouldn't." He said, as his breath tickled her ear.
Lu Shuya shivered and then she turned away from him trying to hide her blush. She then pushed him away, turn away from him and frowned.
"You're unfair." Lu Shuya said.
At this moment, Lu Shuya faced the venue door. And she was just in time to see the person who she had been waiting for...
Kang Liang's Mother. Ke Da Xia.
Ke Da Xia walked through the door. Her long wavy hair cascading down her back like a true angel.
Seeing her, Kang Liang froze.
And once she turned to see him, recognizing him instantly, Ke Da Xia froze herself.
Without care, Lu Shuya dragged Kang Liang her way.
Once in front of her, Kang Liang could not stop looking at her stupidly. "H-how? Why?"
"I invited her." Lu Shuya said simply. "If I left it up to you to meet her, I think you wouldn't have met her at all."
"What happened to 'T City is a small city..'?" Kang Liang said with a frown.
"Think of this as fate." Lu Shuya said with a shrug.
Listening to them bicker, Ke Da Xia couldn't help but giggle a bit.
"You have a great relationship." She said. Her voice like a melodious song.
Lu Shuya smiled and Kang Liang looked away awkwardly.
The awkward silence between Kang Liang and Ke Da Xia, continued for a while. This caused Lu Shuya to sigh.
But hearing a slow song behind to play, Lu Shuya grabbed both of their hands and placed it on one another.
They both looked at her in confusion.
"Go!" She said as she shoved them onto the dance floor. "Go and talk."
They two stared at Lu Shuya for a moment and then to each other. It was an awkward glance but Kang Liang then squeezed his mothers hand.
"Let's dance..." he said as he began to bring her away. Before they disappeared in the crown, Kang Liang looked back at Lu Shuya and as if communicating telepathically, Lu Shuya and Kang Liang simultaneously mouthed.
"I love you."
Seeing this, Kang Liang smirked and Lu Shuya blushed.
Lu AnLing had seen the scene and she smiled to herself when this happened. Looking down at Kang Mingyu, Lu AnLing asked,
"Do you want to dance?"
Kang Mingyu looked up to his mother with big bright eyes and then she shook his head.
He had also watched the scene with Lu Shuya and despite not understanding their relation, Kang Mingyu looked at Kang Jun, who had beer staring at Lu AnLing for a while and said,
"Let's dance on the next song."
Kang Mingyu's eyes had not left Kang Jun as he said this, and so, Lu AnLing's eyes traveled towards her husband.
Seeing the way he looked at her like she was his everything, Lu AnLing smiled and said,
"Okay..."
With that said, Kang Jun put his hand in front of Lu AnLing without saying a word and she grabbed hold of it. Her fingers tightening on his.
Kang Jun then led Lu AnLing to the dance floor.
Kang Mingyu watched. And then, he suddenly realized something...
On that dance floor there was a bunch of people. Some related to one another and some not. They were all in this place. Together. And this felt like home. Simply.
Kang Mingyu smiled.
Beside him Kang Lili looked at her brother and when she saw him smile, her whole face bloomed and brightened into something beautiful and pure.
Nonchalantly, Kang Lili slipped her hand into her brothers and squeezed tight.
"I hope we come here again."
Hearing this, Kang Mingyu froze. He wasn't sure how he felt about that though for a moment, but then he smiled slightly.
"Yeah..." Kang Mingyu said.
Behind them, Kang Mei Xue and Lu Yuxi smiled wide as they went in to hug Kang Mingyu from behind.
Kang Mei Xue: "I think that's a great idea Lili!"
With all his sisters hanging off him, Kang Mingyu groaned but it was warm...
So warm.