* * *
"Do you like the air?" Clearing his throat at first, Hanlu sat next to Lan and asked. The wind in the area was pretty cold and refreshing so Lan must have liked that. Meanwhile, hearing his father's question so suddenly Lan winced a bit but later his lips shifted into a soft smile before he responded with a nod.
"It's cold when it touches my skin and I feel like I could see when I smell the grass and flowers from the air," Lan replied softly. He was slightly terrified when he first woke up with nothing but black to see but whenever he was outside, he could feel the fresh air against his skin, hear the animals, and smell nature around him. Even though his eyes weren't functioning well, with his other senses his mind could visualize everything in his surroundings.
Not saying anything, Hanlu stroked Lan's hair. He was relieved that Lan seems to be a little better than yesterday.
"Do you want to touch your horse? Daddy will help you," After relishing the view for a bit, Hanlu suddenly offered. Discovering that Lan had a gift for horseback riding, as a self-proclaimed doting father, Hanlu of course hired the professional trainer who taught them the last time to personally instruct Lan. And although Lan was too small to mount a horse, Hanlu purchased the highest breed of horse for his son and left it to be taken care of at his father's ranch. Lan will be able to ride it soon when he gets a little taller.
"Hmmm okay," Lan replied, lifting his chin and then dropping it down again as he nodded towards Hanlu.
With a faint smile Hanlu lifted Lan in his arms, Ian saw the two stood up so he followed them disregarding how Hanlu was obviously trying to escape from his question earlier.
Not long after, the family of three finally arrived at the barn where the horses were kept. Lan had a fairly good enough time before they finally decided to go back to eat some afternoon snacks. They sat on a picnic table in the middle of the garden waiting for their food. However, their snack hadn't arrived yet when his mobile phone buzzed, catching his attention. Hanlu would have ignored it if it's a business call but listening to the familiar irritating ringtone, Hanlu lamented before he fetched his device out of his pocket and excused himself moving a little further from both Lan and Ian.
"We've found him, Second Young Master," The second Hanlu accepted the call and said hello, the person on the other line quickly reported.
Hearing the report, Hanlu's eyes instantly turned sharp as he stared at an empty space. The air around him quickly became frigid as if aiming to freeze anyone who dares to come near him. Hanlu thought this man must have been putting his guard down, just because his escape was flawless doesn't mean he was never going to be located. Hanlu didn't have high hopes in finding the man on the second day of their search but glad they did, now he could finally charge the man for the things he had done to Lan. Hanlu swore he would never let this man go alive. How dare he harm his beloved son? His and Ian's offspring?
"Good, lock him up in the cellar. I'll be there quickly," Hanlu said with his unfamiliar deep and monotonic voice before he ended the call. Hanlu turned around to look at Ian and Lan's direction, he just stood there staring. When Ian noticed the Alpha, he smiled and waved, urging Hanlu to come quick. Ian was quite familiar with Hanlu's ringtones as well so he understood what the Alpha might need to do now.
"Are you okay?" Ian asked as soon as Hanlu marched back to where he and Lan were. He noticed the Alpha's sudden change of character because usually, Hanlu was like a walking ball of energy but after that phone call, he suddenly became silent. Ian wasn't used to that.
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking," Hanlu replied, this time a tender smile flashed on his lips as he kissed Ian on his forehead.
"Are you leaving now?"
"Later, I'll enjoy snack time with you and Lan," Hanlu sat with Lan in between him and Ian as he said. As much as he wants to punish the man quickly, he wouldn't sacrifice his precious time with family for that. Besides, the man is now captured and his demise will soon come to him without fail. He didn't need to hurry anymore.
"Daddy, are you leaving again?" Lan asked with a pout, hearing his parents' conversation. Recently, Hanlu had been going out often and of course, knowing that Lan was unhappy. He wanted to be with his father all the time.
"Yes Buddy, but don't worry, this time Daddy will come back early okay?"
"It's work Baby so Daddy has to go, but he'll be back before dinner time, right Daddy?" Ian interrupted before giving the Alpha a smile but somehow for Hanlu, that smile seemed like a threat.
"Ah, y-yeah... Daddy will b-be back at dinner time for sure," Hanlu smiled awkwardly in return as he stuttered. If felt like if he said he won't be able to go back, Ian would surely make his life difficult.
"Really? Then I'll be waiting for Daddy and everyone later," Lan said cheerfully. Moments later their snack finally arrived, they enjoyed a brief and peaceful time together until finally, it was time for Hanlu to go.
"Did you find the man?" Ian asked, fixing Hanlu's collar. He wanted to ask earlier but because Lan was there with them, he couldn't. Ian knew Hanlu had been searching for Lan and Luangmin's kidnapper since yesterday, although it's illegal to do it without the authority's assistance, Ian couldn't deny that Hanlu had connections that he didn't have access to when he was a police inspector.
As a person exercising the law, he wasn't also allowed to forcefully get the information that he needed for his investigation. Not all people are willing to help and thus sometimes his work was difficult. On the other hand, Hanlu could use an aggressive approach and force the information he needed without being retaliated at the end because the national government and government secret organization are supporting the Mos. In short, Hanlu and Laotian could get away with anything as long as it doesn't get out of hand where the public opinion was involved.
"Hmmm, he's locked up now," Hanlu replied. As soon as Ian heard him, his expression shifted into a cold one.
"I know I shouldn't be saying this but, please make the fucker pay, Luu," Ian said, his voice trembled in anger. Lan's wounds haven't healed yet, it might not be painful anymore but the traces of it were enough to remind Ian that his baby had suffered.
"Of course, I planned that from the beginning. He will pay for hurting our son, then I will find the man who took his sight," Hanlu replied almost instantly as he kissed Ian's forehead softly. His tone was rough and deep, it was filled with strong emotions. Ian hugged Hanlu, it rarely happens for Hanlu to show this side of him but at this moment he could fully understand the Alpha. Even him, he wanted to march where the man who hurt his son was and punish him himself.
"I'll be back at dinner time," Hanlu promised while he stroked Ian's hair as the Omega buried his face against his chest. Ian didn't reply instantly but after a few seconds, he finally let go of Hanlu before he hastily wiped his damp eyes. He was too angry that he could help but cry in frustration.
"Don't worry okay?" Hanlu cooed, figuring that his wife must have been feeling frustrated not being able to do for Lan but that wasn't true, him taking care of their son was a huge enough help at this sensitive time of the child's growth. Lan will be needing Ian's guidance the most so he can't afford to leave Lan alone in someone else's care.
"You should go with Lan now, he will need you to get through this," Hanlu added again and held Ian's cheeks. Then he lowered down to kiss his lips briefly and said their final goodbyes.
Departing from the mansion, it took 30 minutes for Hanlu to finally arrive at the hidden estate. And as soon as he stepped out of his vehicle, an assistant was waiting for him outside.
"Details," Hanlu simply said using his rarely used dominant Alpha tone that instantly made the young assistant shiver in both fear and admiration.
"H-His name is Mark Gotti. He was the CEO and co-founder of Gotti Enterprises' rising company until it declared bankruptcy 5 years ago. Behind the scenes, this man was blackmailing clients and investors to secure projects for the company. They tried to do the same with Mo Empire," The assistant started stuttering at the beginning.
Meanwhile, as Hanlu listened, he does kind of remember a man named like that before, he was one of the few people who had the guts to try and make Mo Empire his enemy. In the end, Laotian as someone who is ruthless to his enemies, Mo Empire exposed Mark Gotti and ruined his reputation. His company went bankrupt and he even went to prison for 3 years.
"He got out of prison 2 years ago and started working as a salesman in a hardware store ever since, that's where he got the equipment he used to make the bomb. Apparently, his wife and children left him causing him to hold grudges against the Second Young Master and the Eldest Young Master," the assistant continued on his report as they walked inside the building.
They were trailing the way towards the basement when Hanlu suddenly halted and saw Tian Zi with someone in one of the living rooms of the estate quickly halting the assistant from further continuing his report and looked at where Hanlu was looking as well.
Raising his brows before his forehead formed deep wrinkles, Hanlu looked at the unfamiliar visitor before finally, his lips lifted into a smirk. He walked towards the two before at last, he cleared his voice, catching their attention. The second Tian Zi heard Hanlu, his head lifted to look at his older brother.
"What?" Tian Zi griped annoyed.
"Won't you introduce me to your friend here?" Hanlu asked, looking at the small rebel-looking bunny in front of a computer. As a dominant Alpha, Hanlu could tell this bunny is an Omega. The only question in his mind was why was their Baby Zi with an Omega? This was the first time he had heard of this since all of Tian Zi's friends, for as far as Hanlu knows, are all Alphas. Compared to him and Laotian, Tian Zi was the most sensitive when it comes to pheromones, so even with a submissive Tian Zi should still be able to smell pheromones.
Hanlu observed Tian Zi's friend more before later he found it weird, he couldn't smell any pheromones from him.
Meanwhile, knowing what's on his older brother's mind, Tian Zi internally sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Fyre, this is Older Brother, Mo Hanlu. And this is Fyre Long, Remi Long's younger brother. He's also the one who accepted the job from Jordan Perrel to change Veronica Chime's personal information," Tian Zi introduced the two in monotone but he wasn't able to finish his words when Fyre suddenly kicked him on his ankle causing him to winch in pain.
"I told you I didn't accept that job, they blackmailed me so I don't have a choice dammit!" Fyre explained, his eyes glared at Tian Zi who was still crouching down to massage his injured ankle.
"Ahh, so it was you. Don't worry, all of that had been fixed," Looking at the two, Hanlu smiled even wider before he extended his hand to handshake Fyre. However, Tian Zi subconsciously pulled Fyre's hand away, preventing him from handshaking Hanlu.
He didn't know why he suddenly did that but he did, causing both Hanlu and Frye to look at him as if he had grown two heads. When he realized what he did, he quickly let go of Fyre's hand before he cleared his voice.
"Won't your wife feel upset if his scent smudges on you," Tian Zi said as a defense, unfortunately, for Hanlu who was naturally always thirsty for gossip, his smile became even wider than ever.