When Hao Tieng stormed into the mansion, all four siblings were sitting in the living room on a single white couch, as calm as a millpond, while staring at their mother who was sitting just opposite them in a single chair. This was the scene he walked into when he entered the mansion like a crazy person thinking that Gang Zhi had gone into beserk mode but fortunately that wasn't case.
Gang Zhi was sitting at the far left side of the long white luxury couch leaning his right arm onto the armpanel, Yung Jen was just next to her elder brother with her left hand on her cheek, Quang Ho was leaning on the back pillows with his legs crossed forming a four and Yung Tang was sitting upright, with no sign that he was crying earlier.
'I expected a less calm scene.' Hao Tieng thought running his hands through his hair frustratedly. Why had he even been worried in the first place? Is it because he thought his mate acted on impulse and had killed people without thinking? Is it because he thought of his mate as a murderer? Is it because he didn't think Gang Zhi could control his pain and anger? Is it because he thought Gang Zhi would lash out and kill his mother? Is it because of what had happened with Quang Ho before or what he was told about his mate's past doings? Didn't he trust his mate? Could there be love without trust? but he was sure he loved and trusted him with all his heart.
But Gang Zhi's past still bothered him. All the things he had heard bothered him. All the people his mate had killed. What if their families came back for revenge and managed to kill Gang Zhi?. Just like Bi Yu had thought and tried to kill him. Are there more people that want to kill his mate? People that are driven with hatred and desire revenge.
What if someone manages to kill Gang Zhi? What if there's someone out there who can kill The Quadbrid? What if he/she manages to take Gang Zhi away from him?
'No,no,no! this isn't the time to dwell on saddening facts. I have to be here for Gang Zhi as he faces his mom. I have to support him.' he ran his fingers through his hair, trying to surpress the urge to cry. The feeling of losing your mate was something he didn't want to express. Never! He just wanted to live a happy and long life with Gang Zhi and their adopted children since they won't be able to bear their own.
Still, the urge to cry became more overwhelming every second that passed by and before he could stop them. His tears started flowing, they weren't as they had been. This time the tears weren't wet but we're cold. As his legs lost the energy in them and he fell to his knees, he saw the white substance that was his tears. Snow? He was crying snow!
Strong familiar arms embraced him, pulling him into a hug. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" he heard Gang Zhi's voice, which just made him cry some more.
"If *sob*you *sob* l-eave me. I'll k-i-ll you myself and t-turn your bo-dy into a*sob* popsicle" he sobbed, tightly holding unto Gang Zhi's back.
"Who gave you such ideas? I'll never leave you."
"W-hat if t-h-hey manage to k-i-ll y-y-yo-u?" he asked,this time looking straight into those almond dark eyes. "W-hat will I do when they manage to take you away from me?"
"Love, I can't be killed It's both the blessing and the curse that comes with being the Quadbrid. I'm going to be with you for the rest of your life and no one is going to take me away from you." Gang Zhi assured, placing a kiss unto Hao Tieng's forehead. "I should take you upstairs to get some rest." he said attempting to carry Hao Tieng but the lad refused.
"You need to stay here with your mother. You haven't se---" Hao Tieng said hoping Gang Zhi would listen but the immortal didn't.
Gang Zhi carried Hao Tieng and proceeded to the stairs "Love, you're my number one priority. We've already come to a decision concerning Mrs. Chen. I don't need to be here anymore." he said leaving his three siblings who were taken aback by their brother's actions towards his mate and Mrs. Chen hurt that her son didn't call her Mom like he did back then.
"Okay. Let's get this over with already." Yung Jen said, sitting upright to look her mother straight in the eyes " Our decision is th---"
"Is that Gang Zhi's mate?" Mrs. Chen asked cutting off her daughter.
"Yes. As I was saying. We----" Yung Jen started but her mother cut her off again.
"Is he the Icebreath?" Mrs. Chen asked again.
"Yes, he is. Now as I wa---" she was cut off again.
"They'll make beautiful babies. I wonder why Ju Zhai wanted to separate them." Mrs. Chen said with a genuine smile. Of all her children, the one she worried for the most was Gang Zhi. but seeing him with his mate, she knew she didn't have to worry anymore. Her son was in good hands.
"You've talked to my mother?" Yung Tang asked. Did his mother Know all along that her sister was alive?
"Yes, I did. and after what she told me, I couldn't remain silent anymore. I had to come and make sure she didn't separate Gang Zhi from his mate." Mrs. Chen answered honestly.
"Separate brother from his mate? Aunt would never do that." Yung Jen said, thinking her mother wanted to tarnish her sister's name.
"When she came to see me, she said your brother doesnt deserve to be loved. That he is a monster and all he should do is give us an heir to the Quadbrid's throne. That's why I locked her up and came back and no matter what your decision is. I'm not abandoning you again. I'll watch you from the shadows just like I've always done."
"You locked up my mother?" Yung Tang asked cautiously studying Mrs. Chen's face.
"Yes, I did and am not letting her go anytime soon. What's your decision?" Mrs. Chen answered. Yung Tang just let the woman be. It might be true that his mother didn't kill Mrs. Chen but that doesn't mean that she was a good person. So, if Mrs. Chen locked her up, she must've had a good reason to.
"We want you to stay." Yung Jen said which made Mrs. Chen open her eyes wide in disbelief. She thought they were going to tell her to go back.
"You want me to stay?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean that we forgive you. You can go back to your people whenever you want to but you have to come back and visit whenever you wish to see your children." Quang Ho said, then stood up and went to his given room for a shower. So did Yung Tang and Yung Jen, leaving a flabbergasted Mrs Chen.
"I guess you should celebrate." Mrs. Xiu said sitting in the white couch where the siblings had been sitting.
"I already am and thank you for taking care of my children."
"It's my honor plus I consider them family too. Would you like to see my wine cellar? Last time you were here, we were on royal business so we didn't get to have a drink. This time let's have a drink. We're technically family."
"I would like to see the cellar."
"Okay, let me first give the children a change of clothes." Mrs. Xiu said, remembering three of the siblings didn't have a change of clothes. "Lu Feng! Bing Wen! Lin Mie!"
"Yes, Mom." Of the three she called, only two showed up.
"Where's Bing Wen?"
"I think he went to see his father." Lu Feng answered
"Ohh ok. Lin Mie, your probably the same size as Yung Jen, go to your room and pick some clothes you've never put on before. You have alot of those and give some to Yung Jen. Lu Feng, I want to go to the upstairs closet and pick some clothes for Yung Tang and Quang Ho am sure Gang Zhi still has some of his clothes. Now Go!" after giving the orders. Lin Mie and Lu Feng went to such for clothes and the two Queens went to the cellar.