The elderly but still good-looking man greeted Viona, who immediately hugged him.
"Uncle Lily, why are you here?" asked Viona in surprise. Even so, Viona still hugged the burly man warmly. There was no feeling of reluctance, only the comfort of an uncle to Viona.
If you look at Black Lily's appearance decades ago and today, he is still a dashing man with a well-proportioned body.
The former international fencing athlete still looks great even though his hair has now turned white. And no one would have guessed that his heart is as soft as a woman's.
A little information about Black Lily, he used to be a cold-blooded mobster with terrible sword skills. He is also a man who likes the same gender. But that was all before he met and married Aunt Jansen.
And now, from Clover's mother's side, only Uncle Lily was left.
"Is this a welcome to me after coming to the late General Roestam's headquarters for so long?"
"And you, Shine. Why are you just standing there? Is there something wrong with my appearance?"
Shine just smiled in response.
"Geez, you rude kids. It's been a long time since we've seen each other, and you're making me grumble, that's annoying!" Uncle Lily snorted in annoyance as he gave his trademark rant, and his attitude made Viona laugh.
"Stop it, Uncle. You're nagging like Mommy. Who wouldn't laugh seeing you like this? You look very macho for an old man who likes to nag. My stomach hurts, haha. Why haven't you changed at all, Uncle?" said Viona as she burst out laughing.
[pinch]
A small but stinging pinch landed on Viona's cheek, causing her to clutch her cheek and moan in pain reflexively.
Meanwhile, Shine, who looked calm, hugged his uncle briefly and invited him to sit down, "Sit down, Uncle. I'll make some tea for you," Shine said and walked to the kitchen.
Not waiting long, Shine returned with a cup of warm green tea.
"Why did you pinch this badly, Uncle? Does it hurt?" asked Viona who was still wincing in pain.
"Clover, be quiet. Consider it a small gift for a whiny niece like you. Come on, be serious. I want to talk to Uncle Lily now," Shine nagged his sister.
"Okay. I'm serious now." Viona answered briefly and then shut up. She had also wiped away her tears and had a serious look.
"What do you want to ask, Shine? But first, let me look at you for a moment," Uncle Lily replied while watching Shine closely.
"It turns out that time has indeed passed unnoticed. I didn't expect that the child who always didn't want to be away from my Rose is now a one-star General of the army."
"The spirit of a soldier is in your blood, son... You're great, Shine."
Shine looked down with a sad smile. Uncle Lily's words were true, but all good things today were not always about happiness. A lot of sorrow, tears, and blood were sacrificed until everything was on a peaceful day.
Back in their first meeting, Shine was very young and didn't want to be separated from his mother.
Alice aka Rose, was not his biological mother, but the woman who gave birth to Clover was everything to Shine. Despite the many sorrows that came after the revelation of their mafia family's identity, and the difference in principles between Shine and the rest of his family, it did not make Shine inferior.
Neither Rose nor their mafia family forbade Shine from choosing to become a soldier who defends the country, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather.
Even though many of the elders were now dead, and Shine was living as a police officer with the rank of General, it did not make Shine lose his love and respect for his parents or his siblings who chose other paths.
That was what amazed and even moved Black Lily.
"Rose taught you many things but you grew up alone with your strength. I'm proud of you, Shine. And I hope it's like this for Clover too," Uncle Lily smiled warmly as he turned his gaze to Viona.
"Don't be exactly like me, Uncle. I don't want Clover to suffer every step of the way," Shine replied, sadly remembering their dark past.
"But I didn't expect her to give up halfway through, leaving her status as a special forces soldier and now being unemployed,"
Shine's words instantly made Viona puff out her cheeks, "Don't say that, I'm not unemployed. I'm carrying out a mission from Uncle and earning money. Are you praising or mocking, bro?" she protested.
"That's the question I asked you earlier, but you kept quiet. Uncle Lily happens to be present, so he will answer. Am I right, Uncle Lily?" Shine threw his gaze.
"Why me?"
"Because you're the one who gave her a mission that I don't know about. Even if she says it's not dirty work, but I should also know the truth, right?" Shine replied.
"So you still can't believe that I was assigned to take care of Uncle Lily's Taekwondo training studio?" Viona protested to Shine this time.
"I still don't think it makes sense that a former international fencing athlete like Uncle Lily would take up Taekwondo," Shine commented.
"I just want Clover not to be lazy about her physical training, Shine. Don't think anything more. You know she likes Taekwondo, right? Besides, your uncle invested in that place without you knowing, too."
"But since I've been caught like this, what's the point of hiding anything? Let Troy himself talk to you guys later, in case you want to bring in a young cop as a new member at Blooming Lotus,"
"But without exceptions. You are also charged, Shine," Uncle Lily explained everything casually.
Shine rubbed his face, "So it's opening a new business without any intrigue, huh?" he asked Uncle Lily.
"What intrigue? What do you think an old fart like me can do, huh? I even had to ask Samuel for a prescription to keep my bones from aching," Uncle Lily grumbled again.
"I'm sorry, Uncle. I was just keeping watch. I was worried that Clover would..."
"I'm not going to become a mobster like you're afraid of, bro," Viona quickly replied in an annoyed tone. She got up from there and walked out of her brother's study.
Shine wanted to restrain his sister, but Uncle Lily forbade, "Give her time to calm down, Shine,"
Shine sat back down next to his uncle.
"You're not wrong to ask that, I know you care and love your youngest sister very much. But the questions you're asking me just make her feel like you don't believe what she's said before,"
"Do you still not believe that your sister is not interested in other traces? She was trained to be independent and take care of herself with martial arts and weapons, just like all her siblings,"
"But as you know, Clover studied at a dormitory for businesswomen, after which she entered a military dormitory and became a special force on the border of a conflict area. Our Clover didn't touch the mafia world at all, Shine,"
"Your sister refused to even accept the money I gave her. She wants to earn her own money for a noble cause. She wants to establish an orphanage with her hard work,"
"What are you afraid of with all that? Your sister is different and special. Please understand what Clover wants,"
Like a parent, replacing the advice that should have been given by his parents, Shine listened to what Uncle Lily told him.
From there the young General understood his younger sister's noble intentions.
"Alright, Uncle. I already understand. But please forgive me for suspecting you earlier. I'll apologize to Clover too,"
"No problem, I'm not mad at you at all, son," Uncle Lily embraced Shine with a smile, "Now, I want to ask you a favor,"
"What is it?"
"Please finish Jansen's autopsy as soon as possible. I don't want the boy to stay too long in the cold room. I want to take him to his warm new home..." Uncle Lily, who had always been cheerful, now began to show a sad expression.
"Okay, Uncle. I'll try to finish Jansen's autopsy in three days," Shine promised his uncle.
***
Shine complied with his uncle's request. Jansen's body was allowed to be returned to his family for a proper burial.
This afternoon was Jansen's funeral. It was just a simple but beautiful funeral ceremony, which Uncle Lily and Viona gave to him.
Viona decided to place Jansen in the public cemetery near the flower shop where Viona was currently living. Even if she would move later, at least it was not too far from the Blooming Lotus Taekwondo training center, and Viona could visit Jansen often.
Now only Uncle Lily and Viona were left, both staring at the photo on Jansen's grave.
Viona cried even more when Uncle Lily told her that Jansen already knew he was not going to live long. Jansen's chronic heart disease has made him weak and he wants to be with Viona for the rest of his life.
Betting on living a healthy life but having to fight smoking and drinking is a difficult thing for Jansen.