As the afternoon welcomes Imperial, a motorcycle is seen swiftly moving through traffic.
The rider was able to manner the motorcycle like a pro as it left the heart of Imperial.
After making multiple turns and almost crossing a few red lights, the motorcycle comes to a stop.
However, unlike the luxurious area, it was first seen in, this area was the lower-income part of Imperial.
The owner of the motorcycle parks it then turns off the engine before removing his helmet.
He looks at the almost rundown building in front of him and mixed emotions rise inside him.
"So this is where you lived."
Lin Hui quietly murmured but enough for someone standing close to hear.. He sighs inside and turns his head enough to see the boy sitting behind him.
He sees that Liu ye still has his helmet on but judging by the boy's stiff posture, it was enough to know what he (Liu Ye) was thinking.
"Hey, kid."
His words fell calmly, and he looked back at the building in front of him.
"Don't be afraid."
He looks back at Liu Ye and gives the boy a reassuring smile.
"I won't let him hurt you."
Liu Ye's eyes were glued to the place he once called home. It was the place he wanted to run away from but the place he couldn't leave because of his siblings.
When he heard Lin Hui's promising words, he inhales a deep breath and steadies his pounding heart.
He takes off his helmet and gets down from the motorcycle. He would be lying if he wasn't scared, but he needs to be strong if he wants to protect his younger siblings.
Passing the helmet to Lin Hui, he walks towards the house. However, when he took a step, a loud crashing sound resonated from inside the house.
"Damn, brat! Get back here, or I'll kill you!"
An older man's voice shouts in rage, causing Lin Hui to frown while Liu ye stiffens in place. Both men never looked away from the source before seeing a little boy frantically running out towards them.
He looked 7 or 8, but he was so skinny that one could almost see his bones.
When Liu Ye saw the boy, all his senses returned, and he grabbed hold of the boy.
"Jianan!"
The little boy named Jianan struggles when he is suddenly grabbed. His movements and expression were full of horror as if the devil had caught him.
Tears poured down his little face, and he cried aloud.
"I'm sorry, father! I'm sorry! I'll listen! Please don't hit me!"
Liu Ye turned distraught at the sight of Jianan's pleading cry. He could feel his heart tighten, and the air around him became harder to breathe.
However, his hands did not loosen their grip on the boy.
He lightly shook Jianan and made the boy turn to look at him.
"Jianan, it's me. Calm down. It's me."
Jianan continued to apologize as if his life depended on it. When he heard Liu Ye's voice, he was able to calm down a little and looked up at the person who had caught him.
Once their eyes met, Jianan's teary eyes shook, and his lower jaw uncontrollably trembles before letting out a loud wail.
"Older brother!!"
He jumps into Liu Ye's embrace and hugs his older brother tightly while crying hysterically.
"What took you so long? Why didn't you come back? Why did you abandon Jie and me? WUUUU… WUUUU!"
"Damn, brat, where did you go?"
Liu Ye wanted to comfort his little brother, but a heavy and groggy voice sounded from the house before he could say anything.
He looked up in the direction Jianan had run from and saw a disheveled man stumbling towards them.
One look, and anyone can tell that the man had been drinking.
"Jianan, get behind me."
Liu Ye's entire being became alerted. He moves Jianan behind him, and despite his heart beating in fear, he holds his ground.
Why? That's because the man in front of him is their father, Liu Peng. The father, who didn't hesitate to sell his children.
Memories of all the cruel things he (their father) had done to them came rushing back causing Liu Ye's eyes to turn red. Not from tears but from all the anger that had built up inside him.
His hands curl into tight fists, and he raises his head.
"That's enough, father."
Liu Peng was drunk beyond imaginable. His vision was blurry, and he could barely manage to stand straight. However, when he heard Liu Ye's voice, a sneer curled on his face.
"Well, if it isn't my oldest."
He chuckles in a drunken manner and hiccups.
"What? You think you are a tough boy now that you're a part of Red Moon? Did those things finally make a man out of you?"
A sarcastic laugh escapes from him before he struggles a little to point at Liu Ye.
"Why are you here? Does Tao Meng know that a good-for-nothing idiot like you are here?"
Liu Ye stood in silence as he stared at the drunk man. If someone were to ask what he regrets in life, he would answer having a father like this.
However, there was nothing he could do. He never asked to have a father like this.
He inhales a deep breath that ever so slightly shakes his body. Once he was sure he was steady enough, he answered.
"I left Red Moon."
Hearing this response, Liu Peng's eyes that were barely capable of opening, shot wide awake. It was as if someone had splashed a bucket of ice-cold water on him, and he entered reality.
"Y-You… What d-did you say?"
"I said, I left Red Moon."
Liu Ye answered again without showing any fear. Before, he was always afraid of this man he called father. However, at this moment, he isn't.
Whether it was because of Lin Hui's presence or the newly found courage in him, he wasn't sure. All he knows is that he needs to protect his siblings from this demon.
Liu Peng could only stare in disbelief as Liu Ye's words repeated themselves in his head.
After what felt like an entire day had gone by, he came to his senses again. However, anger roused inside him, and his expression turned ugly.
"Who permitted you to leave? Do you wish for me to die?!"
He growled in a hostile manner and lunged at Liu Ye.
"Do you know what you have done? Now they'll come after my head!!"
His arms stretch forward with his hand opened like claws. He grabs Liu Ye by the neck and strangles him to death.
However, before touching the boy, a hand appeared from the side and grabbed his wrist.
Liu Peng grew angrier. He turns his head to see who had dared to stop him from beating his son.
"Old man, you've gone too far."
Lin Hui held the man's wrist and spoke in a calm voice. He had planned to stay quiet since this was a situation between family. However, when he saw Liu Peng lunge towards Liu Ye and Jianan, he had to intervene.
He let go of Liu Peng's wrist but didn't forget to push the man a few steps back. He then stood in front of the two boys and blocked them from their father's view.
"As a father, you should be ashamed of yourself."
His expression held no ounce of emotion, but one could sense the dangerous aura emitted from him.
"No, you aren't a father but a coward who picks on the weak."
Liu Peng was at a loss by Lin Hui's sudden appearance. He had never seen this man before, so from where did he come?
His thoughts didn't travel far when he remembered how he almost managed to strangle Liu Ye.
Just a bit more and would have been able to kill his son.
He glares with fierce eyes at Lin Hui and growls.
"Who are you? This is a family matter. You are an outsider. You have no right to interfere."
He glares at Liu Ye for bringing a stranger into their family affair.
However, within a split second of seeing the boy's face, it was suddenly blocked again by Lin Hui. His glaring eyes avert back to Lin Hui, and he points at the man.
"Get lost! If you don't leave, I'm going to call the police!"
Lin Hui scoffs in disbelief at what he heard. He looks at Liu Peng, and unable to contain himself, he lets out a laugh.
"I do apologize, but you see, I made a promise to keep this boy safe."
His laugh faded, and he crossed his arms over his chest with one side of his mouth curled up.
"But go ahead and call the police. Who do you think they'll believe? A drunk and abusive father, who
attempted to kill his son or a stranger, who witness an attempted murder."
His expression turned into coldness that made all the bones in Liu Peng's body freeze.
He (Liu Peng) opened and closed his mouth to speak in wanting to retaliate, but no sound came out.
It was as if he was a fish gasping for air on land.
"He's right."
At that very moment, an angelic voice sounds from the side, causing Liu Peng, Liu Ye, and Jianan to turn and look at the person.
However, unlike them, Lin Hui kept his eyes on Liu Peng, but a smile could be seen on his face as he knew who it was that had arrived.
"She's here."
