In the heart of Imperial, while others made their way to complete their daily schedule, two men are seen entering a restaurant.
One of the men wore all black with a moto jacket and a baseball cap. The other man appeared younger as he wore a light-green trench coat with a white t-shirt and black denim.
The younger man enters the restaurant while following the man older than him by a few years. However, one can see the hesitation on his face.
He glanced around and was in awe at how luxurious the restaurant is inside.
Seeing that the customers inside looked like influential figures, he bit his lips and looked at the person in front of him.
"L… Lin Hui… are… are you sure we can eat here?"
Liu Ye nervously stutters as he follows behind Lin Hui. After being introduced to Yue Ling and Lu Tian, he left with Lin Hui to stay at the man's place.
He thought it was also better since he felt Lu Tian was too terrifying to be around.
When morning came, he learned that everyone he met worked While Lin Hui was the only one who didn't unless Yue Ling had something for him (Lin Hui) to do.
While they had breakfast, they talked about his (Liu ye) life. He was nervous at first, but trusting the people who saved him, he slowly opened up.
Their chat lasted until afternoon, and it was then when Lin Hui told him they were going out for lunch.
Coming back from his brief flashback of the morning, he stares at the luxurious restaurant in front of him. He has only taken a peek from outside and never stepped foot inside one.
However, he always told himself that he would work hard to bring his younger siblings to one day.
"C- Can I really be here…?"
He murmurs to himself. Compared to him and Lin Hui, everyone else was dressed formally while the two of them seemed out of place.
Although he spoke quietly, Lin Hui, who has good hearing, heard him loud and clear. He stops in his tracks and turns around to look at the boy.
He smiles an assuring and Pats the Liu Ye on the head.
"Of course we can eat here. This is a restaurant for eating. If they won't allow us to eat here, why open for business."
He understands Liu Ye's concern. He had the same reaction when his boss took him to a fancy restaurant for the first time.
Back then, he felt insecure about how he would look to others. However, his boss told him that it is not a person's appearance that describes them but their behavior.
He lowers his hand, and his smile widens to reveal his teeth.
"Don't worry. Just follow Big Brother's steps."
His words fell with base, and he turns away. He didn't see that his words put a tiny smile on the boy's face.
Liu Ye felt touched by Lin Hui's words, 'Big Brother.' He was the oldest of his siblings, and all the responsibilities fell onto him.
Now he knows how it feels to have an older brother.
"Good afternoon. Do you have a reservation with us?"
A woman greets Lin Hui and Liu Ye when she saw them enter. She held a warm smile and her appearance had no malice.
"No, but we would like a table for two."
Lin Hui responds with a sense of spontaneity. He and Liu Ye were led to a table by the woman.
As they sat down, he (Lin Hui) ordered for them and asked for tea.
Liu Ye watched in amazement. His wide eyes stare at Lin Hui like he was staring at his role model.
"Wow. You handled the situation like someone important."
Seeing Liu Ye's expression full of admiration, Lin Hui sat with a faint arrogant face. However, hearing the boy's following words, he almost fell from his seat.
He looks at the boy and snorts a sarcastic chuckle.
"Hey, kid, what do you mean like someone important?"
His arms cross over his c.h.e.s.t, and he raises his chin with a nudge to his eyebrows.
"I am someone important."
Liu ye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. However, seeing how serious Lin Hui looked, he decides to do neither and agrees.
"Mm. You are important to Imperial."
Hearing the sarcasm in his voice, Lin Hui lets out a laugh. He was only joking, but to see that Liu Ye can return a joke, it means he (Liu ye) has relaxed a little.
He was afraid that the boy might have been too traumatized from his (Liu Ye) time spent with Red Moon.
"I ordered everything that sounded good. Eat as much as you want."
Liu Ye's eyes widen with his mouth hanging open. When Lin Hui ordered for them, he only heard a few words. Could it be that he (Lin Hui) was also pointing at other dishes too?
But will they be able to afford everything?
He had glanced at the prices, and his eyes widen more than they already were.
How can someone afford to eat here?
Able to read the boy's thoughts, Lin Hui sighs with a shaking head.
"Kid, since I brought you here, just enjoy your lunch. let me deal with the check."
Not too long after they ordered, two waiters returned to their table with their food.
Liu Ye stares in bewilderment at the many dishes on their table. Lin Hui was not joking when he (Lin Hui) said he ordered everything that sounded good.
There were only two of them, but the food ordered was enough to feed a table of ten.
He swallows a gulp as the delicious aroma enters his nostrils. However, a wave of sadness washes inside him, and he lowers his head.
"Am I really allow to eat all this?"
He stares down at his hands on his l.a.p.
"While I'm here at this luxurious restaurant, what about my siblings? Have they even eaten since I was taken away?"
Lin Hui sighs inside at the pitiful boy sitting at the table with him. He can tell that Liu Ye has lived a tough life along with his younger siblings.
And it's natural for one to worry.
He picks up his chopsticks and picks a piece of meat. His arm stretches over the table and puts the meat on Liu Ye's bowl.
"Anyone is allowed to eat the food in front of them. It's the same for you."
He picks up more food from different dishes and places them in the boy's bowl.
"If you want to protect your siblings, eat so you can become stronger."
He stops picking up the food once Liu Ye's bowl became a mountain. He grabs a cup from the side and pours the warm tea into it.
"Once you've become stronger, no one can hurt you or those important to you."
As he set the cup of tea next to Liu Ye's bowl, a broad smile appears on his face.
"That is what the most important person to me told me."
Liu Ye lifts his head with tears in his eyes. He is genuinely thankful for being saved from Red Moon.
If he can become stronger, he will work hard and protect his siblings. He will make sure that his father can never hurt them again.
"If you don't mind me asking, who is important to you?"
Lin Hui was about to put some food in his bowl when Liu Ye's unexpected question enters his ears. He doesn't respond right away but continues to fill his bowl.
His unresponsive manner made Liu Ye embarrassed. He Aiu ye) loots away from Lin Hui and begins eating. Maybe his question was out of line.
"My boss."
Lin Hui suddenly answers in a nonchalant tone that took Liu Ye by surprise. He (Liu Ye) lifts his head but was quickly struck ed with confusion.
"Your boss?"
He mutters his thoughts aloud, and a face quickly came to his mind.
Lin Hui chuckles at how easy it was to read the boy's thoughts.
"Han Yue Ling. She is my boss."
His head slightly turns to the side, and he stares at a blank space.
"She is the most important to me because she is my savior."
'Not only her, but everyone from Fate too. They are my family.'
Of course, he spoke the remaining words in his mind. If words got out that he cares about Liu Shan and the others, they would ridicule him until the end.
As he thought to himself, he chuckles inside. He had forgotten to mention his new family. If Xu Long were here, he would no doubt get an earful.
He subconsciously glances at Liu Ye, but he quickly clears his throat, seeing the boy had a strange expression.
"Why are you staring? Hurry and eat before the food gets cold."
Liu Ye watched Lin Hui hide behind his bowl and smile.
The man in front of him may not look like it, but he can tell that Lin Hui has a good heart.
