The Kings

"Honey, you should calm down." A man in his early sixty tried to calm down his anxious wife. She was giving him a headache by pacing back and forth. He took her by the shoulders to go sit down.

Yun Lan couldn't calm down even if she wanted to. Even when her husband was patting her back and pouring her a cup of warm tea. She wanted to make sure her daughter didn't feel out of place once she walks in. It has been a long time since her daughter had returned home too.

The last time her daughter returned back to Country Z was because of Tang Liang's accident. So, everything must be perfect. It must look exactly how it was before she had left.

"Mommy and daddy, I'm home!" I didn't give them a chance to stand up. I ran up to them and embraced them, with a happy smile on my face. It has always been them who visited me. This time, it's my turn to visit them.

My dad made a grunting noise, displeased I didn't call out to him first.

"Daddy, your princess has returned." I emphasized when mentioning "princess". It didn't feel cheesy coming out from my mouth. It was a nickname my dad had given me as long as I can recall.

"I don't have a heartless princess. One who never returns to visit her own dad." He pouted, crossing his arms to restrain himself from returning her hug.

"Heh, dad!" I squeezed in between my parents and hugged his arm. "I'm sorry! Super duper sorry! Please forgive his ungrateful princess."

Yun Lan frowned seeing how her husband was treating their daughter. She finally returned home, and here he is putting on air that he doesn't miss her. Earlier, it looked like she was the anxious one waiting for Anong. When it was actually her husband, who wanted everything in the house to be the same when Anong was still living with them.

"Honey, stop putting on air already," scolded Yun Lan.

"Alright, alright!" My dad patted my shoulders, meaning he had forgiven me. "Come, I made sure to have your favorite food today."

He still wanted to put on an act that he was angry at her for leaving out of the blue. But he could never really stay mad at his one and only princess. Till this day, he is still unsure why his princess had decided to leave the country. However, she now looks much happier than she was before she left. Whatever her choices are, he will always support her and welcome her back with open arms. After all, so many generations of his family only had boys. Finally, his family line has a girl! Anong was a blessing to him and his wife.

"Ahh, am I seeing things? Is it my baby sister?"

I looked up to see my second brother walking into the dining room, carrying his suit jacket with his necktie hanging loose. Seems to me, he just got back from the office.

Even though my second brother is in his thirty, he hasn't found his soulmate yet. Well, it's not like he is looking for one anyway. So yes, he is unmarried and childless. Making my parents push blind dates left and right for him. Luckily, he is really good at deflecting their marriage proposal or blind dates, unlike me.

I have a hard time denying my parents requests without feeling guilty. Seeing my second brother reminds me of Tang Liang's desperation for help.

"Mom, is there any way to stop Tang Liang's blind date? We actually have an event that day." I asked, telling them a white lie. Damn, Tang Liang better be kissing my feet for this.

Hearing the two curse words "blind date", my second brother bolted out of the dining room. It was as if he was never there, to begin with. If he hadn't made a comment earlier, I would have thought it was just my parents and me in the dining room.

It's okay, I understand you, my brother. My heart is crying out to run away as well, but my feet are planted on the ground.

"Blind date..." My mom seemed surprised to hear Tang Liang has a blind date. It was that expression at first until her mind started wondering elsewhere.

"Mom, I said Tang Liang's blind date. Tang. Liang." I made sure to mention his name twice. It was obvious she was thinking about my blind date already.

"Honey, don't tell me you're thinking of setting up a blind date for my princess? She had just returned." My dad frowned, disapproving the thought of his daughter leaving him again.

"Of course not!" Yun Lan denied, but the thought did cross her mind for a second.

Yes, thank you, dad! Save your princess from those bad men out there!

My dad put down his fork and knife, "I know you're lying about an 'event,' but since this is your first request in a long time. I will talk to Tang Wang."