Through Apocalypse

As Li Jia was being ignored and mocked by the people at the wedding, she wanted to curse and shout for the way they treated her. But she knows that it was useless, she doesn't even know anyone in the villa. The only person she knew was absent, and she wanted to scold Li Song; if she doesn't know his temperament, Li Jia will doubt that Li Song has pitted her against the couple.

Li Jia, with her blank expression and pursed lips, walked and endured all the pitying glances and ridicules that being thrown at her and found a conspicuous place on the villa. The gazebo was empty enough that no one will pass by. She took her phone from her purse and called a specific number. When the other line picks up the call after two rings, " Dad, I met the eldest of the Xun's." She gritted her teeth as she told her father.

" Did you? So did you asked them if they could meet with us after coming back?" Li Jiong asked her daughter with an ecstatic voice without noticing her daughter's tone.

"Yes, I asked, but the eldest did not agree. Xun Wei even mocked me and ridiculed me in front of his relatives." She told her dad what happens after meeting Xun Wei.

Her father, on the other line, was silent, listening to the rants and grievances of her precious daughter and hearing all the insults that her daughter experience he was mad. Livid that the Xun's dare to belittle her daughter and his Li family.

" Dad, I want Xun Wei, you need to find a way to get the eldest of the Xun for me. He even married a teen, and I can't believe that he's going to waste his time being married to someone that's not even known to our circle."

" Is he that handsome as the rumors say? "

"Yes, and I can't believe what I heard from the people here, that the fact that Xun Wei resigned from the military to marry the boy."

" I also saw some old man talking to him, and he called him Grandfather Yang. Do you know him?"

When Li Jiong heard the name Grandfather Yang, his dark bushy brows drew together. The only Yang surname he new was the old general who was a tyrant who retired years ago.

He didn't know if his guest was right or wrong; it's better to ask first before taking any actions.

"You go ask first, and it's better to investigate first. Don't do anything rash, I know you, my daughter. You have a stubborn personality, and you will do anything to get what you want. But not this time, we need to think and investigate first. You need to collect information before making any moves, or else it will lead to our Li family's downfall. Do you understand?"

Her beautiful face turns ugly, and she has no choice but to follow his father's order.

"Yes, Dad, I promised." she nodded and heard her dad "Be discreet" before disconnecting the call.

Li Jia sat down on the gazeebo and lean on the chair before directing her gaze to her surroundings. She never thought that a simple task that her father asked her to do made her experience the bitterness, jealousy, and humiliation that she never encountered before as an heir to the Li Family.

Her eyes turned red, and A tear rolled down her eyes. She promised that this is the only time that she will cry. Li Jia will make sure that Xun Wei will become hers, and she will let that boy suffer all the shame that being tossed at her.

The surrounding turned quiet as she tuned out the noise as she stared in front.

As the reception goes on, the waiters delivered the meals to their tables. The aroma of food and drinks covered all over the garden. And hearing the clinks of spoons and fork and the chattering and laughing of the guests.

The buffet table was full of meat dishes from Chicken, beef, etc. Another table with different kinds of seafood like lobsters and crabs and fish. A table full of desserts like cakes and pastries and fruits that are attractive, especially to the children. The whole buffet was colorful and mouthwatering.

Xun Wei and Huang Jin sat down on the table surrounded by their parents and Grandpa Zhou.

Ahbao was seated in between the couple, with his little suit and a bright smile on his chubby face. Huang Jin was holding Ahbao's small hands while feeding him with sweet buns.

The child laughs from time to time, from Xun Wen's teasing.

Xun Wei never imagined meeting Huang Jin and getting married. He assumed that his life would only surround the army and his family. He never thought that he would resign from the job he likes and marry a teen as old as young as his brother.

To be able to experience a life that he can read on books with zombies and powers. And creatures like dragons that were only on myths and legends.

Nevertheless, he's thankful to be able to meet Huang Jin and live the rest of his life with now his 'wife'. Xun Wei with a, please smile and gazed fondly at Huang Jin and Ahbao happily eating their food and talking with their family.

The wedding and the celebration started in the morning and lasted until night. Because some of the guests flew all the way to attend the wedding, Xun Wei called the butler to make arrangements for the guest's accommodations.

"Grandpa Yang will stay at the villa, Grandpa Zhou insisted, because he's too "old," he says. If you just saw Grandpa Yang's reaction, you will laugh." Mother Xun said to Xun Wei while trying to suppress her laughter. They were seating in the living room after sending the last guest away. Grandpa Yang and Grandpa Zhou went to rest after the day's event.

"It's better, it's tiring to travel this time, and Grandpa Yang can stay and be with us. He can also take time and get to know Ahbao." Xun Wei said to Mother Xun.

"Mom, I'm going to tell Ahbao that Huang Jin and I are going to adopt him."

"Good, I've been waiting for you to act. Don't let the poor baby suffer anymore."

"I know, we always make him feel that he has both of us as a dad. But I think for him it's not enough."

"It's a child Ahwei, he's m.a.t.u.r.e and very intelligent, he knows that we don't have any blood relation with him that's why he always feels different. Without assurance, he will only feel alone even if we are there for him. You better make sure there's an adoption doc.u.ment at least to make the baby secure that he won't be separated from you and Ahjin."

" That's why tonight I'm going to tell him. I hope in this way we can lessen his feeling of being alone." Xun Wei stood up and kissed his mother's cheek saying "Goodnight" and walk through a door beside the staircase and went inside the bedroom.

He saw Huang Jin laying down beside Ahbao reading a story while Ahbao was listening, with his little head in Huang Jin's stomach.

Seeing Xun Wei, Huang Jin smiled and continue reading to the child. Xun Wei went inside the bathroom, after a while, Huang Jin heard the sound of water from the shower.

Xun Wei appeared after taking a bath, and a large bath towel dr.a.p.ed across his shoulder. He went and change into pajamas and went beside Huang Jin. He lifted the blankets and crawled into bed feeling warm and comfortable.

Strong arms slipped around Huang Jin's waist, drawing him back against Xun Wei. Huang Jin felt the warmth of his arms around him.

Jian Bao laughed when a steady hand drags him too inside its arms. Huang Jin and Ahbao sandwiched inside Xun Wei's arms.

" Big brother Xun, I can't breathe," said the child, both his lover and child giggled while struggling from his arms.

"Dad"

The room became still after the word spoken. Huang Jin and Ahbao both turned their heads in sync and looked at Xun Wei. Huang Jin's eyes were filled with warmth and love, while the child's eyes were full of doubt. Jian bao was uncertain if what he heard was right, a trace of longing flash at those innocent eyes.

Xun Wei at that moment was sure he saw something in the child's eyes - something akin to d.e.s.i.r.e, d.e.s.i.r.e to have someone to call dad and respond to him but was never able to. A child who already experience the cruel nature of a.d.u.l.ts being selfish, especially someone who was supposed to be a parent to a child.

The circ.u.mstances made Xun Wei's heart ached. It made him feel bad, watching and seeing an eight-year-old child suffering from his own father's treatment.

Xun Wei removed his hands around Huang Jin and sat up. Xun Wei turned towards the child who was already sitting on the bed, like a student waiting for the teacher's judgment.

"Call me dad, and I know that it's too soon. But I want you to know that Huang Jin and I are here for you. You are not alone, and we are a family. Even if we don't have the same blood running in our veins, we already considered you our son."

Huang Jin smiled, his hand under his chin, he did not say anything. But he was watching the two people talking and affirming the father-son relationship.

"Before your sister died, I called her and told her that I wanted to adopt you together with Ahjin after the wedding. She wanted to wait afterward, and tell you personally. She doesn't want you to feel that she abandoned you."

"She wanted to give you the best Ahbao, but because she tends to go abroad and do her job. She can't stay and be with you all the time. So I asked her if it's possible to relinquish her title as a guardian and give it to Ajhin and me. So that we can take care of you as a father should be."

"Before meeting Ahjin, I thought I would be alone and lonely. Be forever single and do my job as a soldier, give time to my family and occasionally play with you because I can see you always playing alone and never had friends to play. I was sad watching you ignored by your father." said Xun Wei bitterly.

Jian Bao's small hands turned into a fist, and his head bowed. His eyes were stormy, and memories flashed through his head as he remembered all the things that he experiences from his father. He swallowed a lump from his throat, and tears threatened to fall down his chubby cheeks.

" Ahbao, I'm not trying to say this because to let you feel that we only sympathize with your situation.

I'm not, and Ahjin does not. We wanted to do this because you deserve to have a family even though your birth father made you feel unwanted. You deserve to be loved unconditionally.

"That's how a family should do, and I have the ability and capacity and time to be with you and Ahjin. I want you to be a child as much as possible without the pain and hurt that you may experience along the way."

"And because we love you. Do you know? Every time I hear you laugh, you make my heart shake. But in a good way, you always make my day. Even though it's not too obvious because of my face." Xun Wei smiled and confessed to the child.

Jian bao raised his head and look at Xun Wei, his brown eyes surrounded with thick lashes blink and the emotions inside it were full of grief, loneliness, pain suffering. An eight-year-old child who should not have those emotions at all. Then the child blinks again as if trying to hide all the feelings that were b.a.r.e a while ago.

The child can see the worry and concern on Xun Wei's cold red eyes. Sometimes Jian Bao felt that those eyes could see through his feelings and insecurity.