Chapter 74 - The Trio

Was there something this omnipresent Ryuu was not aware of?

" If I had not, I wouldn't have given it to you, Angel," Ryuu said to the half furious bride who happened to be his little angel.

"And call me big brother. I'm seven years older than you Angel." Ryuu went on as he teased her. She hated calling him big brother. To her, he was just -- Ryuu. No Young master or no prince. Just her Ryuu. 

"Stop calling me an angel. Then I can think about calling you big brother." Zhenyi grumbled. Just like Long Jie, his brother loved to push her buttons.

"What do you call an angel? "Ryuu asked her.

"I'm no angel. You can call me Zhenyi." 

"Are we having this fight again?"

"No. But a little birdie told me a certain someone went missing for several hours." Ryuu asked his sister. He was terrified when he heard that she went missing for hours on the bloody mountain in the dead of night. Out of all the places on earth, she chose the peak of the mountain to get lost.  

"Wow, I never know your piece of wood is a birdie. Besides,  is there anything you don't know?" Zhenyi asked with her hands on her hips.

"Indeed. there are many things." Ryuu said suggestively.

"Did you meet Bà? or Yèyè?"

"No. Is there something I should know?" Again Ryuu said suggestively. 

Before she could answer, the door to the room opened again, and in walked a proud Xin Yichen, a smile dancing on his lips but it widened when her eyes landed on the person beside his daughter.

"Father."  Ryuu bowed as his father approached them.

Xin Yichen rolled his eyes at his son and went forward to pull him for a tight hug and patted his head as he was still seven years old Ryuu.

" I still prefer hugs to your polite greeting son. And stop calling me father,  I'm not that old to be called father. "Xin Yichen said as Zhenyi shook his head inwardly.

"But you're my father," Ryuu said respectfully.

"Aiya! Remind me why I'm arguing with you. You are not cute anymore." Xin Yichen couldn't help but throw his arms in the air as it was out of his head and glanced at his doll.

"You look beautiful, Zini ." He murmured as he took a step forward.

"Thank you, Bà." Zhenyi smiled. Why smiling was difficult in front of her father?

A bit of sadness entered his eyes as he took her in. She appeared like a goddess descended from heaven and the familiar veil was adding more to her beauty. And all of the sudden, he didn't want to give his princess to anyone. There was a tightness in his chest. 

Ryuu understood his turmoil and put a hand on his father's shoulder and smiled as if to assure him, she was there. 

Xin Yichen sighed deeply and squeezed his hand and stepped forward and embraced his daughter. "You've always been my pride Zhenyi. You and Ryuu are my two hands, I need both of you equally. Even if you're far from me, you won't stop being my daughter." 

Zhenyi didn't knew where the tears came from, but it did wet her cheek.

"Zini, you don't have to be strong always. If one day, you can't shoulder the burden anymore; let it fall. Although my shoulders are weak and aged now, I won't let anything or anyone fail my daughter."

"I know." Zhenyi hugged him tightly.

"You were always going to marry someone, Zini. Give that boy a chance daughter. A real one. He won't fail you." The conviction in his voice shook Zhenyi but she ignored it. 

Ryuu came forward and the trio hugged each other again. This was family. For this moment, they did everything that had to be done. A real family.

And now it was the time to walk her down the aisle.