The kid floated, Just—rose up Like something had him by the forehead, lifting him slowly. There was this soft blue glow, shining from a weird mark on his head, right between his eyebrows. It didn't feel violent or dramatic. It was slow and gentle, Like... like something was being careful with him.
Then he came back down, just as slow and landed on the bed like a feather.
Li Shen froze, and his mouth hung open. His eyes looked like they'd seen a ghost.
Meiyin stepped back so fast she bumped into the table.
Xun? He yawned. Scratched his stomach like it was the most boring thing in the world.
Then Xinyin walked in from the kitchen, holding a ladle, humming something dumb. "Mom, Dad, soup's ready—"
He stopped looking at the baby still glowing. That mark on his forehead, still faintly lit.
Xinyin blinked and her expression shifted like a light switched on inside her.
"Xun... did you see that?" His voice cracked a little. "We got a new brother?"
Xun just mumbled, "Dream. This's just another dream, I'm going back to bed."
"You're such a moron," Xinyin said, staring at him like he'd lost his mind. "You really think you're asleep right now?"
Xun rubbed his eyes. "I hope so."
Xinyin laughed under his breath, a little shaky. Then he walked over to the bed.
Meiyin who didn't like the kid earlier, went close to the bed, her hands reaching where he was. She picked the baby up slow. No words, Just quiet arms, holding him like she was meant to. She didn't look at anyone, Just walked to the dining table because it was time to eat.
"Xinyin," she called out, "bring the soup."
He didn't say anything. She just nodded, like this was real now. And she ran back to the kitchen, grabbed the pot, and came back fast.
As he set it down, his eyes never left the baby.
"Cute," he said softly. "Kinda handsome too. Better looking than Xun, anyway. And I know you won't be stupid as he is."
Xun squinted. "Watch your damn mouth."
But then she snorted, got up and walked over to the baby and Kissed on the cheek.
They started eating, nobody talked at first. Just the clink of spoons and breathing.
Then Meiyin said, "What do we name him?"
Li Shen scratched behind his ear. "Ling Tian? Or uh… Little Li Shen?"
Meiyin just stared at him and nodded.
Xinyin perked up. "Mu Chen?"
Everyone stopped. It just... felt right.
Li Shen nodded and Meiyin smiled a little. "Yeah, Mu Chen's good."
Xun didn't say a word. He just tapped his spoon on the table. Over and over, and its getting louder. Tap. Tap. Tap.
"I hate this kid," he muttered. "I don't need another brother. I got Xinyin."
Xinyin rolled his eyes, grabbed an empty bottle off the table, and smacked Xun over the head. "Shut up."
Xun jumped to his feet, grabbed the bottle, and chased him around the table.
They both shouted and screamed like little kids in a cartoon.
Li Shen and Meiyin just laughed. That kind of exhausted laugh you don't even plan.
The baby—Mu Chen—sat there in Meiyin's lap. Just... staring at them and watching everything with wide eyes.
Li Shen leaned over, tried to get close to Meiyin.
They looked at each other. Their faces drew closer and barely an inch apart.
Mu Chen still confused of how Li Shen has postured his lips.
Then Mu Chen reached up and slapped Li Shen right on the lips.
Li Shen flinched. Meiyin burst out laughing, covered her mouth.
They sat back quick, embarrassed.
Eventually, night came. They shut the lights and Lay down. Meiyin on one side, Li Shen on the other while Mu Chen in between.
The room got quiet.
But Mu Chen twitched in his sleep.
His dream wasn't peaceful.
He saw a city where people smiling, holding hands and eating together.
Then the sky opens where a huge fireball fell to the land that destroyed everything.
Everything burned.
He saw himself, just a baby, and two faces blurred beside him. They made a shell and threw him in a portal. Then the shell fell in a cave where ice were, and his eyes closed.
He woke up quickly and screamed loudly in the night.
Everyone eyes opened as they heard the scream.
Meiyin shot up, breathing hard. "Li! Wake up! Something's wrong—he's screaming!"
Li Shen groaned. "What time is it—?"
"Just listen!"
The baby's scream didn't stop.
The door flew open and Xinyin rushed in. "What's happening?!"
"We don't know," Meiyin said, picking Mu Chen up. "He just started wailing."
"You feed him?"
"There's nothing in the damn fridge."
"I will check um again."
Xinyin ran towards the kitchen and open the fridge. It was Empty, Then—he spotted a bottle of milk, hidden in the back.
"Got something!"
He ran back, breathing hard and gave it to Meiyin.
She stuck it in Mu Chen's mouth. He grabbed it own his own. Chugged like a wild animal. Then dropped the bottle, and rolled over the bed and sleep.
Everyone sighed.
Three minutes later—he screamed again.
Then again. Four total.
Xun came out of his room with a pillow over his head. "You little demon," he growled. "Shut up already."
By sunrise, they looked like zombies.
Li Shen leaned on the doorframe, eyes red as he didn't have enough sleep. Meiyin sat on the couch with cold tea. Xinyin curled up on the floor, whispering nonsense in his sleep.
Xun came out, dressed for school. Shirt wrinkled, and hair messy. He gave Mu Chen a dirty look.
"Screw it…" then he walked away to school.
"Xinyin aren't You going to school?" Li Shen asked.
Xinyin yawned. "I'll stay and l take care of my little brother."
"Fine," Meiyin said. "Lock the doors."
They left, slow and tired.
Xinyin sat on the floor, holding Mu Chen, wrapped in a towel.
Morning light spilled in Warm and quiet.
"Little cutie," she whispered, poking his cheek. "I'm Xinyin. You're Mu Chen. We're stuck together now."
He stared at her, no blink, Like he got it.
"Are you getting this?" she asked, giggling.
She picked him up. Held him close and Start spinning in a lazy circle.
Outside, the air blew hard, that made leaves fell of trees, and birds flew off the wires.
A portal opened.
It shimmered as fire, and then a man stepped out.
White hair, purple eyes and Barefooted. Pale as the moon.
He looked at his hands. Like they were new.
He smiled.
"Bienvenido al mundo humano," he whispered.
(meaning welcome to the human realm.)
Then the portal closed.
He tucked his arms into his sleeves. Like a monk.
Then walked Quiet, like he knew where he was going.
Back in the house, Mu Chen's eyes narrowed.
He felt like something was coming but as a kid he ignored it, playing with his sister.