His sister had found this. A ready-made family, a child who already loved her, a home that welcomed her. After five years of being lost, or hiding, Kailani had somehow stumbled into something surprisingly wholesome.
"A family," Long Chen repeated softly. "That's... nice."
Yuyan beamed at him, clearly pleased by his response. Chen Xiao remained quiet, but his small hand had found its way back to Yuyan's, seeking comfort in the familiar presence while facing this elegant stranger who radiated an otherworldly quality that even children could sense.
"Would you like to see the drawings we made?" Yuyan offered suddenly, her natural friendliness overcoming her formal manners. "We drew pictures for Mama to help her feel better. Chen Xiao is really good at drawing!"
"Is he?" Long Chen glanced at the boy, who flushed slightly under the attention.
