52 Thank You

"So how are things going?" Asked Tang Ziran as he walks aimlessly with his son. Lang Yue said she wanted to talk with Tang Wulin friends and so he was walking around with Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin didn't say anything as he was busy looking around the city. Tang Ziran smiled as he really did miss his son's cold and apathetic looks.

But strangely enough, he felt his son's presence was different than the usual coldness.

"Let's go sit down over there." Said Tang Ziran while leading Tang Wulin over to the water fountain that was in the middle of the city. Tang Wulin sat down on the edge as Tang Ziran went to go them some fried fish.

"Well isn't this nice, you guys are finally back together." Said Zeref, as he appeared next to Acnologia.

'It feels strange.' Thought Tang Wulin.

"Strange how?" Asked Zeref.

'It's like something that was lost before has just come back to me.' Thought Tang Wulin. Zeref didn't say anything as they both sat back and keenly enjoy the sounds of the water gushing out.

Tang Wulin saw his dad coming back to him with two steaming fish and he gave him one.

"Be careful it's hot." Said Tang Ziran as he sat down and begins nibbling on his fish. Tang Wulin nodded his head as he also started eating his fish.

"I'm glad you were able to find some friends. Lang Yue and I were genuinely worried that you would go through with life with no one." Said Tang Ziran.

Tang Wulin didn't say anything as he continued earnestly eating his fried fish and listening to his dad talk.

"We didn't want you to stay alone any longer. After all, nothing is worse in the world than being alone." Said Tang Ziran

Tang Wulin begins recalling those years of solitude and quiet. He didn't hate solitude because he became numb to the feeling of being alone.

He wonders if that signifies that he became broken inside when he was in Fiore or maybe he just never cared anymore.

"So, which one of them is your lovely girlfriend?" Asked Tang Ziran with an enormous smile.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes, girlfriend! Are you saying you're not dating one of them?" Asked Tang Ziran.

"I'm not."

"Are you sure you're my son?" Tang Ziran gave him a blank look, causing Tang Wulin to ignore Tang Ziran who only chuckles in return.

"I'm just joking. Still, I do hope you find yourself a girlfriend." Said Tang Ziran as he went back to his fish.

"Although I thought it would be Na'er considering how adamant, you were about her staying with us. Talk about raising your own girlfriend." Said Tang Ziran, causing Tang Wulin to look up at him with an arched brow.

"Then again, I saw how territorial that Gu Yue girl was being with you after that dogpile. But then that Xu Xiaoyan girl looks like the ideal type that would be able to make you open up more." Said Tang Ziran as he went on a rant about all the girls there.

"Or you could just take them all." Said Tang Ziran, causing Tang Wulin to give him a blank stare.

"Hahaha. I'm just kidding. Although you shouldn't tell your mother what I said, she would most likely kill me."Said Tang Ziran with a shiver and a helpless smile.

Tang Wulin could only sigh at his father's antics. Well, at least this hasn't changed about him. Yet he knew he dearly misses these moments, even if he never showed it.

"Well, I guess I can tell you about your mother and me." Said Tang Ziran.

"You and mom?"

"Yea, you see I was a bit of a playboy back in my day. Your dad would go after the most attractive girl he saw and then woo them with his devilish charm. This went on for many years until I met your mom when she was sitting down eating and I became charmed by her looks." Said Tang Ziran, with a charming smile.

"Before I could even say a word, she rolled her eyes at me and left. I was stunned, it wasn't until I found out later by some friends that Lang Yue didn't like playboys or men like me. Yet even then I kept on chasing after her, doing everything I can think of to woo her." Said Tang Ziran.

"How many times do you think I got soundly rejected?"

"Ten times?" Said Tang Wulin, causing Tang Ziran to laugh.

"One hundred twenty-six times." Said Tang Ziran with a small smile causing Tang Wulin to turn his head toward him.

Tang Ziran turned to his son and shook his head.

"That many rejections are outrageous isn't it? It would be normal to stop after the tenth one but I never gave up. In the end, I was able to gain your mother's consent and then finally her heart." Said Tang Ziran.

"Why did you keep asking her?"

"At first it was the challenge, then it became the irresistible attraction and finally love. I couldn't think about anything else other than her. In my heart, I knew I would have kept trying for eternity if meant she would even consider saying yes." Said Tang Ziran softly.

Tang Wulin didn't say anything as he begins to stare at the boisterous crowd of people passing him by.

"Hey dad, is it right for a monster to love someone?" Asked Tang Wulin.

"Is it alright for a monster to love someone? Well, that depends on the person the monster loves. After all, if the person the monster loves is willing to love them back, then nothing else matters." Said Tang Ziran.

"If I one day I become a monster... Would you still-," Said Tang Wulin.

"Without a second thought." Tang Ziran interrupted Tang Wulin before he could finish.

"Even if you become a demon, the devil, the enemy of the world, or even many other things. Lang Yue and I will always love you. We will never be ashamed for you to be our son." Said Tang Ziran.

Unbeknownst to Tang Ziran each of his words was causing Acnologia to tremble from the endless amount of warmth and comfort coming off of each word.

"Hey, dad." Said Tang Wulin as the precious memories of his family in Fiore and his family of Douluo begin to intertwine.

"Hm?'

He could see his mother and father from Fiore smiling compassionately at him, as they mouthed something familiar to him. It was the gentle words that Tang Ziran and Lang Yue always say to him for the past fifteen years.

"I love you." Said Tang Wulin as he realized it has been over four hundred years since he last uttered those words.

Tang Ziran's eyes widen in surprise and shock. He smiled and then gently pulled his beloved son into an affectionate hug.

Today was one of the most memorable days of Tang Ziran's life, equal to when he got Lang Yue to marry him.

For the first time in over fifteen years, his dear son said he loved him.

#

Lang Yue was sitting down in the park listening to her Tang Tang friends tell her about everything that has happened since he went to Eastsea Academy.

She watches attentively as everyone was laughing merrily and smiling radiantly as they told each of their stories. Her eyes shifted toward Na'er who no matter how hard she tried, could never hide anything from her.

'So my little Na'er is jealous.'

Lang Yue couldn't blame her as she heard more about their adventure with her Tang Tang. She understands how and why Tang Wulin came to sincerely trust the people that weren't his family.

"Everyone, I want to sincerely thank you." Said Lang Yue, causing everyone to stop and turn to her.

"What do you mean?" Asked Xie Xie with the others mirroring his look of confusion.

"For being my little Tang Tang friends."

"My son has been alone for as long as I can remember. He didn't have anybody to talk to, and he never talks to anyone. The normal thing would be to complain or cry about it and yet he never did. It was as if he naturally expected to be alone and just accepted it as if it was undoubtedly his ultimate fate."

"Then Na'er joined us, and I saw him getting better. It seemed like my little Wulin would finally be ok but then my little girl left and I cried when I saw the look in his eyes. It was a hollow look of acceptance as if he expected her to leave him." Said Lang Yue as her shoulder was trembling uncontrollably causing Na'er to clench her fist and gently lowered her head in unspeakable shame.

"I know my son can be hard to approach with his cold and apathetic look. Sometimes it's hard to tell if he genuinely cares about anything or anyone."

"I know he can be a bit cruel and brutal towards people. Being with him will mean your life will be in more danger than normal."

"But even with all of that, you guys still stood by his side. All of you were able to get my little Tang Tang to willingly accept you as his friends."

"Even if it isn't obvious, the action of you guys surrounding him and being there for him is something I am sure he considers precious. He truly cares for you guys even if he doesn't show it."

"You have no idea how much that means to us and so I beg you." Said Lang Yue as she lowered her head in front of everyone.

"Please don't abandon him. Please don't let my little boy be alone anymore and please continue taking good care of him." Said Lang Yue, causing a deep silence to overshadow the previous mood and then.

"Please raise your head!"

"Mom, get up!"

"A pretty lady like you shouldn't bow before us."

Lang Yue's eyes widen when she saw them running over to her and getting her to stop her from bowing. Then her eyes turn into genuine shock when every single one of them bows before her.

"Mam, we want to thank you. For giving birth to Wulin, for raising him and for sending him to Eastsea." Said Xie Xie.

"It was because of this, that we were able to meet the Wulin we know." Said Gu Yue.

"Mam we should be the one, sincerely thanking you." Said Xu Xiaoyan.

"We are the lucky one to have met Tang Wulin." Said Mu Xi,

"We promise to not leave him alone." Said Wu Siduo.

"Don't worry, big brother will never experience the feeling of loneliness again." Said Na'er as her eyes filled with passionate determination.

"We will stand by Wulin, always." Said everyone, as they were all bowing their head with a reassuring smile and fierce determination on their faces towards Lang Yue.

Lang Yue's eyes begin to tear up as geniuses from Shrek were bowing and being thankful for being able to meet her little boy.

"You guys really are such amazing friends."

#

"Sorry Wulin, Dad and Mom can't stay here any longer than today." Said Tang Ziran as he saw the unclouded sky was turning dark.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean we have to go back to the job I was doing. The only reason I even came to Star Luo was because of an appointment which I just finished today before I saw you." Said Tang Ziran with a sad smile.

"Is the organization forcing you?" Asked Tang Wulin has his expression turn deadly serious.

"No, they're not. If I want to make any money, I need to do this." Said Tang Ziran.

"You know you don't have to..." Said Tang Wulin as he knew his dad has been sending checks to Mang Tian to give to him.

"I do. I want to at least be able to do this one thing for my son." Said Tang Ziran as he felt regret for not being able to help his son as much.

"Ok. But can you make me a promise?"

"Sure what is it."Asked Tang Ziran causing Tang Wulin to lean in and speak in his ear.

"... If it comes to that okay." Said Tang Ziran with a serious look.

They begin talking for a while, mostly Tang Ziran with more tips about getting the girl you genuinely like. Tang Ziran turns his head and saw his son's eyes closing slowly.

"How about you rest for a bit?" Asked Tang Ziran.

"Ok." Said Tang Wulin, as he gently closed his eyes.

Tang Ziran smiled as he brought Wulin's head close toward him. He then turns his head to Tang Wulin's sleeping face and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Mom and Dad..."

Tang Ziran turns to see his little Tang Tang talking gently in his peaceful sleep.

"I have always been thankful for everything you guys have done for me."

"And for always loving me." Tang Wulin muttered, causing Tang Ziran's eyes to widen.

'Even when I never once said I loved you in all those years. Even when it would have been easier to merely stop trying to get through to me and leave me alone. Thank you guys, so much for never giving up on me.' Thought Tang Wulin as he drifted off to sleep.

Tang Ziran started to gently rub Tang Wulin's hair, as tears instantly begin to gently roll down his cheeks. He fondly started remembering all of his time with Tang Wulin and the ultimate truth of his origin.

'We wouldn't have minded if you never changed.'

'We wouldn't care if you never said you loved us.'

'After all, we just want you to be happy.'

'It doesn't even matter if we're not related by blood.'

'Because you are our one and only son. We will always love you, now and forever.' Thought Tang Ziran as both father and son laid together for one last time before they reluctantly depart from each other.