23 Ch. 23 - Moved to Tears

"I want to trust you, but I do not know if I can…"

"But mother, he is just a little boy--"

"I understand that you might think that I am harmless since I am just a child, but your mother is right, pretty sister. You should not trust me…"

"That is not what I meant, dear. It is just…"

"… It is fine. I understand. Thank you for everything. I will be taking my leave now."

Xiao Huoyan said it while smiling, but deep in his heart, he did not wish to leave yet. He was actually quite fond of them.

Just as he began walking towards the door, the girl's mother spoke.

"W-wait!"

Xiao Huoyan did not say anything. He just stopped and slowly turned around.

"I… I will trust you… for now. You can stay…"

"Really, mom?!"

The girl's mother nodded while smiling.

"YAY!!"

"Shh! Sweetie! Do not act like a child."

"But mother, I AM a child", the girl said while laughing.

"T-thank you both! Uhm… for how long am I p-permitted to stay?"

"For as long as you need, dear--"

"--FOREVER!!"

"Sweetie! Quit interrupting me!"

"Fine, mom. Sorry."

The girl did apologize, but she did not seem especially sorry at all.

"How can I repay your kindness?", Xiao Huoyan asked.

"Oh, no need to think about such things. I have always wanted a son anyways. You can stay here as a part of the family for as long as you like!"

The girl's mother seemed much happier now.

"A p-part of the family… Your family…"

Xiao Huoyan was truly happy. He had been without a father for as long as he could remember, and his mother had been murdered. Jin Long, who was the closest to a father figure that Xiao Huoyan had ever known, died by sacrificing himself. Jin Niao, Jin Long's brother and Xiao Huoyan's uncle, had left him alone when they got attacked. He just fled away and did not even bother to send someone to look after his so called 'dear nephew'.

For the last two years, with the exception of a few days, Xiao Huoyan had been alone. To actually hear someone say that he was 'welcome to stay as a part of the family'…

He was moved to tears by those simple words.

A single tear made its way down his left cheek as he just stood there without moving. He was truly moved… and grateful for their kindness.

"Why are you crying dear? Did I say something wrong? You do not have to stay if you do not want to. It is fine, I understand."

"… That is not it. You said absolutely nothing wrong. It is just… It has been a while since I last felt like I was part of a family. I did have my father Long, but I only knew him for a few days, and his brother never saw me as part of his family. To think that he would leave me there alone like that…"

"Oh, dear… You must have been through a lot… My husband died a few years ago. We always slept in different rooms, so you can have his room if you would like."

"… Thank you."

The girl's mother got down on one knee and open up her arms as if saying that it would be fine with a hug. Xiao Huoyan was not used to hugging people, but in this moment, he did not really care. He ran up to the lady and gave her a hug, and she… she just patted his back lightly while hugging him, to console him.

She gave off a motherly feeling that Xiao Huoyan had not felt in the past two years. That feeling made him cry even more. He had not been this happy since before his mother had died, except for the time he had been with Jin Long.

"I do not really mind being called 'Pretty Sister', but I figured that it would be impolite not to tell you my name. I am Tian Xin!"

"You must really love to interrupt, huh?", Tian Xin's mother looked at her and said.

Then she looked back at Xiao Huoyan who was still hugging her and burying his face in her shoulder while crying.

She then told Xiao Huoyan her own name.

"I am Tian Mei but feel free to call me mother. We will be taking care of you, so from now on you are a part of our family!"

"… It suits you. You really are very pretty… your name suits you…", Xiao Huoyan said while still burying his face in Tian Mei's shoulder.

"Hahaha, he is a real sweet-talker mom, so you better watch out!"

Tian Mei only shook her head while smiling.

"Thank you… for everything."

Xiao Huoyan really meant every word he said. He had already stopped acting. When he said that he trusted them, he really meant it.

"It is fine, dear. It is fine…"

"Now I feel bad for not telling you my given name…"

"It is fine little bro! Besides… You should get a new name. Other than Jin Xin I mean. We do not want others to overreact. You were adopted by Jin Long. The Golden Dragon, Jin Long of the Jin Clan! If people knew, they would be hysterical."

"You are right big sis… then how about--"

"--How about… Tian Kou? HAHAHAHA!!"

Tian Xin began to laugh hysterically.