novelraw Chapter 189: A Warm Family
Chapter 189: A Warm Family
"No," Albe interrupted. "Only rabbits or small animals would fall for a trap that size."
Qiong Xing blinked.
"...I see."
Having big goals wasn’t a bad thing.
But when it came to that trap, there was no way a deer would ever get caught in it.
Qiong Xing decided to crush that dream early.
"Maybe it’s still too soon for me," he said thoughtfully. "I feel like I’d have a better chance if I just swung a spear around."
No way... I don’t want to see Qiong Xing like that!
Albe panicked.
"W-well, no need to rush, right? Maybe magic would work better," he said quickly, trying to stop that image from becoming reality.
"Magic..." Qiong Xing murmured. "Then maybe I should dig a pitfall."
"Sure... if you’re confident you won’t fall into it yourself."
"...."
His silence said everything.
The way he quietly looked away made it obvious.
Albe immediately decided that plan was impossible.
"For now, let’s just go home," Albe said. "I’m tired and Little Lian might already be crying because she’s waiting."
"I suppose it can’t be helped," Qiong Xing replied. "I’ll try again next time."
He’s not giving up...
Albe admired his determination.
But for everyone’s peace of mind, he really wished Qiong Xing would just drop it.
"By the way... why did you forgive those guys?" Albe suddenly asked.
"Hm?"
Albe had stayed quiet back then, but the truth was, he couldn’t forgive them for making Cari cry.
It was the younger brother who caused it, but Albe didn’t trust the older one either.
"I didn’t forgive them," Qiong Xing said calmly.
"But you patted his head. And you even gave him candy."
The younger one got a bone, though.
Albe couldn’t accept it.
He could understand feeling a bit sorry for the older brother who was constantly dragged around by his younger sibling.
But that didn’t excuse how they had acted and yet, Qiong Xing had patted his head... even gave them candy.
Even I don’t get patted that often...
"For me, it’s simple," Qiong Xing explained. "At that point, it started to look like I was the one bullying him."
Albe blinked.
"And if he kept arguing, it would only be troublesome. It was easier to send him away quickly," Qiong Xing continued. "I also wanted him to go find his brother before that one caused more trouble."
"...I see."
It made sense.
But somehow... it still didn’t sit right with Albe.
A childish thought crossed his mind.
It’s enough if Qiong Xing is only kind to us.
"Qiong Xing," Albe said.
"What is it?"
Even though he knew he shouldn’t, Albe’s voice came out irritated.
He quickly looked away, feeling awkward.
"Thank you," Qiong Xing said softly.
"...For what?" Albe asked.
"For staying with me. I’m very happy that you’re here."
Qiong Xing gently placed a hand on his cheek and turned his face back toward him.
When Albe looked up, he saw Qiong Xing smiling warmly right in front of him.
"I didn’t do anything," Albe muttered.
"Is that so?" Qiong Xing replied. "I feel like I’m always being helped by you."
Hearing that, Albe had nothing to say.
When Qiong Xing gently patted his head, the irritation from earlier quietly faded away.
"Next time, let’s all go to the river together," Qiong Xing said. "It was a promise, remember? You’ll teach Cari how to swim, right... big brother?"
Albe laughed lightly.
"Yeah, that’s true. Mama can’t swim, after all. I guess I’ll have to do my best."
"If you say something like that..." Qiong Xing said.
"Ow, ow—"
Qiong Xing pinched his cheek, but there was no real strength in it.
Albe’s complaint was just for show.
Still, being treated like this and being told he was family made him incredibly happy.
He had never been able to become a real family with the parents he shared blood with.
He had never even wanted that.
The only family he had searched for was Caribert.
But along with Cari, he had found something else.
A real family.
Even without blood ties, Qiong Xing smiled and said that Albe was important to him.
When he cried, saying he couldn’t do anything, Qiong Xing would gently pat his head and tell him that wasn’t true.
When Cari cried in fear and he didn’t know what to do, Qiong Xing would hold him and comfort him together.
It was only after meeting Qiong Xing that Albe understood what a family truly was.
And because of that anyone who tried to disturb it he would never forgive them.
Qiong Xing was kind, too kind sometimes, even if he occasionally said sharp things.
So Albe decided once again.
He would protect them in Qiong Xing’s place.
"Let’s head home soon," Qiong Xing said. "I’m getting hungry."
"Yeah, let’s go. I’m starving," Albe replied.
"Don’t grow any bigger, okay?" Qiong Xing added. "If you do, I’ll lose my companion."
"What kind of companion is that?" Albe protested. "No way. I’m going to grow bigger and stronger!"
"No, you’re not!" Qiong Xing said firmly.
This kind of playful exchange, it was happiness.
Although Qiong Xing might have been serious.
Even though he was always being dragged around by Qiong Xing’s strange ideas,
Albe felt grateful that he could live like this every day.
...
"You can’t swim, right?" Joa asked.
"Yes," Qiong Xing replied.
"...Don’t just say yes like that."
It was early... Too early.
So early that Joa wanted to ask what time Qiong Xing had even woken up.
Yet there he was, standing in the room with a bright smile, suddenly declaring,
"Let’s go to the river today and swim."
Joa remembered clearly that Qiong Xing couldn’t swim.
When he asked to confirm, Qiong Xing admitted it without hesitation.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t explain properly," Qiong Xing said. "I want to teach Cari how to swim, so let’s go to the river."
"You want me to teach him?" Joa asked.
"No, Albe will," Qiong Xing replied calmly. "His big brother said he’ll do his best."