"Ian! There you are!" Blanche tackled Adrian Han to the ground with a big hug.
The fourteen-year-old boy was startled and dropped the book he was reading with a startled yelp. It wasn’t long before Dylan, aged eight, also showed up.
"Why are you hiding here, Ian?" Dylan asked, curious to know the reason behind his cousin’s sudden disappearance.
Adrian said nothing but helped the birthday girl back onto her feet, patting the dirt off her dress. It wasn’t the first ti he’d been here at the Qin family estate at Jinxiu Garden, but every ti he was here, he couldn’t help but feel ashad, especially when facing his aunt, Adrienne Jiang.
No matter how hard his grandmother protected him, Adrian was bound to know the secrets of the Han family. Growing up, Adrian heard the servants talk about how terrible his deceased parents were. He couldn’t escape the weight of their reputation.
He heard his mother, Ayla Jiang, was Adrienne’s paternal cousin. She deceived Adrian’s father into marriage, only to reveal that she had made a fool of him by getting pregnant by another man. It brought imnse sha to the Han family and tarnished the honor of their na. It also marked the end of Ayla Jiang’s career in the showbiz industry, as no one was willing to work with her anymore.
As for his father, Alistair Han, he was involved in several scandals that further sullied the family’s reputation. He committed several offenses that could easily lead to his receiving capital punishnt. However, Adrian’s father didn’t die because of that.
People say that his father was an obsessed and dangerous man, and Adrienne Jiang was unfortunate to beco the target of his attention. Adrienne Jiang was renowned for her beauty and grace, which only heightened Adrian’s father’s obsession. He would stop at nothing to possess her, even if it ant destroying everything in his path.
Much later, Adrian finally found out what caused the Han family’s downfall. His father harassed and threatened Adrienne, causing her to reveal incriminating evidence against the Han family that ultimately led to their downfall and caused Alistair to lose his life in the process.
Knowing such information about his parents, Adrian felt ashad when eting Lennox Qin and Adrienne Jiang. He was the child of the people he now knew had caused so much harm and destruction.
"I’m not hiding," Adrian answered as he noticed Dylan and Blanche giving him an odd look. "I’m just trying to read in peace," he added.
"Blanche, shouldn’t you apologize to Ian for hurting him?" Dylan turned his attention to the young girl and awaited her response.
Blanche hesitated for a mont and then replied, "I-I didn’t an to hurt you, Ian."
Adrian patted her head gently, a small smile playing on his lips.
"It’s okay, Blanche. I know you didn’t an to hurt . No harm done."
Dylan, still curious, couldn’t help but prod further.
"But why were you hiding here? Is sothing bothering you?"
Adrian’s smile faded slightly as he glanced at the grand estate standing tall behind him.
The Qin family estate was adorned with decorations and filled with laughter and music. Every corner seed to be alive with joy, celebrating Blanche’s birthday.
His earlier thoughts threatened to resurface, but he pushed them back down, not wanting to burden Dylan and Blanche with his troubled past.
"Oh, it’s nothing," Adrian replied, trying to sound casual. "I just needed so fresh air, that’s all."
But Dylan didn’t buy it. He was always perceptive, even at his young age. He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at Adrian.
"You’re lying," Dylan said firmly, determination shining in his gaze. "I can tell when sothing is bothering you, Ian. We’re family, rember? You can talk to us."
Adrian’s heart skipped a beat at Dylan’s words. Family. Despite the dark secrets that plagued the Han na, Dylan and Blanche embraced him as their own.
"I suppose it’s just..plicated," he replied, choosing his words carefully. "Sotis, being here reminds of things I’d rather forget."
Blanche looked up at Adrian with innocent eyes.
"But you’re our cousin, Ian! We don’t care about any of that stuff. We just want to be together and have fun!"
Her words struck a chord deep within Adrian’s heart. It was true that his cousins knew nothing of his family’s tainted history, and yet they accepted him unconditionally. Blanche’s family never treated him as an outsider, despite the shaful past of his parents. They loved him for who he was,
He kneeled down to their level, his eyes filled with gratitude and affection.
"Thank you, both of you," he whispered sincerely. "You have no idea how happy I am to receive your invitation."
Just then, the sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation. Lennox Qin appeared from behind a cluster of blooming cherry blossom trees, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"Dad!" Blanche ran toward her father, who scooped her up into a bear hug. "I’m glad you’re here, Dad!"
Lennox was always a gentle and loving father to all of them, and his children adored him dearly.
Adrian stood up, feeling a tinge of envy and longing for a father like Lennox. But he quickly shook it off, knowing that his father’s past actions weighed heavily on their relationship.
"Hey Ian, long ti no see," Lennox greeted him, extending a hand for a shake.
Adrian hesitated but then decided to take the gesture as an olive branch. He didn’t want to dwell on the past; if Lennox were extending an olive branch, he would accept it.
The two n shook hands, and Adrian felt a chill run down his spine. Lennox was the epito of grace, dignity, and kindness—everything Adrian’s father was not. The contrast was stark, and it made Adrian feel even more ashad of his heritage.
"Uncle, thank you for inviting to Blanche’s birthday party."
In truth, the celebration felt bittersweet. While it was a pleasure to be around so much warmth and happiness, it also constantly reminded him of what his family had lost.
Lennox’s eyes softened as he looked at Adrian.
"You’re family, Adrian. We’re all here to support each other. You’re always welco at our ho, you know that."
Blanche tugged at her father’s sleeve to get his attention.
"Co on, Dad! Let’s go back to the party! There’s cake!"
Dylan grinned and grabbed Adrian’s hand, pulling the older boy along with him as they made their way back to the estate. Blanche asked her father to put her down, and skipped happily along with her cousins.
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