Chinese New Year

"Thaaat wasn't me. It was him." Chao extended the word and pointed to Yitian, who was really stunned at Chao ratting him out, again! He just hung his mouth open and wasn't able to say anything. A big hand landed on Yitian's shoulders. He looked up at the owner of the hand and noticed the similarities between the three of the Jins. Chao's father looked like an older version of Lei. And Lei and Chao had the same eyes and nose shapes, only Chao's mouth was fuller than Lei's. The hair color and eyes color of all three men were a deep black.

"Don't worry. I heard everything about you." Chao's father said with familiarity, that stunned Yitian. He wasn't prepared for something like that. He thought that Chao's father would be reserved, uptight, and maybe a bit hostile to a person that dropped to his family dinner, leeched of his son, and honestly, was a stranger.

"So, you don't mind me being here?" Yitian slowly and carefully asked. He was prepared for almost everything, but not for the thing that Chao's father did. He ruffled his hair, showed him a bright smile, and then took a step back.

"Of course I don't mind. I'm glad that you are here. I heard you are taking care of Chao. Thank you for that. My name is Jin Weiwu but you can call me uncle Jin." Chao's father said and gestured to them to go further. Yitian was stunned, he looked at Chao, surprised. He described his own father as an absentminded weirdo that was away for half of his life, going back only during the holidays. Otherwise leaving his upbringing to Lei.

"He is nothing like you described. He is kind." Yitian stopped right when he entered the big luxury living room. He was a bit pissed, that he was worried about nothing. Chao looked at Yitian and looked around.

"Do you think you are weird?" Chao asked quite serious about that. Such a question was weird itself and Yitian had no idea if to be offended or amused.

"Do you think I am?" He shot the question back at Chao. being more amused than the other option. Even just by the serious face, Chao made. As if it was a matter of life and death.

"I'll be honest. I don't know. I find you special. But you are my friend. And I'm special myself, so that's given." Chao said, pretty arrogantly. But soon, Lei came from behind and smacked Chao's head. Then Lei looked at Yitian and the corners of his mouth slightly bent upwards.

"Our father loves weird things, that's why he is so rich, he was into games right when they first came out. So, what Chao means is that if you are weird enough, our father will like it. But what Chao doesn't know is that I already spoke to our father and told him everything. And my father would never kick you out. Now that he knows your story." Lei wasn't smiling while saying it, but Yitian felt a bit of a heartwarming feeling coming from him. And when he looked at Chao he felt the same. Not knowing if it was pity or honest like, Yitian didn't know how to respond with his feelings. But he noticed the slight difference in his feelings towards Chao. Maybe it was because they were friends.

"Thank you," Yitian said honestly, feeling really thankful, owing them his life. Both of him patted his shoulder at the same time with one hand and said: "No problem." Which was utterly hilarious. And what was even funnier was the look these two brothers flashed at each other. They weren't exactly pleased to do the same thing.

After some small talk and exchanging gifts, Yitian was introduced to a family friend named Chung Jiaer. They proceed into a huge dining room with a big round table. Yitian was seated next to Chao and next to uncle Jin, who was talking to him the whole dinner. Interrogating him, about his school, his work, his plans, even his family. And Yitian had no choice than to say all the nice things about his family. But when he was asked about his future, he realized he knew nothing. His future was lined by his mother. But now, he was free. And that thought itself made Yitian just look into nothing and blink, stunned. He was woken up by Chao's hand squeezing his. 'I'm here for you no matter what' sign for both of them. Yitian flashed Chao a reassuring smile back.

When they finished the dinner Yitian was invited to go and visit the shrine tomorrow with them all again. But this time, he wasn't so opposed to it. He felt like part of their family now. At least, he felt more like a part of Chao's family, then a family of his own.

"Let's go watch fireworks together," Chao said when they were almost leaving. But the three older men just shook their heads as in no, we are too old to enjoy that. So, Yitian and Chao went alone.

"I actually did some research on where is the best spot to watch the fireworks. But there would be a lot of people. And I thought that you wouldn't like it. As much as I wouldn't. So, I will take you to my secret hideout instead." Chao said and led him to his secret place, where he was hiding from his brother when he was a kid, sometimes crying there. It was a bit hard to get there in the night, but they finally managed to enter a little clearing with a few stones on the ground. Everything was enlightened by the bright moon. It was a really beautiful sight and because being up on a hill they had a perfect view of the beach.

"I will take you here again during the summer. You should see it when there are fireflies flying around. I always thought that they were small spirits sent by my mother, sent to watch over me." Chao admitted and Yitian smiled slightly. it was so cute. Chao as a child. They both sat at the stones and waited for the fireworks to start. They had been there for a while, where the sky lit up with colorful fires and flowers.

"Kung Hei Fat Choi." They both said at the same time, laughing, they continued to watch the fireworks together.