Chapter 67: Mr. Luo

Chapter 67: Mr. Luo

As Luo Qingtong sat contemplating the recent tumult, a sonorous and burly figure burst through the door. Before she could react, she was enveloped in a tight embrace.

"Qingtong! Grandpa's Qingtong!" Mr. Luo's voice trembled with emotion as he clutched her close. He had returned to the Luo estate in haste, still clad in his dusty armor from searching relentlessly for her in the vast Jiuwu Mountain Range. The endless days of fear, hoping against hope that he would not find her among the countless fallen, had taken a toll on him.

As he held his granddaughter, tears escaped his eyes, his voice cracking with guilt and relief. "I'm sorry, Qingtong! It's Grandpa's fault. I should never have left you alone!"

Luo Qingtong felt a complex swirl of emotions as she was held by her grandfather. She could have evaded his embrace but chose to accept it, moved by the sight of his tear-streaked face and bloodshot eyes.

"Grandpa," she whispered, her voice low and comforting, trying to soothe his trembling frame. She knew Mr. Luo had always been a figure of authority and sternness, a stark contrast to the vulnerable man who now held her.

In her past life, Luo Qingtong had been alone; her early years marked by abandonment due to her unusual bloody eyes, and later, the only person who had cared for her, a kind beggar, had died, leaving her truly isolated. Her parents had tried to re-enter her life once she'd gained fame, but it was too late for reconciliations.

As Mr. Luo's sobs subsided, Luo Qingtong gently reassured him, "I'm fine, Grandpa. Look, I'm back safe and sound." She found herself unexpectedly cherishing the affection he displayed, an affection she'd never felt entitled to before. The stern grandfather from the original owner's memories was proving to be her staunchest ally.

Luo Qingtong softened her tone further, a smile tugging at her lips despite the chaos that had unfolded since her return. "When did you become so childish, Grandpa?"

She resolved then, if the original owner hadn't appreciated this familial bond, she certainly would. Her grandfather's love and loyalty, so fiercely displayed, were treasures she intended to keep.

"Your grandpa, I want it," she affirmed silently, her heart settling with newfound purpose and determination.