The Change in Kelly

After pounding on Xiao Feng for a while, tears welled in Alice's eyes. She threw her slender arms around him, sobbing, "Big brother Xiao Feng, I've missed you so much these days. Please don't leave me again… sob…"

Xiao Feng gently cradled Alice's fragile shoulders, whispering, "There, there, don't cry. I'm here now, aren't I?"

"You're still going away—I know…" she murmured.

"It's only for a short time. I'll be back soon. Don't worry, I promise you that—I'll return before long."

"No… once you leave, who knows when you'll come back? I don't want you to go. I'll miss you terribly…"

Holding her delicate frame close, Xiao Feng harbored no impure thoughts—only the tender affection one would reserve for a beloved sister. He softly patted her back and said, "I want to know who I really am, where I came from, whether I have any true family—my father, my mother. Don't you want me to find them, rather than live my life alone?"

"You are my family…" Alice's tears slowly ceased, her small heart understanding Xiao Feng's loneliness and sorrow.

"Yes, you are my family. But…"

"Big brother Xiao Feng, I understand the pain of having no parents. Alright, I won't stop you anymore. But even if you find your parents, promise me you'll come back to me, okay? I don't want to lose you."

"I will come back," he vowed.

Alice pressed her hand against his chest, lifted her head, wiped the tears from her eyes, and said, "I want a promise—you swear it."

"Alright, I swear it—I'll come back. I swear it to the heavens." Xiao Feng held up three fingers solemnly.

Suddenly, Alice leaned close and kissed him on the lips.

Xiao Feng was taken aback, utterly unprepared for such an act from the little girl. He gently pushed her away, but the touch had been made—his lips tingled with a cool, wet sensation.

Alice chuckled softly. "Hehe, I finally kissed you! Well then, I'm going back to sleep now. Don't bother me, big brother Xiao Feng. Bye-bye…"

Xiao Feng watched helplessly as she climbed off him, picked up her stuffed toy, and happily walked away.

"Mischievous little brat," he muttered to himself.

He wiped his lips, lay back down, but sleep no longer came. Picking up his communicator, he connected to Kelly—he hadn't spoken with her in days. After a brief pause, Kelly's flushed, charming face appeared on the screen, smiling playfully. "Xiao Feng, you scoundrel! You still remember to call me?"

Xiao Feng furrowed his brow. "What are you doing? Why's your face so red?"

Kelly swayed a wine glass in her hand. "I'm drinking."

"So late? Why aren't you sleeping? What are you drinking, and with whom?"

"Hehe, with Jason's son and some friends. We're having such a great time tonight…"

Behind Kelly, figures danced to the music—men and women alike. A sinking feeling crept into Xiao Feng's heart. "You should get some rest. Stop drinking."

"We're done soon. Xiao Feng, did you miss me? Calling me so late…"

Xiao Feng nodded. "I admit I missed you. But I didn't expect you to be like this." He felt Kelly had grown distant, and blamed himself for neglecting to stay in touch all this time, guilt gnawing at him.

"Hehe, I knew you missed me. But don't miss me too much. You've got important things to do—help us defeat Sam's and Hilton's companies! Haha…"

Xiao Feng frowned. "You're drunk…"

"No, I'm not. But once you defeat Sam and Hilton, I'll make it up to you properly… hehe…"

Just then, a man appeared behind Kelly, embracing her and whispering in her ear, "Darling, what are you doing?"

Kelly flustered, saying, "Alright, I'm done talking. You should sleep…" and cut the connection.

Xiao Feng's fury ignited instantly—he never imagined Kelly would already have a new lover. Sleep fled entirely; he yearned to appear beside her and give that man a fierce thrashing.

Rising, he stormed out, unable to contain his rage. He flung open the door, jumped into a jeep, and sped toward the airport.

Throughout the drive, his gaze was icy and resolute, as if lost in a dream. His mind vacillated between emptiness, fury, and haunting visions of Kelly's recklessness.

Upon arriving at the airport entrance, several X Legion soldiers blocked his path. They seemed unfamiliar with him. "Sir, please show your pass."

Xiao Feng scowled. "You don't know who I am?"

"Sorry, sir, please cooperate. If you have a pass, present it."

Unaware of any such pass, Xiao Feng exited the vehicle and tried to connect with Brada, now in charge of the X Legion's air and missile forces. After several attempts, no connection was made.

"Damn…" Xiao Feng shut off the communicator and charged toward the airport gate on foot.

"Stop! Stop! If you don't, we'll open fire!" the soldiers shouted, amazed at his speed but duty-bound, aiming their rifles.

Yet they watched helplessly as Xiao Feng's pace quickened. Leaping high, he vaulted over the imposing gate—equipped with high-voltage wires and barbed wire, standing over three meters tall—and landed gracefully inside the airport grounds.

The stunned sentries stood frozen, utterly bewildered by his feat.