Aftermath, a start of something?

The battle was over.

The staff from the Hunter Association were already inside, guiding the civilians out in an orderly manner.

Medics ran back and forth, tending to wounds, checking pulses, and offering water to the victims.

Tianzhu stood still, leaning slightly against a broken pillar. Since he and his children were completely uninjured, he intended to wait for a while instead of rushing outside. He absolutely stayed silent as anger was quite boiling up in his body, and he was worried that he would say something if he spoke. He was angry at his son. He was angry at Storm, one of the six elites. Perhaps, he was also angry at himself.

Theo seemed to be standing next to him, his head hanging down in disappointment.

Vera's eyes darted toward Theo and their dad for a while, but she maintained silence.

Right then, Noa was seen walking toward him, brushing some dust from her coat as she returned after having a brief talk with an official.

"You good?" she asked, stopping just in front of him.

Tianzhu's eyes flicked around briefly, and a deep sigh escaped his mouth. "Yeah."

Noa crossed her arms, letting out a subtle smile. "I must admit, you were incredible out there, Mr. Qin."

"Thanks." He gave a small bow of appreciation, ready to take his leave when she said, "Wait."

Tianzhu halted and looked at her.

"You like food?" she asked casually, brushing hair out of her face.

"I eat to survive," he replied.

"Great. I'll treat you to lunch then," she said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Consider it a thank-you meal. You know, you played a part in keeping a high survival rate today, including my life."

Tianzhu hesitated a second. As the Leader of Pavel, he never gets close to strangers, especially the beauties, without vetting their background, as one would never know whether they are assassins.

Also, right now, he is a father of two teenage kids. He cannot just dart off because the woman is charming. As a result, he couldn't help but turn his head to look at his kids. "What do you think?"

Vera immediately smiled. "Fine with me, Papa."

Theo grunted. "Yeah, me too."

"Alright," Tianzhu turned back and said with a small smile. "But I decide the place."

"Fine." Noa laughed. "But please don't pick expensive restaurants. This bill won't be reimbursed. It comes out of my pocket."

They walked toward the parking lot, passing by the emergency crews and avoiding the scattered media who were still collecting footage.

She then led the way to her car, a compact black SUV with a half-eaten energy bar still sitting in the cupholder and a pair of running shoes thrown in the backseat.

Tianzhu slid into the front passenger seat, glancing at her as she started the engine. Vera sat in the back and closed her eyes, taking some rest for her tired mind. Theo just sat in silence, looking through the window. Neither of them questioned why their dad left their vehicle at the parking lot and boarded Noa's.

"So, where are we going?" She asked as the vehicle hit the road.

Tianzhu knowingly smiled. "Qinghefang Historical Street. It's nearby."

"Street food?" Noa blinked in surprise.

Tianzhu replied. "My daughter once said that she wanted to eat beggar's chicken at a food stall. So, we'll eat one."

"Hmm… Alright." She said, a smile tugging at her lips as she changed lanes smoothly. "Let's have a street food tour then… Haven't done that in years." After a brief pause, she glanced at the mirror. "By the way, you haven't introduced your son. What's his name?"

"Theodore."

"Okay… Umm… Theodore…" She called out to the teenager. As the latter stirred a bit and looked to the front, Noa spoke in Chinese. "Earlier, that piece of music was amazing. I take it that you attend music classes?"

Theo replied. "Yes." A pause later, he went on adding. "It's not like I have a choice. I was gifted in music. And Dad said I should learn it. So, I learned it. Thought I could become a Music Maestro Hunter, but Dad wanted me to become a musician instead of…"

"Theo…" Tianzhu interrupted him.

Theo became quiet once again. "Hmm…" Noa raised her eyebrow, but didn't get involved in Tianzhu's family matters.

Soon, they found themselves at a bustling street food stall in Qinghefang Historical Street. The scent of sizzling oil, sweet and spicy sauces, and freshly made dumplings filled the air.

Vera, walking beside Noa and her father, hesitated for a second before finally picking up a grilled skewer of stinky tofu. She took a bite and blinked. "This is… better than I expected," she admitted, chewing thoughtfully. At the same time, the two hours of mental pressure she experienced at the mall slowly disappeared from her mind.

Theo also hesitated a bit but took a bite of his own. However, he made a face filled with disgust. "I don't like this." He muttered under his breath, but as his eyes fell on the three, he halted his footsteps. He saw Noa and Tianzhu seemed to be enjoying the food. And as they continued to walk while speaking about things available around in the neighborhood, Theo just stared at them. Just stared for a while. He wanted to turn around to walk away, but in the end, he slowly moved forward, maintaining a steady distance between the group.

Meanwhile, Tianzhu chuckled as he took a bite of his own. "I used to eat these all the time as a kid. After school, before training. Cheap, fast, and filling."

Vera raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Noa leaned in a bit, curious. "Wait… you mean like martial arts training or hunter training?"

"Not exactly." Tianzhu shook his head. "I wasn't a fighter. I trained to become a professional violinist."

Noa nearly choked on her food in surprise."Violinist? Seriously?" She blinked at him, almost as if trying to figure out if he was joking. "But, aren't you a lawyer? How did this transition happen?"

Tianzhu sighed softly. "It's a long story," he said, not offering much more.

Vera, sensing the shift in mood, quickly changed the topic. "Umm… Noa, when are you going back to Tokyo?"

Noa blinked at the sudden shift. "Tonight."

Vera seemed to grow more curious. "Do you come to Hangzhou often?"

Noa took a moment before answering. "Hmm… Not really. This is just a one-time visit. But I frequently visit Beijing, though," Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "But lately, I'm thinking of moving to Busan in the Korean Peninsula. My mother lives there with my grandparents after her separation from my father. I guess once I shift there, I will be leaving the field and confined to an office. Then, I guess I might not come here."

Vera's eyes widened at the mention of family. "Eh? Why did your parents separate?"

Noa hesitated, the question catching her off guard. It wasn't something she often spoke about.

Just as she was about to respond, Tianzhu raised his voice, his tone stern. "Vera, it's not polite to ask that." He turned to Noa, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry."

Noa smiled softly, her gaze kind. "It's alright," she said, waving it off. Then, she glanced back at Vera. "In the adult world of relationships, separations happen for many reasons. Sometimes, it's complicated, even for the children who have seen their parents up close. Some things are just difficult to explain."

Vera tilted her head, digesting Noa's answer. Then, after a while, she glanced between the two adults beside her.

"And what about you, Miss Noa?" she asked, her tone lighter now, clearly trying to shift the mood. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

Noa blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. She awkwardly smiled. "Hmm… No." She paused before adding, "It's been a few years since I dated anyone."

Vera's curiosity was piqued. "So, what's your ideal type then?"

Noa thought for a moment, a slight frown appearing on her face as she tried to gather her thoughts. "Hmm… I don't know. Never really thought about it much, actually…"

"What about my dad, then?" Vera suddenly interjected, pointing at Tianzhu with a teasing grin.

Tianzhu nearly spat out his food in surprise, his eyes widening. "Vera…"

Vera continued. "He's handsome, still young, and quite successful. Earning about 90 million credits a year, I think. He's sometimes a little too caring, though... and a bit stingy."

Tianzhu's face darkened slightly, and his voice turned a bit serious. "Okay, Vera, that's enough." His tone was firm, and Vera flinched slightly, her eyes flickering to her father's expression.

Seeing the change in his demeanor, Vera immediately apologized. "Sorry, Noa. I guess that was too insensitive of me."

She let out a quiet sigh, realizing she had gone a little too far. "I was just frustrated, you know? I hate seeing my dad all alone while everyone else around me seems so happy."

Noa, already taken aback by the question, softened and offered a forced smile. "It's okay," she said, though her tone was a little awkward. She glanced at Tianzhu and, for a moment, seemed to hesitate. "I... uh… think it's best if adult matters stay in the adult world," she said, a touch of awkwardness creeping into her voice.

She then looked at Tianzhu with a slightly more playful tone. "As for your dad, Vera, like you said, he's handsome, young, successful... and strong. So, as long as he's interested, he'll find someone sooner or later."

Vera looked between Noa and her dad, seemingly satisfied with the answer. She quietly picked up another skewer of stinky tofu, her mind momentarily distracted, while Tianzhu, feeling a tinge of discomfort, returned to his food, trying to ignore the lingering tension in the air.

Theo, watching all of this from behind like a silent spectator, muttered under his breath. "Oh, please. Who are you kidding, Vera? You just wanted to keep Dad busy so that you could date a boy."