The Assassin's Enemy Lover

34 Bonds of blood

As the stealth cruiser hovered above a landing pad right in front of a penthouse on the topmost floor, Zi Xingxi got up and pulled up Zi Han while speaking to Secretary K.

“Secretary K, don’t forget your disguise. There can’t be Auntie Sheila with no grandpa Jai,” she said before her itchy finger pinched Zi Han’s cheek, “it’s so soft. I wonder if water will come out if I squeeze it hard enough.

“Ma, aish..... is this why you keep forcing sheet masks down my throat?” complained Zi Han not realizing that his attention had successfully deviated. The two were stuck in their own little world that they didn’t notice Secretary K who looked like he wanted to cry.

He hated disguising as Grandpa Jai the most. Why? It was because he looked like a wilted grape which was a huge contrast to his original appearance. He had to walk as slow as a snail and speak a bit slower than before. One look at this disguise and it was easy to tell that he had been plotted against.

He could have disguised as a burly man or even as a powerful woman but instead, the disguise patch designed for him was that of an old senile grandpa. It was not so difficult to guess who designed this for him. That Lynn Feng must have something against him.

Of course, Lynn Feng did have something against him. When Zi Xingxi warned Zi Han to use the right pronouns for Lynn Feng she meant it. Secretary K was only paying the price for calling her him once by accident. To Lynn Feng, Secretary K was public enemy number one but he didn’t even realise it.

Feeling disgruntled he applied the patch on his right temple and gently tapped the surface. Soon a bright light shrouded his body and as the light vanished an old man at death’s door appeared. With a sigh, Secretary K followed the pair of mother and son.

Two steps in Zi Han noticed a broken robot housekeeper on the landing pad with various bits and pieces scattered everywhere with some of its internal organs missing. Around it were tiny critter robots cleaning up the crime scene at a fast pace.

Zi Han, “...”

.....

It seemed his grandfather’s temper was so big that he would resort to throwing things through the window. Zi Xingxi just casually glanced at the fallen comrade and patted her son’s shoulder while saying,

“This happens more often than you think but don’t worry his anger only stops this far. The worst he can do when angry with you is chase you with a broom that is if you get a girl pregnant. So far your father is the only one who had that honour.”

Zi Han, “???”

He couldn’t fathom seeing a grown man being chased around with a broom let alone him being the victim on the other end of the broom.

What they didn’t think through was that in times like these where cleaning technology had advanced by leaps and bounds a broom was an obsolete tool.

The broom was a Zi family tradition. Its purpose was to punish and enslave. Okay, maybe not the enslave part but the ‘punish’ part was real. It was reserved for the greatest of offences.

Soon the pair reached the main door only for it to slide open with the over-enthusiastic old steward welcoming them. Beside him was Zi Feiji tugging the hem of his suit jacket nervously.

When he saw his daughter he immediately said, “Auntie Sheila made a comeback,” and when his gaze fell on the old man he mocked, “Grandpa Jai I honestly thought you would have been long dead by now. I am afraid I underestimated y-”

Before he could finish speaking Zi Xingxi pulled Zi Han from behind her and presented him forth like a treasure. “Dad..... this is my little Han Han. Isn’t he cute?”

The two didn’t even hear a single word she said staring as though sizing each other up. Zi Han was the one who took the initiative to step forward and establish first contact but the moment he opened his mouth his brain short-circuited. What came out of his mouth were strings of unintelligent words.

“Hello Han, sorry I mean sir, I mean lord um uh ahh....,” he said his face heating up like he had been stuffed into a sauna. He had completely forgotten the lines he had painstakingly rehearsed ever since he learnt that he was about to meet the legendary Lord Zi former leader of the once prestigious Bloodgarde.

“Ahaha.....,” nervously laughed Zi Xingxi before nudging her son. “Han Han quickly call out grandpa,” she spoke through gritted teeth. She was like that one mom who praises her son publicly for being smart only for him to run over and ask what is the first letter of the alphabet right in front of everyone.

Zi Feiji found this a little amusing. The kid was indeed a seed of the Zi family. He was as cute as little Xi Xi when she was young. If it weren’t for the eyes one would think the pair of mother and son were fraternal twins.

Unable to contain himself he placed his hands on either side of Zi Han’s shoulders with a radiant smile. That smile brought Zi Han’s brain back online so he obediently called out, “Gran-grandpa.”

After hearing that form of address it was game over for Zi Feiji. He silently pulled Zi Han into his embrace and gently patted the back of his grandson’s head. “Welcome home my little Han Han,” he whispered as his eyes stung a little. For years he had struggled to find his daughter and that little baby he was so eager to meet but he had failed time and time again.

Now that the little guy was in his arms he felt a sense of ease like a part of him that was missing had been retrieved and he was finally whole.

After they parted Zi Han felt a little more comfortable so he said, “Grandpa’s suit looks really good. Now I feel a little underdressed,” while glancing down at his outfit.

Zi Feiji draped his arm around Zi Han’s shoulders while leading him to the dining table.

“Tch, you even have a sweet tongue like your grandpa. Definitely a Zi seedling. I will have grandmaster Savile to tailor the same one for you so we can be twins.”

Zi Han smiled happily. He wouldn’t mind wearing the same suit as his grandfather and having professional photos taken so he can freeze that memory in time. Despite it being their first meeting he felt an inexplicable connection with his grandpa. It seemed the bonds of blood were indeed strong.