QT: Against My Will-Chapter 603 - 10.15 - A Birthday Party - Rebirth Of The Heart
Xuan Mu’s steps faltered at the threshold of his home, the soft cadence of his wife’s voice seeping through the air like a gentle spring breeze.
There, in the cradle of the dimming evening light, she sat on the sofa and sang karaoke with Stinky Bun.
The little boy was nestled in her lap with cherubic innocence, holding a microphone. Close by, XiaoPu was playing on his tablet as he hummed along, occasionally glancing up to show his wife another victory.
The sight before Xuan Mu pierced through the armor around his heart. No matter how often he had returned home, scenes like these always seemed as distant as a star. He would have traded his soul to taste it in the past if he could. It was all so painfully normal, yet to him, it was the echo of a miracle.
He felt the sting of tears blurring the edges of his eyes — born from battles fought in silence, from nights so dark he had wondered if the sun would ever rise for him again. The woman he’d moved heaven and hell to bring back to his side was there, a lighthouse of serenity in the soft glow of the room.
She was not just the love of his life; she was the life in his love. In her presence, he found his love was not just an emotion but a living, breathing entity that enveloped him, as vital as the air he breathed and as necessary as the beat of his heart.
"Daddy’s finally home!" Bing Shi’s pure and exuberant voice rang out as she leapt from the sofa.
"Daddy, Daddy!"
"Finally!" XiaoPu abandoned his digital world in a heartbeat, his young legs propelling him forward.
"Welcome back!" The chorus of their high-pitched and jubilant voices filled the room as they crashed into Xuan Mu’s open arms. Their fingers clung to him, and their overlapping words, a cacophony of "listen to what happened" and "guess what I did," were the sweetest symphony to his ears.
"Why are you all still up?" Xuan Mu asked, his gaze shifted between XiaoPu and Stinky Bun, expecting an explanation.
"I heard the Ashtor family is having troubles," Bing Shi said, looking up at him with concern etched on her face. "I wanted to stay up to cheer you up if things got serious, and the boys insisted on waiting with me."
Stinky Bun raised his fists, "Daddy, daddy!" Stinky Bun also wanted to cheer up Daddy!
XiaoPu, his small fists raised determinedly even as a yawn overtook him, declared, "Even if you get dethroned and become a beggar, you’ll always be my favorite dad."
Xuan Mu ruffled his hair, "Remember your words, buddy." He wanted to be a role model for his sons, someone they didn’t have to be ashamed of. But not at the cost of becoming a work slave (which he had been for far too long and still was, but in another sense).
Edward did the bare minimum required of his high-status position — which brought lots of dissatisfaction from the public when someone leaked it out.
Nobody knew that Xuan Mu had yet to touch Edward’s wealth that was linked to the Ashtor’s family and public funds. Why should he even bother to work hard for them? His commitment was an act of service to his wife’s godhood. Forcing his parents to accept her was also to feed his wife’s divinity.
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Knox found himself in his father’s office in the soft light of early evening. He was only six, but he was so smart that he was already in classes with kids much older than him. He had moved up four grades because he learned things really quickly. But emotionally, he was still very much a six-year-old, with all the feelings and needs of a boy his age.
With the hopeful innocence that had not yet learned the weight of adult priorities, he approached Daniel.
"Dad, can I go to my friend’s birthday party tomorrow? It’s after school, and the parents are also invited," he asked.
Daniel touched his son’s shoulder, gently pushing him away. "Not now, Knox," he murmured, "Take a bodyguard with you."
The son, feeling the sting of rejection, retreated to his room. With a deep breath to steady his voice, he dialed his mother’s number, "Mom, can I go to my friend’s birthday party tomorrow? It’s after school, and the parents are also invited," he asked one more time, "Can we go together?"
"Knox, darling, I’m walking the runway tomorrow," Isabelle began, her tone soft, apologetic. "These shows, they’re planned months in advance."
Knox’s heart sank, the soft glow of his anticipation dimming amidst the backdrop of his mother’s world. He nodded, though he knew she couldn’t see, "Okay, Mom," he said, a brave smile in his voice, though his eyes told a different story, "Good luck with the runaway."
As he hung up, Knox’s small frame shook with sobs. Birthdays, whether they were his, his mother’s or his father’s, were always special— emails and meetings would be set aside, and family warmth would take center stage. He innocently hoped that the magic of a birthday, even someone else’s, could bring them together more often.
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
The next day...
XiaoPu’s birth parent’s house was a stark contrast to the austere world of Knox’s parents Daniel and Isabelle. It was a place where time seemed to slow. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
The living room was alive with birthday decorations as XiaoPu’s birth parents welcomed his friends into their home. The house brimmed mainly with local kids, blissfully unaware of Knox’s status as a politician’s and supermodel’s son.
The kids were initially taken aback by Knox’s childish appearance and features, a delicate blend of his parents’ striking attributes. He carried an effortless grace that seemed to command all the attention in the room.
Knox, unaware of his own allure, walked in with a wrapped gift in his hands. He handed it to XiaoPu, "Happy birthday."
XiaoPu took the gift, letting out a small grin, "Thanks."
The kids gathered around a table adorned with a homemade cake, its candles flickering like tiny lighthouses in the soft light. XiaoPu blew out the candles and made his wish as everyone clapped their hands.
A couple of hours later, the birthday party settled into a quiet calm, and the laughter and chatter of the day began to cool down. One by one, the kids departed, their joyful energy still echoing in the now-still space.
Knox was the last of the children to leave. He was waiting for his bodyguard, who had left to fetch the hovercar to return.
XiaoPu was holding a small cake, a special treat for Stinky Bun. He slung his backpack over his shoulder, turning to see Knox, who was also gathering his things.
"Where are you going?" Knox asked, his voice tinged with surprise. Was he not staying back with his parents?
XiaoPu caught the soft words and approached Knox, "I’ll be staying at my godparents today. If you want, I can give you a ride home if that’s okay with you."
Knox had tried to contact his bodyguard, but there was no response. He didn’t want to bother his parents and agreed to go with XiaoPu.
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
Inside the sleek interior of the hovercar, Knox and XiaoPu were on their way home.
"Are your godparents busy today?" asked Knox, "I didn’t see them at your birthday party."
"Probably just hanging out in their home or somewhere close by," XiaoPu replied nonchalantly. "Once, I threw a secret birthday party for Seraphine, and she nearly chased me out of the house. It’s like the word ’birthday’ and the birthday itself is banned over there."
Knox’s eyes widened in disbelief, "Really?" he gasped, unable to hide his surprise. "But birthdays are the best part of the year!"
XiaoPu laughed at Knox’s reaction, shaking his head. "I guess I just got used to it," he said, recalling the times he threw tantrums over them, forgetting about his birthdays.
The hovercar shook suddenly, making XiaoPu’s cake fly out of his hands and splatter all over the floor. "No, my cake!" he cried out.
Outside, a group of flying bikes closed in on them, breaking the glass of the hovercar and opening the door.
One of the bikers quickly threw a small, dark object inside. The bomb clattered to the floor with a hiss, releasing a cloud of gas.
"What’s that?" XiaoPu coughed, his eyes beginning to drop.
"Security breach detected. Initiating escape maneuvers," announced the hover car’s AI in a calm, measured tone, "Please remain seated. Security protocols engaged."
"We need to send an alert to my dad!" Knox said, his mind racing as he tried to access his communication system on his bracelet.
But his attempt to call for help seemed to be futile. His body slumped against the seat as his consciousness slipped away, and the world faded to black.
"Just grab the kid, the smaller one!" shouted one of the pursuers over the roar of engines, "Kill the other and get rid of the hover car; don’t leave behind any witnesses!"
XiaoPu glanced for the last time at the remnants of his cake, which was such a trivial concern compared to his dire situation.
