Solflare: The Painter's Secret-Chapter 148: Welcome Home, Brother

Watching the Agathans through the rolled window was like sticking his hands in acid. Leon’s heart slowed at every face he stared at.

Tears dripped down from Leon’s face as his eyes shifted toward Hei Yung and Hei Luo’s faces, as they stood in the far distance, staring back and smiling.

The window Leon sat by rolled up, closing and shutting the view out of his sight. In front of him, Zoe drew her hand back from the window button, then placed her right arm on her lap.

Leon leaned by the cold glass window, Longwei’s smile looping in his head while his eyes slowly closed.

Dark clouds merged, sending Bastion City into deep darkness.

Lights lit the buildings one after another as the long black vehicle conveying Leon rolled past them.

The driver, who was dressed in a wealthy man’s suit, steered the wheels like they had become part of him, his eyes locked on the road, unblinking.

The headlights of the vehicle blinked twice as it slowed before a black gate that had the words Storm’s Apartment inscribed boldly on it.

The doors automatically opened after the driver showed his identification card to the cameras and mentioned Leon’s name.

Leon’s eyes remained closed as the vehicle halted at the front of the mansion, where the fountain of water was.

Soft wind blew, carrying with it weak and tiny leaves that turned into a miniature storm and danced at the front of the vehicle.

Shadows stretched on the ground as the moon’s rays moved slightly from the pillars and hid themselves on the smooth edges of the building.

At the left side, Zoe pushed the door open, then exited, Darian standing at her side.

Leon hesitated, imagining how Lily would react when she saw him entering the hallway of the building.

A faint smile tore onto Leon’s lips just as the imagination faded, then transformed into a dreadful stillness when he remembered Longwei’s sacrifice.

Leon pushed the door open, then stepped down. The red cloth wrapped around his neck like a scarf paddled around him as the sweet air carrying the scent of fried food flew into his nose.

He inhaled it once, his eyes closing, shoving his arms into his pockets.

When he cracked his eyes open and glanced at Zoe and Darian, and then tried to take his first step, a loud scream shot at him from the slightly closed door.

"Brother!"

Lily burst out, the door swinging hastily behind her, and crashed hard into Leon. Her speed alone was enough to make Leon stumble half a step.

She wrapped her thin arms, which had now gotten flesh, around Leon’s waist before he could brace himself properly.

"Brother, you really came." Lily pressed her cheeks into Leon’s stomach. "You really came."

Leon looked down at the center of her hair, where the strands seemed to move the more she increased her grip on him.

Lily leaned back, then stared at him, not loosening her grip. "Why are you standing like a statue?" she squinted. "Don’t tell me you forgot me."

A forced laugh escaped Leon. "I forgot you?" He bent down and touched the side of Lily’s waist. "Who else would shout and nearly break my ribs after seeing me for a long while?"

Lily grinned, her amber eyes locking on Leon’s, then grabbed his hands before he could straighten up. "Come. Mom is waiting. Every day she sits and waits to hear your footsteps lancing through the hallway."

A smile tore onto Zoe’s face as she watched the little girl drag Leon toward the entrance.

Leon tried to push the door open, then stopped when he saw the look in Lily’s eyes.

"Don’t. Let me make you feel at home." She turned her gaze, then pushed the door open.

Entering the hallway was like stepping into a king’s banquet. Wow, did that small amount of money buy all these? The joyful thought lanced through Leon’s mind as he marveled at the interior design.

In the far distance, Leon’s boots slowed as he saw Li Mei sitting in her wheelchair, her face turned toward their direction.

"Leon?" her voice came in a low ramble, as if afraid that saying the name too loudly would wake her up from a dream.

Leon’s lips trembled as he broke free from the sudden stillness. "Mom."

Lily loosened her grip on Leon’s arm, then moved to the left, smiling happily. Every step was like stepping on death traps as Leon moved forward. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Li Mei’s hands lifted, trembling as they searched for her son’s face. Leon knelt before her, then moved his head into her palms.

Li Mei’s breath shivered just as she touched Leon’s nose, eyelids, and lips. "You’ve grown thinner. And harder."

Leon swallowed hard, embracing her in a tight grip.

Li Mei lowered her head, her blind eyes facing Leon’s hair, as if she could see through the darkness.

"I’m here, Mom." Tears dripped from Leon’s eyes as he rubbed his face on his mother’s lap.

Deep silence fell in the hall, but was broken when Lily stepped closer. She wiped her teary eyes with the back of her left arm, then walked slowly toward Li Mei and Leon.

Footsteps broke the silence, followed by the swinging of a door. Two fair ladies appeared, one with white hair tied neatly behind her, the other with grey hair.

The white-haired lady lowered herself slowly. "Welcome home, young master."

The grey-haired one followed, her eyes cracking into a charming smile. Yet the anger trailing behind her mind replaced the smile when she saw the little madam watching her.

"Welcome home, young master," Min-ji’s tone changed into a sarcastic one as she shifted her gaze from Lily and looked at the brown-eyed guy.

He’s so handsome. I have to make him mine. She thought, then broadened her smile.

Leon moved out of Li Mei’s grip, then slowly straightened up. "You don’t have to call me that."

Min-seo lifted her head, a genuine smile appearing on her face. "Then what should we call you, sir?"

Lily stepped out from Li Mei’s grip, then stood between Leon and the two maids. "Call him brother."

Min-seo laughed softly.

Min-ji glanced at Lily through the corner of her eyes, her face slightly reddening, then neared the well-arranged table.

"The food is ready," she spoke in a tone that surprised Min-seo, who happened to be her direct twin.

When Leon helped Li Mei to the table and walked to the one Min-seo had pointed out for him, Min-ji shifted just enough for the sleeves of her arm to brush against Leon’s.

"Please, sir. Wash your hands before you start eating." Min-ji said, smiling, then carried the silver bowl from Lily’s front and placed it beside the one that was already in front of Leon.

"I already have one. Send that back." Leon’s brows lifted as he watched the lady turn.

Min-ji’s hips swayed lustfully, but Leon shifted his eyes from her the moment he saw the change in her movement.

The sweet fragrance of the meal passed by their nostrils as Min-ji went and brought extra meat for Leon alone.

Min-seo, on the other hand, brought out fresh fruit, then calmly placed it in front of Li Mei, Lily, and finally Leon.

"Thank you. What’s your name, by the way?" Leon stared at the white-haired lady, carrying an awaiting expression.

Min-seo turned and glanced with a confused expression, looking at her sister.

"I’m Min-ji, and she’s Min-seo, my junior sister." Min-ji forced a smile onto her face as she intentionally pulled down the sleeve of her shirt, the top of her breast splashing into the room.

Leon glanced at her once, then shifted his gaze to the one standing in front of her. "But you’re twins, right?"

"Yes," Min-seo answered this time, Min-ji moving away and rolling her eyes.

At a point, Leon stopped, holding a spoon halfway to his mouth, noticing Lily staring at him and smiling.

After twenty minutes, when they had finished eating, Lily held Leon’s hands, showing him all the rooms and the new equipment Mr. Lee was continuously bringing.

The garden lamp at the edge of the outside garden ignited to life as more stillness lanced through the evening sky.

A faint breeze moved through the leaves like a desperate soul, brushed through Leon’s jet-black hair, and seeped into Lily’s gown.

"Aaaah!" Lily yawned heavily, rubbing her eyes.

"Go inside. I will join you there." Leon tried to let the girl go, but Lily’s stubbornness made her sleep on the tiled floor, holding Leon’s legs.

I won’t go inside without you. Else we are all going together, including Mom. She thought as sleep slowly took her, forcing her eyes shut.

Leon laughed slightly, then had a change of expression when he pulled out the triangular remote controller.

In an instant, Longwei’s face chained Leon’s vision so hard he felt as if the man stood right in front of him.

Do me the honor, brother.

The words flashed in Leon’s head, followed by the memory of Longwei’s blast.