"Hey Dad, care for a one-on-one?" A teenager of about 15 or so, with gleaming hazel eyes and flashy pearly white teeth wiped some sweat off his face with a towel from a nearby bench as he held onto the basketball with a single arm . He is already at 175 cm, but he is still growing taller .
The father he was talking to just arrived and had just parked his car in the garage .
He took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves . "You don't know whom you're up against . " The older version of the teenager smirked as he removed his tie .
They played about 5 rounds before someone called out from the house .
"Master, Young Master . . . the Mistress and Young Mistress have arrived . " A uniformed servant came to politely inform them .
Verdan Zhou pa.s.sed back the ball . "You know what that means .
Dmitri Zhou chuckled .
They both went back into the house to wash up .
Advertis.e.m.e.ntMidori Zhou looked at her husband who just came into their bedroom drenched in sweat .
"So, did you beat him?"
He chuckled . "He is still too young . "
"Were you as good as him when you were his age?"
"You don't remember?" He reached out to embrace her .
"Hey, quit it! You're full of sweat!"
"Hmmn . . . we can shower together then . " He kissed her on the neck and hugged her tighter .
An hour had pa.s.sed and the servants called out for dinner .
The dinner table conversation was about waking up early the next day even though it is a weekend .
"Tomorrow, anyone who fails to get oneself ready by 6 AM willbe left here in City S . " declared Dan .
"We're going out of town, Daddy?" Misaki, the youngest, now twelve, asked with gleaming eyes .
"Not just out of town, Darling . We're going to City O . " Dan beamed a gentle smile towards her .
"Oh, nice! I have never been in the Old Capital . " Dmitri was excited as well .
.
The following day, the family went to visit City O . After some sight-seeing, the children were confused as to why they suddenly visited a graveyard .
Verdan Zhou held his children at bay as his wife paid her respects to one of the tombstones .
Dmitri frowned as he read the name . Aoi Xiu taught him her language . Though he still sucks at calligraphy, he can read well .
When they checked into their family room within a ryokan, the ladies went on to dip into the female spring .
The guys went into their own hot spring shortly after .
Dan noticed a change in his son's att.i.tude .
"Buddy, what's up?" he asked cautiously . Teenagers can be unpredictable .
"Dad, the tomb we visited . . . it's the guy with a portrait with Mom, right?"
Dan blinked . "Yes, the one at the farthest in our memories room . "
"Dad, how could you tolerate this? You love Mom that much?" Dmitri's brows were too close to each other . He took a deep breath . "She married that guy before . Why do we keep their wedding portrait in our memories room? Aren't you insulted? Plus, you even gave the excuse of coming here just so she could visit his grave! Dad, I mean no disrespect to the dead, but I just . . . I feel bad for you . " Dmitri poured out his thoughts . After all, it is his father who is with him .
Contrary to his expectations, Dmitri saw his father smile .
"Dmitri . . . your Uncle Ryuuji means so much to your mother . . . " he paused .
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However, before Dmitri could interrupt, the deep voice of Verdan Zhou rang .
"But believe it or not, I am the most thankful for his existence in our lives . Yes, he married your mother behind my back . But then again, it was when I turned my back on her, on you guys . Indeed, he tried to keep you and your mom for himself, but if he did not love you and your mom . . . " Dan turned to face his son . "I believe, I would not be able to be with you again . . . and to see you grow up . "
Dmitri felt even more confused that his knitted eyebrows became tighter, but his gaping mouth said nothing .
"When you were kidnapped, he sacrificed his life to protect you and your mother . I was there, but I was late to react . In a way, it's like I owe him my life . . . because I can't go on living if I lost you that day . I will forever recognize his love for your mother . It was like no other . . . and I will be forever grateful of his generosity . "
"But Dad, doesn't Mom always say that you are her one true love?"
"Exactly . " Dan chuckled . "Your Uncle Ryuuji knew that, but he still loved her anyway . Dmitri, your mom and I . . . we were lucky . We are fortunate enough to find each other . . . to fall in love and to stay with each other . Your mom . . . is my only love . Dmitri, when you find someone . . . it is alright to fight for her, but the most important thing is . . . to make her happy . "
"So Uncle Ryuuji wanted Mom to be happy . . . "
Dan ruffled his son's hair . "Now you get the picture . "