Chapter 447

Sienna and Kelvin were both curious. Sienna asked, "Simon, when did you meet Brad?"

"Russell introduced us."

Simon explained, "He has a charity organization specifically for the work and life of narcotics officers' families. I joined in your and Kelvin's names. It's a good thing—the bigger the team, the better."

He paused, as if thinking of something, then smiled, "They're all wealthy people. We got to know each other over time. His wife lived in Rosewood City for a while. She's on a mission there right now, so he's coming with us."

Kelvin also thought of something and laughed as he picked up on Simon's words, "I bet Electra Ross won't let him go. Otherwise, with how he is, he would've flown over there eight times already. Going with us to see the New Year parade—now that's a good excuse. Even if he gets beaten up, he can confidently say he was forced to go."

Sienna wasn't really familiar with this Electra and was very curious, "Brad doesn't seem like someone who'd get beaten up, does he? Is Electra really that tough?"

Kelvin laughed again, "Do you know that Brad fell for Electra at first sight? He tried everything to win her over and almost lost his life in the process."

Sienna had already moved over to Kelvin, her face full of curiosity, "Tell me more."

Kelvin chuckled, "We need to pack. You can ask Brad yourself."

Sienna shook her head without thinking, "I wouldn't dare. You tell me."

Kelvin squinted, "But the packing..."

Simon refilled his cup with tea and pointed at him, "Packing's not important. You tell us. I want to hear too."

Kelvin sighed helplessly, "Isn't this a bit too gossipy?"

Simon also sat down next to Sienna and handed them both some pomelo, "I'm learning about my business partner, and you two are learning about your comrade and senior. Isn't that pretty good?"

Kelvin said, "I guess that makes sense."

On the morning of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the group met up at a guesthouse in Rosewood City.

They had their own rules for traveling together—go together, come back together, but during the trip, they could do whatever they wanted. They could play together or split into groups. So after everyone had a reunion dinner, they each went their own way.

The elders formed their own group. Because of Ronan and Steven's frustratingly bad photography skills, Simon thoughtfully hired a photographer to take pictures of Isadora and Emma throughout the trip.

Rhett took Benjamin and Eris. Benjamin wanted to see the New Year parade, and Eris wanted to go to the church to pray for the children. Originally, they wanted to go with Isadora's group, but Eris was a bit introverted and worried about causing trouble. Rhett was afraid they'd feel awkward, so he suggested going separately.

Veda and Henry took Henry's grandmother. Her legs weren't good, and she had mild altitude sickness. Whether watching the New Year parade or attending church service, they were afraid she'd get jostled. Henry booked a café with a great location where they could watch the parade from above. When the crowds thinned out, they'd also take Henry's grandmother to the church to pray.

Russell didn't want to disturb Alton and Thea's alone time, so he pulled along Raven, who was also on his own, and the two happily went off to watch the New Year's parade.

Kelvin and Sienna originally wanted to go with Simon, but Simon refused without hesitation, "Are you two a couple, or are the three of us a couple? I'm having a great time on my own. Can you please stop clinging to me at your age? I have my own things to do. I want to be alone."

Sienna didn't ask what things. She just pretended to be sad, "You're already sick of us?"

Simon laughed and pushed them both out of the room, warning Kelvin, "Keep an eye on her. When she goes wild, she's unstoppable."

Kelvin deeply agreed. He held Sienna's hand, their fingers interlaced, "Don't worry, she's in my hands. She won't get lost."

After Sienna and Kelvin left, Chris, who had been deliberately avoiding Simon, slowly came out and shuffled up to Simon, head lowered, calling out, "Simon."

Simon looked at him and sighed softly, saying helplessly, "Lift your head up."

Chris looked up at him, his eyes somewhat guilty. Simon sighed again, stepped forward to straighten his clothes, and when he got to the collar, Chris bent his knees slightly so his eyes were level with Simon's.

He asked Simon, "You knew all along?"

Simon made a sound of acknowledgment and patted his shoulder, "Go on, go find your roots. In this life, people need to know where they came from and where they're going. You're no different."

Chris's eyes showed some stubbornness, "But back then, they really didn't want me."

Even though what happened to him afterward was definitely not what his parents, who abandoned him, had wanted, the source of all the suffering he endured came from his parents not wanting a son who looked like he'd be nothing but a burden to become a leech on them.

They wanted to survive, and that wasn't wrong. But they abandoned their own flesh and blood. Chris knew that no matter the reason, that was wrong.

But time flows like a river. When he discovered that Simon had long since found their whereabouts, he still wanted to see how they were doing now—alive or dead, well or poorly. He wanted to know if abandoning him had really made their lives better.

He hadn't dared to think about how he would feel if they were doing well or badly.

"Can you be back tomorrow morning?" Simon asked him again, "Come with me to the service."

"Yes."

Chris said, "No matter what, I'll come back and go to the service with you."

Chris understood very clearly what the church meant to Simon, so no matter what happened, he would come back—come back to be with Simon, his savior.

"That's good then."

Simon stepped back half a step, "Go on, go and come back soon."

That day, Rosewood City was especially lively.

The people from Seaside City went crazy with excitement. Russell dragged Raven around, jumping up and down, showing immense reverence for this folk culture.

Raven was exhausted and almost cried as he said, "Russell, I'm begging you, please let me go. If this keeps up, forget faith—I'm running out of oxygen."

Russell made a sound of acknowledgment and patted his shoulder sympathetically, shouting over the din of voices, "Here! We may! Lack of oxygen! But! We'll never! Lack faith!"

Thea and Alton were not far from them. Hearing this through the sound of gongs and drums, Thea stood on her toes and shouted in Alton's ear, "Did you hear that! It's that idiot Russell!"

Alton was about to respond when he heard that big idiot Russell shout again, "Rave! Look, that kid fell asleep! Look, that kid's sleeping up there!"

Raven shouted back, "My name's not Rave!"

Russell shouted again, "Well, I can't call you Ravy!"

Raven practically roared, "Is calling me Raven illegal or something!"

Alton couldn't help but laugh. He didn't respond to Thea. The two exchanged a glance, their eyes full of helplessness, and very much in sync, they held hands and moved away from that spot.