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After living through the apocalypse for 10 years, Qin Luo has long forgotten that a courier service even existed. You cannot blame him, to him the present world felt like deja vu, it felt familiar yet at the same time it felt different. He believes that anyone who had survived the apocalypse would feel the same.
In a world that was swamped with zombies, demi-zombies, terrifying mutant animals and plants… if it were not for the sight of ruined buildings you wouldn’t believe that you were still on Earth as everything around you was no longer what is used to be.
The courier personnel couldn’t help but to frown and purse his lips as he watched Qin Luo make his way down the stairs slowly. This household was filled with strange people. First there is an old man who is trying to steal the package from right under his nose and then a tanned, muscular middle-aged man was starting at the package with eager eyes. What’s worse was the youth that was descending the stairs was taking his own sweet time, acting more like an elderly compared to him! It’s hateful how he could not just roll his eyes at them.
Aunt Liu felt suspicious. Qin Luo has been acting strangely today. She thinks it might be because he hurt his brain when Grandpa had hit him with the wok earlier. Her heart ached, she had no children and she felt Qin Luo was her own. She raised him watching him s.h.i.t and pee and loved him like her own son.
Qin Luo’s heart sank when he spotted the wooden box by the foot of the courier personnel. It seemed to be similar to the box in his memories. He rushed to open the box but was quickly interrupted by the courier personnel.
“Sir, may I trouble you to sign for it please?”
Qin Luo stared blankly and then remembers that, yes, before the apocalypse there was such a procedure for deliveries. He hastily signed his name and turned his attention to the wooden box.
Grandpa and Uncle Liu excitedly crowded over Qin Luo, trying to partic.i.p.ate in the opening of the package. They remembered the boxes that were previously delivered had always carried delicious things.
Qin Luo’s heart is currently caught in his throat. He desperately prayed that the box did not contain what he suspected it would. In his memories, on the 15th of September, he received a gift from his sister for his upcoming 19th birthday – it was a small, long-range, wireless remote controlled aircraft. A letter came along with the gift and from there he received news of his sister boarding the plane that would carry the 24 researchers.
Qin Luo’s heart almost stopped when the box was finally opened. The familiar texture and white body, a brand new, infinite distance, remote controlled airplane sat neatly in the box.
Qin Luo turned to Aunt Liu and asked in a trembling voice, “Aunt Liu, date – what is the date today? What is the date today?”
Aunt Liu was startled by the question, she felt confused as she saw him looking at her with a face that was about to cry, “July- the 28th of July. Why? What’s wrong?”
The timing is off, there is hope still. Qin Luo desperately comforted himself. He turned his attention back to the box, taking out the plane and also the items below it, those were for his Grandpa and Uncle Liu. After giving the box a once over, he did not find anything that was remotely close to a letter.
“That’s not right.” Qin Luo’s brows furrowed and he took back the items his Grandpa and Uncle Liu was secretly trying to sneak away. He checked each item carefully under the scrutiny of the two men and still not a sc.r.a.p of paper was found.
Aunt Liu was doubtful as Qin Luo looked like he was looking for something and with such desperation. It was making her uneasy.
“Xiao Luo, what are you looking for?” Aunt Liu asked with a face of worry.
“A letter or postcard? Anything that could contain a message… Wasn’t she always obsessed with including something of that sort when mailing us parcels? Why can’t I find any?”
Aunt Liu huffed, didn’t this stinky brat use to complain that his sister’s behaviour was dumb? That sending a letter to her brother accompanying his gift was just a waste of money? This time there was no letter and now is seems like the sky would collapse on him.
Clearing her throat, Aunt Liu kindly reminded, “Yesterday afternoon, didn’t you complain about receiving an awkward e-mail from her?”
“E-mail?”
Qin Luo did not have the slightest impression of it but since Aunt Liu had said this, he rushed to his room and turned his computer on before logging into his mailbox.
There was an e-mail two days back and the sender was his indeed his sister, Qin Ya.
Ignoring the embarra.s.sing pleasantries, Qin Luo quickly pinpointed the important information form the e-mail.
Xiao Luo, your sister cannot accompany you this birthday. My husband and I have a very important job. We will be very busy with a confidential extended research so I have sent you a birthday present in advance. Although I can’t tell you much, I promise you that this is going to be a great breakthrough. Even if I don’t think of you every day, I will still pray for you and your well being. The flight will be taking off in about half an hour, the sunshine in San Lorenzo is bright and it fills my heart with great hope. I hope my 24 colleagues…
This novel is translated by – The Sounds of Soothing Rain – Please kindly read it on our site.
San Lorenzo, flight, 24… Qin Lou was screaming in his head.
Aunt Liu was worried and so she secretly followed Qin Luo up the stairs. She walked into his room when she saw his door was left ajar. Qin Luo had both his computer and television turned on with the foreign news broadcasting. He was staring intently at the television with a pale complexion.
“Xiao Luo, what is wrong Xiao Luo?” Aunt Liu can no longer pretend to be calm. This child was really acting strange today.
Qin Luo lifted his hand slowly and pointed to the television screen. Aunt Liu heard the news of a plane crash being broadcasted and Qin Luo did not utter a single word. She felt her heart sinking towards the ground. She had a vague sensation that Xiao Luo was giving her some really bad news.
“My sister – my sister and her husband, they are both on that plane.”
“There – there won’t be a mistake.” Aunt Liu questioned with a shaking voice.
Qin Luo with a pale face nodded.
Aunt Liu’s body swayed, if Qin Luo had not been there to support her, she would have fallen onto the floor.
“What is this?! G.o.d, can’t you show our family some sympathy. This one is so old, and the young are still small, how are we going to survive…”
Aunt Liu slid to the floor bursting into tears.
Qin Luo’s eyes welled up with tears but since he had experienced it 11 years ago, it allowed him to cope better than Aunt Liu. After experiencing the apocalypse, death is a blessing compared to living but to give up before fighting for life was worse than dying. Since the Heavens have given him a second chance, he cannot give up so easily. Even though he did not manage to save his sister and her husband, he must at least retrieve Qin Ke and protect Grandpa along with Aunt and Uncle Liu.
He helped Aunt Liu to her feet and brought her to her room. He will wait for Aunt Liu’s emotions to settle slightly before discussing the issue of raising Qin Ke.
When Aunt Liu saw that Qin Luo had picked himself up quickly, she too stopped her tears but the worries in her heart could only increase. First let’s not mention the high status the House of Donaldson holds in the UK, Xiao Qin Ke’s Uncle George was also someone with quite a status. If their Qin Family was as glamorous and powerful as it used to be, they would not need to worry about the Donaldson’s. However, since the disappearance of Qin Luo’s parents in the Amazons, his Grandfather who had brought a search team and has since never returned, the Qin Clan fell. If it wasn’t for the support they still had from Grandpa, their days would have been far worse. Sadly the G.o.ds were unmerciful, on the year Qin Luo turned 15, Grandpa also met an accident and turned mad; leaving her and one child. What can they use to fight the Donaldson’s for custody of Qin Ke?
Moreover, Qin Ke’s Chinese name was given by Xiao Ya but he had another common name, an English name, Rees Donaldson. Aunt Liu remembers hearing Qin Ya speaking of how the Uncle of Qin Ke had been awarded a t.i.tle by the Queen. Although, Aunt Liu does not know the specifics of this t.i.tle but it should be similar to the t.i.tle of Bei Le.* For a child born into this type of family, surely they would not allow commoners like them to raise him. Not to mention they are separated by half a globe.
*T/N: Bèi Lè 贝勒 is a n.o.bility rank in the Qing Dynasty.
Qin Luo told Aunt Liu to fret not. He had a will left by his sister and her husband stating that if they ever meet an accident, Qin Luo will have custody of Qin Ke.
Aunt Liu did not have good understanding of legal issues but after hearing Qin Luo’s statement, she felt relieved. If Qin Ke could be brought back, she would have a better peace of mind. Who knows if the little one would be abused there? She has seen many situations on television, those people never have any good intentions. She deliberately asked Qin Luo to book a ticket within these few days and quickly bring Qin Ke home.
Qin Luo nodded again and again, and said a few words to comfort Aunt Liu before returning to his room.
The statement he made earlier was naturally, just to comfort Aunt Liu. Not to mention Qin Ya had not ever having written a will, it would also legally be invalid. However for that Uncle of Qin Ke, Qin Luo had previously done research on him after the incident, and found out he had a lot of unspeakable secrets.
After the outbreak of the virus, those deeds did not count for anything. However, before the apocalypse, it was enough to drag a well-known English household down to the gutters. With this information in hand, Qin Luo is confident that George would give up the custody of Qin Ke.