Different Images
On Sunday, my temporary residence in Thousand Stars City was built on a hillside, with white stone steps stacked one on top of another, and two rows of holly bushes at the entrance trimmed exactly the same.
"Perhaps this can be considered a kind of Harmony?" Jingxing muttered to himself.
When he and the Robin entered, Sunday was already sitting in the hall. Three teacups were on the table, steaming. He looked up, his gaze first falling on his sister's thinner face, the distinctive ear feathers of the Halovian trembling slightly behind her ears before tightening again as he turned to Jingxing.
"Have some tea first, to soothe your throat," Sunday instructed her younger sister before gesturing for Jingxing to sit down. "I heard you're an employee of the company now."
"It's just a sinecure." Jingxing pulled out a chair for Robin and sat down beside her.
"If it were just a sinecure, I couldn't possibly not have found your record at the Inverted Restaurant." Sunday's white-gloved fingertips traced the rim of his glass. "So, what have you been doing this past year?"
"It's nothing," Jingxing shrugged. "I just happened to run into Mr. Louis and we had a very pleasant conversation."
Upon hearing the name Louis Fleming, Sunday's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped his glass. According to his adoptive father, that P49 from the Interastral Peace Corporation was no ordinary person; if he were to become aware of his plans...
Sunday's gaze was fixed on Jingxing's face. "So, Mr. Jingxing, answer me—in what position are you sitting here now, a senior executive of the company, or something else?"
The hall fell silent. The Robin's hands, which were resting on her lap, clenched gently.
"Of course, he's her lover." Jingxing met his gaze and took the Robin's hand.
Sunday stopped what he was doing. He hadn't expected this audacious fellow to actually dare to do such a thing in front of him.
"Lover?" He repeated the word. "Back then with Vesna IV, you took her from the hospital without a word of explanation. This past year, she's sent you hundreds of messages, kept her under constant surveillance and control, even needing an application to go out to see a performance. And now you're sitting here telling me, 'lover'?"
Sunday's smile didn't reach her eyes, "What makes you think I can entrust my sister to you with peace of mind?"
"It's true that I'm in the wrong for causing you and Robin worry during this year of no contact." Jingxing didn't argue back, and her attitude was very sincere. "I came with her today not to argue with Mr. Sunday, but to put my sincerity on the table."
On Sunday, he frowned slightly, remained silent, and gestured for him to continue.
"First, Robin's future contracts and schedules will be entirely her own decision; I'll request a review of the company's regulations. Second, I'll gradually loosen the restrictions on her charity work and travel this week. Third," Jingxing paused, "Interastral Peace Entertainment falls under the Traditional Projects Department. As far as I know, the Penacony the Family and Thousand Stars City are in direct competition in some areas; I can act as the company's representative to resolve these conflicts."
Sunday's teacup remained suspended in mid-air.
The fact that a company executive who couldn't find the information was willing to speak up was like having an extra avenue for action. Although the company wouldn't be a big deal if the plan succeeded, it would still be a backup plan if it failed.
On Sunday, he stared at Jingxing for a while, then slowly put down his cup. "You offered such generous terms just so I wouldn't object to you?"
"Yes," Jingxing said frankly. "I want to be with Robin, but she cares about you, her brother. If I don't pave the way for her future and put your mind at ease, she'll always have a knot in her heart. I don't want that either."
"Reassure me?" Sunday's voice suddenly turned cold. "Mr. Jingxing, you came all the way from Xianzhou Luofu, do you really think the Oak Family couldn't track you down? You want my sister, the renowned Halovian singer who's famous throughout the galaxy, to share a partner with that Diviner from Luofu?"
"The rumors won't reach her, and I can control the company's public opinion; as for the Family, Penacony... are they really that concerned?" Jingxing retorted. In any case, if the Family truly cared about Robin, something like that wouldn't have happened at the Vesna IV in the first place.
"As for Luofu, I've never kept it from Little Bird. From now on, I'll stand in front of her every step she takes."
"That sounds nice, but all you're thinking about is how you'll cover for her. What about all the suffering she's endured?" Sunday suddenly turned to Robin, "Sister, tell him I absolutely disapprove of your relationship!"
The Robin had been listening quietly. Now she stood up, walked to Sunday, and gently tugged at her brother's taut sleeve.
"Brother, don't be so angry." Her voice was soft, yet resolute. "Being with Jingxing is my own choice."
Sunday's breath hitched for a moment, and the feathers behind her ears snapped shut, "You're doing this willingly? He hasn't said where he's been all year, and there are other people around him. You're just going to jump into a fire pit with him like this?"
"He didn't hide it from me. He told me everything he'd been doing this past year at the restaurant yesterday." The Robin looked up at him, her eyes slightly red, but her tone was exceptionally earnest. "Brother, I know you've always been afraid I'll suffer, and I'm most afraid of seeing you sad and heartbroken for me."
Although Robin many of her brother's actions, she still wants to say something conciliatory at this moment.
She held Sunday's hand, her fingertips tightening slightly. "But after all these years in the industry, I've learned to take care of myself. Just like the Melodi-Dove we cared for when we were kids, it's time for me to fly to farther places."
Upon hearing "Melodi-Dove" on Sunday, his Adam's apple bobbed violently.
"It seems that the imagery of the Melodi-Dove' is different from his understanding of Little Birds?" Jingxing keenly noticed this.
On Sunday, he didn't shake off his sister's hand, but slowly withdrew his arm, turned around and walked to the window, his back ramrod straight. The sister he had protected for so many years was now begging him to step back in the gentlest of tones.
Jingxing could see that Sunday's fingers, hanging by his side, were clenched tightly, and the Harmony strings vibrated slightly in the air. But looking at the Robin, and then at Jingxing's composed Jingxing, he ultimately suppressed his anger. If he were to take action against someone who appeared to be a high-ranking company executive in Thousand Stars City, his plans would be thwarted.
"... Okay." After a long silence, Sunday finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "I'll agree to it for now."
He walked back to the table, picked up his teacup, finished the cold tea, and put it back. "But until you truly prove yourself worthy of her, I hope you two will maintain a proper distance."