A Family of Four Reunited

"Shanks, it's been so long. Did you miss your big brother?"

Jin An smiled and flicked Shanks's little nose, then lifted him onto his shoulders.

"H-How could I... Y-You... I didn't miss you at all."

Shanks's little face reddened as he turned his head away, but the joy in his heart was already written all over his face.

"So that's how it is. Big brother is so hurt." Jin An saw right through Shanks's expression and deliberately sounded dejected.

Hearing Jin An's tone fall, Shanks panicked. "I-I did miss you a little..."

Ginny and Bartholomew Kuma watched the pair of clowns with mixed amusement and exasperation. One was a tsundere little brother obsessed with his big brother, while the other was a little-brother-obsessed big brother who loved pranks. Truly, people who belonged together became family.

"Thank you for taking care of Shanks during this time."

Jin An felt a little embarrassed. He had thought he would only be gone for an afternoon, but he had ended up returning this late.

Ginny's little face hardened, and she said evenly, "Listen to you. How could we dare not do as Colonel Jin An ordered..."

"Just make sure you comfort the child properly in the future. Don't make him worry about you again."

Hearing that something was off in Ginny's tone, Bartholomew Kuma hurriedly explained, "She didn't mean it like that... Don't be angry with Ginny..."

Jin An smacked Bartholomew Kuma on the head and burst out laughing. "Kuma, Ginny's going to have you wrapped around her finger someday."

"With my strength, you can relax. Even if I can't beat them, I can still run."

The three of them had lived together for so many years. Though they were not family by blood, they were closer than family.

Ginny's earlier words had been a jab at him as a friend, for burying himself in work and neglecting how his family felt.

The little girl clearly had many things she wanted to say, but she was simply too shy.

Shanks tilted his head, looking like he was enjoying some juicy gossip. "Kuma, are you getting all flustered because you care too much?"

He understood everything Ginny and Jin An had said. It seemed there was something going on between Brother Kuma and Sister Ginny.

Ginny blushed furiously. "What are you talking about? Keep talking, and I'll ignore all of you..."

Over these past few years, she and Bartholomew Kuma had long regarded Jin An as an older brother. There was no need to question how close they were.

As Jin An and Shanks joked around, the unease in her heart gradually faded. Like Bartholomew Kuma, she had been deeply worried for Jin An's safety, but she had been too embarrassed to say it in front of the child.

"Huh?" Bartholomew Kuma looked confused. He clearly knew every word they had said, but once they were put together, he could not understand them at all.

"Let's go. We're heading home together. Tonight, I'll cook you all a feast." Jin An spoke grandly.

"..."

"Colonel Jin An, where am I supposed to go?"

Huo Shaoshan, who had been following behind Jin An, could not bear to disturb the colonel's warm family reunion. But if he remained silent any longer, he would have nowhere to go.

"Uh, Huo Shaoshan, I almost forgot about you." Jin An smacked his forehead, making Shanks on his shoulders sway along with him. "Did you see the tallest building on the island?"

Huo Shaoshan nodded honestly. "I did."

Before getting off the ship, he had already taken note of the island where he would be working and living. How could he have missed such an impressive tallest building?

"Since you saw it, go report there directly. I've already spoken with Kuzan."

After saying that, Jin An waved at Huo Shaoshan and headed toward their home with Bartholomew Kuma and the others.

"Have I been abandoned..." Huo Shaoshan muttered to himself.

The warship that had brought them to the Sorbet Kingdom had already sailed back, leaving him alone to stand in the sea breeze in utter disarray.

"..."

"Excuse me, are you Huo Shaoshan?"

An excited voice sounded especially pleasant amid the sea breeze.

"That's right, I am."

Huo Shaoshan looked at the marine walking toward him, unable to put his excitement into words. Someone here actually knew him. He was no longer a lone traveler.

The man stepped forward excitedly and tightly grabbed Huo Shaoshan's hand, as though he had found a brother lost for many years.

"Meeting you is better than hearing about you. I'm Kuzan. Welcome to the Sorbet Kingdom Branch."

"Colonel Jin An should have already told you about my situation, right?"

Unused to Kuzan's enthusiasm, Huo Shaoshan nodded reflexively.

Kuzan looked at Huo Shaoshan before him and thought, A savior has finally arrived. I've been working overtime for an entire month. I'm about to drop dead from exhaustion.

He trusted the ability of anyone the colonel recommended. Once Huo Shaoshan reached the branch, he would surely be able to start working right away and help ease Kuzan's burden.

Huo Shaoshan was on the verge of collapsing inside. He silently pulled his hand back and discreetly wiped it behind his back.

Did I run into a pervert? My sexual orientation is perfectly normal.

But this was someone personally designated by the colonel, and it seemed he could not refuse. The more Huo Shaoshan thought about it, the bleaker his future seemed.

Is giving in to him my only option?

Huo Shaoshan struggled for a moment, but in the end, he put his hand back...

Mom, I'm no longer pure...

Kuzan noticed Huo Shaoshan's movement and assumed he had met a kindred spirit who understood his meaning. He immediately grabbed his hand and ran. He finally had help!!!

"Ginny, let me tell you, Kuma's mind is a little slow, and he can be rather stubborn too... You need to say some things directly to him, or that guy... even dogs would shake their heads at him."

On the way back, Jin An spoke earnestly. He could see Ginny's feelings, but he also understood Bartholomew Kuma's personality.

"Jin An, what are you talking about..." Ginny's little face burned, but she still chose to play dumb.

"Ah..."

Deep down, Bartholomew Kuma had always feared that his identity would implicate others. He did not dare reveal his feelings, nor did he dare grow too close to them, which had shaped his quiet and taciturn personality.

Jin An felt that he had worried himself sick over this, yet they still did not seem to dare reveal their feelings.

"Let nature take its course..."

"What? What?" Shanks, who had been running about happily, seemed to have heard a keyword and darted over to Jin An in a flash.

"Children should go play somewhere else." Jin An gave Shanks a head pat and sent him aside.

Shanks's expression turned solemn as he loudly protested, "I'm not a child anymore!"

"Alright, alright, I know. When we get home, I'll give you some BC Calcium Milk. Now go play first." Jin An nodded perfunctorily.

He truly could not understand why this little brat was so fond of pretending to be an adult.

After running off, Shanks suddenly realized and gritted his teeth. "Isn't he still treating me like a child..."

"One day, I'll let you know... just how amazing I am... Hmph."

"But BC Calcium Milk really is delicious..."

Ginny pursed her lips beside them. And he's trying to lecture us, when he can't even figure out what Shanks is thinking.

All Shanks wanted was to become an adult so that he could help Jin An.

Ginny looked at Jin An's back. Though his body was not particularly strong, it gave all of them an overwhelming sense of security and allowed them to grow up without a care in the world.

"Sometimes, you can rely on us a little more too, you foolish big brother..."