Meanwhile, as Blood Venom and Ai converse...

[Reconnecting...19%] ​​

Ethan was impatiently waiting for Ai to finishing. Unbeknownst to him, Ai was already connected to the person he wanted to call and was having a 'good' conversation.

"Ai, I know you're upset. But, all of this is for your mommy, okay? I left because I don't want her to hate me. Now, I came back because I wanted to protect her." Ethan slowly and softly consoled the child-like computer.

[Why does mommy need your protection? Why as Red Dragon?] She asked.

"Because...your mommy is White Bird."

...

..

.

[Connecting complete. Video calling Blood Venom in 3...2...1...]

"BOSSSS!" The screen turned on and flashed a familiar person. Blood Venom, from a hot-blooded and cool youth into an unhygienic man with an unshaved face and long, disheveled hair. His once sharp eyes became red from all the exposure in the computer with huge, black eye-bags under them.

...that's...all it took? Ethan blinked as he stare at the familiar yet unfamiliar man.

My artificial daughter, aren't you being too biased?!

From the other side, Blood Venom stared at his screen without blinking. This masked man is definitely his boss, without a doubt. Just look at him! Even with the mask he's certain that his boss was still the same lad back then, ridiculously hot!

God of time, aren't you being too biased?!

***

"You look horrible." Lillie bluntly said upon looking at Ethan's tired eyes and disheveled hair.

"Thanks." He muttered, lethargically as he slumped on the armchair. Lillie placed down her cup of tea and began to place a new, filling it with the aromatic, warm tea.

"Here you go." She offered, pushing the saucer with a cup towards him. Ethan preferred coffee and does not enjoy drinking tea that much. But, since his wife made it and offered him one, he'll gladly indulge.

Expecting a bitter, herb-ic taste, Ethan was stunned by the wonderful, sweet flavor the tea produced. The flavor bursted and danced around his tongue, his nostrils was filled by the sweet, aromatic smell of nectarines and roses.

"It's rose nectarine tea. Father was here a while ago and gifted me some that he got from Hangzhou." [1]

"It's best served cold but I prefer it warm." She added.

"It's good." He muttered. The tensions from his body eased and the tiredness evaporates. Maybe because it was his wife whom made the tea that it took a good effect on him.

"Mr. Bai came you say?" Retracting her words, he grew curious.

"En. He wanted—no, my 'family' wanted for me to take a break from work." She said.

"Isn't that good?" Suddenly, Ethan felt suspicious.

"Take a break...how?" He questions again.

"I'm currently unemployed." She responded, indifferently.

"...!?"

"Father fired me just a few hours ago."

"Pffft?!" Ethan almost choked on his tea. Lillie stared with humor glinting on her eyes. She never knew he had the ability to express these kinds of reactions. If those people, who knew him as the cold and aloof CEO, saw this scene, they would surely pray for world peace.

"It's not that big of a deal, really. My brother needs this opportunity to be trained. Plus, I can finally focus on other things like the Underworld." Lillie purposely didn't tell him about the whole vacation thingy.

For Lillie, working full time on her organization for a month may count as a 'vacation'. Or maybe, she can also focus on the new company she and Ethan built. Hmm...however, the former needs her full attention.

Then it's decided, "I'll be within the HQ more often from now on." She softly uttered. Ethan has finally recovered from the shock and frowned at her in concern.

"Your family said to take a break means no business or Underworld work. In the first place, I created all of the mess you're trying to fix. So, how about you let me take responsibility for it?"

Lillie was silent. Ethan's words had crawled up to her heart and burst into warm flames.

What is this feeling?