Chapter 116: Family Consensus

His eardrums buzzed and even the scene before him began to distort.

As his Father roared in anger Lu Xin felt swept into a chaotic tide, an inexplicable pressure building inside him. It made him want to scream and break everything apart.

Father stared intently at him, seemingly waiting for an answer.

But Lu Xin just frowned, not answering, as if he couldn’t hear anything.

“If everyone’s dead who will pay the child’s salary?”

Mom spoke up then with a charming smile. She sat elegantly on the sofa her legs crossed under the light, looking utterly captivating.

As she spoke Lu Xin finally felt a measure of calm return.

Her voice continued softly, “If everyone is dead who will keep this city running?”

“Would an empty city be any fun?”

…

Father couldn’t answer the question but his breathing grew noticeably heavier.

Mom’s voice remained gentle and rational her beautiful eyes fixed softly on Father. “Really we should be reasonable. Since we’ve done things others can’t how can we take away their right to be afraid?”

“Not everyone dislikes going out like you do. The world is better with a bit of liveliness…”

…

*Crack… crack…*

Father glared fixedly at Mom his fists cracking as he clenched them. His arms seemed to bulge slightly.

Mom merely watched him with a faint smile her gaze unwavering, even carrying a hint of provocation.

Seeing they looked ready to fight again Lu Xin felt a headache coming on.

Mom couldn’t actually beat Father in a fight but she always provoked him. Sometimes she clearly had ways to intimidate him but she rarely used them.

Thinking back it seemed she only used those methods when Father turned his attention to him.

However this time they were perhaps having a serious discussion.

Or maybe it was because they’d already had a huge fight before Lu Xin got home.

This time Father was furious but not to the point of physical violence.

Mom only glanced provocatively at Father for a moment before her gentle refined eyes settled back on Lu Xin. “Of course, to be fair Mom is very reasonable but you really did act a bit weak.”

“When those people fled you chose to save someone first. Mom understands that but what about now?”

…

Lu Xin understood Mom’s implication.

No wonder they hadn’t started fighting again. Their stance was actually the same now.

This made him fall into thought.

He subconsciously looked at Father Mom and Sister huddled beside him.

They were so real so vivid each with their own personality and all looking out for each other in their own way.

…

…

“If you don’t want others to kill you then you must strike them first before they harm you!”

“You need to make them understand they shouldn’t have provoked you…”

Father ground his teeth slightly staring intently at Lu Xin as he spoke slowly his eyes bloodshot.

“You’re a big kid who’s been working for many years now…”

Mom smiled gently at him then. “Sometimes being too soft-hearted isn’t a good habit you know…”

Their voices one angry one gentle.

But both seemed desperately trying to convey something to Lu Xin.

It made him unconsciously zone out a strange emotion growing within him.

…

…

“Brother didn’t do anything wrong…”

While Father’s anger simmered and Mom gently pointed out the issue Sister suddenly popped her head out and shouted.

Her voice was very loud yelling forcefully at Father and Mom.

Her small hands gripped Lu Xin’s arm tightly as if afraid he’d suddenly run off.

“Hm?”

Mom looked at Sister seemingly surprised then covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Amidst the laughter her gaze quietly swept over Sister’s face looking somewhat peculiar.

But Sister didn’t notice Mom’s expression. She leaned out most of the way making a fierce face at Father.

“You damn brat! Stupid girl! You don’t understand anything…”

Faced with Sister’s defiance Father suddenly flew into a rage.

He roared fiercely surging to his feet. His figure became abnormally tall blocking the light from the living room’s only pendant lamp which hung about two meters off the floor casting a vast shadow.

The shadow enveloped Lu Xin and Sister wavering as the light bulb swayed.

“What Brother did wasn’t wrong.”

Sister got scared and shrank back behind Lu Xin but still muttered under her breath.

“Shut up!”

Father cursed harshly his anger seemingly growing.

He approached step by step the shadow he cast growing larger.

With the light behind him only his blood-red eyes seemed visible.

“Stop scaring Sister.”

Lu Xin held Sister tighter as she curled into a small ball beside him. He frowned and spoke to Father.

Twisted veins pulsed beneath Father’s taut skin but hearing Lu Xin’s words his palpable rage wasn’t unleashed. He merely shifted his gaze to Lu Xin who sat on the sofa shielding Sister.

His voice was fierce and angry. “Even if you have to do your job are you just going to ignore yourself?”

“Those people nearly tore you apart nearly turned you into pulp with bullets! Then they left without a word. Are you planning to be indifferent like before? Are you just going to let them get away so easily?”

…

The atmosphere in the room instantly became somewhat delicate.

Hearing this Mom just sat quietly smiling elegantly.

Sister seemed slightly wary tilting her head to look at Lu Xin’s profile.

Seeing Sister like this Mom also smiled softly and said, “Of course your brother isn’t wrong. He did the right thing!”

“It’s just that now we need to discuss what comes next. Those people did bad things stole that painting. Although everyone else thinks those people from outside the city came just to steal the painting if you think carefully is it really that simple?”

“If they only wanted the painting why did a mentally modified person come looking for you initially? Why did that bomb detonate specifically in South City? Wouldn’t it be more convenient if it were closer to the port?”

“So what should we do?”

…

Listening to this Sister whether she understood or not seemed to drift off absentmindedly.

Mom smiled. “Besides outside the city is fun! We’ve never been out…”

Sister’s eyes brightened slightly…

…

…

While his family discussed these matters in a relaxed and cheerful manner Lu Xin remained sitting quietly on the sofa.

A strange smile crept onto his face for some unknown reason.

He looked up and saw Father’s bloodshot eyes Mom’s elegant smile and Sister’s curious excitement.

“You all make good points…”

He nodded lightly speaking as if with some emotion.

“You agree this time?”

Father paused for a moment before looking directly into his eyes and asking in a low voice.

Beneath the angry expression a hint of excitement perhaps even anticipation could be detected.

“It should be said…”

After a moment Lu Xin nodded lightly and spoke softly.

*Zzzt…*

Perhaps because the building was old and poorly maintained the voltage became unstable. The distinct sound of erratic electrical currents could be heard.

The pendant bulb in the living room began to flicker.

This caused Lu Xin’s face to alternate between being cast in the shadow thrown by Father and complete darkness.

Even his expression was unclear—he seemed to be smiling yet also appeared very calm.

His voice however slowly rose, “I had already decided before I came home this time.”

“I came to you just to confirm whether you would support me…”

…

Hearing this Father whose expression had been expectant suddenly looked strange.

Then he slowly stared at Lu Xin the corners of his mouth pulling back gradually forming a smile.

At this moment his smile looked remarkably like Lu Xin’s.

…

…

After some time Mom stood up gracefully. Just then the voltage in the room stabilized.

The light became steady casting an even bright and warm glow over the small living room.

“See? Isn’t it much better to discuss things properly…”

Mom rose lightly and began to summarize the ‘meeting’ with a smile. “It’s settled then happily decided.”

“Shall we… go find them?”

…

Hearing her words Father gave a cold silent nod.

Sister hugged Lu Xin’s arm seemingly waiting only for his opinion.

Lu Xin also nodded calmly. He quite liked reaching a mutual conclusion through this kind of friendly and pleasant discussion.