Chapter 2: Echoes of the Past

Li Wei’s heart raced as he contemplated the daunting task ahead. The thought of how long he had to prepare for the impending doom weighed heavily on his mind. Telling his family about the horrors to come felt like a monumental challenge. How could he break the news without sounding like a dramatic news anchor? “Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regularly scheduled breakfast for a special report on the apocalypse!”

For now, he decided to push those troubling thoughts to the back of his mind. He needed to see for himself if the people downstairs were truly his family—alive and vibrant. With determination firming his resolve, he descended the stairs, the familiar creaks echoing beneath his feet like a dramatic soundtrack heralding his arrival.

As he reached the bottom, the sight that greeted him made his breath catch in his throat. There, in the living room, sat his father, Li Jian, reading the morning newspaper as he always did. “I swear, if he’s reading about stock prices again, I’m going to lose it,” Li Wei thought, rolling his eyes. At fifty-two, he still bore a handsome countenance, a comforting pillar of strength—though he sometimes felt like that pillar was covered in old cobwebs and dad jokes.

His gaze shifted toward the kitchen entrance, where the unmistakable sound of his mother, Yun Mei, rang through the air. She was instructing the servants on what to prepare for breakfast, her voice a melody of love and authority. Once a world-renowned actress, her graceful presence and dazzling performances had won her numerous accolades, including international awards. (He sometimes wondered if she had more awards than he had pairs of socks—definitely more than he had left after that one laundry incident.)

Feeling a surge of warmth, Li Wei stepped into the living room and approached his father and older brother, Li Chen. “Good morning, Father! Brother Chen!” he greeted, a smile spreading across his face. The familiarity of their presence filled him with a sense of comfort. It felt surreal, almost like stepping into a dream where everything was right again.

“Ayo , good morning, my son,” Li Jian replied, looking up from his newspaper with a proud smile. “You’re up early! I hope you didn’t stay up too late reading those ridiculous comic books again.”

Li Wei chuckled, a hint of embarrassment creeping in. “Just a few chapters!"

“it is not the first time you've said this,” Li Chen added with a rare smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief. Though he often seemed aloof, moments like these reminded Li Wei that his brother had a sense of humour hidden beneath his serious demeanour.

As they exchanged pleasantries, Li Wei’s heart swelled with joy. The warmth of their bond enveloped him, momentarily dispelling the darkness of his memories. He could almost forget the horrors that awaited them. Almost.

But just then, the sound of the door creaking open interrupted his thoughts, and a chilly breeze swept through the room, sending a shiver down his spine. In walked his second brother, Li Jun, fresh from his morning jog, with their third brother, Li Feng, trailing closely behind.

“Brother Jun! Brother Feng! You’re back early!” Li Wei asked, trying to maintain the light-hearted atmosphere.

"Mmn, i went out for a morning jog and met your third brother on the way to the house,” Li Jun replied, his serious demeanour unyielding.

" Why is third brother home? are you not supposed to be that military camp?” Li Wei asked, earning him a dramatic hug from Li Feng

" I missed my baby brother so much that i couldn't concentrate on my training, so i run away....i am going to get punished but its whatever,” Li Feng shot back, a playful grin lighting up his face.

Li Wei couldn’t help but laugh. “I miss third brother too.”

As they settled into a comfortable embrace, a sense of normalcy washed over Li Wei, momentarily distracting him from the unsettling thoughts swirling in his mind. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it head-on, armed with his wit and survival experiences he had learned from his previous life. After all, the world might be unpredictable, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t find a bit of happiness in their daily lives

The warmth of the moment felt precious, a stark contrast to the shadows that loomed outside their door. He would protect them, and for now, they would enjoy this happiness together.

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