Despite his nosebleed and his existential confusion, the realisation that he was no longer a captive finally registered.
He looked up at Ji'an, tears of sheer, overwhelming relief washing away the grime on his cheeks.
"Wuwuwu, Third Brother! You came for me," Xuan sobbed, lunging forward and wrapping his arms tightly around Ji'an's waist, burying his face in her muddy apron. "I thought I was going to die. I thought he was going to eat my soul... Boohoo..."
Ji'an stiffened for a second, entirely unused to physical affection from her estranged siblings.
But the maternal, protective chef instincts took over.
She dropped the spatula to her side and placed a comforting, flour-calloused hand on the back of the boy's head, awkwardly patting his messy hair.
