There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 696: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 31

Since Han Joon had been deemed to be physically fine, Laurel decided to bring him to the Peak right away.

Entering an extremely comfortable and luxurious car, Han Joon could only describe the experience he had--on top of other things before--as bizarre. The clothes he wore after changing from the hospital gown were overly comfortable. Certainly, he never wore something that nice before.

When the car passed through Mortix Hill and entered the gate to the Peak, Han Joon almost thought they were going to a historical site or a museum. It was that huge.

His house, equipped with a training ground, was big enough for his father to never see his children unless he specifically called for him. And yet, when he entered the Peak, Han Joon felt his house was small.

There was not just one building; there were several of them, and each one looked like a castle--at least for him. The gate itself was highly secured and manned by a group of guards, and from one building to another, there was a park and river as decoration. And the car, naturally, rolled to the most beautiful of them all; the biggest house located at the ’peak’.

Ah, so that’s why it’s called the Peak--Han Joon thought getting down from the car after a uniformed house staff opened the door for him.

Honestly, looking at the building was dizzying. It was big and dazzling and Han Joon had no idea a place like this could be someone’s home. And this was where he would stay?

Was he still in a dream?

When he was still standing in a daze, the huge double door opened and a red-haired middle-aged man came out. Oh, that must be Dee’s fath--before Han Joon could finish his thought, the man had already come down the steps and hugged him tightly. Dazed, Han Joon could only blink as he was enveloped by the man’s warmth and felt the strong stroke at his back.

Not a belt whip or a stick. A warm hand patting gently.

"Welcome back," the man pulled away and smiled, patting his shoulder this time. "You can treat me as your father if you want, okay?"

"This is my husband," Laurel said.

"Ah, yes."

Han Joon bowed slightly at the man, but Calix patted his shoulder and said there was no need for that between family. "Just take your time to get used to the situation, okay? No one will hurry you."

"Yes...Sir."

There was a forlorn smile on Calix’s face before he walked past Han Joon, and gave his second hug to his son. "It’s okay, you’ll get through this," he whispered. "We’ll get through this."

Han Joon stared at them, touching the front of his stomach. He could still feel the warmth of the hug Calix had given him earlier. Such a nice hug. Laurel’s hug was just like his mother’s, but...Joon had never known what it felt like to be hugged by his father. To be stroked gently at the back and given encouragement.

A father...so that was what a father was supposed to feel like?

"Joon," Laurel called out to him softly, and Joon was reminded that they were still outside and had somewhere to be.

Hurriedly, he followed Laurel inside, following a house staff toward a place that looked like a living room. At any rate, it had a lot of plush-looking chairs. But Joon couldn’t stop to admire the room because he saw the owner of the whole property--who the house staff called ’matriarch’.

Han Joon didn’t know much, but he had learned etiquette before. Well, even if he didn’t, he knew that he had to be polite to the master of the house. So he did what he usually does when greeting his father; politely put his hands on his stomach and bent his waist to bow ninety degrees.

"Greeting...Matriarch," he said, not sure what he should say.

There was a heavy silence that made him wonder if he had done something wrong, so Joon did not dare to raise his head. Well, he would only raise his head once his father allowed him anyway.

"Are you trying to make it easier for me to pat your head?" a light, older voice could be heard, and Han Joon flinched.

That certainly wasn’t what he was doing, but in the next second, he felt a hand stroking his head, patting it. Surprised and confused, he raised his head slightly, and met a pair of crimson eyes that were almost similar to Dee’s.

"Good child," the matriarch kept stroking his head for a while. "You’re a good child, Joon."

Han Joon blinked once, before lowering his head again as his eyes suddenly felt hot. He wanted to say thank you, but his jaw was trembling, so he had to clench it. Only when Laurel told him that it was enough, did Joon straighten his back.

It was weird; this warmth he kept receiving from people he didn’t know. Although...it seemed like he was supposed to know them. He felt guilty about forgetting such kind people, and even more because they didn’t seem to be angry about him forgetting them.

He stood there, taller than anyone in the room. And yet, he felt like a child. Like he was small and curled up and they embraced him gently, wrapping him in a warm cocoon.

It was weird, and overwhelming, and Joon had no idea how to process all of this.

Thankfully, he didn’t have to think about it on the spot. "You must be tired since everything feels new and different from what you know," the matriarch said with the same soft and light voice that Dee had. "Go and have some rest. Badri had prepared your room on the second floor."

Someone in a neat suit approached Joon and led him to the stairs, explaining that his clothes had arrived from his house and had been arranged in the bedroom. The man was so polite and treated him as a ’young master’ that Joon had to turn his head to look at Laurel for confirmation. Was this real? Was it okay for him to receive this kind of treatment?

"Go on, sweety. You can ask him whatever you want," Laurel smiled sweetly and waved in encouragement, and only then did he follow the man without hesitation.

"How interesting," the matriarch muttered while staring at Joon’s straight back, a smile adorning her stern face. "I wonder what turned him into a cheeky kid."

"I know, right? He was such a cute and innocent kid before," Laurel laughed.

"How do I say this..." Calix stroked his palm. He could feel the difference between hugging an adult Joon and a child Joon; the way that the body tensed up and melted after a few seconds of human touch was heartbreaking and endearing at the same time. "I feel like I’m going to see my child growing up in front of me."

"Except we already get a spoiler about how he would turn up," Laurel chuckled. "But it doesn’t lessen the thrill!"

The parents who hadn’t had the joy of seeing their children’s growth for more than a decade now were excited by the prospect of looking over Joon’s growth--however temporary it would be. Their real child, however, could only watch the receding back in silence.

Growth. Yes, growth. It was apparent from how easily surprised Joon was that the man never grew up experiencing the warmth of a family. To be protected, to be praised, to be indulged. Just the sight of chocolate milk brought a sparkle to his otherwise empty eyes. That soul was so empty and scarred that everything became a wonder.

Yes. Han Joon deserved a good environment growing up. Without the need to protect his baby brother. Without the abuse from his father. Without the pressure to be the best. He deserved to be loved, to play and grow up like any other child. Even if it was already three decades late, he deserved a fresh start.

With an empty smile, Radia stroked the rose bouquet on the tea table. A black butterfly had flown inside, probably from the greenhouse at the back, and perched on the flower. It reminded him of Joon; a scarred butterfly.

This time, that butterfly should live in a supportive environment, so that he would become the brightest star in the future. But...

Radia winced slightly as a thorn scratched his finger. The butterfly twitched and flew away, along with the beautiful fantasy.

For Joon to have that fresh start, he should never regain his memory. Because those memories would come with irreversible scars, and the poor butterfly would end up getting wounded again.

Rubbing the blood trickling from his small wound, Radia smiled bitterly. Could he let go?

Could he give Joon that fresh start, even if it means they couldn’t be together?

* * *

Han Joon was beyond bewildered. His life truly turned upside down in a single day.

First, he was given a large and very nice room, with the most comfortable bed he ever slept in. Second, he was given a personal assistant to help him with everything. From the moment he woke up to the moment he slept again at night, the man named Badri would always be there to help him navigate this new daily life--sometimes with a couple of house staff to assist.

Han Joon had always woke up at dawn, because he had to exercise before his father checked on his physic. And then he had to shower in cold water, even during winter, to build endurance. In the past, he would have breakfast in the kitchen with his sister after his mother finished serving his father’s breakfast, but after his mother’s death, he would eat with the cook and the cleaners.

It was wholly different this time. For some reason, the house staff always knew when he woke up. While he sat dazedly on the very comfortable bed, they would come and give him a warm towel to wash his face. They would ask him what he wanted to do next, and advise on what would be best to be worn--because, although they said the clothes were his, Joon had no idea about them at all.

He had only worn what his mother brought for him, and what his father approved--usually a plain shirt, definitely no bright color or motives--so he appreciated the advice. But they also told him that he could wear whatever he wanted, which only made him confused. In the end, he just followed what they chose for him. The clothes were all comfortable anyway, so Joon had no complaints.

What would he complain about when everything was heaven compared to his life under his father? There was even a cookie tin on his side table in case he wanted to snack on something, and he never had to make his bed because the house staff already did that before he could move.

But the biggest blessing had always been the breakfast.

"Today, Young Master Radia will come for breakfast," Badri sneakily told him when Joon was staring at his wardrobe.

He flinched and his fingers started to fidget. Again, he felt his heart racing fast and his face getting increasingly warm. Why did he always feel like he had a fever every time they mentioned Dee?

"Umm..."

"I already prepare the tub, Young Master. Please take your time," the valet smiled while gesturing toward the bathroom.

"The clothes--"

"I’ll make sure to prepare the best one. What about that dark blue sweater? It goes well with your complexion."

Young Han Joon had no idea what this man was talking about, but he heard it would make him look his best, so he nodded.

Mm. Breakfast time was definitely his favorite.