Adam stirred awake as the early morning light streamed through the large glass windows, casting a soft glow over the Presidential Suite. He blinked, disoriented for a moment, before realizing where he was—still on the couch. Ling was nestled beside him, her head resting on his shoulder, both of them covered by a warm blanket. Adam assumed his mother must have noticed them asleep and draped it over them.
The previous night had been heavy with questions and lingering tension. Adam’s family had pressed him about the gunfight he’d narrowly escaped, but he’d managed to sidestep their inquiries. Gradually, shock gave way to exhaustion, and one by one, everyone retired to different corners of the expansive Presidential Suite, each finding a space to unwind. For Ling, who had visited her grandfather’s hotel many times, the suite's novelty had long faded, and for Adam, the lavish surroundings held little appeal. Instead, he found comfort on the couch, where Ling eventually joined him, and together they fell asleep, wrapped in quiet companionship.
As he moved slightly to stretch, Adam noticed something different—his arm. The bandage covering his gunshot wound had been replaced with something more secure and professional. The wrap felt firmer, snug against his skin, holding the wound in place much better than before. He flexed his fingers, noting how the pressure of the new dressing gave him more support.
Carefully, Adam shifted, gently lifting Ling’s head to slide out from under her without waking her. She murmured something unintelligible but didn’t stir as he stood. He glanced down at her peaceful face for a moment, then made his way to the kitchenette to prepare a pot of coffee.
As the coffee brewed, Adam walked toward the terrace, his mind drifting to the events of the previous night. It had been chaotic, but they had survived. The morning felt oddly peaceful in contrast, the quietness of the suite broken only by the hum of the coffee machine and the soft rustling of the breeze outside.
With a steaming mug of coffee in hand, Adam stepped onto the terrace and lit a cigarette. The cold morning air bit at his skin, but it felt refreshing. He glanced at the time on his phone. There were still about four hours left before he’d need to log back into Pangea and reapply the Blessings for a Travelling Otherworlder.
'Plenty of time', he thought, while sipping his coffee.
He spent the next half hour scrolling through news updates from Pangea on his phone. There were a few interesting posts on the forums, mostly speculation about upcoming events and discoveries in the game, but nothing urgent.
As he finished his coffee and crushed his cigarette in the ashtray, Adam heard the soft sounds of movement behind him. The rest of his family was waking up.
His mother, Cassandra, was the first to appear at the terrace door. She spotted Adam, standing there in his usual spot with a cigarette between his fingers and a nearly empty coffee mug in his hand.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” she greeted, stepping outside and pulling her robe tighter around her. “How’s your arm feeling? We replaced the bandage last night while you were asleep.”
Adam raised an eyebrow, glancing at his arm. “That explains the new bandage. What happened?”
Cassandra smiled warmly. “When you fell asleep, we checked your wound again. Your father thought it would be better if we re-wrapped it with something more secure. Ling was putting her weight on your arm, so we had to move her.”
Adam nodded, looking back at Ling still peacefully asleep on the couch. “Thanks, Mom. That was probably a good idea.”
Cassandra’s smile grew slightly, and she continued, her voice carrying a barely concealed hint of amusement. “Though, when we moved her, she ended up lying on top of you the entire time we cleaned and treated your wound.”
Adam shot his mother a quizzical look. “Why didn’t you just move her to my other side?”
Instead of answering, Cassandra gave him a teasing smile and turned toward the door. “I’ll go order breakfast now. Eggs and toast, right?”
“Mom?” Adam pressed, but Cassandra only waved him off with a smirk as she disappeared into the suite, clearly enjoying the moment.
Adam sighed, shaking his head slightly.
He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, “You save your entire family from getting shot, and this is what you get in return, huh?”
As the morning unfolded, the rest of the Cosmos family slowly woke up, the tension from the previous night gradually giving way to the comfortable rhythms of family life. The only one still asleep was Ling, who continued to sleep soundly on the couch, curled up under the blanket.
Adam, already on his second cup of coffee, stood near the terrace door when his siblings began to join him outside. Clearly, they were checking to see how he was doing. And, as it would turn out, they had another motive: teasing him.
Nathan was the first to break the silence. "So, just a colleague, huh?" Nathan quipped, leaning casually against the terrace railing with a smirk on his face. His voice was loud enough to draw everyone’s attention. "Because from where I’m standing, it looked a lot more like cuddling."
Adam shot his older brother a look, but before he could say anything, Selene joined in, never one to miss an opportunity.
"Yeah, Adam," Selene chimed in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You were pretty quick to remind us she was just your colleague last night. But that blanket sure tells a different story." She crossed her arms, giving him a teasing grin. "Looks like you two got real cozy."
Adam sighed, shaking his head, but before he could protest, Keira chimed in from the other side. She gave Adam a playful smile and shrugged.
"Hey, for what it’s worth, you guys do look good together," Keira said, her tone genuine but still playful. "And after you saved us last night, I’d say you’re definitely her knight in shining armor." She winked, making Adam roll his eyes.
"Seriously?" Adam muttered under his breath, trying to keep a straight face. But even he couldn’t hide the slight smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Nathan was still smirking, clearly enjoying the moment. "Man, you should’ve seen yourself, bro," Nathan continued. "It’s like something out of one of those cheesy romance dramas. Cuddled up under a blanket with your ‘just a colleague.’"
As Nathan teased him, Adam silently acknowledged the shift in his brother’s mood. He had sensed Nathan’s jealousy and envy during dinner last night, the weight of which had been impossible to ignore. The respect Adam received from Hao Jun, and the way the events had unfolded, had stoked that simmering tension. But seeing Nathan tease him now meant either that his bad mood had subsided or that he, like the rest of the family, had recovered from the disastrous dinner.
Either way, Adam was quietly relieved. He’d rather have Nathan poking fun at him like this than brooding with jealousy.
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Selene, now fully embracing the role of chief teaser, clasped her hands together dramatically. "Oh, Adam! My hero!" she mocked in a theatrical voice, pretending to swoon. "I’m so lucky to be under this cozy blanket with you, my knight in shining armor!"
Adam raised an eyebrow, giving his siblings a deadpan look, but that only fueled the teasing.
"Come on," Adam groaned. "We fell asleep, that’s all."
"Oh, sure," Selene shot back, still grinning. "Just fell asleep."
Even Keira, usually the more serious sibling, couldn't help but chuckle. "If that’s your idea of ‘just colleagues,’ I’m not sure what your definition of dating is."
She continued as she smiled softly. "Hey, I’m not teasing as much as the others," she said, her voice more thoughtful. "But it’s true. After everything last night, seeing you two like that... well, whatever you feel for her, it’s obvious she feels something too. And it’s not a bad thing." She paused, giving him a small nod. "You guys would make a cute couple."
Adam shook his head, but the teasing grin on Nathan's face said it all. "You’re all ridiculous."
Selene burst out laughing at his attempt to dodge the situation, while Keira just gave him a knowing look.
And then, as if the universe wanted to drive the point home, Ling stirred on the couch, slowly waking up. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, still unaware of the teasing that had just unfolded. Adam glanced at her, silently hoping she hadn’t heard anything.
Nathan, ever the opportunist, leaned over and whispered just loud enough for Adam to hear, "Better ask her how she slept. You know, to complete the whole knight-in-shining-armor thing."
Adam glared at him, but before he could reply, his father, Isaac, cleared his throat as Ling also made her way to the group. Isaac had been quiet the entire time, watching the scene unfold with a thoughtful expression. He didn’t join in on the teasing, instead giving Adam a small nod of acknowledgment.
Isaac’s silence said more than words could—he trusted Adam to handle himself, no matter how much teasing he endured. And that was enough.
Ling, still half-asleep, shuffled across the open lounge area, her movements slow and uncoordinated as she heads to the terrace that Adam frequents in order to smoke.
“Good morning...” she murmured in a groggy, almost mechanical voice, barely making eye contact with the Cosmos family as she headed straight for Adam. Without a second thought, she wrapped her arms around him in a loose but affectionate hug and, to Adam’s surprise, planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
The terrace went quiet. Adam, momentarily frozen in place, blinked as Ling continued to hug him, still too sleepy to realize the weight of her actions. She seemed completely oblivious to the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Somehow, the silent teasing that followed felt far more intense than the verbal ribbing from before. Nathan’s smirk widened, Selene raised an eyebrow in mock surprise, and Keira stifled a giggle behind her hand. They didn’t have to say anything; their knowing glances and exchanged looks spoke volumes.
Adam cleared his throat, his face heating up under the weight of their collective gaze. He wasn’t even sure if Ling knew what she’d just done or if she was still stuck in her sleepy haze. Either way, the damage was done.
Ling finally released him, blinking groggily as she slowly came to her senses, completely unaware of her little gesture's effect on the family. Adam glanced at her, silently praying she wouldn’t realize what just happened—or worse, that she wouldn’t ask.
Nathan, of course, couldn’t let it go. Leaning in just enough for Adam to hear, he whispered, “Looks like breakfast isn’t the only thing on the menu today.”
Adam shot him a withering look, but it didn’t help. The teasing, though silent, was deafening.
As breakfast was being served in the suite’s lounge area, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm toast filled the room. Ling, now more awake, joined the family at the table just as the final plate was set down. Before anyone could dig in, the door opened, and Hao Jun appeared with his usual composed demeanor, a warm smile gracing his face.
“Good morning, everyone,” Hao Jun greeted, stepping into the room. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
Isaac stood and shook his hand. “Not at all, Mr. Hao. Please, join us.”
Hao Jun nodded graciously and took a seat at the table. “Thank you. I won’t keep you long, but I wanted to share some good news. I’m happy to announce that the crisis has passed. You should all be safe to leave now.”
There was a collective sense of relief around the table, but Adam, ever cautious, leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady on Hao Jun. “If I may ask, Mr. Hao,” Adam began carefully, “how can you be so sure, especially when your own security team turned on you last night?”
The question hung in the air for a moment, and Isaac and Cassandra exchanged quick glances before turning to Adam with a reprimanding look.
“Adam, that’s—” Cassandra started.
“—not appropriate,” Isaac finished his tone firm.
But Hao Jun held up a hand, a calm smile still on his face. “It’s a fair point,” he said. “After all, my compromised security team and hotel staff did place all of us in danger. If anything, Adam is being very polite for pointing it out.”
Isaac and Cassandra exchanged another glance but didn’t press the issue further. Adam nodded slightly, grateful for Hao Jun’s understanding.
“You see,” Hao Jun continued, leaning back in his chair, “I have several layers of security, and the one in this hotel was just one of many. My other security teams conducted a separate investigation, concluding that it is now safe to leave.”
Adam remained cautious, but he respected Hao Jun’s thorough explanation. “What about the people involved? The waiter, the woman in the gown, the men in suits… What makes you sure they won’t be a problem anymore?”
Hao Jun sighed lightly, folding his hands on the table. “It turns out that the four individuals from last night had family members or loved ones held hostage by unknown parties. That’s what made them do it. They were blackmailed.”
The rest of the Cosmos family exchanged uneasy glances. Ling, who had remained quiet, seemed particularly disturbed by the revelation. Adam noticed her shift in her seat but kept his attention on Hao Jun.
Hao Jun’s gaze softened as he continued. “The police have interrogated the would-be assailants and will face charges. But their loved ones have been rescued, and with their cooperation, we’ll get to the bottom of this. They’re eager to help us identify who’s behind this attempt on my life.”
The room fell silent momentarily, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Then, Hao Jun broke the tension with a light chuckle. “It seems while some unknown people are trying to end me, I’m looking forward to Dr. Cosmos here keeping me alive.” He smiled warmly at Isaac.
Isaac returned the smile and chuckled. “I may not be good in a gunfight, but if it’s about treating you, Mr. Hao, that I can do.”
The light banter lifted the mood around the table, and soon enough, everyone was back to enjoying breakfast. The laughter and chatter returned, easing the tension from the night before.
As they ate, Adam noticed Ling occasionally glance at him, her earlier grogginess now replaced with a quiet awareness of everything that had happened. His siblings were back to their usual selves, with Nathan throwing him the occasional smirk and Selene leaning in with teasing whispers. But even amidst the playful banter, Adam remained focused, the weight of the night’s events still lingering at the back of his mind.
As breakfast progressed, Hao Jun stayed with the Cosmos family, casually chatting and exchanging light banter. The atmosphere had softened, the tension of the previous night easing with each bite of food. Everyone seemed to be slowly returning to a sense of normalcy.
As the final dish was served, Hao Jun set down his fork and cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.
“There’s one more piece of news I’d like to share,” he said, his tone light yet carrying the weight of something important. “I was planning to say this during dessert last night, but… well, we all know how dinner ended.” He paused, a hint of humor lacing his voice as he glanced around the table. “So I’d like to take this opportunity to make my announcement now—hopefully without any interruptions by gunfire.”
The doctors in the family chuckled softly, but the room became hushed as Hao Jun continued.
“As a token of my gratitude for Dr. Cosmos' treatment, I’ve given your family a gift.” His eyes gleamed as he spoke, and he delivered his announcement with a smile. “I’d like to offer you all a one-month stay at the most luxurious vacation destination known to humanity: Arcadia Luna. More specifically, the Lunar Resort.”
For a moment, silence fell over the table. It was as if time itself had stopped. Cassandra, mid-sip of her coffee, froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. Nathan’s fork hovered in the air, forgotten, while Keira and Selene exchanged stunned glances, mouths slightly agape. Ling, sitting quietly at the edge of the table, blinked, utterly shocked by the unexpected news.
Arcadia Luna. Human's first settlement outside of Earth. The name alone was legendary—a place that most people only dreamed of visiting, a paradise so extravagant it was often the subject of fantasy.
Hao Jun’s smile broadened as he took in their reactions, clearly pleased with the effect of his announcement.
The shock rippled through the room like a wave, hitting everyone... everyone except Adam.
He sat there, casually sipping his fourth cup of coffee, his expression unchanged. While his family was clearly stunned by the grandeur of Hao Jun’s offer, Adam merely acknowledged it with a small, respectful nod.