Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

As the last day of the year, Jing city's airport brimmed with people who were excitedly returning to their homes to spend new year eve with their families. 

Well, who doesn't want to spend their time with their loved ones? 

Away from the chirpy crowd, Lee Tae Yang sat in the waiting lobby with his kids. Unlike their usual cheerful nature, the twins appeared silent as they buried their eyes deep into storybooks, like a sophisticated scholar. 

Watching the twin's particular behaviour inherited from their mother, he couldn't help but smile in content. Though they resemble him, their mannerisms were exactly like their mother. 

After the twins argued with Li Juan, they decided to send their mother away to reflect on her mistakes. However, the very next day, they started to miss her. 

Of course, they loved their father, but it was their first time staying with their mother and it took quite a big toll on the twins that they even burst into tears with Li Juan's sudden absence. 

The last two days without Li Juan was enough for them to understand that their world revolved around her. Her absence made them admit the fact that home without their mother was not at all the same. 

"Daddy," Little Hyun raised his eyes from the book when he saw his father was looking at them.

"Can we buy a gift for mommy?" He asked in a breathy little voice, doubting whether it was the right thing to say. 

"Like a new year gift?" Lee Tae Yang asked to confirm when he heard his son's demand and received a strong denial as a quick response. 

"No, daddy. A sorry gift." Little Yong enunciated each word for his daddy, who acted ignorantly before them. "Let's get mommy some gifts to show that we are sorry." He clutched onto Lee Tae Yang's arms and demanded in a cute little voice. He knew that his father would never say no if they acted cute, especially to things that related to their mother. 

After hearing his son's demands, Lee Tae Yang finally agreed to be part of the twin's plans to cajole their mother. 

"Okay, let's buy a gift for Mommy. She would be happy to receive it." He affirmed and stood up from the seat with the twins, leading them to the shops inside the airport complex.

"Can we buy mommy's favourite things and write a sorry card?" Little Hyun asked when they began to search among the shops for a perfect gift for Li Juan, 

"Of course. But do you know what's mommy's favourite things?" Lee Tae Yang pointed when he saw his sons getting confused about what to buy and decided to help them. 

"Books" 

"Plants" 

"Food" 

"Daddy"

The twins almost excitingly yelled as they made suggestions, making their father break into a peal of laughter.

"Haha, why are you leaving out your names from the list?"Lee Tae Yang couldn't help but ask. He never thought that his sons believed that they were not part of their mother's favourite list.

"Aren't you two are mommy's favourite? He tried to probe more, so that he can correct whatever misunderstandings that was left between his sons and his wife.

"We are. But how can we gift ourselves, daddy?" Little Hyun grinned like a Cheshire cat and pointed at the bookstore among the shops. 

"Daddy, Let's go and buy books for mommy,"

"Yes, let's get mommy some books." Tae Yong seconded his brother and almost dragged their father to the bookshop.

"Wait a minute, aren't you the one who complained that mommy spends too much time reading?" Lee Tae Yang stopped the excited twins and inquired as a matter of fact. 

"Yes. But mommy can read books whenever she is free." 

"But Hyun ah, don't you think we should get something that mommy can flaunt before others?" 

"Flaunt before others?" Little Hyun stumbled upon his steps and contemplated for a moment. Well, whatever his father said was right. He has noticed that how Li Juan cherishes every single gift that she received so far. Even his father was same. They have seen it how Lee Tae Yang wears the same wrist watch that he received as a birthday gift from Li Juan everyday and how he spoke highly of his wife's selection, even though he has a large collection of watches.

It was true, some of the gifts are supposed to be flaunted as a lovely gesture to both the sender and the recipient. 

"How about we get some new dress for mommy or some jewelry?"

"But mommy likes to read, Nah?" Little Yong argued back with a confused face and turned towards his father. "Daddy, how about we get dresses and books?"

"We can get everything. But didn't we already send our luggage?" Lee Tae Yang dragged their attention to something they overlooked. They were already dropped their bags at the counter and all they have is kid's bags.

"So we should get things that could fit inside our bags like books?"Little Hyun narrowed his round eyes and proposed.

"Exactly. Let's buy some from here and rest we can get it from Yun city." Lee Tae Yang made a fair deal and led them to the bookstore.

Since they had enough time to board the flight, he actually let the kids take their leisure time to select a perfect gift for their mother.

While the trio ardently searched through the countless book isles, Little Yong's gaze fell on a thick book kept on the top shelf of history section and he immediately reached out to grab it. However, the shelf was quiet high compared to his height that even after tip-toeing and trying multiple times, Tae Yong couldn't grab the copy. 

"Let's call daddy." He muttered to himself once he yielded his mission and decided to get help from his father. However, just as he turned around, he got knocked into a tall man who was passing by. 

Due to the impact of the hit, Tae Yong's little body got swayed backward, but before he could fall on to the ground, a pair of strong arms caught and steadied him. 

"Are you alright, kiddo?" A deep masculine voice reached Tae Yong's ears and forced him to look at the man who caught him.

The man wore a hoodie that covered half of his forehead and a ripped jeans, looking mysterious while draped in lush black clothes top to bottom. 

Well, he certainly gave off a dangerous aura on first sight. But for some reason, the man's gentle voice and the doting look on his almond shaped eyes eased the dense air around him. 

"Yes. Thank you." Little Yong bowed as soon as he found his footing and released his grip from the arms of the man who knelt beside him. 

"Are you here with your parents? Where are they?" The man looked around and asked out of concern when he found that the kid was roaming around in the book store all alone. It was not just any random bookstore, but it was situated inside a busy airport which is frequented by thousands of people. 

"Over there." Tae Yong pointed his little index finger over the shelves and tip-toed. "My daddy and brother are there." 

"Do you want me to help you to find them?" 

"Sorry, uncle. I'm not lost. But thank you for offering help." He politely rejected the offer and took a step away from the stranger when he remembered the lessons taught by his parents.

1. Never go with a stranger if he ever gets lost or gets separated from parents.

2. Instead of roaming around, stay put in the spot until an authoritative figure arrives.

"Well, glad to hear that." The man smilingly replied when he found the stern rejection that hidden behind the little kid's words.

"Do you want any other help? I just saw you trying to take a book from the top row? He tilted his head in the direction of the bookshelf and skimmed through the titles, "Which one was it?" 

Little Yong's cute little face brightened all of a sudden when he saw that the stranger was tall enough to get the book from the shelf.

"Uncle, can you get me that book?" 

"This one?" The man sounded surprised when he read the title of the book that was selected by the kid. 

"Wisterian Lores: The legendary Warriors of Wan. Wow, you are old enough to read this?"

"Uncle, do you think a five-year-old can read this?" Little Yong flashed his cheeky grin and admitted in a proud voice. "It is for my mom. She likes history." 

"Your mother got a unique taste." He commented and picked up the thick book from the shelf while looking at the little guy who was full of anticipation. It was quite shocking for him to see an eloquent five year-old who can be lured by books instead of chocolates.

"Kiddo, this book is quite heavy. Will you be able to carry it?" 

"Yes. Mommy says Yong is a strong boy who grew up eating veggies."  Little Yong retorted and reached out for the book from the man. 

"Really? Then eat more veggies and grow taller, little Yong." The man advised as he carefully handed over the book to the little one, with a beaming face. "You said your father is there, nah? Go to him." 

"Have a happy journey and enjoy your new year, uncle." 

"You too, young man. I hope your mother likes the gift." 

"Yes. Bye uncle," Tae Yong waved a good bye to the stranger and took a step ahead, only to tumble on his tracks. He lowered his eyes to the ground and found a wolf plushie lying on the floor. He crouched down and picked up the wolf plushie, wondering about its owner. 

"Ahh when did I dropped it?" The heavy sigh heard from the man when he saw the wolf plushie and strode towards the kid,

"Thank you for picking it up. It is actually mine." He extended his arm for the wolf plushie that has been part of his life for more than a decade.

Little Yong looked at the old wolf plushie that he held in his hands and averted his eyes to the towering figure that stood before him. 

"Uncle, your name is Wolf?" He asked innocently while his gaze bore deep into the man's handsome face,

"Wolf!!!" Tang Wei Sheng unknowingly repeated after the boy who suddenly reminded him of a certain someone.