Chapter 1047: The Boy Who Counted the Stars

Lee Hana and Park Min Lee lived farther into the mountains, away from the noise and congestion of central City Z.

The road gradually narrowed as they drove uphill.

Tall trees lined both sides, their branches dusted with snow.

Beyond them, distant mountains rose beneath the pale blue sky.

Yue Ling watched the scenery with a nostalgic smile.

"It’s just as beautiful as I remember."

Lu Tian glanced at her.

"You used to come here often?"

She nodded.

"Whenever I needed somewhere quiet."

Her expression softened.

"Hana always made sure I had a place to stay."

Lu Tian smiled.

"She sounds like a good friend."

"She is."

Her eyes blinked slowly as memories of the past resurfaced.

"Hana is Shin’s younger sister. She was pregnant when he passed away."

She gazed at the trees passing outside the window, a faint, bittersweet smile touching her lips.

"She named her son after him."

Lu Tian listened quietly. Though her voice remained composed, he could hear the lingering sorrow beneath her words.

Without a word, he reached across the space between them and gently took her hand in his.

Yue Ling lowered her gaze to their intertwined fingers before looking at him.

He offered her a reassuring smile.

He didn’t need to say anything. The warmth of his hand and the quiet understanding in his eyes were enough to comfort the ache in her heart.

After another turn, a large gated property appeared ahead.

A security guard stepped out of the booth.

Upon recognizing the expected visitors, he immediately opened the gate.

Lu Tian drove through.

The driveway curved past carefully maintained gardens before arriving at a spacious mountain residence.

The house was surrounded by tall evergreens, with wide windows overlooking the valley below.

As the car rolled to a stop, Yue Ling unfastened her seat belt.

She had barely stepped out when—

"YUE LING!!"

An excited scream erupted from the front entrance.

Yue Ling looked up.

A woman came running down the steps.

Lee Hana.

Her long hair bounced behind her as she hurried toward the car.

Not far behind her, a small boy was running as fast as his little legs could carry him.

Yue Ling’s face lit up.

"Hana!"

The woman practically launched herself into Yue Ling’s arms.

"YOU’RE HERE!"

Yue Ling laughed as she caught her.

"I’m here!"

Lee Hana hugged her tightly.

"Oh my goodness! You’re actually here!"

Yue Ling laughed again.

"Didn’t I tell you I was coming?"

"Yes, but you didn’t tell me how much I was going to miss you until I saw you!"

"That’s not something I can predict."

"Well, you should have!"

The two women laughed.

Their reunion lasted only a few seconds before a small body squeezed between them.

"ME TOO!"

Lee Hana stumbled backward.

"Hey!"

Tiny arms wrapped around Yue Ling’s legs.

"Aunty!"

Yue Ling looked down.

A little boy stared up at her with wide, sparkling eyes. His cheeks were round and rosy from the cold. His small mouth stretched into an enormous smile.

"Little Shin!"

She immediately crouched and the boy threw himself into her arms.

Yue Ling scooped him up and hugged him tightly.

"Oh, I’ve missed you!"

She kissed his cheek making the little boy squeal.

"Aunty!"

She kissed his other cheek and he burst into heartfelt giggles.

"Noooo!"

But despite his protests, his tiny arms wrapped tightly around her neck.

Yue Ling laughed.

"You’re getting so big!"

Little Shin nodded proudly.

"Big!"

"Very big."

He pulled back to examine her face then his brows drew together.

"What took you so long?"

His words were still slightly clumsy, spoken with the adorable seriousness only a small child could manage.

But Yue Ling understood him perfectly.

Her expression softened.

She pressed her cheek against his.

"I’m here now."

Little Shin leaned back then spread his tiny arms.

"I count!"

Yue Ling blinked.

"Count?"

He nodded enthusiastically.

"Stars!"

Her smile froze slightly.

Little Shin lifted his hand toward the sky.

"One... two..."

He paused.

Then proudly announced, "Twenty!"

Yue Ling stared at him.

"Twenty?"

He nodded so hard that his hair bounced.

"Twenty stars!"

He pointed toward her.

"You here!"

Something warm and painful blossomed inside Yue Ling’s chest. She looked at the little boy in her arms.

"Did you now?"

Little Shin nodded.

"Twenty!"

He raised both hands, spreading his fingers.

"Lots!"

Yue Ling laughed softly.

"That’s a lot of stars."

"Uh-huh!"

He began rambling excitedly about the stars, the moon, and something involving a bird he had seen near his bedroom window.

Half his words tumbled together.

The other half made very little sense.

But Yue Ling listened as though he were telling her the most important story in the world.

Behind them, Lee Hana watched with a tender smile.

"He never forgot."

Yue Ling looked up.

Hana’s eyes were slightly moist.

"You told him to count the stars, remember?"

Yue Ling went still.

Lee Hana continued.

"That when he finished counting, you’d come back."

She laughed softly.

"Of course, he got distracted most of the time."

Little Shin turned toward his mother.

"No!"

Lee Hana laughed.

"Yes, you did."

"Nooo!"

"You stopped to look at airplanes, and sometimes you’d forget what you were doing."

Little Shin frowned.

"Stars!"

"Yes, sweetheart. Stars."

Hana looked at Yue Ling again.

"But he never forgot what number he stopped on."

Her voice softened.

"When he sees a star, he’d continue."

Yue Ling lowered her gaze toward the little boy.

Memories flooded her mind.

When little Shin was old enough to understand that people sometimes had to leave, he had developed a habit of refusing to let her go.

Every visit ended with tears.

He would cling to her legs.

Hide her shoes.

Once, he had even tried sneaking into her travel bag.

Yue Ling remembered discovering him curled inside it, surrounded by her folded clothes.

He had looked up at her with the most innocent expression that said he was going too.

She had laughed so hard that day.

But beneath the laughter, she had understood his fear.

The fear that someone he loved might leave and never return.

So she had told him something her own parents used to say whenever they had to travel.

’Count the stars, and when you wake up, I’ll be there.’

It was a promise from her childhood.

One she had held close long after her parents were gone.

And now, years later, a little boy had carried those same words in his heart.

Yue Ling swallowed the sudden lump in her throat.

She kissed little Shin’s forehead.

"You remembered."

He nodded proudly.

"Twenty."

Her eyes glistened.

"That’s right."

She hugged him closer.

"And Aunty came back."

Little Shin rested his head against her shoulder.

"Don’t go."

Yue Ling closed her eyes briefly then smiled.

"Not yet, sweetheart."

He tightened his arms around her.

"Promise?"

She kissed his hair.

"Promise."

A short distance away, Lu Tian stood beside the car. He had watched the entire reunion without interrupting.

His expression was gentle.

There was something unexpectedly moving about seeing Yue Ling surrounded by people who loved her so openly.

She looked different here.

Not because she had changed.

But because another part of her had come alive.

A part shaped by the people and memories of City Z.

He watched little Shin cling to her neck.

Then glanced toward the trunk full of toys.

’So that’s my competition.’

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Mr. Lu?"

Lu Tian turned.

A man had approached from the front entrance.

Park Min Lee.

He wore a dark sweater beneath a winter coat, his expression warm and welcoming.

"I’m Park Min Lee."

Lu Tian extended his hand.

"Lu Tian."

The men shook hands firmly.

"Welcome to City Z."

"Thank you."

Park Min Lee glanced toward his wife and son then chuckled.

"I see they’ve already forgotten I exist."

Lu Tian followed his gaze.

Yue Ling was laughing at something little Shin had said.

Lee Hana stood beside them, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

Lu Tian smiled.

"I believe we’re both being ignored."

Park Min Lee laughed.

"Get used to it."

He gestured toward the house.

"Come inside. It’s cold out here."

Just then, Yue Ling turned.

"Tian."

Lu Tian looked at her.

She smiled and gestured for him to come closer.

He approached.

Little Shin immediately looked at him.

His tiny brows furrowed.

He studied Lu Tian from head to toe.

Then leaned toward Yue Ling’s ear.

"Aunty."

"Hmm?"

"Who’s that?"

Yue Ling laughed.

She glanced at Lu Tian then looked toward her friends. 𝐟𝑟ⅇ

"This is Lu Tian."

She smiled warmly.

"My husband."

Lee Hana’s expression softened at the way Yue Ling addressed him.

She had heard about Lu Tian.

He was known as a cold and merciless man.

The kind whose mere presence instilled fear in even the most powerful businessmen.

Those who dealt with him knew better than to cross him, for his ruthlessness was as legendary as his unforgiving nature.

But hearing Yue Ling introduce him so naturally, with such happiness in her voice, made something tighten in her chest.

Park Min Lee nodded.

"We’ve just introduced ourselves."

He was well aware of Lu Tian’s reputation. However, he was never one to let rumors or the opinions of others dictate his judgment.

He preferred to judge a man by his own actions rather than the stories told about him.

Yue Ling smiled.

"Oh, good."

Lee Hana stepped forward.

"It’s wonderful to finally meet you."

Lu Tian inclined his head.

"Likewise."

Hana looked at him for a moment before her gaze shifted toward Yue Ling.

Her eyes slowly grew moist.

For years, she had worried about her friend.

She had watched Yue Ling endure losses that would have broken many people.

She had seen the way grief changed her.

And now, standing before her, Yue Ling was smiling.

Not the polite smile she used to reassure everyone that she was fine.

A real smile.

One that reached her eyes.

Lee Hana blinked quickly.

Yue Ling noticed.

"Hana?"

Her friend laughed and waved a hand.

"Nothing."

She sniffled.

"Don’t mind me."

Yue Ling smiled knowingly.

"Hana..."

"No, no."

Lee Hana shook her head.

"Absolutely not. We are not crying today."

Park Min Lee chuckled.

"You were crying before they arrived."

His wife shot him a glare.

"Min Lee!"

He immediately looked away.

"I said nothing."

Yue Ling burst into laughter.

Even Lu Tian smiled seeing his wife happy.

Lee Hana wiped her eyes.

Then she stepped forward and gently squeezed Yue Ling’s hand.

"I’m just happy you’re here."

Yue Ling’s expression softened.

"Me too."

For a moment, the two women looked at each other.

There were countless things they wanted to say.

Memories to revisit.

Stories to share.

And perhaps a few tears they had been holding back for far too long.

But there would be time for all of that.

Lee Hana finally smiled. She gestured toward the house.

"Come on."

Her eyes brightened.

"I prepared a feast for you!"

Yue Ling laughed.

"A feast?"

"Of course!"

Lee Hana placed a hand on her hip.

"Did you think I’d let you come all the way to City Z and feed you something ordinary?"

Park Min Lee sighed dramatically.

"She’s been cooking since this morning."

Hana turned toward him.

"And you’ve been stealing food since this morning."

"I was checking the seasoning."

"With your mouth?"

"How else would I check?"

Yue Ling laughed so hard that little Shin began laughing too, despite not understanding the joke.

Lu Tian shook his head with a smile.

Park Min Lee reached for the luggage.

"Come on, Mr. Lu. I’ll help you with those."

"Lu Tian is fine."

"Then call me Min Lee."

The two men returned to the car to retrieve the bags and gifts.

Meanwhile, Lee Hana led Yue Ling toward the house.

Little Shin remained firmly attached to his aunt.

"Aunty."

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Play?"

Yue Ling smiled.

"Of course."

"Toys?"

She laughed.

"Actually, I brought you something."

The little boy gasped. His eyes widened.

"For me?!"

Yue Ling nodded.

"Lots of things."

Little Shin squealed.

"MOMMY!"

Lee Hana laughed.

"What?"

"AUNTY GOT TOYS!"

Yue Ling kissed his cheek.

Behind them, Lu Tian watched his wife disappear through the doorway with the little boy in her arms.

His smile lingered.

For a brief moment, he remembered the tiny white shoes in the store.

The nursery waiting behind its closed door.

And the child he and Yue Ling had lost.

The ache returned.

But this time, it came with something else.

Hope.

He looked toward the house.

Toward the woman he loved.

Then quietly followed her inside.

Whatever the future held, they would face it together.

And for today, he wanted nothing more than to see her happy.