There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 786

Chapter 786: Side Story 4. Endless Journey - 67

"Haa...I’m so bored..."

After spending two weeks going around attending interviews and talk shows until he fed up, Kar still had to face another punishment of staying at home. The home at Lucre, not the home at Althrea. Not for dating Byul, but for forgetting to call his family after getting out and causing his fathers emotional distress.

The not-meeting-for-a-while was Byul’s punishment. Again, not for dating, but for keeping it a secret.

"Can’t believe I’m still being grounded at this age," Kar laughed incredulously while watering the potted plants on the patio.

He knew the ’punishment’ was only an excuse, though. His parents and uncles just wanted him to rest after working non-stop since climbing the tower. Well...with this reclamation, he had cemented his position as a top ranker anyway. He could rest and only come out for high-rank dungeons from then on.

Besides, looking at the great scenery of his home after being stuck in the Deathzone for almost three years was nice. It was different from the urban scene of Althrea, especially the air. Perhaps he had been taking this scenery and atmosphere for granted, since he had this since he was born. Now that he returned after so long, he was thankful that his father had chosen this place.

Still...

"I wish you were here too, baby..."

[But it’s kind of thrilling, getting punished when we’re adults] Byul laughed. [Why don’t I visit once our punishment is over, Hyung?]

"You’re the best," Kar chuckled. "I’ll bake some cinnamon rolls for you."

[...strawberry roll cake too?]

"Anything for my baby," Kar stroked the blushing cheek on the screen. "You won’t be shooting immediately, will you?"

Byul had finally chosen a lead role in the sentinel genre, and was on his way to the script reading when Kar video-called him. [There’ll be a lot of young actors, so an extensive training period will be needed. The crank-in is probably not until fall]

"So we at least have time for a couple of dates," Kar smiled as Byul blushed again.

But the shy face shifted into a serene, mildly serious expression as the car stopped. [Ah, we’re here. I’ll call you once it’s over, Hyung]

"Alright--show them, baby."

Byul laughed softly for a second before putting on his actor face again. Kar had a feeling that Byul was taking his father’s resting face as a model for his actor persona, which was cute. Talking about his father... _{freewēbnoveℓ.com}

"Was that Byul?" Zein came out to the patio, perhaps to check on Kar’s progress in taking care of his beloved plants.

"Yeah, he’s about to go on the script reading for his new movie," Kar replied while continuing with his plant watering.

"Hmm...maybe I should go to the theater once in a while," Zein muttered. He never saw the need before, since he didn’t like crowds, but...if his future son-in-law was starring at one as a lead, he thought it would be worthed. "Anyway, Asa is coming home."

"Huh?"

Kar glanced at his commlink, which was devoid of reply from his twin still. Didn’t even reply to his text informing that he was home, but suddenly going home?

"He’s coming with a girl," Zein added.

Kar turned to his father with widened eyes. "No way..."

Zein merely smirked and told him to finish watering because Asa was already driving to the hill. Kar arched his brow, muttering amusedly. "Finally?"

Huh...maybe this punishment wasn’t so bad after all.

* * *

"Finally, huh?"

"Yeah, finally."

Julia had been nervous ever since she realized she would have to face her benefactors. She wasn’t nervous when she presented the result to the executives and the investors, but her palms were clammy when the car entered the hill’s driveway.

Not even the beautiful scenery could calm her mind, and she almost couldn’t bring herself to get out of the car. Asa had to help her and rubbed her hands before they could proceed to the beautiful house.

For the first time, she felt what a wonderful thing a chair was. Certainly, she wouldn’t be able to go through that day with her trembling legs otherwise. She had heard a lot of stuff about the Ishteras; both what the public said and what Asa told her. Both, however, couldn’t prepare her enough.

First--how could people still look that good and ethereal even in their fifties? She couldn’t believe that Asa’s fathers and those senior researcher geezers were around the same age. No wonder Asa was good-looking--no matter which gene he received, it was a win. His twin looked just slightly different--more from the different building of muscle due to their profession--but still carried the incredible gene.

Honestly, Julia understood why a lot of people cursed her just because Asa returned her paper in the past.

But that wasn’t what made her nervous.

"Took him long enough, but welcome," the legendary esper, Bassena Ishtera, held her hand with a charming smile she could always see on Asa. Even the way the amber eyes curled was the same. "It’s Julia, isn’t it?"

"Y-yes!" it took her all willpower to not crumble back onto the couch as she let out a squeaky sound that not even Asa had ever heard before. "I--I mean...yes..."

She bit her lips, beating herself inside her mind for fumbling so hard. Gone was her fearless self who could stand tall against her theses examiner and the project executives.

"Dad, you’re scaring her," Asa hugged his fiancee’s shoulder and hissed at his father, who looked at him incredulously.

"What about me is scary?" Bassena clutched his chest, looking absolutely flabbergasted at the accusation.

Zein patted his husband’s back and nodded. "Yeah, your Dad is cute."

"Yes, I understand," she nodded. She never expected them to know her at all from the start. "But--"

"And I’m sure, even without our foundation, someone of your caliber could find another scholarship," Zein added.

Asa nodded eagerly. "That’s what I’ve been telling her!"

"If anything, we should be the one to thank you," Bassena smiled wryly.

"...yes?"

"I’m ashamed to say that I don’t check on the foundation often," Bassena sighed. "I don’t even know who had been receiving the money, or if they received it well."

"Oh, that--"

"That’s why, I’m thankful," the amber eyes curled softly, with thin wrinkles around them that lessened the initial sharpness. "Thank you, Julia, for using the scholarship well and growing up to be someone so brilliant," the gentle smile spelled father even though Julia had already forgotten what a father was supposed to look like. "I’m sure Asa’s grandmother would be happy to know that."

"Oh..."

She bit her lips and lowered her head, feeling her tears threatening to fall. It was like all of her hard work finally got validated; as if a large, warm hand was patting the crying girl inside and told her she did good. She did good. She wasn’t wrong to hold on.

Oh, truly...she already knew her benefactors would be good people, but...they were truly such amazing existences.

"Honestly, I’m thankful enough that you want to take my son," Zein said calmly.

"Father?" Asa gasped, didn’t expect the slander to come from Zein.

"That’s true," Kar sneered. "Must be hard managing someone so boisterous."

"Must be hard for Byul to manage someone who likes to run away," Asa hissed in return.

"Ouch?"

"But, well...if you’re still feeling thankful," Zein smiled and leaned forward slightly. "Why don’t you start by calling us ’father’ instead of ’Sir’?"

Asa snapped his fingers. "Good idea!"

"Oh, I..." Julia blinked rapidly, feeling overwhelmed by the whirlwind shift of emotions going through her. "T-that’s too sudden..."

"Give her time, won’t you," Kar sighed. Even Byul would be weirded out if Zein and Bassena suddenly wanted to be called father.

Zein tilted her head. "Why? Aren’t you here to talk about marriage anyway?"