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    As Charlie stepped onto the third-floor terrace of the vi, he noticed that the motorcade for Liu Jiahui and Arman’s family had already begun to arrive.


    A swarm of reporters trailed behind the motorcade. The most renowned lion dance team from Hong Kong Ind dazzled the crowd with two lifelike performances, creating an atmosphere that was exceptionally vibrant.


    Though Charlie typically preferred quieter moments, he found a sense offort in this lively spectacle.


    The thick smoke from the firecrackers filled the air, apanied by the distinct aroma of gunpowder. This familiar yet distant scent invigorated Charlie, stirring memories from his past.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Since childhood, he had loved the smell of gunpowder that lingered after firecrackers were set off, but he hadn’t experienced that familiar fragrance in ages, as fireworks and firecrackers had beenrgely prohibited.


    This fondness might also stem from the Chinese tradition of celebrating festivals with fireworks, making this smell synonymous with joyful family gatherings. Particrly during the New Year celebrations, Charlie’s parents would always set aside time to help him light fireworks.


    In those days, he eagerly anticipated the festivities from the 30th day of the lunar New Year until the 15th, reveling in the happiness that those experiences brought him.


    Standing on the edge of the terrace, Charlie inhaled deeply, the nostalgia prompting thoughts of his parents.


    Generally, Charlie was a resilient individual, rarely disying vulnerability or fear. No matter the challenges life threw his way, he faced them with a smile.


    However, it was in moments of longing for his parents that the delicate sensitivity in his heart would emerge.


    His demeanor resembled a hedgehog, armored and strong, yet his parents represented his soft, vulnerable core.


    He spotted Arman stepping out of a car, dressed in the same suit he had worn when fleeing to the United States. After all these years, the suit still fit him perfectly, and despite his hair having turned white, he exuded an undeniable vitality.


    Suddenly, Charlie recalled a lesson from his father during his childhood.


    Those words had influenced his decision to oppose his grandfather and insist on bringing his mother back to China.


    His father had said, “Charlie, remember that every person with a righteous heart and flesh must possess three souls and seven spirits. If such a person is away from their homnd for too long, they will lose one of their souls. When they return home, that lost soul can be reimed. But if they nevere back—or if their homnd is lost—then that soul may never be found.”


    Seeing Arman appear rejuvenated, as if he had shed ten years overnight, Charlie began to grasp the profound meaning behind his father’s words.


    His father had further exined, “Among the three souls and seven spirits, the three primary souls represent the heavenly soul, the earthly soul, and the life soul. The heavenly soul signifies one’s homnd, the earthly soul represents parents, and the life soul pertains to oneself.” After conveying this, he had asked Charlie again:


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