Moreover, he trusted Mingrui… Benson glanced at Mingrui beside him, his resolve firming. He turned to Alaric and said, "I have no issue signing this contract. But Melissa is still young and may need to finish university before starting work formally. Would you allow that?"
"…That's fine." Alaric replied, noting Benson's careful consideration but nodding indifferently.
To Alaric, the Moretti siblings were positioned as "emotional anchors" for Mingrui, not required to perform significant tasks. Their role was to provide stability for Mingrui, nothing more.
In truth, everything Alaric had done was to test whether the Morettis were worth Mingrui's sacrifices.
He was, after all, protective of those he cared about.
With mutual agreement reached, Benson and Melissa signed the contracts without hesitation. Alaric tucked the documents away and snapped his fingers.
Snap...
A scholarly figure rapidly materialized in the air. Klein Morreti opened his eyes, bewildered, his gaze settling on the people around him.
Where was he?
Wasn't he just writing in his diary at home?
"Klein!"
Before Klein could process his confusion, Melissa rushed forward, throwing her arms around her foolish brother.
"Melissa? Hey, why are you crying? Who upset you? Tell me…" Still dazed, Klein panicked, clumsily trying to comfort Melissa, who was sobbing in his arms. When his efforts failed, he looked to Benson for help, only to see tears glistening in his brother's eyes.
This stunned Klein.
Before today, Benson, the steadfast head of the Moretti family, had never shown such vulnerability, no matter how tough things got.
So what had happened?
Klein was utterly lost.
His confusion didn't last long, as Benson soon explained everything that had transpired.
"So I'm already dead…" Klein murmured, his expression dazed. He suddenly recalled that just before waking in this future era, he had been writing in his diary, penning a single line: "Everyone will die, including me."
And then… he must have died.
A mix of emotions swirled in Klein's heart. But seeing Melissa crying her heart out and Benson struggling to stay composed, he sighed, forcing a smile. "Don't be sad. Sure, I… uh, died, but I'm alive again now, aren't I? Even if it's just one day every three months, that's still living! I'm lucky, so you shouldn't be sad for me. You should be happy. Even if we only meet every three months, it means I can stay with you forever."
"I… I know. I'm just… I can't help it…" Melissa choked out, knowing she should be joyful for this reunion but unable to stop her tears.
Perhaps it was grief, or perhaps it was joy.
Benson wiped a tear from his eye, staying silent.
Seeing their state, Klein offered more comfort. Once their emotions settled, he turned to Mingrui and did something no one expected.
He hugged Mingrui tightly, patting his back.
"I'm so glad it was you took my body. You've taken such good care of Benson and Melissa... better than I ever did. I'm truly grateful that after I was gone, someone like you was there to look after them. It's amazing!"
Releasing Mingrui, Klein looked at him with genuine gratitude. He playfully pinched Mingrui's cheek, grinning. "So stop feeling guilty. I don't blame you for taking my place... it's not your fault. You've done more than enough."
Mingrui's expression shifted from shock to something more complex. He met Klein's gaze, their similar yet distinct eyes locking.
"…You're so much like me." Klein Said with a wistful sigh. "If we'd met earlier, we'd definitely have been great friends."
In the next moment, he perked up, extending a hand to Mingrui. "But it's not too late to meet now. Hi, I'm Klein Moretti. Would you like to be my friend, my family?"
Mingrui looked at the outstretched hand, hesitating briefly before smiling and grasping it firmly, nodding. "Hi, I'm Zhou Mingrui. I'd be honored to be your friend, your family."
"Haha, awesome! I've got another family member now." Klein laughed, his joy infectious. He studied Mingrui for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Your name sounds so odd. I've never heard a name like that before."
"Probably because of the different era." Mingrui replied, his mood visibly lighter.
"So you're really from a long, long time ago?" Klein's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Mingrui hesitated, then nodded.
"Tell me about that era! I'm dying to know…" Klein fired off a string of questions, his excitement palpable.
Though surprised, Mingrui answered each one patiently.
Klein listened, his face glowing with satisfaction. Then, as if struck by a thought, he looked at Mingrui. "By the way, have you thought about taking a name from this era? You used my name before, and I don't mind, but if it bothers you, how about I be Big Klein and you be Lil Klein?"
In Loen, it was common for family members to share names, distinguished by "Big" or "Lil."
Mingrui blinked, glancing at "Klein Moretti," then at Benson and Melissa, who looked encouraging. He smiled, nodding. "Alright, I'll be Lil Klein."
***
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