After the heavy story ended, Arvin sat up straight.
(Chinese) "May I ask something?" he said politely. "I'm curious about how you know so much about your school's history. Is it something you learn in class? And how do you know the story in such detail?"
Jeremy sighed. "No, I just.... like to learn history."
"He likes it too much," Fang Chou said, with a hint of pride in his tone.
Christina nodded, her eyes warm as she looked at her son. "Ah... Now I remember. He spent three weeks in the library, research this. He goes as far asking the librarian to look old newspapers for him."
(Chinese) "My brother was being a history nerd," Cynthia translated, her usual composed expression softening slightly. "It's how he is."
Arvin nodded, understanding. He'd met people like this before, like his grandpa who studied martial arts history and his grandmother [1]who knew traditional medicines.
Light laughter spread through the family, easing the earlier tension. Even Jeremy smiled despite his discomfort.
"I can't help it," he said, shifting carefully. "History's like a puzzle where you find all the pieces that connect to show the bigger picture."
After their laughter subsided, Fang Chou leaned forward, his expression growing more serious. "Now that we've heard about the school, could you tell us what happened in the alley? From your perspective?"
(Chinese) "My father wants to know if you could tell us what happened in the alley from your perspective," Cynthia translated smoothly.
Arvin sat up straighter, noticing how everyone's attention turned to him. The main events were covered in Jeremy's story, but they wanted to hear his take. He took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts.
(Chinese) "I was watching students at the school gate," Arvin began. Fang Chou translated for Christina and Jeremy, though Jeremy seemed to understand parts of Arvin's words. "Then I heard a noise from nearby. At first, I wasn't sure if I should check, but I remembered my grandpa's words about helping those in need, so I went to look."
Jeremy shifted slightly, his eyes showing both curiosity and gratitude.
(Chinese) "When I got there, I saw Jeremy being beaten by those people. The leader was about to stomp on him, so I made a noise to get their attention. I tried to ask them to stop, but..."
"The language barrier," Fang Chou nodded, understanding, before translating for his wife.
(Chinese) "Yes. I tried using gestures, and I think they understand what it mean, but they just laughed. Then the biggest one tried to grab me." He kept his tone matter-of-fact, not trying to make himself sound heroic.
"How did you beat all of them?" Jeremy asked. "Tery's gang isn't known for fighting fair."
Arvin paused as Cynthia translated Jeremy's question. He considered how to explain without revealing too much about his training.
(Chinese) "I learned self-defense from my grandfather back home," he answered simply.
(Chinese) "Could it be kung fu?" Fang Chou asked with interest as he translated Arvin's answer for Christina.
Arvin looked confused. (Chinese) "Kung fu? I've never heard of it. What I learned was a family martial art from my homeland."
"Let's stay focused," Christina reminded them gently, seeing the conversation starting to drift. "What happened after that?"
"Right, sorry," Fang Chou said with a small smile.
Arvin nodded and continued. (Chinese) "After I took down the biggest one, the leader shouted something to the other two. I didn't understand what he's saying, but I could tell what they meant when his friends came at me."
Christina and Fang Chou's expressions hardened. Even Jeremy, who had been unconscious during the fight, tensed slightly.
(Chinese) "I had to defend myself against them too. After they were down, only their leader remained." He paused, his face growing more serious. "But when I approached him, he threatened to hurt Jeremy worse. I was shocked he would go that far, so I moved quickly and struck his stomach. He fell unconscious like the others."
After Fang Chou finished translating, brief silence filled the room. Jeremy stared at Arvin with new respect, while Cynthia's usual composed face showed a hint of approval.
"Then what happened?" Christina asked, her voice soft but steady.
After Cynthia's translation, Arvin continued. (Chinese) "I helped Jeremy up and checked his injuries. I planned to leave after that and continue looking for the nearest police station to ask for help, but then Jeremy spoke Chinese, and I learned where I was. Not completely though, since he could only explain a little with his limited Chinese."
(Chinese) "The rest," Arvin gestured toward Fang Chou, "you know."
"What do you mean by that?" Christina asked, looking between her husband and Arvin. "Chou, did something else happen that we don't know about?"
Fang Chou straightened slightly. "Well, remember when I said Arvin helped Jeremy get to the store? He carried Jeremy on his back."
"Carried?" Christina's eyes widened.
"Yes, he walked right through the store with Jeremy on his back, came straight to my counter." Fang Chou smiled at the memory. "A little while later, Cynthia arrived."
Cynthia nodded. "I was quite defensive at first," she admitted, speaking in both English and Chinese for Arvin. Her eyes briefly met Arvin's, a silent acknowledgment of their initial misunderstanding.
The story of what happened at the store marked the end of the day's events. Brief silence settled over the table as everyone processed the full account.
"Oh yes, Arvin," Christina spoke up after a moment, her voice gentle but with an undertone that Arvin couldn't place. "Where do you live? Are you from near the school, or were you passing by?"
Fang Chou's expression flickered for a split second, so quickly that no one noticed. He remembered their earlier conversation in the store office, before Cynthia had joined them.
Jeremy perked up, also curious. He recalled Arvin mentioning something about arriving the night before, but they'd been focused on getting to the store at the time.
Arvin took a deep breath, preparing to share the same story he'd told Fang Chou earlier. He noticed Jeremy leaning forward, clearly interested in learning more about his mysterious rescuer.
(Chinese) "I was on my way home," Arvin began carefully, Fang Chou translating. "But then I somehow ended up here in this city. I didn't even know where I was until meeting Jeremy."
Christina's eyes widened at his words, her body going stiff. The warmth drained from her face as buried memories threatened to surface. Her fingers tightened around her water glass, knuckles turning white.
Fang Chou, noticing his wife's reaction, quickly reached over and gripped her hand. Their eyes met briefly, a silent exchange that said volumes. Christina's tension eased slightly under her husband's steady gaze, bringing her back to the present.
Arvin continued to tell the others what he told Fang Chou before Cynthia arrived.
(Chinese) "As I mentioned to Mr. Fang earlier, I can cook. I learned from my grandparents and my mother since they run a diner back home."
"Can you cook those dishes you mentioned?" Jeremy asked eagerly.
Arvin couldn't help but laugh. (Chinese) "Now I'm convinced you two are twins," he said, glancing between Jeremy and Cynthia. "Your sister asked me the same question back at the store."
After Fang Chou translated, Jeremy looked at his sister in surprise while Cynthia kept her usual composed expression, though her cheeks turned slightly pink.
Having regained her composure, Christina managed a warm smile. "Perhaps you should cook for us sometime," she suggested, her voice steady again.
"Yes, you should," Fang Chou agreed, his tone light but his eyes watching his wife.
Arvin blinked in surprise. (Chinese) "But I'm a stranger. I thought I would leave after explaining what happened in the alley."
Christina was the first to respond, her voice firm despite her earlier distress. "You should stay and rest first."
Arvin started to protest, but Fang Chou, understanding his wife's intention, decided to help Arvin see their point more clearly. "Before you decide to leave," he said gently, "let me ask you something. Do you have your ID? You'll need it to buy tickets. And do you have enough money?"
The questions hit Arvin hard. His hand moved to his pocket where his wallet sat, the only possession he had left besides his torn clothes. His passport had been in his backpack, now lost along with everything else.
(Chinese) "I don't have my ID or passport with me," Arvin hesitated, his fatigue more evident now.
His answer surprised the Fangs, especially the parents as it cemented their theory. Christina and Fang Chou exchanged another meaningful look, their own memories stirring at this familiar scenario. A subtle nod passed between them, an unspoken agreement to discuss this later in private.
"Why don't you have your ID?" Christina asked, her gentle tone carrying concern.
After Cynthia translated her mother's question, Arvin replied. (Chinese) "I haven't gotten my ID yet since I'm not old enough. I did have my passport, but it was lost when I arrived here."
Fang Chou translated Arvin's response, "He's saying he's too young for an ID and lost his passport."
"How old are you?" Jeremy cut in, his question drawing everyone's attention.
After Cynthia's translation, Arvin scratched his head slightly. (Chinese) "I'm 16 this year."
"What? I thought you were 14 or 15!" Jeremy exclaimed. "You're only one year younger than me?"
"It's normal you thought that," Fang Chou said, smiling. "We Asians don't have the same height as people in the West."
After Cynthia translated, Arvin nodded in agreement. (Chinese) "Indeed, the tallest person I've known my whole life was my father, at 180 centimeters. But here, I've seen many students at that school as tall as him. And like Jeremy said, that one person in the alley was even taller."
"Er, how much is that in feet?" Jeremy asked, looking confused.
"Six feet," Cynthia said. "Taller than Dad and slightly taller than Mom."
"Oh, then he's quite tall," Jeremy commented.
"I'm an exception," Christina noted. "Where I'm from, women usually range from 165 to 171 centimeters, which is about 5'5" to 5'7" and about your Dad's height."
Arvin was curious about Christina's origins, remembering Jeremy's mention of European heritage, but kept quiet. As a guest, or more accurately, a stranger, it wasn't his place to ask such personal questions.
After their conversation about heights paused, Fang Chou glanced at the clock on the wall. "Oh, we've been talking for quite a while," he said, surprised. "It's past nine."
Indeed, without anyone realizing, they had spent more than one hour talking, mainly due to Jeremy's detailed history lesson before getting to the main points.
Arvin noticed the time as well. (Chinese) "I should go," he said, starting to stand up. "I've troubled you enough."
"Go where?" Fang Chou asked directly after translating Arvin's words for his wife. "You said yourself you arrived here, with no ID and limited money that can't be used here."
After Cynthia's translation, Arvin hesitated, slowly sitting back down. The reality of his situation was hitting him.
Christina touched her husband's arm lightly. "Dear, why don't we..."
Fang Chou nodded, understanding his wife's unspoken suggestion.
Fang Chou stood up and turned to his daughter. (Chinese) "From now on, I'll speak with Arvin directly."
Christina addressed her children. "You two should get some rest since there's school tomorrow." She paused. "And don't forget about any homework you might have."
The twins nodded, Jeremy hiding another wince as he stood. Cynthia moved to help her brother, but he waved her off with a small smile. "I'm fine," he insisted, though his careful movements said otherwise.
"Good night," they said at the same time, heading toward the stairs.
"Good night," Christina and Fang Chou replied, watching as their children's footsteps faded.
Christina rose from her chair, and Fang Chou motioned to Arvin. (Chinese) "Come with me."
As they left the dining area, Arvin followed the couple through their home. They passed through the living room before returning to the main hall where he'd noticed the stairs earlier. Instead of going up, they continued down the hall until reaching a beige door.
Near the door stood a brown console table that caught Arvin's attention. On it sat a photograph in an elegant frame. The image showed four people including younger versions of Fang Chou and Christina in wedding clothes, though Arvin noticed Christina's dress was different from the styles he knew from home. They were standing with an elderly couple who, given their features, must be Fang Chou's parents. The absence of Christina's parents made him curious, but again, he kept his questions to himself.
Fang Chou opened one of the drawers and took out a key. The lock clicked softly as he opened the door, revealing a spacious room with a wide bed, an old dresser, and a dressing table near the window. Though clean, the room felt unused, well-kept but lacking the warmth of someone living in it. Only the thin layer of dust here and there showed it wasn't used regularly.
Fang Chou gestured for Arvin to enter. Christina followed, standing beside her husband as Arvin stepped inside.
(Chinese) "You can rest here," Fang Chou said warmly. "This used to be my parents' room. After they passed away, it became our guest room, though it's rarely used. We clean it once a week, so it's a little dusty. I hope you don't mind."
Understanding whose room this had been, Arvin felt both honored and uncomfortable.
(Chinese) "Thank you, but I would be fine sleeping on the couch in the living room."
Christina nudged her husband gently. Understanding her intent, Fang Chou translated Arvin's words. Christina shook her head firmly.
"Tell him not to be so self-conscious," she said, her voice warm but leaving no room for argument. "He's our guest."
Fang Chou conveyed her words, but Christina wasn't finished. Through her husband's translation, she continued, "Besides, you saved our son from serious harm. Please, treat this as your own home."
Realizing that refusing their kindness further would be rude, Arvin swallowed his words and bowed slightly. (Chinese) "Thank you for your generosity."
The couple smiled warmly. Before leaving, Fang Chou added, (Chinese) "The bathroom is at the leftmost end of the hall if you need it. And if you need anything else, our room is the one with the same beige door near the bathroom. Don't hesitate to knock if you need something."
Arvin nodded gratefully. (Chinese) "I understand. Thank you."
Both Fang Chou and Christina nodded, wished him good night, and closed the door softly behind them.
Now alone, Arvin took another moment to look around the room before walking to the bed and lying down. The soft mattress made his body relax, much better than his previous night in the playground dome. As he lay there, his mind went back over everything that had happened in the past two days. The flight, his mysterious arrival, meeting the Fangs, and everything else.
Some questions bothered him. How did he end up here? Why hadn't any other passengers appeared with him? And most puzzling of all, how had he survived what should have been a deadly crash? But the comfortable bed was working its magic, releasing his tension. Knowing his body needed rest to recover, Arvin decided to let the questions wait.
As sleep began to take him, he couldn't help noticing Christina's strange reaction to his story. Something about his situation had clearly affected her deeply. The look that passed between her and Fang Chou suggested they knew more than they were saying.
His last thought before falling asleep was of his family back home. They must be searching for him by now, wondering where he'd disappeared to.
With these unanswered questions swirling in his mind, Arvin drifted into a deep sleep.
[1] Just for reminder, in case any of you forgot. Arvin call his maternal grandparents with grandfather and grandmother.