Soft light from the warehouse door fell across the small bodies of five children. They were all filthy, painfully thin, and trembling with fear. Xiao Hu, the oldest, stood in front of his younger siblings, shielding them with his body while gripping a small piece of wood tightly.
Shen Xixuan froze. He didn't dare approach too quickly, afraid of frightening the children even more. He slowly set his defensive equipment on the ground to show them he hadn't come to hurt them, then offered a gentle smile and spoke in the softest voice he could:
“Hi, kids... Don't be scared. Uncle isn't going to hurt anyone. I'm here to help.”
The oldest child—Xiao Hu, whom Shen Xixuan remembered from the pictures—hugged his siblings tighter and stared at him with suspicion and fear.
“Who... who are you? How do you know our names? And... why do you look so much like our dad?”
Shen Xixuan slowly crouched down until he was below the children's eye level, trying not to look frightening. Then he carefully took a photograph from his pocket and showed it to them.
“My name is Shen Xixuan... I'm your dad Shen Xihao's younger brother. That makes me your uncle. Your dad used to send me pictures of you all the time. He told me everything about you.”
All five children looked at the photograph, then at Shen Xixuan again. Xiao Long, the white-haired twin, spoke in a soft, trembling voice:
“Our dad... used to tell us about Uncle Xuan all the time... He said you lived on another planet... and that you were very kind... But why did you come here?”
“I came to take you all home with me. I'm going to bring you to a new home that's safe and warm, with delicious food and soft beds. I'll take care of every one of you forever, as your uncle.”
Xiao Chao, the black-haired twin, was naughtier than his brother, but right now he was hiding behind him as well. He asked in a trembling voice:
“Where's our dad...? Why didn't he come with you? He said he'd come back for us...”
The question made Shen Xixuan's heart clench. He drew a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions under control so he wouldn't start crying.
How was he supposed to answer them? They were still so young. Why did they have to face this kind of grief? But he had to tell them the truth in a way they could understand.
“Your dad... went somewhere very far away, sweetheart. Somewhere he can't feel pain or suffer anymore... But he asked me to take care of all of you for him. He told me to do my very best to look after you. I promise I'll keep that promise to your dad.”
Xiao Hu, the oldest, studied his face intently, as if trying to decide whether he could believe him. He looked at Shen Xixuan, then at the photograph again, and finally at his trembling siblings behind him.
At that moment, Xiao Feng, the older of the two little twins, began to cry softly.
“I'm hungry... So hungry... My tummy hurts...”
Shen Xixuan's heart broke. He hurriedly took out the food and water he'd prepared, handling them carefully.
“Here, kids... I've got food and water. Eat something first. I made some of it myself. It's good—and it's not synthetic nutrients.”
He opened the food packages he'd brought—bread he'd tried to make himself, the fresh fruit he'd managed to find, and drinking water—and calmly arranged everything on the ground for the children.
The children stared hungrily at the food, but they hesitated, afraid to come closer. Shen Xixuan gave them a gentle smile and took a small step back to reassure them.
“Don't be scared, sweetheart... Go ahead and eat. There's nothing wrong with it. I'll show you.”
He picked up a small piece of bread and ate it himself to prove it was safe.
At last, Xiao Hu, the oldest, stepped forward first. He picked up a small piece of bread and took a bite. His eyes widened.
“It's good... It tastes really good... It's nothing like the food we've been eating.”
When the older boy proved it was safe to eat, the others began coming forward too. They all ate ravenously, as if they hadn't had a decent meal in a very long time. Xiao Yan, the youngest, got food all over her mouth, but her face was glowing with happiness.
Shen Xixuan sat and watched the children eat, tears in his eyes. He swore to himself that from now on, he would never let them go hungry or live in danger again.
From this day forward, he would take care of every one of them. He would never let anything hurt them again. He promised.
After a while, the children had eaten their fill and looked much more relaxed. Xiao Yan, the youngest, hesitantly walked over to Shen Xixuan and lightly took hold of his arm.
“Uncle... Are you really going to take us to a new home? You won't abandon us like everyone else, will you?”
Shen Xixuan gently stroked her head and pulled her into a soft embrace.
“I really won't abandon you. Our new home is beautiful, with delicious food every day, soft beds, and me to look after you all the time. I'll never leave any of you behind. Ever. I promise.”
At that moment, Xiao Ming, who had been standing guard by the warehouse door, spoke in a low but urgent voice:
“Mr. Xuanxuan... We need to leave right now. The sun is almost down, and this area won't be safe anymore. I can hear the wild beasts starting to move.”
Shen Xixuan turned to the children and motioned for them to come closer.
“Everyone... It's time for us to keep moving. I'll take you somewhere safe. Hold hands tightly, okay?”
Xiao Hu, the oldest, straightened up and wiped away his tears. He looked at each of his siblings, then at Shen Xixuan.
“We'll go with you... But you have to promise you won't abandon us like everyone else, and that you'll protect my little brothers and sisters too.”
Shen Xixuan pulled the older boy into a tight hug and gently placed a hand on his head.
“I promise, sweetheart. I'll never abandon any of you, and I'll protect you with my life. Forever.”
Those words finally began to earn the trust of all five children. They took each other's hands: Xiao Hu held Xiao Long and Xiao Chao's hands, Xiao Long held Xiao Feng's, and Xiao Chao held Xiao Yan's. Shen Xixuan led them out of the warehouse while Xiao Ming brought up the rear, carrying the defensive equipment.
They all walked back to the parking lot. The sun had almost completely set, leaving the sky a beautiful orange-violet hue, but the atmosphere remained tense. The distant cries of wild beasts made the children huddle closer together.
When they reached the vehicle, Shen Xixuan helped the children climb inside, arranged comfortable seats for them, fastened everyone's seat belts, and got in himself. Xiao Ming drove carefully back toward his home, but fast enough to get them out of the dangerous area in time.
In the vehicle, the children looked exhausted. After eating their fill and beginning to feel safer, they grew sleepy. Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan were already asleep, curled up together on the seat. Xiao Long and Xiao Chao slowly closed their eyes and rested their heads against each other's arms. Only Xiao Hu remained awake, staring out the window with an expression that still didn't trust the world around him.
“Aren't you going to sleep, sweetheart?” Shen Xixuan asked softly.
“Not yet, Uncle... I have to take care of my siblings. I'm their big brother, so I have to stay alert.”
Shen Xixuan smiled gently and stroked the older boy's head.
“You're doing such a good job... You're a wonderful big brother. But now you have me to take care of you, too. Get some rest. We still have a long journey tomorrow, and you'll need your strength.”
Xiao Hu looked at him for a while, then slowly relaxed and rested his head on Shen Xixuan's arm. Before long, he fell peacefully asleep.
Shen Xixuan looked at the five children sleeping peacefully, his heart filled with happiness and responsibility.
From now on... he would take the very best care of all of them. He would never let anything hurt them again. And if the children continued accepting him day after day... perhaps, someday, he could become their dad too... the kind of dad who would take care of them forever.
The vehicle continued through the night on planet DT-3, heading toward a safe shelter and the new home waiting at the end of their journey.