Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

"I’m not moving!" Dylan insisted.

With no other choice, the two sides were locked in a standoff for nearly half an hour.

Finally, an archer fired a tranquilizer dart, aiming for a spot the two boys couldn’t cover. It struck Monty’s belly, and the startled python began to thrash wildly.

A group of men moved the surrounding bonfires closer to Monty, making him even more agitated.

Countless more tranquilizer darts flew through the air. The two boys watched with wide, grief-stricken eyes as Monty lost control. Before the tranquilizers could take full effect, he swiped at a bonfire, sending flames onto the dry branches. They caught instantly, as if doused in gasoline.

Seeing this, the chief immediately ordered, "Put out the fire, quickly!"

But the wind fanned the flames, and the fire grew larger. Monty lay there, barely breathing.

His whole body was paralyzed.

The snake’s head rested on the ground, its eyes still open.

Dylan knelt and cradled its head. "Grandpa will be here soon, Monty. You’re going to be okay. Trust me, I won’t let anything happen to you."

A cloudiness filmed over the python’s eyes, but it nodded.

It lay there, limp and weak.

The surrounding flames were clearly beyond the control of the few men present, so they immediately called the fire department.

Since they were on a mountain, the fire trucks were slow to arrive.

Orders came from above to use helicopters to douse the flames.

Only then was the fire brought under control and finally extinguished.

The chief was furious. Worried about his career, he decided he had to take the python and pin all the blame on it.

The two boys clung to Monty, refusing to let go. A group of men tried to pull them away by force. Just in the nick of time, helicopters descended from the sky—and there was more than one.

As the helicopters landed, joy spread across Dylan and Elmer’s faces.

The cabin doors opened, and a group of people emerged.

Luna Ainsworth, Nora Ainsworth, Quentin Grant, Leon Lynch, and Sierra Ainsworth, flanked by Men in Black, strode toward them.

The chief froze.

"Who are you?"

Nora Ainsworth drew closer. Seeing the two children beside Monty, she immediately burst into tears. "Dylan! Elmer!"

"Mommy!" The two boys stood up and shouted in unison, running to her side.

Nora Ainsworth knelt and threw her arms around the two filthy children. At that moment, she felt like the happiest person in the world.

Afterward, everyone took turns hugging the children.

Nora’s heart ached seeing the state her two boys were in. She took their hands and said, "Let’s go home with Mommy."

Dylan didn’t move. He pointed at Monty. "Bring him."

Nora asked, "Dylan, that’s a snake."

"I know. But without him, you wouldn’t have found me and my brother so quickly."

Nora said no more. She looked at Quentin Grant. "Let’s take the python back with us."

Naturally, Quentin Grant had no objections.

"Hey, who do you think you are? I’m the chief here. Did you get my permission to take this python?"

Luna Ainsworth pulled out a card and handed it to him. "There’s ten million on here. Is that enough?"

"Y-Yes... that’s... enough."

And so, the group re-boarded the helicopters and left the scene.

"Originally, I asked your grandpa to come get you first, but this mountain is huge, and it’s hard to find someone without a specific location. By the time we arrived, your grandpa had just pinpointed your exact spot, so we all came together."

The two boys ate quickly, asking between bites, "Mommy, since when do we have a grandpa?"

"Mommy was taken away when she was little, so I only just reunited with your grandpa. We still don’t have any news about your grandma. Darlings, quickly, tell Mommy how you escaped."

Elmer finished eating, let out a burp, and wiped his mouth. "I’ll tell you."

The five adults sat around the two boys, listening with rapt attention as Elmer recounted everything that had happened from the day they left kindergarten until now, leaving out no detail.

Dylan occasionally chimed in.

By the time he finished the story, they had arrived at Luna Ainsworth’s home.

The five adults were in awe of the two boys’ courage and resourcefulness.

No one had expected them to have walked over dead bodies to get out.

And then to have survived so many perilous days.

It was both unbelievable and utterly astounding.

Luna Ainsworth wiped his eyes. "Grandpa is no match for you two."

Dylan beamed. "We have Daddy’s high IQ to thank for that. Although, sometimes Daddy isn’t even as smart as us. What’s that saying? The new generation surpasses the old, leaving Daddy in the dust."

Quentin Grant was exasperated. "Yes, yes, of course. Now, have your mommy and your auntie get you into the bathroom for a bath. Your godfather and I will go out and buy you some clothes ourselves."

Elmer grunted in agreement. "If we’d had any other choice, we wouldn’t have ended up this filthy and smelly. I’ve been disgusted with myself countless times. Bro, let’s go wash up. I feel like I’m going to puke from the smell."

"Alright."

Nora Ainsworth and Sierra Ainsworth filled the tub, and the two little ones hopped in. The moment they did, the water instantly turned black, a testament to how dirty they were.

They had to drain and refill the tub twice before the water stayed clean.

Nora Ainsworth stroked the boys’ small arms, her heart aching. "Sierra, look how skinny they’ve gotten. Before, they were fair-skinned with a healthy bit of baby fat. Now they’re so dark and thin."

Sierra Ainsworth nodded. "Sis, what matters is that the kids are back. Your mission now is to fatten up my two amazing nephews."

"Mmm. As long as my boys are with me, I feel like heaven has been kind to me."

"Mommy, Auntie, you can go out now," Dylan said with an air of seriousness. "We can wash ourselves. It’s a little embarrassing with you here. After all, boys and girls shouldn’t be so close."

Nora Ainsworth snorted with laughter. "You’re just little kids! What nonsense about boys and girls."

"Mommy," Dylan repeated, his little face tense.

"Alright, alright. Your auntie and I will go to the living room and wait for your daddy to get back with your clothes. We’ll bring them to you then, okay?"

"Okay." Just as Dylan finished, he added, "Mommy... about Monty. Don’t hurt him. He won’t hurt you."

Nora Ainsworth nodded. "He’s my son’s savior. Of course I’ll treat him well. Don’t worry. Once the tranquilizer wears off, Mommy will prepare a magnificent feast for him."

Only then did Dylan nod, relieved. "Thanks, Mommy."

Nora Ainsworth stood up and left with Sierra Ainsworth. Just as she reached the door, Dylan called out again, "Mommy."

She turned back. "What is it now?"

"Dorothy..."

"Dorothy heard the ’news’ of your deaths and was devastated. Your aunt said she stopped going to kindergarten and won’t even let tutors come to the house anymore. She also said Dorothy cries a lot now."

Dylan’s little face flushed red. Before he could answer, Elmer giggled happily. "Mommy, my brother is worried about his little wife."