Lucky Star

"Falling down is not failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen." De Xi said softly as she hugged the trio from behind warmly and they kissed all three of them on top of their heads, in their hair.

"Aunt Xi!" Li Mei and Li Chang smiled sweetly, as Lu Chao warmly hugged back his mother.

"If you guys are done here, shall we get going?" De Xi asked warmly with a soft smile, as she ċȧrėssed Li Mei's head.

"Where are we going next, Mummy?" Lu Chao asked curiously.

"To the Grosser Tiergarten and the Victory Column." De Xi answered with a smile.

"Little Princess went ahead, I'll go and call her." Li Mei said as she looked towards the direction Natalia turned.

"On the other side of the garden others are there, let's go back, she will come with them." De Xi said warmly, as she guided the three kids back into the palace.

When they reached the entrance others, including Natalia were already gathered there, near the bus, waiting for the four.

"Sister Mei I am so sad, you ditched me!" Natalia said with a cute pout, which melted almost everyone's heart.

"Continue with your over-the-top drama after getting in the bus, we are getting late, let's get going." De Xi said indifferently, as she asked everyone to board the bus.

"Pch, such a spoilsport." Natalia grumbled as she boarded the bus, followed by others who were chuckling at the non-stop antics of the mother-daughter pair.

Their visit to the Grosser Tiergarten and the Victory Column was followed by their next destination the Rebuilt Reichstag.

"I have seen Brother read about this building in many of his books about the rich history of Germany," Liam said as he looked at the grand towering building which housed the Bundestag, commonly known as the Federal Assembly of Germany.

"There isn't a place in Europe whose history is unknown to Brother James, after all, history is his second favorite after music." Natalia shrugged casually, as she had already come in terms with James's craze for history.

"Xiao Mei is no different." Su Chen said with his tone full of admiration.

Meanwhile, the duo in question was already deep into their discussion.

"I don't know much about this place other than the fact that it caught fire a month after Hitler took over his chancellorship, which later led to him ȧssuming the dictatorial powers over Germany." Li Mei said as she ascended the stairs leading to the glass dome of the building.

"The Neo-Renaissance building which was also home of the Reichstag which translates to Imperial Diet, from 1894 to 1933, during the periods of the German Empire and the Weimar Republic, was designed by Paul Wallot and was completed in 1894,"

"After some restoration, it was then converted into a museum of German history. It was not until the unification of east and west Germany that more extensive restoration was carried out." James paused as they reached the dome, from where the city, now bathed in nightlights was visible.

"Your knowledge of European history is so vast, I'm really in awe." Li Mei exclaimed as she looked at James in excitement and admiration.

"I could say the same. Despite being from a different continent, you know so much about our history, which is more admirable." James said sincerely, to which Li Mei chuckled softly.

"Let's stop praising each other now." Li Mei said in amusement as she walked ahead to admire the beauty of the city even more closely.

"Do you know? In the 21st century, the Reichstag is a symbol of Germany's commitment to renewable energy." James continued, as he enjoyed the view with Li Mei.

"Hmm... This dome was designed to bathe the Bundestag chamber in natural light, and a massive solar array on its roof further increased the building's energy independence." Li Mei said softly, as she looked at the city lights and the night sky with yearning in her eyes.

"You seem to be lost in something," James said lightly, as he looked at Li Mei whose eyes held an indescribable emotion in them.

"I suddenly remembered a lyric, 'I'm standing alone, in this world that keeps on changing, but hiding away, my true self is fading.' I was just thinking about it." Li Mei said with a soft sigh, her eyes still trained onto the magnificent view in front of them.

"Isn't that from the Tokyo Ghoul series?" James asked in a surprised tone.

After a brief pause, they both chuckled in amusement and surprise, clearly not expecting either of them to know about the anime series.

"Jeez, how come you both always manage to ditch us as soon as we reach a destination?" Sam who came up to the dome with others complained in a whiny tone, earning him a smack from Nova.

"If they were to be in the company of brainless people like you I am afraid that their IQ would be influenced by you," Nova said in disdain, as she eyed him with a frown.

"It can be the other way around as well, right?" Sam asked in an annoyed tone.

"So you do agree that you are brainless?" Natalia asked in amusement and helplessness.

"What is there to agree? It is a well-known fact, sweetheart." Nova said as she side hugged Natalia and dragged her near the glass wall, where James and Li Mei were already standing.

"Can you not drag me?" Natalia asked helplessly.

"Aren't you enjoying it? Or else I won't be able to drag you at my will." Nova beamed cheekily, as Natalia scoffed lightly.

"If not for me being afraid of hurting you by resisting you, do you think I will allow you?" Natalia asked with an are-you-kidding-me look painted on her face.