Regardless, they found the second patient, and Ning Xin was a bit excited.
While the little wolf was still unconscious, they carried him back to the asylum and laid him on the sofa in the living room, getting his room ready.
On the second floor of the asylum, there were three rooms in total, with each of them taking one, and the remaining one used as a storage room for food.
They moved the food downstairs against the wall to make room, swept and mopped the floor, and laid out the bedding, quickly tidying up.
Ning Xin prepared a full set of toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, and slippers for him, thinking about his nudity all day, so she picked out a few sets of clothes from the ones she bought for Nie Ran earlier, ready for him to wear.
Nie Ran blocked the doorway, looking very unhappy.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Getting him clothes. Anyway, you can’t wear all these clothes,” she retorted.
“There are patient gowns in the warehouse.”
“But he will have to go out eventually, and patient gowns are not suitable for that.”
Nie Ran fell silent, looking at her faintly, as if she had done something excessive.
Ning Xin tugged at his sleeve. “Don’t be so stingy. Next time we go shopping, you can buy as many clothes as you want, okay?”
He gave a cold hum and then turned and walked away.
Ning Xin sighed in relief, putting the clothes in the wardrobe in the little wolf’s room before going downstairs to check on him.
The little wolf was still asleep, although tall and slender, his face still had a youthful innocence, like a child who had just grown up.
Especially when he closes his eyes, his eyebrows relax, his eyelashes are dense, his lips are a petal-like pink, his skin is so delicate that you can’t see pores, making people want to touch him just by looking at him.
His hair also has personality, it’s light gray, long enough to cover his ears.
Ning Xin curiously touched it, but found that she had seen it wrong.
It wasn’t grey hair at all, but black hair mixed with many white strands, which looked gray at first glance.
Thinking of the scene she saw last night, he, so young, actually had such a painful experience, and even lost himself in hatred in the end. Ning Xin couldn’t help but feel a sourness in her heart, reaching out to touch his forehead.
His butterfly-like eyelashes trembled, the little wolf furrowed his brows in pain, and burrowed into her arms.
Ning Xin was slightly surprised, but she didn’t refuse, gently holding his shoulder.
But the little wolf’s sense of smell was keen, smelling something wrong, he immediately opened his eyes warily.
Ning Xin chuckled awkwardly, “Awake? Haha.”
He quickly retreated to the corner of the sofa, looking left and right, and turned to leave.
Ning Xin looked at him and said, “You’ve been imprisoned here for many years, haven’t you? Don’t you want to go out and see the outside world?”
The little wolf turned his head, looking puzzled.
She took two steps forward and stopped in front of him.
“Stay, you won’t regret it. The past can’t be returned, dwelling in memories will only make you more miserable. Stay here, I’ll teach you to look forward.”
The other party hesitated with their mouth slightly open.
Ning Xin could clearly feel that they were on the verge of agreeing, but she didn’t know what else to say.
Nie Ran came down from upstairs and threw a broom at him.
“If you’re going to stay, you can’t just eat without doing any work. Sweep the floor.”
The little wolf tilted his head and looked at the broom, then obediently walked to where he pointed and began sweeping the floor.
Witnessing all this, Ning Xin thought to herself, “…Does violence really work that well? I’m starting boxing tomorrow!”
Nie Ran sat down on the sofa, looking quite satisfied with himself.
“Work should be redistributed.”
Ning Xin had no objections to this and sat opposite him.
“What are your thoughts?”
He pointed at the busy figure of the little wolf.
“He cleans, he does laundry, he cooks.”
Ning Xin replied, “…You can’t bully newcomers like this.”
“This isn’t bullying, it’s establishing authority.”
Nie Ran leaned closer to her ear, “From now on, you are the manager. These are essential skills for a manager.”
Ning Xin remained noncommittal.
“This allocation seems unfair. How about this: I’ll still handle the laundry, you’re responsible for protecting the asylum, and he’s in charge of cleaning. Each of us will cook one meal a day. How does that sound?”
Nie Ran pursed his lips, showing some frustration with her lack of firmness.
Seeing his lack of objection, Ning Xin took it as settled and went to inform the little wolf.
Approaching, she realized that he had no idea how to sweep properly; he was just waving the broom around aimlessly. It made sense though—during the years he had been alive, he had either lived with wolves or practiced acrobatics. After escaping from the prime minister’s residence, he had been hiding in the deep mountains and forests, with no chance to learn household chores.
Ning Xin smiled and patted his arm. “That’s not how you do it. Come, let me teach you.”
She took the broom and, just like the older sisters in the orphanage had taught her when she was young, began sweeping meticulously.
The little wolf stood by, feeling quite awkward with such close interaction with a human. However, as time passed, with the other party being consistently gentle and patient, his guard gradually lowered, and he earnestly began to learn.
After a while, Ning Xin handed him the broom.
“Give it a try.”
The little wolf followed her example and swept in an orderly manner.
She gave him a thumbs-up, smiling brightly. “Great job!”
Nie Ran snorted from the sofa, rolled his eyes, and went upstairs.
Ning Xin ignored him and said to the little wolf, “Since you’ve learned it, let’s not sweep for now. I’ll take you upstairs to see your room.”
The little wolf followed her blankly as she led the way upstairs. When they were climbing the stairs, she turned her head and asked, “What’s your name?”
“A name…”
He didn’t have such a thing.
In the wolf pack, they didn’t communicate with language. After being captured by hunters, everyone just called him “that freak.”
Seeing him unable to answer, Ning Xin said, “You can think about it when you have time.”
“Is it necessary?”
“Yes, otherwise how should we call you? Just like my name is Ning Xin, you can call me Sister Xinxin or Director. That man is called Nie Ran, you can call him Big Brother.”
The little wolf seemed lost in thought and suddenly said, “Help me choose one.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t read, so you help me.”
Ning Xin stopped in her tracks and pondered for a moment. A few minutes later, she asked, “What about Lang Xiao?”
“Lang Xiao?”
“Lang, sounds like wolf, since you were raised by wild wolves, it’s only natural to remember their kindness. Xiao refers to the dawn when the sun rises, the beginning of a day, which also signifies a brand new future. From now on, you should leave the past behind and start a new life.”
He repeated the two words repeatedly, very satisfied, and joyfully said, “Then I’ll be called Lang Xiao.”
Ning Xin hadn’t expected the naming process to go so smoothly. She patted his head, pushed open the door to the room, and walked in.
Lang Xiao stood still, a blush spreading from his ears to his cheeks.
From inside the room, Ning Xin called out to him, and he rubbed his ears forcefully before walking in.
Ning Xin enthusiastically introduced, “This is your bed, I’ve made the bed for you. If it gets dirty, just grab a new set from the warehouse. There are also thick blankets in the warehouse if it gets cold at night. This is the bedside table, and this is the wardrobe. I’ve put a few sets of clothes in there, not many, so just make do for now. I’ll buy you more when there’s a chance…”
Lang Xiao stared blankly at everything, his eyes shimmering with moisture.
Ning Xin called out to him from the bathroom, “Come over here, I’ll teach you how to brush your teeth.”
He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and walked over as if nothing had happened, only to be handed a toothbrush as soon as he entered the room.
Following Ning Xin’s instructions, he rinsed his mouth first, then put the toothbrush along with the white toothpaste into his mouth and began brushing slowly.
The toothpaste tasted strange, neither sweet nor bitter, and it even made his tongue tingle a bit.
He wanted to spit it out, but seeing the other’s expectant look, he thought even if it were poison, he couldn’t spit it out.
“Okay, that’s enough brushing for now. Rinse your mouth again and spit out the foam.”
Ning Xin handed him a cup of water, and Lang Xiao followed her instructions one by one, even washing his face with a towel.
Seeing how quickly he adapted, Ning Xin, acting as his teacher, felt a sense of accomplishment and pulled him over to the wardrobe.
“Pick out an outfit to wear.”
When Lang Xiao was alive, he spent most of his time naked, as everyone treated him like a novelty and he didn’t need clothes.
The clothes in front of him looked even stranger, and he flipped through them, not knowing how to put them on.
Since he couldn’t make a decision, Ning Xin had to help him. She chose a pullover hoodie and a pair of jeans.
“These two look good. Try them on.”
With Ning Xin’s guidance, Lang Xiao put on the clothes, including underwear and socks, along with a pair of white sneakers.
When he stood in front of her neatly dressed, Ning Xin couldn’t help but admire, “You look really good.”
Clatter—
Suddenly, a sound came from the next room.
The two rushed over to see, and Nie Ran said expressionlessly, “A cup broke.”
Indeed, there was a broken cup on the ground, but Ning Xin couldn’t shake the feeling that he did it intentionally.
Having taught Lang Xiao everything he needed to know, he continued sweeping. Ning Xin remembered something and went to Nie Ran’s room, closing the door behind her.
Nie Ran was standing by the window, giving her a glance.
“What’s up?”
She opened the drawer of the bedside table, revealing a plethora of medications.
“Do you take these medicines on time?” she asked.
Nie Ran frowned.
“I’ve been too busy lately, forgot to tell you. These medications can control your condition, reduce the chances of you losing control, and suppress the emergence of the other personality.”
Nie Ran said coldly, “What are you trying to say?”
“I…”
Ning Xin looked at his face, feeling as if she could hear the voice of Little Nie calling her sister in her ear.
He was so timid, most afraid of being alone.
Where did he stay when he didn’t show up? Did he disappear like a beam of light, or was he sealed in some dark corner?
Nie Ran smirked mockingly.
“Do you want me to stop taking medication so that the other person can come out and accompany you?”
“Of course not!”
“Is that so? Let me tell you, from now on, I will insist on taking my medication every day to prevent him from reappearing. Would you be disappointed?”
Ning Xin took a deep breath, lifted her head, the sunlight falling on her face, her eyes clear and bright.
“You don’t have to see this as a means of revenge against me. In my eyes, you two have never been contradictory. You are the you after growing up, and he is the you from childhood. It’s just that the pain is too heavy, so he occasionally needs to take your place and bear it for a while. If one day he truly disappears completely, it only means that you have overcome your inner demons and started anew. How could I be disappointed?”
Nie Ran’s pupils trembled slightly. “Would you be happy because I’m getting better?”
She took his hand and placed it on her chest.
“My original life goals changed the moment I decided to stay. How to make you both better, how to make this place better, is my new goal.”
Nie Ran chuckled softly.
She frowned, “Don’t you believe me?”
“No.” He withdrew his hand. “I just didn’t expect a woman’s chest to be so flat.”
Ning Xin: “Go to hell!”
She kicked him in the thigh.
He could dodge the attacks of thousands of monsters, but he couldn’t dodge her kick, which hurt so much that he gritted his teeth and waved his hand repeatedly to signal a truce.
Ning Xin huffed out of the room, but as she left, she heard Little Nie’s voice in her mind.
“Sister, don’t leave.”
She wouldn’t leave. She would always be in the asylum.
Even if he never appeared again, she would always remember the silly and cute him.
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