A few minutes later, they both returned along the same path.
Ning Xin sat on the sofa, picking up the needle and thread, unable to shake off the romantic scenes from her mind.
Lang Xiao’s attention shifted from his phone to her, about to speak when he suddenly heard movement from the stairs and perked up his ears.
They both turned to look, seeing Yue Yue standing there, wearing the pink fleece pyjamas Ning Xin had given her.
“Why did you come out? Didn’t I tell you not to move around? It will affect the healing of your wounds.”
Ning Xin put aside what happened earlier and seemed very concerned about her.
Yue Yue hesitated, “I… I’m scared to sleep alone…”
Ning Xin said, “You go to bed first, I’ll come find you after I finish sewing the clothes.”
Yue Yue didn’t move, holding onto the staircase railing firmly.
Ning Xin sighed and went over to help her.
“Okay, then you can nap on the sofa for a while.”
As she sat down, she curiously looked at the plastic box Lang Xiao had, and his phone in front of him.
“Why is there a puppy here? Why is the box so bright inside? What’s this square thing?”
“Wanna know? Focus on healing first. I’ll tell you when you’re better.”
Ning Xin smiled and started sewing, while Yue Yue lost interest after a while and focused her attention on Ning Xin.
“Sister, did you just move here recently? Where were you from before?”
Ning Xin continued sewing with lowered eyelids, casually chatting with Yue Yue.
“My home is far away, you wouldn’t know.”
“Will you go back home in the future? Can you take me to play there?”
“Sure.”
“Sister, that guy in the black clothes looks very scary, aren’t you afraid of him?”
“Him? He’s all bark and no bite, nothing to be afraid of.”
“But I still think he’s strange.”
“What’s strange about him?”
Yue Yue pursed her lips and shook her head, then suddenly leaned into Ning Xin’s embrace.
“I’m so lucky to meet such a good person like you. When I’m better, I’ll stay by your side and be your helper. I’m good at doing laundry and cooking.”
Ning Xin gently stroked her head, her gaze scanning from the back of her head down her back.
Fragile and weak, she truly was just a six or seven-year-old child.
“Okay, but to get better quickly, you need to get enough sleep. Stop chatting and go to sleep now.”
She brought a cushion and placed it under Yue Yue’s head as a pillow.
The latter lay beside her, eyes closed, looking much rosier than when she had brought her home during the daytime, appearing harmless.
Ning Xin quietly sewed the clothes, and after finishing, she didn’t wake her up. Instead, she carried her to her own room and tucked her in.
She then brought another blanket downstairs and lay on the sofa, falling asleep fully clothed.
Yue Yue’s recovery was remarkably swift. By the third day after returning, she could move around the house freely.
She was incredibly diligent and observant.
Whenever Ning Xin did something, she would immediately rush over to help.
With her small body and slender arms, she would carry water, chop wood, and wash dishes. Ning Xin couldn’t help but glance at the two grown men lying on the sofa, one playing on his phone, feeling a mix of emotions.
“Both are human beings, yet the gap between them is so vast.”
Nie Ran pretended not to hear, while Lang Xiao put down his phone and jumped up, eager to show off his skills.
After washing the lunch dishes, Yue Yue, Ning Xin said:
“All right, you don’t need to do any more work, I feel sorry watching you. Since your wounds are healed, go take a bath.”
She took Yue Yue to the bathroom, teaching her how to turn on the hot water, use the shower, and the difference between body wash and shampoo, then brought clean clothes for her.
“The firewood at home isn’t enough. I’m planning to take them into town to buy some coal. After you finish bathing, go upstairs to rest, and don’t wander around.”
“Are you all leaving?”
Yue Yue timidly tugged at her clothes and asked in a small voice.
“Yeah, what’s wrong?”
“I-I’m scared. I’m afraid those people will come knocking on the door.”
“They won’t. They don’t even know you’re here.”
“I’m really scared. Can someone stay with me?”
Ning Xin thought for a moment and sighed. “Okay, who do you want to stay?”
She thought the other person would choose her without hesitation, but to her surprise, Yue Yue walked into the living room, looked around, and pointed at Lang Xiao.
“Him, can he stay?”
Lang Xiao looked puzzled, while Nie Ran put down his phone and looked at the two.
Ning Xin looked hesitant. “I’m afraid not. He can’t even take care of himself properly, let alone you.”
“I don’t need him to take care of me. As long as he stays here, it’s fine.”
“I can’t decide on that. Let’s ask him.”
Ning Xin walked over to Lang Xiao and asked, “Lang Xiao, can you stay with Yue Yue while Nie Ran and I go to town to buy coal?”
Lang Xiao’s expression clearly showed resistance, as he silently shook his head at her.
Just then, Nie Ran stepped forward.
“You guys go, I’ll stay.”
“Go ahead, I’ll stay,” Nie Ran said.
“You? But both of you…” Ning Xin started, puzzled.
He smirked, “It’s freezing outside, where’s the comfort in staying indoors? You guys go, I’ll handle things here.”
Ning Xin glanced at Yue Yue for confirmation.
At first, she seemed reluctant, but after a moment’s thought, she suddenly smiled sweetly.
“Sure, I actually have something I want to ask big brother.”
Ning Xin put on her coat, gave a few instructions, and left with Lang Xiao.
In the small building, only Yue Yue and Nie Ran remained. The former’s head barely reached the latter’s waist, and the size difference between them was like that of two different species.
Their eyes met, and Nie Ran spoke first, his eyes playful.
“Aren’t you going to take a bath? Don’t tell me you want my help with that too.”
“Do you want to help, big brother?”
Yue Yue blinked her watery, innocent eyes, looking naive and unaffected.
“I can help, but I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it.”
“Hehe, then I’ll wait for sister to come back.”
With that, she walked into the bathroom and closed the door, soon followed by the sound of running water.
Nie Ran sat back on the couch, picking up his phone again. The screen displayed a reading page.
After buying this phone, he had downloaded many professional books. He had become well-versed in circuits, but it was still not enough.
The technology of the 21st century amazed him, and the products created were beyond anything he had imagined before he died. What would the world look like in another hundred years? He was eager to find out.
Yue Yue took a shower for over an hour. As soon as she opened the door, white steam billowed out. The air was filled with the faint scent of shampoo, a fragrance reminiscent of orchids.
Nie Ran had smelled it once in Ning Xin’s hair and had liked it, but for some reason, he felt repulsed now. He opened the window, letting the cold wind in.
Wrapped in a large towel, Yue Yue walked into the living room, her hair and eyes looking wet.
“It’s so cold,” she said.
Nie Ran remained unmoved and opened another window. The smell immediately faded, and he breathed easier, preparing to return to the couch.
Yue Yue took a few steps forward, blocking his path.
He glanced down and noticed she wasn’t wearing any shoes or socks, standing barefoot on the ground.
After days of applying medicine and keeping warm, the chilblains had improved significantly, and her skin had regained its original fairness.
She looked like a fragile porcelain doll, her ankles slender and pitiful.
“Big brother, why are you so indifferent to me? Did I do something wrong?” Yue Yue asked softly.
Nie Ran looked at her with interest. “Indifferent?”
“Yes, why do you look at Sister all the time but refuse to spare me a glance? What’s wrong with me compared to her?” she continued.
He found it nauseatingly amusing. “You work as a menial labourer in a restaurant, you’re wasting your talent.”
Yue Yue didn’t mind the implication behind his words. She took a few steps forward and gently tugged at his sleeve.
“Big brother, is there some misunderstanding between us? I liked you a lot the first time I met you.”
Nie Ran was too lazy to entertain her. “Is that so?”
“You’re so tall and handsome, any woman would like you. Don’t you even have that confidence?” she persisted.
“Are you a woman?” he retorted.
Yue Yue was taken aback, then laughed shyly. “You’re mean. Or else… would you like to find out?”
I can’t help but admit, even though she still has the appearance of a child, her every frown and smile carries much more feminine charm than that silly girl Ning Xin.
If she encounters someone with a weak will, or someone who particularly enjoys this, she could probably play them like a fiddle.
Nie Ran chuckled coldly and withdrew his hand.
“Enough of your tricks, they’re too lowbrow.”
He walked over to the sofa, picked up his phone, as if treating her as transparent.
A hint of anger, incompatible with her age, appeared on Yue Yue’s tender face, but she glanced out the window, immediately smiled, and ran up to Nie Ran.
“Big brother, I’m so cold, can you warm me up?”
Without waiting for his answer, she snuggled into his arms tightly around his waist.
Nie Ran pushed her, but she pulled off the bath towel, her skin bare, surprisingly not wearing a top.
The girl’s body was like a swift poisonous snake, entangling him desperately.
Nie Ran grabbed her shoulder and threw her to the ground, but she bounced right back up, agile and strong, immediately pouncing on him again.
Repeatedly, her skin was scratched with several red marks, and her hair became messy.
Just then, the sound of the door opeNie Rang out, accompanied by Ning Xin’s laughter.
“We’re back, didn’t manage to buy coal, but guess what we brought back…”
The door swung open, and the scene in the living room froze Ning Xin on the spot, the bag in her hand dropping to the ground with a thud.
Lang Xiao followed behind her, carrying a large bag of charcoal on each shoulder. Struggling to lift her head, she looked at the two of them and opened her mouth in astonishment.
“What are you two doing…”
Yue Yue pushed hard against Nie Ran, running frantically towards Ning Xin, tears streaming down her face.
“Sister, you’re finally back, I was so scared, sniff…”
Ning Xin instinctively hugged her for comfort, then looked ahead and asked, “What did you do to her?”
Nie Ran’s face turned pale. “I think you got it backwards.”
“Backwards? You mean, such a young child like her, could she even understand what that means?”
“So you’re jumping to the conclusion that I want to harm her?”
“Is there any other explanation?”
Bang!
Nie Ran kicked over the coffee table with such force that it crashed into the opposite wall, shattering into pieces.
The three were all startled by the loud crash. Yue Yue lifted her head from Ning Xin’s arms, her eyes shimmering with tears.
“Don’t blame him, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been alone with him at home. Sister, please don’t blame him,” Yue Yue pleaded.
“Don’t defend him. He doesn’t deserve it,” Ning Xin retorted.
“Don’t argue, it’s my fault. I’ll leave now and won’t cause any more trouble for anyone.”
She picked up the towel and wrapped it around her body, intending to go to the bathroom to get dressed.
Ning Xin grabbed her wrist and said coldly:
“Don’t leave. If someone is going to leave, he can leave.”
Nie Ran’s body trembled, unbelieving, “What did you say?”
“Our temple is too small to accommodate a big idol like you. You can leave.”
The air was filled with a dreadful silence, seeming to freeze into ice.
Lang Xiao wanted to say something to persuade them, but Nie Ran suddenly spoke.
“Alright, as you said.”
He briskly walked out the door, carrying nothing but Dawnbreaker tucked into his pocket.
Just like when he first arrived.
Ning Xin bit her lip, trying hard not to look back, and gently touched Yue Yue’s back.
“Don’t be afraid, no one will hurt you anymore.”
The latter leaned against her chest, a fleeting smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
Nie Ran left, leaving behind a void with his absence. The small building suddenly felt much emptier.
Ning Xin, who had entered the room with excitement, no longer felt in the mood to show off the bags of charcoal they had brought back. After helping Yue Yue get dressed, she said, “I’m going to rest in my room for a while. If you’re hungry, eat by yourselves.”
She went upstairs. It was only now that Lang Xiao, amidst the upheaval, came to his senses. He looked back at the door, hesitating whether to chase after Nie Ran or not.
Nie Ran’s figure was long gone, and there were a few pine tree stumps in the snow, remnants of their logging from a couple of days ago.
Did he just leave like that?
Although their relationship wasn’t particularly close, now that he was gone, what should they do here?
Lang Xiao took a step outside, and suddenly heard a self-blaming sob from behind.
“Do you hate me, right? It’s because of my arrival that all this happened. But I don’t know why he did such a thing. I was just taking a bath peacefully, and he just barged in, and…”
Yue Yue choked up, unable to continue, and ran to the kitchen to fetch a kitchen knife, handing it to him.
“Kill me. Staying here, I’m a sinner. Going outside, I won’t survive.”
The kitchen knife gleamed with a sharp cold light. In his eyes, it didn’t seem like a decent weapon, but it could easily kill the girl standing in front of him.
Lang Xiao found himself in a dilemma and ultimately chose to ignore her, carrying the charcoal into the kitchen and then heading upstairs.
He couldn’t handle human relationships, so he might as well focus on taking care of the headmaster.
It’s always right to listen to her.
Ning Xin stayed in her room for a few hours, only coming out when it was getting dark.
She opened the door and saw Lang Xiao sitting outside playing with his phone, slightly surprised.
“Why are you sitting here? How long have you been here?”
“Not long,” he replied.
He put away his phone and stood up, seeing her still looking downcast. Wanting to comfort her, he awkwardly said, “I won’t leave.”
Ning Xin chuckled and rubbed his head. “Silly, come on, let’s go downstairs and cook.”
The two of them went to the living room, only to find several dishes already laid out on the table.
Yue Yue stood behind the stove, her gaze peering out from the steaming pots.
“Are you hungry? Have a few bites of the dishes first, the soup will be ready soon,” she said.
Ning Xin couldn’t help but frown. “You just recovered, how can you cook?”
“It’s always Sister who cooks every day, I’m afraid you’ll be tired. It’s okay, I’m used to doing it since I was young. I felt uncomfortable these past few days not being able to work.”
With her explanation, Ning Xin didn’t know how to respond. She stood aside, waiting for the soup to be ready and then promptly bringing it to the table.
The three of them sat down separately at the table, leaving a vacant spot.
Ning Xin stared at the empty space for a long time, silent.
“I’m so happy today, but also so sad,” Yue Yue said.
“Why?” asked Ning Xin.
“Last year, the master of the family where I worked would sneak into my sleeping shack every night and do unspeakable things to me, forbidding me from telling anyone. One day, I couldn’t bear it anymore and jumped into the moat outside the city, almost drowning. Eventually, someone rescued me, but their family refused to take me in again, accusing me of seducing their master. If Sister hadn’t been there, I probably wouldn’t have had to go through that ordeal.”
Ning Xin furrowed her brows. “You’re so young, how could you endure such hardship?”
“I’m not suffering. I met you, Sister, and from now on, every day will be good, right?” Yue Yue looked at her, her gaze sincere and irresistible.
Ning Xin pursed her lips and picked up her chopsticks. “The food will get cold, let’s eat.”
After washing up, it was already dark outside. Ning Xin wasn’t in the mood to sleep tonight, so she decided to stay in the living room with Lang Xiao.
Yue Yue grabbed Ning Xin’s hand. “Sister, can you help me upstairs? My foot is hurting again.”
Ning Xin assisted her upstairs, but after about fifteen minutes, it was Yue Yue who came downstairs.
Lang Xiao saw her and instinctively recoiled into the corner, his whole body radiating resistance.
She smiled faintly, walking lightly to his side, and sat down, gently stroking the plastic box with a tender expression, as if she were caressing a baby, completely concealing her previous vulnerability.
“You’re so cute. Why do you shrink when it gets dark? Can you tell me your secret?” she asked.
Lang Xiao tensed up, trying hard to ignore her and not let her affect him.
Yue Yue blinked, her finger moving towards the bottom of the box.
“These look so fun just by looking at them, and they can even fly. Are they fireflies?”
“Grrr…,” Lang Xiao gritted his teeth, emitting a low growl of warning.
She tilted her head, like a child discovering a new toy, and opened the box a crack.
A small stream of light particles flew out, dispersing in the air, swaying back and forth.
Some of them drifted into the kitchen, where there was a pot of onions on the windowsill, personally planted by Ning Xin.
As the light particles approached the onions, Lang Xiao frantically scratched at the box, unable to escape as Yue Yue firmly held him down.
In the instant they made contact, the onions emitted a faint light, rapidly growing taller than the stove.
Thick and long, they resembled a writhing snake, with a mouth full of sharp teeth hissing wildly.
A gleam of ecstatic amazement flashed in Yue Yue’s eyes.
“You actually have this ability? I underestimated you,” she exclaimed.
Lang Xiao was almost at his breaking point, his entire body bursting with white light.
Yue Yue carried him outside the door and fully opened the box.
“Come chase me,” she teased.
With all fours on the ground, the small wolf-like creature transformed into a ferocious beast, charging forward.
On the snowy ground, the figures of the young girl and the giant wolf grew smaller and smaller as they ran further away.
Soon, heavy snow began to fall, quickly covering their footprints.
The next morning, Ning Xin woke up with a splitting headache.
She sat up, holding her head, murmuring to herself.
“How strange… how did I fall asleep last night…”
The snow outside the window had accumulated thicker, and a gust of wind caused a flurry of snow to fall from the treetops.
Ning Xin changed into a thicker sweater and wrapped herself in a coat before heading downstairs to freshen up. As she passed by the living room, she habitually glanced inside, but suddenly froze in place.
Where was Lang Xiao?
Usually by this time, he would have reverted to his human form and would be lounging on the sofa playing with his phone.
But today, the sofa was empty, devoid of any trace of him.
“Lang Xiao? Lang Xiao?” Ning Xin called out.
She walked around the house inside and out, searching every corner, but couldn’t find any sign of him.
Returning to the living room, she racked her brain, attempting to recall any abnormalities from last night, but her memory stopped at the moment she closed her eyes.
“Sister,” Yue Yue stood at the top of the stairs, wearing a black down jacket.
Her face was as white as porcelain, with starkly contrasting black and white eyes. Her black hair blended seamlessly with her clothes, inexplicably giving off an eerie chill.
“Why are you up so early?” she asked.
Ning Xin didn’t have time for pleasantries. She asked, “Have you seen Lang Xiao?”
“No, I just woke up. What happened to him?” Yue Yue replied.
“He’s missing. He was supposed to be here, but I couldn’t find him anywhere… What time did you go to bed last night? Why weren’t you in my bed?” Ning Xin inquired.
“I went to the bathroom and when I came back, I saw you asleep. I was afraid to wake you up, so I went to sleep in the empty room next door,” Yue Yue explained.
“Where was he before you went to bed?” Ning Xin pressed.
“He was right here,” Yue Yue pointed at the sofa, then asked with confusion, “Are you worried that something happened to him?”
Ning Xin remained silent, her worried expression saying it all.
Yue Yue bit her lip, seeming very conflicted.
“There’s something… I don’t know if I should say it,” she hesitated.
“What is it?” Ning Xin urged.
“Please don’t be upset when you hear this,” Yue Yue cautioned.
“Just say it,” Ning Xin insisted.
“Yesterday, when you weren’t here, he told me that he was very disappointed in you. He didn’t expect you to drive away Big Brother. He feels… he’s going to leave too,” Yue Yue finally revealed.
“He’s leaving too?” Ning Xin exclaimed incredulously.
“Yeah,” Yue Yue nodded, then looked around and retrieved a phone from under a cushion. “Look, he didn’t even take this with him.”
Ning Xin remained silent as she held the phone. Yue Yue affectionately hugged her arm.
“Sister, let me accompany you to find them. It’s all just a misunderstanding, they surely want to come back,” Yue Yue suggested.
“No need,” Ning Xin lifted her head, her tone cold. “If they want to leave, let them. I can live without them.”
Upon hearing this, Yue Yue smiled brightly, though she still said, “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t come, everything would be fine.”
Ning Xin entered the bathroom, and when she came out, Yue Yue had already prepared breakfast – two bowls of fragrant noodles that looked enticing.
“Now it’s just the two of us here. From now on, let me handle the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Sister, you just sit back and relax,” Yue Yue said.
“How can I let you do everything?” Ning Xin objected.
“It’s okay, I want to repay you. Here, eat the noodles,” Yue Yue insisted, handing her a pair of chopsticks.
Ning Xin sat down and carefully tasted the noodles. They tasted delicious and there was nothing unusual about them.
“Are they not tasty?” Yue Yue asked disappointedly.
“They’re delicious,” Ning Xin replied.
“But you don’t look like you want to eat them,” Yue Yue observed.
“It’s just because they’re a bit hot,” Ning Xin blew on the noodles and then started eating heartily.
Yue Yue didn’t just pay lip service. After finishing their meal, she truly took on all the household chores, keeping herself busy throughout the day.
Whenever Ning Xin wanted to do something, Yue Yue would always beat her to it, leaving her with nothing to do but lie in her room.
After dinner, the night fell, and without Lang Xiao, the night felt aimless.
Downstairs, Yue Yue was kneading dough, saying she wanted to make dumplings for Ning Xin.
Ning Xin leaned against the bedside, flipping through a novel. Suddenly, she remembered the days when Nie Ran, during his time installing the wiring, would often stay up all night studying thick professional books.
“How could he manage to read those? He’s really amazing…” she thought.
With so many words densely packed together, just looking at them made her head ache, let alone trying to remember them.
Feeling drowsy without realizing it, she yawned and soon fell asleep.
Outside the door, faint footsteps approached. With a creak, the door was pushed open, and Yue Yue walked in.
She stopped by the bedside, picked up the skincare products on the nightstand and sniffed them, then lowered her head to look at Ning Xin.
Her eyes were slightly wider than usual, giving her a somewhat terrifying appearance.
“Sister…” she murmured, her fingers gently caressing Ning Xin’s smooth cheek.
“You always say I’m pitiful, but the one who’s truly pitiful is you,” she whispered.
Ning Xin slept soundly, not stirring at all, her relaxed brows showing no signs of alertness.
Yue Yue lifted the covers, shed her coat, and squeezed into bed, her delicate arms embracing her, sniffing around her neck.
“How fragrant…” she murmured, extending her tongue to lick as if it were some delicious delicacy.
Ning Xin remained still. Yue Yue, emboldened, pulled out a thin blade from somewhere, placing it lightly on Ning Xin’s neck, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement.
“Sister…” she licked her lips, “you’re so kind, would you let me become you?”
Bang!
The glass shattered as a figure leaped in through the window, grabbing her neck with precision.
Yue Yue looked at the newcomer, her eyes widening in astonishment.
“You didn’t leave?” Nie Ran wasted no words, swiftly stripping her down. His intention was to search for other weapons on her, but instead, he discovered a bigger secret.
“So, you’re… a man?”
Ning Xin, who had been pretending to sleep, couldn’t help but open her eyes wide.
“What did you say?!”
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