After finishing everything, Xun Xue carefully tucked the edges of the fleece blanket around her.
Lu Qiancha’s small body was finally free from the earlier cold and dampness.
“Mother… what exactly is this Tiankui?”
Lu Qiancha lowered her claw from her eyes, her blue eyes full of unease and confusion.
Xun Xue sat back down beside the bed, her warm palm resting again on the slightly cool little head as she began to explain what Tiankui was.
“Moon, your monthly cycle?”
Lu Qiancha’s small mouth parted slightly, disbelief written all over her face.
“Yes, it means little Qiancha has reached the age to be married.”
Xun Xue teased gently.
Lu Qiancha:
Her stomach, which had stopped hurting so much, now felt pain again.
After finishing the explanation, Xun Xue prepared to stand and wash the blood-stained clothes and towels.
The moment Xun Xue stood up, a small furry paw lightly tugged at the corner of her skirt.
“Hm?”
Her footsteps halted.
With some confusion, she turned to look back.
On the bed, the small blue furball propped up her upper body slightly, her eyes full of helplessness and anxiety, as if a tiny abandoned cub left by the nest after an early spring rain.
Lu Qiancha’s soft voice sounded quietly, with a barely perceptible tremor: “Don’t go…”
She paused, her small paw tugging a little tighter at the soft fabric. “Can… you stay? Keep me company…?”
“I won’t leave. Don’t be afraid.”
Xun Xue gently stroked Lu Qiancha’s little head.
The tense little wolf cub slowly relaxed.
From her throat came a satisfied, reassuring “huhu” sound.
Lu Qiancha’s paw loosened, but her gaze remained fixed on Xun Xue, still tinged with lingering anxiety, afraid she might run away.
Xun Xue said nothing as she washed the bloodied towel clean and put it away.
Then she held the little wolf cub in her arms, letting Lu Qiancha rest her head against her.
“Get a good sleep. You’ll feel better in a few days.”
Xun Xue whispered beside her ear.
Curled in Xun Xue’s embrace, Lu Qiancha felt an unprecedented sense of safety.
All her guards and tension slowly dissolved in the deep warmth.
The pain in her lower belly seemed to lessen a little more.
She felt sleepy again.
Lu Qiancha slowly closed her eyes.
“Buzz buzz.”
A faint glow flickered on the bedside jade talisman.
She forced open a slit of an eye, her clawed fingertips reaching out to touch it.
Her spiritual perception scanned the message—it was a communication from her master, Xuan Ya: “Be careful outside.”
Lu Qiancha focused for a moment, her fingertip sliding across the talisman: “I will return before the year’s end.”
A prompt reply came from the other side:
She tucked away the talisman and closed her eyes again, burying herself deeper in Xun Xue’s arms.
Her small ears nuzzled against Xun Xue’s soft garment as her consciousness completely sank into the silence of a deep ocean.
***
About half an hour later, Gan Tang, having finished airing out the bedding, held her breath and cautiously pushed the door open.
Leaning on the doorframe, she peeked in with only half her head visible.
Xun Xue had already risen quietly, silently taking the dark-red-stained clothes from the rattan basket and tidying them.
Their eyes met—Xun Xue glanced up, meeting Gan Tang’s pink eyes.
She gave a slight nod, then moved lightly to the door, lowering her voice: “Little Qiancha is asleep. If you have time, please keep an eye on her. I’m going to wash the clothes. Call me if anything happens.”
“Okay! Auntie, rest assured. I’ll take care of everything.”
Gan Tang confidently patted her chest.
Xun Xue vanished like smoke.
Tiptoeing silently like a cat, Gan Tang crept to Lu Qiancha’s bedside.
Lu Qiancha’s original nightgown had been changed by Xun Xue.
Now she wore a pale blue set of children’s pajamas embroidered with a little lamb, the sleeves puffed and tender.
The whole look was very childish, but on Lu Qiancha, it suited her perfectly.
So cute!
Gan Tang’s eyes sparkled as she couldn’t resist reaching out a finger to gently poke the tips of Lu Qiancha’s small furry ears peeking out from beneath the blanket.
A soft “pop~”
The ear tips shrank back like frightened little rabbits, shaking slightly.
Gan Tang poked again.
They twitched again.
Again.
Again…
“Ah! That hurts!” Gan Tang couldn’t help but cry out.
Her hand was firmly bitten by Lu Qiancha, blood even seeping out.
“Senior Brother, let go, please let go…”
Gan Tang pleaded.
“Hmph.”
From Lu Qiancha’s throat came a muffled grunt filled with displeasure and annoyance before she finally released her bite.
Turning her head away, she rested back softly against the headboard.
Gan Tang looked at the two bloody holes on her hand, feeling helpless and wanting to cry.
“Junior sister, you’re really mean.”
Lu Qiancha’s weak voice carried a hint of grievance as it floated over.
Hearing this, Gan Tang felt even sadder—she was being scolded by her senior brother.
“Senior brother… I’m sorry.”
Gan Tang slumped down by the bed, her face full of regret.
Lu Qiancha ignored her, and after letting out her little temper, she covered her belly and let out a pitiful cry.
Though her movements had been small, the pain surged severalfold.
Tears involuntarily welled up in the corners of her eyes.
It hurts… so hard to bear.
Lu Qiancha curled up her body.
At that moment, Xun Xue entered.
She immediately noticed Gan Tang holding her hand and Lu Qiancha silently sobbing.
Her daughter was being bullied.
“Gan Tang, out.”
Xun Xue’s voice was as cold and sharp as early winter ice in a mountain stream, a clear order to leave.
She didn’t say “get out,” holding back out of some restraint because the girl had been relatively well-behaved until now.
“O-okay, Auntie.”
Gan Tang’s heart skipped a beat under that gaze and she fled from the room as if chased.
The door closed silently behind her.
“Little Qiancha, are you alright?”
The chill on Xun Xue’s face instantly melted away.
She hurried to the bedside, cradling Lu Qiancha’s body that was trembling slightly from pain.
In her palm—
Lu Qiancha’s whole body sank deeper into Xun Xue’s warm embrace, her little face pale, her voice faltering.
Xun Xue’s heart ached at the sight.
With precision, she tapped her storage ring, and a thickly wrapped copper hot water bottle appeared.
Within the bottle, a red jade-like glow circulated steadily, emanating comforting heat.
Xun Xue gently tucked it deep inside Lu Qiancha’s fleece blanket.
Soon, a soothing warmth spread to Lu Qiancha’s little abdomen.
Her tightly furrowed brow instantly relaxed.
After a while, some of the color returned to Lu Qiancha’s face.
But the dense, faintly oppressive feeling deep in her lower belly still lingered.
It made her feel restless and short of breath.
After a little more time,
Lu Qiancha finally couldn’t stay cooped up in the stuffy little room any longer.
She got off the bed.
Her small figure wrapped in a thick cashmere coat, wearing soft-soled cotton shoes, she dragged her feet aimlessly along the snow-dusted bluestone path of Tianquan Peak.
Sometimes, Gan Tang would cautiously approach with a steaming cup of brown sugar water scented with wolfberries and red dates, or a small plate of delicate, soft-looking snacks.
But she was usually met with the little wolf cub turning her head impatiently or a cold expression that clearly said “Do not disturb.”
“Senior brother’s mood is so bad during Tiankui…”
Gan Tang mumbled softly, trailing behind the soft, fluffy little wolf cub.
Lu Qiancha’s ears twitched.
She caught the words and snapped back without any patience, “Good is good, bad is bad, what’s ‘good bad’ supposed to mean?”