Oh, what did Xiaozhi just say?
“Let’s date.”
Fearing that the girl hadn’t heard, Bai Xiaozhi repeated herself:
“Wu Xiaomi, let’s date—not just a fling. I mean truly, genuinely, as lovers. Supporting each other, exploring this unknown world together.”
Yes! Xiaozhi didn’t press about Brother anymore!
“…..”
But…
What the hell does ‘dating as lovers’ even mean?!
Before the stunned girl could reboot, Bai Xiaozhi pulled her into a tight hug.
A very, very tight hug.
Wu Xiaomi almost heard her bones groaning in protest.
“My brother is gone. I can’t lose you too,” the white-haired girl’s voice was hoarse. “Xiaomi… let’s never be apart again, okay? Never again.”
Wu Xiaomi was so scared she shut down completely.
Her cheeks flushed, her heart raced wildly.
She opened her mouth.
But whether from shock or the remaining effects of the potion wearing off—she was mute again.
Only soft, faint moans escaped.
Not a single word.
“So, your silence means… you agree?”
“? @!!!”
No! No! Let go of me first! I can’t speak!
Can I write it down?!
Speak.
“If you don’t speak, it means you agree.”
“???”
“Wuu—wuu—I—”
Speaking had become extremely difficult.
It wasn’t a problem with her vocal cords; it felt like the language area in her brain was damaged, and Wu Xiaomi forgot how to speak.
Every word was a tremendous effort.
“You agree? Thank you, you’re so kind.”
“???”
Ahhh—why can’t I say the word ‘no’?
No matter how hard she tried, it was almost impossible to say “no.”
“Finally, I can hold you properly…”
Wasn’t it like that before?
“This feeling is different.”
As if reading the girl’s heart, Bai Xiaozhi murmured.
“Before, it was just a game. I held you but had to worry about crossing the line, making you dislike me…”
“But now, it’s real.”
I haven’t agreed yet, geez!
“You know, when I heard you like girls, I was really… happy.”
The girl held the beauty in her arms tightly, her face full of happiness.
“It’s like wandering alone in the desert for over ten years and finally meeting another traveler.
Two hearts finally in sync, no longer trembling in loneliness.”
……
Wu Xiaomi listened quietly.
Gradually, she stopped struggling.
So… Xiaozhi had been hiding such a huge secret all this time.
She really had been negligent, never realizing it before.
Suddenly her heart ached, guilt washing over her for overlooking this.
If she had realized earlier, she would’ve told her—You can boldly choose your own path in life. Whoever dares interfere, I’ll take their tongue out.
Not even God can stop you from loving who you want, I swear!
And you’re very brave.
Truly brave.
It was just a pity.
That brother who always protected her… would never get to say these words.
Xiaozhi must have become impulsive and afraid of losing because she lost her brother…
If Wu Xiaomi refused her now—
Wouldn’t it be too big a blow for her today?
“Thank you, thank you for agreeing.”
Xiaozhi’s voice was a little weak.
She was always so strong because “you must never let your enemies see your weakness,” a survival lesson taught since childhood.
But she was only seventeen after all, and sometimes she was too tired to keep up the act.
Wu Xiaomi’s mood gradually calmed.
Thinking carefully,
It seemed… agreeing wasn’t so bad.
There was no blood relation between her and Xiaozhi, so no ethical issues.
And if she dated Xiaozhi…
Hmm… not bad at all?
Besides, she didn’t have anyone she liked anyway…
So, why not give it a try?
“If we go on a date, can you bring me along?”
A leisurely voice from the window interrupted.
Wu Xiaomi: “???”
“……”
Bai Xiaozhi glanced at the Witch by the window, but showed little hostility.
She knew that without the Witch, Wu Xiaomi would have been dead long ago.
This decision wasn’t hers to make, but Wu Xiaomi’s.
The Witch rested her chin on the windowsill—the spot usually reserved for customers.
No one knew how long she had been spying.
When did she sneak back? That bastard…
Even now, her umbrella still covered the upper half of her face, hiding her features.
“Don’t get me wrong, I just don’t want to be the disgusting third party later.”
The Witch’s tempting lips pursed slightly. “But strictly speaking, the little leek’s body belongs to me… hmm… even the place where you confessed is my shop.”
“……”
Undeniably, Wu Xiaomi owed the Witch a lot for keeping her alive until now.
Even Xiaozhi’s illness was thanks to the Witch’s intervention… though there might be more to that story.
Still, Wu Xiaomi instinctively believed the Witch wasn’t a villain.
“I don’t mind you two being together; the Mistress of Lust’s dictionary doesn’t have monogamy.”
The Witch tilted her head slightly, her delicate fingers supporting her cheek, lightly tapping it. “But you can’t just uproot my little leek and take her away; she still owes me a huge debt…”
What kind of magical drama is this? Wu Xiaomi looked completely bewildered.
“Ha~ I’m not teasing you.”
The Witch yawned and left the window. “Love takes time to grow, and we’re not close enough yet. You two go have fun first, and remember to return the shop to me soon.
Have~ a~ great~ time~——”
No! That’s not what we’re planning!
“We still have plenty of time to get to know each other… but the time you two get alone is running out.”
The Witch’s voice drifted in from outside.
“Enjoy it while you can, Bai Xiaozhi, noble princess.
And… Forest Ranger Wu Xiaomi.”
Repeat.
What does that mean?
Forget it!
Carpe diem!
Thanks to the Witch’s interference, Wu Xiaomi finally got her hands on paper and pen.
Seizing the rare chance to write, she didn’t hesitate and expressed her feelings for the girl.
【I’m very happy to be with you.】
What do you do after you start dating?
Both Wu Xiaomi and Bai Xiaozhi were complete novices, totally clueless.
But holding hands while going out seemed like a must.
【Why are you still carrying this piece of clothing?】
Wu Xiaomi wrote in surprise.
“This is the only item he left in this world.”
Bai Xiaozhi cradled the combat suit, her fingertips gently tracing the cuts and bloodstains.
She could almost feel the pain.
“Xiaomi, wait here a moment, don’t run off.”
Ahh~
Bai Xiaozhi walked into the alley devastated by the disaster.
Miss Nuo had been waiting here for a while.
“This should be my ‘Brother’s’ combat suit, with his bloodstains on it.”
She handed the combat suit to Miss Nuo first.
Then opened her palm, revealing a few strands of pale pink-and-white hair.
“This is Wu Xiaomi’s hair; I just ‘borrowed’ it from her.”
Bai Xiaozhi also gave the strands to Miss Nuo.
Then said:
“I’ll leave the DNA analysis to you. Thank you.”
She knows
Ей Пиз***