Ling Xiaoyou’s old-fashioned, world-weary look—like a middle-aged uncle sighing over the hardships of life—made Bai Shuanglian burst out laughing.
She rubbed Ling Xiaoyou’s little head and said with a soft laugh,
“Then I really must thank you for your understanding.”
“Hmph, I’m a very considerate Ghost too, okay?!”
Ling Xiaoyou snorted twice, took the tea from Bai Shuanglian’s hand, and sipped it with her pink lips.
Suddenly, she looked at the tea in her cup with some surprise, then at Bai Shuanglian.
“This tea is pretty good. What kind is it?”
“I brought it from my family.”
Bai Shuanglian sat down beside Ling Xiaoyou, also holding a teacup. She blew on the rising steam and said,
“I’ve been drinking this tea since I was a child. I don’t know its name, but it’s always tasted good.”
“Brought from your house?”
Ling Xiaoyou paused, looking suspiciously at the cup in her hand, then at the fragrant tea.
“It doesn’t have some kind of anti-Ghost effect, does it? Like making a Ghost explode on the spot or something?”
“What are you thinking?”
Bai Shuanglian smiled helplessly, poking the soft, tender cheek of the little one who was always daydreaming.
“Our family isn’t some demon lair—why would even the tea target Ghosts? It’s just ordinary tea.”
Ling Xiaoyou didn’t react angrily to Bai Shuanglian’s face-poking.
After all, she was already a little used to it.
She stared dazedly at Bai Shuanglian’s smiling face, and after a long moment, she finally seemed to snap out of it.
“Come to think of it, Bai Shuanglian, you smile a lot more now. I remember when I first met you, you didn’t smile much at all.”
Bai Shuanglian was startled, then smiled slightly at Ling Xiaoyou.
“That’s probably because you’re by my side now.”
At these words, Ling Xiaoyou froze.
She hadn’t expected such a reply from Bai Shuanglian.
She looked into Bai Shuanglian’s deep, star-like black eyes, so bright that she seemed to see her own small reflection clearly within them—as if Ling Xiaoyou was Bai Shuanglian’s entire world.
Ling Xiaoyou’s face turned red.
She immediately looked away, unable to meet Bai Shuanglian’s gaze.
As if to ease her own embarrassment, she coughed lightly.
“Well, I am a Ghost who brings happiness and smiles to others!”
“To meet me is just your good fortune, you big iceberg!”
Hearing the little girl’s words, mixed with shyness, joy, and pride, Bai Shuanglian smiled softly and replied in a gentle voice,
“Yes, meeting you truly is my luck.”
Listening to Bai Shuanglian’s sincere, heartfelt words, Ling Xiaoyou’s cheeks grew even hotter.
She cupped the teacup and pressed it to her lips, trying to hide her flushed face behind the rising steam.
Of course, the result only made her look even cuter and more endearing.
Bai Shuanglian laughed but didn’t tease her further, sipping her tea and enjoying the time spent together.
In the atmosphere filled with pink bubbles, time slowly passed.
Ling Xiaoyou eventually finished all the tea in her cup.
She glanced at the now bright window, then at Bai Shuanglian.
“I should go back.”
She spoke softly.
“Mm.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded, then sighed lightly.
“To be honest, I really wish you could stay.”
“Eh?”
Ling Xiaoyou blinked, then shook her little head with a smile.
“No way. This is your house. How could I stay here forever?”
Bai Shuanglian didn’t reply, only smiling at Ling Xiaoyou as if lost in thought.
Ling Xiaoyou felt a little strange but couldn’t figure out why.
So she gave up thinking about it, waved goodbye to Bai Shuanglian, and vanished from where she stood.
The house, now silent and lonely again, seemed to still linger with the memory of Ling Xiaoyou’s presence.
After a long while, Bai Shuanglian murmured,
“If you’d never come, it wouldn’t matter. But now that you have, that memory keeps clinging to my heart, and I can’t help but want to keep you by my side…”
***
“Hmm hmm, it feels like my relationship with Bai Shuanglian has gotten a lot closer lately.”
Drifting between worlds, Ling Xiaoyou pinched her smooth little chin thoughtfully.
“It’s probably because fighting together really deepened our friendship!”
“Not bad! This is what a true hot-blooded story is all about!”
With a cheerful grin, Ling Xiaoyou returned to the Ghostly Grievance Department.
Back in her own resting room, Ling Xiaoyou stretched comfortably, revealing a bit of her pale, flat tummy.
Too bad that further up it was still a smooth plain—there was some curve, but not much.
She tossed her white work clothes into the washing Law Array and pushed open the door to her resting room, ready to look for Hong Lingyan.
After all, she’d already decided to participate in the Xuantian Martial Tournament, so she needed to inform Hong Lingyan as well.
As she opened the door, Ling Xiaoyou saw Wang Mingji passing by, arms full of paper documents, her hurried steps showing she was in a rush.
Ling Xiaoyou tilted her head curiously, wanting to ask Wang Mingji what she was busy with, but then decided not to disturb her work.
She was a good kid after all—not one to interrupt others at work.jpg
Ling Xiaoyou headed toward the elevator.
Along the way, she noticed many colleagues, like Wang Mingji, moving quickly as if something big was going on and everyone was suddenly busy.
Fortunately, since everyone was so busy, no one had time to try and ‘rua’ her anymore.
Even if someone wanted to sneak in a quick pet, they’d be dragged away by someone else.
For the first time in who-knows-how-long, Ling Xiaoyou felt neglected inside the office.
Shaking her head to clear the strange thought, she stepped out of the elevator and arrived at Hong Lingyan’s office.
Her hand paused on the door, and instead of barging in, she knocked first.
After all, everyone seemed so busy now—Sister Lingyan was surely working too.
It was better to knock and let her know someone was coming.
“Please come in.”
Hong Lingyan’s charming voice came from inside, tinged with a hint of fatigue (?).
Ling Xiaoyou was honestly curious—what kind of situation could tire out a powerful cultivator like Hong Lingyan?
She opened the door and stepped into the office.