Volume 1 Chapter 12: A Meeting That Could Not Be Avoided
It must be said, time really passes fast...
Back then, she was not even called “Bai Muxue” yet.
And the little girl was still a baby curled up on the bed. If she poked her finger a little too hard, the baby would cry loudly.
But when she stopped poking her, the baby would wiggle around, as if complaining why she was being ignored.
Bai Muxue felt bitterness rise in her throat. She had already prepared herself for the chance that the little girl would not come to her funeral. But now that the little girl had truly appeared in front of her, she suddenly felt lost and did not know what to do.
According to the agreement she had signed with that mysterious girl in the black dress, she could not tell the little girl the truth. If she did, the agreement would be canceled immediately, and everything she had gained would be taken back without mercy.
But if Bai Muxue could not tell her the truth... then what could she say?
Tell her not to be sad?
Tell her to study hard in the future, improve every day, and remember to enjoy games and anime?
“Xingwan...”
With emotions rising inside her, Bai Muxue softly whispered the name without thinking.
Shen Jingyi, standing beside her, heard her speaking to herself. She followed Bai Muxue’s gaze and saw the pretty figure in the distance.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, then she looked back at Bai Muxue.
“Xingwan? Tang Xingwan?”
There was surprise in her voice.
Hearing those familiar three words come from Shen Jingyi’s mouth, Bai Muxue’s body trembled slightly.
“Y-you... know her?”
“I wouldn’t say I know her. I only heard her name before during our school performance. She sings very well.”
As Shen Jingyi spoke, she touched her small chin, thinking deeply.
She had heard earlier that this memorial service was for someone named... Tang Mu?
Tang Mu... Tang Xingwan...
Judging by the ages, they should be father and daughter?
Then what relationship did Bai Muxue have with this father and daughter?
And thinking about Miss Bai’s strange behavior just now... she had clearly come here on purpose to find Tang Xingwan. But now that Tang Xingwan had appeared, why did she not dare go forward?
Shen Jingyi quietly glanced at Bai Muxue, whose eyes were avoiding the other girl, and thoughtfully raised an eyebrow.
But before Shen Jingyi could think more, the girl beside her suddenly hid her pretty face behind Shen Jingyi’s back, her body trembling slightly.
As if doing that would make Tang Xingwan unable to see her.
Even though Bai Muxue herself did not know what exactly she was afraid of.
“T-Teacher Shen, help block me. Just for a moment.”
“Mmm... if she can’t see me, she can’t see me...”
Shen Jingyi: “...”
Miss Bai’s way of thinking was always so different from normal people...
Where had her usual arrogant, willful, overbearing attitude gone?
This was the first time Shen Jingyi had ever seen Bai Muxue like this.
Shen Jingyi pressed her lips together and was about to speak, but suddenly seemed to notice something. She changed her words and softly said,
“But... it looks like she already saw you?”
Bai Muxue froze. She stiffly showed half of her face.
Sure enough, Tang Xingwan politely nodded to the others around her, then walked straight toward Bai Muxue.
“Eek—”
Seeing this, Bai Muxue buried her face into Shen Jingyi’s long skirt again, trying to hide her nervousness that way, like a small trembling parrot.
She recognized me?
Is this some kind of father-daughter heart connection?
But how is that possible?!
“...Looks like she’s not coming for you.”
In the darkness around her face, Bai Muxue heard Shen Jingyi’s voice again.
Hearing that, Bai Muxue slowly turned her neck and looked at Tang Xingwan from the corner of her eye. But she did not dare stare too openly. She only gave a quick glance, and the moment their eyes might meet, she pulled her gaze back as if she had been burned.
Luckily, Tang Xingwan stopped several meters away, then sat sideways in a seat. Soon, a few leaders from the Disaster Management Bureau walked over to her, seeming to give the usual words of comfort.
“Great. I knew it...”
Bai Muxue let out a sigh of relief. After patting her flat chest, she slowly stood up with her back facing Tang Xingwan.
Shen Jingyi was stunned for a moment.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah, this is so boring. I’m going somewhere else for a walk. This place is too stuffy—”
Bai Muxue sighed dramatically on purpose, then deliberately took a longer route, slipped out through the main door from the outside edge of the crowd, and quickly ran off into the distance.
...Too stuffy?
To be honest, she was just afraid of being seen by Tang Xingwan.
Thinking of someone’s panicked behavior just now, Shen Jingyi lowered her head slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Though she really did not want to admit it...
That side of Bai Muxue was unexpectedly a little cute.
Ah!
What am I thinking?!
Shen Jingyi suddenly came back to her senses. She patted her slightly red cheeks and forced her wandering thoughts back under control.
Stop thinking nonsense...
That young miss had most likely run away already, so there was no real reason for her to stay here.
Still, leaving right away would not be proper. It would be better to wait until that gentleman was buried, offer her respect, and then go.
Just as Shen Jingyi made up her mind and was about to stand, she suddenly felt a slight pain in her chest. The small box in her arms gave off a faint burning heat.
“There are magic energy waves nearby... Has a monster set its eyes on this place?”
The girl’s eyes slowly became sharp. As she looked around for anything strange, a sword-like aura spread from her whole body.
“Damn it, Tang Xingwan is gone too?”
……………………
In the garden downstairs of the Disaster Management Bureau, Bai Muxue was curled up on a bench, playing a matching puzzle game on her phone.
Back when work was not too busy, she often hid here to slack off. At that time, she felt there was no hope of promotion anyway, so she might as well waste as much time as possible.
The afternoon after the rain was fresh and cool. The air was filled with light flower scents and the smell of wet soil. The girl used one hand to play on her phone, feeling relaxed.
Mm... If I stay here a little longer, that memorial service should be over soon.
But while playing, scenes of joking and playing around with Tang Xingwan in the past suddenly appeared in her mind again.
“I give up on you, little girl. Can you run slower? I can’t catch you...!”
“Bleh bleh bleh! Haha! Old Dad should train more!”
Now that she thought about it...
She really could not catch up anymore.
The one who used to be beside her had already died. And now, she herself was even a whole head shorter than that little girl...
Haha.
There was a smile of memory and helplessness on Bai Muxue’s face, yet tears somehow slid down from the corner of her eyes.
“I don’t think I’m that old now... so why have I become the kind of person who cries over sad thoughts...?”
The girl casually wiped her tears. She lowered her head and was about to leave when she suddenly saw a clean white handkerchief appear in front of her eyes.
A small cartoon figure was embroidered on it.
“Well... if you don’t mind, you can use this to wipe your face?”
Eh?
Hearing that somewhat familiar voice, Bai Muxue’s body stiffened slightly. Then she slowly raised her head like a machine.
What entered her sight was a lovely figure.
Her dark hair was tied into twin ponytails that fell past her shoulders. A small bow clip sat above her straight bangs.
Her bright black eyes carried a soft shine. Small dimples could be seen faintly at the corners of her smile. Her smooth fair skin had a light pink blush. Even through the JK jacket, one could see the girl’s slim and lovely figure.
Standing in the gentle sunlight, the delicate and cute girl blinked her bright eyes at Bai Muxue in a polite and friendly way.
Tang Xingwan.
Bai Muxue froze for a moment and slowly opened her mouth wide.
“Ah...”