Volume 1 Chapter 13: Could This Woman Have Had Something Going On with My Dad?
“Well... I was watching you for a while just now, because you looked very... sad, so I...” Seemingly frightened by Bai Muxue’s stiff expression, Tang Xingwan spoke softly and timidly.
“Ah, I absolutely wasn’t spying on you! It’s just that I...”
Ignoring the girl’s nervous explanation, Bai Muxue quietly took the handkerchief and then showed a faint smile.
“You are Mr. Tang Mu’s daughter, Tang Xingwan, right? It’s a very cute handkerchief.”
“I-I just thought you looked upset. I really didn’t mean to offend you, so... eh?”
Tang Xingwan was still stammering her explanation, but when she suddenly heard Bai Muxue praise her, she froze for a moment.
“You know me?”
When Bai Muxue nodded, a little light appeared in Tang Xingwan’s bright eyes. “Eh, right? Right? I think so too!”
Bai Muxue’s praise seemed to catch Tang Xingwan’s interest. She quickly shook off her nervousness and tension, blinked her pretty eyes, and began talking nonstop.
“This handkerchief was official merchandise sold at the anime convention booth back then. Only fifty were sold each day!”
A proud look appeared on Tang Xingwan’s cute face.
“Hmph hmph, it really wasn’t easy to get one... Back then it was still... ah.”
The girl paused slightly, and the light in her eyes began to fade.
“It was... my dad who stood in line all night to help me get it.”
So that really happened...
Back then, the little girl had been deeply into some anime idol project. Bai Muxue did not really understand it, but to make her happy, she still stood in line all night and bought her a lot of merchandise.
Even though it felt like too much effort just to buy some badges and handkerchiefs...
Still, when she saw how happy the little girl was after getting them, Bai Muxue had felt satisfied too.
The happy smile from memory and the Tang Xingwan before her now formed a sharp contrast, making pain quietly rise in Bai Muxue’s heart.
“Sorry...”
“Mhm, it’s okay.”
Tang Xingwan quietly wiped the tears from the corner of her eye and spoke softly.
“My mother passed away when I was six years old. After that, it was always my dad who took care of me.”
“Well... after this happened, I did feel bad for a while. But he was usually very busy, so I got used to being alone a long time ago.”
Tang Xingwan forced out a small smile, but her clear voice carried sadness.
She said she had moved on, but Bai Muxue could clearly hear the loneliness in her voice.
And under those dark eyes was pain, hesitation, and confusion.
Looking at Tang Xingwan’s smile that held no real happiness at all, Bai Muxue felt as if something tightly grabbed her heart, making it hard to breathe.
What nonsense.
You never got used to it, silly girl.
Heh, it was the same when her mother died too.
The little girl cried in my arms until tears covered her face...
That day the rain was so heavy. She cried with all her heart, yet there was no one who could help her...
Thinking of this, Bai Muxue’s breathing became faster. She suddenly grabbed Tang Xingwan’s small hand and looked straight into her eyes, speaking word by word.
“You are a very, very wonderful girl... If... if Mr. Tang Mu could see how wonderful you are now, he would definitely be very happy.”
Tsk... even so, hearing herself say the words “Mr. Tang Mu” felt strangely awkward. Bai Muxue secretly clicked her tongue inside.
Tang Xingwan froze for a moment after hearing this. She pressed her lips together, seeming not to notice that Bai Muxue was still tightly holding her hand.
Then she quietly held Bai Muxue’s hand back and said in disbelief, “Wonderful?”
For some reason, the girl’s gentle tone made Tang Xingwan feel a strong desire to open her heart and talk.
“Of course!”
Bai Muxue answered without any hesitation.
Tang Xingwan’s hand was cold and soft. Her fingers were long, pale, and smooth.
“But before this, he even scolded me and said if I failed chemistry again in this monthly exam, he would seriously punish me!”
Hearing that, the girl’s eyes moved slightly. She played with a strand of hair with her fingers and puffed her lips as she spoke.
No, your chemistry really does need help. It’s already that bad...
I really should have found you a tutor back then...
The corner of Bai Muxue’s mouth twitched, suddenly feeling awkward.
“Ah, come to think of it, I still don’t know your name.”
Bai Muxue gave a small “ah,” then shyly let go of her hand.
“Well... after my father passed away, my family received an anonymous donation.”
Tang Xingwan secretly glanced at Bai Muxue, then carefully continued,
“Just now, those leaders from the Disaster Management Bureau told me to properly thank you. Could it be you...?”
After all, this girl’s clothes and jewelry clearly looked like things I could never afford...
But with how my dad was, how could he possibly know some super rich young lady like this?
Could it be this girl’s mother had some kind of relationship with my dad before he died...
Ah, nonsense nonsense, impossible...!
Tang Xingwan stared at the smiling girl in front of her. Her bright eyes blinked a few times, but her thoughts had already run far away.
“Ah, I almost forgot to introduce myself.”
Facing the girl’s small question, Bai Muxue smiled gently and pushed all the many thoughts in her heart back down.
“My name is Bai Muxue. I only received a lot of help from Mr. Tang Mu before, that is all.”
She neither admitted nor denied anything. She only said that he had helped her a lot.
Bai Muxue spoke calmly. The light of the sunset seemed to cover her in a thin golden veil.
“Mr. Tang Mu truly loved you. So no matter what happens in the future, you must keep living with a smile. I think that is what he would want too.”
“Eh? You mean Dad would also...?”
Tang Xingwan looked at Bai Muxue in surprise and suddenly did not know what to do.
The girl before her had slightly raised lips, and endless gentleness seemed to surround her from those eyes.
Why is this happening...?
We only met today...
Why does this feeling seem both gentle and familiar?
Tang Xingwan opened her mouth, but did not know what else to say.
Then she suddenly remembered that her father, who was sometimes nagging and annoying, would never appear before her again from now on.
The sadness and pain rose once more, pressing on her chest until she could hardly breathe.
The cheerful mask she had worn earlier was broken by grief. She slowly raised her head, moisture gathering at the corners of her eyes.
I never noticed before...
The little girl’s eyes are beautiful too.
Her dark pupils held sadness, mixed with a weak and pitiful feeling...
Like a small cat that had been wronged and had nowhere to go.
Sadness spread like a rising tide. Bai Muxue’s eyes also turned clearly red.
After being silent for a long time, she pressed her lips together and slowly reached her hand toward the grieving girl.
Looking at the small hand reaching toward her, Tang Xingwan’s eyes filled with shock and surprise. She stood frozen in place.
Then the smaller girl in front of her stood on tiptoe with effort and gently stroked her hair.
With that clumsy but gentle touch, tears slowly filled Tang Xingwan’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
“I...”
But before Tang Xingwan, whose voice was shaking, could speak, a sharp alarm suddenly sounded all around them, cutting off their conversation.
—“Emergency Evacuation Notice! Disaster beasts and monsters have appeared at the same time in Wutong District! This disaster is rated Level C+!”
“All citizens in Wutong District, please quickly leave your current location using the planned emergency evacuation routes. During evacuation, stay calm, do not panic, and follow the instructions of on-site staff!”