The little shrine maiden was lightly hopping when suddenly she was embraced from behind. Su Ze's voice was gentle with a hint of hoarseness, "You should be this happy every day from now on."
'Don't cry because you can't see me.' He kept these words pressed inside, unspoken.
Su Ze's reluctance to part with Uesugi Akizuki wasn't like that between lovers, but more like saying goodbye to a sister who had grown up with him for over a decade.
Although Su Ze often joked with Shen Qingsheng about her being his wife, that wasn't his true intention.
It's not that he hadn't considered it.
But he knew his profession meant he was unlikely to meet a peaceful end.
The average life expectancy of Pioneers announced in the first half of the year was thirty-six.
Unless Su Ze wanted his little innocent one to become a widow.
The little shrine maiden looked up puzzled, her amber eyes, seemingly sparkling with starlight, met the boy's complex and profound pupils.
The silver bangs that slightly covered her eyes were gently lifted by the breeze, and her momentarily stunned face broke into a gentle, delicate smile.
At that moment, even the wildflowers blooming across the mountains couldn't compare to this wine-red-haired little shrine maiden's upward glance and smile in Su Ze's eyes.
"You must be happy from now on, be happy when you think of me, and no crying, okay?" Su Ze said somewhat domineeringly.
The confused little shrine maiden nodded, not understanding why Su Ze said that.
How could I not be happy seeing you? Whether I see you or think of you, I'm always happy, so why would I cry?
Unable to figure it out, she stopped thinking about it.
Su Ze released the little witch and continued walking while holding her hand.
Suddenly, the little witch threw herself into his arms, hugging his waist, her starlight-sparkling eyes gazing at Su Ze enchantingly.
Unusually for the little shrine maiden who typically found speaking tiresome, she spoke up, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness, like clear stream water, flowing melodiously, "You need to be happy too."
"Alright." Su Ze patted her head.
They continued walking hand in hand.
Walking along the bustling street, weaving through the mundane world.
"Here, have a bite."
Meng Xingyao stood at a comfortable distance from Uesugi Chigenki, holding a bowl of meat porridge, trying to extend a spoonful towards her.
Her footsteps moved back and forth, maintaining a careful distance.
Uesugi Chigenki, who had been leaning against the window, turned her head and stared at Meng Xingyao's somewhat fawning eyes for a while, then snorted, her eyes becoming vigilant, "Why are you being so nice to me? Are you going to bully me again?"
"How could I? I just... want to take responsibility for you."
"I..." Uesugi Chigenki choked for a moment, suddenly becoming angry, "We're perfectly innocent, who needs you to take responsibility!"
Meng Xingyao shyly put the spoon back in the bowl, scratching her head embarrassedly:
"If you want... we can change that innocent status now."
"I... I..." Uesugi Chigenki felt a tightness in her chest, "Who wants that!"
"You... want to?" Meng Xingyao hesitated, put the bowl on the table, swept her black waterfall-like, slightly curled hair behind her, closed her eyes, pursed her lips, and opened her arms, appearing ready to submit to whatever might happen.
Seeing this scene, Uesugi Chigenki's easily stirred emotions immediately caused her chest to tighten with anxiety.
I meant to say, who wants to stay innocent! What does she mean by that? She's misinterpreting my words again... This is so confusing!
Uesugi Chigenki's CPU couldn't process Meng Xingyao's inhuman shenanigans and directly overloaded, smoking.
When Meng Xingyao opened her eyes after nothing happened for a while, she saw the girl pursing her lips with large tears dropping down one after another.
She had successfully made her cry again.
Uesugi Chigenki couldn't understand how such a tall, beautiful, and cool girl like Meng Xingyao could house such a mischievous soul.
This time, Meng Xingyao didn't approach to tease her again, but turned and left for the kitchen to get some beef jerky, then lay on the bed playing with her phone while chewing on it.
Because she knew she had no chance anymore, she simply gave up.
The Executor had set out to pick up the two sisters when Su Ze agreed to bring Uesugi Akizuki.
Watching Meng Xingyao make her cry and then lie on the bed chewing beef jerky like nothing happened, Uesugi Chigenki felt extremely frustrated.
If this wasn't Huaxia and she didn't need her help, she would have beaten her brains out.
Meng Xingyao received a phone call from Su Ze and put it on speaker, holding it in the air.
"We're here," Su Ze's voice came through.
Uesugi Chigenki, who had been sobbing, paused briefly before running downstairs.
Meng Xingyao continued playing with her phone nonchalantly when a thud sound came from the stairs.
That silly girl, did she fall?
She got up and followed, indeed finding a little shrine maiden sitting on the ground, tears in her eyes, rubbing her head.
"How careless are you?" Meng Xingyao said, trying to suppress her amusement as she went to help up the sobbing, tear-wiping little shrine maiden.
"Thank you," the little shrine maiden thanked Meng Xingyao for her kindness, completely forgetting about being bullied.
She limped along, supported by Meng Xingyao.
Suddenly she came to her senses and glared at Meng Xingyao with pursed lips and a somewhat fierce look.
The latter was so scared she held her breath.
Never mind, although she's been somewhat mischievous, she has taken good care of me these days. Since I'm about to leave, there's no need to stay angry with her.
Although that's what she thought, Uesugi Chigenki didn't plan to show her any kindness, turning her head away as she continued walking.
Su Ze and the innocent one sat downstairs waiting for a short while before Meng Xingyao and Uesugi Chigenki came to open the door.
When the innocent one saw her sister, her eyes filled with joy. She let go of Su Ze's hand and ran over at full speed.
"Akizuki!"
The moment she saw her sister, Uesugi Chigenki could no longer hold back, pulling her innocent sister into an embrace and sobbing silently.
Seeing her crying sister, the innocent one gently stroked her sister's back.
Su Ze gave Uesugi Chigenki a few glances, having no desire to participate in this emotional release, and turned to chat with Meng Xingyao instead.
Meng Xingyao curiously looked at Su Ze's beautiful white hair, "Did you dye your hair?"
"Would you believe me if I said it's natural?"
"Do you think I would?"
"Do you think I believe that you would... ahem."
"Sister Xingyao, what did you gain from your return from the Land of the Living Dead? Want to share with your brother?" Su Ze changed the subject with a playful smile.
About ten days ago, Meng Xingyao had gone to the Land of the Living Dead, and after returning, she had spent four or five days in the hospital. Su Ze had met Uesugi Akizuki on his way home after visiting Meng Xingyao that night.
Meng Xingyao's eyes curved in a smile, "What's my little gain worth mentioning? If you want some too, sister can take you there."
Su Ze raised an eyebrow, "Really, sis!"
"Really, really!" Meng Xingyao nodded with a smile.
Su Ze suspected Meng Xingyao was joking with his fake smile, but he had no proof.
Su Ze indeed had thoughts of going to the Land of the Living Dead again, mainly because being stuck at the peak of the Candle Realm was too frustrating.
To advance from his current realm to the next, conventional methods like taking pills and diligent cultivation were insufficient.
His purpose for this journey was to stimulate his potential between life and death, to break through and be reborn in desperate circumstances.
Of course, if he couldn't break through even in desperate circumstances, he would be finished.
If Meng Xingyao joined, both the gains and survival rate would surely increase significantly.
"Then let's set out next Monday." Regardless, even if Meng Xingyao was joking, Su Ze decided to drag her in.
"Alright, sister will look after you then." In fact, Meng Xingyao wasn't joking.
Looks like she wasn't lying to me.
Su Ze nodded, "Thanks, sis."
Su Ze turned to look at Uesugi Chigenki, who was carefully and thoroughly checking if her sister had any injuries, "Where are they planning to go?"
"They said they're going to look for their mother in Huaxia."