"Providing her warmth when she needs it most" has always been Lu Qing's guiding principle when it comes to Bai Xing.
No unnecessary words, no unnecessary actions, but at critical moments, he must prove with his actions that "I care about you."
Even though today is the day the VTuber behind "Meibi 2.0" is going live, and even though tonight he still has to rush to Dongyang Complex 301 to sit beside a certain flower and help her through her difficulties.
Even so, he must make full use of the afternoon to let the young girl feel that he, this old man, hasn't lived in vain.
——It's exhausting.
Lu Qing is worn out.
In fact, even a month ago, before Su Ling came into his life, he was already empty-handed, preparing for a new book, seeking inspiration on a rainy night.
Even before that point, he was already exhausted.
After all, just living is tiring.
But ever since he lit three incense sticks for the God of Inspiration, sudden and unexpected "changes" have shifted him from the "pressure of life" to the "pressure of emotions" and the "pressure of responsibility." Every time he thinks about it, he finds it utterly bewildering and unbelievable.
But life is like a train; once it starts moving, you can't just jump off midway.
Lu Qing knows he has no way back, and he also knows that the saint who once could heal him no matter how broken or scarred he was has already left.
So now, he must truly "grow up" and shoulder the heavy emotional burdens that most of his peers could never bear.
But still...
"Bai Xing."
"Hmm?"
"You want me to comfort you, fine. But we're in a hospital, in a ward. Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
He looked at the girl sitting on his lap with no sense of boundaries and couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable.
To be honest, the concept of boundaries disappeared the moment she first clung to him.
Her pushing her luck is premeditated, and every time she takes the initiative, it's hard to resist.
If he pushes her away, she'll hide under her blanket and cry for half a day, refusing to eat for days. Then he has no choice but to find a way to comfort her, or else it could lead to a serious emotional breakdown, which is a real headache.
"Senior, we've already done *that*, so why aren't you used to this yet?"
Bai Xing said this, but she obediently moved away from him, standing less than half a meter in front of him.
"...That was a special case, and it's different from now. After all, we have to consider the time and place for everything, right? What if someone outside sees us? They might gossip behind our backs."
"Oh... so as long as it's the right time and place, Senior can do anything with me, right?"
The girl's eyes sparkled as she came up with this astonishing logic.
"Bai Xing, are you itching for a scolding again?"
"I'm not! I just thought, since Senior came to see me even when you're so busy, you must care about me. So I just wanted to confirm... how much you really care about me..."
Bai Xing touched her index fingers together, her head slightly lowered, her cute face flushed with shyness.
But Lu Qing had long seen through her tactics and remained unmoved. "Cut it out. You already know how much I care about you, don't you? If you keep pushing your luck and trying to trick me, I won't be happy."
SSS-level standard combo move—"Impenetrable Defense·Gentle Warning." Its effect is to stop the other person from pushing their luck and to draw a clear line, letting her know that if she goes any further, she's in danger.
Lu Qing knows that ahead lies an abyss, where a single spark could ignite a fire that shouldn't exist.
Bai Xing, of course, understood instantly. "Hehe, don't be like that! I was just saying, Senior, don't really get mad at me. I'm already super happy that you came to see me, really!"
"You better be."
"~"
Bai Xing knew that today's attempt to push things further had failed, so she didn't continue. Instead, she sat down obediently beside him, making small talk while waiting for her grandmother to return, all while secretly planning her next move.
No matter what, with Lu Qing here, her previous unease and anxiety gradually dissipated. Whether it was clinging to him, teasing him, tempting him, or pleading with him, getting close to him, touching him—all of it made Bai Xing feel that her life wasn't entirely "black and white."
Her soul truly existed.
It could, when stimulated, generate a new kind of vitality.
This feeling, even if it was just a dream, was worth it.
"Senior."
"Hmm?"
"You spend your weekend mornings... writing, right?"
"Yes. Not just weekends, I also spend late nights thinking about my work, sometimes until dawn."
Lu Qing replied casually.
"..."
The girl pursed her lips and asked timidly, "Then don't you think it's a bit of a waste to spend so much time on me?"
Her cautious tone made him frown.
"?"
"Eh? Senior, did I say something wrong...?"
"..."
Lu Qing sighed, turning to look into her eyes. "Sometimes I really don't know what to say to you."
"Please, Senior, tell me."
"Your way of thinking is so bizarre to me, it's like the logic trajectories of men and women can never align."
He critiqued it from an academic perspective. "Bai Xing, think about it. If I thought spending time with you was a 'waste,' why would I come to see you? Why would I choose you as my VTuber? Why would I write you into my book as the female lead?"
"Um..."
"Think about it. If you were just an ordinary girl, if we had no connection at all, if you were just some creepy girl who used to stalk people during my college days, would I leave Su Ling at home and come out here to spend time with you? Does that make sense?"
"!"
Seeing Lu Qing's slightly annoyed expression and hearing him say these "lovely words," Bai Xing was secretly thrilled! She continued to play innocent:
"Then, Senior, what is it about me that made you choose me, even giving me something so precious?"
"? Don't phrase it in a misleading way. There are many precious things, and I just wanted to help you feel better so you could stream more smoothly and make me more money." He put on a stern face and looked away.
"Then, then, tell me, why did you choose me as the female lead in your novel? Why not Su Ling? Why not Tang Hua?"
"..."
"Tell me, come on~"
"..."
"Senior, please! Tell me~"
"...Fine, listen carefully."
Lu Qing had no choice but to reluctantly lower his voice, speaking in a tone so soft it was almost inaudible:
"You're just cute, energetic, kind, hardworking, genuine, and talented, that's all. Oh, and when you get all withdrawn, it makes me want to help you... Most importantly, you've helped me too, and that completely changed how I see you. I mean, I was genuinely impressed... Oh, and I think if I wrote you into my book, more people would love you because the energy you radiate is truly touching. It's incredibly captivating. Even though you're small, there's something in your soul that no one else has, something no one can imitate. I've thought this through carefully, and I don't think anyone else could do what you do—show others 'a glimmer of hope,' make them understand that 'strength isn't limited by where you start.' So, I think no one is more suitable to be the female lead than you. Bai Xing, that's all I'm going to say. If you keep asking, I'll..."
Suddenly, he frowned, feeling the room temperature rise inexplicably. He turned to look at the girl.
...
...