Chapter 7: A New Alliance and a Lingering Enigma

Su Xinxin followed the sound, looking down at the ground.

Xiao Ming sat on the ground, rubbing its head with a paw.

Its ruby-like eyes sparkled brightly, ears perked alertly, and its large tail swayed lazily behind it.

It was alive!

A wave of relief washed over Su Xinxin, and she instinctively bent down to scoop it up.

However, a sharp pain shot through the muscles in her back.

“Hiss…” she gasped, rubbing her back with a reverse motion.

‘Right, the collision from last night…’

“Hey!” Xiao Ming exclaimed, placing its paws on its hips. “I was finally moved, thinking I’d get a hug, but you’re only worried about rubbing your own back? Give me back my touching moment!”

Su Xinxin watched its lively antics, a faint smile flickering in her eyes.

Finally, she reached out and gently lifted it back onto the bed.

“Seeing you so energetic, I feel relieved.”

Xiao Ming squirmed in her palm, letting out a soft huff, but didn’t try to escape.

“Fine,” it grumbled. “You saved me, and I also moved your unconscious self onto the bed—and even put a ‘Temporary Repair Talisman’ on that broken door.

“It won’t last long, but at least it won’t let in drafts or thieves. So, are we even now? Where’s the contract, then?”

Su Xinxin’s smile faded slightly.

“I… haven’t decided yet.”

“Alright,” Xiao Ming said, without pressing further.

It floated up, flew to the desk, and retrieved the contract that was pinned down by a pen.

“I’ll hold onto it for now. Just let me know when you’ve made up your mind.”

The contract dissolved into specks of light, merging into its body.

“Grumble—”

A distinct rumble echoed from Su Xinxin’s stomach.

In the quiet room, it sounded exceptionally loud.

Su Xinxin’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she awkwardly averted her gaze.

“Pfft.” Xiao Ming had clearly heard it.

It turned around, its eyes gleaming with cunning. “Hungry? How about… we go eat together?”

“…Mm. I’ll take you somewhere nice to eat,” Su Xinxin replied, her voice barely a whisper.

“What do you mean ‘take me’?” Xiao Ming floated in front of her. “It’s covered by the meal allowance, alright? Hurry up, wash up and change!

“You need to eat your fill to have the energy to face what’s next—”

It suddenly trailed off, its voice dropping to a low murmur.

“…to face the work that might only last a few more days.”

Su Xinxin didn’t respond, silently walking into the bathroom.

Before the mirror, a girl in light yellow pajamas, her black hair disheveled, was reflected.

She brushed her teeth in silence, the cool mint spreading through her mouth, attempting to wash away the lingering bitterness of last night’s fright.

The eyes of the person in the mirror showed faint dark circles, evidence of overexertion and lack of sleep.

As she looked at her reflection, her thoughts drifted elsewhere:

‘That mysterious person who broke in, and Xiao Ming’s solo venture outside… Is it appropriate to ask about these things now?’

She turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on her face.

The icy water made her feel more awake, temporarily suppressing the complex thoughts swirling in her heart.

Returning to her room, she opened the wardrobe, revealing an array of ‘girlish styles’.

As her fingers brushed past the clothes, she suddenly realized a problem: it seemed… there wasn’t a single pair of trousers here.

The early summer breeze still carried a hint of coolness, and this young body… might easily catch a cold if exposed for too long.

It seemed only dresses were an option—long dresses, specifically.

Perhaps this was part of the ‘Su Xinxin’ identity setting; a girl who loved wearing dresses would be less likely to arouse suspicion.

She sighed as if resigned to her fate, yet a rational thought soon emerged.

‘If… if possible, couldn’t I just buy a few pairs of trousers when I go out? For now, it seems I’ll have to wear skirts temporarily.’

Su Xinxin eventually chose the simplest knee-length, off-white dress and put it on.

Then, she looked into the mirror, tying her troublesome long hair into a low ponytail.

The figure in the mirror appeared refreshed and neat.

Just as she finished tidying up, Xiao Ming was already circling at the door, urging her on.

“So,” Su Xinxin asked, pulling on her shoes, “what exactly does ‘reimbursement’ entail…”

“Ahem, ahem!” Xiao Ming suddenly let out an exaggerated cough.

Su Xinxin froze.

[Outside, ordinary people can’t see me.] Xiao Ming’s voice echoed directly in her mind, just as it had when they first met. [If you want to communicate later, do it like this, in your mind. Don’t talk to yourself, or you’ll be thought of as strange.]

[Oh, just like when we first met…] Su Xinxin tried to respond mentally, then suddenly grew alert. [Wait, does that mean you can—]

[I can only hear thoughts you actively ‘share’ with me.] Xiao Ming’s explanation came through promptly. [I cannot pry into your private thoughts that you don’t want me to know. This is a basic rule.]

[I see…] Su Xinxin breathed a sigh of relief, then recalled a more important matter. [Right, how much can be reimbursed after all—]

[Oh, don’t worry about that for now! Hurry, hurry, I’m hungry too, I want a big meal!]

Diverted by Xiao Ming, Su Xinxin indeed forgot to press further.

She pushed open the front door—a faintly glowing, translucent talisman was stuck to the door panel, temporarily sealing the cracks, yet it still looked fragile—then gently pulled it shut.

As she walked downstairs, she asked curiously, [By the way, I won’t have to pay for the door’s repair, will I?]

[No, you won’t! Someone should be sent to fix it soon. This is all covered, so you won’t have to pay a single cent. Don’t worry about it!]

Xiao Ming flew to Su Xinxin’s shoulder, like a dependable companion.

Su Xinxin smiled softly and nodded.

Outside, the early summer breeze carried warmth, yet it was playful, occasionally teasing the stray hairs by her cheeks and the hem of her dress.

The sunlight was just right, and the wind carried the scent of green grass and a faint fragrance of flowers.

It enveloped her and her invisible companion on her shoulder, drawing them into the bustling street’s light and shadow.

****

Across the street, in a quiet corner of a serene coffee shop.

A lone young woman sat by the window.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, yet her demeanor was as calm as still water.

A cup of red tea, long since cooled, sat before her, and her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the rim of the cup.

Her gaze lingered on an empty spot outside the window, as if contemplating the passage of time itself.

Suddenly, her fingertips, resting on the table’s edge, twitched subtly.

Almost simultaneously, a faint, almost imperceptible ripple spread across the calm surface of the tea in her cup.

No one had touched the table; the ripple seemed to originate silently from within.

She abruptly lifted her eyes, her gaze like lightning, instantly piercing through the glass window, the street, and the crowd.

It precisely locked onto the slender figure in the off-white dress that had just passed outside the window.

A breeze swept by, seeming to carry a familiar, delicate scent of jasmine.

Time seemed to freeze around her for a moment.

Then, slowly, exceedingly slowly, she lowered her eyelids.

Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows on her fair cheeks.

The fingers gripping the teacup tightened almost imperceptibly.

A warm droplet of water, without warning, fell onto her cool hand, splashing a small, dark wet mark.

She stared at the wet mark, silent for a long time.

When she looked up again, the figure outside the window had merged into the flow of people, nowhere to be found.

Only her barely audible murmur melted into the lazy air of the coffee shop, carrying a trace of tremor, a hint of unbelievable tenderness, and the profound weariness of a long wait:

“You old geezer, why… are you so slow?”