Chapter 80: A New Dawn

When she asked that question, Hua Mu’ai felt like her heart was about to leap out of her throat.

Yue Xi was silent. The only sound in the room was the hum of the air conditioner.

After a long pause, the ethereal voice of the fairy princess spoke again. This time, it carried a note of pity.

“Gu Qing.” Yue Xi rarely used her original name. “In the Emerald Dream Realm of the fairies, death is an irreversible law. Even the highest level of life restoration can only heal wounds, not recall a soul that has already dissipated. And in your human world, though I don’t fully understand it, the passing of a soul should be the same. Please don’t be deceived by false illusions.”

Hua Mu’ai let out a bitter laugh.

“Right. It’s impossible. Dead is dead. There isn’t even a body left. How could she come back?”

She seemed to be answering Yue Xi, but also talking to herself.

All of Shen Tinglan’s tenderness had been nothing but a carefully laid trap.

She absolutely could not waver again.

In the darkness, the pink-haired girl’s eyes reddened.

Tomorrow would be a new day. She still had to keep fighting. For Qianqian, and for the one who would never return.

Outside the window, the sky was just beginning to lighten. The whole city was still wrapped in morning mist.

The bedroom door pushed open, and Xia Xingyan walked to the bedside.

A small lump was in the middle of the large bed. Hua Mu’ai was curled up under a thin quilt, with only a tuft of pink hair visible.

Xia Xingyan’s gaze softened. She pinched the corner of the quilt and pulled it down.

“Captain, time to get up.”

The pink-haired ball of fluff grumpily rolled over, muttering an unintelligible dream in her sleep, then pulled the quilt back up and even clamped it tight with her legs.

“Time for breakfast, Captain.”

Xia Xingyan raised her voice and gave her a push.

Hua Mu’ai finally reacted. She forced her eyelids open, sat up unsteadily with a mess of pink hair, her violet eyes full of confusion.

She looked at the alarm clock by the bed, and her pupils contracted.

“Six thirty? Xia Xingyan, are you crazy! Are you a rooster crowing?”

With that, she fell back and pulled the quilt over her head.

“I’m sleeping! Nobody can make me get up!”

But Xia Xingyan was quick. She grabbed Hua Mu’ai’s thin shoulders and forcibly pulled the reality-avoiding pink puffball up.

“I made two bowls of noodles. After we eat, we’re going to the market.” Xia Xingyan’s tone left no room for argument.

Hua Mu’ai struggled twice, then gave up.

Damn it, this body was so weak, completely no match for a high schooler who exercised every day!

She was being held in Xia Xingyan’s arms like a doll.

“What market…” Hua Mu’ai protested weakly, her voice full of morning grumpiness. “I want to sleep… let me go…”

“Ingredients for sweet and sour ribs. You promised to teach me yesterday.” Xia Xingyan was unmoved.

Hua Mu’ai rubbed her eyes, her violet eyes full of accusation.

“You don’t have to go at six thirty to buy groceries. What time is it now? Who goes to buy ribs for lunch at six thirty?”

Xia Xingyan let go and walked to the wardrobe to pick out an outfit for Hua Mu’ai.

“I’m pretty slow. Learning to cook might take a lot of time. If we go early, we’ll have plenty.”

Hua Mu’ai felt something was off.

What had gotten into this heiress today? She was like she’d had a shot of adrenaline.

Little did she know what Xia Xingyan was plotting.

That scheming woman Shen Tinglan got up at seven every morning to make breakfast.

Last night, Xia Xingyan had lain in bed and thought for a long time. When it came to cooking, she had to admit she couldn’t beat Shen Tinglan right now. That wicked woman’s skill was uncanny. Even the Captain, a picky eater, was completely won over by her cooking.

Since she couldn’t compete on quality, she had to compete on speed.

If she got up early enough and made breakfast before Shen Tinglan, the Captain would have to eat her cooking.

The early bird catches the worm. She’d out-hustle that sinister woman!

That was Xia Xingyan’s battle plan.

Hua Mu’ai yawned and resignedly climbed out of bed, grabbing her clothes to put on.

“Fine, fine. Since you’re so eager to learn, I’ll graciously accompany you.”

After washing up, Hua Mu’ai went to the dining room.

Two bowls of instant noodles were on the table. Hua Mu’ai was pleased.

Good thing Xia Xingyan had prepared instant noodles. If she had made breakfast herself, Hua Mu’ai would never have gotten up.

But as she got closer, Hua Mu’ai noticed there were also fried eggs. Those must have been made by Xia Xingyan herself.

Her heart tightened, but looking closely, the color seemed fine.

Seeing the expectant look on the other girl’s face, Hua Mu’ai ate it anyway.

“How is it?” Xia Xingyan couldn’t help asking.

“The heat’s still a bit off, but…” she deliberately drew out the word, “…much better than yesterday’s poison-charcoal. At least you’ve improved. My hard work teaching you wasn’t wasted.”

Hearing this, Xia Xingyan relaxed, a ripple of emotion in her eyes.

“Then I’ll cook for you every day from now on.”

“No, no, no!” Hua Mu’ai glared at the girl across from her. “Spare me. Once in a while is fine. Getting dragged out of bed at six thirty every day? Who can stand that? I’m still growing!”

Xia Xingyan didn’t reply, just silently ate her noodles.

In her mind, she was already planning tomorrow’s menu.

Since the fried eggs passed, tomorrow she could try wonton soup. As long as she won over the Captain’s stomach, that wicked woman wouldn’t have a chance to worm her way in.

After breakfast, they changed their shoes and went out.

Hua Mu’ai’s 140 cm height made her look like a primary school kid being taken out by her older sister next to Xia Xingyan.

This annoyed Hua Mu’ai, so she deliberately quickened her pace to walk ahead.

The farmer’s market was only two streets away from the apartment.

As soon as they reached the entrance, the smell of fish, various cooked foods, and the stench of poultry hit them.

Inside was already noisy and bustling. Elderly men and women shuttled back and forth, and vendors’ calls rose and fell.

Xia Xingyan stopped at the entrance.

She had never been to a place like this in her life.

As the eldest daughter of the Xia family, the ingredients she ate before were either directly ordered from organic farms by the butler and airlifted, or custom takeout from high-end restaurants. This environment with sewage on the ground, crowded people, and constant noise made her feel instinctively uncomfortable and out of place.

Hua Mu’ai noticed her discomfort and grabbed Xia Xingyan’s wrist.

“What are you spacing out for? Stick close to me. There are too many people here, and if you get lost, I’m not coming to find you.”

Xia Xingyan stared blankly at the small but warm hand on her wrist.

A warm sensation spread from where their skin touched, dispelling the unease inside her.

She turned her hand and grasped Hua Mu’ai’s little hand firmly in her palm.

“Hey, you… why are you holding so tight? I’m not going to run away.”

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