Crying

Hemi was startled by Xia Lun's sudden appearance.

"S-s-s-s-sorry... sir..." Hemi's words came out stammering, "I didn't mean you're creepy... I meant the thing you did is creepy... ah, no..."

She couldn't believe she'd let her mouth slip and offended such a powerful figure! And this was the person who had saved her and Lidi's life... well, more accurately, saved their chastity.

Xia Lun slowly reached out his hand, and Hemi instinctively closed her eyes.

A warm, large hand landed on her head, tousling her already nest-like hair into even more of a mess.

Aina probably wouldn't be jealous of such a little girl... probably.

"I have a teammate, someone a lot like you," Xia Lun said with narrowed eyes.

The moment he heard Hemi speak, Xia Lun couldn't help but think of Liyana. If it weren't for the fact that this girl was a bona fide human, without pointed ears, and that Liyana's sexual orientation was a bit unusual to begin with, he'd almost suspect this girl might be some illegitimate child Liyana left behind somewhere.

"Is that so? Then I'm truly honored..." Hemi's eyes lit up, her heart racing with anticipation. Recognition from a strong one... did this mean her big break was coming? Was he about to take her on as a disciple?

"You'd better not end up like her. She suffered plenty because of that. Every time, I was the one covering for her," Xia Lun shook his head, letting out a sigh.

How many times had Liyana's sharp tongue gotten them into trouble back then?

Moke always cursed and grumbled while helping Xia Lun clean up the mess.

"Uh..." Hemi's excited expression froze instantly, replaced by awkward embarrassment. She scratched her head sheepishly. "Then I'll change my ways, sir..."

By the time Hemi got to her feet, Xia Lun, who had been behind her just a moment ago, had vanished without a trace.

Coming and going like a ghost—now that's what a true strong one looks like... Hemi remarked to herself.

Just like a ghost, really.

Of course, she didn't say that out loud.

"Father... can Hemi come live with us too?" Lidi gently tugged at her father's sleeve, asking La Di, "We've lived together for so long, and I don't want to be separated from her... Besides, her parents abandoned her, and she has nowhere else to go..."

At that, La Di turned his gaze to Hemi, who stood stiff and nervous, as if deep in thought.

After all, one more mouth to feed was still a bit of a burden.

But he didn't dwell on it for long. In the end, La Di agreed to Lidi's request, a trace of sympathy showing in his eyes as he looked at Hemi.

He spoke gently: "Of course. Hemi, if you're willing, you're welcome to stay at our home. From now on, you can think of me as a father too."

"Yes, Father," Hemi replied with complete seriousness.

La Di was taken aback by how quickly she responded, clearly not expecting this unfamiliar girl to accept the relationship so readily.

"You can rest assured, I'll take good care of Lidi!" Hemi added right away, thumping her chest with a vow of reliability, trying to show she could be counted on.

La Di didn't quite react in time, still a little puzzled.

"Hemi!" Lidi's little face flushed crimson, a mix of shyness and annoyance as she pounced on her friend. The two girls instantly broke into a tumbling, giggling scuffle, their clear laughter dispelling the faint awkwardness hanging in the air.

Seeing the smiles blooming on the two girls' faces, La Di didn't overthink it. A slight smile crept across his own face.

...

"We're home... I recently redecorated and tidied things up. I think you'll like it." La Di pushed open the door.

Compared to before, the room was as different as night and day—no more scattered wine bottles, no clothes tossed around carelessly. The floor and walls had been cleaned anew. A vase sat on the table, though flowers had yet to be placed in it, it still looked warm and welcoming.

"I'm back."

Lidi said softly, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility of the house.

"Excuse me for intruding," Hemi followed, mimicking Lidi's manner and carefully stepping across the threshold.

"Father... where's Mother?"

Lidi scanned the entire room but didn't see the familiar figure.

La Di's movement to close the door froze slightly, his hand seeming to stick to the doorknob.

"Your mother... she..." La Di's voice was full of bitterness. "After you left, her health started to fail. A few years back..."

"I understand, Father." Lidi cut him off, her clear eyes brimming with shimmering tears, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall. "From now on, we'll live well together."

"That's right! Exactly! Don't dwell on the past. What matters most is the life we have now." Hemi tried to dispel the lingering sadness with her signature liveliness.

"Lidi... I've already cleaned your room. You and your friend can sleep together tonight." La Di forced a somewhat stiff smile.

"Mhm..."

Lidi nodded gently.

Lidi led Hemi to her room.

Pushing open the door, a warm and lovely bedroom came into view. Pink curtains, a small bed with floral-print sheets, and on the bookshelf against the wall sat a few old fairy tale books and a big plush toy.

"What an adorable room," Hemi said with a hint of envy.

"It's our room now," Lidi said slowly as she sat on the bed.

The bed wasn't small—not a child's bed. Squeezing, it could fit two people, because her parents had once anticipated Lidi growing up.

Hemi pounced on it excitedly, rolling around on the bed.

"Oh my god! A soft, big bed! I've dreamed of sleeping on one!" Hemi cheered, her joy almost hard to believe.

The little bed plank in her cell had only been a meter wide, hard as a board, and terribly uncomfortable to sleep on.

"You can sleep here every day from now on." Seeing her friend's childish antics, Lidi finally showed her first genuinely relaxed smile of the night.

She'd never seen anyone get this excited over sleeping in a bed.

But as Lidi also slowly lay down, sinking into the familiar softness and warmth, a surge of complicated emotions rushed through her like a flood, breaching the dam she'd worked so hard to hold up. Years of fear, helplessness, and grievance from the past mingled with the peace and comfort she'd just regained, turning into hot tears that spilled from her eyes against her will. "Waa—"

"Lidi? Why are you crying?" Hemi scrambled over in surprise.

"I don't know... I just... I feel like crying..." Lidi wiped at the corners of her eyes.

"Haha... you're such a crybaby... waa—" A similar wave of bitterness washed over Hemi. She'd meant to comfort her friend, but her own voice cracked first, and tears slipped unbidden from her eyes.

The two girls held each other, crying their hearts out.

No one else could possibly imagine how every one of those years had been spent in unease and fear... and finally, that long, cold nightmare was coming to an end.