A Shared Sorrow and a Sudden Alarm

“Um, I’ve been watching you for a while now, because you seemed so… sad, so I…” Tang Xingwan’s voice grew timid, almost a whisper, as if startled by Bai Muxue’s unyielding gaze.

“Ah, I absolutely wasn’t trying to peek at you! It’s just that I…”

Disregarding the girl’s flustered explanations, Bai Muxue silently accepted the handkerchief, a faint, gentle smile gracing her lips.

“You must be Tang Xingwan, Mr. Tang Mu’s daughter. That’s a very lovely handkerchief.”

“I-I-I just thought you looked really upset, I absolutely didn’t mean to offend you, so… huh?”

Tang Xingwan was still stammering out her explanation when Bai Muxue’s compliment made her pause, momentarily stunned. “You know me?”

Upon seeing Bai Muxue nod, a flicker of light sparked in Tang Xingwan’s bright eyes.

“Oh, right, right, I think so too!”

Bai Muxue’s words of praise seemed to pique Tang Xingwan’s interest; she shed her earlier awkwardness and nervousness, her beautiful eyes fluttering as she launched into an eager explanation.

“This handkerchief was sold as merchandise at the official booth of the dimension exhibition back then, and only fifty were sold each day!”

A hint of pride surfaced on Tang Xingwan’s pretty face. “Hmph, hmph, it really wasn’t easy to snatch one back then… I remember it was… ah.”

The girl paused slightly, and the sparkle in her eyes began to dim.

“It was… my dad who queued up all night to get it for me.”

‘Ah, that’s right… The little girl was obsessed with some anime idol project back then. Although I didn’t quite understand it, to make her happy, I still queued all night to buy her a lot of merchandise.’

‘While it felt quite uneconomical to go to such great lengths just to buy some badges and handkerchiefs… seeing the little girl’s joy after getting the merchandise filled my heart with contentment.’

The happy smile of the little girl in her memory stood in stark contrast to her current demeanor, stirring a quiet pang of sorrow in Bai Muxue’s heart.

“I’m sorry…”

“Mm, it’s nothing,” Tang Xingwan said softly, discreetly wiping away the dampness from the corner of her eye. “My mom passed away when I was six, and my dad has been taking care of me ever since.”

“Well, even though it felt a bit tough after that, he’s usually quite busy, so I’ve long grown used to being alone.”

Tang Xingwan forced a shallow smile, her clear voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

She claimed it was in the past, yet Bai Muxue could clearly detect the desolation in her tone, along with the pain, hesitation, and bewilderment hidden beneath her dark eyes.

Gazes at Tang Xingwan’s smile, devoid of any genuine mirth, Bai Muxue felt her heart clench, leaving her breathless.

‘Nonsense, you clearly haven’t gotten used to it, silly girl.’

‘Heh, I remember it was just like this when she passed away too.’

‘The little girl cried her heart out in my arms, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms drenched in rain… It was pouring that day, and her cries were so heart-wrenching, yet no one could help her…’

At this thought, Bai Muxue’s breathing quickened. She eagerly clasped Tang Xingwan’s small hand, fixing her gaze on the girl’s eyes as she spoke each word deliberately:

“You are a truly exceptional girl… If, if Mr. Tang Mu could see how wonderful you’ve become, he would surely be incredibly proud.”

‘Tsk, despite everything, hearing myself say “Mr. Tang Mu” felt utterly strange,’ Bai Muxue thought, clicking her tongue inwardly.

Tang Xingwan froze for a moment at her words, pursing her lips as if unaware her small hand was still tightly clasped by Bai Muxue. Then, her fingers subtly squeezed back, and she spoke with a hint of disbelief. “Exceptional?”

For some reason, the other girl’s gentle tone ignited a powerful desire within Tang Xingwan to confide in her.

“Of course!”

Bai Muxue answered without hesitation.

Tang Xingwan’s hand was cool and soft, her fingers long and slender, pale and delicate.

“But he also scolded me before, saying if I failed chemistry again on this monthly exam, he’d really lecture me!”

At this, the girl’s eyes sparkled, and she pouted, idly twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.

‘No, your chemistry really does need some serious tutoring, doesn’t it? Look at the state it’s in…’

‘I really should have found you a tutor back then…’ Bai Muxue’s mouth twitched, and she suddenly felt a bead of sweat trickle down her back.

“Ah, speaking of which, I still don’t know your name.”

Tang Xingwan let out a soft “Ah,” then awkwardly released her grip.

“Well… after my dad passed away, my family received an anonymous donation.”

She glanced furtively at Bai Muxue, then cautiously continued:

“Just now, those leaders from the Disaster Prevention Bureau told me to thank you properly. Could it be you…?”

‘After all, this girl’s clothes and jewelry are clearly things I couldn’t afford…’

‘But with my dad’s background, how could he possibly know such a super rich young lady?’

‘Could it be that this girl’s mother and my dad had some kind of relationship when he was alive… Ah, ptooey, ptooey, how could that be possible…!’

Staring at the gently smiling girl before her, Tang Xingwan’s bright eyes fluttered a few times, her thoughts already soaring far away.

“Ah, I almost forgot to introduce myself,”

Responding to the girl’s small inquiry, Bai Muxue smiled, pressing the myriad thoughts swirling within her back into the depths of her heart.

“My name is Bai Muxue. I simply received a great deal of help from Mr. Tang Mu in the past, nothing more.”

She neither admitted nor denied anything, merely stating that she had received much assistance from him.

Bai Muxue spoke in a calm tone, the lingering glow of the sunset seeming to drape her in a thin, golden veil.

“Mr. Tang Mu truly loved you very much. So, no matter what happens in the future, you must live on with a smile.”

“I believe he would want that too.”

“Eh, you mean Dad would also…?”

Tang Xingwan looked at Bai Muxue, a trace of bewilderment in her eyes, feeling somewhat at a loss.

The girl before her had her lips slightly upturned, and her gaze seemed to envelop Tang Xingwan in boundless tenderness.

‘How could this be… We’ve only just met today… What is this feeling, both gentle and familiar?’

Tang Xingwan opened her mouth, yet found herself unable to utter another word. The sudden realization that her somewhat nagging and bothersome father would never appear before her again brought a fresh wave of sorrow and pain, suffocating her.

The cheerful facade she had maintained crumbled under the weight of her grief, and she silently raised her head, a hint of dampness at the corners of her eyes.

‘I never noticed before… the little girl’s eyes are quite beautiful too.’

Her ink-black pupils held a melancholic haze, tinged with a delicate vulnerability… like a stray kitten, wronged and homeless.

As sorrow spread like a tide, Bai Muxue’s eyes also began to redden perceptibly. After a long silence, she pursed her lips and gently reached out towards the grieving girl.

Watching the small hand extend towards her, Tang Xingwan’s eyes flickered with astonishment and surprise, leaving her momentarily frozen in place.

It wasn’t until the petite girl before her strained to stand on tiptoe, her small hand gently stroking Tang Xingwan’s hair.

With that clumsy yet tender touch, Tang Xingwan’s eyes slowly filled with tears, which then trickled down her cheeks.

“I…”

Yet, before the trembling Tang Xingwan could utter another word, a piercing alarm blared unexpectedly, abruptly interrupting their conversation.

– “Emergency Evacuation Notice! Disaster Beasts and Kaijin have simultaneously appeared in Wutong District! The disaster level has been assessed as C+!”

“Citizens located in Wutong District are requested to promptly evacuate their current locations following the designated emergency routes. During evacuation, please remain calm, avoid panic, and obey the instructions of on-site personnel!”