“You absorbed my soul essence, so have you become like me?” Little Nian Niang asked again.
“Yes,” the black light replied.
“If that’s the case, can you take care of my daughter for me from time to time? I beg you,” Little Nian Niang said, looking at the black light.
“Of course,” the black light agreed insincerely, looking at the gradually distorting rabbit spirits and saying, “Alright, I’ll be going now. You can stay here and torment that man.”
“Farewell,” Little Nian Niang believed the black light completely.
In the room, Little Nian lay weakly on the bed. Piao withdrew his hand and turned to look at Mu An Xiao, saying, “Done.”
“Done? Why is she still like this?” Mu An Xiao asked, looking at Little Nian lying flat on the bed with worry.
Piao said, “Her body was already weak, and she was poisoned. So, this is all she can manage.”
“Aren’t you very powerful?” Mu An Xiao said, stepping forward to stand in front of Piao. “Why can’t you even do this?”
“I…”
As Piao uttered just one word, Little Nian opened her eyes and said, “Sister, I’m alright now.”
Hearing this, Mu An Xiao was startled by the address Little Nian gave her. She pushed Piao away and asked, “What did you call me?”
“Sister, I remember all the kindness you’ve shown me these past few days. It’s okay, don’t mention your ghost friend, he’s already done his best,” Little Nian said, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I know I’m going to die.”
Upon hearing this, the Gecko hurried to say, “Little Nian, you mustn’t talk nonsense.”
“I’m not talking nonsense,” Little Nian looked at the Gecko and said, “I can feel my mother, and I’m leaving. I can’t hold on any longer.”
“Little Nian,” the Gecko cried.
Mu An Xiao looked at Little Nian helplessly and said, “I’ll go buy you candied hawthorn.”
“Mhm,” Little Nian responded weakly.
Mu An Xiao forced a smile and had just turned when the Gecko suddenly knelt behind her. “Please, save her.”
Hearing the Gecko’s voice from behind, Mu An Xiao said, “I’m just a good-for-nothing. How can I save her?” As she spoke, she turned to look at the Gecko. “Get up.”
“But…”
“Ah Bi, don’t be like this,” Little Nian said weakly, turning her head.
Mu An Xiao glanced at Little Nian, holding back her tears.
The Gecko lowered his head and said, “Can you come out with me for a moment?”
“Alright,” Mu An Xiao nodded.
The Gecko stood up, glanced at Little Nian, walked past Mu An Xiao, and headed outside.
Little Nian looked at Mu An Xiao and said, “Don’t agree to him. Absolutely not.”
“Little Nian…”
“Sister, listen to me,” Little Nian said firmly, closing her eyes.
Mu An Xiao sighed, wiped away the tears that had fallen despite herself, and turned to walk out.
Arriving at the bushes, Mu An Xiao looked at the back of the Gecko’s head and said, “I really can’t do anything, I truly can’t.”
The Gecko said without turning, “I know you can’t, but I have a way.” As he spoke, he turned to face Mu An Xiao.
Mu An Xiao looked at the Gecko’s haggard face and asked, “What way?”
“A life for a life,” the Gecko said.
Mu An Xiao was stunned.
Piao looked at the Gecko in surprise, swallowing.
Yan said, “This must be love.”
Piao shook his head. “I don’t think this is love, just friendship between friends.”
“Can you be a bit more romantic?” Yan said helplessly.
Piao said, “What romance does a child need?”
Yan glared at Piao and turned to look at the Rabbit Queen, asking, “Is it done?”
“What do you think?” the Rabbit Queen retorted.
Yan pursed her lips. “It’s not done.”
The Rabbit Queen said nothing.
Mu An Xiao listened to their conversation and saw the serious expression on the Gecko’s face. She said, “You’ve only known Little Nian for a little over a month. Are you really willing to give your life for her?”
“I am willing. She is the girl I have chosen,” the Gecko said earnestly.
“If Little Nian doesn’t agree, you won’t succeed,” Mu An Xiao said.
The Gecko was silent for a moment. “I’m just telling you. I’ll talk to Little Nian about the rest.”
“Okay, I won’t interfere with your matters,” Mu An Xiao said.
The Gecko smiled. “Thank you.”
Mu An Xiao shook her head slightly and turned to leave.
However, as Mu An Xiao had predicted, the Gecko’s plan ended in failure, because Little Nian told the Gecko that if you gave your life to me, I would not be at peace, and if you forced me, I would hate you.
Because of these words, the Gecko compromised.
As the sky darkened, Mu An Xiao sat on the ground, looking up at the starry sky, and sighed.
Piao sat beside her as if it were natural and asked, “Sighing won’t solve anything.”
“I know,” Mu An Xiao said, turning to look at Piao. “Why do you like me?”
“Do you need a reason to like someone?” Piao countered.
Mu An Xiao smiled. “Don’t you need a reason to like someone?”
“Of course not. If you like someone, you just like them. If you need so many reasons, then it’s not liking, it’s… exploitation,” Piao said, expressing his thoughts.
“You really can talk nonsense,” Mu An Xiao said, tilting her head back.
Piao turned to look at Mu An Xiao’s profile and smiled. “I think you owe me something too.”
“Since I was born, I remember owing one person, and that’s Shen Yan. Tell me,” Mu An Xiao turned to look at Piao and asked, “What do I owe you?”
“You owe me a reply.”
“Reply?” Mu An Xiao frowned.
“Back then, I asked you if you liked me, and you never replied,” Piao said righteously.
“Oh, I don’t remember, so it doesn’t count,” Mu An Xiao said faintly.
“It’s precisely because you didn’t reply that I erased your memories. Now, I ask you,” Piao said seriously, “Do you like me?”
Mu An Xiao pursed her lips and said, “Um, I want to ask you a question.”
“Go ahead,” Piao nodded.
“Um, am I familiar with you?” Mu An Xiao asked.
Piao’s expression froze. “Of course, we’re familiar. We’ve been here for almost half a month, haven’t we?”
“Less than ten days,” Mu An Xiao said, sitting up straight and meeting Piao’s eyes. “So, we’re not familiar at all.”
“How long have you known Feng Qi Shi then?” Piao asked.
Mu An Xiao thought for a moment and said, “I… truly only knew Feng Qi Shi for less than two months. If that’s the case,” she lowered her head and began to mutter to herself, “The person I’m most familiar with is Hei Feng, and then Shen Yan, whom I’ve owed for over fifty years.”
“Who is Hei Feng?” Piao asked nervously.
“You should know, shouldn’t you?” Mu An Xiao looked at Piao again.
“I… don’t know,” Piao shook his head.
“You don’t know,” Mu An Xiao said, her mouth twisting. “Then I won’t tell you.”
“Why?” Piao became inexplicably serious.
Mu An Xiao said, “Because there’s nothing to say.” She pointed at the sky. “Let’s watch the stars.”