"Okay, Little Orange, they're all gone, you can come out now." Little Lin Yang licked the giant lollipop in her hand and knocked on the wardrobe door in her childish voice.

There was no sound from inside.

After a while, there was some movement.

With a rustling sound, the wardrobe finally opened a crack from the inside, revealing a small head peeking out warily.

"See? They've all left! How could I lie to you? Come out, Little Orange!" Seeing that the mini version of Xu Chengzhi was still clinging to the wardrobe door and refusing to come out, Xiao Linyang reached out to pull him.

With that tug, the mini version of Xu Chengzhi was caught off guard and pulled out by Xiao Linyang.

He had just come out and hadn't even stood up properly yet.

"Boom—" A muffled thunderclap exploded in the air.

The lightning also fell on the miniature version of Xu Chengzhi's face, flickering between light and shadow.

He jumped away like a frightened kitten, his fur standing on end.

Xiao Linyang turned her head and found that he had crawled under the bed, covering his ears and trembling all over.

His face was also extremely pale.

Xiao Lin Yang held a lollipop in one hand and lifted her skirt with the other, half-squatting on the ground, tilting her head to coax him, "Little Orange, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, Yang Yang is here. It's so dark and dirty under the bed, come out quickly, Yang Yang will give you a lollipop."

“Lei…Lei! How scary! Yangyang, Lei is a murderer! Lei took away my mom and dad! Mom and dad!! Ah! Get out! Get out of here! My mom and dad aren’t dead, they aren’t dead!” The mini version of Xu Chengzhi slowly released one hand, and waved it wildly in front of his eyes as if trying to drive something away.

Xiao Lin Yang glanced at the lollipop in her hand, then looked down at the pretty princess dress she was wearing, her eyes revealing a conflicted expression.

"Ah! Blood! It's all blood! Mom and Dad, why are you bleeding so much? Someone help! Please save them!" The miniature Xu Chengzhi huddled under the bed, clearly in a state of utter disarray.

The thunder outside the window was still rumbling, with occasional loud bangs that showed no sign of stopping.

We can't dwell on this anymore!

A resolute look appeared in Xiaolin Yang's eyes. Without saying a word, she threw away the lollipop she was reluctant to part with, and regardless of how dirty the space under the bed was, she crawled inside.

"Little Orange, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. You still have Yangyang. Yangyang will be with you for life. Be good, don't be afraid." Little Lin Yang leaned closer to the mini version of Xu Chengzhi and reached out to pat his back gently, one pat after another, with a slow rhythm.

The warmth of his palm seeped through his clothes and soothed his shivering body.

“Yangyang…” The mini version of Xu Chengzhi heard the familiar name and slowly released his hands from his ears.

His unfocused pupils stared at Xiaolin Yang, and a light source slowly gathered, forming a bright little halo.

"Yangyang, is that you?" The mini version of Xu Chengzhi stretched out his tiny hand, almost touching her delicate little face, but then shrank back.

The way he looked, wanting to touch her yet afraid of defiling her, was truly heartbreaking.

"Yangyang, I don't have a mom and dad anymore. I only have you and grandpa left." When the mini version of Xu Chengzhi said this, his voice was very soft, so soft that Lin Yang had to lean in several times to barely hear him.

"I will always be with you, Little Orange, do you believe me?" Little Lin Yang reached out her little hand and landed on the head of the mini version of Xu Chengzhi, gently comforting him.

He nodded vigorously, forcing a smile across his pale face. "Yes, I believe you."

No sooner had I said that than thunder rumbled outside the window again.

The miniature Xu Cheng instinctively shrank his head, his pupils filled with terror.

"Don't be afraid, Little Orange, let's make a promise. From now on, whenever there's thunder, I'll be there to protect you, okay?" Little Lin Yang made the promise in her childish voice.

"Okay," he said with a smile, as if the thunder outside the window had been chased away by Lin Yang's promise.