Chapter 15 The Abandoned Cat Effect Dan Heng hesitated before retracting Ji Yun...
Dan Heng hesitated before retracting Ji Yun.
Bai E has grown taller and stronger. You can clearly feel his heart pounding rapidly in his chest, and his arms are so tight that you can hardly breathe.
You wanted to pat his arm to signal him to relax, but when you saw him stubbornly keeping his face down and trying to hide his red eyes and the few tears that were about to fall, you softened again.
Leaving without a word for so many years is indeed a bit much, but you were also kept in the dark. I'm afraid even Aha and Hanabi Sangbo themselves didn't expect that you and him would form such a deep bond.
His white hair tickled your neck. You accidentally touched an old wound and instinctively cried out, "...Ouch...!"
"Where does it hurt?" Bai E quickly released you, no longer fussing, and anxiously searched for your wound with furrowed brows. "Are you injured? How did you get injured? Were you hurt by [Conflict]'s henchmen? How serious is it? Let me bandage you up first, then we'll go back to find Feng Jin—"
You didn't expect him to recover so quickly. The first thing he did when he saw you wasn't to question you, but to ask this question.
Seeing him rattle off a long string of words, seemingly intending to carry you straight to the doctor, you patted his arm and patiently answered him:
"It's nothing, just a minor injury from landing. It'll be fine in a while."
Bai Er breathed a sigh of relief.
A few seconds later, he realized he was still angry, so he lowered his lips and pretended to be fierce, ready to question you in a menacing manner, to let you know that the savior is not someone to be trifled with—
But you smiled at him. Your smile was so gentle, so indulgent, so beautiful… He could no longer maintain his indifference, and dejectedly buried his head in the crook of your neck, letting you gently stroke his back like you were comforting a child.
...If someone else offends Bai E, he will retaliate with a smile. But if you are the one who offends Bai E, there's nothing you can do. Before he even has a chance to get angry, just a comforting gesture will make him purr contentedly like a puppy whose chin has been scratched, and he'll roll over and let you touch his belly.
Simply put, if you upset him, he will turn from a smiling Samoyed into a fluffy marshmallow Samoyed.
Bai E really wanted to ask you where you'd been all these years, and why you left without saying goodbye, but now was clearly not the time to talk about those things; this place wasn't safe.
You reached out and touched his eye sockets, trying to wipe away his tears, but he grabbed your wrist. His hand had grown bigger, just like his rapidly increasing height. Even with his gentle blue eyes and not particularly sharp facial features, it still had a strange sense of pressure, able to grip your entire wrist.
"Don't look at me... at least, at least not now." He turned his face away, stubbornly maintaining his dignity, refusing to show you his moist eyes.
Her voice was still a little choked up, "...I couldn't hold it in. It's embarrassing, isn't it?"
"...It's not shameful at all," you coaxed softly. "Let me see, Xiaobai, okay? Please."
Bai Er had imagined your voice countless times, and it must be different from a cold, mechanical voice, but when he actually heard and felt your breath gently brushing against his ear, he still felt his ear heat up.
Speaking in such a soft tone... it's just too much. He simply can't refuse your request.
So he could only hold your hand behind his back, turn his head, and place your hand on his cheek to hide the rising blush. He rubbed his soft cheek and slightly rough lips against the inside of your wrist and palm, paused for a few seconds, and said lingeringly:
"I thought something had happened to you... I'm so glad you're alright. It must have been tough getting you here. Take a rest in Ohmma later, you'll love it here."
You opened your mouth, wanting to ask him how he recognized you just by your voice, and what made him so sure you looked like that. But before you could even get to the point, you were interrupted by a clear, childlike voice.
A little redhead ran over from the side, asking anxiously, "*We* heard fighting going on here! Little White, did you get into a fight with someone—"
However, what greeted you was the sight of Bai Er clinging to you like a large dog. From behind, his body completely covered you, with only a few strands of your hair visible as they wrapped around his shoulders, creating a stark contrast with his pristine white battle robe.
...If he had a tail, it would probably be spinning like a propeller by now.
Tibo: ...?
Dan Heng's lips twitched. He really wanted to say: Here we go again? Isn't your personal charm a little too much?
Seeing Tibo's puzzled look, he looked away, his meaning clear: Don't look at me, I don't know anything either.
"Ah, Teacher Tibo."
Bai E only then realized he was a little embarrassed. He coughed a few times, and now not only his ears but also his face turned bright red.
He stepped back, transforming back into the composed and reliable savior he always was, placing his right hand on his chest and lowering his voice.
"This is my...closest friend, my mentor and partner. Although she comes from outer space, I can assure you that she has no ill intentions and can be trusted."
"This is Teacher Tibo," Bai'er introduced you.
Tibo had never seen him so close to any woman before. She secretly craned her neck to take a look and found that Bai E was serious on the surface. After finally letting go of the girl, he was still holding her hand behind her back. She was a little surprised, because she had never seen Bai E have such thoughts about women before.
But Teacher Tibo, true to her name, quickly recovered and laughed:
"Since Xiaobai has said so... *we* certainly believe you. Tell *us* more about your story later."
She turned to look at Danheng, "And this is...?"
You finally got a chance to speak, not looking down on the little girl because of her seemingly innocent appearance, “She is my dearest friend. We came together from beyond the heavens to embark on [exploration].
"My name is Dan Heng," Dan Heng replied tacitly.
You notice him glance at your and Bai Er's clasped hands behind your back, then give you a meaningful look.
You suddenly felt a chill run down your spine, and since you didn't want to be so intimate in front of everyone, you tried to pull your hand away from Bai E's. However, he mistook your grip for hurting you and lowered his head to whisper, "Sorry, did I hurt you...? I was just a little too excited."
His wet eyes seemed to transform into countless sharp swords piercing your conscience. Leaving without saying goodbye is already excessive, and it's understandable that the child feels insecure. Are you sure you want to abandon him now?
...Okay, I'll hold hands then.
I've heard March 7th mutter about some popular internet memes before, including the term "abandoned cat effect." Bai'er's behavior clearly fits this effect perfectly: anxious, incredibly obedient, and trying to find traces of your continued love for him. Cats fear being abandoned again, but do dogs feel the same way?
Your heart starts to ache, and you feel a little guilty.
What is "[pioneering]"...?
Tibo's mind raced with thoughts, but she didn't say much on the surface. "...As friends of Xiaobai, you have come from afar, and according to the tradition of Onphalus, you should be welcomed. However, the calamity has not yet subsided and the people have not been settled, so we can only discuss it when we return to Ohma... I am truly sorry for not welcoming you properly."
"How about we travel together for now?"
Dan Heng had the same idea. After asking for your opinion with his eyes, he nodded slightly.
Bai E seemed to have something to say, "Partner."
He smiled at you, calling out that long-lost name, his smile sunny and bright, revealing a hint of white teeth. The evening breeze ruffled his hair. Ten years had passed, and he had become both familiar and unfamiliar. There was still a faint red at the corners of his eyes, a touch of red blending into them like a tranquil lake.
The faint roars of monsters echoed around them, but his warm smile remained unchanged from that day, in the wheat field when they first met.
You can feel the slightly rough calluses on his sword rubbing against your palm.
“Come with me again, let’s walk together once more,” he said.
*
After rescuing all the remaining refugees, Tibo tells you that the current journey is to return to Ohma by riding on a creature called an "Earth Beast".
Ohma sounded like the core city of Onphalus. Byer said it was very safe, bathed in light all day, and thriving in trade and commerce, with merchants carrying goods such as wine, dried fruit, and pastries to and fro. The residents loved bathing, and the city had a large, distinctive bathhouse where people often chatted while soaking—a perfect way to relax.
Bai'e originally wanted to ride a great earth beast with you, but since you and Dan Heng are newcomers, it wouldn't be good for you to stick together with him all the time.
So you cruelly rejected him. Although Bai E was somewhat reluctant and couldn't help but linger on the warmth of your fingertips, he respected your choice and simply smiled, saying:
"It's alright, we have plenty of time, there's always tomorrow."
Wearing a short skirt makes it difficult for you to move around, and Bai E is about to lend you a hand, but Dan Heng seems completely unfazed, sitting calmly on the earth beast with his arms crossed.
Sure enough, the next second you pushed off with your toes, nimbly leaping high into the air, then somersaulting sideways, landing effortlessly on the back of this behemoth as if jumping over a hurdle, without even a sway. Your steps were steady, your body light, even your slightly high heels were perfectly balanced, and your body swept through the night sky like a swift swift.
You sit down and wave to Bai E, who is standing there stunned.
...I almost forgot because you were injured that you are not a helpless civilian, but a hero who guided him to grow up and is considered half his teacher.
His heart began to pound again. The torchlight fell perfectly on the strands of hair at your temples, like golden light draping you in a soft cloak. Bai E stared at you, mesmerized, his heart pounding deafeningly.
I blushed a bit too many times today...
Dan Heng sensed something, put his right hand on his chin, and didn't say anything.
The procession began to move forward slowly.
“I heard you call him ‘Xiao Bai’,” Dan Heng said. “You seem to be quite familiar with Bai E?”
You nodded. There was nothing you couldn't say to Teacher Danheng; you trusted each other implicitly and could entrust your lives to one another. So you lowered your voice, "Remember when I told you about raising a child in the game?"
Dan Heng understood immediately, and frowned, "...You mean to say..."
“Yes, Bai Er is that child. But the game itself... poses no danger to me, and might even help us on our journey in Onpharos.” You nodded.
When Danheng heard you say that, although he still had doubts, he agreed with your idea. "Let's take it one step at a time. Take care of yourself, and let me know immediately if anything happens."
"But it seems you're always very good at building relationships with so many people without either me or March knowing."
His tone remained calm, but you felt inexplicably guilty. It reminded you of the time in Luofu; when the three of you went on a mission together, guess what? The targets were all people you knew.
But you were forced into it. You had to do the quests for Xingqiong! Heaven knows you actually wanted to just laze around, playing cards with Qingque and teasing Jingyuan's "Mimi"—that kind of life would be so pleasant. If it weren't for leveling up the characters in your party and tracking their progress, would you really bother grinding monsters every single time?
After their brief encounter, Danheng astutely realized that his feelings for you were more than just a simple friendship. For one thing, that look in his eyes was all too familiar—it was from Sunday, Sand Gold, and even himself… But you've always been likable, and he's actually starting to get used to it.
You haven't noticed, and he doesn't intend to tell you. Perhaps he's not as nonchalant as he seems on the surface; he might even be a little sly.
...
"You two are planning to sleep in one room???"
Bai E turned his head, looking at you with a wronged expression, trying to soften your heart with his irresistibly handsome face, "Partner..."
“…This is Ms. Aglaia’s arrangement,” you said. You steeled yourself and refused to look at him.
Wan Di, who was passing by, was startled by his sudden loud voice, his face clearly saying, "Are you out of your mind?"
"HKS, what's gotten into you again, savior? These two are companions, who else would they live with? You?"
Bai E coughed a few times, didn't speak, and looked away.
Wan Di: (Silence) ...I knew you were a scoundrel, but I didn't expect you to be this much of a scoundrel.
Actually, it's perfectly reasonable to share a room with Danheng. Although you trust Xiaobai a lot, you're new here after all. Trusting one person doesn't mean you trust everyone. Sharing a space with Danheng would make it easier to exchange information and would also make you feel more at ease.
Bai E had also thought of this. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, "...Okay, I understand."
“Let’s exchange a stone slab,” he whispered to you as he turned around. “That way, if anything happens, I can get there in time.”
For a moment, you found it quite comical that he and Danheng were so wary of each other. The same two sentences, "Contact me immediately if anything happens," were said to you by two different people on the same day.
They remained wary of each other in this way:
Danheng: Be careful of Bai E; he cannot be completely trusted.
Bai'e: Be careful of Danheng, he's not safe.
...Should we say they have great chemistry or what? Actually, their emotional stability and tolerance are at a god-like level.
A note from the author:
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Thank you so much for all the favorites, nutrient solutions, and even the "throws" (a form of online commentary)! This is such a huge encouragement for me [please!]. I really didn't expect to receive so much love from so many lovely people; it's my honor…! But please, everyone, be mindful of your limits. After all, the initial motivation for fanfiction is love for the characters, and my motivation for writing otome games is that I feel you all deserve to be loved. I like to share those moments that move me when I think of my favorite characters, those moments that make me smile involuntarily. So, I hope to see you all living happy and joyful lives in real life too…! ><
Rather than offering help in times of need, please consider my words as a blessing that adds to the happiness of life!
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