Chapter 359

One Hundred Sixty-Seven Pages New Daily Life

[December 7th, Sunday]

[7:21 AM]

A day has passed since returning from the temple.

Although I cannot return to the human world, the fact that Xiao Kai is still alive itself holds hope. At least, Mom finally stepped out of her room and was willing to come downstairs to have breakfast with us.

Here, “us” refers to Wu Qinglan, me, and Yuzu (in human form).

Xiao Kai is absent, and Lin Hua and Sister Lei have no reason to stay in that sad bedroom, so they’ve been staying at home these days. They also have things to do during the day. However, both Wu Qinglan and Yuzu are lively and energetic, so it’s not too quiet.

Looking at Mom drinking the first sip of hot porridge, I showed off the results of my morning’s work.

“Mama, how about this salty meat porridge? You haven’t been eating well these past few days, please eat more.”

I didn’t go upstairs to sleep either. Since I don’t need sleep, besides watching late-night TV dramas in the living room, I just did some cleaning and prepared breakfast for them by five.

The whole night was quite busy. I had to find something to do; otherwise, I would uncontrollably think about Xiao Kai and Mom.

Being the only one left alive has become an unshakable shadow for me.

Outside the winter house, the biting cold wind howled. Wrapped in a cotton coat, Mom drank half a bowl of salty meat porridge. The warm carbohydrates settled in, and her originally pale face due to low blood sugar regained some color.

She then asked, “Is Xiao Kai and Ying really still alive?”

Her long hair, slightly curled and yellow, tied at the waist, made her look thin after a week of despair and sorrow. Her eyes, under her curled eyelashes, lacked vitality.

This weariness pained me.

“Mama, they are alive in some place beyond the human world, but they can’t come back. But Grandpa and others are trying to figure out a way.”

I answered her truthfully but hid the fact that Mom couldn’t come back.

According to what Zhu Beihai heard yesterday, part of her soul belongs to Heavenly Path, so she can’t return with Xiao Kai through the restraint. After Xiao Kai leaves, she seems to plan on going to Heavenly Path Core alone to complete her soul’s return, ending her brief life as a person.

As a fragment of Heavenly Path, her mastery of various techniques surpasses Grandpa’s, and she naturally excels at exploiting Heavenly Path’s loopholes.

Even though it doesn’t feel real, Xiao Kai and I are, in a sense, Heavenly Path’s children.

Emperor?

That’s quite a grand title.

Wu Qinglan also comforted Mom regarding her worries.

“Don’t worry too much, Xiao Kai is a lucky fool. Look, he has faced so many troubles, yet he always manages to get through. Although the current situation is indeed hopeless, if you can’t come back, don’t be too sad… Hey! What are you doing, Xiao Dongwu?”

“That’s called comforting words!”

She got kicked in the shin by Yuzu across from her for speaking nonsense.

Mom ate another two spoons of porridge and looked up, asking, “Ying, are you going to the research institute today? Can I come along?”

“No, I’m not going anywhere today. I’ll just stay home with Mama.”

I wrapped my arm around hers, just like a close mother and daughter would.

“…Stay with me?”

“The research institute won’t benefit you much, and I am your only relative now. Some things must be done by me.”

Wu Qinglan gave me a thumbs-up in approval and suggested, “How about we go for a walk by the river later?”

“Go to hell, it’s nearly zero degrees outside. If we go by the river, we’ll catch a cold when we come back.”

Yuzu vetoed the proposal.

Yesterday, Wu Qinglan didn’t hide her saying she stinks, which made Yuzu hold a grudge, so she treated her poorly. When Yuzu turned into a small animal, she refused to let Yuzu touch her.

“How about staying at home today? Orange will come over soon. In the afternoon, Xiao Qianxia and Zhu Beihai will move back.”

I informed her of today’s schedule.

“They’re moving back here?”

When mentioning Xiao Qianxia, a rare joy flashed in Mom’s eyes.

“Yeah, Zhu Beihai is checking his body with Grandpa this morning. He wants to understand how he sensed Grandma’s senses yesterday. If we can figure this out, it might help advance the restraint research. Maybe I can contact Xiao Kai too.”

I had some guesses based on what Zhu Beihai conveyed yesterday.

As a dual-soul existence, Mom and Zhu Beihai’s empathy surely relies on the restraint.

According to her, the power of a single restraint is limited and blocked by the human world barrier, which is why I can’t sense Xiao Kai’s presence. But if multiple restraints are gathered, not only can we contact them, but we might even bring Xiao Kai back.

But this is just speculation.

After all, when Thunder Meow-Meow, Taojiang, and others were present in the underground research institute, more restraints were gathered, but no one sensed Xiao Kai’s presence… perhaps some key clues were overlooked.

In any case, Grandpa will handle this matter.

Ding-dong—

The doorbell rang; it’s Orange.

“Sis Ying, I came to feed the cat and check on Sis Xiao Wei’s condition.”

The orange-haired cat girl stood obediently at the door, hands tucked into her sleeves, shivering.

Why is she freezing like this?

I looked down at her lower body…

“Stupid cat, your tights are too thin, you must be freezing. Let me feed the cat first, come inside and warm up.”

The wind was strong this morning. Even thick-furred wild cats wouldn’t leave the cat house, but Orange was wearing a skirt and thick tights. She was stomping her feet now, feeling miserable.

“Mm, ah-choo!”

It seems she caught a cold. I closed the door and hugged her from behind, trying to warm her up.

“Are you warmer now?”

“Mm, thank you, Sis Ying.”

I brought her back to the living room. Mom tried to stand up but was quickly pushed back into her seat by Orange.

“Sis Xiao Wei, it’s great you could come out.”

Mom smiled bitterly and asked, “Did Little Hai Tang come with you?”

“No, Hai Tang went to school early in the morning. I came alone.”

“Still handling student council affairs on the weekend?”

“This week has been delayed, so I only have time to deal with matters today, so I’m busy… huh? Why are you looking at me?”

Orange was answering Mom’s question when she noticed Yuzu smiling mischievously at her.

I roughly knew what she wanted.

She gave a shy smile.

“Hehe, Orange, can we be sisters?”

Indeed.

Yuzu, who has always walked alone in the human world, always wants to find family. Among animals, Orange and Xiao Xue became her top targets.

“Sisters? But I’m already Sister Hai Tang’s sister. Are you suggesting Yuzu come to our house? I’ll discuss it with Aunt…”

Though somewhat troubled, Orange didn’t outright refuse.

Yuzu hurriedly said, “No, I mean you, me, and Xiao Xue should be sisters in name only.”

“I don’t mind, but why does a pet mink want to be sisters with two cats?”

Orange’s question left Yuzu speechless. I then withdrew her divine power supply, and she transformed back into a ferret, landing on the chair with a thump.

“Our little animal seems very lonely?”

“Wow? What are you doing, Xiao Ying? Give her back her power!”

I picked her up and sat on her chair.

“My divine power doesn’t recover like Xiao Kai’s, so I can’t constantly supply you. Since you’ve eaten enough, change back.”

She struggled out of my arms, climbed onto the dining table, and jumped onto Orange.

“Oh! Warm!”

She was held in Orange’s hands like a hand warmer.

“Yuzu, even if we don’t call each other sisters, no one will treat you as an outsider.”

I comforted her, stroking her tiny paw. “Don’t feel insecure, don’t think you’re isolated. No matter whether Grandma is here or not, we won’t abandon you.”

Rubbing her tiny paws, Yuzu said in Orange’s hands, “I know, but I want a family too!”

“A family?”

Mom murmured, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Orange patted Yuzu’s head.

“In front of Sis Xiao Wei, talking about ‘family,’ aren’t you reopening old wounds?”

“Oh, sorry…”

Realizing she stepped on a landmine, Yuzu rubbed her paws and apologized, but Mom took Yuzu from Orange’s hands, carefully holding her.

She whispered softly, “There’s nothing to apologize for, right? Is Yuzu feeling lonely? Do you want to be part of our family?”

Our old dad is the kindest person in the world, and this sudden kindness left Yuzu at a loss.

“…Do you mean as a pet?”

Her black eyes sparkled with anticipation. She knew what Mom meant, but asking this way was to get a positive response.

“Naive girl, I mean family. Since you’re Xiao Ying’s child, you can be my goddaughter. I need someone to fill the void left by Xiao Kai and Xiao Ying. Don’t worry, I won’t treat you as a replacement. I’ll take good care of you.”

Mom’s gentle words broke through Yuzu’s defenses. She wiped her tears with her short forepaw and lunged into Mom’s collar.

“Wah, Sis Xiao Wei doesn’t mind I’m a smelly animal!”

“Nonsense! Our Yuzu smells the best.”

“Th-that’s because she washed yesterday.”

Thus, I gained a god貂妹 (god貂妹 translates directly to ‘goddaughter mink’, but it doesn’t make sense in English, so I’ll use ‘goddaughter’).

Although I hug her every day, she never opens the perfume bottle Xiao Kai left her. To her, it’s the most precious thing in the world.

“Mmm…”

The scene of Yuzu being held by Mom was heartwarming, but someone’s gaze was painfully jealous.

“It’s unfair! I want to be Uncle Chang’s family too!”

Wu Qinglan, who was beaten to the punch by Yuzu, exploded. She lunged forward and hugged Mom, squeezing Yuzu between them.

“Even if I can’t be a wife! At least let me be a goddaughter! Please!”

Wu Qinglan, who had long failed to win over old dad, finally compromised to being a goddaughter.

Frankly, I think her brain is messed up, and clearly, Mom thinks so too, so she refused.

“Qinglan, I deeply appreciate your companionship without expecting anything in return. I’d be happy to be the closest to you, but being a daughter is strange, especially given my identity… isn’t my current body age younger than yours?”

“Oh! Then revert to Uncle Chang!”

Mom rejected.

“As a man, I have no right to cry. Sorry, I can’t revert my feelings now.”

Most importantly, once the holy mark is depleted, it can’t be replenished.

At least until Xiao Kai is found, Mom should maintain her current state.