Do Not Approach

11

The car had parked in a quiet alley of a small town. At this point, weather had cooled, and the streets were bustling with people coming home from work and school.

Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes wandered until a sign across the street caught her attention.

Is this...?

It wasn't a large sign, but the name on it made her eyes widen in disbelief.

"Everyone Loves Aunt Song's Famous Cake Shop"

Mu Xiaoxiao: ...

No way???

Just as she had suspected, a slightly plump, friendly woman with a round face emerged from the shop. She handed a customer their order, chatting warmly as if she knew everyone in the neighborhood.

Mu Xiaoxiao snuck a glance at Qin Yi. And Qin Yi's gaze was fixed on Aunt Song.

She's looking at her.

The long, narrow eyes glimmered as if touched by misty water. Qin Yi's hand, resting on the wheelchair arm, clenched tighter and tighter, her nails turning pale from the pressure.

Mu Xiaoxiao suddenly understood: all the trouble they went through was just so Qin Yi could see Song Sao.

But the Eldest Miss remained silent and composed, her emotions buried deep within. That fleeting glimpse of vulnerability in her eyes disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Mu Xiaoxiao said nothing, but a feeling of "heartache" slowly spread within her.

Before long, Liu Wannian returned to the car, carrying a small bag of pastries. In a low voice, he explained, "I gave some money to a neighborhood kid to buy these for me."

He continued, "I went to Aunt Song's house. Everything's in order. Both her children are back—her son has a job in the local government, and her daughter runs the little shop with her.

"The shop isn't big, but business is good. Aunt Song seems happy every day. Everyone around here knows each other—it's a safe place."

Qin Yi kept her gaze on the bustling figure of Aunt Song in the distance, her lips curving ever so slightly. But soon, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

She recalled those childhood days when both her father and aunt were too busy with work to be around. It was Aunt Song who cared for her with the utmost kindness.

Back then, Aunt Song's back would sometimes ache from carrying Qin Yi so often. When she lay on the couch to rest, little Qin Yi would toddle over, pressing her small hands against her back to knead and say in a babyish voice, "Aunt Song, when I grow up, I'll make sure you enjoy a life of ease."

Aunt Song burst out laughing upon hearing this. How could a child as young as Miss Qin understand the idea of "enjoying a life of ease"? But she still patiently asked, "Oh? And how do you plan to let me enjoy such a life of ease?"

Little Qin Yi pouted her small lips, her big watery eyes darting around as she thought. Then she smiled and said, "I'll open a cake shop for you, and it will be called—uh, it will be called—"

Aunt Song watched her with amusement, curious to hear what name she'd come up with.

After thinking for a long while, little Qin Yi placed her hands on her hips and announced with great confidence, "Everyone Loves Aunt Song's Famous Cake Shop! Doesn't it sound good?"

Aunt Song couldn't help but laugh. She pulled little Qin Yi into her arms, hugged her tightly, and kissed her on the forehead. "It sounds wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I'll take good care of myself so that when my young lady grows up, she can open a cake shop for me."

It was just a child's playful promise, but Aunt Song had remembered it all these years.

Afraid that she might lose control of her emotions, Qin Yi raised her hand slightly.

[Let's go.]

After a whole day of driving, all she had wanted was to catch one glimpse of her Aunt Song. Clutching the bag of pastries with its familiar aroma, Qin Yi sat motionless.

As the streetlights flickered past the windows and the night slowly wrapped around them, her gaze dimmed once more.

Depression and sorrow were like whirlpools—once caught in their grip, escape became a futile struggle. Even knowing she should pull herself out, she felt helpless, dragged deeper and deeper into despair, like a hand in the swamp pulling her down, suffocating her slowly.

There's no such thing as true empathy—only those who have lived through it understand.

If not for Qin Shuang's threats, Qin Yi would still have sent Song Sao away. Someone like her, drowning in a stagnant mire of hopelessness, could only drag others down with her.

Aunt Song was naturally cheerful and optimistic, but for Qin Yi's sake, she lived every day walking on eggshells, terrified of making a mistake.

After spending her whole life caring for Qin Yi, Qin Yi could no longer repay her kindness. Now that Aunt Song was old, she deserved to enjoy a happy life. Qin Yi couldn't bear to burden her any longer.

Seeing Qin Yi's quiet demeanor, Liu Wannian dared not say a word. He sat frozen in the driver's seat, even trying to breathe softly to reduce his presence.

The car was silent, except for the hum of the engine. In that moment of suffocating stillness, a small, pale hand suddenly reached out and tugged at the bag of pastries in Qin Yi's lap.

The soft sound made by the bag was faint, but in the heavy silence, it pierced through the gloom like the sound of a pin dropping.

Liu Wannian shuddered, glancing at Mu Xiaoxiao in disbelief.

Mu Xiaoxiao kept her hand on the pastry bag, looking at Qin Yi as she whispered, "They won't taste good if they get cold."

Qin Yi: "..."

Mu—Xiao—Xiao!

* * *

Mini Side Story

The afternoon sunlight was warm.

Qin Yi and Mu Xiaoxiao were flipping through old photos, reminiscing about when they first met.

"It feels like a lifetime ago," Mu Xiaoxiao sighed. "Back then, you always kept such a stern face. Everyone was scared of you."

Qin Yi curved her lips slightly. "Were you scared?"

Mu Xiaoxiao nodded. "Of course I was. Honestly, I still get a little scared sometimes."

After all, the Eldest Miss' presence was still formidable. When she turned cold, she exuded an unapproachable aura that made others instinctively tread lightly.

Qin Yi raised her slender hand and gently poked Mu Xiaoxiao's dimple. "If you're scared, why do you keep bullying me?"

Mu Xiaoxiao chuckled, catching Qin Yi's hand and pressing a kiss to her fingertips. "I bully you because I'm scared."

Qin Yi blinked in confusion, her eyes filled with questions—Why?

In the company, many people feared her, not daring to even breathe loudly in her presence. Qin Yi knew that. But who else, among the fearful, dared to be as brazen as Mu Xiaoxiao?

Seeing the puzzled expression on Qin Yi's face, Mu Xiaoxiao wrapped her arms around her waist, nuzzling against her neck. Her lips brushed lightly against Qin Yi's ear as she whispered, "Because no matter how angry you get, you always go soft when I bully you, Eldest Miss. Do you know that?"

Qin Yi's face flushed red, and she tried to push Mu Xiaoxiao away, her breath unsteady. "I'm not soft, not like you say..."

She wasn't!

Mu Xiaoxiao grinned mischievously. "Oh? Then what are you? Just like how you are right now?"

Qin Yi: ...