Episode 4: Homeless Girls, Part 4
After arriving at the door of my home, I turned to speak to the back seat.
I saw Lianbing raise her index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture.
“Oh…
It’s Youyou, she’s asleep, resting her head on Lianbing’s lap and sleeping soundly.
She must have fallen asleep this early, it’s only around nine o’clock at night.
So I got out of the car first, went to the back seat, took Youyou into my arms, and then quietly said to Lianbing.
“How about we find a hotel for tonight?”
“No need, your home is fine.”
“But I haven’t moved yet, my house is a bit small… Lianbing, can you really get used to it?”
“Do I seem like someone who’s been pampered?”
I thought for a moment, and indeed, she didn’t.
Rather, Lianbing had never flaunted her status as a Young Miss; her naturally endowed aura was enough to draw admiration from those around her.
Moreover, Lianbing had even been my maid, and I hadn’t seen her complain about anything then.
As a Young Miss, Lianbing’s common sense and habits were not that extravagant, completely different from those delicate daughters of noble families.
“Then let’s take Youyou inside first and let her have a good sleep.”
I carried Youyou into the house.
I didn’t receive the usual reply. Of course, usually, it’s me who says “Welcome home,” but occasionally, if I go out to buy groceries and miss the welcome, Ling would greet me.
But this time, there was no response.
And it wasn’t because there was no one home.
People were there, but “she” wouldn’t respond to me.
Sitting on a cushion by the low table in the living room, staring straight ahead motionlessly, was Sekai-chan.
She didn’t react even when we entered the house.
In any case, I’ll take Youyou to the bedroom first. With that thought, I took off my shoes and walked into the innermost room, placed Youyou on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and then pulled the sliding door shut.
To prevent our voices from waking Youyou, I activated the soundproofing device I invented and made.
Why would I have such a thing?
Ah… because Ling and I often… to avoid disturbing the neighbors… well, that’s how it is, you understand.
Then I came out to the living room. Lianbing was also sitting at the low table in the living room, sizing up Sekai-chan with great interest. But Sekai-chan completely ignored Lianbing, her eyes fixed on the front without blinking.
The television in front of them was not turned on.
Still the same old way, like a robot…
“Sekai-chan… Ah, no, I should call you Lou Yi now.”
Lou Yi still seemed indifferent to me, replying without lifting her head.
“Whatever, a name is just a label; there’s no essential change in meaning regardless of which one you use.”
“No, having a name is a very important thing.”
“Especially for humans, ‘naming’ is a very important matter. A name holds immense significance for a person.”
So I’ll stick to calling Lou Yi by her name. Ling must have also hoped that giving her a name would bring about a different change.
“Lou Yi, when did you get back?”
“The exchange time was at twelve noon, and the next exchange time will be at midnight.”
“No, I’m not asking about your exchange time with Ling. Ling already told me. Of course, I know you exchange at noon. I’m asking when you got back home.”
“If you’re asking about the time you returned to this place, it was at seventeen hours, thirty-six minutes, and fifty-four seconds.”
Around 5:30 PM. It’s about the same time as when people get off work. It seems she came straight home after work.
“Did you have dinner yet? Ah, never mind, forget I asked. You probably haven’t eaten.”
“The consumption value has not reached the alert line, so there is no need to ingest energy. Furthermore, this body itself does not require energy intake.”
I knew it.
In her eyes, eating is a completely unnecessary and meaningless act.
Since Ling and I are immortal, we can live without eating, drinking, or sleeping, and even without breathing.
If we can live, why engage in unnecessary actions like eating?
She must be thinking that way.
But living is not just about surviving; it’s about “living life.”
“Hehehehe~ You’re so rigid. If this isn’t an act, it’s truly interesting.”
“When I saw you before, you were more human-like. I don’t know what’s wrong this time, but you’ve become increasingly mechanical.”
“Because I’m managing fate. Fate itself is rigid and unchangeable.”
“Is that so…”
Hearing Lianbing’s answer, I felt it made some sense.
Perhaps it’s due to managing fate for such a long time that she’s gradually become assimilated.
“Although I’ve stated that with my current computational power, operating fate continuously all day is not a problem, she insisted on exchanging, that’s all.”
“Ling wants you to enjoy yourself too… Well, I’m going to buy dinner ingredients now. Sorry, you’ll have to wait a little longer if you want to eat.”
“If you just need dinner ingredients…”
“Unauthorized use of fate is not permitted unless under special circumstances.”
Ling and I made a promise: unless it’s an absolute last resort, we’ll try not to use our abilities.
To avoid influencing the world’s development as much as possible.
Lou Yi naturally knew this, so after a moment of silence, she replied.
“…Yes.”
“Then I’ll go grocery shopping. Lianbing, do you want to come with me?”
“Although I’d like to go with Juncheng… if Youyou wakes up…”
“Well, it’s okay. I’ll go alone then.”
Sigh, in the end, I’m the one going grocery shopping alone.
It feels so desolate…
So, I grabbed my usual shopping bag and headed to the nearest large supermarket that was still open.
Turning the corner in front of the apartment building, I saw her again.
Song City is a big city. Although the apartment where Ling and I live is in a relatively secluded area, it’s not yet that late at night, and most shops are still open.
In a place where the lights of these shops couldn’t reach, there was an empty lot where an old building had been demolished.
Although it was dark inside, my unusually good eyesight allowed me to see a figure crouching on the steel bars, hugging their knees.
She was wearing a tattered dress, barefoot, and her face was hidden in her arms, so I couldn’t see it. But her golden hair still shone with luster.
This wasn’t the first time I’d seen her.
“SF Light Novel”
I’d seen her wandering around here for about ten days, like a vagrant.
But to call her a female… this beggar is too unusual.
Not only did she not beg for money from anyone, but very few people even noticed her. This is truly strange.
I even suspected she might be a ghost and might suddenly jump out and scratch people’s faces like a witch.
However, I’m not someone who overflows with sympathy, nor will I extend a hand to someone who hasn’t asked for help.
All I need to do now is buy groceries.
Yes, don’t get distracted by unnecessary things, I told myself.
After warning myself, I ran to the nearest supermarket at top speed, bought the ingredients I needed, and immediately returned home.
The house hadn’t changed much since I left. Lou Yi and Lianbing were still sitting by the low table. The difference was that Lianbing seemed to be drinking tea, which had probably just been brewed.
Then I started cooking… It was already ten o’clock at night by the time the dinner was ready.
It took a little time, but I’m confident this meal will be delicious.
Although Lou Yi felt it was unnecessary, she wouldn’t refuse to eat.
Youyou hadn’t woken up yet, and it wasn’t suitable to wake her for dinner, so the three of us ate first.
This silence is killing me! Can’t they say anything! Why is the atmosphere so cold!
Right, since Lou Yi is here, I’ll ask about the whereabouts of Xue Qing and Xuan’er.
“Lou Yi, do you know where Xue Qing, Xuan’er, and Xiao An are? You should be able to track them down, right?”
“Yes, I can find them.”
“…Then…”
“Why should I tell you?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“Uh, no, I didn’t not hear clearly, so you don’t need to repeat it. I’m not…”
No, she really has no reason to tell me, and there’s no benefit to her.
Does she need something in return?
“Because I want to know. And it’s not that I want you to tell me for free. If you tell me, I’ll offer you benefits.”
Although I appeared calm on the surface when proposing the deal, I was actually panicking inside.
Damn it, I can’t think of anything she might want.
This means Lou Yi is a person without desires. Would she really agree to a promised ‘benefit’?
But this time, to my surprise, Lou Yi turned her head to look at me. But just as she was about to say something…
“Yo ho!”
With a cheerful greeting like that, a certain blue fox burst into the house.
She was carrying a bag on her back and two more in her hands, along with a pile of luggage.
“Oh, are you guys just having dinner? That’s perfect, I’m hungry too. Prepare an extra pair of chopsticks for me… no, Juncheng, feed me.”
“Hehehehe, ‘just having dinner’? Everything happening here is under your ‘eyes’.”
Lan then turned to look at Lianbing and dramatically leaned back, elongating her voice as she said.
“Eeeh~ I was wondering who was making that disgusting laugh. So it’s the Young Miss. What’s wrong? Are you here to experience commoner life?”
“Hehehehe, you too. Carrying so many bags, are you planning to live here? Shameless woman.”
“I was invited by Juncheng, so I came. Huhu, but can you, a pampered Young Miss, really get used to living in a place like this? Can’t you even eat without a maid?”
Ah, they’re already annoyed with each other.
Damn it, this is the calm before the storm. If I don’t intervene, they might start fighting.
What should I do at this point?
Well, I’ll just push them both down.
If I don’t want them to fight, then I’ll be the one to subdue them both.
Everyone gets along harmoniously, and there will be no conflict.
So, like a standard scum, I put one arm around Lianbing’s shoulder and the other arm around Lan’s chest, holding them both and saying to them.
“It seems like today is the day to reminisce about our first time.”
“Jun…” “…”
Since dinner is over, it’s time for some post-meal digestion exercises. It’s healthier this way.
The rest should be ellipses… right. Oh well.
However, there are no ellipses.
Because, an unexpected accident happened.
Someone broke into the house.
