Xiao Ran spoke with Da Xia and Xiao Xia for a while. When he saw the tired expression on Da Xia's face, he brought the conversation to an end. When Da Xia left, he took Xiao Xia with him as well, presumably wanting to speak with him alone for a while.
After the two left, Xiao Ran returned to his study and looked at the towering stack of documents awaiting his attention. He efficiently spent an hour carefully approving every document, then stretched and stood up. Pouring himself a glass of wine, he walked onto the balcony behind the study.
He had barely taken two sips when Xiao Ran suddenly blinked and looked at the two people approaching through the garden outside. After a flash of astonishment crossed his face, he returned to the room, set down his glass, and left the study.
A few minutes later, the two girls appeared before Xiao Ran. Both had pink hair, identical hair clips, identical chokers with purple crystals embedded in them, and identical long dresses with the same patterns and style. Only the colors differed—one white, one pink. Even their shoes were exactly alike apart from their colors.
Their smiles were identical too: bright, lively, their eyes brimming with quirky hobby. They were like two sides of the same person reflected in a mirror, more alike than even twins. They should have been two people with entirely different temperaments, yet at this moment, standing before Xiao Ran, they were utterly identical.
"Lacus...?"
Xiao Ran stared at the two girls before him in astonishment, drawing out his words slightly. "What are you two doing?"
Xiao Ran had long guessed that little Lacus might seek out the older Lacus, but he had not expected the two Lacuses to arrive together so soon. What he