Wang Xiaojuan and Bai Jiacao exchanged a glance, then carefully unfolded the paper crane.
It had been folded decades ago. The paper was extremely brittle, and its pattern had faded away.
Yet they could still vaguely make out a smiling little star hanging high above the darkness, watching over the carefree little girl below.
"Ah, this was the paper crane that nurse gave your grandma when she was little!" Bai Jiacao cried. "Xiaojuan, put it away quickly!"
After thinking for a moment, Wang Xiaojuan carefully refolded the crane, tucked it back into the pendant, and tied it around Big Tooth's neck again.
"Let's keep it here. It's so fragile, and there's nowhere to put it at school. Xiao Cao, could you help me look after it?" she asked with a smile.
Bai Jiacao was a little flustered and waved her hands. "It's too precious. Can I really do that?"
"If even you can't, then what am I supposed to do, all by myself, such a crybaby?" Wang Xiaojuan lowered her head. "Xiao Cao, my parents are gone, and Grandpa and Grandma are gone too. If you won't help me either, I really don't know what to do."
Bai Jiacao thought for a long time, drew a deep breath, and nodded heavily. "All right, Xiaojuan, I promise you. We'll protect Grandma's little star together!"
Wang Xiaojuan broke into a smile through her tears, as though she had finally found someone to lean on.
Having agreed to go to the Meng Family for dinner that night, she went home first to sort through the belongings Grandma had left behind.
Bai Jiacao sat beside the flowerbed, staring blankly at the devastated residential complex.
Suddenly, she said to Meng Chao, who had been standing beside her all along, "Brother, I don't want to live