My Home Is Pretty Big

"Cooperation?"

"Yes, cooperation."

Huo Yuhao took out the gloves he had made the night before. As he demonstrated their effects to Tang Ya, he spoke.

"I can make Soul Guidance Devices, but I need the Tang Sect's channels to obtain more rare metals and sell the devices. I also need you to help me with a few other things. During this process, I'll give you a share of the money earned from selling the Soul Guidance Devices."

Before he could finish, Tang Ya interrupted him.

"I'll help you."

Huo Yuhao froze. "Aren't you going to ask about the share?"

"No need. Whatever you give me is fine. After all..."

Tang Ya paused. Then she looked at him seriously and spoke softly. "After all, I have nothing left now."

"Alright. Then we'll talk about it later."

Huo Yuhao nodded readily, though he felt somewhat puzzled inside.

He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Little Ya-jie's gaze had changed. It had become strangely difficult to describe.

Still, he didn't dwell on it. He stood up and looked around.

"Do you have anywhere else to stay now?"

"No."

Hearing the dejection return to Tang Ya's voice, Huo Yuhao thought for a moment before asking hesitantly.

"Then... do you want to come to my house?"

Creak—

"Mom, I'm back."

Hearing Huo Yuhao's voice, Huo Yun'er, who had been anxiously pacing around the living room, finally let out a sigh of relief and instinctively looked toward the door.

"Why are you back so late today—"

Before she could finish voicing her concern, the words caught in her throat. Seeing the pretty young girl following behind her son, her head lowered as though she didn't dare look at her, Huo Yun'er was momentarily stunned.

"..."

Oh heavens, my son is only six. Isn't dating this early a little too soon?

But that thought was immediately replaced by another.

No, wait!

We've only been in Heaven Dou City for two days. Why would a girl be following my son home this late at night? He didn't kidnap her, did he?

Huo Yuhao had no idea how much absurd nonsense his mother had imagined in such a short time. He shifted aside to reveal Tang Ya behind him and introduced her to Huo Yun'er.

"Mom, this is Tang Ya. We met a couple of days ago, and she might be living with us from now on."

Crack—

She might be living with us from now on.

Huo Yuhao's words were like a bolt from the blue, making Huo Yun'er even more certain of her suspicions. Just as she was at a loss for what to do, her dear son began introducing her to the girl.

"Little Ya-jie, this is my mom. Her surname is Huo too."

As though she had gathered every ounce of courage in her life, Tang Ya raised her head to look at Huo Yun'er. Her voice trembled faintly with nervousness.

"A-Aunt, hello."

"Hello, hello... You're Little Ya, right? Come in and sit down. You two haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll go make dinner."

Huo Yun'er wasn't doing much better than Tang Ya. She hurriedly invited Tang Ya to sit, poured her a glass of water, then gave Huo Yuhao, who had no idea what was going on, a meaningful look before turning toward the kitchen.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao could only smile at the clearly restrained Tang Ya and follow after his mother.

The moment he entered the kitchen, he met Huo Yun'er's strange stare. He more or less knew what she wanted to ask, but before he could explain, Huo Yun'er spoke first.

"Yuhao."

Huo Yun'er took a deep breath and earnestly advised him, "Tell Mom, what's going on with that girl? It doesn't matter how much or how little money you make, but Mom doesn't want you to go down a path of no return."

"...?"

Huo Yuhao's mind went blank for a second before he realized what Huo Yun'er meant. Even his eyelids twitched. "Mom, what kind of person do you think your good son is?"

Huo Yuhao quickly gave her a brief account of what had happened, though he did not mention his cooperation with Tang Ya. When Huo Yun'er heard that the girl's parents had both been murdered, pity immediately appeared in her eyes.

"I see... Then let her stay with us. It just so happens that she can keep me company and chat with me during the day. Alright, go on out. I need to cook."

"I can help too."

Huo Yun'er was briefly taken aback. Then she looked at him with an odd expression. Huo Yuhao, the person involved, was utterly confused by his mother's stare and asked hesitantly.

"...Mom?"

After a long while, Huo Yun'er finally sighed. Her tone was clearly tinged with frustration at his failure to meet expectations.

"Go outside and talk to that girl. Help her relax a little."

In the end, under his mother's insistence, Huo Yuhao still walked out of the kitchen.

No one knew what he said, but by the time Huo Yun'er brought the dishes to the table, Tang Ya was clearly in much better spirits.

At the dinner table, seeing Tang Ya's hesitant and restrained manner, Huo Yun'er placed more food in her bowl and spoke gently.

"Little Ya, Yuhao told me a little about what happened to you. From now on, you can live here and treat this place like your own home."

Looking at the bowl piled high with food, Tang Ya bit her lip lightly and fought back the tears welling in her eyes. She gave a choked little hum.

After dinner, Huo Yuhao handed Tang Ya a bowl of steaming medicine.

"We've prepared a room for you upstairs, right next to mine. The bedding and everything else are new. Drink this and go to bed early tonight."

"What's this?"

Looking at the dark brown medicine, Tang Ya instinctively recalled the packet of herbs he had gone out of his way to buy from the Medical Hall before bringing her home.

"Something to calm your mind."

Huo Yuhao patiently explained, "Your mind has suffered a shock. This should help."

"...Thank you."

Tang Ya pressed her lips together and reached out to take it, sipping it bit by bit with a spoon.

The medicine was bitter when it entered her mouth, but sweetness soon followed and washed away the bitterness.

"I added some sugar. It shouldn't be bitter now, right?"

Huo Yuhao's voice echoed beside her. Trembling, Tang Ya gently shook her head.

"Not bitter. Sweet..."

She kept lifting spoonful after spoonful to her mouth, her little head lowered the entire time. Large tears fell into the bowl, mixing with the medicine.

A year later.

"Uncle Huang."

At the entrance to Snack Street, Huang Yu, who was smoking, instinctively turned at the sound of the voice. A smile immediately appeared on his face when he saw the boy and girl.

"You two are here early today."

Over the past year, he had grown much more familiar with these two mature children. Ever since the day Huo Yuhao said something had happened to his friend, the Tang Sect girl who used to visit the snack stall every few days had disappeared. In her place, a girl who looked only slightly older than Huo Yuhao had begun accompanying him every day to sell Roasted Fish.

Well-informed as he was, he had naturally heard about what had happened to the Tang Sect and had long guessed the girl's identity. Though he didn't know why her appearance had changed so drastically, it was obviously none of his business. Since Huo Yuhao had not asked him for help, he would not meddle. He simply pretended not to know.

The girl named Little Ya looked at him with surprise. "Uncle Huang, you're such a busy man. Why do you have time to come here today?"

"You little girl, making fun of me now?" Huang Yu smiled, then shook his head and sighed as he explained. "The Soul Master Competition is in a few days. Heaven Dou City has gotten quite a few more visitors lately. To prevent anything from happening with so many people around, I have to keep watch every day. Come to think of it, this is a good opportunity for you two. Yuhao, supply more of your Roasted Fish during this time. This is the perfect chance to make money."

"Uh..."

An awkward look appeared on Huo Yuhao's face. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke softly.

"Uncle Huang, I actually came to tell you today that once I sell out of my Roasted Fish, I don't plan to sell it anymore."

"You're not selling anymore?"

Huang Yu was slightly stunned. The Soul Master Competition was held once every five years and rotated among four countries. This was the tourism peak that came only once every twenty years. Everyone was preparing to make a fortune, yet this kid was quitting?

"Why? I remember you only paid this month's stall fee a few days ago, didn't you? You should at least keep going until the end of the month."