The Taste of Home

"Alright."

Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow and helplessly extended his tentacles, gathering a few branches from the roadside. They then formed a skeletal frame and covered it in black fluid, quickly taking the shape of an umbrella and casting a patch of shade.

Sure enough, it really wasn't as hot anymore.

"Haha! This is great!"

Unable to contain herself, Xiao Wu hugged Ye Qiu's arm and began bouncing around again.

"Little San, do you want to come closer to me? It'll be cooler."

Although he did not particularly want Tang San to come over, he still had to be polite. Besides, Ye Qiu believed Tang San did not really like him deep down. "No need. I'm used to being around the furnace. I'm not afraid of the heat."

Tang San shook his head and cleanly refused Ye Qiu's offer. The two of them were being all lovey-dovey—what would it look like if he squeezed himself in? "Then let's keep going like this!"

Ye Qiu swung his arms twice. The little rabbit was clinging a little too close.

"Hehe."

The shameless rogue rabbit leaned against Ye Qiu, wrapping her arms around his arm and pressing herself tightly against him, saving as much effort as she could.

This felt completely different from when Ye Qiu had attached himself to her. At such close range, Ye Qiu's scent was even hotter and more intense.

"Mm."

Tang San nodded blankly. Looking at Xiao Wu's shameless behavior, he seemed to understand something. Thinking of how uncomfortable he had always felt whenever the two led people on campus patrols together, his head grew heavier and heavier.

Time passed quickly.

As they drew closer and closer to Holy Soul Village, Xiao Wu began to look listless again. Leaning close to Ye Qiu's ear, she whispered, "Ye Qiu, Sister Xiao Wu is a little hungry~"

"I'm telling you, don't push your luck!"

Several black lines appeared on Ye Qiu's forehead. His grip around the black umbrella tightened.

"Why are you being so fierce? Sister Xiao Wu didn't ask to eat your stuff."

Seeing Ye Qiu's somewhat impatient profile, Xiao Wu did not dare act too brazenly. If she went too far, she was afraid Ye Qiu might really get angry.

After muttering quietly, she fell silent.

She obediently followed beside Ye Qiu, her pink rabbit lips pouted high as though she were sulking.

After quite a while, Ye Qiu's voice finally drifted over. "Take it out yourself."

"Huh? Okay, okay."

Xiao Wu froze for a moment, delight filling her heart as her eyes lit up. She reached out with her little hand and felt around in the pocket of Ye Qiu's pants.

But after fumbling around twice, her little face became somewhat flushed, while Ye Qiu's eye twitched. It was a little itchy. After a while, Xiao Wu finally pulled out a carrot-flavored lollipop. It was wrapped in a layer of edible fruit wax, so there was no need to worry about it melting in his pocket.

Blushing, Xiao Wu smiled and popped the lollipop she had taken out into her mouth.

"Ye Qiu, do you want one too?"

"No."

Ye Qiu gently shook his head.

"Little San, how much farther is it exactly?"

Xiao Wu raised her hand and thoughtfully wiped Ye Qiu's sweat away. Looking at the mountain peak appearing in the distance, she asked Tang San.

"We're almost there. See that mountain? Holy Soul Village is right at its foot."

Seeing the village so close ahead, Tang San could not help feeling excited. He no longer felt uncomfortable over Xiao Wu and Ye Qiu's intimacy.

He could hardly wait to see his father.

Ye Qiu glanced at Tang San and curled his lips.

Tang San was only getting excited for nothing. Ye Qiu knew that drunkard Tang Hao had already left Holy Soul Village by this time. At Notting Academy, Ye Qiu would also enter a state of alert from time to time, especially when Xiao Wu was beside him.

Before long, the three of them entered Holy Soul Village.

Tang San's Blacksmith Shop was at the village entrance. He raised a hand and pointed at the dilapidated signboard on the roof, saying excitedly to Xiao Wu, "Look, that's my home!"

At the same time, Tang San hurried over to his front door.

He called inside.

"Dad! Little San is back!"

The front door stood open. With Xiao Wu on his back, Ye Qiu could see the mess piled up inside—broken jars and bottles that gave off a strange smell. Yet Tang San could only feel warmth from it. Nothing had changed; it still had the same familiar scent! This... was the taste of home!

A figure suddenly stepped out through the open doorway.

Tang San instinctively wanted to call him Dad, but before the words left his mouth, he froze.

"Grandpa Jack?!"

"Oh! Little San, I didn't expect you to be back so early. I was just about to ask Tang Hao to come with me to pick you up." Old Jack held a crumpled, foul-smelling sheet of paper that seemed to have been soaked in alcohol.

"Grandpa Jack, why are you here? Where's my father?" A sense of foreboding rose in Tang San's heart, and he immediately became somewhat dejected.

"Sigh~ You should see for yourself. That Tang Hao is truly irresponsible! He actually left you, a child, behind and just went off like that." Old Jack handed the paper in his hand to Tang San, his face full of regret.

"Grandpa Jack, long time no see."

People's joys and sorrows did not necessarily connect. Just as Tang San looked at the paper in his hand, lost, helpless, and pitiful, Ye Qiu smiled and greeted Old Jack.

"Ha ha. Xiao Qiu, you're back too." Old Jack finally noticed Ye Qiu as well. Seeing the exquisitely cute Xiao Wu beside him, a hint of surprise appeared on his face. "Eh? Is this the little girlfriend you found, Xiao Qiu? What an adorable little girl."

Ye Qiu did not answer, merely smiling faintly as he waited for Xiao Wu to refute him. But to Ye Qiu's surprise, Xiao Wu showed no intention of denying it at all.

When Ye Qiu turned back, all he saw was the back of her head. Did this rabbit not know what "girlfriend" meant?! That couldn't be right, could it?!

Where Ye Qiu could not see, Xiao Wu's face had long since turned completely red. How could she not know what girlfriend meant? She had been human for quite some time now.

"Ha ha." Watching the amusing scene, Old Jack could not help but feel several years younger. Turning to comfort Tang San, he said, "Little San, don't be too upset. Maybe Tang Hao will come back after a while."

Tang San silently shook his head. Carefully folding the paper in his hand, he placed it inside his clothes and said to Old Jack, "Thank you, Grandpa Jack. The house is such a mess, so I won't ask you to stay. I still need to clean up."

Old Jack, who had originally wanted to invite Tang San to his home, froze for a moment. He had not expected Tang San, at such a young age, to effectively ask him to leave. He could only sigh helplessly. "All right. But if you need anything, just come find me."

Old Jack shook his head and turned to walk outside. Then he paused and gave Ye Qiu a kindly smile. "Xiao Qiu, would you like to bring your little girlfriend to Grandpa Jack's house as a guest?"

"Sure!"

Ye Qiu did not refuse, but neither did he neglect Tang San.

"Little San, carrying this rabbit around has worn me out. I need to find somewhere to rest. My condolences."

My condolences?! Tang San's heart clenched, but he did not say anything. He simply walked into the house and began tidying the messy room.

Old Jack could not help nodding as he looked at Ye Qiu.

Compared to Tang San's family, father and son alike being somewhat withdrawn and unsociable, Ye Qiu was much more pleasing to the eye and more lovable. No wonder he had found himself a little girlfriend so quickly.

"Good, then let's go now. Little San, you can come to Grandpa Jack's house for lunch."

Receiving no response, Old Jack did not lose heart and led Ye Qiu toward his home.

Xiao Wu, walking beside Ye Qiu, turned back and looked at Tang San strangely. She did not quite understand. Tang San was clearly only a genius about equal to herself, so why was Ye Qiu so wary of him in his heart?

Wishing everyone a happy life!