Memories (6)

Yun Shen leaned back in his broad chair, his hands folded over his stomach. There was no surprise on his face. He listened quietly until I finished, then the corners of his mouth slowly curled into a knowing, slightly amused smile. He knew me too well to think I'd merely make some vague request for "protection."

He raised a hand and waved it casually, as if brushing aside irrelevant details, then cut straight to the point. "All right, stop beating around the bush. Which two members of the Twelve Black Beasts have you set your sights on?"

I wasn't planning to be polite about it. Since he'd given me the authority, I naturally wanted to choose the most suitable candidates. The codenames of the twelve flashed through my mind, along with the shadows of people with different abilities and personalities. Protecting girls required a strong sense of responsibility, keen attention to detail, plenty of patience, and the ability to fight reliably when it mattered. Ideally, they'd also be able to help with everyday needs.

"They're girls, so their bodyguards need to be chosen with extra care." Meeting my father's gaze, I clearly stated the names I'd already settled on. "I want Mao Rabbit—Faust, and Wei Sheep—Don Quixote."

The study fell quiet for a moment. Daylight filtered through the gauze curtains, casting blurry patches of light across the polished floor. My father lightly tapped the back of one hand with the fingers of the other, as if weighing the considerations behind my choice.

Faust, codenamed "Mao Rabbit" among the Twelve Black Beasts, was a capable specialist in logistics and intelligence coordination—the woman I'd just spoken with on the phone. She was meticulous and efficient, with a vast information network and the resources to mobilize it. Her strengths lay in preventive planning and crisis management, which allowed her to avert most risks before they arose. She was the perfect choice to oversee security planning, information screening, and the girls' daily schedules.

Besides, her highly rational, detail-oriented nature might make up for some of the "structure" the two little girls could be lacking because of their past experiences.

Don Quixote, codenamed "Wei Sheep," was reliable in a different way. She had an almost stubborn sense of responsibility and protectiveness. Though gentle by nature, she was remarkably resilient, and her combat ability ranked among the best in the Black Beasts. She was particularly skilled at close protection and handling emergencies.

More importantly, she possessed a rare, reassuring "maternal" warmth—though she might not admit it herself—and seemed instinctively devoted to caring for and protecting children. As their close, constant escort, she could not only respond to sudden dangers but also provide the two insecure children with emotional stability and support.

One would take charge and plan ahead; the other would stay close and guard them every step of the way. Rationality and warmth, prevention and response—they complemented each other perfectly.

My father was silent for a few seconds, his experienced eyes fixed on me. At last, his amused smile deepened, turning into a sigh that mingled approval with faint emotion.

"Mao Rabbit and Wei Sheep... You certainly know how to choose." He nodded, his tone giving no hint whether he was praising me or simply stating a fact. "One can calculate every potential danger to three decimal places, while the other would charge at any threat that came near as if it were a windmill... They really are the ideal pair to look after children. Especially Wei Sheep. She'll probably spoil those two little girls you brought home rotten."

He paused and tapped his fingers on the desk. "I'll notify them. Mao Rabbit will need to hand over some of her other duties and adjust their priorities. Wei Sheep... she'll probably be more than happy to accept the assignment."

Yun Shen put his glasses back on, lowered his eyes to the documents, and waved me away. "Go confirm the details with Mao Rabbit. Wei Sheep should get in touch with you herself tomorrow."

I nodded slightly and left the study. The door closed softly behind me.

Walking through the quiet hallway, I felt no relief. If anything, my sense of responsibility weighed more clearly on my shoulders. Still, at least I'd made the best choice I could for their bodyguards. With Faust's "brain" and Don Quixote's "sword and shield," those two little white-haired bundles should be as safe as possible.

By the time I returned to the living room, Yi Jiang had finished her meal and was sitting obediently on the sofa, while little Yi Xuan was asleep on her sister's lap.

After a moment's thought, I pulled one lollipop out of my pocket—no, two. They said the squeaky wheel got the grease, but shouldn't someone worry about a well-behaved little girl like Yi Jiang, who never cried or made a fuss?

One each. Fair and square.

"Are these presents for Yi Xuan and me?" Yi Jiang asked softly, afraid of waking her little sister.

I had a maid gently carry Yi Xuan to the guest room to sleep, then said to Yi Jiang, "If you want to go keep your sister company, go ahead."

"But remember to brush your teeth after you finish the lollipop. You don't want cavities."

Yi Jiang stared at Yun Lan in amazement. It was the first time anyone had given her something to eat and brought the two of them home. It was true that he seemed to have brought them back to work as maids, but that didn't make her any less moved.

She could have endured the darkness, if she had never seen the light.

"Don't overthink it. I didn't bring you here to be maids. I did it simply because I'm kind. Get some rest. Tomorrow, I'll take you out to buy new clothes."

Yi Jiang froze. She'd thought they'd been brought home to work as maids, but it turned out he'd only been teasing them.

What were they supposed to do from now on? She drew a deep breath and forced down the jumble of thoughts in her heart, then lightly kissed the boy on the cheek.

The next second, Yun Lan jerked backward as if he'd been burned. His pupils contracted, his face full of shock and disbelief, while the tips of his ears flushed despite himself.

"??! Yi Jiang, what are you doing?" His voice rose without him meaning to, dazed and a little flustered. What was with this girl? Why had she suddenly... kissed him?

He lifted a hand and absently rubbed the spot she'd touched with his fingertip. A faintly damp, strange sensation seemed to linger there.

At his question, Yi Jiang seemed to come to her senses, as though waking from the resolve it had taken to do that. She lifted her head, and her freshly washed face, now strikingly lovely, was instantly drenched in tears. Her eyes were red, and large teardrops rolled down without warning, sliding over her cheeks and falling onto her new clothes, where they left dark, round spots.

She bit her lower lip, trying to stifle her sobs, but her thin shoulders only trembled harder. Through tear-blurred eyes, she looked at Yun Lan with fear, the desperation of someone with nowhere left to turn, and a heart-wrenching plea.

"Ah, big brother..." she sobbed, her voice breaking like a leaf drifting in the cold wind. "I-I'm sorry... I don't have anything I can give you..." Her words came faster, and her tears flowed harder. "But you've been so good to us... You gave us clothes and food, and... and you even remembered that we like buns..."

She took a deep breath and, with all her strength, offered what she believed, in her hard-lived experience, was the most precious thing she had left—the last "bargaining chip" she could offer:

"Yi Jiang doesn't know how else to repay you... Yi Jiang is willing to give herself to you. I just beg you... please don't despise us, don't send us away, don't abandon us..."