"Xiao Wu, go take a bath first."
"I'll take one later."
Tang Yin took the Eight Spider Lances out of the Storage Soul Tool and put the Soul Tool back on Xiao Wu's hand.
"Tang Yin..."
Xiao Wu pressed her pink lips tightly together and gazed at Tang Yin with gentle eyes, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"
Tang Yin gently rested a large hand on Xiao Wu's shoulder and asked softly.
After a long silence, Xiao Wu finally made up her mind. "Why did you go out of your way to tell me that Heaven Dou Royal Academy has three Soul Douluos?"
Tang Yin didn't answer.
He simply cupped Xiao Wu's cheeks and quietly met her pink gaze.
Moonlight spilled across the window of Rose Heaven, stretching their shadows into a soft, lingering embrace.
Xiao Wu lowered her head slightly, her hands clenched together so tightly that her knuckles turned faintly white.
Usually so lively and bouncy, she now trembled with caution in every breath.
"Tang Yin... I... I have something to confess to you."
Xiao Wu raised her head. Her clear pink eyes glistened with tears, filled with both apprehension and the resolve to burn her bridges behind her.
"I'm not a normal human Soul Master. I'm a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit who transformed into a human."
The instant the words left her lips,
Xiao Wu closed her eyes, not daring to look at Tang Yin's expression.
She was afraid of seeing disgust, afraid of seeing fear, and even more afraid of watching Tang Yin turn and leave.
She had guarded this secret for so long...
She had staked all her trust on him, yet feared she would lose everything.
But the distance she had expected never came.
A warm embrace settled gently around her, and that familiar feeling returned.
Tang Yin held Xiao Wu's delicate body close. His gaze was tender, and there was not the slightest hint of surprise in his eyes—only boundless affection and heartache for her.
Xiao Wu's eyes flew open.
Tang Yin slowly released Xiao Wu and met her gaze tenderly. His voice was gentle and calm. "I know."
Those three words flowed through Xiao Wu like a warm current, instantly shattering every last one of her defenses.
Tears rolled down Xiao Wu's cheeks without warning. Her voice choked. "Y-you knew all along? When did you find out? Why didn't you... call me out?"
Tang Yin gently wiped away the tears at the corner of Xiao Wu's eye. His voice was tender and certain. "I didn't call you out because I knew you were afraid. I wanted to wait until you told me yourself, until you were truly ready to trust me."
Xiao Wu went completely rigid. Her tears fell even harder, but not from sorrow—from being moved.
"If you already knew, then why did you still... still agree to be with me...?"
"D-doesn't it bother you?"
"And I'm a transformed Soul Beast, not a human... What if someone finds out? What if I put you in danger...?"
"All I know is that you're my girlfriend, and the girl I've decided to protect. That's all." Tang Yin chuckled softly and drew Xiao Wu tightly into his arms.
Xiao Wu could hold back no longer. She burst into tears, wrapping both arms around Tang Yin's waist and burying her face in his chest. "Tang Yin, why are you so good to me?"
For so long, she had carried this secret alone, hiding her unease...
At that moment, she finally let it all go.
Tang Yin gently patted Xiao Wu's back, his heart surging with emotion.
At last...
Xiao Wu was finally willing to confess everything to him.
"There, there. Don't cry, or you'll get ugly." Tang Yin lowered his head and kissed the crown of Xiao Wu's head.
The moonlight was gentle, and the evening breeze stirred softly.
They held each other tightly, as if they wanted to merge into one another's lives.
All the secrecy, apprehension, and worry vanished in that moment.
"Mom, I found the person you told me about," Xiao Wu said in her heart.
As their feelings reached their deepest point, the dance began.
Next door,
Ning Rongrong was lost in a sweet dream, clutching a pillow in her arms and drooling.
"Tang Yin, don't..."
The next day, the sun was already high in the sky.
Ning Rongrong sat up lazily and scratched her somewhat tousled hair.
Only after seeing where she was did she realize that everything from last night had just been a dream. "What a shame..."
Then she got out of bed, took a bath, and tidied herself up.
Before long,
Ning Rongrong left her room and arrived outside the door of Rose Heaven.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Tang Yin, Xiao Wu, are you up?"
Inside,
Tang Yin and Xiao Wu were holding each other tightly, as if they wanted to merge into one another.
"Who's calling for us outside...?" Xiao Wu mumbled softly.
Tang Yin slowly opened his eyes. The knocking and faint calls sounded at his ear again. "It sounds like Rongrong. I'll go see. You rest a little longer."
Xiao Wu opened one eye to a narrow slit and gave a small nod. "Come back soon."
Tang Yin kissed Xiao Wu's forehead, gently pulled away, and got up to get dressed.
A sudden emptiness washed over Xiao Wu, and her little face instantly turned crimson.
"Click!"
Tang Yin appeared before Ning Rongrong wearing nothing but his pajamas.
"Tang Yin!"
Ning Rongrong was about to say something when she noticed Tang Yin was still in his pajamas. She couldn't help asking in surprise, "You and Xiao Wu are still sleeping?"
Tang Yin awkwardly scratched his head. "We've been busy for a few days, so Xiao Wu's a little tired."
Ning Rongrong nodded. "In that case, I'll ask the waiter to bring breakfast to your room."
Tang Yin thought for a moment, then smiled. "Thanks. Xiao Wu and I won't be coming out for a while yet, so you can wait for us in your room."
Ning Rongrong pointed behind Tang Yin and asked, "Can't I come in and wait for you?"
"Uh... I'd better say no," Tang Yin replied with an awkward smile, looking troubled.
Ning Rongrong looked a little disappointed. "Well... I won't disturb you while you're resting, then. I'll go back to my room."
"All right. We'll come find you in a little while," Tang Yin said with a smile.
Ning Rongrong nodded lightly and turned to leave.
Tang Yin let out a long breath of relief, then shut the door firmly and returned to Xiao Wu's side.
Xiao Wu nestled against Tang Yin once again, enjoying the bliss of the moment.
Tang Yin's heartbeat couldn't help but quicken.
He lowered his head slightly and gently kissed Xiao Wu's soft, pink lips.
Xiao Wu gently returned the kiss.
The two of them kissed back and forth.
It wasn't until noon that Tang Yin finally left the room alone. As for Xiao Wu, she didn't even want to get out of bed.
She'd even eaten breakfast in bed.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Rongrong, it's me, Tang Yin!"
Tang Yin called out.
"Click!"
Three seconds later, Ning Rongrong opened the door, greeting him with a smile. "Oh? Where's Xiao Wu?"
Tang Yin gave an awkward smile. "Xiao Wu likes to sleep in. There's nothing much to do anyway, so I let her rest a little longer."
"Mm... Don't just stand in the doorway. Come in and talk." Ning Rongrong pulled Tang Yin into the room.
"Tang Yin, what are your plans from here? Can you tell me? After all, I'm your and Xiao Wu's companion now, too, aren't I?"
Ning Rongrong held out a cup of tea to Tang Yin, then gracefully sat down beside him.
Her posture was poised and elegant, and her bearing shone through.
Especially her smile, gentle as a spring breeze, which made anyone who saw it feel refreshed and happy.
"All right."
Tang Yin agreed.