Fang Cheng asked, puzzled, "Why not?"
Kanzaki Rin glanced at the tightly closed door and whispered, "Because there are scary monsters outside..."
"Don't be afraid."
Fang Cheng flexed his muscles. "Your big brother already beat their heads in. You're safe."
Kanzaki Rin lowered her head and said nothing, clearly not believing a word he said.
Fang Cheng tried to persuade her a few more times, but she still refused to come out. When he pushed too hard, her little mouth drooped and she immediately started bawling.
Fang Cheng was at his wits' end. He really had no idea how to comfort a child. How could someone so decisive and straightforward when grown up be so difficult as a little girl?
After thinking it over, he decided he needed to earn Kanzaki Rin's trust before he could take her away.
"Rin-chan, how about I tell you a story? Have you heard of Snow White?"
Fang Cheng did his best to recall the fairy tales and began telling one to Kanzaki Rin in a dry, halting voice.
But after listening for a while, she showed no reaction at all.
Fang Cheng felt a little discouraged. This was more exhausting than fighting a female ghost. "What, don't you like these stories?"
Kanzaki Rin poked half her head out and muttered, "Mommy's already told me all those stories."
Fang Cheng: (_)
"And Mommy tells them better than you."
Fang Cheng: ()
"And you got some parts wrong, too."
Fang Cheng: (皿)
As she spoke, Kanzaki Rin's eyes reddened again. She began to cry like a child who'd been abandoned. "I miss Mommy. Where are you?"
"Wait!"
Fang Cheng suddenly shouted, cutting off Kanzaki Rin's sobs. With two trails of tears on her cheeks, she stared at him blankly.
"You might have heard of Snow