The morning in the Danta guest courtyard was woken by Zi Yan's cry of surprise.
"Xiao Fan!"
"Xiao Fan! Where are the Sugar Pills Sister Medusa gave me?"
The girl's voice carried over from the next room, muddled with the haze of just waking up and the panic of discovering her treasure was gone. The next instant, she pushed the door open and stood in the doorway hugging a pillow, several strands of her long purple hair sticking up, but her eyes startlingly bright.
Xiao Fan was sitting by the table, sorting through the name lists sent over yesterday by the Danta Branch Tower. Hearing her, he looked up.
"On the table."
Zi Yan immediately turned her head. When she saw the small packet of medicinal Sugar Pills tied with purple thread at the corner of the table, her whole spirit returned.
She pounced over swiftly and clutched the Sugar Pills to her chest as if she were holding some priceless treasure.
"Sister Medusa is so nice!"
Seeing how thoroughly she had been bought off by a few Sugar Pills, Xiao Fan could not help saying, "You really trust her."
Zi Yan lifted her head, perfectly confident.
"Of course. Sister Medusa wouldn't hurt me."
Deep within the Heart Seal, Xiao Xiao Yan lazily added, "And she gives Sugar Pills."
Zi Yan nodded solemnly. "Right, and she gives Sugar Pills."
Xiao Fan had nothing to say to that.
Xiao Yi Xian walked in from outside the courtyard, carrying a cup of warm tea. She clearly had not slept long the night before either. Her long silver-white hair was tied back with a plain ribbon, and the morning light fell across the side of her face, making that cool detachment look much softer.
She set the tea beside Xiao Fan and swept