"What are you doing?"
Dongfang Minghui's wildly pounding little heart skipped a beat. She instinctively turned and saw that Qian Zhuoyin had appeared behind her without a sound, though she had no idea when. Perhaps it was her imagination, or perhaps it was the dim evening light, but Qian Zhuoyin's features, so much like Qian Zhuoqian's, looked particularly gloomy, as though she were unhappy. "Zhuo... Zhuoyin."
Qian Zhuoyin walked past her and roughly scooped up Little Light, who was digging a hole.
Little Light yowled twice and struggled fiercely, its Light-Type Energy Barrier instantly dissipating.
"Ming Hui, is this your spirit pet?"
"Yes."
Seeing that Little Light was almost falling out of Qian Zhuoyin's hands as it struggled, Dongfang Minghui hurriedly snatched it back into her arms. Her heart beat like a drum, thump, thump, thump. "Sorry, Little Light is rather playful. Whenever it sees something new, it gets curious. Zhuo Yin, are you... all right?"
Qian Zhuoyin reached out to stroke Little Light's furry back, her eyes narrowing. There was no telling what she was thinking.
The atmosphere grew a little awkward. After those few moments, however, Dongfang Minghui no longer felt so flustered. She said pointedly, "The last time I came looking for you, I noticed that the plants in your courtyard were almost withered, their roots dying. Do you need someone to bring in a new batch?"
Qian Zhuoyin silently glanced at her, then went straight back into the house.
Dongfang Minghui was wondering what she had gone to do, unsure whether to stay or leave, when Qian Zhuoyin came back out with some moonstones and placed them in various corners. Soon, the courtyard was much brighter. "After Eldest Sister left, Father fell ill, and no one paid any attention to my courtyard anymore. I haven't had