The girl who had just single-handedly killed two high-ranking vampire nobles in an instant, cowing every vampire present, was now sobbing in Dick's arms.
She was like a child who had suffered a terrible fright and a great injustice, heedlessly pouring out all the fear pent up inside her.
No one knew how terrified she had been when she saw Dick held captive in Pandora's grasp.
It was as if ice from the depths of the sea had frozen her heart solid, almost suffocating her.
She had feared she was a step too late, that her family was already dead; feared the transformation was complete and she would never see his gentle face again; feared that all her desperate efforts to reach him would come to nothing.
"Mm..."
A faint, stifled sob slipped unexpectedly from her throat.
Scalding tears fell one after another, flowing so fiercely she could not stop them.
"There, there. It's all right... I'm fine... Sweet Little Fish, don't be scared..."
Dick tightened his arms, gathering her fully against him. His palm stroked her trembling back again and again, his touch impossibly gentle, his voice low and tender.
"It's all right, Miaomiao. It's all right..."
"I'm here. I'm right here..."
"I'm sorry I scared you so badly. It's my fault..."
"I'm fine. Nothing's wrong... It's all over now..."
"Look, your tears are rolling everywhere. I don't have a box to collect them in today..."
But even his usually foolproof teasing failed today. Miaomiao kept sobbing, unable to stop.
Dick sighed helplessly and lifted his head slightly, meeting a pair of eyes filled with complicated emotions.
Lingering fear, regret, relief, and...
Envy?
It was Melinda.
What was she relieved about? And what was she... envious of?
Dick looked down at Miaomiao, still sobbing in his arms. Envious...
*Of