Night deepened, and before they knew it, it was past nine.
"Sister Wanyin, I'll take Little Cicada and the Class Monitor home first, then come back later to go to the shop with you," Chen Shi'an called toward the kitchen. "Okay, stay safe on the way."
Li Wanyin's voice came through the sound of running water. She also said she was planning to make some sweet soup for everyone, but since Zhizhi and Meng Qiu were going home, she would just make enough for two people and a cat.
They had barely stepped out of the building before Wen Zhixia eagerly climbed onto Chen Shi'an's back.
"Taoist-carry me home!"
"×××!"
"Aren't we riding back?"
"No! You still owe me two and a half round trips! Your punishment is to carry me. Hurry up~!"
Wen Zhixia urged him on with perfect confidence. Chen Shi'an smiled helplessly, slipped his arms beneath her soft knees, and hoisted her securely onto his back. The evening breeze carried a chill, but lying against the boy's broad back, Wen Zhixia felt nothing but warmth.
Unfortunately, home was a little too close. With the Ice Block Spirit nagging annoyingly beside them, Wen Zhixia had already been carried downstairs by the Taoist before she could properly enjoy it.
"All right, get down."
"Carry me a little longer... This trip was such a rip-off! It was so short, it doesn't count as a round trip! Taoist, you still owe me 2.25 trips!"
"You can calculate it like that?"
"u's"
Never mind Chen Shi'an being stunned-even Lin Meng Qiu found it an eye-opener...
"Carry me a little longer."
"Younger Maternal Aunt is watching upstairs," Chen Shi'an reminded her quietly.
"..?I"
Only then did Wen Zhixia finally look up. Sure enough, she spotted Younger Maternal Aunt hanging laundry on the brightly