Plenty of people came and went near the corridor.
Taking advantage of their spot in the shadows, Ding Ding gripped Little Bai's chin and bit down, utterly forceful.
Bai Congming could not dodge, nor did he want to. Only when he heard footsteps did his heart give a fierce, uncontrollable thump for no reason he understood.
After a long while, Ding Ding let him go and buried his head against his stomach, hearing it gurgle inside.
"You ate so much..." Ding Ding chuckled, his voice muffled. "Thank you, Little Bai."
"You're welcome!" Bai Congming stroked his head. "Brother Ding, are you done looking?"
"Hmm?" Ding Ding brought the firefly before his eyes and stared hard at it twice. "I'm done."
"All done!"
Bai Congming took the bottle back, opened the lid, and tipped out the listless insect, murmuring all the while.
Ding Ding leaned closer to listen, and each whispered word traveled from his ears into his heart.
"Sorry, bug. Brother Ding's done looking. You can go now!"
"You're so pretty. Otherwise, I wouldn't have shown you to Brother Ding!"
"Fly away! Fly away!"
"..."
Weakened by the lack of oxygen, the firefly circled twice where it was, then wobbled away toward the woods.
Ding Ding had his eyes closed, yet he felt his field of vision open up. That little trace of gloom vanished, replaced by an entire oasis.
Everyone said an oasis in the desert was the most precious, its scenery carrying the hope of survival against all odds.
Yet people seemed to have overlooked something: an oasis was an oasis, and it was precious wherever it was.
"Thank you, Little Bai," Ding Ding said again. "So beautiful..."
It was unclear whether that sigh referred to the firefly or the person who had brought it to him.
After