After rummaging through the grass for her phone and stumbling back home in a sorry state, Vivi finally remembered that she didn’t have the key to Xia Xiaoling’s house.
She crouched down at her own doorstep and waited for a while, but it was clear this wasn’t a real solution.
Vivi propped her chin up with both hands, her slender fingers crossing over her cherry-red lips, hiding half her face.
Such an adorable appearance, anyone would feel sorry for her.
She had no idea how cute she looked, just squatting there for a long time.
When her legs started to go numb, she finally stood up and glanced at the time.
14:11. Still a long wait ahead.
Once school let out, she’d go find Wu Menghan, and think of a way to keep her at Xia Xiaoling’s place.
Vivi lowered her gaze, deep in thought. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
She looked at her hands, and an ingenious idea popped into her mind.
***
Evening, after school.
Wu Menghan walked with her head down, her mind still replaying the image of that little one she’d seen in the morning.
Her mental state was poor now, dark circles heavy under her eyes.
Worry, anxiety, and unease wrapped around her heart, and her longing for her brother had reached its peak.
While waiting for the bus by the roadside, she took out her phone. Seeing that familiar contact, her eyes turned red.
Even though she knew that account would never log in again, she couldn’t help but type a message.
She wrote a lot, deleting and writing again and again, so much that she didn’t even notice when a sedan pulled up beside her.
Xia Xiaoling rolled down the car window, looking at Wu Menghan’s exhausted face, feeling a pang of heartache.
But she didn’t disturb the girl, just watched quietly from nearby.
A long string of text was written and deleted, written and deleted, until it all turned into a single sentence.
“Brother, where are you? I miss you…”
He was her only family, always looking after her, playing with her, making her laugh.
Maybe because of the wounds in their family, their bond was far closer than that of ordinary siblings.
Now her support was gone, and she felt lost, scared, at a complete loss.
Her thoughts were in a jumble. She looked up to check if the bus was coming, only to see a familiar sedan.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Xia Xiaoling’s gentle voice came first.
“Get in. I’ll take you home.”
“Xia… Xia Teacher, I really don’t want to trouble you…”
“It’s nothing. Just a quick drive.”
Xia Xiaoling paused.
“Still thinking about your brother?”
Wu Menghan nodded silently, looking so pitiful it made one’s heart ache.
Xia Xiaoling sighed, beckoning Wu Menghan with her hand.
“Come on, get in. If I keep waiting, they’ll dock my pay for parking fines.”
On the road, Wu Menghan sat in the passenger seat, barely saying a word.
Seeing her so silent, Xia Xiaoling wanted to comfort her, but didn’t know how.
When it came to her brother’s situation, there was nothing she could do.
Come to think of it, her brother’s name sounded familiar. Wasn’t it the same as a classmate of hers from middle school?
Thinking this, she tentatively asked, “Wu Menghan, is your brother’s name Wu Ren?”
There wasn’t much response—just a nod.
“Sigh, I remember my middle school classmate was also named Wu Ren.”
At these words, Wu Menghan finally reacted.
She looked up, her eyes burning with intensity.
Noticing the girl’s movement beside her, Xia Xiaoling smiled gently, recalling some old memories.
“He was a pretty good person, just a bit shy.”
“Come to think of it, his personality was quite similar to your brother’s.”
Wu Menghan tilted her head, frowned in thought, then hesitantly asked, “Teacher Xia, can you still contact him?”
“Hmm, it’s been so long… I probably don’t have his contact information anymore.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Wu Menghan’s head drooped in dejection, but out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught a glimpse of something pink.
“Teacher Xia!”
The sudden shout startled Xia Xiaoling.
Before she could ask anything, Wu Menghan cried out anxiously, “Stop! Stop the car! There was something there just now.”
Xia Xiaoling, confused, still pulled over by the curb.
“What is it, Wu Menghan?”
Before the words were out of her mouth, Wu Menghan had already unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and rushed out.
Seeing this, Xia Xiaoling also got out of the car in confusion, only to spot, not far away at the corner, a puddle of pink liquid.
Wu Menghan moved with astonishing speed. As she stood before that pink liquid, she could already feel the powerful magic contained within it.
Her body instinctively retreated, every hair standing on end.
Just then, a drop of pink liquid splashed right where she had been standing a moment before.
Looking up, she saw a tall figure hanging upside down from the balcony—a familiar silhouette.
It was Eno!
“Teacher Xia! Don’t come over!”
Wu Menghan shouted urgently, drawing mana from the air to form a simple shield around herself.
Xia Xiaoling froze in her tracks, also noticing the figure under the balcony, her scalp tingling.
Eno watched them with great interest, a wicked smile playing on her lips.
“Oh my, I didn’t expect to reel in such a big fish today.”
“Irena must’ve taught you magic by now, right? You really are talented. How about joining us Slime Maidens?”
Her sweet, lovely voice should have been comforting, but instead, it sent chills down their spines.
Wu Menghan was in no mood for wordplay. She immediately pulled out her phone to call the police.
Noticing this, a trace of displeasure flickered across Eno’s face.
She’d recovered some strength lately, but when it came to facing the weapons of this world, she was still at a disadvantage.
She couldn’t let this girl call the police!
Sensing the oncoming danger, Wu Menghan instinctively stepped back—another splash of viscous liquid narrowly missing her.
This made Eno furious. She leapt down from the balcony, landing squarely on the ground and fixing her gaze on Wu Menghan.
“Not bad, little one. Nice reflexes.”
Though she was smiling, there was no warmth in her expression; instead, she radiated a chilling aura.
“Heh, you’re the one who turned my brother into a Slime Maiden, aren’t you.”
Wu Menghan lifted her eyes, her gaze icy cold, just as her call finally connected.
“Hello, this is Old Town Yongxin Street, I’m Wu Menghan, I’ve encountered Eno.”
Her words were quick, and the response from the other end was just as swift.
Eno was growing desperate now, sending wave after wave of pink goo at her.
Wu Menghan tried to dodge, then suddenly remembered something. She turned and grabbed Xia Xiaoling’s hand.
“Teacher Xia, be careful not to get hit.”
Xia Xiaoling was still confused, not understanding what was happening, but instinctively followed Wu Menghan as they ran back toward the car.
At the same time, a small figure darted out from the other side of the street, just in time to witness the scene unfolding.
Whether it was fate, or simply a mysterious bond with Eno—
The moment she appeared, Eno immediately locked onto her position.