Even though she had already prepared herself mentally, seeing this scene still made her a little anxious.
“Um… you two are back?”
Not knowing what to say, Vivi spoke a little awkwardly.
When the little girl walked in from outside, both of them turned their eyes to her.
Especially Wu Menghan, whose gaze seemed as if she wanted to see right through Vivi.
Vivi shivered slightly, feeling guilty as she avoided Wu Menghan’s eyes.
“Vivi, where did you run off to?”
Xia Xiaoling, on the other hand, didn’t think much of it, just felt a little confused and worried.
After all, Vivi had a history of running away from home, so she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Vivi’s voice was tiny. Though she had expected to face this, she really couldn’t come up with a good excuse.
After thinking for a moment, she used her slime to create a pink Little Bear Plush behind her.
“I remembered I left something outside, so I went out to look for it.”
Vivi seemed a little embarrassed as she took out the little plush from behind her.
Xia Xiaoling didn’t think anything was off, but Wu Menghan still felt that Vivi was hiding something from them.
She opened her mouth, but thinking about how distant she was from her, in the end she didn’t say anything.
It counted as getting through, which made Vivi let out a sigh of relief.
After changing into slippers, Vivi feigned curiosity and asked a question.
“Um, Sister Wu Menghan, why did you come over today?”
Her cheeks flushed slightly. Calling her own little sister “Sister” still felt a little strange to her.
“Oh, it’s nothing, just that something came up at home, so I’ll be staying here for the night.”
Wu Menghan glossed over the details, all the while watching Vivi’s little expressions.
She was a bit suspicious that Vivi was the little girl who had helped her before.
But she didn’t have solid evidence, so she just kept the suspicion in her heart.
“Oh, I see.”
Vivi nodded obediently, her silly and cute demeanor not showing anything strange.
Wu Menghan sighed helplessly, thinking she must be overthinking.
“By the way, Sister Xia, where is Sister Wu Menghan going to sleep? Looks like there isn’t an extra bed.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Xiaoling looked at Wu Menghan. That was indeed a problem. She was a guest, after all, so she couldn’t let her sleep on the sofa.
After frowning in thought for a moment, she finally spoke.
“She can sleep in my room, I’ll just take the sofa.”
“Teacher Xia, how can that be!”
Wu Menghan shook her head, refusing. She was just here for a night, there was no way she could let Teacher Xia sleep on the sofa.
Vivi was too small, she couldn’t bear the thought of her sleeping on the sofa either.
For a moment, the two were at a standstill.
Vivi looked left and right, then timidly raised her hand.
“Um… let me sleep on the sofa. I’m small, I don’t mind it at all.”
“No!”
Two voices rang out at once, scaring Vivi into unconsciously taking a step back.
“Vivi, you’re so little, how could we let you sleep on the sofa?”
Wu Menghan didn’t say anything, but the expression on her face clearly agreed with Xia Xiaoling’s opinion.
“Then what should we do? If you’re worried, I’ll just sleep on the floor.”
As she spoke, Vivi turned to fetch her quilt, but Wu Menghan grabbed her by the collar.
She was lifted up by Wu Menghan, her limbs flailing helplessly in the air.
“Why don’t I just sleep with Vivi?”
Wu Menghan looked at Xia Xiaoling, her eyes full of hope.
Xia Xiaoling hesitated. Vivi had always been rather afraid of Wu Menghan, so having the two sleep together— the little girl probably wouldn’t agree.
But… from the look in Wu Menghan’s eyes, it was obvious she wanted to talk to her alone.
“Alright, you’ll stay in Vivi’s room tonight, I’ll tidy it up for you.”
With that, Xia Xiaoling left, completely ignoring the wide-eyed Vivi.
She was a boy, even though now she’d become a little girl, even though that was her own little sister.
But sleeping in the same bed as a girl— how could she accept that!
“Sister Xia! Sister Xia! Let me sleep on the floor, I…”
There was no reply from Xia Xiaoling. The only response she got was Wu Menghan’s bright, shining eyes.
Vivi instantly deflated, not daring to meet Wu Menghan’s gaze, afraid she might see through her.
“Vivi, do you dislike me?”
Out of nowhere, Wu Menghan said this.
Vivi froze, a thin layer of cold sweat seeping from her forehead.
“How… how could I, Sister Wu Menghan is so pretty, how could I possibly dislike you.”
“Then… why don’t you want to sleep with me?”
“Um… I-I’ve always slept alone since I was little, so… so sharing with someone else, I’m just not used to it.”
“Oh~ so that’s how it is~”
Wu Menghan narrowed her eyes, giving Vivi a meaningful look. She didn’t pursue the matter, just gently put Vivi down.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Vivi darted into the room, wanting to stop Xia Xiaoling.
Wu Menghan stood where she was, watching Vivi’s retreating back thoughtfully.
Some of her little gestures were just like her brother’s, but in many ways, not at all like him.
Wu Menghan sighed. Was her guess really wrong?
She looked down at her hands. According to the intel from Irena, her brother had most likely turned into a slime girl.
If that was the case, she just needed to test if Vivi was a slime girl.
With that thought, Wu Menghan’s resolve returned.
At the very least, she had to try, so she could finally be at ease.
Vivi’s attempt to stop Xia Xiaoling proved fruitless.
To prevent her from sneaking off to sleep on the floor, Xia Xiaoling had intentionally put the spare quilts on a high shelf, out of Vivi’s reach.
Now, the little girl was truly out of options.
She couldn’t possibly transform into a slime girl in front of them just to fetch the quilts.
Lying despondently in the corner of the big bed, Vivi wrapped herself in her own quilt, her eyes empty and lifeless.
When she was younger, she’d been honest with her sister, but that was back when they were kids.
As someone obsessed with her little sister, she suddenly felt dirty now.
As a big brother, she actually had to sleep in the same bed as her own little sister.
Even though…even though there was nothing she could do now…
While Vivi was lost in wild thoughts, Wu Menghan came in.
Seeing the little girl curled up in a ball, Wu Menghan paused.
Her pitiful look tugged at Wu Menghan’s heartstrings, and a strange sense of protectiveness welled up from deep inside.
She took a few steps to the bedside, gazing at the little girl, and couldn’t help but reach out to touch her.
But then, remembering Vivi’s attitude toward her, she withdrew her hand, an awkward smile on her face.
“Sister, is it okay if I call you that?”
Vivi didn’t really react, just glanced at Wu Menghan and scooted further in.
Wu Menghan sighed helplessly, took off her shoes, and sat down next to Vivi.
“Can you tell me why you’re afraid of me?”