There was just a bit of cleanup left when Yang Xia, standing next to Qianling, had already started looking down to check.
“Looks like you’re actually somewhat useful. I was worried you might crush the dishes.”
“You make me sound too clumsy. Sure, I’m a combat automaton, but I’m the nimble type.”
While washing the dishes, Qianling glanced sideways at Yang Xia and noticed that even though she wasn’t saying anything, her squinted eyes and slightly parted lips seemed to let out a silent “Huh?”
Although this kind of reaction made Qianling a little annoyed, she felt that something important had to be explained clearly here.
“I don’t care what you all think of me, but like I said before, there are still my ‘sisters’ in this town. If you encounter them, don’t let your guard down.”
Her attitude suddenly turned serious, making Yang Xia instantly feel at a loss.
“…Oh. I, I haven’t forgotten what you said before…”
Her voice grew weaker, and her gaze started to wander.
Just like a child being gently reminded after making a mistake.
Yang Mo, however, started thinking seriously because of Qianling’s words.
Right now, she had nothing else to do and was simply waiting for Qianling to finish putting the dishes away in the cabinet.
Listening to the conversation between the other two, she stroked her chin and said, “Qianling’s sisters, huh? They might be tough to deal with. After all, Qianling’s always so elusive—like today at noon, she just suddenly appeared at the school.”
This was something Yang Xia hadn’t known from the previous conversations.
She sighed first, then said to Qianling with a touch of amazement, “You even managed to sneak into the school. I don’t know if I should call you brave or just reckless…”
“But this should be enough to convince you, right? Stealth missions are what I do best.”
“Fine, fine, I believe you, okay?”
Though Yang Xia still wore an unwilling look, at least she now seemed to understand.
Qianling couldn’t help but recall everything she’d done that day.
She’d fought off monsters, searched for her sisters, and even squeezed in a quick trip to the school.
Could anyone else pull that off? No matter how you look at it, only someone as “nimble” as me could do it!
Thinking this, she secretly resolved that if she ever had a chance to fight alongside Yang Xia, she’d be sure to show off her skills in front of her.
Meanwhile, her hands never stopped moving.
The last bowl was slipped into the cabinet, perfectly completing her task.
Yang Xia, watching her look so proud, felt a bit puzzled.
“You’re pretty good at washing dishes, no different from how we usually do it, but didn’t you say you had no experience with this stuff?”
“Well… that’s because I saw someone else doing it when I went out, so I remembered how.”
Qianling tossed out a casual excuse without turning around.
But in truth, she’d learned it before her reincarnation—one of the few household chores she ever did.
Back when her illness hadn’t worsened to the point where she needed to stay in the hospital long-term, there was a period when she desperately wanted to prove to her parents that they didn’t need to worry about her.
Once, when they went out to pick up medicine, Qianling washed the dishes at home.
But when they came back, the only expression they showed in front of her was fear.
They repeatedly asked Qianling if she felt unwell, and after that, forbade her from doing anything that required physical effort.
Was that the moment things started to change?
The scales shifted from “concern” to “trouble.”
Qianling had no way of knowing what her parents truly thought, but she still clearly remembered her own thoughts.
She just didn’t want to see those around her show sad expressions.
That feeling hadn’t changed even now.
After hearing Qianling’s answer, Yang Xia said, “Learning from scratch, you sure pick things up fast.”
Qianling thought she was being mocked.
But turning around, she saw a faintly lonely expression on Yang Xia’s face.
Yang Xia didn’t look at Qianling; instead, she gazed calmly into an empty spot nearby, then pulled out her phone and started fiddling with it.
“It’s about that time.”
Yang Xia closed her phone and announced her departure to Qianling and Yang Mo.
“I need to catch the last train, so I’ll be heading off now.”
“What’s the rush?”
Yang Mo was still a bit reluctant, but in truth, Yang Xia had stayed much longer than usual today.
“Don’t forget I spent all that time shopping with you today too.”
“All right…”
Yang Mo finally compromised.
Yang Xia picked up her jacket and backpack, and with the other two seeing her off, headed to the front door.
Just as Qianling was about to say goodbye after opening the door, Yang Xia beat her to it, waving her over.
“Qianling, come here a second. I want to talk to you. Yang Mo, no eavesdropping.”
“What, why so secretive?”
Yang Mo pouted.
But when Qianling looked back at her, she simply pressed her index fingers to her ears in silence.
Qianling couldn’t help but smile wryly, thinking: I guess that means she agrees.
She stepped forward to stand beside Yang Xia.
Yang Xia gestured for Qianling to stand next to her.
To match Qianling’s height, she bent down a little, put a hand on Qianling’s shoulder, and raised her other palm in front of her.
Everything looked like it was in preparation for a secret chat, yet Yang Xia hesitated with her first words.
Her gaze dropped, her cheeks reddened, and her mouth opened and closed several times.
After a bit of an internal struggle, she finally stammered:
“Um… I thought about it, and I feel kind of sorry toward you.”
“Why do you say that?”
Qianling tilted her head, feeling there was no reason for such guilt.
She thought of Yang Xia’s occasional harshness, but that was just the friction of mismatched personalities. There was really nothing to apologize for.
Yang Xia bit her lip and explained, “You said you learned even dishwashing from scratch. That made me realize—you really have no memories from before.”
“So?”
“So… well, I suddenly thought, maybe I’ve been too hard on you, when you’re actually trying your best to do what you can.”
Qianling finally understood why she’d shown that expression, but she had another question, so she asked Yang Xia:
“I get what you mean, but why keep this from Yang Mo?”
“Well… I still want to keep up a little bit of big-sister dignity in front of my little sister.”
Seeing Yang Xia’s awkward face as she answered, and remembering how Yang Mo usually treated her, Qianling couldn’t help but think that “big-sister dignity” had never really existed in the first place.
But Yang Xia’s earnest confession did make Qianling feel much more at ease.
She used to resent Yang Xia because of the original story—blaming her for not being there for Yang Mo when it mattered most.
But now, it seemed that a lot of Yang Xia’s actions could be explained by her straightforward, unreserved personality.
Come on, you can be honest with your feelings—so why not try just a little harder in front of your sister?
Qianling thought so, and also realized this was a good opportunity for her too—to finally say something she’d left unsaid.
So she told Yang Xia, “Anyway, I really didn’t mind. And don’t even mention apologizing—you two held this welcome party for me, so I just want to say—thank you. To you and Yang Mo.”
“Mm… no need to thank us. You always pop up with these serious lines—it’s embarrassing, you know.”
She couldn’t look Qianling in the eye, turning her face away and looking even more flustered than before.
Qianling smiled at her, “Haven’t I always been serious?”
Yang Xia’s face instantly became a picture of helpless amusement.
“Sure, sure, as long as you’re serious.” Then she said, “That’s all I wanted to say.”
She then turned and called back to Yang Mo, “All right, you can unplug your ears now!”
Yang Mo dropped her hands and hurried over to the two of them.
“You two aren’t deliberately keeping anything important from me, right?”
She stood with hands on her hips, wearing a grave expression, moving from Yang Xia to Qianling as if interrogating them.
“Relax, it was nothing important.”
Yang Xia replied nonchalantly, and Qianling echoed, “Mm.”
“If it’s nothing, then why keep it from me…”
Yang Mo grumbled, but her expression slowly softened.
Seeing she accepted it, Yang Xia began her formal farewell.
“Well then, until next time. Oh, and…”
She stopped mid-sentence, placed her palm on Yang Mo’s head, and ruffled her hair gently.
“Don’t forget what I said earlier—don’t just bring things home next time.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.”
Yang Mo answered as she swatted her hand away.
Yang Xia then turned to Qianling and said, “Qianling, watch over my sister for me when I’m not around.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Her reply sounded casual, but for Qianling, it was a top priority—there was no way she’d slack off.
Yang Xia, satisfied with the answer, turned and left.
Yang Mo was left calling after her retreating figure:
“What do you mean, ‘watch over me’? I can take care of myself!”
Yang Xia just turned around, smiled, and waved at them.
Qianling and Yang Mo stood at the door, watching her until her crimson hair disappeared into the dusk.
This scene felt like a small slice cut from an ordinary day.
But Qianling knew this was the first time she’d experienced such a life.
Maybe this time around… life would be more worth looking forward to than last time?
With that thought, she began to look forward to tomorrow.