Creak∼
The restaurant door slowly closed. Teacher Xia let out a helpless sigh and sat back down in her seat.
“What’s the matter?”
Vivi asked curiously.
“It’s just work stuff, nothing to worry about.
“Oh~”
Vivi nodded, noticing that she wasn’t in a great mood, so she didn’t say anything further.
With her chin resting on one hand, Teacher Xia looked at Vivi’s well-behaved appearance. A strange sense of familiarity welled up in her heart—perhaps this was fate.
She glanced at the time on her phone, thinking that letting Vivi go on like this wasn’t the solution.
“Little sister, how about I take you to see the police officers?”
“Hmm?”
Vivi froze for a moment, then looked at her fair little hands and shook her head desperately.
She wasn’t human anymore, even if she didn’t look much different from an ordinary little girl.
But she couldn’t hide it forever. What if the police investigated and discovered something about Slime Girls…
The more Vivi thought about it, the more certain she was that she couldn’t go to the police station.
“Little sister, the police officers are good people. They’ll help you.”
Teacher Xia tried to persuade her gently. She wanted to be firm, but her natural tenderness made it hard to say anything harsh.
Vivi still shook her little head.
“Xia… big sister, I really don’t need that. Thank you for this meal, I’ll remember your kindness.”
As she finished speaking, Vivi tried to get up and leave, but Teacher Xia stopped her and pulled her into a hug.
Feeling the warmth radiating from Teacher Xia’s body, Vivi’s cheeks turned bright red. She tried to struggle, but found that Teacher Xia was holding her very tightly.
“Listen to big sister, okay?”
A gentle breeze brushed past her ear, carrying a soft and caring voice.
Vivi instantly felt her scalp tingle and couldn’t find her strength.
“Big sister, I really don’t need it. I can manage on my own…”
Teacher Xia’s eyes lowered as she gently stroked Vivi’s smooth hair, whispering softly.
“How about this—why don’t you stay at my place for a few days? I’ll help you think of something.”
Seeing how persistent Teacher Xia was, Vivi could only nod, reluctantly agreeing to her request.
Teacher Xia smiled, but still didn’t let go.
That sense of familiarity grew stronger, though she couldn’t find any reason for it. She could only attribute it all to fate.
Carrying Vivi, Teacher Xia left the small restaurant and called Wu Menghan.
Not long after, the call connected, and Wu Menghan’s hoarse voice came through.
“Hello?”
The moment the voice rang out, Vivi’s body trembled sharply.
She looked around instinctively, but saw no familiar figure.
Turning her head, she realized it was the sound from the phone.
“Menghan, why didn’t you come to school today?”
“Oh, Teacher Xia, I had something to do and couldn’t make it today.”
It was her sister, her own sister’s voice.
Vivi was now completely sure who the voice belonged to, though now it sounded much more weary and sorrowful than before.
Her heart tightened slightly, and for a moment she had the urge to grab the phone, but she forced herself not to.
Looking at her own pale, round hands, her eyes reddened.
How could she reunite with her sister like this? She was no longer… human.
An indescribable bitterness filled her heart, but the conversation continued in her ear.
“What happened, can you tell me?”
It seemed like the line had jammed. There was a faint sound of sobbing, and after a long while, a voice finally spoke.
“Teacher, my brother…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence, leaving only a long silence.
After a moment, she spoke again, her voice distant.
“Teacher, it’s so hard to keep living. I want to go see my brother.”
That statement was like a bombshell. Teacher Xia had just started her job—not long after joining, and this was her first class.
If something like this happened, she might never get to be a teacher again.
She thought for a moment and guessed at Wu Menghan’s situation, her voice urgent.
“Don’t do anything rash, where are you now? I’ll come find you.”
“Alright, just stay where you are, I’ll be there soon.”
Not daring to delay any longer, Teacher Xia held Vivi tightly and flagged down a taxi right then and there.
Vivi’s heart was in a frenzy—this was her only family left. Nothing could happen to her.
The two rushed to the entrance of the old residential complex. The security guard at the gate was momentarily surprised to see them.
His gaze landed on Vivi, then flicked to Teacher Xia, and all his doubts vanished instantly.
“Teacher Xia, are you here to see Wu Menghan?”
“Hmm? How did you know?”
The security guard smiled and looked at Vivi. He was about to say something, but saw the anxious look on Teacher Xia’s face.
“Uncle, I’m in a hurry, could you open the door for me?”
“Oh, of course, of course.”
Without wasting a second, Teacher Xia and Vivi arrived at Building Nine, Unit Two.
“Little sister, wait here for big sister. I’ll be back soon.”
Setting Vivi down, she turned to go upstairs, but heard a soft, milky voice from behind.
“I want to go with you!”
Teacher Xia smiled and said nothing.
The two of them stood in front of the security door as Teacher Xia raised her hand and knocked.
Soon, there was a sound from inside, and the door was slowly opened.
“Teacher Xia…”
Wu Menghan’s eyes were red, her hair was a mess, and her clothes were a bit disheveled—she looked as if she’d aged ten years overnight.
Seeing her like this, both Teacher Xia and Vivi were stunned.
“Wu Menghan, you…”
“Teacher, come in.”
She stepped aside, catching sight of the small Vivi behind Teacher Xia.
So tiny, with chubby cheeks—extremely cute.
Something seemed to stab at Wu Menghan’s heart as she stared dumbly at the little loli.
Vivi stared back at her with wide eyes, feeling miserable inside.
She opened her mouth, unconsciously uttering that sound.
By the time she realized it, Wu Menghan had already heard her.
Wu Menghan looked at her curiously, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Vivi suddenly felt immense pressure and quickly corrected herself.
“Are you alright? Sis…sis…”
Calling her own little sister “big sister”—this was a first, and she felt like her toes could curl out a whole three-bedroom apartment.
“Oh, I’m fine.”
Wu Menghan forced a smile, reaching out to pat Vivi’s head, but Vivi dodged nimbly.
The expression on her face froze—this movement, that look, was just like someone she knew.
Every action, every glance, was as if they’d been carved from the same mold as her brother.
She remembered what the security guard had said that morning.
A little girl had brought her vegetables, all the ones she liked to eat.
It was hard not to overthink it, but even she had to laugh at her own thoughts.
How could that possibly be true?
Had she missed her brother so much that she’d start thinking a little girl was him?
She laughed at herself and looked at the timid Vivi. The grief in her heart seemed to lessen a bit.