Chapter 199


    "The room next door seems a bit damp. Why don''t you stay in the one next to the study instead?" Sheng Shuya suggested.


    Bai Ruoughed awkwardly, "Oh, right, I almost forgot about that."


    Yun Xiaoxiao nced at herzily and curved her lips into a slight smile.


    "Big sister, do you hate me?"


    Bai Ruo was startled, then quickly waved her hands, "No, no, how could I hate you?"


    This annoying kid, who asks people questions like that!


    Where are your manners?!


    "Oh~ really?" Yun Xiaoxiao said with a leisurely smile, "But from big sister''s expression, it seems like you really don''t like me."


    "Haha... not at all, you''re mistaken."


    Bai Ruo forced a smile, her expression stiff.


    Yun Xiaoxiao pursed her lips slightly, "If you say so."


    With that, she walked toward the end of the corridor.


    Trailing behind, Bai Ruo clenched her fists.


    This kid is so annoying!


    That night, Yun Xiaoxiao slept quite peacefully.


    The traditional courtyard house was very quiet, with a faint scent of sandalwood.


    As soon as oney down, it brought peace to the mind and spirit.


    However, in another room, Sheng Shuya was tossing and turning, unable to sleep well.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Sensing that the person beside him hadn''t fallen asleep, Bai Hongting turned to his side and asked with concern.


    "It''s nothing, maybe I had too much tea this afternoon."


    Sheng Shuya didn''t want to worry her husband, so she made up an excuse.


    But Bai Hongting, who knew his wife well, wasn''t so easily fooled.


    He gently embraced Sheng Shuya, "Is it because that little girl reminded you of Little Tomato?"


    Sheng Shuya was surprised and turned to look at him.


    "How did you..."


    "Want to know how I knew?" Bai Hongting chuckled softly.


    "Actually, from the moment you saw that little girl and had that expression, I knew you must have thought about what Little Tomato would look like grown up.


    When I saw that little girl, I also felt particrly close and familiar.


    At first, I didn''t know where this feeling came from.


    But aftering back and seeing you, I remembered that you looked quite simr to her at that age.


    Plus, she''s around the same age as our Little Tomato would be, so it''s natural that you would think of her."


    He and his wife both grew up in the militarypound, and they had been together since they were in diapers.


    Later, from kindergarten through elementary school, middle school, and high school, they attended the same schools.


    Except for the years when he was in the army, they had practically lived together from birth until now.


    Sometimes, even without his wife saying anything, he could guess what she was thinking just from a look in her eyes.


    "You''re right, when I saw Xiaoxiao today, I did think of our daughter."


    A trace of undisguised grief shed through Sheng Shuya''s eyes.


    "If I hadn''t fallen into aa after giving birth back then, would our daughter not have..."


    As she spoke, her voice began to choke up.


    Tears unconsciously rolled down her cheeks and onto Bai Hongting''s pajamas.


    Feeling the wetness, Bai Hongting''s heart tightened.


    He quickly patted Sheng Shuya''s shoulder gently, "Don''t think like that. It wasn''t your fault, it was an ident that no one wanted. Don''t me yourself.


    If anyone''s to me, it''s my fault.


    If I had been able to apany you to Rong City then, perhaps this wouldn''t have happened.


    If you need to me someone, me me.


    Please don''t put the me on yourself."


    He was really worried that his wife''s depression would resurface.


    "How could this be your fault? You had a mission at the time, it''s not like you deliberately chose not to apany me," Sheng Shuya said reproachfully.


    "Mm, then let''s not think about this anymore."


    "I really liked Xiaoxiao when I met her today. What do you think about making her our goddaughter?" Sheng Shuya looked up at Bai Hongting.


    Bai Hongting pursed his lips, "Mm, whatever you want."


    He also felt that he liked this little girl''s temperament.


    However...


    "I think we should talk to Ruo first about this, to avoid any misunderstandings."


    "Yes, we should discuss it with her first."


    ---


    The next day at breakfast, Bai Hongting had already prepared and ced all the crystal cores that Yun Xiaoxiao wanted on the table.


    Seeing the crystal cores, Yun Xiaoxiao''s appetite improved even more.


    "You''re leaving?"


    Sheng Shuya''s eyes wavered, looking uncertainly at Yun Xiaoxiao, with traces of sadness in her eyes.


    Yun Xiaoxiao replied matter-of-factly, "Yes."


    She came for the crystal cores, and now that she had them, of course she would leave.


    She was very, very busy.


    "But it''s dangerous outside, and you''re so young..."


    "Don''t worry, Auntie, I''m very capable."


    Sheng Shuya knew this, of course - her husband had told her that she had saved him.


    But still...


    She was just too young, and there were countless dangers outside.


    Besides the terrifying zombies, more importantly, there were evil people who would stop at nothing.


    She was so young and pure-hearted, how could she possibly deal with those malicious viins?


    "Um... would you like to stay? Your Uncle Bai and I would like to make you our goddaughter."


    Sheng Shuya spoke somewhat urgently.


    Originally, they had nned to speak with Bai Ruo privately after breakfast before asking Yun Xiaoxiao to be their goddaughter.


    But knowing that Yun Xiaoxiao was nning to leave, she felt inexplicably panicked.


    She feared that if she didn''t say these words now, Yun Xiaoxiao would truly disappear forever.


    She didn''t know where these emotions came from, but that''s what her heart told her, so she said it.


    As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Ruo froze mid-motion while picking up food.


    She looked at Sheng Shuya in disbelief, her face full of hurt.


    "Mom, do you not like me anymore? If you don''t like me, you can just say so directly. If I''ve done something wrong, tell me and I''ll change. But why do you want to adopt another daughter?!"


    Bai Ruo stood up with reddened eyes, angry and hurt.


    Sheng Shuya''s face fell, "No, that''s not what Mom meant, I just thought..."


    "Wuwuwuwu..."


    Covering her ears, Bai Ruo ran crying into the courtyard, refusing to listen to Sheng Shuya''s exnation.


    Sheng Shuya felt terrible.


    This wasn''t what she had intended...


    Ruo had always been such an obedient child, she thought she would understand.


    Besides, Ruo had been an only child since she was little. Wouldn''t it be nice to have a sister to y with and look after each other when they grew up?


    Perhaps she really had made a mistake?


    She should have talked to her beforehand, to give her time to prepare mentally.


    Sheng Shuya felt extremely guilty.


    "Auntie Sheng, you should gofort big sister. I won''t be your goddaughter. I have my own ce to go, and I have several brothers waiting for me at home."


    Yun Xiaoxiao smiled nonchntly as she finished the porridge in her bowl, even letting out a loud burp.


    She wiped her little mouth and stood up casually.


    "Well, I''m off. Thanks for your hospitality."


    She waved her small hand carelessly and walked toward the main gate without any attachment.


    Seeing Yun Xiaoxiao being so free-spirited and understanding made Sheng Shuya even more reluctant to let her go.


    She wanted to say something, but thinking of how Bai Ruo had cried earlier, she held back her words.