“Home?” Chi Meng’s eyes were filled with confusion. After a moment’s pause, she laughed self-mockingly: “Where do I have a home? After Grandmother passed away, I had no home.”
Hua Xian’s heart clenched, and the physical discomfort in her body began again.
Since the restoration of her talent and the reduction of Chi Meng’s blackening value, she had not felt this way for several days. But now, the familiar stinging pain spread from the surface of her skin, slowly seeping inward, and the discomfort became increasingly pronounced.
With her defense lowered, every drop of rain felt like a needle prick. Although it was not extremely painful, it was impossible to ignore.
Hua Xian held Chi Meng, warming her body, and then lifted her horizontally. Chi Meng was like a soulless rag doll, her eyes unfocused, her face expressionless, simply lying in Hua Xian’s arms.
Hua Xian was ultimately unable to resist the fatigue. Her foot tripped, and she was about to fall when Jian Rou timely steadied her.
“Be careful!”
Jian Rou’s movement was sudden. The umbrella in her hand tilted to the side, and half her body was instantly drenched by the rain.
Hua Xian regained her balance and thanked her. Jian Rou looked at her, then at Chi Meng in her arms, her expression somewhat complex.
“Do not waste time with formalities. Get in the car first.”
Not only was Chi Meng in bad shape, but Hua Xian looked terrible, too. Her lips were pale, her face bloodless, as if she would faint at any second.
If she really did faint, Jian Rou could not manage both of them, which was why she was rushing Hua Xian.
Every step was difficult for Hua Xian, but she persevered and carried Chi Meng to Jian Rou’s car.
“I am sorry for the trouble.”
Chi Meng certainly could not drive in this state, and Hua Xian was restricted by an objective reason: she did not have a driver’s license.
Jian Rou said nothing. As soon as Hua Xian was seated, she started the car and turned on the heater.
After the physical contact was broken, the discomfort on Hua Xian’s body slightly lessened, but she still chose to hold Chi Meng.
“Mengmeng, are you all right? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Hearing this, Chi Meng buried her face in Hua Xian’s chest, her voice weary: “No.”
Seeing that she was unwilling to talk, Hua Xian did not press. Jian Rou remembered the rumors she had heard and suggested, “She does not look well. Should we go to the hospital?”
Unexpectedly, Chi Meng’s voice immediately turned sharp: “I am not going to the hospital!”
Hua Xian knew she hated hospitals and quickly soothed her in a soft voice: “All right, all right, no hospital. We are going home.”
Chi Meng’s emotions stabilized slightly, but she still did not completely trust Hua Xian. She clutched Hua Xian’s clothes tightly, her eyes moist, like a wounded cub.
“You really will not take me to the hospital? Will you abandon me this time?”
The two sentences seemed unrelated, but Hua Xian understood the meaning she wanted to convey.
Going to the hospital was her immediate fear, and being abandoned was her constant anxiety. Her sense of security was simply too lacking.
“No. Older sister will never abandon you again. Older sister will stay with you forever.”
Chi Meng said nothing, burying her face back into Hua Xian’s chest, her shoulders trembling slightly. Hua Xian felt the warm moisture on her chest and her heart constricted. She held the person in her arms even tighter.
The sharp, dense pain scrambled to penetrate her flesh. Her bones felt corroded, making Hua Xian break out in a cold sweat.
Jian Rou noticed her unusual state in the rearview mirror and threw a pack of tissues to her, “Wipe your sweat. I will try to drive faster.”
Hua Xian freed a hand to wipe the sweat from her face, enduring the discomfort: “It is fine. I can handle it. Safety first.”
Jian Rou frowned slightly, her foot nearly pressing the accelerator to the floor.
She does not look like she can handle it. She must be forcing herself because Chi Meng is in poor condition.
After the intense pain subsided, either the effect had lessened or her body had developed tolerance, but Hua Xian felt slightly better. She took the opportunity to call out the system, hoping to clarify the issue.
“Chi Meng’s blackening value should no longer affect me. Why does it still hurt like this?”
Xiao Jiu was her personal system, and it could perceive any change in her body; pain was no exception.
【One moment…】 Xiao Jiu’s tone was somewhat tentative. After a while, it spoke again: 【Master, your talent seems to have evolved…】
“???” When did this happen? Why did I not know?!
“Can this thing even evolve? Was it not determined from birth?”
Hua Xian was confused, yet greatly shocked.
【Previously, the talent value was low, so you were only affected by ‘filth’ that materialized. However, after the evolution, the purity of your talent has further increased. Any negative emotion you come into contact with will be amplified, so even unseen dark matter can harm you.】
“In plain language.”
【In short, Chi Meng is currently suffering intense pain. She is taking a step back toward self-isolation, and a step forward toward madness and possession.】
That made sense to Hua Xian. She was being injured by Chi Meng’s despair. What exactly had Chi Meng experienced this afternoon to harbor despair so profound it could hurt her?
Hua Xian felt even more heartache. She gently patted Chi Meng’s back, warming her frail, cold body. Accompanying the pain was her fierce desire to heal Chi Meng.
Jian Rou drove all the way to Chi Meng’s house, nearly pushing the accelerator through the floor. After stopping, she did not forget to hold the umbrella for the two of them, proving to be extremely considerate.
“Miss Jian, thank you for bringing us back. However, Mengmeng is not in a good state right now, so I will not ask you to come in and sit. We will come and thank you in person once Mengmeng recovers a bit.”
Jian Rou nodded almost imperceptibly. She stood by the door, watching the two go inside, the look in her eyes deepening.
Thank you in person? That is not what I want.
She turned and walked into the rain. A graceful figure beneath the transparent umbrella blended into the rain curtain, creating a picturesque scene.
Upstairs, Hua Xian wrapped Chi Meng in a large bath towel. After the bathtub was filled with water, she carried her in, letting the hot water drive away the cold from her body.
Chi Meng sat in the bathtub, hugging her knees, silent. But when Hua Xian rose to fetch the shower gel, the woman immediately grabbed Hua Xian’s hand, her expression terrified.
“Where are you going?”
Hua Xian, who was half-standing, immediately crouched back down. She stroked Chi Meng’s head and said, “I am not going anywhere. I will stay here with you.”
“Okay.” Chi Meng leaned her face into Hua Xian’s hand and slowly closed her eyes. Perhaps due to extreme exhaustion coupled with being soaked in the rain for so long, she quickly fell asleep.
Hua Xian waited until the water cooled before carrying her to the bed. Her own stamina was on the verge of exhaustion.
She had intended to rest, but Chi Meng quickly developed a high fever. Lost in some nightmare, she muttered and cried, her long-suppressed emotions completely collapsing.
Hua Xian held her in her arms, constantly soothing her. But the more she comforted her, the harder Chi Meng cried, as if releasing all the accumulated grievances. Hua Xian’s neck and chest were wet with her tears, and her arms had scratch marks.
“Grandmother, please take me away. Being alive is so painful…”