A Warm and Cute Strike (GL) - Chapter 39

Qin Xuening stared expressionlessly at the television. On the screen, two little girls of similar age were holding hands, going from house to house in search of ingredients for their dinner.

Though she was sitting in a bright screening room, at this moment, she felt as if she had retreated into a deserted street corner—like a wounded stray kitten, exuding a melancholic aura that warned strangers not to come near.

Xuening pursed her lips, wishing the program would skip this segment.

She knew that the little “tot” was different from her; she belonged to a world full of sunshine and brilliant colors. She didn’t want to see the girl lonely, just as she once was.

The girl needed friends and social interaction; she was meant to live among people. She wasn’t like Xuening, who wanted only to stay far away from society and everyone else, locking out the storms along with the sunshine.

But now, seeing her smile at someone else and watching her get close to other children, Xuening found that deep down, she was… unhappy.

What was wrong with her? Shouldn’t she be glad the girl could make new friends? Why did it feel so painful? This feeling was exactly like in her past life, when her aunt had her own child and forgot all about her, leaving her to be bullied…

Xuening bit her lip, staring silently at the screen.

The program continued. After dinner, the fathers took the children back to their temporary lodgings. Following a series of warm interactions involving bathing and changing, the fathers coaxed their respective babies to sleep.

On the screen, in the pitch-black room, Xiang Nan and little Qingnuan were not yet asleep, leaning together and talking in the dark.

“Sweetie, did you have fun today?”

“I did! Being with Daddy is super fun!”

“Haha, do you want to come again next time?”

“Yes!”

Next time? Xuening’s heart stirred.

Just as she was wavering, she heard the girl’s voice again: “If only Sister Xuening could come…”

Xiang Nan seemed to sigh, then rolled over and patted his daughter’s shoulder, telling her to hurry to sleep. The television screen was dark, almost still for a few seconds. Then, following the sound of rustling, a tiny, milky voice tinged with a sob rang out:

“Daddy… I really miss Sister Xuening…”

In the quiet of the night, those words sounded less like a sentence and more like a weight falling on the heart, making one feel inexplicably sad. Subtitles appeared on the TV: Missing her sister, little Qingnuan fell asleep under her father’s comfort…

Then, the screen gradually faded to black.

Xuening blinked. For some reason, she felt like crying yet also felt like smiling; the contradictory emotions left her confused.

“Sister Xuening.”

Hearing the call, Xuening snapped out of it. She looked beside her and realized that Qingnuan had come to her side at some unknown point. The girl looked up with her round almond eyes, her small hand resting on Xuening’s knee.

“Sister Xuening, let’s not watch anymore, okay? Let’s go home. I want to hear you play the piano…”

For a moment, Xuening didn’t know what to say. She reached out and pulled the little bundle into a hug, burying her face deeply in the girl’s shoulder, seemingly trying her best to suppress her inner emotions.

Only after a long while did Xuening recover. She stroked Qingnuan’s hair and said gently, “Okay, let’s go home.”

“Hehe! I want to hear the piece you played that day!” Qingnuan held Xuening’s hand, a satisfied smile on her face.

“Which one?”

“The one… the one for the little angel!”

Xuening thought for a moment before guessing she meant “Für Elise” (For Therese)—the piece written for an angel-like little girl. She smiled slightly, stroked the girl’s face, and nodded. “Okay.”

My little angel.

Xiang Nan hadn’t expected the two little ones to clamor for home halfway through the show. But seeing Xuening’s expression, he realized his goal might have been achieved, so he didn’t insist. He happily turned off the TV and headed out.

He carried Qingnuan in one arm and held Xuening’s hand with the other. At the door of the screening room, however, the staff member who had received them was nowhere to be found.

“Where did that girl run off to?” Xiang Nan muttered, walking forward a few steps.

“Elder Fei, please… Oops—”

Just then, the door to a waiting room he was passing opened. He quickly stepped back to avoid colliding with the person coming out. Both parties were startled.

The person opening the door was a young man wearing a headset and a Mango TV uniform vest—clearly a staff member. Xiang Nan, looking at the person behind him, quickly set Qingnuan down. After straightening his clothes, he offered a respectful and warm greeting: “Teacher, long time no see! What are you doing here?”

Qingnuan stood by her father, peeking curiously. The young staff member stepped aside, and the old man behind him appeared before them. He was a white-haired grandfather who looked energetic and robust. Qingnuan tilted her head, thinking the old gentleman looked a bit familiar.

“Haha, Ah Nan, I didn’t expect to run into you here. Are you here to record a show too?” Elder Fei looked at Xiang Nan, clearly recognizing his star pupil.

Xiang Nan hadn’t expected to run into his mentor, Elder Fei Zhenguo, just by wandering around the station. This man was a titan in the directing world, though he had long since retired to live a leisurely life, only occasionally giving lectures at the academy.

“No, just here for some business.” Xiang Nan shook his head and quickly pushed Qingnuan forward. “Nuannuan, say hello to Grandpa.”

“Hello, Grandpa,” Qingnuan greeted him obediently.

“Haha, little Nuannuan is here too.” Elder Fei laughed kindly, patting the girl’s head. “Little one, do you remember me?”

Qingnuan stared at him for a long time, gradually overlapping him with a blurry shadow in her memory. She smiled excitedly. “You… you’re the Grandpa who talked to Grandma!”

Elder Fei was stunned for a moment, then laughed with relief. “Haha, I didn’t expect Nuannuan to have such a good memory. You’ve grown quite a bit taller…”

When Xiang Nan’s mother was still alive, she would occasionally bring her granddaughter to gather with their group of old friends. He naturally had an impression of her. Thinking of that figure from memory, the old man sighed inwardly. His favorite leading lady had been gone for a long time…

He looked at the girl’s smiling face, his eyes flashing with nostalgia and affection.

“Xuening, come here.” Xiang Nan beckoned to Qin Xuening, who was standing a bit further away. She paced over slowly.

Elder Fei’s attention was drawn to her. As his eyes met hers, a sharp glint flashed through them. He looked her up and down, scrutinizing and weighing her.

“This is…” he asked.

“Teacher, this is Qin Mo’s daughter,” Xiang Nan introduced. “Xuening, say hello.”

Xuening paused, then looked at Elder Fei and said softly, “Hello, Grandpa.”

“Good, good, good!” Elder Fei’s voice sounded a bit emotional. Once he processed Xiang Nan’s words, he fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. “Sigh, Qin Mo… it’s a pity…”

The atmosphere grew heavy. Xiang Nan quickly changed the subject. “Elder Fei, are you at the station for a program?”

“Yes, an interview,” Elder Fei nodded.

“Haha, I thought you were coming out of retirement,” Xiang Nan joked.

Unexpectedly, Elder Fei didn’t take the bait. He gave his junior a meaningful look, then glanced at Xuening beside him once more. This girl’s aura seems quite fitting…

He thought this in his heart but didn’t show it. Instead, he patted Xiang Nan’s shoulder. “This old man won’t keep you. If we keep talking, this young man beside me might cry from anxiety.”

The staff member who had come to lead him to the show gave an embarrassed smile; he truly had looked like he was about to cry.

Before leaving, Elder Fei stroked Qingnuan’s head again. “Little one, Grandpa is leaving now. When you have time, have your Daddy bring you to my house to play.”

“Okay! Goodbye, Grandpa!” Qingnuan waved her hand with a smile.

Elder Fei looked at her dimples; the more he looked, the more he felt the girl was exquisitely carved and resembled her grandmother in her youth. Finally, under the urging of the frantic staff, the kindly smiling Elder Fei sauntered away.

Xiang Nan watched him leave. The receptionist returned, and he took the two children home.

That night, Xiang Nan called Xuening into his study again and had Auntie Lin bring her a glass of warm milk. This time, Xuening’s attitude had clearly changed. She held the milk, staring at the steam rising from the white liquid. After a long silence, she said hesitantly:

“But Uncle Xiang, I’m not like other children… I might not be able to act like a normal child…”

She knew very well she wasn’t truly a child. Though she hadn’t reached adulthood in her past life, she was close. She didn’t know how to play the role of a seven-year-old in front of a camera.

Xiang Nan misunderstood her meaning. Looking at the slender, slightly thin girl, he thought of how she had been a carefree child only two months ago and had become like this due to such immense pain. His heart ached for her.

“You just have to be yourself,” he said. “As long as you’re happy, nothing else matters.”

Xuening looked at him, then down at the reflection in her milk. She suddenly felt that she was being very cowardly. Her hand tightened slightly around the glass.

Xiang Nan sighed. “I don’t want to force you. If you really don’t want to go—”

“Uncle Xiang, I’ll go.” Xuening looked up, gazing at him with determination.

At this moment, the light in her eyes was just as it had been on the plane—looking down at the earth and dreaming of freedom. She wanted to be a strong Qin Xuening; she would never live cowardly like the aunt in her past life. If she wanted to go, how could she shrink back out of fear?

Xiang Nan looked at her, surprised. “You’ve thought it through?”

“Yes. I’ll go with you. But my leg isn’t fully healed; I might be a burden.”

“Haha! There’s no such thing as being a burden. We’re just going to have fun.” Xiang Nan ruffled her hair into a mess. “Then it’s settled!”

“Mhm.”

After the talk, Xiang Nan dismissed her. As she walked out, he called after her: “By the way, don’t tell Nuannuan yet. We’ll give her a surprise. She’ll be so happy!”

Xuening hesitated, then nodded. “Okay, I understand…”

But… how was she supposed to keep it from that little girl?