Chapter 86

Relieved for a moment, Lin Tantan discovered another worry. Now that she’d relocated, she ought to move out of the villa as well, but she had chosen a small two-bedroom apartment. It would have been plenty roomy for one person, but she had just acquired a pair of large swans yesterday. Where on earth would she put those two? And they needed to soak in water every day.
She fretted all the way home, and what did she find? Good heavens, the two swans were at each other.
To be precise, they weren’t fighting each other so much as taking on Three-Root, and the whole backyard was a wreck. By the time Lin Tantan returned, Three-Root, who’d only just grown back two stumps to a little over a meter, was losing the fight. It lay pinned under their claws, twisting like a little snake under a rooster’s grip, utterly unable to free itself. It was pitiful. The black swan beat its vast wings, craned its neck and opened that hard black beak, honking away with obvious glee.
The white swan was considering where to start tearing in, while a pack of mutant rats leapt and cheered on the sidelines.
Lin Tantan: “……”
She pressed a hand to her forehead. “All of you, stop it.”
The mutant animals looked up at her. Three-Root redoubled its struggling, writhing toward her as hard as it could.
Lin Tantan went over and gave each swan a sharp smack. “What are you doing? We’re on the same side, you can’t be eating your own friends.”
She’d heard swans normally fed on aquatic plants, roots, stems, leaves, seeds, and small fish and shrimp. Three-Root wasn’t vegetation, but after mutation maybe the swans’ diets had changed. Besides, Three-Root looked plump and hearty…
“Let go. Let go, now.”
The swans looked between her and the root they had underfoot: so fat, so robust, so tempting. Both birds hungrily glinted, bellies hollow from hunger, but they knew they couldn’t beat Lin Tantan, she’d been the one to give them a pool to soak in. Reluctantly and with much grumbling, they loosened their webbed feet.
Three-Root lunged at Lin Tantan and wrapped itself around her. If it had eyes and a mouth it would have been bawling its heart out.
She was practically bent double under its weight. She patted its rough, grit-covered hide. “There, there, behave. You’re fine, see?” Then she scolded the two swans: these were her companions; they weren’t to fight or eat each other.
She glanced around and pieced the scene together. She’d gone out today without the others; Three-Root had set off to play with the mutant rats and to soak in a puddle, only to run into the newly arrived swans, and a battle had erupted in an instant.
Three-Root, with its two regrown stumps barely over a meter long, wasn’t a match for the swans at all.
She eyed the two large swans with some surprise; they weren’t as helpless as she’d thought.
But they were nearly starving and kept honking at her.
Lin Tantan guessed what they wanted. “Weren’t you two supposed to be able to fend for your own food?”
The swans turned toward Three-Root.
“…No, this won’t work. What do you usually eat?”
They peered toward the base’s outskirts, necks craned, looking at Lin Tantan with pleading eyes as if hoping she would take them out hunting.
“That’s not happening today. I’m not going out again. Hey, don’t be upset, I’ll see if there’s anything to eat inside the base.” Then she asked Three-Root, “Three-Root, are there any aquatic plants growing in the base?”
Three-Root sulked and tilted its rootlike body as if it didn’t feel like answering, but being a good child it indicated it would come along and lead the way.
Three-Root burrowed through the soil, popping its head up now and then to make sure Lin Tantan was following. Lin Tantan trailed behind with the two fat swans, heads turning everywhere they went.
Swans aren’t like mutant rats at all, they’re big, slow, can’t fly now, and impossible to hide. Lin Tantan noticed plenty of people eyeing their substantial bodies with hungry looks; if she didn’t trail behind them, let them run loose, they’d be snatched and secretly roasted in no time.
Three-Root led them up the hill, right by the slope near the Zhengyang Base. The hillside was strewn with loose rocks and had no real path; the swans waddled awkwardly, and several times Lin Tantan feared they’d topple down the slope, but their hunger drove them on.
Now and then small snakes flicked out from the grass and rocks, and insects rose into the air. The swans ignored the snakes but were quick and precise with the insects, pecking them up at once. The snakes didn’t always escape either, the mutant rats hidden in the grass sprang out and, in packs, shredded a snake in seconds, devouring it with ferocious appetite.
After more hiking, they crossed another rise and finally found a concealed shallow pool.
It looked like leftover mountain water with no clear flow. On this gentle slope it had pooled into a shallow pond, water not even up to the swans’ ankles, but the mud was loose and squishy; each step left a deep print. Lush aquatic plants grew thickly, some kind of watergrass she didn’t recognize.
Lin Tantan asked the two swans, “Will you eat this? It looks pretty tasty.”
The swans circled the edge a few times. It wasn’t their favorite food, but since the end of the world they’d learned to eat all sorts of odd things. The black swan pecked a few bites and seemed pleased enough, after all, it was just grass, and started to eat happily, occasionally digging into the mud. Whether it was drinking or foraging she couldn’t tell, but it looked satisfied; the water quality was decent. The white swan was more reluctant at first, but it still daintily pecked at the grass with its yellow flat bill, much more refined in manner.
Relieved to see them eating, Lin Tantan sat down nearby and rummaged in her small bag. Inside were several crystal cores in all sorts of colors. She picked out a clear, colorless crystal core for the little hamster perched on her shoulder, then a golden one for the fat gray rat, and a few others for the mutant rats that had powers. The rest of the mutant rats, the ones without abilities, happily went off to play on their own.
Lin Tantan took a blue water-core crystal for herself and absorbed it, propping up her phone to keep watching her movie.
During that time, Ye Xiao called her to ask where she was. She laughed, “I'm up on the mountain tending the swans. There's actually a patch of water plants here that's grown really well, they love eating it.”
Ye Xiao pictured the swans and couldn't help smiling. “Just you? Is Xu Li not with you? Is it safe there?”
“I didn't let Xu Li come, but I've got a whole bunch of bodyguards, big and small. Nothing to worry about.”
Ye Xiao asked her where exactly she was and said he'd swing by in a bit.
Lin Tantan gave him a rough description of her location.
After hanging up, Ye Xiao's expression softened. She always made things feel so relaxed and pleasant that even thinking about her lifted his mood, and of course, it would be even better to share that ease with her.
He found he had little resistance to the idea of spending a leisurely time with her. He walked back along the corridor; this was the apartment building beside the villa complex, doors opposite one another. At the moment it was occupied by Han Ying and his people. Someone peeked out furtively at him, then quickly drew back. Ye Xiao frowned slightly, thinking the walkie-talkie's function was still too poor, calls leaked out; they'd need Jiang Xiaotian to make a new communicator.
He went to Han Ying's room, he and several comrades were staying there together. Ye Xiao said, “Han Ying, since you all are settled, I'll be going ahead.”
Han Ying, surprised, said, “Just leaving like that? We haven't even had a proper talk, or put together a meal… if there aren't any good dishes, a little liquor will do. Xiangzi, do we have any wine left?” he asked one of them.
Ye Xiao shook his head. “I have other things to do; I won't keep you from resting.” These people had even lost their vehicles; their supplies were gone too, aside from a few things left in their packs, which weren't much. Ye Xiao thought for a moment, maybe he'd have someone bring them some food later; after all, they were old friends.
Han Ying grabbed his arm, his face growing serious. “Ye Xiao, was it something I said to that girl that upset you? You know I'm blunt, if I offended you, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.”
“It's not about her. You want to go back to the capital, and I plan to stay here. Our aims differ, nothing to argue over. Tend your wounds, then get moving; if you delay much longer it'll get hot.” Ye Xiao's expression was flat, polite but distant.
He wasn't growing cold toward him merely because of harsh words. In truth, when he learned Han Ying had deliberately detoured to the Ning City base with the aim of taking Lin Tantan away, he had cooled toward his old friend. Even if Han Ying wasn't like those mercenaries who used underhanded methods, instead openly persuading Tantan and trying to take him along, to Ye Xiao it was all much the same.
People like Min Yande coveted Tantan's brain tissue; Han Ying, even if less vile, still wanted her for her abilities, to use her to do their work, just as they were urging him to head north to fight those highly dangerous level-four zombies.
Ye Xiao wasn't particularly moved by Han Ying's attempts to persuade him, but when the same thing concerned Lin Tantan his alarms went off immediately, his good, wholesome girl, running a clinic and offering free treatments, getting woken in the middle of the night for critical patients; he already thought she did more than enough and worked terribly hard. He wouldn't even want her leaving the base to endure that filthy environment, wind and grit in her face, and these people actually wanted to drag her off to be their beast of burden?
What nerve!
So whether mercenaries or Han Ying, whether by shady means or openly, anyone who had designs on his girl was an enemy, a despicable coveter. Letting you into the base and giving you a place to stay was already done out of old friendship; did they expect him to roll out the red carpet?
Han Ying's expression changed at his words. The hand on his arm loosened. He fixed him with a stare. “So, you really don't want to go back?”
Ye Xiao said, “I have important work to do here as well.”
“Important as that may be, is it more important than the capital? Tens of millions, even hundreds of millions gather there, do you know how intense the pressure to survive is? Do you know how many zombies are over there?”
Ye Xiao frowned. “It also holds the nation's largest granaries, and the most troops and weapons!” He looked Han Ying in the eye. “While these small bases down here are fighting for every scrap to eat, the capital isn't short of food, no shortage of drink or food. It's just that there are more zombies, but as you said, they do have people who can deal with level-four zombies; even the military has such people with special abilities, they're treated as trump cards, for show, and they're not allowed to be put at risk.”
Han Ying's face reddened. Ye Xiao continued, “Do ability users really need to face zombies head-on? Set a trap and lure the zombies in; one missile would finish them. I don't know what those leaders are thinking, are they being careful with their forces and resources? Or is it a case of each waiting for the other to act? Maybe they even keep the zombies around to pin down others?
Han Ying, you're tightly connected to your superiors; you must know more than someone like me who has to piece things together from scraps. Do you dare say that one person like me going back would really change a lot?”
Han Ying was left speechless. A few others in the room couldn't stand it, a female soldier shouted, “Captain Ye, all you're saying is that you can't bear to leave here, right? Well, here you can call the shots, running your own private force, even Major General Lu treats you with special deference. But if you go back, you'll have nothing. Forgive my bluntness, but you're no different from those so-called strongmen who, leaning on their own strength, gather troops and try to become petty warlords.”
Ye Xiao looked at her coldly.
The female soldier's heart sank, but she continued in a firm, resonant tone, “Isn't that so? You've changed. When Captain Han used to mention you, it was of a respected, iron-blooded hero who could earn his comrades' trust with their lives. When the call went through last night, how happy Captain Han was, he said we were saved. Yet you only arrived at dawn; we could only watch as people around us fell, one after another...” She trailed off, unable to finish, and the others' eyes reddened.
Ye Xiao narrowed his eyes, reading the expressions on their faces before finally fixing on Han Ying. Han wore the same solemn look and offered no rebuttal, he clearly agreed with the woman's words.
He said, "Han Ying, do you also think that because I arrived late, so many of you died?"
Han Ying sighed. "How can I blame you? It's my own failure for not being able to protect everyone. Ye Xiao, I don't blame you, you must have your reasons, but I don't want you to keep going like this. Do you realize how dangerous your current thoughts and actions are? When we enlisted we swore to be forever loyal to the country, to give everything for it. Now the nation is in peril, and you're only thinking of yourself." He spoke heavily. "Don't repeat the mistakes your father made."
Ye Xiao's gaze turned suddenly as cold as ice.
But Han Ying was not intimidated; he said resolutely, "I used to think that if you truly didn't want to leave, that was your choice. But now it seems leaving you here will only make you go further astray. You must come with me. I told you, I'll supervise you for the rest of your life."
Ye Xiao stared at him for a long while, then said with a sneer, "I know what I'm doing. I'll give you three days, within three days, leave Ning City Base." With that he turned and walked away.
...
Lin Tantan had no idea her two old friends had just come to blows; she was still up on the mountain, enjoying the breeze, soaking up energy, watching a movie, and nibbling on snacks pulled from the little hamster's stash.
She was utterly at ease, with no desire at all to come down the mountain.
By the time Ye Xiao arrived she had worn herself out from watching and eating and had dozed off on the hillside. Naturally she'd put a blanket under her, lying directly on the ground would be too hard.
Mutant mice and mutated swans were sprawled asleep around her. Sunlight poured down with nothing to block it; Three-Root shot upright and used their stems and rhizomes to shield her, as if they wished they could instantly sprout lush leaves to give even better shade.
Ye Xiao walked up and, seeing the scene, couldn't help but smile, she really knew how to enjoy herself.
He signaled the mutated plants and animals who had noticed him to be quiet, then slipped over and stood to one side watching for a long time; she slept on, peaceful as ever.
Her awareness out here was ridiculously low, Ye Xiao thought, and he took off his jacket to cover her.
As he drew near, Lin Tantan caught a different scent from the surroundings and woke up.
"Ah, Ye Xiao, you're here."
She rubbed her eyes and sat up.
Ye Xiao sat down beside her. "Too tired to go back to sleep?"
"I'm just a bit drowsy. The air here is nice, and the sun feels good." Lin Tantan was indeed short on sleep, she had barely slept last night and had left the base early this morning.
Her body had been continuously remade by the five abilities, so she was quite healthy now. But no matter how healthy, when you need sleep you need sleep. She wasn't like Ye Xiao, whose iron will let him get by on two or three hours a day; even if she could manage that, she wouldn't make herself suffer, no point. Sleep was too pleasant.
Ye Xiao said, "It's dangerous out there."
"There's no danger, besides, they're here!" Lin Tantan said, gesturing to the mutated plants and animals keeping guard around them, and Ye Xiao had no answer.
Lin Tantan looked at him. "What's the matter, are you in a bad mood?"
Ye Xiao gave a wry smile. "Is it that obvious?"
"No smile for no reason, isn't that just being upset?" She thought a moment. "You were with Han Ying and the others earlier; did they say something to you?"
Ye Xiao looked at her. "Why do you think that?"
"Judging from their doleful faces, I guessed, are they blaming you for getting there too late or something?"
Though that wasn't their main complaint, it did have that flavor.
Ye Xiao said nothing.
Lin Tantan stamped her foot. "So they actually complained? Said it to your face? Are they out of their minds? Do they think this is some peaceful era? If you're useless, go hide somewhere and don't go out, if you go out, be prepared to die at any moment! Surrounded by a horde of zombies in the dead of night, whose fault is that but your own? Who's obliged to go save them? And they asked Lu Jianping first; when he refused to send troops they came to you. If anyone's to blame it's Lu Jianping, yet now they blame you, what's that supposed to mean?"
Her outrage made Ye Xiao smile; Lin Tantan glared at him. "You're smiling, aren't you angry?"
Ye Xiao put on a stern face. "Angry. Very angry."
Lin Tantan studied him, then gave his arm a pinch. "Liar! You don't look angry at all. Not angry, just in a bad mood. Being angry would be better!"
She said, "Don't pay them any mind. Those ungrateful fools are just spouting their self-righteous nonsense; ignore them and they can't do anything. If you take them seriously it only encourages them." She fixed him with a dangerous look. "You didn't actually listen to Han Ying and decide to go to the capital to play zombie-slayer, did you?"
Ye Xiao said, "Of course not. He can't influence me."
Lin Tantan sized him up. "Then why are you still in a bad mood?"
Ye Xiao pressed his lips, his gaze falling on the waterside grass ahead, ripped and ragged as if two swans had nibbled through it like locusts. "Just remembering some things from the past."
Lin Tantan blinked, wavering between asking what and changing the subject, then said, "Have you eaten?"
Ye Xiao looked at her, and she made the little hamster disgorge a pile of things. "What do you want? I've got everything: fried rice, noodles, fruit, bread, roast chicken, a leg of lamb, and wine."
Then the two of them had a picnic on the hillside. The leg of lamb had been raw, so Lin Tantan roasted it on the spot; she charred much of it to a crisp and had to shave off a lot before they could get a few bites, and the seasoning was uneven, so the taste wasn't great, but they enjoyed it all the same.
As for the liquor, it was the two bottles of vintage wine Ye Xiao had brought into the room. He smiled, "So that's where it went, turns out you tucked it away."
Lin Tantan scratched her head. "I just wanted to see what it tasted like."
In her previous life she had been strictly forbidden from touching anything that could cloud the mind. On her coming-of-age birthday she tried a sip of fruit wine, literally just a sip, and that small amount of alcohol caused her powers to falter; had she not sobered up in time, she might have lost her life.
So she treated alcohol with a good deal of reverence.
But people are like that: the more forbidden something is, the more curious they become. Lin Tantan couldn't resist, she reached for the two bottles.
Anyway she was safe now; even if her powers went haywire, the worst would be a little water or a spurt of flame, nothing life-threatening. She wanted to try.
She looked at Ye Xiao and said, "Let's have a drink."
He found her eager expression amusing. "You've never drunk before?"
"No."
Ye Xiao thought for a moment. "I could hold my liquor even before the apocalypse, and with powers now it's even easier, I can drink a lot. Even if you don't have a tolerance, a little shouldn't hurt. But since it's your first time, don't drink too much."
He poured her a small sip, just the bottom of the glass, thirty-five percent; it shouldn't be a problem.
Lin Tantan lifted it and sniffed, then said as before, "If I start acting like a drunken idiot, you have to stop me."
Ye Xiao smiled and nodded.
She took small sips, the liquor sharp and stinging, a burn on the tongue. When she finished she licked her lips. "It feels a bit hot, but otherwise it's fine."
Ye Xiao said, "The buzz might come later. Don't drink more for now."
"Oh."
Lin Tantan said "Oh." But after a while nothing happened, and then again nothing, it felt like she had drunk plain water. She couldn't help taking another sip, then another; Ye Xiao couldn't stop her, and before long she'd drunk nearly half a small cup.
They sat in the breeze and sun for a long time, eating and lingering until the sun slanted west, then they packed up and headed down the mountain.
Lin Tantan told Ye Xiao about the house. He thought for a moment and said, "We'll clear a plot on the hillside beside the planting area, dig a big pond for them, grow the water plants they like, and build you a house next to it."
"Wouldn't that be giving me special treatment?"
"What's wrong with special treatment? If you want to live on the mountain later, you can; if you want to go back to the building, you can do that too." The slope was still well within the compound, the planting area heavily guarded and quiet, the mountain would be a nicer environment than sharing a room in the building.
"Ah, won't it be too lonely for me living up on the mountain by myself?"
Ye Xiao felt a tug inside and wanted to say "If it's too lonely I'll live there with you," but he couldn't. They had agreed that after moving they'd live separately. He didn't want to rush things; to him, cohabiting before marriage was inappropriate, and getting married now would be...
There was no question of a proper marriage now, at best they could have a small ceremony, invite a few familiar faces, too crude and rushed. Ye Xiao was, at heart, someone who valued ritual; he wouldn't do his beloved any disservice, not even a little. Rushing into living together like that was out of the question.
There was another reason: if they were publicly tied together now, many people would merely see her as his partner and, in doing so, would belittle her. Any special treatment or status she received would be seen as coming from him, not earned by her own merits.
That would be a different kind of injustice.
So for now only those who lived under the same roof knew of their relationship; it hadn't been made public.
Now wasn't the time, Ye Xiao thought. He would wait until he had a truly secure and powerful backing, until he'd driven off those petty people who coveted her, until he could afford a proper, formal wedding, until the moment he announced it everyone who needed to know would hear it immediately and treat it with the respect it deserved.
Ye Xiao didn't think of himself as overly ambitious, but every time he considered the matter a hunger grew inside him, a voice telling him to become stronger, to gain more influence, to win greater respect or fear, so he could be worthy of and protect his girl.
So when Han Ying said his mindset had changed, she wasn't entirely wrong...
He took a deep breath, pushed the thoughts down and said to Lin Tantan, "What about the three and all those animals that already keep you company? If that's not enough, we can get you some more."
"True." Lin Tantan thought, her eyes creasing with a smile as she linked her arm through his and giggled.
"Tantan?" Ye Xiao suddenly looked down at her.
"Hm?"
"Are you... drunk?" he asked, she was laughing oddly. Lin Tantan straightened at once. "Drunk? No way, I'm perfectly sober." Her gaze was clear, not a hint of intoxication and her cheeks weren't flushed; Ye Xiao believed her.
They led the group of well-fed mutated flora and fauna back to the villa. Lin Tantan went upstairs to catch some more sleep while Ye Xiao left on business, but she tossed and turned, wide awake and oddly exhilarated.
She felt an urge to do something.
So she got up and went to the apartment building on the edge of the villa compound. Serious-faced, she crouched in the simple carport opposite and waited. After a long while, luck was on her side, Han Ying came down.
Han Ying didn't come alone; a few comrades accompanied him. Lin Tantan squinted, these were the same men who had followed Han Ying closely back at the bank; they were likely core members.
Their faces looked grim. One complained, "They only set up a house, there's nothing inside, and we have to sort out our own food. Boss, this Ye Xiao doesn't consider you a friend at all."
Han Ying's face soured: "Enough talk. Go to the nearest market and buy some food, it'll be closing soon."
"Food alone won't be enough, we need pots and bowls. We've lost our supplies; we don't even have a single pair of chopsticks. Lucky the crystal core is on me," a woman added.
Lin Tantan's ears perked up and she snorted inwardly. I gave you a roof to live under and even set out good food and drink for you to accept with a smile, and you still complain and resent me? You lot think you're the center of the world!
She watched the path they were about to take. On a second-floor balcony, who knew whose, there was a basin of water. She giggled; with a flick of her thought the basin tipped and the water came crashing down, drenching everyone head to toe.
It happened so fast no one could get away.
"Ah!" "It stinks!" "What is this water?!" They hurriedly wiped at their faces and looked up. The upstairs resident, startled, rushed out: "Ah, my water, I just scrubbed the gunk off my feet. I was going to let it settle before mopping."
Scrubbed it, foot gunk, foot gunk…
They felt the little black specks on their faces and in their hair, wasn't that exactly the grime she'd scrubbed off?
Ugh! Even these worldly folks were revolted.
Upstairs, people tried to reassure one another: "Never mind, that water's already been used to wash faces," "hands," "we even used it to clean rags and wipe tables," "I even rinsed my mouth with it," "and it washed our feet, so it wasn't wasted."
Those below: Ugh!
Lin Tantan: Hee hee hee, what lucky luck, what a pleasant surprise!
While those people were still reeling, she slipped away quietly. Humph, serves you right for bullying Ye Xiao.
Where to next?
She thought for a moment and remembered she hadn't drawn water today.
Everyone had moved into new homes today, and each household had a tap now, so water was much more convenient. Although there were still limits, usage would certainly be higher than before and the plant might run low. Thinking that, she shrugged and went over.
At the waterworks, water was indeed in short supply. She, as she had the day before, sat and released water, two large barrels, about four tons in all. Then a faint scent of alcohol drifted through the plant. The old man guarding the place opened his hawk-like eyes, peered in, and said with a frown, "Miss Lin?"
Lin Tantan swayed out, grinning brightly. "Old Huo, thanks for your trouble, have some candy, have some candy, teehee."
Old Huo: "…"
What's next? Hmm, dig a big reservoir. Lin Tantan immediately headed for the hillside by the planting plots.
Soon the new residents preparing dinner in the compound were puzzled: why did the tap water carry a faint, barely-there smell of alcohol? Had it gone bad? But spoiled water shouldn't be like this, aside from the slight booze scent it actually tasted cleaner and sweeter.
Though some with poor taste or smell noticed nothing, most still hesitated to use it and went to ask at the plant. Soon Ye Xiao, in the compound, heard the news: the water at the plant smelled of alcohol.
Ye Xiao had wondered if something was wrong with the water, but then a thought crossed his mind and his heart skipped. He called Lin Tantan; she didn't pick up. His unease grew and he hurried to the plant.
A crowd had gathered at the plant, everyone chattering that the alcohol scent was stronger here. Old Huo, surrounded and questioned, looked awkward and troubled; he breathed a sigh of relief when Ye Xiao arrived.
When Ye Xiao came personally, the others fell silent. He went in to inspect the tanks, then pulled Old Huo aside and asked, "Did Tantan come here a little while ago?"
Old Huo: "How did you know? Yes, she came, those two barrels of water were released by her."
Ye Xiao felt a headache. He shut off the outlets for those two barrels, had the other tanks release first, calmed the crowd, and then went to look for Lin Tantan.
Old Huo said Lin Tantan had headed into the compound.
He searched into the compound, it wasn't huge, so after walking a short way in he saw people in the planting area all looking toward the hillside as if watching some spectacle.
The hill looked different; the earth had been violently turned over. What had been a gentle slope was widened and flattened, and beside it a big pit had been dug. Handfuls of dirt were being tossed out of the hole, each landing in the same spot to form a mound.
Ye Xiao's eye twitched. He went over and asked what was going on. The onlookers said Miss Lin was digging into the hill.
Sure enough!
Ye Xiao walked up and peered over the pit. Lin Tantan was at the bottom, three or four meters down, grunting as she dug. She was clearly using her ability to excavate, yet she still wielded a big shovel, each swing unearthed a mass of earth far larger than the tool should handle, which, as if defying gravity, was tossed up with ease.
The digger kept puffing and cheering herself on as she worked.
Ye Xiao sighed. "Tantan."
Lin Tantan looked up and flashed a radiant smile. "Ye Xiao, are you here to help me dig? Do you think this hole's big enough?"
Big, more than big enough. Three or four meters deep, a huge oval; not just room for two swans to bathe, a hundred could fit.
Ye Xiao said, "It's plenty. Come up."
"Oh." Hearing that, Lin Tantan immediately tossed the shovel aside, but staring up at the rim, it loomed over her more than twice her height, she froze, unsure how to climb out.
Ye Xiao lightly jumped down, brushed the mud from her head and clothes, and said helplessly, "You, you kept saying you weren't drunk, and yet look at you."
Lin Tantan just looked at him and giggled.
Ye Xiao couldn't help laughing along, then said, "Come back with me, look at how filthy you are."
"Oh."
"Don't go around giggling like that in front of so many people."
"Oh."
Lin Tantan obediently agreed, and Ye Xiao felt his heart soften. He used his wind ability to help her up, and the two of them left as if nothing had happened, returning to the villa.
There was no one else in the villa at the moment. Ye Xiao led Lin Tantan to his room, fetched some water, and helped her wash her hands and face.
Lin Tantan sat on the edge of the bed, watching him twist the towel and wipe her face, then suddenly asked, "Can I laugh now?"
Ye Xiao paused for a beat. "You can."
Lin Tantan: "Hee hee."
Ye Xiao: "…"
He was half exasperated, half amused. "Is that what you’re like when you're drunk? You show nothing on your face, no blush at all, yet you act like this."
Hearing the word "drunk," Lin Tantan put on a solemn face. "I'm not drunk. I can't get drunk. If I get drunk I'll die."
Ye Xiao blinked. "You won't. The feeling will pass."
Lin Tantan shook her head and said earnestly, "Nope, I'll die. Others just act out when drunk, but I would die."
Ye Xiao frowned and studied her expression closely. She didn't look like she was joking; she seemed to believe it. His chest tightened. "Tantan…"
But before he could sink fully into worry, Lin Tantan laughed again, mischievous and conspiratorial, as if sharing a secret: "But that was before. Now I don't anymore. Now I can drink however I want."
Ye Xiao's frown didn't ease. "Tantan, do you know what you're saying? Why would you have died before?"
"Because…" Lin Tantan trailed off as if remembering something, then giggled, "I'm not telling you."
Ye Xiao could only sigh and ruffle her hair. Lin Tantan grabbed his hand, looking for praise, and said, "I just did something big, I stood up for Ye Xiao."
Ye Xiao smiled and continued wiping her face. "How did you stand up for me?"
"I pranked Han Ying," she said vividly, describing what she'd done. Ye Xiao's expression grew complicated, mostly amused. "Why bother with him? If you're not on the same wavelength, there's no reason to stick around. If he leaves, it's fine."
"No, he made my Ye Xiao unhappy, so I had to make him unhappy." She looked up, eyes wide, wearing a face that begged, Please praise me.
A smile spread across Ye Xiao's eyes and warmth flooded his chest. He half-squatted by the side of the bed until he was level with her, and in a low voice, almost a whisper, said, "You care about me that much, do you like me?"
Lin Tantan nodded seriously. "Yes, yes. Ye Xiao is the best person in the world. I like him the most. I won't let him be sad even a little bit."
Ye Xiao's heart leapt. It was the first time she'd said she liked him so plainly, and joy bubbled up inside him uncontrollably.
Overcome, he hugged the little girl in front of him, holding her soft shoulders and pressing his forehead to hers. The faint scent of alcohol on her breath made him feel a little lightheaded.
His pulse raced like a lovesick boy finally getting a response. He wanted to jump up and run, but feared any sudden movement would break the tenderness. He murmured, almost under his breath, "If you like me, why did you reject me before? Why did you avoid me?"
The way he held her forced her to tilt back slightly; her weight rested on his arm around her back, but she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself.
She looked at him with bright, clear eyes, her feelings were written plainly there. She said, "Because Ye Xiao already liked someone."
Ye Xiao froze. He stepped back a little, helpless. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't like anyone, only you."
Lin Tantan shook her head, and as if a single shake wasn't enough she wagged out a pale finger while shaking her head: "No, he really likes someone. He likes Bai Cheng. I know, I saw it."
She wore a smug, I-know-all expression and nodded with absolute certainty, breaking into a kind, admiring smile. "They're perfect together, the world's number one couple!" She gushed dreamily for a moment before slipping back into silly laughter. "Hee hee hee hee hee."
Ye Xiao: "…"
Ye Xiao: "……"
Ye Xiao: "………"
For a moment he was completely stunned, and, embarrassingly, he even awkwardly picked at his ear. "Who? Who are you talking about?!"