The front door opened with a soft creak, revealing an interior that was clean, quiet, and faintly scented with old wood. Dust was noticeably absent, suggesting the house had been carefully looked after even after its owners had moved away. The man stepped inside first, followed by Su Wanyan, Mo Xingxue, and the cameraman.
Sunlight streamed through the wide windows, casting warm, golden rectangles across the polished tile floor and making the empty rooms feel larger and more open than they truly were.
"The previous owners of this house moved away just a week ago," the man said suddenly, his voice as flat and even as ever.
Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue, still holding tightly onto one another’s hands, simply nodded at the information, more focused on looking around curiously.
Most of the previous owners’ belongings had already been taken away, leaving behind only the essential furnishings. The living room held a comfortable fabric sofa facing a simple wooden television cabinet, though the television itself was gone.
A low coffee table remained in the center of the room, its smooth surface bearing only the faintest signs of years of careful use. The walls were bare except for the occasional nail where family photographs had once hung.
Su Wanyan’s eyes lingered on those small, empty nails. "Can we hang our own pictures here?" she asked suddenly.
The man glanced at her over his shoulder and gave a short nod. "It’s okay." The man said, and continued walking toward the dining area without further comment.
Hearing the permission, Su Wanyan’s smile brightened instantly. Her steps became noticeably bouncier, the quiet pleasure of the answer clear in the way she moved.
Mo Xingxue watched her for a moment and chuckled under her breath. She tightened her hold on Su Wanyan’s hand, to which Su Wanyan immediately returned the gentle pressure.
The three of them soon arrived at the dining area, and Su Wanyan’s eyes lit up at the sight. A sturdy wooden table stood in the center with four matching chairs arranged neatly around it.
The adjacent kitchen was equipped with built-in cabinets, a clean countertop, and an empty space where a refrigerator had once stood. A sink, a gas stove, and a range hood remained installed and ready for use by the next occupants.
Su Wanyan hummed softly as she studied the empty refrigerator space. "Excuse me, sir!" she called.
The man paused and looked back over his shoulder, one eyebrow raised in silent question.
Su Wanyan offered a slightly wry smile. "Can we bring our own furniture?" she asked, a touch of hesitation in her voice. The man had previously made it clear they could not use their own money to buy things, but he had never said anything about bringing personal furniture.
He turned fully around and looked at her dead in the eyes. Then his gaze shifted to the empty space beside the counter, then back to Su Wanyan. His expression remained completely deadpan.
Su Wanyan felt a sudden bead of sweat form at the back of her neck. Did I.... Did I say something wrong? She wondered, the blank stare making her uncharacteristically nervous. She opened her mouth to explain further—
But the man had already turned on his heel. "You can," he said simply, and continued down the hallway without waiting for a reply.
Su Wanyan’s eyes widened. She spun toward Mo Xingxue, her entire face shining with excitement. Mo Xingxue smiled at the open delight and gently tugged on Su Wanyan’s hand, urging her to follow. The alpha obeyed at once, still holding on tightly as they walked after the man.
In the hallway there were three rooms. The man stopped in front of the middle door and opened it without ceremony.
"This is the master bedroom," he said simply, then stepped inside. Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue followed close behind.
The master bedroom was largely empty. A queen-sized bed frame stood against one wall, accompanied by a solid wooden wardrobe and two modest bedside tables. The wardrobe doors had been left open, revealing vacant shelves that waited for new clothes and new memories.
It’s.. cozy, Su Wanyan thought, an unconscious smile curving her lips as she took in the quiet space.
She opened her mouth. "Oh, can—"
The words stuck in her throat when the man turned toward them—specifically toward her—and spoke first.
"You can bring your own mattress," he said flatly, then walked back out of the room without waiting for a reply.
Su Wanyan blinked several times. How’d he know what I was going to ask? She wondered, but she quickly shook the thought away and followed him to the room on the right.
This second bedroom held a simple single bed and a compact wardrobe. Judging by the modest size of the space, it had almost certainly been a toddler’s room at one time. Su Wanyan’s eyes lit up the moment she stepped inside.
This is perfect for Shen Guoxing! She thought, already beginning to plan how she might decorate it. After all, the man had confirmed they could bring their own furniture.
She was still lost in mental sketches of shelves and soft lighting when she felt a gentle tug on her hand. Mo Xingxue was guiding her out of the room. Together they followed the man to the final, and smallest, bedroom.
This last room had been completely cleared out. Blank walls and an open floor offered endless possibilities for whoever would claim it.
Su Wanyan looked around and immediately thought of Mo Yan. "Xuexue," she called softly.
Mo Xingxue hummed in quiet question.
"We can put Mo Yan’s crib here," Su Wanyan said excitedly, gesturing toward the center of the room.
Mo Xingxue smiled and nodded, agreeing without hesitation to whatever Su Wanyan suggested.
They turned to leave, but just as they reached the doorway Mo Xingxue’s gaze lingered on the right-hand corner. Something about the empty space felt incomplete. She tightened her hold on Su Wanyan’s hand, causing the alpha to pause at once.
"Yes?" Su Wanyan asked, looking at her in mild confusion.
With her free hand Mo Xingxue pointed to the corner. "We can place a reading nook for Shen Guoxing here."
Su Wanyan nodded and smiled, agreeing just as readily as Mo Xingxue had moments earlier. For a short while the two of them became perfect "yes-men" for each other’s quiet domestic dreams.
The live barrage, which had been watching the entire soft exchange in silence, finally erupted.
[Can we all agree how cute they are?!]
[AGREED!]
[They’re so flipping cute, I think I’m gonna be sick.]
[I’m already sick....]
[OF THEIR CUTENESS?!]
[STUPID! I’M LITERALLY SICK!]
[Oh! I thought.. nvm. Sorry, twin.]
[Sigh....!]
[Ha.... I remember when Su Wanyan and I did this too, planning how to decorate our future children’s room... Good old days..]
[Upstairs, wake up. I was the one accompanying you during that tim—]
[SHUUUTT UP, PSYCHO!!]
[LMAO, Y’ALL ARE THE REASON WHY I WATCH THIS SHOW!]
While the chat cooed over the pair and cheerfully teased the two regular commenters, the four of them finally stepped back outside the house. The man turned to face them, a single key resting in his open palm.
"Will you take this house," he asked in his usual deadpan tone, "or will you look at the others?"
Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue looked at each other. Soft smiles rose on both faces at the same moment, and their joined hands tightened.
"We’ll take it," Su Wanyan said, sending the man a bright, energetic smile.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+
While Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue were still exploring the house, the game of tag on the village playground finally came to an end. Most of the children were thoroughly dirty—knees smudged, clothes stained with dust and grass, faces flushed from running.
In sharp contrast, Shen Guoxing remained almost completely pristine, as though the dirt itself had decided not to cling to her.
Several of the children shot her mockingly envious looks. Shen Guoxing only laughed at them, completely unbothered.
Suddenly one boy stood up and pointed an accusing finger at her. "No fair!" he declared, crossing his arms. "Why didn’t you get dirty?"
Shen Guoxing laughed again and simply shrugged. The boy’s face turned red with frustration; he huffed and stomped away. Shen Guoxing shook her head, still smiling.
Kids, she thought, momentarily forgetting that she herself was one of them.
She brushed imaginary dust from her hands and turned toward the group. "I have to go now," she said with a small, friendly wave.
The other children waved back in the same light-hearted spirit. Shen Guoxing waved once more, then began a light jog away from the playground, a soft smile still on her lips.
Wait for jiejie, Mo Yan, she thought, the smile widening as the image of her little sister rose in her mind. Playing with the village children had been fun, yet she still felt safest and most secure when she could see Mo Yan nearby.
As Shen Guoxing jogged off, a certain pair of eyes followed her carefully. Leilei watched the retreating figure with growing worry, blinking rapidly.
Does she even know where she’s going? Leilei wondered, concern clear on her face.
She closed her eyes tightly for a second, then made up her mind. She would follow—just in case Shen Guoxing got lost—and guide her if needed.
"Guys, I have something to do," she announced to the remaining children.
Her playmates raised their eyebrows in unison. "Huh? Didn’t you finish all your tasks at the orphanage?" one of them asked.
Leilei’s smile turned slightly awkward. "Uh.. oh...." She scrambled for an excuse, her mind working quickly. "It’s because I... I forgot to clean the bathroom," she finally offered, the smile still a little forced.
Her friends looked at her with mild suspicion, but after a moment they shrugged and waved her off. Leilei returned the wave, then immediately ran in the direction Shen Guoxing had taken, determined not to lose sight of her new friend.
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HEHEHEHEHE I’M NOT LATE!!