CHAPTER 224: CHAPTER 223: NAN XING

Chapter 223: Nan Xing

When lunch came, the staff decided to move the large tables enough for some group of friends to eat together. Like in Qin An’s group consisting of him, Shen Lou, He Yan, Han Suwen, Nan Moyi, and Xing Ren. Now that they also have families with them, they need more space to be together.

Beside Qin An is Li Bai while on the other side was Han Suwen. All of them proceed to their lunch normally with chatting when all of the sudden, Qin An abruptly feels a tug on his sleeves behind him.

He stopped his actions and turned his head, only to meet a pair of bright eyes from a little girl. Qin An was stunned. She was not the little girl that he met as Pei Roujin’s but someone he didn’t know.

What’s more was that this time, it was not a ghost but a real human.

Others also looked at the situation and found the girl still looking at Qin An with bright eyes.

"Isn’t she Brother Moyi’s little sister?" Xing Ren said in surprise. He had seen this little girl earlier and noticed that she was very timid to meet other people. She was just there hugging Nan Moyi’s leg and clinging to him all the time. He didn’t expect to suddenly run here and even took initiative to walk towards Qin An.

"Xiaoxing?" Nan Moyi who quickly followed his little sister when she ran off was also surprised when he watched her actions. Nan Xing, Nan Moyi’s youngest sister looked at her elder brother when she heard her name but instead of going back to her own sibling, she just stayed grabbing Qin An’s sleeves and even leaned her body a bit to the stiffened young man.

"Xiaoxing?" Now her actions put more doubt and shock on him more. Xiaoxing is a sensible child. She was sensitive to her surroundings and knew their situation even at such a young age so she wasn’t like any other girls who grew spoiled even if her older siblings doted on her.

In addition, she is also very timid and never dared to look or speak up with strangers even if they introduced it to her. She would just stay obediently on their side and follow them. That’s why he was confident when he left them to join the competition because she would not run off like any other child. Who would have thought that this little girl actually had the courage now to run to someone she didn’t know?

And even towards Qin An? Not that he was biased but the young man is one of the trainees that most everyone is afraid of. Even if Qin An changed and became friendlier, his real temperament is still there. For people like Xiaoxing, wasn’t she supposed to be afraid?

Nan Moyi was doubtful but when his eyes accidentally landed on the trainees around Qin An especially He Yan who was also very sensitive to people, he just felt that his sister’s actions weren’t actually that surprising? Even others got close to Qin An so what about a child?

Thus he threw those nonsense thoughts at the back of his mind and smiled. "I’m sorry. I didn’t expect my sister would do this."

"... It’s fine," Qin An answered with a slightly stiff voice. Seeing that he didn’t even move a bit for the unfamiliar closeness, Nan Moyi chuckles and bends down to look at Nan Xing.

"Xiaoxing, come to brother," Nan Moyi coaxed her but the little girl actually shook her head a bit and tugged Qin An’s sleeves again.

His face stayed calm. "Does Xiaoxing like this brother?"

Nan Xing nodded.

"Can you tell me why?" Nan Moyi was really curious this time but Nan Xing didn’t respond. He didn’t force her out of course and just patted her head before turning to the young man.

"Would you mind if Xiaoxing would sit next to you?"

"No," Qin An answered with a bit of uncertainty but still moved his seat. Li Bai also acted quickly and brought two chairs. Nan Moyi was about to guide her to sit beside Qin An when his other sibling came.

"Brother?" It was Nan Mofeng who was only older than Nan Xing. They are the ones who visited him since the other ones have been busy.

"A’Feng, take a seat here." Seeing his brother came, Nan Moyi planned to let him sit in the other chair while he planned to find his own when Xiaoxing called him softly.

"Elder Brother, can I sit on Brother’s lap?"

Nan Moyi was slightly stunned. "You want to sit on A’Feng? It’s okay—"

"... no," Her little face flushed in shyness and looked at Qin An with a hint.

"!!!" This time, it was not only him but also others around the table who had their eyes widened in shock at her request. She wanted to sit with Qin An?

Nan Mofeng had the biggest reaction because he didn’t see her clinginess earlier and quickly reprimanded her in a low voice for fear of seeking trouble for Nan Moyi.

"Xiaoxing, you can’t. He’s Elder Brother’s friend. You can’t cause any trouble. Just come sit with me, okay?"

Of course the little girl knew her carelessness and felt disappointed but nodded. They sigh in relief even when their hearts ache for the little girl but knew that Qin An might not like it. Nan Mofeng sat on the chair first and was about to carry her on him when a pair of hands held Nan Xing’s waist and carried her instead.

"!!!"

The people around the table watched in astonishment as Qin An carried the little girl and stiffly put her on his lap. His ears were flushed red but stayed stubborn in front of them.

"... it’s fine," he also assured the two with an awkward tone.

Even with the surprise, since he agreed and saw that Xiaoxing put a smile on her face again, Nan Moyi and Nan Mofeng gave in and took a seat.

"Thank you," Moyi whispered beside Qin An.

"Well," Qin An didn’t look at their belief and subconsciously glanced down at the child in his arms. Coincidentally, Nan Xing also tilted her head upwards and their eyes met.

Qin An paused. The little girl’s large eyes are way different from others. They are full of purity— without the stain from the world’s reality. Probably in their eyes, the world is still beautiful for them, without any worries and just felt carefree.

Staring at her made him also think of another child whom he met in this world, Pei Rouyao. That girl has the same eyes on Nan Xing but unlike hers, she had experienced death at such a young age. It was unfortunate but Qin An knew that no matter what they denied, life has always been like this to humans and all the living species in the universe.

There’s always been death connected to life and only fate can decide whether they can survive.

However, even though this little girl is still alive, Qin An can clearly see the foggy energy from her mental pollution. Her situation is a bit worse than the children her age probably because of her environment when their life was still at stake.

This fog definitely gave her a headache and cramps but she doesn’t seem to mind. Her eyes were never affected from the pain that she has everyday in her life.

A tough child indeed.

"Xiaoxing, let’s eat." Qin An broke from his thoughts when Nan Mofeng signalled her sister. As Qin An watched her obediently open her mouth to eat, he slowly raised his hand and placed his palm at the back of her neck.

At first he was stiff but Xiaoxing didn’t seem to mind and just smiled at him sweetly. Without anyone noticing, Qin An quietly let out a faint spiritual power on his palm to slowly heal her pain.

As the white energy slowly envelops the pollution, the usual foggy gray color slowly lightens. To cover up his action, he moved his fingers and acted as if he was laying her hair. He didn’t stop his movement until the fog continued to lighten as much as he could. Of course it didn’t turn completely white but it was too different from the usual. Even if Qin An didn’t erase the pollution completely because he cannot, her pollution surely lessened and thus can help her greatly.

Probably because the pain on her head eases, Nan Xing’s energy turns brighter for a few minutes but also slowly drowsy.

The little girl yawned and completely leaned her small body on his embrace. She refused Nan Mofeng’s feeding and just closed her eyes to sleep. Everyone looked at her who was in daze until she fell asleep completely without any feeling of guardedness and unfamiliarity with Qin An.

Hou Nian, who was watching on the side, smiled even more. "It seems that Xiaoxing really likes Anan."

Nan Moyi agreed with a hint of amazement. He couldn’t understand his sister’s unguarded actions but because he also trusts the young man’s character, he let it be.

Besides, even if Qin An looks very stiff, he didn’t reject Xiaoxing’s approach and has even a faint gentleness written on his face.

It doesn’t matter anyway if Xiaoxing wanted to get close because even he wanted to.

****