RoCD Chapter 96

When Youyou woke up and saw the woman, she was completely dazed for a moment.

Her small mouth fell open in bewilderment, and a flash of awe appeared in her eyes.

Her pupils, like shimmering fragments of blood, glittered like rubies. Still sleepy and thinking she was dreaming, Youyou reached a small hand out from under the covers and foolishly touched the corner of the woman’s eye. As she touched it, she murmured, “Are you the witch from the fairy tales?”

The woman was silent for a few seconds before answering.

“No.”

Faint ripples spread through her otherwise placid red eyes. The woman let Youyou touch her wantonly, appearing harmlessly indifferent.

Hearing this, Youyou let out a soft “oh,” her expression adorable. She blinked in surprise, as if finding it strange that a woman wearing a cloak wasn’t a witch.

Seeing her act so foolishly, Su Ling, who was leaning against the bedroom door, felt a profound sense of helplessness. He knocked lightly on the wall to get her attention and said wearily, “Tsk, tsk, since you’re awake, how about buying your big brother something to eat? You can look at the great beauty anytime. Your brother has been hungry for a long time now.”

Knowing Youyou’s weakness for pretty faces all too well, Su Ling understood her current state perfectly. But food was the most important thing right now, and all he wanted was to fill his stomach.

“Huh? This isn’t a dream?”

Looking from Su Ling to the woman, Youyou abruptly pulled her hand back, her face flushing red.

“I-I’m sorry.”

She shyly clutched the edge of the blanket and apologized timidly. She was incredibly cute.

…

The woman recalled their past encounters. Lying on the light-gray bed, the girl had a face that was exquisite and gentle—one that looked exceptionally soft, cute, and gullible.

Her crimson lips curved into a small, unconscious smile.

She said nothing, only stared quietly at the girl. The woman’s unabashed gaze made Youyou feel extremely awkward.

The tips of her ears flushing red, she got out of bed from the other side and pattered over to the dining room, where she bought lots of steaming hot food for Su Ling.

Then, Youyou walked out to the balcony and curiously asked Bai Qu.

“Bai Qu, Bai Qu, who is that beautiful lady? She’s so pretty.”

Bai Qu was gazing at the thick blood mist in the distance. Hearing her words, he couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle. He turned to look at Youyou’s curious face, his feelings incredibly complex. “Little Youyou is rarely this curious about a stranger, is she?”

“Huh?”

What did Bai Qu mean by that?

“Never mind. Brother doesn’t know who that person is either. But… she shouldn’t harm you.”

Helplessly, he stroked Youyou’s head. The corner of his eye caught the mysterious woman walking out of the bedroom, and he suddenly narrowed his eyes with a hint of malice.

“Youyou, in your heart, is Brother the most important person?”

His cool fingertips gently caressed the little girl’s face. On the surface, Bai Qu was gentle and calm, but deep down, he felt an inexplicable panic.

After all, this was the little girl he had watched grow up since she was small. He had personally watched her flourish and slowly transform.

Outsiders all knew he was the little girl’s pillar of support, but conversely, she was also his motivation to break through the darkness and force himself to grow.

The naive young boy who would once burst into tears when he couldn’t find the little girl was long gone. The little girl, on the other hand, had started to cry more and more.

“Of course you are.”

She said it without the slightest hesitation. Youyou threw herself into Bai Qu’s arms, hugging his waist tightly.

“Bai Qu is the most important. Su Ling is the least important.”

At the mention of Su Ling, Youyou couldn’t help but huff and grind her teeth. She bumped her head against Bai Qu’s chest with all her might, showing a rare burst of possessiveness.

“I hate you, Bai Qu! Why do you have to like that bully Su Ling? He always says bad things about me, bullies me, scolds me, and bothers me when I’m playing games.”

Listing Su Ling’s faults one by one, Youyou’s tone was indignant, as if he had truly done something to anger both gods and men.

“He told me not to touch you, but I’m going to touch you anyway! Hmph! I’ll make him so mad, that bully.”

Coquettishly, she hugged Bai Qu even tighter and looked up to command him, “You’re not allowed to like him more than you like me. The most you can do is like us equally.”

“Youyou.”

Never did he expect that he would be the one getting a lecture from the little girl in the end. Bai Qu gave a wry smile and said, “Okay.” He didn’t tell her that Su Ling had only done those things with his tacit approval.

It was just like how he had once subtly guided Youyou to become curious about drawing, and had even successfully made her fall in love with it. After learning that people with autism also needed certain strong, negative stimuli from the outside world, Bai Qu had tried to find a balance—a point that Youyou could accept.

And clearly, the final result of this approach was quite good.

Because Youyou had progressed from initially ignoring Su Ling to tolerating his mischief, asking him for help, glaring at him indignantly, bickering with him, and even, when extremely angry, going up and scratching him a couple of times. It was all incredibly endearing.

The moment he recalled those scenes, Bai Qu couldn’t help but smile. But this was like poking a hornet’s nest. Su Ling was standing at the dining room entrance, holding his bowl and chopsticks and stuffing his face, all while staring at him with the look one would give a heartless cheater.

Seeing this, Bai Qu raised an eyebrow and gestured for Youyou to look at Su Ling.

Youyou looked over and was extremely pleased with herself. She made a face at Su Ling and said in a sweet, gloating voice, “In Brother’s heart, I’m the most important. You’re last place. You heard that, right?”

“Bai… You… You.”

This brat’s just asking for a beating.

Gripping his chopsticks so hard they creaked, Su Ling suddenly whispered to the woman, “Aren’t you going to do something about her? You’re just going to let her gloat like this?”

This shouldn’t be happening. Given this woman’s twisted possessiveness, how could she tolerate the little rascal clinging to another man?

Even if that man was her brother.

Her fingertips, hidden beneath the wide red cloak, twitched slightly. The woman pressed her lips together, averted her gaze, and said in a restrained and indifferent tone, “She looks… very happy.”

Su Ling: …

So, as long as she’s happy, nothing else matters?

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