Chương 86: Busy Sound

Luo Bingli's body trembled slightly. The fear and unease buried deep in her heart seemed to find an outlet after receiving Xing Shuang's promise of "I'm here," but she dared not release it easily because of her long-standing self-protection.

"Really?" She sat up slightly from Xing Shuang's embrace, looking at her senior with teary eyes, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Xing Shuang was slightly taken aback, then her eyes became more determined and gentle, and she nodded gently.

She knew how heavy a promise was for a child accustomed to loneliness and disappointment, and how much courage it took to believe in such a promise.

Looking at the undeniable sincerity in Xing Shuang's eyes, Luo Bingli felt the ice in her heart gradually shatter, but a deeper fear also followed.

She bit her lower lip: "Although... you're different from the previous seniors, you're gentler and stronger... I'm still very scared..."

"I'm afraid you'll leave too, just like them... If that happens again... I will... I will..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the despair contained in her unfinished words made Xing Shuang know very clearly that if she were to suddenly disappear like those magical girls, Liu Li would definitely fall into utter despair.

That door to my heart, which I finally managed to open a crack in, will be forever, forever closed to the world.

So she reached out and gently cupped Liuli's face, her fingertips softly wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Her tone was solemn and earnest, each word carrying an undeniable power: "Liuli, listen to me."

"I, Xingshuang, promise you." She looked directly into Liuli's tearful eyes, "I will never leave your side. Whenever and wherever you want, you can come to me. I will always be there."

These words were like the warmest sunshine, instantly dispelling the chill that had been building up in Luo Bingli's heart for so long.

The longing for warmth and support that she had long wrapped up with layers of coldness and thorns surged forth at this moment like a torrent breaking free of its restraints.

"Ugh..." She couldn't hold back any longer, and stretched out her trembling arms, for the first time... she took the initiative and hugged Xing Shuang tightly.

The hug was so tight, as if trying to meld oneself into the other's body, as if only in this way could one draw enough warmth and security, and confirm the authenticity of this promise.

Xingshuang hugged her tightly, gently patting her back, letting her vent all her unease and grievances in her arms.

Two beautiful young women embraced tightly on a bench, surrounded by a crowd of people and noisy background noise.

Many passersby cast curious glances, marveling at the beautiful scene, yet hesitant to disturb its unique tranquility.

But Xingshuang paid no attention to this; all her attention was focused on the child in her arms who needed comfort.

All the noise from the outside world could not deter her determination to offer warmth and support to the other person at this moment.

After a while, perhaps having finally released all her pent-up emotions, Luo Bingli's body gradually stopped trembling, and her breathing slowly calmed down.

But she still held Xingshuang tightly, her cheek pressed against the other's soft fabric, her eyes closed, savoring this rare warmth that made her feel safe and secure.

Just then, a familiar voice came from not far away: "Senior? Xiao Li? What... are you doing?"

Su Yuqing, carrying three freshly bought drinks, returned to the bench and looked at the two embracing with curiosity.

Upon hearing Su Yuqing's voice, Luo Bingli sprang away from Xing Shuang's arms like a startled deer, two suspicious blushes instantly appearing on her face.

She hurriedly straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, instinctively wanting to move to the side and create some distance between herself and Xing Shuang, as if the person who had just taken the initiative to hug her was not her at all.

However, just as she took half a step, a warm hand gently but firmly pressed down on her shoulder, preventing her from moving away.

Xing Shuang didn't look at her, but instead met Su Yuqing's gaze with a gentle smile as she walked over.

But the hand on her shoulder carried a silent reassurance and reassurance, as if telling her, "It's okay, don't hide."

Luo Bingli's body stiffened slightly as she felt the strength and warmth coming from her shoulder, and the blush on her cheeks deepened.

She lowered her head uncomfortably, stealing a glance at Xing Shuang out of the corner of her eye, a complex emotion welling up inside her—a mix of shyness and subtle sweetness.

Su Yuqing walked up to the two of them, looked at Luo Bingli's bright red ears and unnatural expression, and then looked at Senior Xingshuang's gentle smile. Her heart was filled with clarity.

She deliberately avoided pointing out the slightly "ambiguous" atmosphere, instead puffing out her cheeks in feigned dissatisfaction, her tone tinged with a hint of jealousy: "Xiao Li is so cunning! She secretly hugged her senior while I was away! That's so unfair!"

As she spoke, she mimicked Luo Bingli's actions, opening her arms to pounce on Xing Shuang, "No, no! Senior belongs to everyone! I want a hug too!"

"Yuqing, you... misunderstood..." Luo Bingli tried to explain in a flustered and futile manner, but her voice was light and airy, and it seemed like she was trying to cover up the truth.

"I don't care! I don't care!" Su Yuqing ignored her embarrassment and stepped forward to squeeze into Xing Shuang's arms.

She wrapped her arms around Xing Shuang's waist and said in a coquettish tone, "It's been so long since I've hugged you, senior! I want a hug too! You're being unfair!"

Xing Shuang looked at Su Yuqing's lively and playful appearance and smiled helplessly and indulgently. She could only open her arms again and let this energetic "large pendant" rush into her arms.

"Hehehe... Senior's embrace smells so good and feels so soft..." Su Yuqing sighed contentedly.

After a while, she finally let go, satisfied. She picked up a cup of hot drink and handed it to Xing Shuang, then picked up another cup and handed it to Luo Bing Li. She held the last cup herself, her face beaming with a happy smile.

The rest of the time, including lunch and shopping, was spent in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Luo Bingli's mood was noticeably more relaxed and cheerful than ever before.

Although Su Yuqing and Xing Shuang mostly led the conversation, she would occasionally take the initiative to speak up, respond with a few words, or raise some small questions.

Especially when she looked at Xing Shuang, her eyes revealed an undisguised reliance and trust, as if Xing Shuang was her safest haven at that moment.

Su Yuqing naturally noticed this change, and she was genuinely happy for her friend, and felt even more admiration and gratitude for Senior Xingshuang.

She knew that going to buy drinks to create an opportunity for Xing Shuang and Xiao Li to be alone was an absolutely correct choice. There must have been some important conversation between the two of them, and the result was positive.

She was secretly delighted by this fact; it seemed her strategy had been very successful! Seeing Xiao Li open her heart and smile made her happier than anything else.

Pleasant times always pass too quickly. When the three returned to the mall entrance to say goodbye, night had already fallen.

"Senior, Xiaoli, I'm going home now! My mom must be getting impatient!" Su Yuqing waved to the two of them, a bright smile on her face.

"Today was so much fun! Let's go out and play together again next time!"

"Be careful on the road," Xing Shuang replied with a smile.

"Mm." Luo Bingli nodded gently.

After watching Su Yuqing skip away, Xing Shuang turned to Luo Bingli and said softly, "You should go home early too, and be careful on the road."

"Senior..." Luo Bingli looked at Xingshuang, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end she just pursed her lips and nodded gently, "You too."

But just as she was about to turn and leave, she suddenly turned back to look at Xing Shuang, with a mixture of probing and anticipation.

"From now on... it's okay to rely on you more, and to trouble you more, right?"

"Let me make this clear first, I'm a very troublesome kid, and I'll cause you... a lot of trouble."

Xing Shuang smiled, took a step forward, reached out, and gently ruffled Luo Bingli's soft, short hair: "Of course it's okay, you're always welcome to 'bother' me, Xiao Li."

"After all, taking care of 'difficult juniors' is a responsibility that seniors should fulfill."

Upon hearing this teasing yet tolerant reply, Luo Bingli's cheeks and delicate earlobes instantly flushed bright red.

The sense of security from being accepted and allowed to "cause trouble," along with the undisguised doting in Xing Shuang's words, made her heart pound, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

Finally, she nodded vigorously, and then, as if afraid that if she stayed any longer she would completely melt into the other person's gentleness, she turned around abruptly and ran away quickly in an almost panicked manner.

That slightly flustered figure revealed an unprecedented sense of lightness and relief.

Xing Shuang stood there, watching the girl's figure gradually disappear into the crowd. The smile on her face faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

She hadn't forgotten that she had more important things to investigate.

After finding a quiet, secluded corner, she took out the phone from "Tears of the Star"—the one with which she had exchanged contact information with Yuexi—and found the other party's number.

She needed to confirm some things, some details about Liuli and those missing seniors that Liuli might have overlooked or that led to cognitive biases due to subjective feelings.

The change in the attitudes of those predecessors towards Liuli, and their subsequent disappearances, may not be as simple as they seem on the surface; there seems to be too much "coincidence" involved.

Therefore, she needs to obtain more and more objective information from Senior Yuexi from another perspective to verify her judgment.

Taking a deep breath, Xing Shuang pressed the dial button.

However, all that came through the receiver was a cold, monotonous busy tone.

She frowned slightly and dialed again, but all she heard was a message indicating that no one was answering.

Yuexi... did not reply.

A deep unease, like the evening mist, quietly spread through Xingshuang's heart.