After several days of careful care, the skin-and-bones Wanzi finally had a bit of flesh on her, and her temper had softened a lot. When she was with Xiao Dou, she even seemed to resonate with it, interacting in a beastly way.
But Jing Shu felt uneasy. Wanzi was still human, after all. Even though overconsumption of the crimson liquid had caused regression and mutation, and even robbed her of her reasoning, deep down she was still a person.
She worried that if Wanzi spent too much time with Xiao Dou, she might end up like a werewolf or an ape-man.
Right now, she didn't dare give Wanzi any more crimson liquid or black liquid. Those stimulants could change her in unpredictable ways, and until Jing Shu fully understood the effects, she couldn't plan her next steps.
So what to do? Maybe take her home for a few days? But Grandma Jing couldn't bear to see a child like this. If she got emotionally attached to her, it would be a big problem.
As she was fretting, she saw Hao Yunlai standing dumbly at the villa gate, staring up at the pitch-black sky.
Jing An chuckled, "These past few days, thanks to Hao Yunlai. Don't know what kind of weird luck this kid has. We ran into some strange things, but somehow everything turned out fine. Should've been disaster, and then, nothing happened. Weird, right?"
He scratched his head, thinking back. It was true, things were strange. If Hao Yunlai hadn't shown up, maybe nothing would happen, but when he came, something always did—and somehow, it never affected his family in the end.
Jing Shu laughed softly. That was just his constitution, weird as it was. She'd heard rumors he'd caused a whole family's death, and yet the family clung to him. Sometimes he'd even talk to himself.
She had never seen any of these ghostly tales herself, but right now, it felt a little creepy seeing him acting like he was chatting with multiple people all at once.
Hao Yunlai came over every so often, partly to dilute the Spirit Spring to ease his body, and partly to help out at Jing Shu's place. Grandma Jing liked this big boy—always a bit spaced out, but obedient and hardworking every time he helped.
When the car stopped in front of him, the still-drowsy Hao Yunlai finally realized, and his eyes widened with surprise and a touch of grievance. "You're finally back. I've been feeling… off lately."
Jing Shu kicked Xiao Dou out. "You're a grown-up chicken now, time to work." She started hauling down the packages and asked, "What's been off with you?"
Had he gotten a bit of crimson energy too, causing some regression? She wondered if he'd turn into an ape, but he looked normal enough.
Hao Yunlai blushed, embarrassed, and struggled to speak. At that moment, Wanzi suddenly dashed over, wrapped her arms around his leg, and refused to let go.
"What the hell?" Jing Shu said, sending her father to arrange the unloading while turning to look. Wanzi had always been insecure. Ever since losing her reasoning, aside from being close to Jing Shu or Xiao Dou, she'd never been affectionate toward anyone.
All these days, she'd always bared her teeth at strangers. This sudden closeness was extreme.
Wanzi squeaked in what seemed like another language, which even Jing Shu as a beast-tamer couldn't understand, but it was clear she'd found a sense of safety in Hao Yunlai.
Hao Yunlai was startled too, but then his expression shifted to surprise. He patted Wanzi's head. "She smells like me… she's used that energy too?"
Jing Shu nodded. "She overused it, that's why she lost her senses."
Hao Yunlai became serious. At that moment, his usual lazy aura vanished, his lifeless eyes cleared, and his curly hair with a serious expression made him look unexpectedly handsome.
"This could be regression. Lately, I've noticed some strange actions in myself too."
"Strange actions? What kind? Like what?" Jing Shu studied him from head to toe.
Hao Yunlai squirmed awkwardly, acting shy like a young girl, which made Jing Shu both anxious and curious. What kind of beastly behavior was this?
Finally, he found a way to change the subject. "I think… she sees me as a mom."
Jing Shu blinked.
"This kid, I named her Wanzi. She's a girl and an orphan. During her testing in the capital, she overused the energy and lost her reasoning. I saw those people treat her like a burden, trying to quietly get rid of her, so I saved her." Jing Shu explained.
"Wanzi, huh? She's adorable. Scared the hell out of her, huh? So… what do you plan to do with her?" Hao Yunlai looked at her quietly, eyes glinting.
"Not sure yet," Jing Shu admitted.
"How about I take care of her?" Hao Yunlai said seriously.
"You? A grown man… can you handle it?" Jing Shu asked skeptically.
"It's fine. Wanzi thinks of me as a mom. Even if I can't manage everything, I can ask my mom, my sister—they'll help. They all like Wanzi. She smells like me, and being with her might even ease my own condition. Don't worry. I'll report back regularly and make sure she's well cared for."
Jing Shu had known Hao Yunlai for years, and this was the first time he'd spoken so much, so seriously. She trusted his character. She was also struggling with how to handle Wanzi, and if their powers were linked, the two of them were essentially the same kind of person now—better than being with her and Xiao Dou.
Jing Shu ignored the part about him asking his mom. He always said silly things.
"Alright, she can stay with you for a while. Let's see if it helps her."
Hao Yunlai walked off with Wanzi—well, technically, Wanzi clung to his leg like a little monkey clutching her mother, completely secure. Jing Shu had given Hao Yunlai plenty of Wanzi's daily necessities, clothes, warm coats, food, and formula. She needed the nutrition.
After sending them off and finishing unloading, Jing Shu realized Xiao Dou had already brought her luggage back inside, seeking cuddles and comfort, while Xiao Guagua had disappeared from sight, now nestled in Grandma Jing's arms, being called "little darling" bite by bite.
Jing Shu rubbed her temple. "Grandma, Xiao Guagua is male."
Male. What did that even mean?