TSFLIP Chapter 441

With Fengguang around, Ji Mian felt at ease—no one in class would dare bully Xiao You. But as a new transfer student, everything else he had to rely on himself. Fortunately, for someone like Ji Mian—who grew up tough while these pampered rich kids were coddled their whole lives, he had more than enough tricks up his sleeve to sell you out and still have you thanking him for it.

When word came that the two new children were adjusting well at school, Xia Chao sat in his study and instructed the butler to take the investigation files away.

Just before the butler left, Xia Chao asked, “Does Fengguang like them?”

“Yes, sir. She’s been in noticeably better spirits these past few days.”

“What do you think of those two kids?”

“The younger one seems like a normal child. The older one… he’s almost too perfect.”

“Isn’t perfection a good thing?”

The butler, a man in his fifties, sighed. “It’s because he’s too perfect that it feels unnatural.”

“Exactly…” A flash of lightning lit up the window, casting a harsh outline on Xia Chao’s face. “No matter what kind of person he is, the moment he becomes a threat to Fengguang… he’ll lose whatever value he had in this house.”

In the end, he was just a toy for Fengguang to play with. And a toy only needs to serve its purpose—nothing more.

Outside, the rain poured harder, thunder crashing louder.

—

After his shower, Ji Mian opened the bathroom door, only to see a lump squirming under his blankets. He let out a helpless chuckle. “Xiao You, why aren’t you in your room?”

A small voice came from under the blanket. “Big Brother… It’s me.”

He froze for a second. “Fengguang? What are you doing in my room?”

“I want to sleep here tonight.”

Ji Mian walked over to the bed. “Aren’t you afraid of having nightmares?”

“I… I watched a really scary show a few days ago.”

“And?”

“It was about a ghost woman who shows up on stormy nights with thunder and lightning…”

Right on cue, lightning slashed across the sky again.

Ji Mian sighed. “But I’m scared of ghost women, too. What should we do?”

“It’s okay…” She reached out a tiny hand from under the blanket and gripped his. “My legs are short, I can’t run fast. The ghost will eat me first, and then you’ll have time to escape.”

Ji Mian’s expression froze for a moment before he blurted out, “Are you stupid?”

“What did you say, Big Brother?” A loud clap of thunder drowned out the end of her sentence.

Ji Mian paused. “Nothing. I was just thinking how to make you not scared anymore.”

“As long as you’re here, I’m not scared.” Her clear eyes sparkled like starlight. “Big Brother, just let me stay here for one night… Just one night, okay?”

Ji Mian weighed the consequences of kicking her out and quickly gave up on that idea. He sighed. “No kicking the blanket, no rolling around. Can you do that?”

“I can! I’ll sleep still!” Her eyes curved into happy crescents as she rolled further inside the bed, leaving the outer side for him.

Ji Mian turned off the light and got into bed. Just before closing his eyes, he said, “Only tonight. That’s it.”

He lay with his back to her, but soon he felt her slowly inching closer. Then, he felt the tiniest tug on the back of his shirt. She was trying not to let him notice, but needed to hold on to something to feel secure.

And despite himself, Ji Mian couldn’t deny it—something inside his long-numb conscience… was starting to stir.