Chapter 21: Keeping her here is her undoing!

The moment Xu Hetang spoke, Xie Fangyun glared at him.

"I think you’ve truly gone senile, spouting nothing but nonsense. If you keep her here, you’re only harming her!"

Xie Fangyun’s words pulled Xu Hetang back to reality. He had almost forgotten that Duoduo was human, not a supernatural entity. Once the level concluded, Duoduo had to leave this place. If she stayed, her only fate would be total annihilation. He had looked at Duoduo’s soft, fair face and, thinking of her departure in three days, felt such reluctance that he had let those foolish words slip out. He was wrong; he shouldn't have allowed himself any such delusions.

Duoduo, who was busy gnawing on a chicken claw, heard their conversation and slowly looked up.

"Grandpa, Grandma, I want to stay."

"No, you must leave!"

Even Xie Fangyun was surprised by her own vehemence. She had only met this little toddler today; whether the child lived or died should have had nothing to do with her. Yet, for reasons unknown, looking at Duoduo’s small face reminded her of her own granddaughter in the human world—the one who had wept heart-wrenchingly, begging them not to hit her grandmother while she was being beaten. That was the only person among her descendants who had ever cared for her.

"Why? Does Grandma not like me? But I like Grandma very much!"

Duoduo pursed her lips, her chubby face looking even rounder. She stared expectantly at Xie Fangyun, wondering why she wasn't liked. Was it because she hadn't been good, and had accidentally snapped off Grandma's arm earlier that morning?

"Grandma, I’m sorry. I won’t shake your arm ever again."

Duoduo hopped off the chair, bowed to Xie Fangyun, and apologized sincerely. Her sweet, obedient demeanor only made Xie Fangyun miss her own granddaughter all the more. She stood up slowly and crouched down in front of Duoduo.

"Duoduo, may Grandma give you a hug?"

"Yes, you can!"

Duoduo nodded vigorously, her eyes brighter than the stars in the night sky. If Grandma wanted to hug her, did that mean she had already accepted her?

Xie Fangyun raised her arms and gently pulled Duoduo into her embrace. Before she had passed away, her own granddaughter had been a little chubbier and taller than Duoduo. She wondered how that child was faring in the world of the living now. Unable to hold back, Xie Fangyun let tears slide down her cheeks, dripping onto Duoduo’s back.

Duoduo made a soft, puzzled sound. "Is Grandpa and Grandma’s house leaking rain, just like the orphanage?"

"I’m sorry!"

Xie Fangyun raised her hand and gently wiped the tears from the child's back. She slowly let her go, her eyes rimmed with red.

"Grandma, why are you crying?"

Duoduo raised her small hands to wipe the tears from Xie Fangyun’s cheeks. Her hands were plump and felt incredibly soft. Xie Fangyun gently held them, shaking her head with a smile.

"Grandma isn't crying, don't you worry. The food is getting cold, let's sit down and eat!"

Xie Fangyun tried to lift her up, but the moment she raised Duoduo even a little, her arm began to creak. Not caring if her arm snapped off, she was only afraid of dropping Duoduo, so she hurriedly set her back down.

"Duoduo is such a good girl, why don't you climb up yourself?"

"Okay! I'm very good at climbing, I'll show you!"

Duoduo giggled and ran back to her chair, scrambling up with great effort. Xie Fangyun watched her with a smile full of maternal love. Once seated, Duoduo stood on the chair and picked up a braised chicken claw, placing it into Xie Fangyun’s bowl.

"Grandma, eat the hand. The Headmistress said, you become what you eat!"

Duoduo looked at Xie Fangyun with absolute seriousness. In her mind, a chicken claw was a chicken's hand. Eating it would replenish what was lost; if Grandma ate the chicken's hand, her own wouldn't fall off again. She didn't want Grandma's arm to fall off; she didn't want to see Grandma in pain. Back at the orphanage, whenever she cut her finger with a knife, it hurt so much. Since Grandma’s arm had actually fallen off, it must have hurt even more!

The red moon gradually climbed into the sky. Duoduo rubbed her round, bulging belly and let out a satisfied burp.

"Grandpa’s cooking is so delicious, I’m so full!"

Xu Hetang was delighted by the compliment. Cooking was one of his few hobbies. When he was alive, he had always enjoyed cooking for himself. This was the first time he had ever cooked for someone else, and the first time someone had told him his food was good! Xu Hetang’s eyes crinkled with a profound sense of accomplishment.

"If Duoduo likes it, Grandpa will make it for you again tomorrow!"

"Yay!"

Duoduo nodded and happily stood up to help Xu Hetang clear the table. She held the plate with both hands, clumsily sliding down from her chair. Xu Hetang stacked the remaining dishes and followed her toward the kitchen with a smile.

The cupboard was too high. Duoduo stood on her tiptoes, trying hard to place the plate on the shelf, but after several attempts, she failed.

"Don't rush, Duoduo, Grandpa will help you in a moment."

Xu Hetang set down the dishes he was holding and reached for the plate in Duoduo's hands. But the plate was greasy and slippery. Before Xu Hetang could get a grip on it, it slipped from Duoduo’s grasp.

*Crash!*

The plate hit the floor and shattered into pieces. Startled by the sharp sound, Duoduo instinctively took a step back.

"Grandpa, it broke!"

Duoduo looked up at Xu Hetang with her soft, pale face, hiding her hands behind her back, feeling guilty. Seeing Xu Hetang crouch down in front of her, she hesitated, then stretched out her hands, palms facing up, before him.

Xu Hetang took her small hands and examined them carefully. Seeing that she wasn't hurt, he let out a silent sigh of relief.

"May you have peace throughout the years—as long as you aren't hurt, it's fine!"

Duoduo blinked for two seconds, tilting her head as she looked at him curiously. Why didn't Grandpa hit her? Back at the orphanage, if any of the children accidentally broke a plate, they would be punished by having their palms struck.

"Grandpa..."

Duoduo’s big, round eyes flickered, and tears began to well up.

Xu Hetang patted her head, comforting her gently. "It’s alright. I’ll clean this up; why don't you go keep Grandma company and watch TV?"

"Grandpa isn't mad at me?" Duoduo asked uncertainly.

Xu Hetang’s eyes curved into a smile. "You are such a good girl, and you didn't break the plate on purpose. How could I bear to scold you over a plate?"

"You are a good Grandpa!" Duoduo beamed, her tears turning into a smile. She raised her arms to hug him.

Xu Hetang, seeing how sensitive she was, slowly raised his arms. Just as he was about to embrace her, Duoduo slipped out of his arms like a little loach and darted away. Xu Hetang shook his head with a laugh and stood up to clean the shards.

Duoduo sat in the living room, clinging to Xie Fangyun’s arm as they watched TV. Having eaten too much, she grew sleepy the moment she sat still. Xie Fangyun was engrossed in the program when she suddenly felt a weight on her lap. Looking down, she saw that Duoduo had fallen asleep against her.

Xie Fangyun instinctively wanted to call Xu Hetang to help carry the child to her room, but after a moment's hesitation, she decided to try it herself. Duoduo’s body was much lighter than she had imagined. Carrying the child effortlessly, she returned to the "daughter’s" bedroom and tucked her into bed with the utmost care.

As she stood up, her peripheral vision caught sight of the ugly doll clutched in Duoduo’s arms, and her spine instantly bristled with terror.