Chapter 45: Mister - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 45: Mister What should he be called if not "master"? Faced with this question, Chen An pondered for a moment before saying, "Just call me Mister." Mister? Luo Cong An didn’t quite understand, but obediently called out. "Mister." A smile appeared on Chen An's face. He scratched his head and glanced at the girl's dirty appearance, "I'll heat some water. You sit here for a while, and then I'll call you to take a bath." Upon hearing this, the girl quickly took two steps forward and grabbed the hem of Chen An’s clothing. "No..." She looked up and whispered, "Mister is someone of high status, such matters should be done by myself." Chen An was a bit helpless, "What are you talking about now, we're both ordinary people." "No, truly not." Luo Cong An muttered a weak rebuttal, lacking confidence. Despite what Chen An said, she stubbornly clung to his hem, refusing to let go. Chen An, having no choice, brought her along. ... Night fell. The world was silent. The firewood crackled, sending up stray sparks. Casually adding more firewood, Chen An clapped his hands and said to the girl beside him, "There are no other servants in this house. Things like cooking and starting a fire are usually done by oneself, I hope you don't mind." Upon hearing this, Luo Cong An quickly shook her head like a rattle, "Everyone says I am born unlucky, yet Mister does not mind me, which is already a great kindness..." Seeing her timid demeanor, Chen An tenderly patted her head, "Don't be so insecure, Cong An." He suddenly smiled, "You know, it's possible that in another world, someone with white hair and red eyes like yours is well-loved by everyone." "Another... world?" "Yes, another world." "Cong An doesn’t understand." "It's normal not to understand, it's not important anyway." Tonight, Chen An rambled on, which was rare. It had been many years since he came to this world alone, having done and experienced much. Now, he simply wanted to complete the tasks given by the system as soon as possible. "I’ve actually been searching for you for a long time. They just told me to wait, without any certainty, but luckily, I found you. Perhaps this is fate?" Mister often says things she cannot understand. Luo Cong An looked on, bewildered. The young man sighed. "Perhaps it would be more fitting to call it destiny." ... The next morning, Luo Cong An woke up early. She lay cozily in the warm bed, letting out a contented sigh. Although they stayed up late last night, it was the first restful sleep she’d had in years. No longer buffeted by bone-chilling winds, nor lying on hard, damp ground, but on a warm, soft bed. Everything seemed dreamlike, as if any moment a poke could shatter it. But Luo Cong An knew she wasn’t dreaming. Outside, she heard Mister’s gentle voice. "Cong An, wake up, let’s go have breakfast." Hurriedly, Luo Cong An scrambled out of bed, forgetting to wear shoes and hurriedly rushed to the door, disheveled. Chen An, seeing her in that state, was momentarily taken aback. The girl, freshly cleaned, no longer emitted any unpleasant odor. Her long hair was once again snowy white and glossy. Her cute face, slightly flushed from running, appeared even more charming. Under the morning sunlight, she resembled a pearl long buried beneath dust, now clean and gleaming once more. If not for the difficult-to-conceal scars on her skin, Chen An might have believed she was an anime heroine come to life. Her disheveled state, however... Chen An, averting his gaze, lightly cleared his throat, turning his back. "Cong An, although we’re at home, one must still maintain a bit of decorum..." Behind him, he heard the girl’s shy cry and the sound of the door closing. Shortly after, Luo Cong An came out again, properly dressed. Chen An turned around, smiling. He noticed the previously bare, fair feet were now replaced by worn little cloth shoes. Chen An frowned, "Later, let’s also get you some new clothes and shoes." Blush still lingering on her face, the girl clenched her toes against the cold ground, about to refuse. Yet Chen An, noting her intention, added resolutely, "No refusing." Luo Cong An, slightly aggrieved, muttered an assent. She thought, with all these rules, Mister sure is a peculiar person. Chen An took her hand, stepping out of the house. This residence, a gift from someone, was old and small, yet complete with all essentials—more than enough for just the two of them. Along the way, people constantly greeted Chen An. Seeing him holding hands with a white-haired girl, they couldn’t hide their surprise. "Mr. Chen, who is this?" Chen An replied with a smile, not elaborating, and merely hurried along with Luo Cong An. Behind him, curious whispers followed. "What a pretty little girl." "Wow, white hair... really rare." "I think I heard someone say there's a white-haired kid on the west side of town?" Luo Cong An gradually understood why Chen An wanted her to call him Mister. In this small town of Guan Ping, Chen An was a schoolteacher. Not particularly esteemed, but sufficient for a modest living. He worked at a private school organized by the city lord, and the humble house was arranged by him. At a bustling noodle shop, Chen An led Luo Cong An to a seat. Observing the little girl’s calm demeanor, he joked, "I thought you'd be more shy in public." Luo Cong An looked over, carefully inching closer, then timidly asked, "What should I be afraid of?" "Those subtle remarks, like earlier." Luo Cong An shook her head, "I’m not afraid." More accurately, she was already used to it. Her only concern was whether it might affect people’s perception of Mister. After all, taking in an unusual person like her would surely spark rumors. Seeing she truly wasn’t bothered, Chen An relaxed. Waving a hand to call the owner, "Two bowls of noodles, please." ... Later, having picked out two outfits and shoes for her, Chen An brought Luo Cong An back to the yard. In the yard stood an old locust tree, its trunk thick and sturdy. Beneath it was a bamboo recliner, perfect for summer relaxation. But it was winter now, and cold. So Chen An moved it inside, placing it by the hall door. Laying out thick blankets, Chen An reclined upon it. The epitome of early retirement at twenty. As for Luo Cong An, she volunteered to do the cleaning. Chen An tried to dissuade her, knowing her temperament, but eventually let her be. Outside, snowflakes drifted down. Chen An squinted, gazing distantly. He started talking to himself again, saying things Luo Cong An found puzzling. "How long?" "Seven years..." "Damn, turns out there's cultivation." "Can I?" "I can't? Alright then." A soft sigh. (End of Chapter)