45 - The Panda Cub Bows For Love

Chapter 45: Knowing Without Reporting When Crane heard her request, he was momentarily stunned, then carefully observed Jing Dan's expression. She seemed like a cautious little creature, tentatively extending her soft claws, ready to retract them if met with silence. "Sure," she smiled. Upon hearing her agreement, Jing Dan immediately relaxed, even impatiently pulling Crane back to their room. Crane: "..." What's with this anxious behavior? She chuckled softly, saying, "I'll go back to take a shower first. After I finish, can I come find you?" However, to Crane's surprise, upon hearing Crane's words, Jing Dan immediately insisted on accompanying her to the shower! Jing Dan, just done talking: "..." Crane, hearing her: "..." The two stared at each other, and eventually Crane was defeated by her gaze, leading Jing Dan back to her room. Inside Crane's room, similar to hers, she watched Crane pick out fresh clothes and enter the bathroom. Hearing the sound of running water from inside, she felt relieved, quickly returning to fetch her own sleepwear. Tonight, she planned to bathe and sleep here at Crane's place! She waited outside, glancing towards the bathroom now and then, her phone lying dormant in her hands, devoid of any interest. After the water in the bathroom ceased, she heard the door open not long after. Looking up, she met Crane's gaze and was momentarily stunned. Crane, fresh out of the shower, seemed to exude heat all over her body, coloring her skin pink, like a budding pink lotus. Crane, caught off guard by her direct gaze: "..." Knowing that this guy hardly ever overthinks things, she would have suspected he might be up to something. As she watched Crane come out and Jing Dan regain her senses, doubts crept in. If she entered the shower now, she wouldn't be able to keep an eye on Crane outside! Seeing Crane conflicted, she couldn't fathom what she was up to, drying her damp hair with a towel. She asked softly, "What's wrong with you?" Her behavior tonight was too unusual, especially after meeting her mother. She pondered if something had transpired between the two of them. Of course, Jing Dan couldn't tell her everything, so she handed her phone to Crane and said, "Help me clear this level. I'll play more after I'm done with my bath!" If she couldn't see her, she would find another way to keep her there! Crane: "..." Eventually, Jing Dan went in to shower, leaving Crane outside, playing games on Jing Dan's phone, finding the situation amusing. When Jing Dan emerged, she saw Crane immersed in the game, which eased her. She approached to check her progress and found she was stuck on a level she couldn't pass. Crane looked up, calmly handing her the phone back and coughed softly, "It's late. Stop playing and go to bed." As she spoke, she couldn't even bring herself to meet Crane's gaze, standing up to dry her hair with a blow dryer. Then she lay on the bed, her cheeks blushing slightly after turning away from Crane. She had died so many times on that level! Although she was a bit surprised when she saw Crane playing, soon enough, she didn't think much about it. She had no idea what Crane was really thinking at the moment. Seeing her get into bed, she finally let her guard down. There was half a person's worth of space between them. Jing Dan lay sleeping in an unusually orderly manner, her eyes closed as she drifted off. Crane, still immersed in her own thoughts, noticed Jing Dan's breathing becoming shallower. She soon moved closer, eventually wrapping herself around Crane like she would a bolster. Crane chuckled lightly, feeling content, used to this behavior of Jing Dan's once she fell asleep. Every time they slept together, no matter how composed Jing Dan was before sleep, she would invariably cling to Crane like an octopus in slumber. As time passed and Jing Dan slept deeper, Crane cautiously removed Jing Dan's hand from herself. Placing her pillow in Jing Dan's embrace, she quietly got out of bed, instantaneously appearing at the door of He Yuan's room on the second floor. She gave a soft knock. Inside, there was no sound, just a slight distortion in Crane's surroundings, and then she appeared in He Yuan's room. Crane was unfazed by this maneuver, entering to find He Yuan seated by the window, gazing out at the night. There was a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table. Sitting beside her, Crane automatically poured them both some wine, starting the conversation. "Why aren't you sleeping in your own room?" Crane inquired. Crane lowered her eyes, handing a glass to He Yuan, softly responding, "There are things in my room that she shouldn't see yet." He Yuan accepted the glass, offering a cold smile. Having a sip, Crane asked, "What did you two talk about earlier?" He Yuan redirected her gaze out the window, murmuring, "Didn't you ask me to keep an eye on her?" Crane: "..." "Done. I know the issue," He Yuan took a sip of wine, looking more fatigued. Leaning back against the wall, she said softly, "Quite an interesting little one." Crane nodded, slightly smiling at her words, a hint of amusement in her voice as she asked, "So what exactly is the problem? Can it be solved?" He Yuan turned her gaze on Crane, revealing a complex expression similar to when she had looked at Jing Dan. "Remember when I told you about the extra soul on you?" "Uh?" Crane raised her head, having a premonition. As He Yuan continued, it came to fruition... "Her soul," He Yuan stated. Crane was completely taken aback, staring at He Yuan in disbelief. Despite having a clue already, she found the answer incredulous. "But, but we... " "You should know why this situation has arisen." Crane fell silent. She indeed knew, yet even with this knowledge, she found it hard to accept. She and Jing Dan were acquainted in their past lives? And Jing Dan was willing to let her soul reside on Crane's body. After a long silence, she asked, "Can her soul be returned to her?" He Yuan shook her head, "Unless the owner of the soul is willing, no one can extract it." Crane remained silent. He Yuan didn't pry into her thoughts, continuing, "It will be that person's anniversary in a few days. Remember to pay a visit." Crane: "...I know." She always had to remind her of this whenever she returned. Upon hearing Crane's response, He Yuan finally showed a sincere smile. Yet Crane felt stifled. From childhood till now, she hadn't received many kind looks from her. The only time she ever saw a benevolent expression was when stomping on the bones of that person as a reminder. She closed her eyes, reluctant to dwell on it further, and inquired, "If we can't return the soul to her, we can't let her continue like this, right? Is there another solution?" "There is," He Yuan said, her eyes half-lidded with weariness. "The reason she easily reverts back to her original form near you is that her soul on you isn't nourished enough. When she nears you, her soul inevitably extends a part of itself to nurture that strand of soul on you." The consequence was evident - lacking sufficient soul energy to sustain herself, she would revert to her original form involuntarily. Crane couldn't help but chuckle at this revelation. It seemed that Jing Dan's soul on her was indeed being neglected. Not knowing it belonged to Jing Dan, she had never cared to invest any of her divine essence into caring for it. "So, the solution is for me to nurture this soul. Once it receives enough nourishment, she won't absorb soul energy from Jing Dan anymore, right?" Crane inquired. He Yuan nodded, "That's the idea." Crane felt a bit relieved, but soon worriedly asked, "Even if I'm not around, she will still uncontrollably revert. Is there a solution for that?" Upon hearing this, He Yuan looked at her and suddenly asked, "You care about her a lot. Have you fallen for her?" Crane was taken aback, not by the question itself, but by He Yuan's concern for her emotions. Lowering her head, after a long silence, she nodded gently. She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when her feelings for Jing Dan had changed, but once she became aware of it, all she wanted to do was to be good to her and, if possible, even have Jing Dan reciprocate those feelings. He Yuan casually remarked, "Bring her here tomorrow." Upon hearing this, Crane's eyes brightened, knowing that He Yuan had agreed in essence. She couldn't help but smile warmly and sincerely say, "Thank you, Mom." Afterwards, she spent some time drinking with He Yuan, and when it was almost time, she got up to leave. "Why don't you tell her that you already know her identity?" He Yuan asked from behind. Crane chuckled, thinking of the person sleeping peacefully downstairs, her expression filled with joy. "Since she wants to keep it a secret, I'll play along with her." (The end of this chapter)