48.2

"Consciously be more careful," He Yuan said. Under coercion, Jing Dan could only reluctantly transform back into her original form and be held by He Yuan as he placed her into the tub, dampening her fur once again. Jing Dan: "..." She numbly curled up in the tub, trying to ignore the hand pinching her ear, counting each passing second in her mind. Nevertheless, the effects of the medicine seemed quite effective; she felt her soul had solidified to some extent. After the bath ended once again, Jing Dan, who reverted to her fluffy form with a flick of He Yuan's hand, was now very familiar with the process. She rushed out without noticing that He Yuan behind her had taken out his phone and started filming her. Watching the little cub run out, He Yuan lowered his head to look at the video recorded on his phone. The way the little panda cub with its short legs was running, its tail flicking faintly, a slight curve formed at the corner of his lips. He casually sent the video to He Xing. Receiving the video, He Xing fell silent as she watched the screen. She hadn't expected He Yuan helping her treat Jing Dan would result in her reverting to her original form... Changing back to her original form was just that, but how could this little cub still be so careless as to not even notice being filmed? Watching Jing Dan coming down from upstairs, He Xing quickly turned off her phone. As she approached Jing Dan, she had already decided to find a chance later to download and save the video and synchronize it to the cloud to avoid losing it. "How are you, Mom? Are you feeling okay?" He Xing asked. Jing Dan: "..." She was doing fine, but it would be better if she didn't pinch her ears. Fortunately, Jing Dan was unaware that she had been secretly filmed by He Yuan; otherwise, she might not have thought things were fine. Seeing her like this, He Xing smiled and said, "How about we go ice skating?" Upon hearing this, Jing Dan quickly nodded. Subsequently, the two went to the hasty room to retrieve their gear and followed He Xing out of the villa. After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at a large frozen lake surrounded by tall trees covered in snow. In the distance, there were snow-capped mountains, displaying a winter scene of silver-wrapped elegance exposed to the cold wind. He Xing helped Jing Dan put on her skates, then watched her in silence on the ice. An inexplicable sense of hostility surged in her chest. If she could really step on him properly, she would want to bring him to He Yuan herself to let him personally step on him! "What's wrong with you?" Jing Dan suddenly asked softly. He Xing turned around to see Jing Dan looking confused. She took a deep breath to suppress the hostility in her chest and said, "Nothing, just thinking about a legend." Seeing He Xing return to her usual demeanor, Jing Dan asked, "What legend?" At this point, Hu Tu also came over. "What's going on? Are you going to tell us a story?" Seeing Hu Tu's cheerful appearance, He Xing smiled lightly but without much warmth. She said, "This legend tells of a man in the past who slaughtered his own kin for his selfish desires and was later besieged to death." Pointing to the ice beneath her feet, she added coldly, "It is said that he died in this lake." Hu Tu was taken aback, not expecting such a story. Jing Dan watched the cold smile at He Xing's lips and felt a discomfort in her heart. She didn't feel like He Xing was truly smiling; she was crying. He Xing was crying. Realizing this, Jing Dan felt a heavy, indescribable sadness in her heart. "In that legend, that person truly was despicable," Hu Tu said. He Xing looked towards the distant snow-capped mountains, saying lightly, "Indeed, he was despicable. So every person who knows this story, when passing by this lake, will always throw a few stones in or step on its ice in winter." "A person like that, even after death, does not deserve any dignity." Hu Tu noticed that He Xing's expression wasn't right and chose not to ask more after a moment of consideration. She actually wanted to know if that person in the story had any connection to her, but upon seeing He Xing's expression, she turned silent. It didn't matter; she wouldn't be like that. Jing Dan reached out and grabbed He Xing's hand, tilting her head to look at her. He Xing turned her head and, seeing Jing Dan like this, couldn't help but smile gently, holding her hand even tighter. Although Jing Dan didn't speak, she could feel the comforting intention in Jing Dan's heart. Since Jing Dan didn't know how to ice skate, He Xing began teaching her while Hu Tu had started to enjoy herself on the ice. As Jing Dan cautiously glided along, feeling the smoothness created by the ice skates slicing on the ice, she curiously asked, "Won't the ice skates cut the ice?" What if the ice suddenly broke, and they fell into the water? "It won't; the ice layer is thick." He Xing chuckled, easily identifiable as someone unfamiliar with the north. "Okay." Jing Dan nodded and, under He Xing's patient guidance, gradually got the hang of it, finally being able to skate on her own after releasing He Xing's hand. Seeing Jing Dan gliding smoothly, He Xing walked beside her with a sense of relief, afraid she might fall if she wasn't focused. Nevertheless, Jing Dan had some innate talent and skated smoothly without falling even once. Unbeknownst to He Xing, the reason Jing Dan hadn't fallen was that she repeatedly reminded herself in her mind: falling would ruin her image, falling would ruin her image, which forced her to skate gracefully! Sliding freely on the ice amidst the world, feeling the cold wind on her face, it seemed like she truly had the sensation of galloping in the wind. Jing Dan looked back to see He Xing had started dancing on the ice at some point. Dressed lightly, she appeared like a white crane standing on the ice, her graceful dance becoming the most captivating sight in this world. Her coat fluttered with her movements, and at one moment, Jing Dan felt like she was about to fly away. "Can this person dance on the ice?" Hu Tu approached, somewhat disbelieving, watching He Xing. Aren't dances on the ground usually different from figure skating? Staring at the dancing He Xing strung on the ice, Jing Dan absentmindedly felt like she could see the free-spirited soul through that skin at this moment, even though she was in human form. Her shoulder was suddenly bumped. "What's wrong? Dumbstruck?" Hu Tu asked. Jing Dan turned her head, looking expressionless. Hu Tu smiled lightly, "He Xing is excellent; exceptional people always have no shortage of admirers." But He Xing had never let an admirer be seen by Jing Dan. Of course, Hu Tu thought, He Xing probably didn't even realize that Xu Yu had feelings for her. Jing Dan: "..." She knew He Xing was very good and must have numerous admirers, but what did that have to do with Hu Tu suddenly bringing this up? He Xing didn't like those admirers anyway. Watching the clueless Jing Dan, Hu Tu fell silent for a moment and finally left. Fine, He Xing wasn't in a hurry, being a spectator herself, why rush things? Seeing Hu Tu leave, Jing Dan frowned slightly, feeling a bit stifled. After playing for most of the day, the three returned when the sky had darkened completely. Winter nights fell early, allowing an early appreciation of the night view, especially in the backyard that He Yuan had decorated, which was exceptionally beautiful at night. And this so-called New Year's Eve dinner was arranged in the glass house in the backyard. Watching He Xing busy around, after everyone had sat down, He Yuan asked in a soft tone, "Shall we make a few more steps?" The others were stunned to hear this, while He Xing smoothly continued, "Yes, we have two more people this time." Jing Dan, Hu Tu: "..." They understood. He Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile of approval as she nodded. Subsequently, she took the initiative to serve food for Jing Dan and Hu Tu, smiling faintly at them. Hu Tu: "..." Suddenly feeling inadequate, you haven't even served your daughter any food! Seeing He Yuan's gesture, Jing Dan was momentarily stunned but then smiled at He Xing, placing the food in He Xing's bowl. He Xing was taken aback by her action and looked at her dumbly, while on the other side, He Yuan glanced meaningfully at Jing Dan, not saying a word, and simply lowered her head to eat her meal. Hu Tu, sitting across from them: "..." You're not even dating yet, isn't this a bit too much affection? As they finished the meal, Hu Tu couldn't help feeling like she had eaten dog food, looking somewhat lost as she glanced at the two across the table. However, what no one expected was that after dinner, He Yuan actually gave them red envelopes. The thick envelope felt weighty in their hands, truly fitting for the festive day. After giving out the red envelopes, He Yuan stood up and said, "I won't bother you young people for the rest of the time. I'm an old lady who needs to rest early." With that, she left. Hu Tu: "..." You really don't have the air of an old lady at all. A monster like her, how could she have the face to call herself an old lady? She and He Xing stood together; who would think they were mother and daughter? Everyone would definitely assume they were sisters! Nevertheless, for Jing Dan, who had been restored to her original form by He Yuan, she felt much more at ease with He Yuan leaving. At least she wouldn't have to be reminded of the times when she was in her original form and He Yuan pinched her ear! She snorted inwardly, despite her seemingly indifferent appearance, He Yuan still had to pinch her ear! "Wanna watch the Spring Festival Gala?" Since they were staying up for the New Year, He Xing suggested watching the program. Hu Tu: "...Are you serious?" Jing Dan nodded in agreement, having watched the human Spring Festival Gala before, finding it truly boring, with some programs being awkward. He Xing: "...Fine, she didn't want to watch either." The three returned indoors, and Jing Dan made a video call to her aunt. As soon as the call connected, a black head popped into the screen, followed by a white head squeezing in. Seeing these two heads, He Xing's expression subtly changed, the smile at the corner of her lips deepening even more. She glanced at the oblivious Jing Dan, her eyes softening, and couldn't help twisting her head away with a suppressed smile, not wanting Jing Dan to see her expression at that moment. The Jing Dan who was once anxious to explain she was her aunt's cat was truly adorable. So adorable that it made one want to turn her into a little cub and hug her tightly. (End of this chapter)