I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 212

Chapter 212: You Know I Can Only Express Myself Through Actions

 

Possibly because we prepared a larger dinner this time, using more kitchen utensils and tableware, the post-dinner tasks such as washing dishes and pots took us a bit more time. Originally, Lan Jiajia planned for us to drop Zhou Xiaofei off first, and she would take care of the dishwashing alone.

 

However, this little girl insisted on “helping out after eating here,” and she ended up washing dishes and pots together with Lan Jiajia. She watched as the cleaned dishes and chopsticks were placed in the disinfection cabinet before finally resting.

 

It’s evident that Zhou Xiaofei is likely accustomed to doing such tasks at home; she is very skillful and knows how to use various kitchen cleaning agents. Keep in mind, she is just a sixth-grade elementary school student.

 

If I recall correctly, when I was in sixth grade, we helped make dumplings at the welfare institute. Dishwashing and similar tasks were usually assigned to students in junior high school and above because younger children tended to break dishes easily. During that time, the welfare institute’s budget couldn’t afford the frequent replacement of plates and bowls.

 

She is polite and well-mannered when interacting with people, speaks appropriately, and is considerate when at others’ homes. Even if she shows particular interest in the TV and decorations on the flower rack in the living room, she rarely leaves the sofa. During meals, she is very quiet, eats whatever is on her plate without wasting or being picky. After eating, she even volunteers to help with washing dishes and doing tasks within her capabilities.

 

It can be said that Zhou Xiaofei possesses all the qualities of a “good child,” in stark contrast to Li Denghua. However, due to her family’s financial situation, she may feel somewhat inferior when interacting with classmates at school. I previously asked Zhou Xiaofei why, despite being timid, she spoke with me during evening self-study in the classroom. She replied that it was because that seat was where she placed her schoolbag, and hardly anyone else would choose to sit there.

 

The source of the real-life timid and introverted nature of Zhou Xiaofei in school is poverty. I have visited Starlight Elementary School a few times. Although the school is small and there are not many large shopping malls around, wherever there are people, there will be a society. Even if this society only consists of elementary school students, situations like “comparisons” and “following trends” can still occur.

 

I vaguely remember that two years ago, when I was living in the cramped apartment, there was a couple living in the self-built rental house next door. Their house was separated by only two walls from mine. At that time, the cramped apartment had just started, and many facilities were not yet complete. The sound insulation was extremely poor, so much so that I could clearly hear the couple’s conversations and their child’s arguments every day after work in the living room.

 

The couple’s child was also quite young, probably at the level of second or third grade in elementary school. The child attended a very ordinary private school near the cramped apartment. What impressed me the most was that almost every day, the child would argue with the parents about buying a new watch. The child claimed that the smartwatch they wore “had no friend circle” and “couldn’t send messages to other kids.”

 

After listening to their arguments for a few months, I figured out some tricks. Some manufacturers of children’s smartwatches exploited the children’s “comparison” mentality, entered the market early, quickly occupied the market, and then formed a complete “children’s society.” Parents originally intended to buy smartwatches for their children to check where they went each day, whether they studied well, and if they returned home on time after school. Or as an emergency rescue plan in case of being kidnapped by human traffickers. However, this new entrant watch directly used the “children’s friend circle” to forcibly bind children to their products, achieving a form of “monopoly.”

 

In simple terms, everyone has this watch. If you don’t buy it, you’re considered “poor,” and your isolated friends who bought the flashy watches with social and friend circle functions will be “kidnapped” by the manufacturers. For example, after six months, the manufacturer releases a new “smartwatch pro,” and the children who bought it early can show off in the friend circle and become the “child king.”

 

As for those who buy “unbranded watches,” they don’t even have the qualification to post in the “friend circle.”

 

So, what about the kids who can’t even afford a smartwatch? At least for children like Zhou Xiaofei… let alone a smartwatch, I suspect she might hesitate to even buy a bottle of water during school.

 

Her family is poor, she’s isolated by classmates in class, and she herself has a bit of low self-esteem. That’s the reason for Zhou Xiaofei’s “introverted” nature. However, Zhou Xiaofei is not a “withdrawn child” herself.

 

She’s actually quite cheerful, as can be seen from our recent conversations and her behavior when she came to our house today. However, she doesn’t interact much with peers her age. After all, if Zhou Xiaofei is with Li Denghua, Li Denghua doesn’t care at all about watches. She even disdains communication with those same-age brats. As for buying things casually, “Let’s go buy some cola. Don’t you have money? It’s okay, I’ll treat you. I can treat you to ten bottles.”

 

Because she doesn’t have many friends at school and is looked down upon by classmates for being too poor, Zhou Xiaofei always obediently chooses the two worst chairs in the last row of the classroom during evening self-study. Usually, if anyone sees Zhou Xiaofei sitting on that chair, no one wants to go and be her desk mate. But that day, when I entered the room not understanding these “rules,” and being a new face, Zhou Xiaofei thought I was a new student. She gathered the courage to chat with me, and that’s how we got to know each other.

 

“Sister, don’t they sell those loofah pouches here?”

 

“Huh? What loofah?”

 

“It’s when the loofah gets old, the seeds fall off, dry up, and what’s left is that… that soft thing. At home, my grandma and I use that to wash dishes.”

 

“Oh, that one. We don’t have that here, but you can use this. This is a cloth specifically for washing dishes… put on gloves, or your hands will get oily later.”

 

In the kitchen, Lan Jiajia clearly enjoyed Zhou Xiaofei’s presence. Even though the little one hadn’t seen the multitude of modern kitchen tools before, Lan Jiajia patiently explained each one.

 

“Wear the gloves. This is dish soap. You should have it at home, right?”

 

“Yes, but my grandma and I prefer washing dishes by the river.”

 

“We don’t have a river nearby. Here, this is for washing dishes, and also this… be careful, the floor might be a bit slippery, okay?”

 

“Okay, thank you, sister.”

 

This made me, watching from outside, quite touched.

 

Honestly, when I brought Zhou Xiaofei home just now, I was a bit worried. Just a little bit. I was concerned that Zhou Xiaofei might be the type who… doesn’t talk much to strangers but is very talkative with acquaintances, and even has a tendency to “cross the line.”

 

In simple terms, a “mischievous child.”

 

I’ve seen more than once on the internet where friends complain about relatives’ children coming over to play, turning the house into a mess, as evident in chat logs.

 

Children, being inexperienced and curious, often lack a sense of “value” for things in the world. Moreover, because their parents didn’t say much when they came, these mischievous children might think, “Anyway, my dad is here, if something goes wrong, he’ll take care of it. I need to see what’s here,” and then the home’s computers and collectibles become the victims.

 

This is Ai Luodi’s rental house. Leaving aside the second floor, which is Ai Luodi and Lan Jiajia’s rooms, just on the first floor, there are many things that are “not suitable for children” in my and Yin Xiamo’s rooms, such as the computer that Jiang Wei provided for us.

 

I looked up that computer online, and it is indeed top-of-the-line. The estimated cost of brand-new components alone would be around forty to fifty thousand. The case is custom-made, adorned with various anime and manga illustrations of me and Xiao Mo. The case’s power supply, upper and lower panels, graphics card bracket, and even the area near the power supply are equipped with a bunch of customized interfaces. There’s even a secondary screen and an adjustable screen. The CPU’s liquid cooling system is fitted with a small display that shows machine data. The total value is definitely not less than fifty thousand.

 

I don’t dare to touch such a machine casually, and if it were damaged by a child… I might truly feel heartbroken.

 

However, Zhou Xiao is not what people commonly refer to as a “mischievous child.” She is much more well-behaved than most people her age. From the moment she entered the house, to when she ate watermelon, only consuming half and expressing a desire to bring some back for her grandmother, to even requesting to wash dishes – considering these details, I think Zhou Xiaofei is a child one could consider a friend, despite her young age.

 

“Okay, okay, thank you.”

 

After waiting in the living room with Fei Luo and Yin Xiamo for about ten minutes, Lan Jiajia in the kitchen finally finished the busy work of washing dishes and pots with Zhou Xiaofei.

 

During this time, Fei Luo kept switching TV channels using the remote control, while Yin Xiamo explained various “knowledge” on the side.

 

“This is a television, as I mentioned earlier, similar to the magical projections on our side, or you can understand it as a physical version of charm dream magic. However, this thing has already been mass-produced in this world and is very common. It primarily broadcasts content through a network… satellite. Like when we flew back around noon, if the satellite noticed us, our images at that time could very likely be projected onto this.”

 

“What you’re currently watching is an animated show. The reason the visuals look drawn is because… it is indeed drawn, not filmed. It’s said that when creating this, they draw each frame quickly, but I’m not very clear about it. There’s still a lot I need to learn.”

 

“Oh, this is the weather forecast. Look at the description above; the temperature in Shenzhen is expected to be above 30 degrees for the next week. This is the power of their technology, being able to predict future temperatures and weather.”

 

When Fei Luo turned to the weather forecast program, Yin Xiamo explained instinctively, “Besides temperature, they can now predict things like typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Don’t underestimate these disasters; they can be deadly for humans who don’t know any magic.”

 

“So, I…”

 

Fei Luo hesitated for a moment, “If I… um, if I make it rain here, and thunder, can they predict it too?”

 

“Yours is magic, it’s different. I mentioned earlier, magic in this world is like a dimensional strike. The climate here can be predicted to a certain extent without human intervention. If you suddenly want to make it rain, there’s no way to predict that. Science doesn’t have mind-reading prophecies.”

 

Yin Xiamo chuckled, “Science, you can think of it as many great wizards coming together, using their powers to summon a super-sized magic that can change the world’s landscape, influencing generations of ordinary people.”

 

Just as they were talking, Zhou Xiaofei, who had taken off her apron and gloves, walked out of the kitchen, “Sister Nuo’er, Xiao Mo sister.”

 

“Finished washing?” Yin Xiamo stood up, “We said earlier, no need to trouble yourself, look how late it is now.”

 

“Not a trouble, not a trouble. This is what I should do. My grandma often educates me, ‘No labor, no food.'”

 

Zhou Xiaofei walked over obediently, “I’m really sorry for bothering you.”

 

“No problem at all. Let us take you back.”

 

Yin Xiamo handed over the things that were prepared for Zhou Xiaofei and her grandmother on the table, “Did anything get left behind?”

 

“No, nothing.”

 

“Oh, okay, let’s go then. Is your grandmother the only one at home?”

 

“Yes, my mom is out working. She only comes back on big holidays.”

 

“Big holidays?”

 

“It refers to holidays where you can have a break for more than three days. A few years ago, during Labor Day, National Day, and Qingming Festival, Mom would come back. But since the way holidays are taken has changed in recent years, Mom basically only comes back during the Spring Festival.”

 

“And your dad?”

 

“My dad is no longer around. They divorced when I was little.”

 

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

 

“……”

 

Leaving the house with Yin Xiamo and a child in tow, we couldn’t fly back directly like we did when we returned. Instead, we walked along the small roads near the residential area with Zhou Xiaofei, heading towards the small woods near the Nanita Tower on both sides.

 

Along the way, my attention was mostly on Yin Xiamo.

 

Or rather… since Yin Xiamo said, “I love you,” a while ago, I felt a bit “hazy” in my awareness.

 

This was the first time someone confessed to me. No, to be more accurate, it was the first time I had the feeling of being “in love.”

 

When Yin Xiamo said those words, it sounded a bit abrupt at first, as if it had a hint of being “casual.” However, if I carefully felt the tone of her words, I could clearly hear that she was using “casualness” to cope with the brief confusion in her heart.

 

In other words, when Xiao Mo “confessed” to me, she was also a bit excited inside. However, to maintain her “image,” she probably chose that moment to say it, making me feel like “this is just an ordinary conversation.”

 

In this month, from acquaintances to becoming best friends with Xiao Mo, a lot happened in between. Our relationship evolved from the initial “this grim reaper is so fierce, I want to resist her” to now “she is my best friend.”

 

Yin Xiamo is very bold in all aspects of her actions. For example, shortly after I moved into Ai Luodi’s house, she suggested cohabitation. After moving in together, she would “harass” me every night, making me believe that “this kind of relationship between girls is normal, it’s no big deal for two girls to sleep together, and it’s no big deal to be used as a pillow.” Then there was the incident in the medicinal plant garden where she “pushed me down,” and then… I got “eaten.”

 

To be honest, at first, I really thought that holding hands during the day and hugging at night between girls was normal. After all, I’ve never been a girl, so I could only guess.

 

You see… like guys, in the dormitory, good buddies occasionally play on their phones together, sleep together when tired, or drink and get drunk, lying on the same bed is normal. In the dorm, they might come out after a shower wearing just boxers. But guys can’t hold hands outside, while girls can. This probably means that the relationships between girls may be “more relaxed” in terms of control compared to guys.

 

When guys go out, at most, they might put their arms around each other. Girls, on the other hand, not only can put their arms around each other but also hold hands. Girls with good relationships might even touch each other’s chests openly, or give each other a kiss without any issue. So, similarly… in a dorm, guys can sleep together, and girls might have a more relaxed atmosphere, so it’s okay to sleep together and occasionally touch, right?

 

Guys come out in just one pair of pants after showering, while girls come out wearing nothing after showering, and then in front of roommates… it’s also okay, right?

 

It’s this kind of thinking that led inexperienced me to gradually fall into the pit dug by Yin Xiamo. From initially holding hands and kissing, to later sleeping together, then the candid encounter during showers, and finally… rolling together without any clothes.

 

Even though I knew that Yin Xiamo, due to her connection with the previous life’s hero, might still have a somewhat hidden “admiration” or “attachment” towards me, I never thought about it in terms of “love” or “relationship.”

 

I thought Xiao Mo might need more time to adapt or cultivate feelings. Or our relationship might remain ambiguous like it is now—playing around today, teasing tomorrow, without tearing down that layer of paper.

 

I didn’t expect her to confess directly.

 

She said to me directly, “Would you be my girlfriend?”

 

These words even made me not dwell on whether I should consider myself “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” right now.

 

This is a confession!

 

From a beautiful girl… the most direct confession!

 

I never thought that one day a girl would confess to me, really. The words Jiang Wei said during those days when he met Ye Zi left a deep impression on me.

 

Jiang Wei said that when he’s alone, the difference between prosperity and poverty for him is just having steak for dinner versus eating steamed buns, which doesn’t affect his happiness. However, when he encountered a girl willing to give everything, he truly understood the profound sense of inferiority brought about by poverty. If Jiang Wei feels this way, what about me?

 

Before all this, I was just an ordinary uncle who couldn’t even afford the rent. During my student days, even if the girls around me were attractive, I wouldn’t pay much attention. Coming from an orphanage with no parents, I couldn’t make any promises. After graduating from college, I was busy with work and didn’t have the time or money for a relationship.

 

Now, suddenly being confessed to by a girl, even if I agreed in a moment of confusion, my heart is still in chaos. My mind is a blank slate. Confessing means that from now on, I have a girlfriend. We will walk hand in hand, and on this “journey of life,” I won’t be alone anymore. I have gained a warm embrace to lean on, and, of course, the corresponding responsibility.

 

“……”

 

On the tree-lined path shimmering with countless stars, I sneak a glance at Yin Xiamo beside me. The moonlight shines diagonally on the black lace-edged long skirt of the girl, casting mottled shadows on the ground. The girl’s pure white face seems like the world’s most beautiful dewdrop, bathed in the summer stars, flickering faintly before my eyes.

 

“Hmm?”

 

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Yin Xiamo, who was chatting with Zhou Xiaofei, turned her head, “Nuo’er, what’s wrong?”

 

“Ah…”

I quickly turned my head back, “It’s nothing.”

 

“She might… be in love.”

 

Fei Luo, using not-so-familiar Mandarin, said, “Her heartbeat is fast now, energy supply efficiency is increasing, skin temperature is rising. It might be because of your confession just now… a bit sudden…”

 

“Stop, stop, stop.”

 

I hastily interrupted Fei Luo, “Don’t overthink it. It’s just too hot, um, the weather is just too hot.”

 

“Pfft…”

Yin Xiamo laughed, “What’s wrong, little kitten? Do you find fault with the seriousness of the confession just now or the timing? Or… because too many people were watching and you felt embarrassed?”

 

“No… not at all.”

I hurriedly explained, “Don’t believe Fei Luo’s nonsense. She doesn’t know anything…”

 

“I didn’t hear anything from Fei Luo, did I?”

 

Yin Xiamo looked at my chest and said, “At such a close distance, I can feel Nuo’er, your heartbeat, and changes in body temperature myself. Your mood is practically written on your face.”

 

Damn…

These beings from another world are too cunning, right?

How could they directly detect heartbeats and body temperature?

Does that mean I won’t even be able to lie?

 

“Well, it’s understandable. After all, the birthday party just now was a bit noisy, and the environment wasn’t that good.”

 

Yin Xiamo thought for a moment and said, “Let’s not count the previous one. Nuo’er, you seemed a bit nervous just now. Let’s try it again later.”

 

Huh?

We need to… try again?

 

I glanced at Fei Luo with a questioning look.

Speaking of which, Fei Luo’s relationship with Xiao Mo is actually better than with that “hero,” right?

 

According to the records, even if the hero’s lifespan has been extended through magic, he and Fei Luo fought side by side for only a few hundred years. But later, Xiao Mo avenged the hero, campaigned in the south and battled in the north, declared war on the demon king’s army. The entire timeline spans thousands of years, and her time with Fei Luo is easily several times longer than with the hero.

 

This point is easy to judge from the scenes Fei Luo “hypnotized me” and played for me on the way back.

 

In terms of the human perspective: the male protagonist had a good relationship with his childhood friend for a year. After a year, the male protagonist moved away, lost contact with his childhood friend, met a girl in the same class at school, spent junior high school together, went to high school together, took the same college entrance exam, worked together… They have been together for twenty years.

In this comparison, one year with a childhood friend versus twenty years with a serendipitous girlfriend, the answer about which relationship is deeper and more trusting should be evident to anyone.

 

While Fei Luo and Yin Xiamo’s relationship seems more like “comrades in arms” or “best friends,” there’s no hint of a desire for romance with the “hero.” Time can change everything, except Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo’s feelings for the “hero” remain truly unwavering, unchanged for thousands of years. Although… the relationships among the hero, black dragon, demon, and the otherworldly individuals are indeed a bit complicated.

 

“Don’t look at me.”

Under my gaze, Fei Luo tilted her head and said, “I’m waiting… to hold your and Xiao Mo’s… child.”

 

Well, I don’t expect much from this dragon.

 

“We’re here!”

 

With Fei Luo and Yin Xiamo, we arrived at a large road in the Nanqi District near the sea. We walked to the end of the road, and Xiao Mo took the food from our hands. Pointing to a small house that was faintly visible in the woods, she said, “That’s my home!”

 

“Here?”

I surveyed the surroundings. “Are you sure? It’s quite remote here…”

 

At the end of the road, there were hardly any houses around, and no signs of modern urban facilities. Describing this place as “rural” would probably be accurate. There were no cement roads here, only a “yellow soil road” formed by people walking. Although I did see the house Xiao Mo gestured to.

 

In the dark night, the small house emitted a faint glow from the characteristic kerosene lamp.

 

“Um, sisters, no need to accompany me! I can go back by myself!”

 

Perhaps feeling a bit shy about her somewhat rundown “home,” Zhou Xiaofei ran straight towards it. “Thank you, sisters! Goodbye!”

 

“Huh?” I subconsciously prepared to catch up but was pulled back by Yin Xiamo.

 

“Give the child some dignity. It’s okay, she and her grandmother are safe.”

 

“Oh…”

 

At Yin Xiamo’s gesture, I turned back. “I just didn’t expect it to be 2022 already, and Zhou Xiaofei still…”

 

No wonder Zhou Xiaofei had that expression when she saw the roasted duck I bought. Li Denghua probably knew about Zhou Xiaofei’s family situation, which is why she suggested I take the little one home.

 

“Alright, now that the little one’s matter is resolved…”

 

Watching Zhou Xiaofei disappear into the woods, Yin Xiamo waved and called out to Fei Luo in a tone of summoning a friend, “Fei Luo.”

 

“Here—”

 

Fei Luo leaped into the sky, transforming into a dragon amidst a burst of light. Before I could comprehend what was happening, Yin Xiamo, who was well-prepared, had already carried me into her arms and jumped onto the back of the dragon that Fei Luo had become.

 

The dragon flapped its wings and flew towards the sea in front.

 

“Uh, huh?”

 

Suspended in mid-air and placed on the dragon’s back by Yin Xiamo, I, fearing falling, could only hold onto the girl next to me. “What are you guys… trying to do?”

 

“Since Nuo’er found the previous confession too formal, I’m doing it again.”

 

Yin Xiamo’s hand encircled my waist, lifting me up again. Then, with a quick motion, she placed me lying flat on the dragon’s back, half kneeling down herself, hands gripping my wrists.

 

“I love you, Nuo’er.”

 

Amidst the stars, Yin Xiamo slowly approached me, freeing up one hand to lift my shorts, slowly delving in—

 

“Be my girlfriend, okay?”

 

“Huh? Wait… Ugh!”

 

Feeling something slowly probing near my thigh, I subconsciously exclaimed, “No… not during a confession…”

 

“So, did you agree?”

 

Yin Xiamo lowered her head, capturing my left earlobe—

 

“Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle…”

 

As if encountering an electric shock, her bite made me, lying flat, tremble uncontrollably.

 

“I agreed, I agreed!”

 

The intense stimulation made my voice sound tearful. “Don’t mess around, this is on a dragon’s back!”

 

“It’s okay, I’ll be very gentle.”

 

The girl, now less than a centimeter away, directly kissed me.

 

“This is the best birthday gift I’ve received in over six thousand years.”

 

“……”

 

……