vncnus Chapter 459 Whose Hero Are You?
Chapter 459 Whose Hero Are You?
The call made Xia Taotao's already stiff body tense up even more.
Her rabbit ears drooped behind her head, she looked listless, and almost instinctively tried to back away, but was held in place by an inexplicable force.
Xia Youyou handed the stainless steel basin containing steamed buns to her younger siblings who came out of the restaurant. The children excitedly returned to the table and ate heartily, but a few people noticed the pink figure at the door.
In front of the inner room, a middle-aged woman watched all this silently, without saying a word.
"Sister Tao Tao...is it really...?"
Xia Youyou stood in front of the railing gate, her mouth slightly open, gazing at Xia Taotao's face in front of her.
She could hardly believe what she was seeing.
That fleeting glimpse behind the phone booth yesterday wasn't an illusion! That was Sister Tao Tao!
During this rare long holiday, Sister Tao Tao, whom we haven't seen for a long time, actually came home!
Xia Youyou was excited and wanted to rush forward immediately, but she was afraid that it was just a mirage that would be easily shattered, so she didn't dare to go forward for a moment.
This wasn't the first time Su Tianqing had seen someone with an expression that showed both a strong desire to take the lead and a cowardly stance.
At this moment, Xia Youyou was exactly the same as Xia Taotao, just like her own sister.
The petite rabbit-girl hesitated in the courtyard, while Xia Taotao stood frozen at the doorway, not daring to look up or meet Xia Youyou's burning gaze.
The two sisters, who hadn't seen each other for years, finally met, but neither of them knew what kind of expression to make.
Xia Taotao's social anxiety and cyberpsychosis were showing faint signs of relapse, but she forcefully suppressed them, condensing all her thoughts into a weak murmur:
"I……"
"I...I'm back..."
Upon hearing this, Youyou didn't hesitate any longer and reached out to push open the courtyard gate.
The girl rushed out the door and threw herself into her long-lost sister's arms, hugging her tightly.
"Sister Tao Tao!...Where have you been all these years!... "
Xia Youyou shouted, burying her face in her sister's arms and letting out muffled sobs.
"I have so much to tell you! Why, for so long...?"
Everyone says...everyone says you're dead...but I don't believe it!"
"My sister is the greatest hero in the world, she wouldn't die so easily! ...But...why hasn't she come back for so long...?"
"Waaaaah... Waaaaah... Sister..."
Xia Youyou's words were fragmented, and tears mixed with melting snowflakes rolled down her slightly reddened cheeks, melting onto the surface of Xia Taotao's cotton coat.
She hugged Xia Taotao tightly, who was standing there dumbfounded, as if afraid that she would leave again.
As if infected by Xia Youyou's excited emotions, Xia Taotao raised her hands and gently hugged her younger sister who was crying her eyes out, patting her back softly.
"...Youyou, don't cry."
"I'm back."
.
The sisters' reunion didn't last long before the middle-aged woman's voice drew their attention back.
"...You still have the nerve to come back?"
Xia Youyou paused abruptly, and Xia Taotao looked up at the figure who had put down the corn in her hand and stood up, pursing her lips as she said:
"I……"
But before the first word could even be uttered, it was rudely interrupted by the other party.
"What do you mean, 'you'? I've thought you were an ingrate all these years ago. What, did you come all this way to come home and laugh at me?"
"That's good... I didn't break your legs back then, you little brat... and you got away..."
Xia Youyou was speechless for a moment after her mother's words. She quickly wiped away her tears and said to her mother:
"Mom, so many years have passed, let's not talk about it..."
"So many years have passed?"
The woman said with a cold laugh, her wrinkled fingers clenching the edge of her apron. She walked to the middle of the yard and looked towards Xia Youyou and Xia Taotao standing in front of the door.
"You think that matter is in the past... but have you ever thought about what your family has been through all these years?"
"I still remember, Xia Taotao, the night you stole that money from the house."
Xia Taotao remained silent, intimidated by the inexplicable pressure emanating from the middle-aged woman before her. She instinctively wanted to take a half-step back, but her body remained stiff and unable to move.
The woman didn't continue speaking, but simply glanced at the children eating corn in the restaurant.
Xia Taotao followed her gaze and looked into the house.
All that met my eyes were unfamiliar faces; my younger brothers and sisters, whom I used to know so well, were not in this simple shack restaurant.
Xia Taotao's eyes gradually widened, as if she realized something. She opened her mouth slightly and looked at Xia Youyou with a questioning gaze.
Seeing this scene, Xia Youyou lost the excitement she had felt when they reunited. She shrank back and hid to the side, not daring to utter a sound.
"Where did Huahua and Mimi go...?" Xia Taotao murmured.
As soon as she spoke, Xia Taotao already knew the answer she was about to receive.
These two were the only younger siblings he still remembered besides Xia Youyou, but he didn't see them at the shed restaurant.
Logically speaking, they should be about the same age as Xia Youyou, but the restaurant is full of little kids... Could it be...?
"You asked about Huahua and Mimi..."
The mother seemed to be talking to herself, yet also seemed to be answering Xia Taotao's question.
"Where do you think they can go?"
"...!" Xia Taotao trembled all over.
"I'm tired of using excuses like 'got lost' or 'went to the city' after all these years."
"But have you considered how long this family can last if they continue to stay at home?"
"Should I take care of your dad, who has a crippled leg because of you, or should I take all the money in the house to pay for the medical treatment of some insignificant brat?"
A barrage of cold questions froze Xia Taotao in place, her whole body trembling with fear.
"Since you left, Youyou went to study in the city on her own, and the family's situation has never improved."
"I know what you want to say, Xia Taotao, just like your father told you back then."
"A vicious curse flows deep within the blood of us rabbit-like beastmen."
"You're lucky, Xia Taotao. You haven't shown any signs of illness yet, but do you really think... you can protect your younger siblings?"
"What's the reality?"
"...The birth of these children was a huge mistake for our rabbit clan."
"Do you think I want to send Hua Hua and Mi Mi away? Do you think... do you think I want to abandon them?!"
"You can't protect anyone, Xia Taotao."
.
【########】
Suddenly, Su Tianqing, who was watching the show intently, felt a low call coming from the void. She quietly instructed her familiar to open the secret manual and look at the line of text that was gradually appearing:
It was a string of unfamiliar characters that she couldn't understand, but even without recognizing the characters, Su Tianqing could sense that this mission was definitely related to Xia Taotao.
"--broken."
Su Tianqing muttered to herself.
As expected, an unexpected situation arose.
Secret manual! You'd better tell this fox the mission objective right away! Otherwise—
[Task Refresh]
[Critical Incident: The Crimson Shadow of the Stars]
……Um?
The golden-haired fox girl's amused expression gradually disappeared, replaced by horror.