Chapter 115 – Not Really Pity, Definitely Not Charity

“You can’t protect your sister like that.” Shen DaiYing said indifferently.

She pulled out some silver coins from her pockets and forcefully shoved it into the little girl’s bosom.

Because she cut her finger earlier, the silver coins in her hand was also stained with some blood.

“Eh??”

The younger sister foolishly looked at the bloodstained silver coins in her embrace, not understanding the situation.

“Next time you meet someone bad, remember to run away immediately.” Following close behind, Shen DaiYing used a harsh tone to lecture them, “If you can’t escape, then fight back, if you can’t beat them then find a weapon, if there’s no weapon then you can use your own fist, and leg, arm, teeth… anyways just don’t cry, or beg, because those are meaningless acts, bad guys will never let you go out of pity.”

“Oh, I memorized it… so big sister, you don’t plan on killing us?” The little sister nodded not really understanding, then innocently asked.

This time, Shen DaiYing didn’t say anything and just shook her head and continued staring fixedly at the sisters.

“Little sis, let’s go, ignore this wierdo!” The older sister finally came back to her senses and suggested.

“But she just gave us money… maybe she’s a good person.” The little sister seemed a bit unwilling, like she still wanted to say something to Shen DaiYing.

Although this big sister looks scary, carrying a sword, unlike a good person, but she did give them money, she should at least thank her, right?

“Peh! Are they good people just because they give you money? Don’t be foolish, didn’t she just say it earlier as well, run away immediately when you meet a bad guy… so let’s hurry and run!” The older sister knitted her brows and persuaded her.

“Y-you’re right… then let’s run!”

Finally, dragged along by her sister, without even being able to say thanks the two disappeared in an instant into the alleyways.

“Sigh, you clearly want to be a good person, why do you pretend to be the bad guy?” Watching till the end, Lin Xiao stood up with a sigh, then causally said, “Sister Ying, you didn’t even get a thanks at the end.”

“Thanks?” Shen DaiYing also stood up, and replied insipidly, “I don’t need thanks, also, they don’t need my help.”

“They don’t need your help? But you still gave them money, it was enough for half a year of bread.” Lin Xiao said while smiling, “You purposely scared them to test their sisterly bond right? You noticed that although the older sister looks brave, but the younger sister was actually the stronger one, she was silently protecting her sister, right?”

“…” Shen DaiYing glanced at him and remained silent, but her injured finger began trembling slightly, it betrayed her inner turmoil.

Lin Xiao knew that he was right and began delving deeper.

“But why did you help her? There’s many more similar beggars in Winterless City, you can’t help all of them, you know that well yourself.” Lin Xiao gazed at the dirty mantou on the ground, “You helped her because you saw your own shadow in her, right?”

“…”

Shen DaiYing was still silent, but her pupils abruptly contracted, and a haze covered her spiritless eyes again.

He knew that Shen DaiYing was extremely abnormal today, he shouldn’t be trying to make up stuff, but at the same time, he knew that if he didn’t say some things now, he may never get another chance.

“Sister Ying… I’m guessing that you should have a gentle and brave older sister, right? And you’re that younger sister, just like that little girl earlier, a weak yet strong-willed sister… am I right?”

Lin Xiao made his final guess, his soft words eroding her final mask, and seizing her frozen heart.

But the answer he was expecting didn’t come.

“I-I don’t need you to worry about my business!!” Shen DaiYing suddenly raised her intonation, carrying a slight trace of anger.

“Sister Ying? I…”

Lin Xiao was taken aback, unsure of why she suddenly got that angry, but was interrupted by Shen DaiYing’s delicate shout.

“Lin Xiao!!!” Shen DaiYing squinted and stared right into his eyes, like she was going to kill someone, “Did you know? Sometimes, helping someone presumptuously is actually harming them. They didn’t ask for my help, so any unnecessary charity and pity would only make them feel disgust, do you understand?”

“Sister Ying…” Lin Xiao wasnt scared by her imposing manner, but just surprised by what she said.

Harming them…

He understood what she was saying.

Although on the surface it sounded like she was describing the beggar sisters, but actually she was criticizing a man’s presumptuousness.

Shen DaiYing never wanted anyone’s help, so she also didn’t need anyone’s charity or pity.

“Charity? No, I don’t think this is charity, I think it’s a gentleness.” Lin Xiao looked back into Shen DaiYing’s eyes not willing to be outdone.

“Gentleness? I don’t understand.”

“That’s right, gentleness.” Lin Xiao nodded and explained, “If the other party is someone you like, naturally you can‘t help but be gentle towards her, that’s a sincere feeling that comes from the heart, it’s not really pity, and definitely not charity, at least that’s how I feel.”

Someone you like… at first they were discussing about the beggar sister, but now the topic unfolded into something cryptic.

It was good that they understood what the other meant, so the conversation could continue.

“Lin Xiao, you still don’t understand… your way of thinking is like a know-it-all.” Shen DaiYing concluded.

“Perhaps you’re right, but you’re also wrong.”

“Wrong? How am I wrong?”

“When you meet someone bad, there’s another good way other than just escaping or fighting back.” Lin Xiao feigned profoundness and laughed.

“Another way? What is it?” Shen DaiYing didn’t understand and asked.

“Asking your companions for help!” Lin Xiao gave his answer, “If you meet someone worth relying on, then asking that person for help is a good method, right?”

“Asking for help? Heh.” Shen DaiYing coldly scoffed.

How could she not know something like that? Rather…

Who was her companion?

That person worth relying on, who was the perosn who could reach out a helping hand towards her?

Was it this trash in front of her that only knew how to laze around?

What kind of joke is that!?

“Lin Xiao, I don’t need your gentleness!” Finally, Shen DaiYing didn’t beat around the bush, and bluntly replied.

Her final reply.

“Eh… Sister Ying, don’t reject me so quickly, that’s already the second time.” Lin Xiao could only awkwardly scratch his head.

“Second time? I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Shen DaiYing didn’t want to continue this baffling topic, and asked, “Lin Xiao, why are you here?”

“Me?” Suddenly being asked, Lin Xiao scratched his head, and stuttered, “Actually, I came to look for Elena.”

“Your maid?”

“Yeah, that fellow left today morning, and still isn’t home yet. I’m worried that something may have happened, so I came looking for her.” Speaking of Elena, Lin Xiao smacked his lips and started complaining, “Her temper is terrible, she’s always causing me trouble, I have to keep a close eye on her!”

The actual reason was because he gave Elena a magic crystal that could only last 12 hours, it was over if it exceeded the time limit! He didn’t want Elena to die so he came looking for her.

“Oh, is that so? It seems like you two have a good relationship.” Shen DaiYing’s tranquil voice had no up or downs, it was unknown whether she was just jealous or simply sighing.

“Eh? No, no, no, we…” Just as Lin Xiao was about to explain, Shen DaiYing didn’t bother with him anymore, and just turned and walked away.

“Lin Xiao, if you have to help me, then defeat me in tomorrow’s competition.”

Shen DaiYing tread away in her high-heels,.

“A person who loses to me can’t give me gentleness.”

Leaving that behind, she disappeared at the end of the alley.

“Sigh…”

Shen DaiYing pondered over their conversation, it was the first time seeing that emotionless Shen DaiYing, but…

But his feelings towards Shen DaiYing still remained passionate.

At that time, a familiar voice came from behind him.

“Give her gentleness? Peh! Disgusting.” He didn’t know when but Elena was actually standing behind him, coldly cursing at her.

Lin Xiao jumped, immediately tuned around and saw his silver-haired red-eyed maid.

“Ah! Elena, you were here! I finally found you!” Lin Xiao’s disappointment and frustration disappeared instantly after seeing Elena, and was instead angry like he was going to fight someone, “You disobedient maid! I can’t believe you dare run away without even cooking dinner… And here I even believed you, hmph, I won’t let you leave alone anymore!”

Saying that, Lin Xiao ran over and grabbed Elena’s arm, then forcibly dragged her back towards their home.

“What? … Y-you actually came looking for me?”

She was hiding nearby all along, so she heard Lin Xiao and Shen DaiYing’s entire conversation, naturally, including what Lin Xiao said about being worried about Elena and coming out to look for her.

“No shit! Who would I come look for other than you? If the magic power in the crystal disappears completely, then you’ll die!” Lin Xiao spoke like a master that worried about his maid.

“… I-I don’t need your worry.” Receiving his worry for the first time, Elena wasn’t accustomed to it, and emotions of embarrassment appeared on her face.

In order to avoid blushing and making a fool of herself, she imitated Shen DaiYing, used a robot-like cold expression to shake off Lin Xiao then ran off by herself.

“Why don’t you go worry about your ‘Sister Ying’? Disgusting.”

“What did you say? Elena, where did you go earlier? Hey!!” Lin Xiao tried to catch up to her to get some answers, but the faster he chased her, the faster she ran, the alleyway pursuit happened once again.

This time, just in reverse.

“Damn it… what’s with today? Do they all hate me that much?”

Lin Xiao was bitter.

Today, he was rejected by Shen DaiYing, then ridiculed by Elena, he felt like his life was a failure, he had no one who loved him.

Because he was excessively hurt, Lin Xiao suddenly missed that cute loli who once hugged his arms and intimately called him brother.

If it was his little sister, he definitely wouldn’t be mistreated like this!

“Snow, when can we meet again… I miss you so much!”