"Thank you." Tang Xin said, her voice lightly hidden among her hair, difficult to discern if one did not listen carefully. "I will remember."

Old Quill raised his eyebrows, picked up a finger-thick cigar, and lit it with a snap: "Miss need not be polite with me, I'm just your subordinate, just tell me if there's anything you need."

"Then please smoke by the window, I don't like this smell." Tang Xin said.

Old Quill hadn't expected Tang Xin to so quickly apply what she learned to him, laughed twice, then didn't mind too much, he stepped over Victor, lying there like a dead dog, drew back the blackout curtains, and puffed out the spicy smoke with a strong black pepper aroma, his weathered eyes gazing into the distance.

Jim nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva, having worked with Old Quill for a while, never having seen him act so out of character.

In his impression, Old Quill was always a hands-on person, adhering to his principles, methodical and efficient, sober and rational, he'd never heard of anything Old Quill handled leaving others with any leverage, and to see him today, openly take action against a family member in the hospital, Jim suspected that the old butcher had been possessed by something unclean.

Was it because of this young, inexperienced lady?

Jim turned his attention to Tang Xin, who after pondering for a moment, looked at him, and somehow Jim felt a chill, the previously naive and gentle girl now exuded a powerful aura, as if she had become another person.

In the calm atmosphere, a Storm Song played out constantly, the room was eerily quiet, the wind lightly slapped the blinds, Victor crawled on the ground in a sorry state; all of the youth's arrogance was shredded into nothingness, dragging a long trail of blood.

Tang Xin said nothing, Jim understood her intention, and eagerly shuffled over to help Tang Xin push the wheelchair, squeezing out a fawning smile, and brought the young lady next to Victor.

The sound of the wheelchair rolling was like a whisper of death, Victor's heart was clenched by invisible hands, just lifting his head, he saw the serenity in Tang Xin's eyes fade, replaced with a chilling light.

"It was I who chose the family, not the family that chose me."

Tang Xin spoke, the young lady's voice wasn't loud, differing little from her usual gentle tone, slightly hoarse, yet like thunder in Victor's ears, making him shiver with fear, his body trembling ceaselessly.

Tang Xin's long hair draped down, she glared at Victor, word by word, "No matter who it is, if they provoke me, I'll make them pay the price, I will no longer compromise with anyone."

"S-sorry, I understand, I understand..." Victor, so frightened his words were failing him, agreed repeatedly.

"Old Quill, arrange a hospital bed for him." Tang Xin straightened up, trying hard to steady the tremor in her voice.

"Without my permission, no one is to approach his ward, be they a servant or his relative, unless Uncle personally pays a visit."

"As you wish, young lady." Old Quill said respectfully.

Before leaving, Tang Xin cast one last glance at Victor on the ground, her tone calm:

"Until he's figured out what to say, and not to say."

"But that would mean completely offending the Kifris faction, Sevia..." Jim quietly reminded, but was silenced by a glare from Tang Xin, "Young Lady..."

"If I am wrong, then I will bear the consequences of my mistakes, and grow through the responsibility."

"Even if it means I will get hurt, even breaking my wings, falling to the depths, I will still spread my scarred fledgling wings in my own way to fly to the sky."

"And not let others tell me how to spread my wings to face the dangerous world, losing the courage and the ability to judge my direction, unable to even get up after being struck down by the storm."

Tang Xin softly murmured to herself, audible only to her,

"This is, the opera that I compose for myself."

...

Chichu Heaven, Mint Green Leaf.

By the time Xu Xiaoyou returned to the Green Leaf Store, it was nearly ten o'clock at night, she briefly flipped through the logs on the old computer, confirming that everything was safe today, before spotting a drunken figure at the counter.

The girl lay slumped on the counter, her whole face buried in her arms, the young bartender behind the counter had a strained expression, under the insistent demands of the drunken black-haired girl, had just mixed another golden tulip for Bai Youyou, while the empty champagne glasses on the round bar table beside them piled into a triangular tower, some tumbling on the table, the remaining liquid reflecting a peach-pink glow.

Noticing someone sit next to her, Bai Youyou lifted her head, her gaze hazy, a hint of surprise flashing across her flushed face: "I thought you were already... resting."

Xu Xiaoyou helplessly smiled warmly, draped a cashmere blanket over Bai Youyou's shoulders, firmly tucking it to ensure it wouldn't easily slip off, intending to leave when the girl gently hooked her little finger from behind.

"Don't go..."

"Stay with me..."

"Miss Bai, you seem already drunk..." Xu Xiaoyou paused, "unable to communicate."

"Would you really leave me here, alone for the night, when I'm so cold?" Bai Youyou stood and patted her face, shaking her head to clear it.

"I can help you upstairs, my room might be a bit cramped, if you don't mind." Xu Xiaoyou suggested.

"Forget it, I didn't come just to find you, I just thought it would make me feel better." Bai Youyou braced herself on the chair with both hands, raising her tottering body, her gaze wandering, fixed on the photo before her.

"Why did you hide things from me, it's really annoying."

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