Tangxue’s room held a tiny washroom with a shower, shabby as peeling plaster, yet still trickling like a stubborn spring.

A tired breath misted from her like cool fog. “I’m done. Go in quick. I don’t like dirt near the place I sleep,” she said, eyes skimming the girl like a pale moon.

“Y-yes!” The little girl trembled like a quaking reed and bolted into the bathroom like a spooked fawn.

“Wait!”

“Eek…!”

“Don’t get worked up. Clothes,” Tangxue muttered, helpless as a cat swatting air. “You don’t have any, right? I’ve got a few from when I was little. Change into these, then I’ll ask you something after you wash.”

“Oh…” She nodded, her long white hair swaying behind her like winter silk.

Click.

As the bathroom door shut, Tangxue let out a soft sigh like cold mist. “A girl under ten, stealing—while the wolves downstairs don’t dare come up. She looks pushed into it, right? Maybe a whole pack waits below.”

“And with that face, she doesn’t look like a pauper from the City of Woe. Comb her a little and she could pass for a princess; half this city would believe it.”

Her chin dipped in thought like a heron at the river, then her gaze snapped to the open window like a slit of night.

“I shut that tight earlier. And this is the sixth floor…”

“White hair. Red eyes. And that familiar scent… a Vampire?”

Sure enough, I need to ask her properly later.

Soon the girl rushed out, wearing the clothes Tangxue had handed over, water clinging to her like dew on petals.

She stood shaking, fear clouding her like a gray veil, feet shuffling forward like reluctant steps on frost, eyes avoiding Tangxue’s like skittish sparrows.

“Head up. Can you look into my eyes?” Tangxue sat at the bed’s edge, exasperation flicking like a cat’s tail at the kneeling girl.

“Eek…!”

“I’m not a monster. Please. You came to steal first, right? Why do I look like the bully?” Tangxue rolled her eyes, the motion light as drifting snow.

“It’s not that, I…”

“So why steal from me? You look scared to death,” she asked, voice steady as a still pond.

“I need money… I want to leave this place…” Her words fluttered like a trapped bird beating its wings.

“Oh? Everyone here wants out, right? You’re bold, walking into a stranger’s room alone, looking not even ten.” Tangxue’s eyes narrowed like crescent blades.

“If I don’t steal, I starve. I… I can’t beat them. I only eat what’s left…” The memory drifted over her like stale smoke; her eyes dimmed like embers in ash, her body shivered like a leaf in wind.

Silence hung like a thin veil of rain.

“Oh, so you’re really short on money?”

She bit down and nodded hard, like a child bracing against a storm.

How could she not be?

“It’s my first time here. I need a guide,” Tangxue said, voice cool as a stream. “Are you familiar with this city?”

“Familiar…” The word came out like a worn path through alleys.

“Good. Tomorrow, stay by me. When I leave, I’ll give you what you want.” Her promise settled like silk tied to a branch.

“Thank you…” Her voice was hoarse yet warm, gratitude glinting like a lantern under fog.

“No need to thank me. We’re both getting something. What’s your name? I can’t keep saying ‘hey’ forever,” Tangxue asked, tone light as rain on tiles.

“… No, noble lady, I don’t have a name… They all call me Gray Dog, I…”

“Stop, stop! I don’t want the story behind that,” Tangxue cut in, sharp as a snapped twig. “No name, right? Then we pick one now.”

Her lips parted like a small shell, but no sound came.

Looks like she can’t think of one. Sigh.

Disappointment brushed Tangxue’s face like a cold draft.

“You’ll be Qianyue from now on. Going without a name won’t do.” The choice fell like a silver moon onto dark water.

“…”

“What? Not happy? I’m bad at names, I know. If you don’t like it, pick your own,” she huffed, a little “tsk” flicking like a pebble.

“Mom…”

Tangxue jolted like a cat startled by thunder and folded into the corner like a collapsed fan.

“What are you babbling?!” Her face flushed like dawn light over snow.

“I-it’s not that… I only… noble lady, isn’t it… only mothers… who give their children… a name?” The girl faltered, panic fluttering like a sparrow in a snare.

She shrank her head further, like a turtle hiding under its shell.

“Let’s be clear. I didn’t name you—you named yourself. I only gave a suggestion, got it?” Tangxue’s tone smoothed like water over stone.

“Mm. Thank you, noble lady…” Qianyue nodded obediently, the motion gentle as willow branches.

Clean, Qianyue was a different sight entirely: her once-matted white hair now lay behind her like fresh winter snow, bright enough to sting the eyes; those ruby-like eyes held a glimmer again, like coals waking under breath.

Tangxue pulled a warm quilt from her space ring and tossed it to Qianyue still on the floor, the cloth billowing like a cloud.

“Next, you sleep on the floor. I’m dead tired…” She yawned, long and soft, like a night wind.

“…” Qianyue hesitated, words curling back like smoke, then whispered too soft to catch, “Thank you, Mom…”

“I’m turning off the mage-lamp. Oh—”

A thought struck like a spark. She drew Frostwhisper, her gaze steady as a blade’s edge.

“Transform for me!”

“…”

“Come on. I can’t sleep without something to hug.” Her plea reached out like small hands in the dark.

“…” The sword trembled lightly in her grip, a tiny protest like a moth’s wingbeat.

“Frostwhisper—you know I can’t go back… Without a pillow, I won’t sleep a wink. Will you really watch me stay up? Whimper, whimper…” Her voice softened like melting ice.

“Fine. I can’t help you… but just this once.” Frostwhisper relented and turned human, her hand stroking Tangxue’s hair with indulgent warmth like a gloved breeze.

She shaped pajamas with mana, fabric blooming like frost flowers; the side ponytail that ran pure white into cyan now spilled loose down her back like a pale waterfall; her poker face thawed to a faint smile, delicate as first light.

“Mm-hmm! Next time for sure! Frostwhisper, you’re the best!” Her giddy energy scattered like confetti leaves.

“Time to sleep. No staying up tonight,” Frostwhisper murmured, cool as shaded stone.

“Mm-hmm!” Tangxue burrowed into Frostwhisper’s arms like a small animal seeking a nest. The embrace was chill as ice, no warmth at all, lacking that soft-jade-in-arms feel of hugging other girls—but Frostwhisper was very soft, and it felt safe like a heavy quilt.

Only with someone dear in her arms could Tangxue sleep soundly. For now, that was truth as steady as the moon.

“Then, good night.” Tangxue smiled at Qianyue on the floor, clutching the quilt, face blank as a puzzled cat—then she clicked off the mage-lamp, and darkness folded in like velvet.

“…”

The next day brought no morning; the sky lay over the city like an iron lid.

“Mmm— I slept so well last night… Sure enough, only in Frostwhisper’s arms do I feel like I’m above it all… mm…” The thought rose like mist, and tears followed like a sudden rain, leaving Frostwhisper watching her with puzzled eyes like clear glass.