Heavy Rain

While Kaguya was still deep in thought, a knock on the door interrupted her.

"Who is it?" Kaguya asked as she slipped on her fluffy slippers and walked over to the door, opening it to find Qiao Xiaoqing. "What is it?"

Qiao Xiaoqing stood outside the door, giving Kaguya a gentle smile. "Come eat," she said, taking Kaguya's hand and leading her downstairs without giving her a chance to protest.

"Wait, I haven't finished organizing my things."

"You can organize later."

As expected of a wealthy family, even the meal was different from an ordinary household.

In the center of the hall was an oval dining table carved with intricate patterns, adorned with several red candles. The soft light from the crystal chandelier created a soothing atmosphere.

The table was covered with a variety of dishes: hot dishes like braised pork, Kung Pao chicken, squirrel fish, white-cut chicken, and tomato and egg; cold dishes like cucumber salad, sauce-soaked century eggs, and vegetable salad; and soups like seaweed egg drop soup. The selection was vast, overwhelming the senses with its aroma and making one's mouth water.

Kaguya hadn't eaten all day. Seeing so many delicious dishes, her eyes almost glowed green with hunger.

"Go ahead, I know you're hungry," Qiao Xiaoqing smiled warmly, a far cry from the fierce girl she had been earlier. "There are no formalities here, eat however you like."

"Mm." Kaguya nodded, already eager to start eating.

Starving as she was, Kaguya threw caution to the wind and ate with abandon.

After a few bites, Kaguya was surprised to find that the dishes not only looked exquisite but tasted extraordinary, leaving a lingering flavor. She had never tasted such delicious food, and even her own cooking skills paled in comparison.

"How's my cooking?" Qiao Xiaoqing asked. She didn't seem very hungry, mostly watching Kaguya eat with a smile.

"You made this?" Kaguya paused, slowing down in surprise. She hadn't expected Qiao Xiaoqing to have such culinary skills. In Kaguya's memory, it was always her cooking for Qiao Xiaoqing, sometimes even preparing her lunchbox.

"Yes." Qiao Xiaoqing nodded with a smile. "Not bad, right? I've been practicing for a long time. I originally wanted to…" Her voice trailed off, becoming almost inaudible as her eyes wandered, lost in thought.

"Originally wanted to?" Kaguya asked, a cucumber still in her mouth, puzzled.

"It's nothing," Qiao Xiaoqing said, her eyes clearing as she snapped back to reality, smiling. "Let's eat."

Ever since Kaguya gained her immense powers, her sensory perception became especially strong, particularly her sensitivity to mental energy, allowing her to keenly sense others' emotions.

And for some reason, even though Qiao Xiaoqing was smiling, Kaguya felt that her smile was bittersweet, as if she weren't truly happy and even harbored a hidden sadness that tugged at the heart.

Could it be that over the years she had experienced something that made her unhappy?

Indeed, if she hadn't encountered something significant, her personality wouldn't have changed so drastically. But what had happened to change her so profoundly?

Kaguya wanted to ask directly what had happened to Qiao Xiaoqing, but the words caught in her throat. In her current form, she was just a stranger she had recently met. Asking might arouse suspicion.

Affected by Qiao Xiaoqing's mood, the once fragrant food lost its appeal, tasting bland and unappetizing. Kaguya ate a few bites half-heartedly, then excused herself, saying she was full, and returned to her room.

Back in her room, Kaguya lay on the soft bed but felt no trace of sleepiness. Her mind was filled with thoughts, mostly concerning Qiao Xiaoqing. What had happened to her to cause such expressions?

Unable to sleep, Kaguya got out of bed, stood by the window, and opened the curtains, allowing the cool moonlight to stream in like silk threads. A gentle breeze caressed her face, causing her silver hair to flutter.

Suddenly, something caught Kaguya's eye. She walked over to a nearby bookshelf. The shelves were filled with neatly arranged books, kept pristine by frequent dusting.

But what caught her attention wasn't the books; it was a framed photo on the shelf. Kaguya gently picked up the frame.

The photo depicted a small river, its waters sparkling under the sunlight, flanked by verdant grass and dense woods. By the river stood two young children, the breeze playfully lifting their clothes.

A handsome boy laughed heartily, carrying a pretty little girl on his back. The girl mischievously formed a V sign over the boy's head, a playful smile on her cute face.

Beneath the bright sun, the two of them beamed with joy, their happiness contagious even to Kaguya.

"This is…"

Kaguya's eyes narrowed as she made a startling realization: the boy in the photo bore a striking resemblance to her past self—or rather, it was her past self.

Suddenly, a bright flash of light tore across the sky outside, followed by a deafening roar a few seconds later. Large raindrops began pelting the window sill, blossoming into water flowers. The rain intensified, pouring down in torrents like the Milky Way descending from the heavens.

In an instant, the wind howled, accompanied by the pounding rain and crackling thunder. Raindrops drummed against the window, sliding down the smooth glass.

The storm had finally arrived.

At that moment, a crisp knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?" Kaguya called, placing the photo back on the shelf before opening the door to find Qiao Xiaoqing.

"What's up?" Kaguya asked curiously, seeing Qiao Xiaoqing holding a pillow.

"Nothing," Qiao Xiaoqing said with a forced smile, "there's a storm outside, and I was worried you might be scared."

"Really?" Kaguya blinked, replying, "Don't worry about me, I'm not afraid of storms."

"Don't be stubborn. As long as I'm here, you won't have to feel scared," Qiao Xiaoqing assured confidently.

Suddenly, another blinding flash lit up the sky, as bright as dancing silver snakes, illuminating the entire room as if it were daytime.

Qiao Xiaoqing froze, her eyes widening, staring at Kaguya.

Boom! A thunderous roar erupted nearby, shaking the window panes.

"Ah!"

Qiao Xiaoqing let out a terrified scream, dashed to Kaguya's bed, and buried herself under the blanket, trembling, not even bothering to retrieve the pillow she dropped.

Kaguya sighed, massaging her forehead. She had expected this reaction from the start. It was Qiao Xiaoqing who was acting tough.