An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth (8)

  The sky is gradually whitening, and even the morning star has dimmed. Dawn is about to break.

  The sound of the door being pulled open came from behind, and Tang Sugar and Xiao Nuan instinctively turned their heads to see Grandma standing at the gate, fully dressed. The old lady always slept very little, and she had already gotten up before dawn. Seeing Tang Sugar and Xiao Nuan standing in the icy snow, looking like they hadn't slept all night, especially Tang Sugar, who was only wearing thin autumn pants, her heart ached terribly, and she quickly beckoned them to come inside.

  Tangtang had just sat down on the old sofa in the living room when her grandmother hurried out of the kitchen with a cup of boiling water and handed it to her, saying "You must be cold, drink some hot water to warm up."

  The concern of loved ones is the easiest to move people, Tang sugar's eyes were misty, fortunately, there was a continuous burst of hot air from the cup to cover it up, she hastily lowered her head and sipped the warm and comforting white water in small mouthfuls.

  Her grandmother sat down beside her, gently helping to smooth her bangs to one side and asked: "When did you arrive last night? Grandma didn't know at all. Did Xiaonuan help you open the door?"

  "Yes." Xiaonu replied from beside him, her voice as moving as high-quality silk.

  Tang Sugar heard this, and suddenly took a mouthful of boiling water. The scalding hot water couldn't stay in his mouth for long, and he hastily swallowed it down, feeling the heat all the way to his chest.

  She looked down at her shabby autumn pants with a thud in her heart: it wasn't grandma who helped her take off her clothes last night, that only means......

  She slowly moved her gaze, her eyes wide with tension and embarrassment, her entire face burning bright red, her little eyes secretly glancing at Xiaonu.

  He folded his arms, with his index finger resting on his chin, forming a lovely dimple, intently reading an old newspaper from who-knows-how-many-hundred-years ago on the coffee table, his expression so focused that it was stirring.

  Perhaps it was his keen perception, or perhaps it was just a simple unintentional movement, but in any case, Xiao Nuan suddenly turned her head to look at Tang Sugar.

  Tangtang hadn't moved her prying gaze, as if she had been caught red-handed, and was so embarrassed that she quickly turned her face to one side. However, by her ear was a warm patch, which was Xiaonu's breathing.

  She slightly turned her head, slanting her eyes to take a swift glance at Xiao Nuan. It turned out he was so close to her that Tang Sugar's heart skipped a beat. Even though she made very small movements and turned her head with great caution, her rosy cheeks almost touched his sensual lips.

  He was gazing deeply at her, with a benevolent teasing glint in his eyes, which made Sugar Sugar slightly shrink back.

  Xiao Nuan smiled silently, seemingly enjoying her embarrassment.

  Tang Tang felt uneasy and hot all over, as if she had entered summer mode. She sat restlessly, like a cat on pins and needles, then suddenly stood up, coughed twice in embarrassment, and quickly walked towards her mother's boudoir.

  As soon as she entered the room, she closed the door and used her hand as a fan to cool down her burning cheeks.

  After a while, the excited mood finally calmed down a bit. Tang sugar slowly took off Xiao Nuan's cotton-padded jacket, feeling somewhat reluctant to part with it, as if she was letting go of a warm and comforting embrace.

  She changed into her own clothes, and Tangtang decided to go home for a while. The school uniform had become dirty and tattered from the intense fight, so she couldn't wear it to school and needed to change into a clean set.

  She slung her backpack over her shoulder and carried Little Nuan's quilt into the living room. Her grandmother was chatting with Little Nuan, beaming with joy, her usual worried expression nowhere to be seen.

  Seeing Táng Táng's appearance, he asked in confusion: "Are you going to school so early? It's just past five o'clock."

  Tang Sugar pointed at her own dirty school uniform and explained: "I want to go home and change into a clean school uniform before going back to school."

  "Then I'll make something for you to eat."

  "Don't bother, Grandma." Xiaonu hastily intercepted: "Now that the breakfast shop is open, I guarantee your granddaughter won't go hungry. You should rest instead."

  The warm words not only made Grandma's heart bloom with joy, but also made Tang Sugar feel warmth in her heart.

  Grandma kept saying goodbye reluctantly and reminded Tangtang: "When you have time, come visit Grandma, bring your brother Xia Ye with you, I miss that child."

  Tang Tang's heart felt sour and aching, she nodded heavily and said in a thick nasal tone: "Grandma, I'll remember everything, as long as I have time, I'll come visit you with Xia Ye."

  Grandma's eyes suddenly dimmed, and her voice became very soft: "I know you're all busy, but Little Black is gone, Grandma is really so lonely."

  After finishing speaking, grandma wiped her eyes, she must have cried.

  "Grandma, Xiao Hei is gone, but I'm still by your side, am I not more considerate than a cat? Xiaonu affectionately hugged her grandma, as if he was the real grandson. The natural intimacy made Tangtang feel a little jealous."

  "When was Xiao Hei Zi gone?" Tang Sugar felt very guilty, she really didn't care about her grandma enough!

  "It's gone, it's gone. Besides, that cat has grown so big, it must have gone out to find a girlfriend, don't worry about it." Xiaonu quickly and naturally changed the subject before her grandmother could say anything, but her face turned slightly red.

  The old woman burst out laughing at one sentence: "Isn't that little black kid going to bring his whole family back home in the future?"

  "It's getting late, Grandma might be worried." Xiaonu said softly, taking the cotton-padded jacket from Tangtang's hand and putting it on. "It's too dark outside, I'll walk you home, Sugar."

  Grandma smiled and nodded, seeing them off at the gate of the courtyard.

  As soon as she walked into the courtyard, her near-sighted grandmother finally noticed the flowers hidden under the snow and couldn't help but exclaim: "What's going on this winter? There are always flowers blooming. Is it a good omen? Is something good going to happen?"

  Xiao Nuan and Tang Sugar exchanged a smile as they walked to the entrance of the courtyard, and that one smile was full of familiar tacit understanding.

  Tangtang lowered his head and looked at the mysterious ring on his hand, then slowly raised his head and gazed firmly into the distant dark sky.

  It is darkest before dawn.

  She secretly clenched her fists, holding onto her entire life. From now on, her life had to be as bright and sunny as a clear sky, no longer filled with sorrow!