Killing.
Asking her to kill someone out of the blue was still a bit too much for Shen Yi at the moment.
But...
"I will work hard at it in the future," she said, looking up earnestly.
Work hard at it...
This remark made Elder Shen cast a peculiar glance at her. He had expected the girl to say she was afraid or something similar.
Yet she was actually prepared to work hard at it?
His expression involuntarily shifted as if he were looking at something incredibly rare.
This child was absolutely far from normal.
A normal person would have run away long ago, or screamed and backed away.
She did not.
She didn't even need any environment or anyone to change for her.
She would actively strive to adapt to her environment and completely blend in.
Like water, taking the shape of whatever container it was poured into, yet never changing its true nature.
It was only today that he finally understood why those strange children in the family had all accepted her.
The Old Master's expression softened. In an unprecedented manner, much like an ordinary elder doting on a younger generation, he offered her a word of comfort:
"It doesn't matter if you can't bring yourself to do it right now. This kind of thing can be cultivated over time. You aren't the only one in the family who hesitates to strike."
"So there's actually someone else like me?"
Shen Yi was a little surprised. She had thought everyone in the family was a psychopath with zero respect for life.
"There is one." He gave her a meaningful look. "However, he has already learned the price of being soft-hearted. I hope you won't end up like him."
What? Who was it??
Shen Yi was dying of curiosity.
But she didn't quite dare to ask too many questions.
She couldn't help but feel that asking too much might easily get her killed.
...
It was already late at night when Shen Zhizhao arrived. The study door was left slightly ajar, with bright light spilling through the crack.
He stood at the door, not entering immediately.
Through the crack in the door, he saw a little girl sitting on the sofa inside the study, her two little legs dangling in the air.
Sitting opposite her was Elder Shen. The Old Master was holding a teacup and saying something.
Shen Yi nodded as she listened, but her eyes were visibly drowsy.
The corners of his lips curled up slightly. He raised his hand and knocked.
Knock, knock.
Two taps.
Shen Yi's attention was instantly drawn over.
She looked toward the door.
It was a complete stranger.
The moment he caught sight of her, the young man's dark eyes curved slightly.
He was very handsome, with a pale complexion that seemed untouched by sunlight. When he wasn't smiling, his features held a hint of coldness, but right now, there was a slight curve to his eyes.
Coupled with his soothing and gentle temperament, that trace of coldness melted away.
Like moonlight re-emerging from behind the clouds, his entire demeanor softened.
It made it effortlessly easy for people to let their guard down.
"Hello, Shen Yi."
Shen Yi didn't expect that the first thing this complete stranger would do upon entering was greet a child like her.
After all, of the people Elder Shen had met over the past few days, which one of them hadn't treated her like thin air?
Even if someone occasionally looked at her, it was merely a casual, dismissive glance.
But this person was different.
His gaze had landed on her from the very beginning, as if she were the only person in the room.
Shen Yi raised her hand.
The gesture carried a touch of childish curiosity. "Do you know me?"
He shook his head, his movements light and slow.
"I don't."
His gaze fell on her face and lingered.
His eyes were deep and profound.
As if he were studying something of great importance.
Then the young man spoke, his voice low, like a murmur meant only for himself:
"...I've never seen you before."
Shen Yi: "..."
Thanks, I've never seen you before either.
"Then why are you looking at me?"
The question was so direct it was somewhat cute.
Shen Zhizhao didn't answer. His gaze moved inch by inch, as if he were searching for something.
The study was quiet for a few seconds.
Elder Shen hadn't made a sound from beginning to end.
"Can you leave her to me, Grandpa?"
After a moment, he turned around, meeting the Old Master's probing gaze. His expression still carried that superficial gentleness. "I will teach her well."
Shen Yi: "Eh, wait a minute?"
She looked at Elder Shen and then at Shen Zhizhao, caught off guard by this unexpected development. A thought quickly surfaced in her mind.
Am I about to get a new guardian?
