"Why would I have four kids?" he couldn't help but ask. "Do I look like someone who likes kids?"
He wasn't just child-averse—he was misanthropic.
At this stage of his life, Shen Sixing had no fondness for anything alive that required his responsibility.
It was hard to imagine why he would ever have so many children. It would be a disaster.
Shen Yi crouched beside the bench and shook her head, indicating she didn't know.
Shen Sixing bit his lip, already feeling a sense of dread about the future, and didn't dare press further.
He stood up, tossed the empty soy milk cup into the trash, and walked toward the street with his hands in his pockets.
As he passed a children's clothing store, the window display showcased down jackets and knitted beanies in bright, warm colors.
The young man walked past without a second glance, showing no intention whatsoever of stopping to buy the kid a coat.
He didn't look back.
He was testing her, hoping she'd take the hint and leave on her own.
If Shen Yi really lost track of him, or decided following him wasn't worth it, that would save him the trouble.
But every time he turned around, there she was, trailing a few steps behind him.
She wouldn't shake off.
Shen Sixing said coldly, "Stop following me."
He realized he was getting too afraid of the future she talked about.
He hadn't believed her at first.
Words like "future," "wife," and "five kids" were as absurd as a child's made-up fairy tale.
But... but he still couldn't help obsessing over it.
And the simplest way to make sure that future never happened?
He could just kill her.
Shen Sixing stopped in his tracks and turned around.
He stood in the middle of the street, cold wind whipping through the hair across his forehead, revealing dark, hollow eyes.
The young man stared at her, his voice low: "Stop following me."
"Or else I'll..."
Before he could finish, Shen Yi cut in, "Or else you'll kill me?"
Shen Sixing grew even more irritated.
He lightly pinched her neck with his fingertips, his voice carried by the cold wind into her ears.
"I'm not joking, Shen Yi. Do you know that people who cling to me like this end up being disposed of by my family—or killed by me?"
There had never been anyone permanent in Shen Sixing's life.
Most of the time, he lived under his family's surveillance to prevent any mishaps.
He'd had occasional friends in his teenage years, but they all disappeared without a trace.
Over time, Shen Sixing stopped caring about any of that.
He didn't need friends. The only ones who stayed were family.
She wasn't family.
And she wouldn't be an exception.
Shen Yi really wasn't that scared of his threats.
If he actually wanted to hurt her, she wouldn't still be alive talking to him. At the end of the day, Shen Sixing was too indecisive—deep down, he believed her words.
He just couldn't bring himself to accept it, found it too absurd, and so he tried to scare her off with threats.
She knew him well.
If he really wanted someone dead, he wouldn't say this much.
"I'm a bit cold," Shen Yi said, tilting her face up at him. "Why are you wearing a scarf and not giving it to me?"
Shen Sixing looked down at her deflecting like that and slowly tightened his grip.
When he saw her brow furrow in discomfort, he instinctively let go, gritting his teeth:
"You eat my food, live under my roof, and now you want my scarf too?"
Shen Yi muttered "cheapskate" under her breath, and once the pressure on her neck was gone, she let out a genuine sigh of relief and took half a step back.
...What a difficult High-and-Mighty.
She pointed at a store. "Dad, I want to go in there."
Shen Sixing stood at the entrance, frowning at her.
"No."
"It's warmer in there," Shen Yi said earnestly. "Your rental leaks cold air. Let's stay here for a bit."
The arcade had over a dozen machines of all kinds, and the heating was cranked up so high that the chill clinging to their bodies melted away the moment they stepped in.
Shen Sixing stood at the entrance, watching Shen Yi slip into the crowd like a slippery fish.
He closed his eyes in annoyance, unwilling to bother with her.
Hopefully someone would snatch her up and sell her off.
Then he wouldn't have to think about her nonsensical ramblings.
He could go back to that drafty rental and continue his dull, gray existence.
He found a long fabric sofa in the corner of the arcade, curled up on it, and closed his eyes.
He fell asleep.
Meanwhile, Shen Yi bounced a couple times on the free dancing machine, following the flashing arrows.
But she worried that her deadbeat dad, Shen Sixing, might ditch her here the moment she wasn't watching, so she quickly ran back to the corner.
When she returned, she saw Shen Sixing already curled up on the long sofa, fast asleep, oblivious to the world.
Shen Yi crouched on the floor and watched him for a while.
It was so warm in here. The heat poured down from the vents above, thawing her frozen fingers and toes, making her whole body go soft and drowsy.
If she went back to that broken rental, she'd freeze tonight.
So Shen Yi immediately dragged a small stool over and placed it in front of the sofa, then lay down across Shen Sixing's body.
She rested her chin on her arms, curled into a tiny ball, and closed her eyes too.
The two of them huddled in the corner on that sofa—one big, one small, very close together.
Surprisingly harmonious.
When Shen Sixing opened his eyes, he felt a fuzzy head pressed against his chest. Instinctively, he reached out and pushed her.
But the little girl was sound asleep, breathing slow and even.
His hand lingered on her shoulder.
He thought:
He could just walk away right now, silently.
She wasn't his responsibility.
It'd be fine to leave.
He was good at abandoning things that shouldn't get close.
So far, Shen Sixing felt nothing for her.
He stood up, glanced back once, and was about to take a step—but he paused for two seconds.
That familiar black box flashed through his mind again, along with all her crazy talk.
...And the box.
Even if he wanted to abandon her...
He should at least wait until he could figure out how to open that box and see what was inside.
With that, Shen Sixing felt a wave of clarity, and his steps came to a complete stop.
He turned around and walked back to the sofa.
He looked down at her for two seconds, then bent over and scooped her up from the little stool.
Shen Yi instinctively nuzzled her head against him, her face sinking into her father's chest.
"Falling asleep against me like this without a guard up—how disgusting," Shen Sixing muttered as he held her, biting his lip gloomily, starting to ramble under his breath. "Do we even know each other? I don't believe a word of your nonsense. Ghost of a future and kids—clearly I'm destined to be alone for my whole life."
