“…they weren’t like this before.” Bai Wu pursed his lips and said, “Papa, do you wanna go take a bath? There’s a mountain spring outside, but you should bathe here. I’ll be worried if you’re outside.”

Xu Lan looked at his own dirtied state and nodded.

When Bai Wu was fetching some water, the young lady from before ran up to him with her hands behind her back and talked shyly to Bai Wu. Despite her extremely delicate appearance, she possessed the distinctive gentleness unique only to girls. Their exchange was a very harmonious scene.

All women had their own residence there. It was like a luxury that the dimension afforded to them, and anyone who forced themselves on a woman would also receive punishment.

She was the last remaining girl in the dimension. She fervently played the game every single day and did her best to accumulate ten thousand points. Being a young girl, she did not wish to die there.

Bai Wu opened the door to find Xu Lan staring at the stool for a long time as if there was a nail stuck in it.

“Since you can’t take a bath outside, just wipe yourself. I won’t be at ease if you were out there. Wait a few days and let everyone be familiar with you. After that, you can bathe outside,” Bai Wu said as he handed over some newly obtained clothes to Xu Lan.

All of a sudden, the atmosphere was filled with awkwardness. The only sounds present was that of water dripping. Bai Wu stood up anxiously, intending to head out for some fresh air.

“What are you doing?” When Xu Lan turned his head abruptly to look behind, he saw Bai Wu just standing there.

“I…I’m going for a walk.” Bai Wu rubbed his fingers and lowered his head as he spoke.

“…”

Bai Wu felt choked as he froze right where he stood. He felt as though the unbearably stuffy room suddenly turned very cold. He came back to his senses only after the swishing sound stopped and when Xu Lan walked up to him.

“All done? It’s time to sleep. Tomorrow’s a really important day. After that, I will protect you well, Papa.”

Bai Wu said as he pointed to the only bed in the house. In the meantime, he was also spreading out on the floor the blanket that had just been sent over.

“And you’ll sleep on the floor?” Xu Lan had a look of displeasure as he asked the question with an astonished tone. The ground was damp and cold, yet surprisingly, Bai Wu wanted to sleep there.

“Mm. Well actually, I wanted to cram in with the others, but I’m worried about Papa.” Bai Wu had spread out the blanket and was sitting on it. He gave Xu Lan a happy smile.

He was truly delighted when Xu Lan was able to find him, though he exercised restraint on his emotions.

“Are you crazy or something? It’s so damp down there! Get up now! The bed is big and…” Xu Lan shouted furiously, but midway through his sentence he paused and lowered his voice.

“Get up. It’s too wet on the ground. It’ll be like old times, wouldn’t it? That way…”

“Papa,” Bai Wu then responded, “Papa, I realize it now. I needed some time.”

“Realize what?” Xu Lan felt his heart skip a beat and he unconsciously posed a question.

“I shouldn’t be saying all that nonsense. I won’t say it again. I’ll be Papa’s son forever. When I fell in here, I finally realized it. I don’t want love. I want Papa. I only want Papa…”

Bai Wu began to sob and cry. His hands had pummelled the ground, but he did not dare to move them again. When he came in and hugged Xu Lan with unreserved emotions a while ago, Xu Lan seemed rather unhappy.

For Xu Lan, Bai Wu’s words felt like a pinch to the heart. Those sobs made him feel even more heartbroken.

“Papa, I will listen to you. It’s okay if Papa goes back to where Papa was originally from. I will…I will always think of Papa. If it’s possible, I will come back to visit…” Bai Wu said softly.

Those words, however, were lies. Bai Wu only had one desire: to make sure that Xu Lan was bound beside him.