Seeing the little girl's tears fall more and more, Ming Li spoke, fabricating nonsense with a serious expression, "You're mistaken."
Shen Xiu'er heard this and looked at Ming Li, her eyes blinking as she asked with a dazed look, "Really, sister?"
Ming Li didn't speak, only nodded.
A few days later, Ming Li heard the little girl say there was a temple fair down the mountain and she pestered Ming Li to take her. Ming Li thought about it and agreed. She also wanted to see that "Ghost Gate" or whatever it was called.
So, in the evening, Ming Li took the little girl down the mountain. Hong Xin saw this and clamored to go too, "Little girl, it's not very nice of you to go out and play without me. We've lived together for over ten years, so we can at least be considered half-neighbors."
Ming Li didn't speak, her expression was blank, and cold air emanated from her.
"Sister, can we bring big brother along to play too?" At this moment, the little girl looked at Ming Li, blinking her beautiful big eyes.
Ming Li was about to refuse heartlessly, but suddenly thought of something and nodded indifferently, looking at Hong Xin, "Then she's yours to look after."
Hong Xin: "???" What did that mean? So she wanted him to babysit?
Shen Jinghe had gone down the mountain today to perform a ritual for a family at the foot of the mountain, so after Shen Xiu'er locked the door, she happily followed Ming Li and Hong Xin down the mountain to wander the temple fair.
The temple fair was now crowded with people and bustling with activity. Stalls were set up everywhere. Shen Xiu'er looked here and there, her clear eyes full of curiosity.
"Wow! This is so pretty! Sister, Nini really likes this!"
Shen Xiu'er stood by a stall selling masks, holding a finely crafted red fox mask, unable to put it down. She looked pleadingly at Ming Li, "Sister, Nini wants this, can I?"
Ming Li glanced at the mask in the little girl's hand. It was indeed quite beautiful. "Yes, you can have it."
Saying this, she reached behind her and tossed a few taels of silver to the stall owner.
The stall owner who suddenly saw silver falling from the sky: "......" ???
After seeing Ming Li pay, Shen Xiu'er happily put on the mask. Once it was on, she asked Ming Li, "Sister, do I look pretty?"
Ming Li: "......" Could she say no?
One person and two ghosts wandered through the temple fair. As they passed a certain spot, Ming Li suddenly sensed something. She turned to Hong Xin, who was gnawing on a piece of candle, and said, "Watch her." After saying that, she tossed him a money bag and disappeared from her spot.
Hong Xin: "???"
As soon as Shen Xiu'er turned around, she saw Ming Li was gone. She asked Hong Xin with a confused expression, "Big brother, where's my sister?"
Hong Xin: "......" How was he supposed to explain this? That your sister vanished into thin air without a word?
Seeing the little girl staring at him, as if she wouldn't stop until he answered, Hong Xin paused for a moment, "Your sister... suddenly had something to attend to. She'll probably be back in a bit."
Fearing the little girl wouldn't believe him, Hong Xin also looked at her with his sincere big eyes, blinking constantly.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xiu'er, though a little disappointed that her sister couldn't accompany her to the temple fair, said nothing.
Afterward, one person and one ghost continued to wander the temple fair and bought quite a few good things. Consequently, the little girl who had shown off her wealth was noticed by some people.
As Shen Xiu'er and Hong Xin passed through a dark alley, several ill-intentioned men jumped out, blocking the little girl's path.
"Well, well! Where did this little beauty come from? What a fine figure you have!" A man stroked his chin, appraising Shen Xiu'er with a lewd expression.