"Na'er," Xie Tianhai said, his voice warm and resonant. "From this day forward, we are your family."
Beside him, Jiang Yun beamed at the girl. Both parents looked at their son with a mix of pride and amusement. As expected of our boy! He's exactly on our wavelength! We never dreamed a simple trip to Aolai City would result in bringing home such a precious daughter.
"Mm!" Na'er nodded, a rosy flush coloring her exquisite face. Her gaze swept across the three of them, her smile deepening. "Uncle, Auntie... Brother Xie Xie."
She tightened her grip on Xie Xie's hand. She had a family now. Brother Xie Xie was her anchor, and his parents were her shelter.
"Eh? Still calling us Uncle and Auntie?" Jiang Yun's eyes dimmed slightly at the formal address, but she quickly brightened. Given how her son had "picked her up" today, the day she called them Mom and Dad probably wasn't far off. The parents exchanged a knowing wink.
"Let's head back to Donghai City today," Jiang Yun suggested as they neared the hotel. "We've stayed in Aolai long enough, and now that we have Na'er, it's better to get her settled at home."
Xie Tianhai nodded in agreement and looked at his son. Since the trip had been Xie Xie's idea, his input carried weight.
"It is time," Xie Xie agreed. "Donghai Academy's new term has already begun. It's not wise to linger here any longer." He turned to the girl at his side. "Na'er, I'm taking you home."
"Okay," she whispered, her trust absolute.
By that evening, before the twilight had fully faded into night, the group reached the Xie family estate.
"The house... is huge," Na'er murmured as she stepped into the grand foyer. The marble floors and soaring ceilings were a far cry from the modest hotel in Aolai.
"Come, Na'er," Jiang Yun said, leading her upstairs with a bright smile. "From now on, this is your room."
She opened the door to a spacious, airy bedroom. It was currently a bit plain, but Jiang Yun was already mentally decorating it with silks and plush toys.
"My room..." Na'er looked around, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. However, as she took in the space, a shy blush tinted her cheeks. She looked at Jiang Yun, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "Auntie, I..."
"What is it, dear?" Jiang Yun asked softly.
"I... can I share a room with Brother Xie Xie?"
Jiang Yun's eyes widened. Is this really heading toward 'child-bride' territory already? You're not planning to sleep in the same bed, are you?
"You'll have to ask your Brother Xie Xie about that," Jiang Yun replied, a teasing glint in her eyes. "He's right next door."
"All right!" Na'er nodded eagerly. She tiptoed to the adjoining room and gently pushed the half-open door.
"Mm? What's wrong, Na'er?" Xie Xie, who had been preparing to start his evening meditation, stood up and walked over.
"I want to share a room with Brother Xie Xie," she stated clearly.
Xie Xie's grin froze. Na'er was adorable, but he possessed the soul of an adult. "Na'er, you're a girl and I'm a boy. There's a difference between us. We can't... sleep together."
"Sleep... together?" Na'er blinked, her face going blank. Then, the realization hit, and her cheeks blazed. She hadn't meant that! "I meant... we could put two beds in the room. I'm just... a bit scared to be alone."
She pressed her lips together, her amethyst eyes filled with a quiet, lingering fear of abandonment. She wanted to stay close to the person who had rescued her from the cold streets.
"Oh. So that's what you meant," Xie Xie laughed, rubbing the back of his neck to hide his own embarrassment. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "No problem, then. I understand."
If this little "angel" was afraid of the dark in a new world, he would be her guardian.
That night, lying in her new bed, Na'er found she couldn't drift off despite her exhaustion. She opened her eyes and looked across the room. Not far away, on the other bed, Xie Xie sat cross-legged, his breathing deep and rhythmic as he meditated.
Brother Xie Xie... In the dim moonlight, his silhouette seemed to glow with a faint, draconic aura. Her restless heart finally calmed. As she began to drift off, her powerful, innate mental force caught the hushed conversation from the hallway.
"Dear, what do you think of Na'er?" It was Jiang Yun's voice.
"She's lovely. Endearing. And our son clearly adores her..." Xie Tianhai replied.
"I think so too. If they stay this close, she might just become our little child bride..."
Na'er's eyes snapped open. A lovely flush colored her cheeks. Brother Xie Xie... likes me? She puzzled over the term "child bride" for a moment before shaking her head. It didn't matter. All she needed to know was that she was wanted. She fell asleep with a sweet, lingering smile.
The next morning, the registration at Donghai Academy was completed with lightning speed, thanks to the Xie family's influence.
"Young Master Xie, from today onward, I, Su Yangtao, will be your class teacher!"
In the faculty office, a male teacher gazed at Xie Xie with fervent intensity. His voice was actually trembling. It wasn't just the prestige of the Xie family; it was the boy's data.
Innate Full Soul Power was a phenomenon that appeared once in a thousand years in Donghai City. To a Spirit Grandmaster like Su Yangtao, having a future Titled Douluo—or perhaps a god—as a student was the greatest honor of his career.