2: Chapter 2 The vast waters of the Three Rivers, the winding passes of the Five Ridges

Shiguang looked at the girl, not answering her question. Under her puzzled gaze, he cupped her slightly baby-fat cheeks with both hands.

“Catgirl, boot up!”

“Miaomiao.”

Yang Shiguang lowered his hands and carefully admired this familiar, daisy-like, lovely girl.

The girl's hair was as black and dense as clouds, tied into low twin ponytails with two black hairbands at her fair neck, draping over her chest. Her cheeks had a touch of baby fat, adding a layer of cuteness. Her moist lips curled up slightly. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and the peach blossom eyes beneath them were the most beautiful—shimmering like stars, yet deep as the ocean, tugging at one's heartstrings.

“Catgirl? Are you talking about me?”

The girl smiled, leaning forward slightly. Raising her fair, slender arms, she lightly balled her hands into fists and rested them against Yang Shiguang's chest, her moist lips parting slightly to make a soft, sweet sound.

“Meow~”

An Miaomiao, Yang Shiguang and You Ge's childhood friend, lived in the same neighborhood as them. She had met Yang Shiguang when they were ten years old.

An Miaomiao had a mild congenital heart condition when she was a child. That day, it happened to flare up on her way home from school, and she collapsed in the middle of the road.

It just so happened that Yang Shiguang, who was walking home from school, saw her. He dropped his schoolbag, picked her up, and ran toward the clinic. He ran until his legs gave out and his shoes were ruined, but in the end, An Miaomiao received timely treatment.

After that, the two became close friends, treating each other like buddies.

In his past life, Yang Shiguang's impression of her had always been that of a little sister who followed him around, clingy to the point of being a bit annoying.

Yet, it was this very 'little sister' who filled the void of his missing family.

She had comforted him during his countless failed attempts to pursue Zhang Zishan, and had even given him advice.

Every time he came back covered in wounds from a fight, she would bandage him up, crying out of sheer heartache as she did so.

Unfortunately, in his past life, a month before Yang Shiguang immolated himself, he heard from You Ge that An Miaomiao's heart disease had relapsed.

Supposedly, her condition was quite severe; she had already been admitted to the ICU, and it was already too late.

Yet whether in his past life or the present, in Yang Shiguang's memory, An Miaomiao's surgery had been highly successful, and she had been lively and active afterward without showing any signs of illness.

Yang Shiguang couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. At the same time, he secretly resolved to take her for a thorough checkup in this life, determined to prevent the tragedy of her untimely demise from happening again.

Yang Shiguang patted her head, his face full of doting affection.

The girl wasn't tall, standing at only 160 centimeters, yet she possessed an enviable figure. In particular, her round breasts stretched her clothes rather tight, reminding Yang Shiguang of a popular saying from the future.

“Slender branches bearing heavy... you-know-whats...”

It just so happened that the girl was looking up at Yang Shiguang in a leaning-forward posture. He looked down, measuring them in his mind.