Held in a warm embrace, Luo Zhou, who had been pretending to be strong, finally broke down. His whimpers, like the mournful cries of a small animal, echoed through the empty courtyard.
As if sensing Luo Zhou's distress, Er Niu, who had been chewing on an apple, raised its head. A flicker of confusion crossed its clear eyes, but it still walked slowly over to Luo Zhou, lowered its head, and gently nuzzled him.
Luo Zhou had always thought Er Niu was a bit silly. It loved playing with humans and was never afraid of running into bad people.
Now, Luo Zhou felt he was the silly one, while Er Niu remained unfailingly loyal, comforting him in its own way.
"See? You're good to Er Niu, and Er Niu is good to you..."
'Some people just aren't worth your kindness. Why get hung up on them? It's better to make a clean break!'
Just as Qiao An was comforting Luo Zhou, the sound of hurried footsteps sent a jolt of fear through her. She scooped up Luo Zhou, turned, and fled.
