Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 109 Next step

Looking at Yang Chen's obviously guilty, hesitant, and daring eyes that wandered around but dared not look at her.

The expectation on Bai Yuetian's face gradually froze, and then slowly collapsed.

His gaze changed from burning to one of unbelievable hurt.

"No...no way, Orange?" Bai Yuetian released his grip on Yang Chen's arm, took a step back, and pointed at his own nose.

"Me! Bai Yuetian! Your brother-in-law! You returned to our beloved hometown... and only brought gifts for Yue Kui? Nothing for me?"

He beat his chest in anguish, lamenting, "My heart... is ice-cold."

Just as Yang Chen was thinking about how to comfort his heartbroken brother-in-law, and even considering whether to immediately activate the Rabbit Talisman and run back to Jiuchuan to buy one,

Bai Yuetian's eyes darted around, and he suddenly realized.

"Oh~" he drawled, his face instantly brightening as he winked at Yang Chen.

"I get it, you're trying to surprise me, aren't you?"

He didn't give Yang Chen a chance to explain at all and immediately began a thorough search of the living room.

My gaze swept over the space under the sofa, the gaps between the coffee table, and the corners of the bookshelves...

"Let me guess...where is it hidden?" he muttered to himself as he searched.

"Given Orange's personality... she definitely wouldn't put it in a very conspicuous place..."

Bai Yuekui held a water glass, watching his older brother pacing around the living room like a treasure-hunting dog. He frowned slightly, about to speak up and stop his childish behavior.

"Ha! Found it!" Bai Yuetian suddenly let out an excited whisper.

His target was an inconspicuous small storage box with a lid on, which was next to him.

The box looked like it was for storing small odds and ends and wouldn't usually attract much attention.

"This box is so well hidden, it must be the one," Bai Yuetian said smugly.

"You deliberately hid it here for me to find, Orange. Do you think I can't see through your little tricks?" he said, reaching out to lift the lid.

"Wait!" Bai Yuekui's expression changed slightly, and he immediately spoke up to stop them.

But it's too late!
Bai Yuetian deftly lifted the lid of the box.

There were no elaborately wrapped gifts in the box, only a photograph inside.

Bai Yuetian's smug smile froze the moment he saw the contents of the photo, followed by an even greater surprise.

"Hahahaha!" He laughed without any restraint, pinching one corner of the photo with two fingers and holding it high as if displaying a trophy.

"As expected, Orange, you understand me, hahaha!"

The photo shows Xiao Yuekui sitting pitifully on the grass yesterday afternoon.

"Yue Kui was so cute when she was little, look at her! Hahaha, I love this gift so much."

Bai Yuetian laughed so hard he almost fell over, pointing at the photo at Bai Yuekui, "Look, look! Yuekui! When you were little, you fell down and..."

His words stopped abruptly.

Because a fair hand swiftly reached out and precisely grabbed his wrist, which was holding the photo.

Bai Yuetian felt a numbness in her wrist, and the photo slipped from her hand in an instant.

"Ouch!" he cried out in pain.

He watched helplessly as that precious childhood close-up fell into Bai Yuekui's hands.

Bai Yuekui remained expressionless, his movements so swift that he left only a blur.

Without even glancing at it, she put the photo back in the box and slammed the lid shut.

"What are you doing?!" Bai Yuetian rubbed his numb wrist and shouted in dissatisfaction.

"Bai Yuekui, why are you grabbing it! This is from Chengzi!" He looked at Yang Chen with a wronged expression, seeking support.

"Orange, right? This photo is for me, isn't it?"

Yang Chen was about to say something to smooth things over.

"No." Bai Yuekui's voice was firm and resolute. She put the hand holding the box behind her back, her silver eyes coldly sweeping over Bai Yuetian and Yang Chen.

"There is no gift for you."

She paused, her gaze fixed particularly unfriendly on Yang Chen's face, and added, "He only bought mine yesterday."

The air became silent for a moment.

Bai Yuetian's mouth was agape as a wave of immense disappointment and resentment at being treated differently washed over him once more.

“I…” He pointed to himself, then to Yang Chen and Bai Yuekui, unable to speak for a long time. Finally, he could only choke out a sentence in grief and indignation.

"You...you two are bullying people!"

Yang Chen was caught in the middle, looking at his brother-in-law who looked "very hurt," and then at his own wife.

He wanted to laugh but felt it was inappropriate, so he could only awkwardly touch his nose.

After a long while, Bai Yuetian's aggrieved mood seemed to gradually subside on its own.

He let out a long sigh and plopped heavily back down on the sofa.

"Never mind, never mind." He waved his hand.

"Well, that's what happens when you're the older brother... No gift, no gift," he consoled himself.

Bai Yuekui glanced at him, said nothing, but relaxed a little and sat down on the other side of the sofa.

He casually stuffed the small box into the gap of the cushion next to him.

Yang Chen sat down next to Bai Yuekui.

The living room was quiet for a moment. Bai Yuetian leaned back on the sofa, his gaze somewhat vacant, as he processed the enormous amount of information he had just received.

Hisakawa's ability to return to the past at any time was beyond anything he had ever imagined.

He suddenly turned his head and looked at Bai Yuekui, his eyes becoming serious.

"Yue Kui...did you see your parents last night?" His voice lowered.

"What do they look like? What do they think of you?"

Bai Yuekui's fingers tightened slightly as he held the water glass.

She lowered her eyelids and remained silent for a few seconds: "I just looked around from the outside, I didn't go in."

"They are just like we were when we were kids."

Bai Yuetian paused for a moment, then nodded knowingly.

"Hmm...that's fine, we'll meet again someday," Bai Yuetian said softly.

He adjusted his posture, leaning slightly forward, his gaze sweeping between Yang Chen and Bai Yuekui.

"So... what's next? Orange, Moon Queen? What should we do next?"

Yang Chen also sat up straight, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

“ASH has now taken root there,” Yang Chen said in a deep voice.

He paused, his gaze becoming profound: "She will follow the plan we previously devised, using her memories and knowledge of the future to subtly guide and change things."

"ASH knows better than we do exactly when we should show up."

He opened his palm, and the rabbit talisman lay quietly in his hand.

"Moreover, we can now travel through time at any time, so even if something goes wrong, there's still time to salvage the situation."

At this point, Yang Chen looked at Bai Yuetian and asked, "How about I take you back later?"

After a moment of silence, Bai Yuetian said, "Let's do it later. I'll go talk to Tianlai and the others first."

"Okay, that's fine." Yang Chen nodded.

The three of them left their house and headed towards Xia Tianlai's house.

At this time of year, Xia Tianlai should still be practicing Tai Chi near her home or staying at the clinic.

(End of this chapter)