Su Bai pced the kitty bag beside him on the seat, letting Xiaoke take the window seat. Judging by his excitement, it was clear this was his first time on a train.
As the train began to move, Su Bai noticed the elderly couple seated across from them casting curious gnces in his direction. He offered them a polite nod but refrained from speaking further, keeping to himself.
Xiaoke, meanwhile, was thoroughly engrossed in the scenery outside. His small face was pressed against the window, his breath fogging up the gss as the train pulled out of the station. The rhythmic ctter of the wheels created a steady beat as they left the city behind and entered the countryside, the boundless scenery captivating everyone's attention.
Su Bai watched in quiet amazement. Fields of green stretched out endlessly, with cows grazing zily on the grass. His curiosity piqued as he noticed a group of sheep grazing nearby—some with thick woolly coats and others shorn bare.
“Beautiful Gege, why don’t those sheep have fur? Did a vilin take it away?” Xiaoke whispered softly into his ear, his childlike wonder making Su Bai want to ugh. Ever since meeting Xiaoke, there hadn’t been a single moment without ughter. Truly, he was a little treasure.
“No, baby. Do you know how sweaters are made?” Su Bai asked, still gazing out at the scenery as the train rolled on.
Xiaoke eagerly bobbed his head. “Wool! Wool!” he chirped, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
Lowering his voice so as not to disturb the other passengers, Su Bai began to expin.
“Sheep are special animals that grow thick, fluffy coats called wool to keep themselves warm—like in that ‘Shaun the Sheep’ cartoon. Every year, when the weather gets warmer, farmers give the sheep a haircut to remove their wool. This process is called shearing. It doesn’t hurt the sheep; it’s like when we get a haircut, and they feel lighter and cooler afterward.
“Once the wool is collected, it’s cleaned because it’s often full of dirt, grease, and little bits of pnts. Farmers wash it thoroughly until it becomes soft, fluffy, and clean—just like our Baobao’s soft hair. After that, the wool is spun, which means it’s twisted into long threads to make yarn.
“Finally, this yarn is used to make cozy things like sweaters, scarves, bnkets, and socks. People knit or weave the yarn into all sorts of warm, soft items. And that’s how the wool from sheep becomes something we wear to stay warm and snug.”
Xiaoke listened intently, nodding his little head as Su Bai spoke. He loved learning new things from his Beautiful Gege, who always expined everything so gently.
After a moment of thought, Xiaoke turned to Su Bai, his eyes wide with curiosity. “Then, Gege, can my hair make wool?”
Su Bai chuckled softly and reached out to ruffle Xiaoke’s soft curls. He held back his ughter for a moment, then answered, “No, Baobao. Our hair can’t keep us warm like a sheep’s wool. That’s why we wear woolen hats to stay warm. But sheep’s hair is special—it keeps them cozy all by itself.”
“Wow,” Xiaoke said, his voice filled with awe. He looked up at Su Bai with admiration. “Gege, you know so many things!” His praise brought a hearty smile to Su Bai’s face, making him want to reach out and ruffle Xiaoke’s hair again.
The cool breeze blew through the open window, ruffling their soft curls. Su Bai leaned back, squinting his eyes against the wind as he began to hum a gentle tune, his voice blending with the rhythm of the train.
Wén dí shēng dú chóu chàng
Listen for the melody of a flute, alone in sorrow.
Yún shēn yè wèi yāng
The nights in the clouds are long.
Shì yǔ fēi dōu guò wǎng
Once together, now it’s all in the past.
Xǐng lái le zěn néng dāng mèng yī cháng
In wakefulness, how can I brush everything away as a dream?
Hóng chén zhōng huǐ yù dé shī rú hé qù liáng
In this world, the good and evil done, how does one remember?
The melody—familiar to fans of The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation—floated gently through the cabin. Xiaoke listened with great relish, captivated by both the tune and the journey itself. His wide smile and sparkling eyes said it all: he was enjoying every moment of this adventure.
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Before boarding, they already ate so they weren't hungry on train only drank some juice—one gss each. Su Bai also fed the kitty some milk, gently rubbing its soft fur with relish. However, he didn’t keep the kitty out in public for long, mindful that some people might compin about fur allergies. He also didn’t want to disturb anyone unnecessarily.
As their destination approached, Su Bai felt the need to use the bathroom. After a moment of thought, he decided to take both Xiaoke and the kitty with him out of caution.
What Su Bai didn’t notice was the elderly couple sitting a few seats away casting gnces in their direction, muttering to each other as they passed. Although Su Bai was usually very sharp, the frequent gnces they received due to the kitty and Xiaoke made him think little of it.
“We need to find another target,” the old man whispered in a low voice, his kind smile masking his true intentions.
“He’s very cautious,” the old woman replied softly.
Looking at their gentle and kind faces, no one would suspect that the elderly couple was part of a gang of kidnappers.
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Meanwhile, Gu Ming was waiting for his luggage in the airport's baggage cim area. His dark eyes glinted with a fierce light as he observed the couple from afar.
“Report them,” he said coldly, his voice steady and commanding.
A moment ter, he added decisively, “Wait. Let them return to their ir first, then report everything together. Don’t make any mistakes.”
The system buzzed in acknowledgment as Gu Ming continued to watch.
