Ten minutes later, Yao Xuan unlocked the door to Lin Ximeng's apartment.
"Come in, Na'er. You can sit here and rest." His voice was gentle as he guided the silver-haired girl to the sofa. He then went to the kitchen, retrieving a plate of sponge cake from the soul-guided refrigerator. "You must be hungry. Please, eat. You don't need to be shy with me."
He offered her the cake with a warm smile.
Na'er's amethyst eyes fixed on the dessert, a flicker of longing quickly masked by wariness.
"See? It's perfectly safe," Yao Xuan said, understanding her hesitation. He broke the cake in two, eating one piece himself before offering the other. "It's good."
A silent understanding passed between them. "Thank you," Na'er whispered, her voice a soft chime. She accepted the other half with delicate fingers and began to eat, her initial restraint giving way to genuine hunger.
After she finished the first piece, the guarded look in her eyes had softened considerably. She glanced up at Yao Xuan, a silent question in her gaze.
"Please, have as much as you'd like," he encouraged, his smile unwavering.
"Thank you," she said again, this time with more warmth. She took two more pieces, eating with a quiet focus that spoke of a long-deprived appetite.
Yao Xuan watched her, his heart swelling with a protective fondness. 'The mighty Silver Dragon King, brought to my doorstep as a hungry little girl. I will make sure she never feels this lost again.'
Soon, the plate was empty, a faint look of satisfaction in Na'er's eyes. Yao Xuan gathered the wrappers and disposed of them. A comfortable silence settled between them, broken twenty minutes later by the chime of the doorbell.
"That will be my mom, Lin Ximeng," Yao Xuan explained softly. "She's very kind. There's no need to be afraid." He went to the door and opened it.
"Mom, you're back!"
"Yao Xuan," Lin Ximeng smiled as she entered, her expression then shifting to curiosity as she noticed the guest. "And who is this?"
Yao Xuan recounted the events on his way home, omitting only the specifics of his martial soul's effect and his internal calculations, focusing instead on the rescue.
"That was far too dangerous!" Lin Ximeng exclaimed, her face pale with a mother's fear. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her breathing quickened. "You could have been seriously hurt!"
"But I'm fine, see?" Yao Xuan reassured her, touched by her concern. "It all worked out."
"Thank the heavens you have your soul power to command respect," she sighed, her composure returning. She then turned her full attention to Na'er, kneeling to be at her eye level. "Hello, little one. Yao Xuan says your name is Na'er? Can you tell me where your parents are?"
Na'er simply shook her head, her silver hair swaying.
"Alright," Lin Ximeng continued, her voice patient and soft. "Do you know where you are from? Or where your home is?"
Another silent shake of the head.
"Perhaps a phone number? Or any way to contact your family?"
Again, Na'er offered only a negative gesture.
"I see," Lin Ximeng murmured, a pang of sympathy in her heart. "One last thing, sweetheart. How old are you? You must know that."
"Five and a half years old," Na'er replied, her melodic voice barely above a whisper.
"Only five and a half," Lin Ximeng repeated, a flash of anger for the child's plight crossing her features before being replaced by resolute kindness. "Well, Na'er, you will stay with us tonight. Tomorrow, I will take you to the administration office to see if we can find your family. But for now, let's get you cleaned up. A warm bath will make you feel much better."
Na'er gave a small, trusting nod. Lin Ximeng took her hand and led her toward the bathroom.
As they disappeared, Yao Xuan's mind raced. 'This is the pivotal moment. Na'er must stay. This is my chance to offer her a true sanctuary, to let her experience human kindness and companionship. If she leaves now, that door might close forever. And her presence itself is a boon to my growth.' He resolved to convince Lin Ximeng, not through manipulation, but by appealing to her inherent compassion.
A short while later, Lin Ximeng led a freshly bathed Na'er back into the living room. The grime of the streets was gone, revealing skin as pale and smooth as fine jade. Dressed in a clean, oversized shirt of Yao Xuan's, she seemed even smaller and more delicate. Her features, now clear, were exquisitely proportioned, and she carried the faint, clean scent of soap and warm water. She looked like a character stepped out of a fairy tale, ethereal and pure.
Yao Xuan looked at her, not with stunned awe, but with a heartfelt appreciation for the quiet beauty before him. "Na'er," he said, his voice filled with sincere warmth, "you look very nice."
A faint pink hue touched Na'er's cheeks. She didn't retreat from his gaze but offered him a small, almost imperceptible smile—the first true crack in the icy facade of the Silver Dragon King. It was a silent acknowledgment, a tiny seed of trust planted in the safety of a new hearth.