Ning Yao was outside practicing with the bow. When she saw Youyou come out, she excitedly waved her over: “Youyou! Come watch me! Come watch!”

She drew the string fully and released —

An arrow shot straight into the orphanage’s courtyard wall!

“Ah…” Ning Yao blinked in surprise. “Why did it go off to the side?”

She had hit the big tree several times in a row just moments ago.

Maybe not enough practice, still a bit rusty. But she was fairly certain she had learned archery before. Otherwise, it wouldn’t feel this familiar.

Youyou asked: “Yaoyao-jie, if you learn to shoot properly, does that mean we won’t have to be afraid of the bad people who come after Jiujiu anymore?”

Ning Yao wasn’t sure, and wanted to try another shot — but realized she’d used up all her arrows.

Bai Youwei had only given her six. Each time she shot, she had to run quite a distance to retrieve them. Going back and forth a few times was actually a solid physical workout.

“But there are so many of them when they come — a handful of arrows won’t be enough.” Ning Yao sighed, then turned to look at Youyou. “What are you doing out here? Aren’t you supposed to be helping Brother Zichu?”

Youyou: “That older sister wants me to go clean a room. She’s not sleeping in the same place as us anymore.”

Ning Yao: “I’ll help you clean it together.”

……

The two of them walked to the residence building and found Diandian standing in front of the Cloud Room, up on his tiptoes, peering through the window on the door.

Every room in the residence building had a small glass panel on the door — it couldn’t be opened, but you could see inside through it, which made it easy for the orphanage’s teachers to check on the rooms.

Ning Yao called out: “Diandian, what are you doing?”

The little boy turned around and pointed at the door. “Jiujiu is in there. She can’t get out.”

No need to ask — it was obviously Bai Youwei’s doing.

The little girl inside was softly sniffling: “Yaoyao-jie, wuu wuu wuu wuu…”

Ning Yao frowned and patted herself down, then asked Youyou: “Do you have the spare key?”

Youyou shook her head helplessly. “…The older sister took it.”

Ning Yao’s expression darkened further at that.

Youyou said worriedly: “Yaoyao-jie, what if she keeps Jiujiu locked up indefinitely…”

Ning Yao thought it over. Whether it was the bow that had given her courage, she raised a hand and waved it with considerable bravado: “Come on! Let’s go get the key from her!”

“Huh?” Youyou looked at her nervously. “Yaoyao-jie, I’m scared…”

“Don’t be scared!” Ning Yao raised the bow and arrows in her hand. “We have a weapon now! Even if she has pepper spray, spray can’t reach as far as a bow and arrow!”

Youyou said meekly: “But those arrows are from her…”

Ning Yao’s face flushed, and she replied sheepishly: “I know, but we can’t just let her bully Jiujiu like this.”

Youyou felt that Ning Yao had a point. She was still unnerved by Bai Youwei, but listening to Jiujiu’s continued crying from behind the door, she wavered and ultimately decided to go with Ning Yao to demand the key.

The two of them steeled themselves psychologically and marched to the cafeteria, planting themselves with resolute expressions at the kitchen doorway!

Bai Youwei was watching Yi Zichu cook. When she heard footsteps, she looked up, and asked Ning Yao and Youyou in an even tone: “Is the room cleaned?”

Youyou’s resolve deflated instantly. She gave a small, feeble reply: “Not… not yet…”

Ning Yao had slightly more nerve. She aimed directly at Bai Youwei and drew the bow!

“You! Hand… hand hand hand over the key!” she shouted, forcing herself to sound steady. “Even if you have pepper spray and a dagger, we… we won’t be afraid! A dagger can never be faster than a bow and arrow! Spray can’t reach as far as a bow and arrow! You… you’d better, right now, hand over the key! Let Jiujiu out! Otherwise, otherwise… we’ll… we’ll…………”

Bai Youwei watched her with perfect composure and asked: “You’ll what?”

Ning Yao stalled completely, and instinctively shot a glance at Yi Zichu by the stove, tense and flustered.

She was, after all, only twelve. She wanted to protect everyone, but didn’t know how.

Bai Youwei reached into her bag and pulled out a handgun, pointing it at Ning Yao: “Can your bow and arrow outrun this? Can it outrange this?”

Ning Yao: “…”

—