In times of need

Xīyuàn's life was a whirlwind of deadlines and late nights, making her an elusive figure. Her work often spilled into the wee hours, leaving her to snatch sleep in the hazy mornings or, on some occasions, the lazy afternoons. But today was different; it had been a day of paperwork, her apartment transformed into a chaotic office. Her bedroom wall was plastered with various documents, forming a tapestry of text that she contemplated while sprawled upside down on her bed. She'd oscillate between bursts of inspiration, leaping up to furiously type on her laptop, and moments of contemplation, perched on the kitchen counter with her laptop balanced precariously on her knees.

As evening approached, Xīyuàn reluctantly tore herself away from her work. She had promised to visit Míngzé, and she was determined to keep her word. With a resigned sigh, she packed a bag with clothes — an odd request from him, but she shrugged it off — and drove over to his place.

Upon reaching his apartment, she climbed the stairs with a sense of anticipation. The door swung open, and she stepped inside. “You might want to be more specific next time,” she sighed, her fingers running through her long, black hair in a gesture of tired exasperation.

Her surprise was palpable when her eyes landed on a girl, casually lounging on Míngzé's couch, adorned in his clothes. Xīyuàn's eyebrows shot up, and without missing a beat, she spun towards her cousin. “This is how you introduce us?” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Míngzé said that he hadn't explained more to Xīyuàn because he believed she wouldn't have trusted his words. She crossed her arms, her posture reflecting her growing suspicion as she pieced together the fragmented information. Her eyes darted back and forth between Míngzé and the mysterious girl, a metaphorical red thread weaving through the scattered facts in her mind, linking them into a coherent picture.

The girl's apparent surprise at being a topic unknown to Xīyuàn only deepened the mystery. When Míngzé hinted at the involvement of a child in the matter, Xīyuàn's eyes narrowed even further. From someone else, she might have accepted such a revelation without question. But knowing Míngzé and his lack of knowledge of the female physique, the claim seemed far-fetched.

Míngzé's comment about the situation being more complex than a mere secret relationship elicited a heavy sigh from Xīyuàn. “Well, since you've dragged me into this, you two had better start explaining,” she declared, her tone a mix of irritation and curiosity. She dropped her bag onto the table with a thud and approached the girl.

“Hey there. I'm not sure if my clueless cousin has mentioned me, but I'm Xīyuàn. Most just call me Yuàn. By the way—” Her sentence trailed off as something caught her eye, sparking immediate intrigue. “Are those ears... real?” she blurted out, her gaze fixating on the peculiar feature of the girl's appearance.

Upon the girl's inquiry about the reality of her unique features, Xīyuàn's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, a flicker of what could be calculation passing through them. “They're real,” she echoed softly, more to herself than to the girl. Her voice held a trace of something unspoken, a secret tucked away beneath the surface. “Not a problem,” she added, her tone shifting to one of detached professionalism as she reclined slightly, her expression turning serious. Her gaze, sharp and calculating, lingered on the girl, yet she angled her head subtly towards Míngzé.

Míngzé's cautionary words about the girl's unfamiliarity with Xīyuàn's manner elicited a soft chuckleg. She listened intently as Míngzé recounted the girl's unexpected arrival at his doorstep, her eyes never leaving the girl, studying her with an analytical, almost forensic, scrutiny.

“I see,” Xīyuàn murmured, her voice a blend of contemplation and intrigue. She took a deliberate step back, as if distancing herself physically would grant her a broader perspective on the figure before her.

“So, Lucina, where is it that you come from?” she inquired, her brows arching with curiosity. “And how did you get here?” she continued.

Xīyuàn's golden eyes narrowed as she scrutinised the girl standing before her. Lucina's claim of not knowing her origins, coupled with the assertion that she had simply walked here, elicited a soft, contemplative hum from Xīyuàn. Her gaze seemed to drift momentarily, her mind piecing together a puzzle hidden from everyone else's view. She remained silent as the girl recounted Míngzé's assistance.

Míngzé's argument against sending Lucina to a shelter and his hesitancy to keep her himself made Xīyuàn's gaze flicker thoughtfully between them. Her eyes narrowed further. “So, your solution is for me to take her in,” she stated, her voice laced with a blend of scepticism and realisation.

In Xīyuàn's mind, the pieces were aligning too neatly. Míngzé's recent departure from a lab known for its affinity research, a lab she had been quietly investigating, followed by his sudden return with a strange-looking girl, couldn’t be mere coincidence. Could these events be connected?

“Alright. She can stay with me. I have resources and connections that might help,” Xīyuàn declared, her decision made but her suspicions far from allayed. As she agreed to take Lucina in, her mind was already racing, formulating plans to unravel the truth.

Upon hearing Míngzé's explanation about his financial constraints, Xīyuàn gave a nod, her expression unchanging. “So, the issue is you’re poor,” she remarked, her tone even and devoid of judgement. She wasn't one to tiptoe around the truth or spare someone's ego at the expense of clarity. “It's fine. I have a spare room available,” she stated matter-of-factly.

The revelation that the girl, Lucina, possessed no memories piqued Xīyuàn's curiosity. She pondered the possibilities – was this amnesia deliberately induced, or a natural defence against some unspeakable trauma? Xīyuàn had her suspicions about the origins of the girl, but she knew that time would eventually unravel the mystery. In her experience, the truth had a way of surfacing, given patience and observation.

“Get ready, Lucina. We'll leave when you're ready,” Xīyuàn said with a slight sigh, gesturing towards the bag. “Míngzé knows where to find me. He can come by if you need him,” she added. It was clear to her that there was a bond of trust between Míngzé and Lucina.

Xīyuàn watched Lucina depart to get dressed, her eyebrow arching subtly as she turned her gaze towards Míngzé. She chose to remain silent for the moment, her expression betraying none of her thoughts. Once Lucina returned, inquiring about having a Pokémon, Xīyuàn's response was nonchalant yet firm. “Just make sure it’s well-trained and doesn’t cause a mess,” she said, her tone light. She was willing to accommodate, but not at the expense of her home.

Míngzé’s next words elicited a soft scoff from Xīyuàn. His tone, hovering somewhere between protective and affectionate, piqued her curiosity. “It’s hard to tell if you’re playing the part of a concerned sibling or something more, Míngzé,” she remarked with a wry smile, her comment half-teasing, half-probing. She then shifted her attention to Lucina, her demeanour becoming more business-like. “Let’s head out, Lucina. I’d like to have your room set up in time for you to settle in tonight,” she said, indicating it was time to depart.

The question of distance brought a light chuckle from Xīyuàn, her tone laced with reassurance. “It's close. Living in the city centre does mean it's a stretch to walk, but by bus it’s a breeze. We'll go over it together, don't worry,” she promised.

Despite the whirlwind of uncertainties swirling around the situation, Xīyuàn's trust in her cousin remained unshaken. She understood the stakes of hidden truths and unspoken tensions all too well. Whether Míngzé or time itself would be the one to unveil the full picture, she was prepared. His reaching out to her was a silent acknowledgment that the truth would inevitably surface.

“Time to head out,” Xīyuàn declared, her voice carrying a note of decisiveness as they made their exit. The journey from her doorstep to her car was swift, the bag she’d prepared earlier tossed casually into the backseat.

She has this car