This time, Emerald Sparrow truly didn't know how to respond.
Although Xia Liang's expressions were quite obscure, she could understand the meaning behind Xia Liang's words.
The same thing as what Lin Xiaolu had, and not just scraps, even if not as plentiful. What Emerald Sparrow could wholeheartedly give to Lin Xiaolu, but found difficult to share with Xia Liang, naturally there was only one thing—kinship.
Xia Liang's request was tantamount to saying she wanted to regard herself as a parent and hoped to be treated like a child by Emerald Sparrow.
But precisely because she understood it, she found herself unable to speak. Or rather, it was the first time she felt bewildered by Xia Liang's somewhat overstepping and even stubborn idea.
The request was too Tang Tu and casual, whereas, in essence, it should be a very serious matter.
She could understand Xia Liang's longing for family affection after losing her father and being coldly abandoned by her mother, but she had never anticipated that Xia Liang would make such a demand at this time.
If Emerald Sparrow were a very casual person, completely indifferent to the various responsibilities and ethical issues behind this request, then she could easily promise and declare Xia Liang her foster daughter from now on, and both would consider themselves as parent and child.
However, she was not such a person. She understood the weight of family and kinship very well and valued it extremely highly.
The leap from being a senior Magical Girl to being family was too great, and the responsibilities entailed were so heavy that they rendered Emerald Sparrow speechless.
Even with Lin Xiaolu, her own daughter, they had had so many issues between them. Could she really take on this responsibility?
After a long period of thought, Emerald Sparrow pushed Xia Liang's shoulders, and the two separated from the embrace.
"Think about it some more, I need to think about it, too."
She tried to keep her voice soft so as not to upset Xia Liang's emotions, "You're a very good, very outstanding child, and I'm happy that you would recognize me in this way. But I don't want you to regret it later, and I hope we can both take responsibility for your life from here on out, so, don't make such a light decision."
"I've already..." Xia Liang wanted to say something else, but saw Emerald Sparrow make a silencing gesture and then shake her head.
"The time for petulance has ended today, you should remember, petulance should be 'in moderation,'" said Emerald Sparrow.
Xia Liang was initially stunned, then shook her head, smiling helplessly, "Alright, then let's talk about these things later."
"But, I have another demand."
Patting her face, she gathered her spirits and looked earnestly at Emerald Sparrow: "As the last indulgence of a naughty child, although I had not planned to tell Lin Xiaolu, I want a fee to keep silent."
"Which is?" Emerald Sparrow looked up, her arms crossed.
"Specifically, just set any day for us—"
—"Ah, you are all here!"
Xia Liang couldn't finish her speech. Because just as she began, her words were interrupted by a voice coming from the living room next to the balcony.
Lin Xiaolu was seen walking from the living room, holding test papers in her hand, shuffling in slippers, coming in with bluster, then abruptly sliding open the balcony door: "You've left me out, whispering behind my back! I want to listen too!"
Xia Liang had to stop speaking, as this was not something to be mentioned in front of Lin Xiaolu, so she chose to remain silent, smiling as she glanced at Emerald Sparrow.
Emerald Sparrow knew what she meant. In just one evening, she had felt the urge to sigh who knows how many times.
But at the moment, she wasn't ready to reveal the truth to Lin Xiaolu, so she could only droop her eyelids, and then, in unison with Xia Liang:
"It's nothing, just discussing a problem."