Aili sat quietly on the low stool in the corner of the bathroom, her head slightly bowed, revealing a glimpse of her pale, slender nape.
Yun Ruoxi stood behind her, her fingertips gently combing through the smooth golden hair.
A year had passed, and she had grown more than ten centimeters.
Now, at 1.52 meters tall, she no longer had to stretch her neck to look up at Lin Zhen, which was something to celebrate.
But Aili’s growth was even more remarkable.
That once small, frail girl with dry hair, nourished fully in the war camp, now sat on the stool only half a head shorter than her, with a subtle but definite fullness at her chest.
It had really been a year…
Realizing this, Yun Ruoxi shook her head lightly, the comb slowly gliding through the ends of Aili’s hair, producing a faint rustling sound.
“Aili, how tall are you now?”
“Almost 1.7 meters, I think…” Aili squinted her eyes in contentment, like a cat being stroked.
Yun Ruoxi couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “You’ve always been taller than me. I’ve always wondered, why did you call me ‘Sister’ the very first time we met?”
The image of that bigger girl timidly calling her “Sister” at their first meeting was still vivid in her mind.
That single address had given her, the youngest at home, the feeling of being an older sister.
Their relationship had quickly grown close ever since.
“Because…” Aili hesitated, “Sisters always give off a sense of safety and steadiness.”
“That’s for sure.”
Yun Ruoxi smiled proudly.
Having lived two lifetimes, if she wasn’t steadier than these kids, she might as well go find a tofu block and bash her head against it.
The comb continued to weave through the strands, the bathroom filled with the rhythmic sound of brushing.
“I remember when I was little,” Aili suddenly spoke up, “Mom would always comb my hair like this. She said my hair was like the Coronal Sunflower on the grasslands.”
“Coronal Sunflower?”
“It’s a crop from my hometown, somewhat like the sunflower from Earth, but the petals have a corona-like halo that glimmers under the sunlight. It’s very beautiful.”
As Aili spoke, her voice suddenly choked up.
Yun Ruoxi’s movements faltered slightly. She looked up and met the reddened eyes reflected in the mirror.
“Sister… I want to go home.”
Yun Ruoxi’s breath caught. She clenched the comb tightly; her usually pink nails had turned pale. After a long silence, she resumed combing the girl’s long hair.
“You will go back… You definitely will.” She spoke softly, unsure if she was comforting Aili or herself.
Aili rubbed her eyes, then suddenly broke into a smile through her tears. Her emotions seemed unusually volatile today.
“Actually, I’m just saying that. I only hope… Sister won’t forget me later on.”
She reached out, gently holding Yun Ruoxi’s palm, her palm faintly rough.
Yun Ruoxi patted her hand, her gaze locking with Aili’s in the misty mirror.
She saw the girl smiling, but her eyes were filled with a pool of clear tears.
“Don’t say such foolish things. How could I ever forget you?” Yun Ruoxi continued brushing her hair, her movements exceptionally gentle. “Even if I forget everyone else, I will remember you.”
She paused, her voice unusually shy:
“Because… you’re my little sister.”
After saying this, Yun Ruoxi felt a bit embarrassed and quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, how’s the Weaponry I taught you earlier going?”
“I’ve been reviewing it constantly,” Aili nodded seriously. “And what you said about trusting no one in the exam—I remember that too.”
“Good, that’s good.” Yun Ruoxi awkwardly began braiding Aili’s hair.
Until now, her braids had always been done by her mother or the servants. This was her first time trying.
Her hands were clumsy.
But Aili didn’t mind, just watching her with a gentle smile.
“All done.” Yun Ruoxi barely managed to tie a ponytail with the hair tie she had prepared.
Aili looked left and right in the mirror, her face full of delight.
After chatting a bit more, just as Yun Ruoxi was about to leave, Aili suddenly called out to her, rushing forward to give her a tight hug.
“I will survive,” she whispered quickly, so fast Yun Ruoxi almost missed it.
Then, in a teasing tone, she asked:
“Sister, can I keep that comb?”
Yun Ruoxi smiled and placed the wooden comb into her palm.
Pushing open the dorm door, she walked toward her own room.
The corridor lights stretched her shadow long.
She reached the end of the hall, where light and shadow met—half her body in the glow, the other half in darkness.
Like a bridge connecting light and dark.
Yun Ruoxi glanced back once at Aili’s room and murmured to herself, “If I can’t change the rules, then I’ll change the ending.”
With that, as if making a firm decision, she left without looking back.
***
At four in the morning, a faint electric current from the collars jolted the trainees awake from their dreams.
“The annual assessment is about to begin. All trainees, assemble at the plaza according to your squad within twenty minutes.”
Instructor Behemoth’s voice echoed from all directions.
The trainees rubbed their sleepy eyes and climbed out of bed. They hadn’t expected the annual exam would rob them of a full night’s rest.
This arrangement, so different from the monthly exams, weighed heavily on their hearts.
Those who had stayed up late to train and only just fallen asleep looked ashen.
“Feels like being in the army, blowing whistles in the middle of the night.”
“The annual assessment is finally starting—we’ve been stalling for half an episode.”
“Is there a Squad Leader up front? Old Soldier Barbecue welcomes you.”
“Sorry, I’m a Disciplinary Officer.”
The camera swept through the empty corridor, and as the broadcast ended, the entire base instantly buzzed.
One by one, dorm room doors slid open.
Uniformed boys and girls streamed out, gathering with their squad members at crossroads or training rooms, then lining up in order by number to head toward the Outdoor Plaza outside the diamond-shaped base.
When Squad Nine arrived, many people were already standing in the plaza.
Yun Ruoxi stood at the front of the line, alongside 0029, the highest-numbered trainee in Squad Nine.
They took their places to the right of Instructor Behemoth.
Behemoth looked up at the gloomy sky, seemingly pleased with the weather.
He tapped his foot lightly, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth as his gaze swept over the assembled nine squads.
“Very good. December. One year’s time, and at least you’ve learned the rules.”
His tone shifted sharply, voice cold and severe:
“But in the war camp, knowing the rules alone won’t keep you alive! I said a year ago that the bottom five thousand trainees would be eliminated!”
“That’s today!”
“However—” Behemoth took a heavy step forward, “as long as you pass the annual assessment, even if you are last, you can stay! This is your last chance, and your only chance.”
The trainees in the bottom five thousand trembled, barely able to hide their excitement.
An opportunity had arrived.
They still had one last chance to turn things around.
Amid the commotion, Behemoth revealed a meaningful smile:
“Also, this is your last chance to stand at the same starting line.”
“Because those who pass will earn the qualification to awaken the Star Energy bloodline. From now on, some of you will forever rise above the rest.”
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