Chapter 44: If I Could See You Again

“From the layout, the entrances and exits of the underground parking lot are arranged left and right, five in total. Aside from this one inside the plaza, the rest are on the outskirts. In a bit, go tell the person in charge to close off the four outer exits before the product launch begins and double-check to ensure no one is inside.”

“Okay.” Yu Yuwei jotted it down in a small notebook.

It had been a while since their last mission. In the time since, Yu Yuwei had noticed how Xu Chuyao’s status had skyrocketed.

Even the once-aloof upperclassmen were now willing to lower their stance, as if everything was within the control of this thunder girl.

So even though Xu Chuyao was acting a bit strange this time, Yu Yuwei didn’t ask questions. She simply focused on doing her part properly.

“That should be good enough. We don’t have to hold out too long anyway—just until Old Ban arrives.”

After a few laps around the parking lot and the exhibition area, Xu Chuyao grew bored and led Yu Yuwei outside.

“Forget it, let’s go get breakfast and see what the others are doing.”

“Killing them is easy. Let me see what skills you have right now… Two should be enough.”
A cold, emotionless voice whispered beside Shen Ning’s ear.

“Start with a Spirit Storm—just unleash it, wipe out them and everyone from the neighboring stores. Save about 10% of your energy, then hit your own temple with a Spirit Convergence. That’ll settle everything.”

Shen Ning’s mouth twitched.

Why would I hit myself?
Why so dramatic?

The new reflection chuckled darkly:
“You go on a killing spree in the middle of the city and think you’ll get away with it? You’re like a pre-Spirit-Era cowboy, leaving the last bullet for yourself.”

No, see, the issue here is—I don’t want to go on a killing spree. I don’t want to kill them at all.

“Weak when facing strength, arrogant when facing the weak. Kill if you must. Kill even yourself if you must. Nothing worth holding onto.”

“…”

This one seemed like a full-blown assassin personality. Honestly, compared to the sexually repressed reflection from before, this one almost seemed… normal.

At least, that’s what Shen Ning was thinking at the moment.

She tried to reason with the new reflection, explaining that she had just bought a phone and wanted to download some tutorials to help her in romantic matters. Surely, since the reflection was from a future timeline, she must’ve used those things before?

“Heh. Those petty little things? Sure, I’ve used them. But I’ve already forgotten.”

Forgotten…?

“Yes. My heart is scorched earth now. Everywhere I look is devastation. Those things no longer matter.”

The reflection leaned silently against the glass display. The sorrow on her emotionless face was inexplicably poignant.

Shen Ning quietly retracted her earlier thoughts. This one wasn’t normal either.

At that moment, unseen ripples stirred again—and another reflection appeared on the neighboring glass counter.

“I’m here! I’m here! Why are you here so early today? Did the phone store even open yet? Listen, don’t rush when buying a phone. Don’t trust what the salesperson says, you—wait, who are you?”

The sexually repressed reflection stared at the melancholy one beside her for a moment before turning back to Shen Ning.
“You summoned another one?”

Shen Ning awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth. She explained that she had waited here for ages but the first reflection never showed, so she gave summoning another one a shot—and, well, here they were.

“Fine, whatever. Let me see the phone you got.”
The sexually repressed reflection temporarily ignored her counterpart and leaned over to inspect.
“Not bad. You didn’t get scammed.”

It really wasn’t bad. The salesgirl had been very friendly, and when she initially recommended the wrong one, she even helped Shen Ning switch it.

“The Wi-Fi’s connected too. Okay, follow my lead. Download XXX, then XXX. Open this one, go to the search bar and type in *********…”

The sexually repressed reflection clearly had experience—when it came to study material, she was a pro. With her help, Shen Ning finally managed to make full use of the store’s Wi-Fi to get everything downloaded.

Hmm. Some videos and comics with two girls clinging to each other. It looked like they were about to fight…

“Pointless. Meaningless.” The new reflection let out a low sigh.
“If you don’t need me anymore, I’ll take my leave.”

Sure, go ahead. Summoning you was kind of an accident anyway.

Just as Shen Ning was thinking this, the reflection on the glass began to fade—when a soft, sweet voice came from outside the shop:

“Why are you here? I’ve been looking all over for you. Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?”

The fading reflection instantly froze.

Xu Chuyao walked into the store with a cup of warm soy milk and a bag of soup dumplings. She handed them to Shen Ning.
“I didn’t see you at breakfast earlier. The others said you came this way.”

So kind, so beautiful—Xu Chuyao even brought her breakfast upon realizing she hadn’t eaten.

“Thanks.”

Shen Ning accepted the food, but just as she did, Xu Chuyao leaned over and saw the pink app open on her phone.

“Aha! I knew it. You skipped breakfast, ran off first thing in the morning to buy a phone, and it turns out—you’re watching lewd stuff~“

The store employees suddenly became very busy, pretending they hadn’t heard anything at all.

Then Xu Chuyao seemed to realize something:
“Wait, so… you didn’t have a phone before. That means this is your first time seeing lewd stuff? Aha ha ha, that’s so noob~ Noob~”

“You!”

Shen Ning clenched her fists.

But Xu Chuyao had experience. The moment she saw Shen Ning get mad, she took off running, not giving her a chance to retaliate.

“I’m out! You just take your time watching. But remember—meet at the exhibition booth at 9:30, okay? Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time~”

As the thunder girl drifted away, both Shen Ning and her reflection were fuming.

“God, she’s so arrogant,” the sexually repressed reflection growled. “Now that you’ve got your guide downloaded, hurry up and learn! Learn it well and dominate her!”

Shen Ning nodded furiously. She had tried so hard to avoid running into anyone—slipping away quietly, waiting till the downloads finished, all to avoid this exact situation. But still, she got found.

What was worse—she let her guard down, touched by Xu Chuyao bringing her breakfast… just for a second.

“She’s not getting away this time!” Shen Ning gritted her teeth.
“I’m going to wait right outside her dorm room!”

At that moment, a quiet voice rose:

“Do you two have to be so crude? Why are you being so harsh to her?”

…What?

Shen Ning and her sexually repressed reflection turned around—stunned. The newer reflection was gazing in the direction Xu Chuyao had left, tears falling silently beneath her bangs.

“If I could just see her one more time… I’d already be happy.”

If I could see you again…
Would time turn back to the way it was?