“Who are you? How did you get here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then what’s your name?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then… do you know where this place is?”
“I don’t know.”
The girl, with a handsome yet somewhat delicate face, felt helpless at this person who answered every question with ‘I don’t know.’
Then, out of some unknown impulse, she reached out her hand. “Then do you want to come with me?”
… …
Qin Wuyue suddenly recalled the scene of their first meeting.
She was so young back then, so young that she understood nothing. If Lan Lan hadn’t taken such good care of her, she didn’t know how many mistakes she would have made.
Lan Lan once said she had a younger sister. Perhaps… that was how she saw her at the time.
She treated her as a substitute for that younger sister, to make up for everything she never had the chance to give.
She thought they would always be that close, until that incident happened…
Qin Wuyue’s eyes darkened. Time could indeed heal wounds, but what had happened could never be changed.
Lightning flashed before her eyes, raindrops sliding off the umbrella.
The rain greatly enhanced Lan Lan’s combat ability. Her power was to amplify the weak bioelectricity within her body through ‘Starlit Resonance,’ achieving the effect of strengthening herself and destroying targets.
The King Beast was now drenched in rainwater, which meant every one of Lan Lan’s electrical attacks struck the beast all over its body.
Her basic attack had the effect of area damage, with extraordinary lethality.
In just a short time, many parts of the King Beast were scorched black, emitting thick burnt smoke.
Meanwhile, Lan Lan on the other side looked far more relaxed.
She’s going to win.
Although Qin Wuyue’s expression remained blank, she thought so inwardly.
From here on, there was nothing much to watch. It was basically garbage time where Lan Lan unilaterally crushed it.
But just as she turned and walked toward the resort behind her, Lan Lan’s startled cry suddenly came from behind.
“You are!” Before she could finish, a dull “thump” sounded.
Qin Wuyue didn’t even have time to look back. Lan Lan, clad in her Biological Armor, flew backward from beside her, dragging two long marks on the ground before barely managing to stop.
“A Yue, be careful!”
While Lan Lan was warning her, Qin Wuyue had already dashed forward. Then, at the spot where she had been standing, came the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground and a slight tremor in the earth. She could only imagine how devastating the attack behind her was.
Reaching Lan Lan’s side, Qin Wuyue finally turned to look. One glance was enough to make her pupils dilate.
A humanoid creature clad in all-black armor stood there, the ground shattered beneath its feet.
The creature seemed somewhat puzzled, tilting its head to look at them.
“What is this?” Qin Wuyue’s expression was grave.
She knew the question was a bit redundant. Whatever Lan Lan knew, she knew too, but she couldn’t help asking anyway.
Unexpectedly, Lan Lan did respond. “I don’t know. Lin Mowei ran into one too, probably not the same one.”
But this made Qin Wuyue raise an eyebrow. It seemed Lan Lan had known about what was happening on both sides when she came, but she had chosen to come to her side.
“You… still good?”
Qin Wuyue glanced at her. Clearly, her meaning was one each.
But that made sense. She already had to go all out against a single King Beast. Now that a unit of unknown combat power had appeared, clearly an enemy, she wasn’t confident about fighting two at once.
“Have some attitude when you’re asking for help. That Xiao Yu only agreed after promising me one thing before I came. What can you give me, my dear Chief Lan Lan?”
“…”
Lan Lan seemed not to have expected her to extort her at a time like this. She was momentarily speechless, the light of the energy core on her chest flickering twice.
“I’ll deal with it later. I’ll agree to whatever you say.”
Qin Wuyue curled her lips, a sly smile of a successful scheme on her face. “You said that. If you go back on your word, you know my temper.”
“… Mm.”
She casually tossed her umbrella aside again and rolled her shoulders.
“A humanoid Rift Beast? How interesting.”
A fierce fighting spirit rose on Qin Wuyue’s face. Clearly, she was also curious about what this creature really was.
In truth, even if Lan Lan had refused just now, Qin Wuyue would still have helped her.
Over the years, Qin Wuyue had always helped her, and every time, Lan Lan had given her appropriate compensation in return.
Although, if Qin Wuyue didn’t help, Lan Lan wouldn’t say anything.
And if Lan Lan didn’t give compensation, Qin Wuyue wouldn’t say anything either.
They both treasured each other, but that knot in their hearts had created their current awkward relationship.
… …
“Mm? What’s wrong?”
In Lin Yu’s room, the two of them had been standing by the window watching the situation.
When Qin Wuyue was knocked flying, Lin Yu had even comforted Xia Yanran. He never expected the situation to reverse so quickly.
When that humanoid creature appeared, Lin Yu’s heart suddenly pounded violently, then he instantly moved away and hid behind the nearby wall.
The last time this happened was in that Grand Banquet Hall of Nest City One, with the shadow.
What was that?
Previously, he thought it might be because the other party had a special ability that triggered a resonance with his own ability. Now, it seemed that might not be the case.
Seeing his expression change, Xia Yanran stepped forward with concern.
Lin Yu shook his head and smiled. “It’s nothing. Just a sudden dizzy spell.”
“Then you should rest. Even though another one appeared, since the Chief is here, there’s definitely no problem. I didn’t expect my mom to know the Chief. Why has she never mentioned it to me before…”
The girl pouted, both dissatisfied with her mother’s concealment and filled with undisguised admiration for Lan Lan.
She helped Lin Yu to the bed, then returned to the window, her little bottom wiggling as she continued watching the situation.
Live broadcasts like this were rare. No, they were simply never an opportunity to see.
So, Xia Yanran, in her very excited and thrilled mood, didn’t notice anything more unusual about Lin Yu.
Looking at the girl’s back, Lin Yu let out a soft breath, a complicated feeling stirring in his heart.
He hadn’t expected her to refuse.
Yes, regarding the confession Lin Yu had just made, Xia Yanran had thought it over for a moment and did not agree.
She wiped her tears, cupped his astonished face in both hands, and spoke a few sentences.
“I don’t know why you chose to confess to me now. But Lin Yu, in the way you look at me… there is affection, but more of it is fear, helpless compromise, and the relief of having given something up. You’re hiding something from me. If you can tell me, I’ll accept it.”
Lin Yu opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He looked away, not daring to meet her eyes.
But Xia Yanran forced him to face her, looking straight into his eyes.
“See? I was right.”
The girl took a deep breath, her expression serious, her gaze as if she could see into Lin Yu’s heart through his eyes.
“I like you. I like you so, so much. I’ve liked you since that first thunderstorm day when you said ‘I’m here.’ I hope there are no secrets between us, no concealment. Only you and me. Only because we want to be together, not because of anything else. Okay?”
Not like usual where Lin Yu took the lead. This time, he was truly pinned down by Xia Ran, both physically and mentally.
He had never imagined the girl would have such thoughts, nor had he ever known she was this perceptive.
In his impression, his childhood sweetheart, even if not a total airhead, was close to it. He never expected…
Suddenly, he realized something, a wry smile forming at the corners of his mouth.
Yeah, that’s right.
Why couldn’t this girl have these thoughts?
It was only natural for her to notice, because in her eyes, there had only ever been one person from beginning to end.
“… Okay. I’m sorry.” At last, Lin Yu spoke with an apologetic tone.
Hearing that answer, Xia Yanran smiled. It was clearly a happy smile, but tears silently slid down her eyes.