Having entered Ye Xiqiu’s inner world before, it was only at this moment that Dongxue realized she had never truly entered her heart at all.
How could her inner world be sunny and bright? She simply didn’t want to show her darkest side to anyone. Come to think of it, a young girl who loved beauty yet was tragically disabled—how could her inner world possibly be clear skies and sunshine?
It wasn’t that Ye Xiqiu hated her; on the contrary, it was precisely because the girl loved Dongxue too much.
Through the music, Dongxue briefly caught a glimpse of those ugly, frantic visions.
Guilt… silence… suicide… blood… death.
These filthy things filled Ye Xiqiu’s inner world. Dongxue simply couldn’t imagine that beneath such a pure and gentle mask, Ye Xiqiu could hide something so unbearable.
Perhaps Dongxue had fantasized about her own death more than once.
But unlike others, the girl didn’t want to use her death to punish those who loved her. Instead, she wanted to use her death to bring happiness to more people.
What a gentle girl she was. Even when tormented by negative emotions to the point where living was worse than dying, even when she already wanted to kill herself, she still considered others.
But why couldn’t she consider herself just once?
It was at this moment that Dongxue suddenly realized—Ye Xiqiu was a person, a living, breathing young girl in the prime of her years, not some flat tragic character preset by fate in a two-dimensional comic.
She would cry and laugh, act cute and get shy, and she could really die, really disappear…
What about Su Mengyao, then? Was she the same?
Had she ever truly understood her, ever truly wanted to redeem her? Or had she just arrogantly manipulated her life, steering it in the direction she thought was best, enjoying her dependence and admiration without caring about what she actually thought?
Or had she just barged into her world willfully, casually manipulating her life toward what she thought was good, enjoying her reliance and reverence, making her feel at ease?
Dongxue let out a bitter laugh and tightened her embrace a little more.
“Jiang Cheng, oh Jiang Cheng, you really are arrogant…”
But the girl still just kept her head lowered, with no intention of bursting into tears or pouring out her heart.
Dongxue couldn’t think of a way either.
She could only put her hope in time.
Like she’d said before, if one month wouldn’t do, then a year; if a year wouldn’t do, then keep going…
In any case, time heals all wounds.
And what could truly solve everything was to cure the source of the girl’s pain—those disabled legs.
Dongxue made up her mind to start looking for a doctor for the girl after a while.
Just wait until the university student music competition was over…
No.
Dongxue rejected that decision.
The music competition wouldn’t start for another month, and after going through regional rounds all the way to the finals, it would probably take another half month or more. The longer Xiao Xiqiu’s mental illness was delayed, the deeper it would get.
Then… after the evening party, then.
At that point, she’d first see if there was a treatment plan. Once Xiao Xiqiu’s physical examination was done, she’d take her for treatment.
It’s just that…
Dongxue was still a bit hesitant.
If she took Xiao Xiqiu to see a doctor, could she still do the main quest?
With a longer treatment time, participating in the competition might become impossible.
As the saying goes, broken bones take a hundred days to heal. Xiao Xiqiu’s condition would only require even more treatment time.
But that LV5 experience card…
Dongxue bit her lip, unable to make a choice for the moment.
In the duet just now, she had clearly felt the threshold of Music Theory LV4. Perhaps with another month, she could level up to LV4, and winning the competition would no longer be difficult. She had already regarded that experience card as something within her grasp.
Dongxue had a feeling that if she truly wanted to break through to LV5, she’d need at least a year or even two or three years of hard practice.
If she just let Xiao Xiqiu delay treatment for one month, she could save several years and gain LV5’s abilities ahead of time…
With just LV3, she could already become a “universal charm,” surrounded by many adorable girls.
Then… LV5?
Would even Lin Shuangxue be unable to resist her charm, obediently surrendering with just a single word?
At that point, she could repay everything Lin Shuangxue had done to her in double, making her wear a maid outfit and kneel on the bed meowing like a cat!
Looking at it that way, just delaying one month…
Seems like it’s not entirely out of the question?
Right, Jiang Cheng, think about it. No one would know about these things except that useless system…
Those girls would just think you’re even cuter, really as cute as an angel.
They’d hang on your every word, all of them intoxicated by your beauty. When that happens, whatever pretty girl you want, you can just pick.
Right? Why be so fixated on a disabled girl?
Ye Xiqiu is just going for treatment. You’re just busy for one month, just taking her one month later. Besides, you didn’t give up on Ye Xiqiu, did you?
It’s only a month’s delay. No one would say anything.
No one would say anything…
Suddenly, a wave of warmth spread through her chest.
Dongxue froze for a moment and looked down.
Ye Xiqiu’s eyes had unknowingly closed gently. Her relaxed lips pouted adorably, and the warmth just now came from her slightly parted lips, from the breathing that had finally relaxed once she felt at ease.
Her two little hands were curled up, tucked against her chest, looking very well-behaved.
Clearly, the girl had fallen asleep.
Dongxue was silent for a moment, then revealed a relieved smile.
“Really, what am I even thinking… Jiang Cheng, oh Jiang Cheng, you’re such an idiot.”
She shook her head, as if laughing at her own foolishness.
“Experience can be earned again, and missions will come around again, but a girl who can lean against your chest and fall asleep… won’t come around again.”
As she spoke, Dongxue gently pinched Ye Xiqiu’s cheek.
Watching the girl’s slightly furrowed brows and her small, instinctive struggle, Dongxue revealed a satisfied smile.
“Pouting your lips to seduce me, huh. Hmph, watch me squish your face into mush!”
She put on a fierce expression, but her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
After making her decision, Dongxue’s body felt much lighter, even a little giddy, as if her soul were about to leave her body.
Now that she’d made up her mind, she wouldn’t change it.
She didn’t know if her decision was right, but since she’d decided, she’d walk that path to the end~
At least there wouldn’t be any irreparable regrets.
As for finding a doctor for Xiao Xiqiu, she’d keep it from her for now.
Looking at Ye Xiqiu’s peaceful sleeping face, Dongxue let out another soft laugh.
After all, the girl was someone who liked to overthink. If she knew Dongxue had sacrificed so much for her legs, she’d definitely be consumed by self-blame, and might even kill herself to atone.
But that wasn’t what Dongxue wanted.
If Xiao Xiqiu really felt she owed too much, then she might as well pledge the rest of her life to her.
No, she definitely had to give it to her—it was what she deserved!
Dongxue resolved that once she healed Ye Xiqiu’s legs, she’d collect everything the girl owed her.
At the very least, her new legs would have to be so weak she couldn’t even stand!