Sometimes, when people are idle, all sorts of strange thoughts can arise.
For example, a baby’s consciousness is a blur for a long time after birth—until suddenly, at a certain moment, “memory” and “self-awareness” emerge.
What would that moment feel like? Right now, Su Qianqian was experiencing just that feeling.
At a certain moment, Su Qianqian gradually emerged from the haze into clarity.
Her memories of the recent period were vague, and everything around her seemed strangely unfamiliar in her field of vision…
As her consciousness grew sharper, Su Qianqian realized she seemed to be curled up in someone’s arms.
There was a soft sensation against her face, and a hand was gently stroking her back.
Su Qianqian looked up, and as expected, met a gaze full of deep affection. The instant their eyes met, Su Qianqian’s hair nearly stood on end!
“Why am I in your arms? What did you do? Let me go!” Su Qianqian tried to struggle free, but clearly to no avail.
Luo Wuhen’s hand continued to gently stroke her back.
Feeling Su Qianqian start to struggle again in her embrace, Luo Wuhen’s face revealed undisguised disappointment as she explained helplessly, “Think carefully. I didn’t force you to do this. Today, you were either biting people randomly or acting spoiled, and just now, it was you who asked for a hug.”
Su Qianqian’s struggles paused. With Luo Wuhen’s explanation, Su Qianqian’s hazy memories began to resurface. It did seem like that… more or less… really happened…
“Alright, alright, it’s my fault. But now that I’ve come to my senses, let me go.”
As she spoke, Su Qianqian continued to struggle, though not as fiercely as before.
After all, it really wasn’t entirely Luo Wuhen’s fault.
Sensing Su Qianqian’s resistance, Luo Wuhen hesitated, but finally released her hold.
Yet, as Su Qianqian broke away, Luo Wuhen still caught her wrist and, in a pleading tone, asked:
“Can’t you stay a little longer? Just now, you didn’t dislike this… Please don’t hate me. If there’s anything about me that makes you uncomfortable, I can change…”
Standing with her wrist held, Su Qianqian looked down at the person below her, who was pleading so softly, so unlike the person she remembered.
Su Qianqian’s feelings were complicated.
This world was clearly Luo Wuhen’s innermost desire—so why was she acting like this? Was this her true self?
Or… was it that regret and guilt were still affecting her, even here?
However, even if the “timeline” here was different, even if Luo Wuhen was no longer so forceful, the things that had really happened could not be undone for Su Qianqian.
Laying down the butcher’s knife did not make one a Buddha overnight. It was still difficult for her to accept Luo Wuhen so easily.
But if she wanted her plan to proceed, if she wanted to escape this false world quickly, she needed the “plot” to keep moving.
Taking into account the blow this would ultimately deal to Luo Wuhen, and since the current situation really wasn’t entirely Luo Wuhen’s fault…
After a brief struggle, Su Qianqian couldn’t bring herself to be too harsh. She’d just consider it an early compensation.
“I’m saying this first—don’t touch anything you’re not supposed to, or there’ll be no next time.” Su Qianqian sighed as she spoke, walking back the way she’d come.
Feeling the familiar “Jade Cat” back in her arms, Luo Wuhen looked surprised. She hadn’t expected Su Qianqian to actually return.
Hesitantly, she reached out and resumed gently stroking Su Qianqian’s back, unconsciously showing a satisfied smile.
Watching Luo Wuhen’s cautious yet satisfied expression, Su Qianqian couldn’t help but murmur, “If you’d been like this from the start, things wouldn’t have gotten to this point…”
“What?” Luo Wuhen asked, confused.
Su Qianqian shook her head, not explaining. Even if she told Luo Wuhen now, she’d only think it was just another fantasy. No need to explain—when Luo Wuhen finally wakes up, she’ll understand.
Feeling the gentle stroking and patting on her back, with nothing else to do and her mind still a bit fatigued, Su Qianqian found the simulated warmth of the sunlight rather comforting~ ~
“Mn—ah~” Su Qianqian yawned, found a comfortable position, and before long, her breathing became steady.
Luo Wuhen kept up her gentle stroking, softly humming a soothing melody.
In her distant memories, her Mother would often hum this tune as she fell asleep.
Now, she found herself unconsciously mimicking that feeling.
Suddenly, Luo Wuhen felt as if she’d always been good at this, as if she’d spent many years coaxing a child to sleep.
“I think… I could be a good mother. So, would you be willing…” Luo Wuhen gazed tenderly at the petite girl in her arms, murmuring softly. But no one replied.
The gentle humming echoed through the room, warm sunlight streamed in, time seemed to pause—peaceful and infinitely tender.
……
On the seventy-eighth moonlit night, Su Qianqian lay on her bed, holding up a book and pretending to read, but in reality, she was once again connecting with this world’s Moon as part of her daily routine.
Ever since her first successful contact, after several attempts, Su Qianqian gradually mastered the method.
She could enter the state at will, and didn’t even need to look at the Moon anymore; as long as it was night in this world, she could do it.
However, the first time, when she was nearly drained dry, left her with lingering fears, so every subsequent attempt was made with utmost caution.
Thankfully, she never experienced any more confusion or loss of consciousness.
But as her analysis of this bizarre world deepened, Su Qianqian’s pace of interpretation only grew faster!
She roughly estimated that if given another two years, she could rely on her own power to shatter this Dream World.
But this place was far too strange—the longer she stayed, the more Su Qianqian felt it. So, she decided to keep pushing forward with her original plan.
The more she understood the essence of this world, the better her chances of success.
As for Luo Wuhen, Su Qianqian figured her greatest obsession and regret must be that final, unfinished Wedding, which was surely her greatest nightmare.
If she could recreate that scene, or even take it further, and add a few more “ingredients,” the shock of falling from bliss into utter despair in an instant would be enough to shatter this fake world!
If that wasn’t enough, Su Qianqian would just have to keep parsing the world slowly… But this time, she’d have to betray Luo Wuhen again.
There would be no Lin Muxue to protect her, and she was still in Luo Wuhen’s “home field.” If she failed, things would go badly for her…
Thinking of the possibilities, Su Qianqian shuddered.
At worst, she’d become a caged prisoner, and at best… the thought was terrifying. Best not to think about it.
But since the plan had come this far, there was no turning back. She could only grit her teeth and press on!
Still… after her recent parsing, she was inevitably tired in spirit. Fortunately, sleep was enough to recover now.
Oddly, even though this was a Dream World, sleep still eased her exhaustion.
Su Qianqian set down her fake book and, with a helpless greeting toward a certain direction, noted that her “Authority” in this world had increased.
Even if her surface cultivation was only at Foundational Establishment, there was so much more she could do. Now, she could easily sense Luo Wuhen’s spying.
But it didn’t matter. Luo Wuhen, at this point, had the heart but not the courage—she was even a little shy.
Spying was just spying; at most, she’d hug or cuddle a little.
As for going further, Luo Wuhen kept asking for kisses, but Su Qianqian had never agreed.
Lying in bed, her heavy eyelids slowly closed. Tomorrow would be the final step of the plan…
……
As midday approached, Su Qianqian stretched hard, then sat at the edge of her bed, waiting…
After a while, Luo Wuhen entered as usual, floating a table and an array of dishes behind her.
Once inside, she set them down in the distance, then skillfully helped Su Qianqian tidy her hair, wiped her face, quickly changed her out of her pajamas, and finally put shoes on her with satisfaction.
Su Qianqian had gotten used to this. In fact, once she stopped feeling awkward about it, being cared for like an invalid was actually pretty nice.
“Ah~ Open your mouth, try this~” Luo Wuhen expertly fed her.
Su Qianqian bit down without thinking. She really was being spoiled rotten lately—even meals were fed to her.
“I don’t know why, but I seem to be very good at taking care of children, even though I never have before…” Luo Wuhen continued feeding her with a hint of pride.
Su Qianqian shot Luo Wuhen a wary look. Of course she was good at taking care of children…
Which is why, for the sake of the child she’d always cared for, she had to wake her up soon!
“Luo Wuhen…”
“What is it?”
“Maybe… it’s time to prepare the Wedding…”
Su Qianqian didn’t look at Luo Wuhen’s face. She only heard the sound of chopsticks dropping, and imagined that her expression must be quite a sight.