Her Time Is Running Out

An Lian didn't answer Fang Qi's question immediately.

She leaned back gently against the sofa and let out a long breath.

Deep exhaustion seemed to practically overflow from her cold, aloof face.

She raised a hand to rub her temples, her gray eyes looking toward Fang Qi.

"Mr. Fang..."

Her voice was still a bit hoarse.

"May I have a sip of water to moisten my throat?"

Fang Qi blinked.

Miss An, you're still as polite as ever!

"Go ahead, go ahead."

He waved his hand casually.

"Hurry up, I'm still waiting to hear your history lesson."

The history lesson was just getting to the crucial part, how could it stop now?

I, Fang Qi, am a good boy who loves to learn!

Hearing this, An Lian pursed her lips slightly, then stepped barefoot onto the floor and walked toward the open kitchen.

She walked to the sink, took a glass, and filled it with water.

Then she glanced over, took another glass, filled a second one, and walked back carrying both glasses of water.

"Mr. Fang."

She handed one of the glasses to Fang Qi.

"You should have some water too."

Fang Qi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Quite thoughtful, huh?

Miss An, you really are... so professional all the time.

"Oh, thank..."

Just as he was reaching out to take it—

His arms suddenly felt empty as the soft, warm body left his embrace.

The silver-haired girl suddenly stood up and positioned herself in front of An Lian.

Her pretty face wore a standard, gentle smile, the curve of her lips just right, and her phoenix eyes curved into crescent moons...

She stood right there, blocking the space between him and that glass of water!

She reached out and gently took the glass of water, smiling:

"Thank you, Miss An Lian."

Her voice was soft and sweet, gentle and proper.

And then...

An Lian stared blankly as she watched the silver-haired girl walk toward her open kitchen with the water.

Her deep purple skirt swayed with her steps, her long silver hair swished back and forth behind her, and the little star on her left earlobe dangled playfully.

She walked up to the sink and poured the glass of water right down the drain!

Fang Qi: "..."

The hand he had just extended to take the water was still frozen in mid-air!

You crazy girl, here you go again!

He sheepishly touched his nose to cover up a trace of awkwardness.

Alright then...

She wouldn't even let him drink water handed to him by An Lian?

This crazy girl really is...!

...But, it made sense.

What if An Lian had drugged him?

He definitely needed to be careful with water given by An Lian!

Yeah!

His wifey's safety awareness was better, she thought things through more thoroughly!

Wifey is always right!

He looked at Liguang.

The silver-haired girl was earnestly washing the glass.

She even used dish soap to scrub it meticulously, not missing a single corner inside or out!

After rinsing it clean, she dried it carefully with a paper towel, and finally held the glass up to the light to inspect it...

Only then did she nod in satisfaction!

She refilled the glass with water, held it in both hands, and walked back to Fang Qi's side.

"Master, drink some water~"

She knelt by the sofa, held the water glass out to Fang Qi, and looked up at him with her pretty face.

Her heterochromatic eyes were sparkling, and the corners of her lips curled up in a slightly exaggerated smile.

But Fang Qi noticed... the data streaming in her crimson eye was moving a bit slowly.

She was still nervous.

Ever since An Lian started talking about the First Omnic Crisis, she had been tense!

She was afraid that after hearing that history related to her... he wouldn't want her anymore.

Fang Qi sighed slightly in his heart.

...This little yandere, why is she always worrying about gains and losses!

Couldn't she be a little more confident!

He reached out and took the water glass Liguang offered, while using his other hand to naturally pinch her cheek.

"Good girl."

Liguang immediately narrowed her eyes, habitually rubbing her soft cheek against his palm.

But her little hand didn't let go of the corner of his shirt, clutching it tightly.

Fang Qi lowered his head and took a sip of water.

Mhm.

The water poured by his wifey tasted the best!

An Lian stood silently to the side, still holding her own glass of water, watching the scene unfold without saying a word.

It wasn't until Liguang nestled back into Fang Qi's arms that she slowly sat back down on the single sofa.

She took a small sip of water, her gaze falling upon the two of them.

Then she spoke:

"Mr. Fang."

Fang Qi looked up: "Hmm?"

An Lian's gray eyes remained fixed on Liguang. Her voice was somewhat light:

"Has she always been like this?"

Fang Qi followed her gaze and looked at the person in his arms.

Sensing his gaze, the silver-haired girl tilted her pretty face up and smiled sweetly at him.

But there was clearly something hidden in those heterochromatic eyes.

Fear, worry, and unease.

Fang Qi's heart clenched again.

But he kept that lazy smile on his face and laughed:

"Yeah, she's always been like this."

He said it very relaxedly and casually.

"She's just this clingy."

"She has to pour the water I drink, cook the food I eat, and keep me company when I sleep..."

He paused, looking down at the little silver head in his arms, not even trying to suppress the upward curve of his lips:

"I'm long used to it."

He rubbed her head vigorously, messing up her silver hair all over again!

"I just love her like this!"

The next second, Fang Qi felt...

The small hands wrapped around his waist instantly tightened their grip!

He looked down, meeting those heterochromatic eyes that were so close.

The moisture in her heterochromatic eyes trembled violently. She just stared at him intently, without blinking once.

The scorching heat of her breath sprayed against his chest, surprisingly hot!

She just kept looking, as if she could never get enough of looking at him.

Fang Qi... met her gaze without avoiding it in the slightest!

Whoever looks away first is a puppy!

In the end, it was Liguang who lost the staring contest!

She let out a soft "mhm," and buried her little head back into his chest, the tips of her ears bright red.

Victory belongs to Fang Qi!

An Lian sat to the side watching, a complex expression on her cold, aloof face.

Then she suddenly spoke, her voice still calm:

"Mr. Fang."

Fang Qi looked up: "Hmm?"

An Lian's gaze fell on Liguang, and in those gray eyes...

There was an indescribable emotion.

"I must remind you."

She paused, sighed softly, and said in a low voice:

"In her current state..."

"She doesn't have much time left."

Fang Qi narrowed his eyes slightly.

My wifey and I are being all loving and affectionate... do you know how to read the room?

If you don't know what to say, don't speak!

The person in his arms also stiffened abruptly!

That little silver head popped out from his embrace!

Her phoenix eyes stared straight at An Lian!

A thin layer of chill gathered in those heterochromatic eyes!

She glared at An Lian in front of her, as if staring at a prey she could crush to death at any moment!

An Lian's breath instantly hitched slightly. The color drained from her cold face in a flash!

She subconsciously leaned back, her back pressing against the sofa.

Fang Qi looked down at the person in his arms.

On that pretty little face... was a calmness that sent a chill down one's spine.

She was afraid. Afraid that she really "didn't have much time left."

No, it should be said...

She knew that her time might already be running out.

But... she didn't want to hear it from An Lian's mouth.

She was afraid that she would actually hurt her Master in the future.

Afraid that there would come a day when she could no longer be with her Master.

"Heh..."

Fang Qi chuckled.

Afraid?

What the hell are you afraid of!

Your master can rewind time with you!

Even keeping our memories intact!

He lightly smacked her on her little head again!

With a loud smack!

The crimson in the silver-haired girl's red eyes was scattered by his smack once again!

She turned her head blankly to look at Fang Qi, the chilling coldness on her face not even fully faded yet!

"M-Master...?"

Fang Qi looked at her little appearance and couldn't help but laugh, saying with a smile:

"Let her talk, you just listen to me."

"If I'm not afraid, what are you afraid of?"

Liguang looked at him blankly, her eyelashes fluttering.

Then, a cautious, expectant trust appeared in her eyes.

"Master... are you really not afraid?"

"Really?"

"Really, really?"

Her voice trembled slightly, her small hands clutching her collar against her chest as she repeatedly asked.

Fang Qi took a deep breath.

She looks just like a little hamster cowering in a corner!

...What should I do when my wife is this cute?

He glanced at the silent An Lian out of the corner of his eye and waved his large hand:

"What's there to be afraid of!"

"Your master is unkillable!"

"Don't make me repeat myself!"

Liguang froze for a moment.

"Also..."

Fang Qi smiled and lowered his voice:

"About your problem... don't worry!"

"Your master already has a solution!"

"You just need to trust me!"

"Remember, trust me!"

"Next time, if you dare to doubt me like this again..."

He raised his hand, pretending he was going to smack Liguang's perky little bottom!

The silver-haired girl trembled slightly, and tears welled up again in her heterochromatic eyes...

But this time, it wasn't out of panic or fear...

It was out of joy and relief!

It was the kind of blind trust that said, If Master says he has a way, then he definitely has a way!

She buried her face in his chest again, her simulated breathing feeling scorching hot.

"Master...!"

Fang Qi rubbed her fluffy head.

Hah!

A little yandere is so easy to coax!

I have completely mastered the art of coaxing my wife!

He looked at An Lian again.

An Lian was still sitting on the single sofa, holding her water cup and watching this scene.

The expression on her aloof face was somewhat complex, as if... looking at a hopeless fool.

Fang Qi couldn't help but shrug.

Although this look made him a bit annoyed, it seemed... irrefutable?

He was indeed hopeless, but...

So what?

He relaxed into the sofa:

"Miss An Lian, stop talking about time this, going crazy that..."

He smiled lazily:

"I'm still waiting for you to give me a history lesson."

"So about that Second AI Crisis... what exactly happened?"

"Right now, hurry up and tell me about it."

That second crisis was the key point related to Liguang's current state!

And as he asked this, the delicate body in his arms indeed began to stiffen slightly again.

Crazy girl, don't get agitated!

I want to hear it for your own good!

An Lian remained silent for two seconds.

Her gray eyes darted between him and Liguang, finally landing on his face.

"Mr. Fang, you really are..."

She paused, and finally just shook her head gently.

"Alright."

Her voice returned to its professional calmness.

"Since you want to know, then... I will continue to tell you."

She took a sip of water, put down the cup, and sat up straight with her hands on her knees.

Her eyes became slightly unfocused again as she began to recall something.

Fang Qi held the silver-haired girl in his arms, who was obviously starting to get nervous, and quietly waited for her to speak.

"After the First Global AI Crisis..."

An Lian spoke softly.

"The entire world at that time... was already left devastated."