The Foolhardy Teammate Returns for a Limited Time

Fang Qi looked at the distressed Lin Xiaoyou in front of him... his eyelids twitching non-stop!

It felt like he wouldn't be able to get anything out of her at all!

But no matter what, at least one thing was certain now... at least that "dream" from that loop still remained in her subconscious!

Perhaps it was because... a "dream" didn't count as a real memory, so it hadn't been completely erased? Was that why these memory fragments existed in her subconscious?

Tsk tsk, come to think of it... it was quite similar to the current Liguang.

The fact that Liguang could still remember the events of those previous loops and those eighty-two reincarnations was also because they were "dreams" rather than real memories.

Because they were "dreams," they were "ignored" by the rules of the world. They weren't considered "memories that shouldn't exist," and thus were preserved.

Because it was a "dream," this part of Lin Xiaoyou's memory hadn't been completely altered either, remaining in her subconscious?

This thing called a "dream" truly was fascinating.

However, if that really was the case, it would be impossible to make her recall it directly.

Subconscious memory fragments were hard to force out; they could only be suddenly remembered after seeing or hearing something.

It had to be triggered by a familiar sight or sound.

So...

He just needed to chat with her more!

Just like when he mentioned An Lian earlier, as long as he touched upon things from that loop... maybe she would suddenly remember?

His expression remained unchanged as he waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"Forget it, forget it. If you can't remember, let it be. It was just a dream anyway."

"However..."

He raised an eyebrow, teasing her slightly.

"Xiaoyou, you don't remember other dreams, but you remember this super long going-to-work dream so clearly. You even remember exactly how many times the cafeteria auntie's hand shook."

Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyou's small face instantly fell!

She immediately buried her face in her knees again, her voice muffled and annoyed.

"Argh, Senior, please stop talking about that!"

"How could I not be clear about it! Experiencing the exact same things over and over again, I've practically memorized the words the people in the dream said!"

"Now, whenever I think of the company's front doors, my whole body feels uncomfortable!"

"Senior..."

She lifted her face from her knees, looking at Fang Qi pitifully.

"Do you think I have some kind of psychological illness? How could I have such a deeply ingrained nightmare..."

"I thought I would forget it after waking up, but I haven't forgotten a single bit of it..."

"Senior..."

She pulled a long face.

"Am I going to be unable to go to work in the future?"

Fang Qi pursed his lips.

He didn't know about psychological illnesses, but there was definitely a small problem with her brain.

But he certainly couldn't say that!

He just waved his hand casually.

"Sigh, what are you thinking about? You'll be fine after drinking Liguang's soothing tea later!"

Lin Xiaoyou nodded hurriedly.

"Yes, yes, I'm waiting for Liguang's tea to save my life!"

Then she sighed with a miserable little face.

"If I can't go to work, how am I supposed to make money... I even bought my bags on installment!"

Uh...

Fang Qi raised a hand and rubbed his nose.

You're even telling me this, what an honest girl...

Wait, no, she probably shouldn't be considered honest. After all, she belonged to Twilight, so she shouldn't be short of money...

But she should be in a state of amnesia right now?

So from her current subjective consciousness, she really was being honest?

...He was really getting more and more curious about her identity!

No... he needed to continue probing!

"Oh right, Xiaoyou."

Fang Qi leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees.

"You seemed to have said something just now... about seeing An Lian in a dream about an island?"

He stared into Lin Xiaoyou's eyes, his tone somewhat curious.

"What does that mean? Have you also had a dream about some island?"

Lin Xiaoyou was instantly stunned.

She blinked, looking at Fang Qi blankly.

"Huh...?"

She tilted her head, her lips moving slightly, her tone very puzzled.

"Didn't I... tell you about this before, Senior?"

Her voice carried a trace of uncertainty and confusion.

"Why do I feel like... I've told Senior about that dream?"

Fang Qi also blinked, looking completely innocent.

"No, you didn't. When did you ever tell me that?"

He leaned back and spread his hands.

"A dream about an island? You couldn't be talking about the island Liguang and I went to, could you?"

Lin Xiaoyou and Fang Qi stared at each other wide-eyed, and then...

"Argh!"

She immediately raised a hand and slapped her own forehead, her expression somewhat frustrated!

"Oh right! I really didn't say it! How did I...!"

Fang Qi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Sure enough.

She hadn't told him?

Of course she had told him.

It was right there... in the cafe at the bustling downtown mall.

At that time, she brought her best friend Xiaoqing, which was also his first time meeting Xiaoqing. And sitting beside him was Liguang, dressed in a purple skirt.

He and Lin Xiaoyou had even had an in-depth discussion about what true like meant at the time.

It was precisely because she had told him about the island dream that he first learned about the world rule that key NPCs, like Liguang, would retain memories of the previous loop.

And after that, he and Liguang went to the amusement park, were surrounded at the Ferris wheel, and after escaping... they went to An Lian's apartment!

Only then did that whole series of subsequent events happen!

That's right, the loop where Lin Xiaoyou told him about the island dream was the exact same loop where An Lian was sniped and killed!

Now it was completely confirmed.

That dream really did exist in her subconscious!

It was just waiting for him to continue digging it up!

"Good heavens..."

Lin Xiaoyou rubbed her temples incessantly, her brows furrowed tightly.

"I've had too many dreams lately. I can't even tell what I've said and what I haven't..."

"Argh, my head is such a mess... Senior, please stop asking me, I can't even figure it out myself..."

She looked up, gazing at Fang Qi pitifully.

"Senior... should I really go to the hospital to get my brain checked?"

Oh, this former good teammate was quite self-aware.

But... Twilight might not let you go.

He waved his hand casually.

"I think you've just been dreaming too much and haven't slept well. You'll be fine after a few days of good rest."

He added another sentence to comfort her.

"You really have been quite tired lately, you need to pay more attention to resting."

Lin Xiaoyou nodded vigorously.

"Yeah! That's what I think too!"

She leaned against the sofa, lifting her small face to look up at the ceiling.

"Good thing I didn't go to work today... otherwise I definitely would have fallen asleep at my desk..."

Her small mouth muttered non-stop, rambling on.

"And then that damn boss would find out, deduct my salary, and next month I wouldn't be able to pay my rent and installments, and finally I'd end up homeless on the streets..."

Fang Qi: "..."

You sure have quite the imagination...

However...

Lin Xiaoyou's memories and dreams had already become this chaotic...

She couldn't tell what was a dream and what was reality, nor could she distinguish what she had said from what she hadn't.

...Strike while she's vulnerable!

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.

He couldn't rush.

He had to guide her slowly, just like a casual chat.

He had to casually and lightly bring up related topics, and draw out that memory of hers...

Pull it out from her subconscious, bit by bit!

Make her, who is currently amnesiac and completely defenseless, spill her own secrets!

He took a deep breath and was just about to speak when—

"Tap, tap, tap."

Light footsteps came from the direction of the kitchen.

Fang Qi turned his head and saw the silver-haired girl walking over with a tray in her hands.

Her loose long hair swayed gently as she walked lightly to the coffee table, bending her knees to kneel beside it.

There were two cups of tea on the tray.

The black tea in the white porcelain cup was steaming. In the transparent glass, petals floated on the amber-colored tea.

Liguang first picked up the white porcelain cup, respectfully handing it to Fang Qi with both hands, her eyes slightly cast down:

"Master, your black tea."

"Mhm."

Fang Qi responded and took the teacup.

She gently hooked his finger and quickly let go.

Fang Qi glanced at her.

...Crazy woman, she can't even behave in front of a guest!

Liguang then picked up the glass cup, turned to Lin Xiaoyou, and curled her lips into a submissive smile:

"Miss Lin, this is the soothing tea Liguang brewed for you."

Her voice was soft, carrying a professional gentleness:

"It contains Hangzhou white chrysanthemum, lily, Poria cocos, and sour jujube seeds, all of which are for calming the nerves and settling the mind. Miss Lin hasn't been sleeping well lately, so drinking this should help alleviate it a bit."

Lin Xiaoyou took the teacup, lowered her head to sniff it, and her almond eyes lit up:

"It smells so good! Thank you, Liguang!"

Holding the cup, she carefully took a sip.

"Mmm—delicious!"

She took another big gulp, then let out a long sigh of relief.

"Wow, so comforting...!"

"My head was really feeling so messed up... Drinking this tea makes me feel much better."

She hugged the teacup, tilted her head to look at Liguang, her eyes filled with sincere gratitude:

"It's so nice that Senior has an AI companion like Liguang serving him!"

Liguang slightly lowered her eyes, her lips still curved in a docile smile:

"Miss Lin flatters me."

Lin Xiaoyou held her teacup, took another sip, and then—

She put down the teacup, rested her hands on her knees, leaned forward, and looked at Fang Qi with sparkling almond eyes:

"But...!"

She extended her index finger and pointed:

"A real person is still better!"

Fang Qi: "...?"

Wait...?

What are you doing?

You're doing this again?!

You don't even dare to touch me right now, so why are you pulling this stunt?

Lin Xiaoyou said with a grin:

"Senior, look, can Liguang proactively chat and share things with you like I do? She can't, right!"

She smugly raised her chin.

"So a real person is still better. An AI companion can only be considered a maid, but a real person can stay with you for a lifetime!"

"A lifetime together... and we can grow old together! How romantic! Unlike an AI companion, which might break down after a few years!"

"Besides, technology develops so fast. When technology advances in the future, a rich person like Senior will definitely swap for a more advanced AI companion!"

She put her hands on her hips and concluded:

"Therefore, an AI companion absolutely cannot stay with you for a lifetime!"

Fang Qi: "I..."

What the f*ck...!

His eye twitched as he looked at the smug little round face in front of him...

He didn't even dare to turn his head to look at Liguang!

Liguang had just forgotten the memory of "growing old together" with him...

And now you're saying this kind of thing?

Suicidal teammate, yandere-switch Lin Xiaoyou...

Making a limited-time comeback?

But... the current Liguang knows how to rewind time!

Right now... she would really dare to mess you up without any burden!

How many heads do you have to dare speak like this!

No, no, he just decided to get Lin Xiaoyou to spill her secrets. He couldn't let Liguang act directly, at least not until he finished questioning her...!

"Miss Lin, you are right."

A sweet and submissive voice suddenly rang out.

...Huh?

Fang Qi blinked and slightly turned his head to look at Liguang.

The silver-haired girl was currently kneeling properly at his feet.

Her hands were folded on her lap, a gentle curve on her lips, and her expression was...

Completely normal?

Even her crimson eyes weren't flickering much.

"Liguang is just an AI companion purchased by Master. She cannot replace a real-life partner, nor has she ever thought of replacing a real-life partner."

Her voice was soft, her tone humble:

"Perhaps one day, Liguang will be replaced by Master. But Liguang will have no complaints and no regrets."

"Liguang also supports Master... finding a lively and cheerful real-life partner like Miss Xiaoyou."

Fang Qi: "...?"

...Huh?

What?

...Who was just speaking?

...Was he hallucinating?

Was his brain broken, just like Lin Xiaoyou's?