Wooden Cabin in the Forest

With that, she turned around and grabbed Xiaoqing's hand!

Xiaoqing staggered from the pull, the lazy and annoyed expression on her face stiffening slightly.

Her cheeks also flushed a faint red.

But she didn't break free.

She let Lin Xiaoyou hold her hand and began climbing up the winding mountain path.

After a few steps, Lin Xiaoyou turned back and waved at Fang Qi and Liguang, her ponytail swaying in the mountain breeze.

"Senior, Liguang, hurry up!"

"Stop dawdling!"

Held by the hand, Xiaoqing became much more docile.

She just glanced back at Fang Qi, her eyes... still full of disgust and annoyance.

But she merely let out a "hmph" and turned her head back, saying nothing more to object to Fang Qi and Liguang going to their "secret base."

Fang Qi took another deep breath and turned to face Liguang.

The silver-haired girl was still standing there, staring blankly at the mountain.

Fang Qi squeezed her hand tightly.

"Liguang."

He softened his voice.

"Since you find it familiar..."

"Then let's go up and take a look."

He looked at her earnestly.

"No matter what happens..."

"I will be right by your side."

Liguang's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

She turned to look at him, the bewilderment in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a soft gaze.

Then...

She nodded firmly!

"Mhm!"

She gripped Fang Qi's hand in return, stood slightly on her tiptoes, and leaned close to his ear.

"No matter what happens..."

A sweet strawberry-scented breath brushed against his earlobe.

"Liguang will also protect Master well."

Her lips were almost touching his ear.

"Master's life belongs to Liguang."

Her fingertips lightly traced across his neck.

"Only Liguang can take Master's life."

Fang Qi's ear tingled slightly.

He blinked.

Hmm...

Good opportunity!

He suddenly jerked his head around—

"Muah!"

He planted a kiss right on her small lips, which were mere inches away!

Soft and sweet, with a strawberry flavor!

The silver-haired girl's phoenix eyes immediately widened in slight shock.

A trace of caught-off-guard confusion flashed through her amber eyes, and her small face quickly flushed a light shade of pink!

Liguang blinked, then pursed her lips, her eyes turning blank again, as if she were savoring the sensation of that brief moment.

Then... she snapped back to reality and glared at Fang Qi!

"Master...!"

She lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of reproach and shyness!

"You ambushed Liguang again!"

After saying that, she grabbed Fang Qi's hand, turned around, and started marching up the mountain!

It was as if she was trying to hide her embarrassment.

Her silver hair fluttered gently behind her, and her small hand held his tightly, their fingers intertwined.

Pulled upward by her, the corners of Fang Qi's mouth curled up.

Sneak attack successful!

The next second, Lin Xiaoyou's voice rang out from above!

"Oh my, oh my~~~"

"Senior and Liguang are so affectionate with each other~~~"

She poked her head out from behind a tree above, her almond eyes curving into crescents as she looked down at the two walking up hand in hand.

"I saw everything~"

She pointed two fingers at her own eyes, then pointed at Fang Qi and Liguang.

"Aww, you kissed~~~"

"It really makes people en—vi—ous~~~"

Fang Qi: "..."

Could you not be so sarcastic!

I kissed my wife, what business is it of yours!

You've already recovered your memories, go hold your Xiaoqing's hand, and stop pretending to be jealous here!

He looked up and glared at her!

"What are you looking at? Climb your mountain!"

"Lead the way, hurry up!"

Lin Xiaoyou pouted, then giggled, pulled her head back, and continued running up with Xiaoqing.

"Let's go, Xiaoqing. If we look any longer, we'll go blind!"

Fang Qi also withdrew his gaze.

In front of him, the silver-haired girl continued to pull him upward with brisk steps.

He couldn't see her face, but he could see...

Her exposed little ear was still red.

Fang Qi couldn't help but squeeze the palm of her hand again.

She gently squeezed back.

...

The four of them continued climbing along the winding mountain path.

As they advanced, the surrounding vegetation became increasingly dense.

The tall tree canopies blocked out the sky and sun.

The air grew fresher, carrying the scent of earth and grass.

Occasional birdsong echoed from the woods, crisp and melodious.

Being pulled up by Liguang, Fang Qi looked around at his surroundings.

Was this... really that mountain?

Liguang's footsteps would occasionally pause slightly.

The crimson in her red eyes flickered steadily.

But the hand holding Fang Qi's would tighten slightly at certain moments!

Whenever this happened, Fang Qi would carefully examine the surroundings.

Yet he could only come to the conclusion, "Hmm, nice environment."

He really didn't find anything familiar about it.

Besides, don't all mountains look like this?

Until they followed the mountain path and turned a corner.

A small stream appeared before them.

The stream babbled over the rocks, clear to the bottom, where smooth, rounded cobblestones lay.

The splashing sound of the water was crisp and delightful.

And Fang Qi... finally felt a trace of familiarity!

Looking at this clear stream, his pupils slowly contracted!

A stream...?

Oh...

This was indeed a bit familiar.

He remembered that in front of the little wooden cabin he shared with Liguang...

There was a stream just like this!

At the time, Liguang had even installed hydroelectric equipment in that stream!

He remembered even more clearly that after returning from gathering that day...

Liguang had squatted by the stream, dipping her bare, fair feet into the freezing water, and looked up to give him a sweet smile...

—"Master, the water is so cold!"

Those scenes were vivid in his mind.

Hey, hey, hey...

Could it really be this mountain?

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaoyou, walking ahead, was still giggling and laughing.

She pulled Xiaoqing, laughing as they ran to the edge of the stream, and bent down...

Plucking a few small, bright red wild berries from a low bush near the stream.

"Xiaoqing, look, sweet and sour little wild berries. Aren't these your favorite?"

She directly stuffed a berry into Xiaoqing's mouth.

Caught off guard, Xiaoqing's cheeks bulged slightly, her brows furrowing...

But she obediently chewed it anyway.

"Delicious, right?"

Lin Xiaoyou leaned closer, looking at her with a grin.

"...It's okay."

Xiaoqing spat out the two words expressionlessly, clearly still annoyed.

But the tips of her ears turned slightly red.

"Then have another one."

Lin Xiaoyou stuffed another one over, then popped one into her own mouth, chewing with bulging cheeks.

She turned around and waved the wild berries in her hand at Fang Qi and Liguang.

"Senior, Liguang, do you guys want some too?"

"They're very sweet!"

"...No thanks, you guys eat."

Fang Qi was in no mood to eat.

He just held Liguang's hand tightly, continuing upward step by step along the stream.

If they continued walking along this stream... what would they see?

Would they see that...

The little wooden cabin where he and Liguang once lived?

Would they see it?

If Liguang saw it, would that buried part of her memories awaken?

But if they awakened...

Would there be a problem with the rules of the world!

His mind was truly a chaotic mess!

His thoughts were running wild!

If this was really that mountain, then this place held far too much significance for him!

That was the place where Liguang first chose to destroy herself rather than hurt him!

It was also the place where he first truly realized that he seemed to have fallen in love with that crazy woman.

But he didn't know what would happen if these memories, which shouldn't be remembered, truly awakened...

What consequences would it trigger?

Would the rules of the world allow it?

He wasn't afraid of dying!

He wasn't afraid of his own death, nor was he afraid of Liguang's death! After all, he could just reload his save!

But he was truly terrified of Liguang losing her memories...!

Liguang had already lost eighty-two years of memories; she couldn't lose any more...!

But his feet didn't stop. He continued step by step, following the stream upwards.

He wanted to verify his guess.

Liguang remained silent the entire way. She didn't speak, nor did she murmur anything about the place looking familiar again.

Only the hand holding his gripped tighter and tighter.

Finally...

The trees ahead suddenly cleared up.

An incredibly familiar little wooden cabin appeared right before their eyes.

Just like that...

It stood quietly by the stream.

The color of the wood was still as dark, bearing the marks of wind and sun.

The overall structure was intact, complete with doors and windows. In front of the cabin... there was even a small patch of leveled clearing.

Fang Qi stopped in his tracks, staring blankly at the wooden cabin before him.

For a moment... he didn't know what to say.

In his chest, his heart was pounding, Thump, thump, thump.

Ah...

It's here.

He really had returned here.

Returned to this place... where he and Liguang had once lived together.

He remembered her cheerful little appearance, her red eye sparking with blue and white electricity, as she carried a steaming bowl of wild vegetable and mushroom soup and said, Please enjoy, Master.

And the warm moments when they rested their heads together, repairing Little Star.

During that time, even though they were trapped here, even though their ankles were chained together...

Looking back on it now, it was incredibly heartwarming and nostalgic.

It was a pity...

Liguang didn't remember.

Lin Xiaoyou...

You really brought me to a good place.

No matter what your secret base looks like, no matter what you are going to say next...

This playthrough...

Was truly worth it.

Liguang also stopped walking.

She stood beside Fang Qi, staring blankly at the wooden cabin in front of her.

Her amber pupil was trembling slightly, and her crimson eye was flashing wildly at a very high frequency!

Her lips were slightly parted.

It was as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

Senior—!

A crisp voice rang out!

Lin Xiaoyou let go of Xiaoqing's hand and skipped over to the front of the cabin.

She turned around to face Fang Qi and Liguang, her ponytail swaying gently, a proud and bright smile hanging on her round little face.

We're here!

This place—

She pointed at the cabin behind her, then spread her arms wide to draw a big circle in the air.

Is mine and Xiaoqing's—

Se-cret Base!

Our little cabin in the woods! Awesome, right?

...?

Huh?

Fang Qi's brain, which was still immersed in deep emotion... momentarily blanked out.

What was that?

...Ah?

He looked blankly at Lin Xiaoyou's round face.

What on earth was this girl talking about?

How is it? Not bad, right!

Lin Xiaoyou giggled:

This little cabin was carefully designed by me a few years ago, and Xiaoqing personally helped build it!

Off to the side, Xiaoqing was crossing her arms, leaning against a tree trunk with a reluctant expression, and let out a soft snort.

Lin Xiaoyou tilted her head, her almond eyes curving into crescents as she looked at Fang Qi and Liguang.

There are no security cameras here, no cell signal, and even satellites have a hard time capturing it!

It's a super, super, super secret...

Great place!

...?

...Wait, what?

Ah?