"You mean your senior, that assistant of yours, is saying that every single one of us..."
"Has a so-called 'fate'?"
Lin Xiaoyou had already dropped her playful grin.
Miss Genius had kicked off her canvas shoes.
Her feet, wrapped in little white socks, were planted right on the sofa cushion as she curled up into a ball on the couch.
Clutching a cup of still-steaming black tea with both hands, her chin resting on her knees...
Those almond-shaped eyes stared slightly dazed at the rippling surface of the tea.
That posture, that expression...
She really didn't act like a guest at all!
The corner of Fang Qi's mouth twitched.
He turned his head to look beside him.
Liguang was smiling at Lin Xiaoyou, the curve of her lips flawless.
But her gaze... was fixed on Lin Xiaoyou's little white socks pressing into the sofa cushion.
And Fang Qi noticed...
Something on her temple was twitching!
He blinked.
Oh, it was a vein.
Hidden beneath her silver bangs.
Throbbing at a subtle frequency!
Since when did an AI companion have veins...
But that wasn't the point!
Fang Qi quickly reached out and grabbed Liguang's small hand, giving it a squeeze.
The silver-haired girl turned to look at him.
There was clear displeasure in her left amber eye, and she pouted slightly.
—Master, look at her!
Fang Qi blinked back at her.
Honey, don't lose it!
We need her brain right now!
Let her step on the couch!
At worst...
You can chop that sofa to pieces later!
Liguang let out a soft hmph, but obediently stayed put.
Her slender fingers just slipped through the gaps between his and tightened firmly.
Mm.
So well-behaved!
Fang Qi turned back to Lin Xiaoyou...
His expression grew serious.
"...That's right."
He took a deep breath, his voice low.
"That's what Gu Xi said."
Lin Xiaoyou's almond eyes lifted from the tea's surface, slowly focusing on him.
He organized his thoughts.
"And she meant that An Lian's 'fate' was never supposed to be like this."
"She wasn't supposed to die today."
"Just like..."
Fang Qi stared into Lin Xiaoyou's eyes.
"My parents, and your father."
"Maybe..."
"They weren't supposed to die that day either."
The living room fell silent for a few seconds.
Liguang's hand, holding his, gave a gentle squeeze, as if silently comforting him.
As for Lin Xiaoyou...
She remained curled up on the sofa, clutching the black tea tightly, then lowered her head again to stare blankly at the water's surface.
Steam swirled upward, blurring her round little face.
"...I knew it."
She murmured softly.
"I kept saying..."
"I knew it..."
She kept whispering to herself.
Her almond eyes were still fixed on the tea in the cup, her pupils slightly unfocused.
"That old man of mine..."
"He shouldn't have died so early...!"
Her fingers tightened, and ripples spread across the tea inside the cup.
Fang Qi pressed his lips together and said nothing.
"He even survived the second AI crisis...!"
"He raised me through such tough times...!"
She murmured, her voice trembling more and more.
"He was tough as nails! He... ahhh!!!"
Miss Genius suddenly let out a howl, her eyes wide!
Fang Qi: "?"
What are you doing?!
Weren't you just reminiscing...!
She shot up from the sofa as if she'd been electrocuted!
"Ow ow ow!! Hot hot hot—!!"
She yelped!
Turned out, she'd sloshed the black tea!
The scalding liquid splashed directly onto her legs, still curled up on the sofa!
Her white socks were stained brown!
The cup in her hand flew straight out!
It landed on the couch...
Tea spilled all over the cushion!
Dark watermarks quickly spread across the light-colored fabric!
"Ow ow ow—!"
Lin Xiaoyou's eyes went wide as tears streamed down her face!
She hopped and danced in front of the sofa!
"It hurts!!"
She alternated lifting her legs, frantically trying to pat out the hot tea.
Fang Qi: "..."
Damn it...
He covered his face.
They were just in the middle of such a heavy topic...
And now she's yelping because she got burned!
Lin Xiaoyou, you are just...!
"Miss—Lin—?"
The voice beside him suddenly turned very gentle.
But Fang Qi's hair stood on end!
He glanced sideways...
The silver-haired girl shot to her feet!
Her bun swayed as she crossed two steps to stand in front of Lin Xiaoyou!
One hand grabbed the collar of Lin Xiaoyou's pink jacket!
"Whoa!"
Lin Xiaoyou, still hissing in pain as she rubbed her thighs, was lifted clean off the ground!
"What—are—you—doing—?"
Liguang's expression was way too nice!
Lin Xiaoyou's legs flailed in the air, with tea still dripping from her little white socks!
"Lili, Liguang!"
She turned her head and met the heterochromatic eyes staring at her!
A flattering smile immediately spread across her round little face!
"Don't, don't get upset!"
She clasped her hands above her head, making a pained "I'm sorry" pose while still suspended in midair!
"Can't you cut me some slack, since we're partners now?"
Her almond eyes blinked furiously.
Her voice was soft and sweet.
"I still need to help your Master... ah no, I mean your husband!"
"I'll help your husband save people!"
"I swear I'll rack my brains!"
"I won't hold anything back!"
...Huh.
Fang Qi raised an eyebrow.
Looks like Miss Genius had figured out how to sweet-talk Liguang?
Sure enough, Liguang's movement paused slightly.
The sharp edges on her pretty face... softened just a little.
And a faint blush crept over her cheeks!
"...Hmph."
The silver-haired girl let out a soft snort, and the crimson in her red eye flickered slightly...
Then she set Lin Xiaoyou down to the side.
Her move wasn't exactly gentle.
But at least it wasn't a throw!
"Sssss!"
Lin Xiaoyou stumbled a couple of steps to steady herself, still rubbing her scalded thighs and hissing.
Liguang gave her a glare.
"Behave yourself."
She was giving direct warnings now!
Lin Xiaoyou immediately stood at attention!
The silver-haired girl turned, bent down, and started cleaning up the sofa Lin Xiaoyou had soaked.
She grabbed a few tissues from the coffee table, picked up the cup Lin Xiaoyou had flung away, and began wiping the water marks off the cushion.
Her silver bun swayed behind her head.
Fang Qi blinked and a small smile tugged at his lips.
Honey...
You're really playing the lady of the house well!
He looked back at Lin Xiaoyou.
This Miss Genius, freshly warned, was still standing by the sofa, rubbing the reddened spots on her thighs.
Watching Liguang busy herself...
She suddenly mumbled:
"The tea you gave Senior was just the right temperature, but mine was this hot..."
"Hmph... playing favorites..."
Fang Qi: "..."
You better shut up now!
And what's this? You want Liguang to treat you the same way she treats me?
Liguang wouldn't have to do it—I'd kill you first!
Liguang's movements stopped.
She slowly turned her head, that familiar smile still hanging at the corners of her lips, the crimson in her eyes flickering faintly.
“What… did… you… say?”
Her tone was extremely soft.
Lin Xiaoyou immediately straightened her face!
Chest out!
Stomach in!
Hands pressed flat against the seams of her pants!
“I didn’t say anything!”
Her voice was firm and forceful!
“I was thinking about serious matters!”
She whipped her head around to look at Fang Qi, her almond eyes blinking.
“Senior!”
Her tone returned to a serious one.
“Do you think… your parents and my father…”
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her round little face wore a deliberately forced “serious” expression, but those almond eyes…
Suddenly trembled.
“… Do you think there’s still hope for them?”
Her voice dropped slightly.
The smile at the corner of her mouth stiffened a little.
Fang Qi fell silent.
… Miss Genius, your emotions really are a rollercoaster.
But…
He shook his head gently.
“I don’t know.”
He looked at her honestly.
“Still, we’ve both seen your father’s youthful body.”
Lin Xiaoyou’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.
“So…” Fang Qi continued, trying to keep his tone steady,
“Maybe there’s still a chance.”
“If we manage to save An Lian, who’s in a similar situation, we might get useful information. Maybe then we can…”
He didn’t finish.
What would happen after that, he couldn’t say.
… But An Lian had to be saved—that was certain!
The living room fell quiet again.
Lin Xiaoyou didn’t ask further.
She just stood there, her almond eyes unfocused, staring at the water stain on the sofa.
Those eyes, always so quick and lively, were now empty.
Fang Qi looked at her and felt a tightness in his chest.
Ah…
“… Lin Xiaoyou.”
He decided to change the subject.
Since she was here, he might as well ask about something he wanted to know!
He raised a hand and tapped his temple lightly with his finger.
“Can you…”
Seeing her almond eyes slowly refocus, he asked tentatively,
“… Right now, help me restore my memories?”
If it was her who had sealed them… then she should be able to unlock them, right?
He really needed those memories now!
He needed to know what he’d done before losing his memory!
He needed to know why he couldn’t save his parents back then!
He needed to know…
But Lin Xiaoyou shook her head directly.
“No.”
Her answer was blunt.
Fang Qi was taken aback. “…Why?”
“Because I only taught Senior my method.”
Lin Xiaoyou looked at him, a trace of the clarity belonging to “Lin You” seeming to return to her almond eyes.
“But the ‘switch’ is Senior’s own. It has nothing to do with me.”
Fang Qi stared at her blankly.
A switch… that belonged to him?
Before losing his memory, he had sought out Lin Xiaoyou and asked her to help seal his memories.
But she had only taught him the method.
And the one who actually pushed that switch…
Was himself?
“So you’re saying…” Fang Qi murmured,
“Only I can unlock this ‘switch’?”
Lin Xiaoyou nodded.
Then she went back to staring blankly at a spot on the coffee table, lost in thought.
Fang Qi fell silent again.
… What kind of situation was this?
Only he could unlock it?
But now he had completely forgotten how to do it!
Was he supposed to go to Lin Xiaoyou and learn the method all over again…?
It wasn’t impossible…
“Cherish the present.”
A gentle voice suddenly broke the silence.
Fang Qi paused slightly and turned his head.
The silver-haired girl had already tidied up the sofa.
She straightened up, hands folded in front of her stomach, her heterochromatic eyes calmly fixed on Lin Xiaoyou.
The crimson in her right eye flowed at an extremely slow pace.
“First, save the people right in front of you who can be saved.”
Her expression was serious.
“Even if we can’t save Master’s parents and Miss Lin’s father… at least…”
She said softly,
“Isn’t it a way to make up for the regrets of the past?”
Fang Qi was stunned.
Huh?
… Wow!
He was amazed!
Looking at his own wife, he even forgot what he had been thinking about!
How amazing!
His crazy woman…
Could actually say something so profound?!
… She really had the air of a lady of the house!
He couldn’t help but reach out and gently pinch the back of Liguang’s hand.
The silver-haired girl tilted her head slightly to look at him, a faint shimmer in her left amber eye. The corner of her mouth lifted just a little.
— Master, did Liguang speak well?
Fang Qi blinked rapidly!
— Great! Really great!
The two exchanged a silent look for a moment.
But then, Fang Qi suddenly felt… something was off.
Why wasn’t Lin Xiaoyou saying anything?
He turned his head slightly to look at her.
Miss Genius was still sitting on the sofa.
But…
Right now, her teeth were clenched tightly! Her hands were balled into fists!
And she was glaring at Liguang!
Her eyes…
Were actually a bit red?
Fang Qi: “…?”
What’s wrong with you…?
You…
“Easy for you to say…!”
Lin Xiaoyou’s voice was squeezed out between her teeth!
Her shoulders were trembling, and her reddened almond eyes stared straight at Liguang!
“Make up for regrets… Ha…!”
Liguang frowned slightly, squinting at Lin Xiaoyou. Her crimson eye flashed.
— Hm?
But this time, Lin Xiaoyou didn’t back down like she had before!
A slightly mocking smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
“If the one who died was your Master…!”
She stared straight at Liguang!
“Would you just treat it as a mere regret?!”
Fang Qi: “…!”
The silver-haired girl’s expression froze instantly!
The gentle smile at the corner of her mouth solidified on her face.
The amber eye that had just been playfully teasing him faltered for a moment.
The crimson in her right eye stopped flowing.
She just stood there, frozen, looking at Lin Xiaoyou.
… Hey!
Fang Qi frowned deeply!
Why did this suddenly…
“Liguang! Lin Xiaoyou!”
He stood up at once!
“Both of you, calm down!”
He turned to Lin Xiaoyou, defending his wife.
“Liguang didn’t mean it like that! She meant well…!”
But Lin Xiaoyou whipped her head around abruptly!
Her reddened almond eyes glared directly at Fang Qi!
The almost overflowing moisture in her eyes…
Made the words catch in his throat.
Fang Qi froze.
… She was crying?
“Senior.”
Lin Xiaoyou’s voice was very soft.
“You know… in that archives room…”
“I didn’t just find Senior’s parents’ notes.”
Her eyelashes drooped slightly.
“I also found…”
“My father’s notes.”
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
ver to a world of cultivation and returned invincible. Modern medicine is child's play compared to elixirs; technological might crumbles before true cultivation. My name is Qin Ning, Earth's sole cultivator!
lanned to earn money steadily and take life at a slower pace. But he never expected... his father's remarriage, and the stepmother bringing along a dependent, would completely disrupt his life's plans...
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
