I Support You

"Actually, talking one-on-one might be better," Nangong Xiyun said at this moment. "I think everyone has different perspectives, and with others not around, it’s easier to say whatever’s on your mind."

Su Luo fell silent.

It was true, as Nangong Xiyun had said—they each viewed things from different angles and knew different details.

"Come on, come on, there’s still time later, isn’t there?" Li Siyi grabbed Su Luo’s hand, swaying it left and right as she cooed playfully.

The sudden shift from her serious demeanor left Su Luo stunned, goosebumps faintly rising on her skin.

Was it really necessary to go this far?

But after a moment’s thought, she realized there was indeed still some time before the final showdown with Lin Xuan.

"Alright, let’s do this one by one. So, who goes first?"

Su Luo glanced at them.

They exchanged looks among themselves.

Finally, Li Siyi spoke up: "Let’s go in order—based on how long each of us has known Su Luo."

No one objected.

And so, the order was set: Li Siyi, Little Yu, Nangong Xiyun, Jiang Ningshu.

Li Siyi and Su Luo left together, but before they did, Li Siyi added, "This might take a while, so please be patient."

In other words: It could be a long time, so do whatever you want in the meantime.

After they left, Jiang Ningshu turned her gaze to Nangong Xiyun.

"What are you looking at?" Nangong Xiyun asked.

"I never thought you’d have a diary too."

Jiang Ningshu had once prided herself on being the only one with a diary, even looking down on Nangong Xiyun for what she assumed was merely a physical relationship with Su Luo.

Now, she felt like a fool—no longer the sole keeper of a diary, and without even the physical intimacy Su Luo shared with Nangong Xiyun.

Nangong Xiyun smiled, twisting the knife: "Oh, and I’ve had mine longer than you."

Jiang Ningshu’s expression didn’t change as she stubbornly retorted, "Hah, so what? I was the first one Su Luo knew had a diary. That’s something he’ll remember for life."

"Su Luo won’t remember it forever. It’s not that important."

"It is important."

"It’s not."

"It is."

......

The more they argued, the closer they got, as if flames were burning between them.

Who would’ve thought they could bicker over something so trivial—and so childishly at that?

Little Yu quietly stepped between them, separating the two before their spat could escalate and disrupt Su Luo and Li Siyi’s conversation.

She, too, was eager to hear Su Luo’s explanation, but she could still restrain herself and wait patiently.

Jiang Ningshu stopped arguing with Nangong Xiyun but then asked, "So, what does Su Luo’s leaving mean?"

"You should hear it from him directly. He’ll explain in detail."

Nangong Xiyun didn’t answer. Truthfully, she knew quite a bit—about clearing the game, the storyline—but the specifics were still somewhat vague. Still, she could guess the gist of it.

The worst-case scenario was Su Luo disappearing from this world.

At that thought, a shadow of melancholy crossed Nangong Xiyun’s expression.

Jiang Ningshu fell silent and didn’t press further.

......

Li Siyi and Su Luo arrived at a cave—a temporary dwelling Su Luo had recently set up, where he’d stayed for a few days. It was, in essence, a makeshift room.

The two sat side by side on the bed.

Li Siyi spoke first: "Now, we can finally settle the score."

"Settle the score?"

"With the others around earlier, I didn’t bring it up. But now that it’s just us, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how harshly you cursed me in your diary at the very beginning?"

Her entire face was shrouded in shadow, making her look downright terrifying.

Su Luo gave an awkward laugh. It was true—back then, after what should’ve been his most successful game clearance was ruled a failure, he’d been seething with rage.

He couldn’t even imagine how shocking his modern-day profanities must have been to Li Siyi, a native of this world.

"I’m sorry—"

Before Su Luo could finish, Li Siyi kissed him, silencing his words.

After a long moment, she pulled away, smiling as she looked at him. "You did curse me terribly, but I forgave you a long time ago."

"I wouldn’t mind if you cursed me back."

"Never mind. At first, I was furious, but the more I got to know you, the more I understood. Looking back now, Su Luo, I’m actually grateful for the diary—it let me truly know you."

With that, Li Siyi pushed Su Luo down onto the bed.

"So I should be thanking the diary?"

"You should be thanking me for being proactive. Otherwise, I’d have just treated you as a tool." Li Siyi lay atop Su Luo, listening to his heartbeat, reluctant to part.

Su Luo held her close. "You’re right. I’m also glad to have met the you of today."

They lingered like that for a while.

Then, they noticed things starting to slip off their bodies.

......

Some time later.

Su Luo remarked, "When you told them to be patient, did you already plan on this happening?"

Li Siyi’s face flushed. "Not at all! You’re the one who couldn’t hold back."

"Fine, fine, my fault."

Who could resist? Su Luo was no saint.

"Let’s talk business now." Li Siyi was still clinging to Su Luo, unwilling to let go.

"You already know everything. Do I really need to say it again?"

"Why not?" Li Siyi wanted to hear it directly from Su Luo’s lips.

Seeing her expression, Su Luo relented.

"You know everything I’ve done has been to clear the game and return to my original world..."

Su Luo rambled on, sharing bits and pieces about himself—his real-world identity, his mundane life as a corporate drone and shut-in.

Then, how he’d inexplicably ended up in this world, beginning his cycle of trials.

Though his explanation was fragmented, it still painted a clear enough picture.

......

"So none of the past versions of me took a liking to you? What terrible taste." Li Siyi’s focus landed there.

"Going so far as to insult yourself? Do you really think you’d have liked me after the things I did?"

Su Luo’s actions had undeniably been villainous.

From the moment he committed to following the storyline, he’d prepared himself for the backlash.

His reputation had long ceased to matter.

Li Siyi didn’t answer his question. Instead, she asked the crucial one: "So even now, your goal hasn’t changed?"

"It’s wavered."

Before, Su Luo would’ve chosen to clear the game and return to reality without hesitation.

But now, having met the four of them, he was reluctant to leave.

"Su Luo, if you haven’t given up yet, I’ll support you."

Su Luo looked at her in confusion.

But Li Siyi nodded firmly. "I’ll support you in clearing the game. All this time, I’ve tried not to disrupt your storyline—all to help you."

"You’d really let me go?"

"Of course I don’t want to." Li Siyi shook her head, but then quickly added, "But when I read your diary, I saw how desperately you wanted to clear the game. I love you, so I don’t want you to regret anything."

"Maybe you should be a little more selfish and force me to stay."

"Indeed, I’ve thought about it before—even tried to involve more people, like Little Yu, hoping it might make you stay. But in the end, I gave up first."

Li Siyi said those last words with surprising ease, even smiling.

But deep down, she couldn’t help feeling reluctant.

It’s just that everything Su Luo had done was for the sake of clearing the trials, and Li Siyi understood Su Luo’s determination. Otherwise, she would have given up long ago.

Along the way, Li Siyi had read Su Luo’s journals more than anyone else. She knew better than anyone how much effort Su Luo had poured into overcoming the challenges.

Li Siyi didn’t want all of Su Luo’s efforts to go to waste, nor did she want Su Luo to compromise or abandon her own ambitions because of them.

She only wished for Su Luo to achieve what she truly desired.