Kissing Firefly, Cipher Arrives

After hearing Lin Hai's promise, Firefly nodded gently in his arms. She felt grateful, but she was also burdened by worries she couldn't dispel.

"I know you'll do your best for me... but even Kafka and the other Stellaron Hunters..."

"Just because Kafka can't do it," Lin Hai interrupted her, his voice unwavering, "doesn't mean I can't. Believe me, Firefly!"

Those simple, forceful words weren't particularly profound.

But Firefly had hardly interacted with men over the years, and Lin Hai had suddenly entered her life.

She had suffered from her illness for years, leaving her body weak. A tangle of emotions made her choke up.

Firefly raised her head, her eyes shimmering with tears, yet she wore the most touching smile.

She rose slightly onto her toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

An endless tenderness welled up in Lin Hai's heart.

He returned her kiss.

What began as a tentative, awkward kiss gradually grew passionate.

The evening breeze wrapped gently around them, with a dreamlike city beneath their feet and a blazing sunset on the horizon.

In this eternal twilight constructed from consciousness, two hearts nestled close, as though they meant to infuse each other's souls with their breath, warmth, and vows of protection.

In the dream constructed from the Memory Zone, Firefly could feel a freedom without constraints.

She stretched her body with ease, no longer troubled by illness.

The feeling of freedom was so real that she was deeply captivated by it, even if it was only a lifelike dream.

Just then, a familiar panel quietly appeared in Lin Hai's mind:

[Contract Lucky Star · Firefly]

[Contract mission: kiss, completed]

[Mission reward issued: skill learned—Primer Slash]

[Effect: restores 20% of the user's condition upon activation and deals additional damage to enemies]

A new power surged into Lin Hai's body, along with an understanding of combat techniques.

He could clearly feel that he had grown stronger.

Yet mixed with his joy was a trace of anxiety.

Lin Hai still hadn't found any way to cure Firefly's illness.

He put those thoughts aside and gently took Firefly's hand.

Fingers intertwined, they strolled across the rooftop bathed in the sunset's glow.

"The next time I visit your place..." Firefly turned her head, her eyes shining with anticipation. "I want to try the specialty foods in your world."

"No problem." Lin Hai agreed without hesitation. "I'll take you to eat the best."

"I also want us to go swimming," she said, a hint of longing in her voice. "I want to experience what real swimming feels like and swim to my heart's content."

"All right, we'll go together when the time comes."

"And... let's go see a movie together," she added softly. "Just like ordinary people, like a couple."

"I'll book the tickets in advance."

They chatted back and forth like that, sharing their ordinary hopes for the next time they met.

Through their simple conversation, as they made small, warm plans, their hearts quietly drew closer.

The setting sun cast their shadows long, until they finally merged into one.

Neither knew who leaned in first, but another natural, gentle kiss followed, lingering.

Lin Hai returned to the familiar living room, the warmth of the dream's fading light still lingering around him.

He sat alone on the sofa and picked an unused Lucky Star from his pocket.

It shimmered faintly in his palm, heralding a new encounter.

But Lin Hai didn't close his hand around it right away. Instead, he first brewed himself a cup of tea.

He needed a little time to calm his thoughts.

The warm tea went down his throat, bringing a peaceful warmth, yet the slender figure in his mind refused to fade.

Firefly's smile on the rooftop at dusk, and her fragile appearance when she returned to the medical pod.

A beautiful, vibrant life, trapped by a chronic illness and cold machinery.

The thought was etched into his mind like a brand.

It made Lin Hai even more determined to find a cure, no matter what!

Taking a deep breath, Lin Hai finally closed his hand around the new Lucky Star.

In an instant, a dazzling light filled the living room.

When the light faded, a nimble, lively young woman appeared.

She had neat, short hair that seemed to be streaked with a few rebellious highlights. Most striking of all was the pair of cat ears twitching gently atop her head.

Cipher landed without a sound. Her eyes, as alert as a cat's, swiftly swept over the unfamiliar surroundings. Then she leaped lightly backward, putting a safe distance between herself and Lin Hai.

She had made no sound throughout, yet held a naturally defensive stance.

"Where is this?" she asked.

Her voice was crisp, her curiosity and wariness undisguised as she fixed an intense gaze on Lin Hai.

"This is my home," Lin Hai replied calmly. "A world different from the one you know."

"Did I... transmigrate?" Cipher's cat ears twitched instinctively.

The surreal conclusion surprised even her a little.

"Yes." Lin Hai gave her an affirmative answer.

He had experienced similar exchanges several times, so his answer came very naturally.

Hearing this, Cipher turned and dashed toward the living room balcony, swift as the wind.

She pushed open the window and leaned out to look down. Just as she was about to jump out, she discovered that her power had been almost entirely drained.

She frowned slightly. "My power... seems to have gotten a lot weaker."

Feeling the change in herself, Cipher turned back to look at Lin Hai.

"How did I get here?"

"I summoned you here," Lin Hai said frankly.

"Summoned me? How?" Her cat ears tilted slightly forward in concentration.

"With this, the Contract Lucky Star."

Lin Hai showed her the Lucky Star in his hand.

Cipher's gaze was drawn to it. "Can I take a closer look?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Hai stepped forward and gently placed the Lucky Star in her palm.

The gesture caught Cipher off guard.

She raised her eyes, a flash of disbelief in them. "You're just giving it to me like that? Aren't you afraid I'll take it and never give it back?"

"I believe you'll bring it back."

Lin Hai's voice carried an inexplicable certainty.

"What makes you so sure?"

Cipher pressed him, her tail swaying gently behind her.

"Because our destinies seem to have formed some kind of connection through it," Lin Hai explained. "And the true power contained within this star is something we need to explore and unlock together."

Cipher caught the deeper meaning in his words.

"Sounds like it can do more than just summon me here?"

The tip of her tail curled with curiosity.

Lin Hai looked at her inquisitive eyes and nodded with a smile.

"Just how many uses it has, how powerful it is, and how much of an impact it can have are all things we need to figure out bit by bit."

"Is there a faster way?" Cipher asked.

Lin Hai was silent for a moment before answering, "Yes."

"What do we need to do?"

"First, we need to hug. Second, we need to kiss. Those two steps have already been proven useful. As for the third..."

"What do we do for the third step?" Cipher pressed.

Lin Hai said in a low voice, "Perhaps if we take that step, with me becoming your man and you becoming my woman, we can unlock more of its functions!"