Bai stared ahead in a slight daze. The smell of popcorn reminded her of things from a long, long time ago.
"Have you eaten popcorn before? Hmm, according to the boss, it's food he brought from another world. Under the effects of Information Perturbation, it isn't strange that Tianlan Continent has it too." Anviya quickly came up with a reasonable explanation on her own. Sometimes, filling in the blanks was the most important thing.
Bai tossed another piece of popcorn into her mouth.
For now, she thought it was best not to tell Anviya that her elder sister was not from Tianlan Continent either. She had come from another world, and popcorn was something she had learned to make from elsewhere.
Her elder sister had never concealed her past from her. Though she did not enjoy speaking of old matters, over time, Bai had actually learned quite a lot.
"Oh, right. That news you mentioned earlier—you can tell me now." Anviya still remembered the topic they had been discussing before she went out to buy popcorn.
"Mm." Bai nodded, her voice turning distant. "That was already several hundred years ago..."
Her elder sister had left without saying goodbye. Bai did not leave immediately, instead living alone in that familiar courtyard for several more years.
Until one snowy evening at dusk.
Bai stood before the courtyard, silently watching the bright lamp hanging beside the gate.
A lamp was left by the door, awaiting the visitor as before.
But she had waited a long time already, and still the old friend from her memories had not returned.
Bai softly exhaled, watching the white mist drift away before finally vanishing into the cold night wind.
She decided to leave and see the other parts of Tianlan Continent. Her elder sister's letter had