The fourth act took place in Sky Dome City. The wandering Kiana had been fighting alongside Ye Ming all along. Though she did not want Ye Ming near her, he had refused to let go.
And when Kiana broke down inside, Ye Ming endured the pain in his heart and pulled her into his embrace.
"Trust me, Kiana. Everything will be alright."
Ye Ming's voice sounded incredibly gentle, but the audience could see how he clenched his teeth and forced himself to endure.
So Ye Ming had been there all along. He had taken part in every story.
If he had been there, there would not have been so many heartbreaking tragedies.
This story was simple and easy to understand. It was not as complicated as the previous ones, but it was still very sweet.
What was wrong with keeping it simple? The twists and turns last time were way too painful. I thought this one was great.
Players starving for sweetness no longer cared about the quality of the video's production. They just wanted sugar.
However, the audience did not yet know that this video was not as simple as they thought, and...
It was not sweet, either.
--Tell him to make me a cambric shirt
The second verse began. The same melody, the same scenes, but the details in the images had subtly changed, just like the lyrics.
On the rooftop of Senba Academy, Kiana was pulling Mei back from a fall, while Ye Ming had vanished without a trace.
After that, Kiana was the only one comforting Mei. The other hand that should have been held hung empty at her side.
--Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Only Kiana, Bronya, and Mei moved through the ruins of Chang Kong City. Inside the room they used to hide, there was an extra empty spot for someone.
--Without no seams nor needlework
The everyday life at St. Freya Academy was filled with the laughter and happiness of the three girls, while Ye Ming, who had brought them all of it, was just like the lyrics now...
Without a trace.
--Then he will be a true love of mine
Kiana in Sky Dome City could only face her pain alone, collapsing to her knees as she felt her heart shatter, until Fu Hua appeared.
What was going on? What was this supposed to mean?!
Why did I have such a bad feeling about this...
This was not going to be another knife, was it?
I was starting to not understand this video.
The short film that had originally been judged simple and easy to understand instantly turned into a suspense drama.
The discussion in the bullet comments never ended, and countless viewers rushed to the comment section to speculate.
"Did you notice? The composition of this video... whether Ye Ming was present or not did not affect the overall structure of the shots at all."
"That definitely was not a coincidence. Someone arranged it that way on purpose!"
"There's also something wrong with the lyrics! The original Scarborough Fair lyrics all use 'she,' but this version uses 'he' throughout."
"In other words, this is sung by a woman to a man, so the 'he' here should refer to Ye Ming, right?"
"Then whose true love was Ye Ming?"
Meanwhile, the girls who had just returned to the studio from the Wangshēng Funeral Parlor also watched the video.
They were all confused by its contents. Only the three heroines remained in a daze after watching it, their thoughts seemingly led somewhere unknown.
Then, almost at the same time...
Bronya, Mei, and Kiana spoke in unison:
"Why did he leave?"
·
"Trust me, Kiana. Everything will be alright."
Readers who remembered this foreshadowing were my masters. I was willing to do anything for those of you who read carefully.
Only Her Story Was Not Something He Wanted to Remember
"Why did he leave?"
"Hm?"
The question from the three girls aroused everyone's curiosity.
"Leave?"
"How did you know Ye Ming left?"
For someone to leave, it meant that person had once been there.
But this video had barely explained anything at all. It could not even form a complete story.
So everyone found it hard to understand why, under those circumstances, Kiana and the other two would naturally be certain...
That Ye Ming had come and then left?
"So, what kind of video did that guy post this time?"
The moment he entered and saw everyone in the studio gathered together, Ye Ming quickly guessed what had happened.
"A very strange video. Some of it doesn't make sense."
Keqing handed her phone to Ye Ming. The video was short, so he finished skimming through it in no time.
"I see."
He was quite calm this time. After all, there were no embarrassing scenes in the video, nor any footage of him breaking down.
"So, did you three remember anything after watching it?"
If the memories of the people he loved could be awakened by such a "stable" video, Ye Ming would naturally welcome it.
Kiana was the exception. The memories that belonged to her were far too "unstable."
"My heart feels empty."
"Rather than remembering something... it feels more like I forgot something."
"When did these scenes happen?"
Hearing their answers, Ye Ming could only smile bitterly.
"Sure enough, it wouldn't be that simple."
Seeing that the girls still looked utterly confused, Ye Ming changed the subject.
"Maybe the uploader was just padding out a video. Don't think too much about it. Clean up, clock out, and go home."
"Ah, more viewers have found a new clue."
Just as everyone was about to close the video app, they happened to see a highly upvoted comment rise to the top.
Ye Ming had originally always appeared in the most visually prominent place in every shot, and his disappearance happened to push Kiana into the absolute center of the frame.
I study art. This definitely is not a coincidence. It is an extremely refined technique, and it must be hinting at something.
When Ye Ming saw that comment, he wanted nothing more than to reach through the internet and give the commenter a hard slap.
"Wouldn't it be better to use the time you spend analyzing videos to play games? The Abyss settles today. Have you all finished grinding?"
Of course, no one replied to Ye Ming's comment. It quickly sank without a trace.
"Seriously, way to bring up exactly what I didn't want mentioned... I can't let these people keep making wild guesses. I need to find a way to divert the public's attention."
--Isn't recalling memories about you a good thing?
"It might be good for everyone else, but not for Kiana."
--Are you afraid of a love triangle?
"That has nothing to do with it..."
--Then what are you afraid of?
"I can't predict how Kiana will react. That's why I don't dare let her remember."
Ye Ming's eyes darted rapidly, and he soon came up with an idea.
Seeing that no one had left work yet, he simply stood up and announced:
"Everyone, don't leave. There's an urgent matter today. We need to work overtime."
"Ugh..."
"Didn't we just finish livestreaming a funeral? What new job is there now?"
Hearing the girls' complaints, Ye Ming answered:
"Before ten tonight, we need to release a new animated short."
"I have no problem with that."
"No matter what, I will complete the mission."
Keqing and Dey E, the two ultimate workaholics, were already ready. Led by those two, everyone else returned to their workstations, poised for action.
"Release an update teaser now, and build hype online."
"Kiana, come with me."
Ye Ming brought Kiana to the motion-capture room, then tossed her a bat.
"Are you ready... to become a star?"
··················
"If I had to guess, it was Ye Ming, he..."
"MiHoYo released a new teaser!"
"The latest main story animation is updating... Wait, it's today!"
"Seriously?! Ten tonight? Doesn't that mean it's updating any minute now?!"
"Come on, come on, log in!"
Ye Ming's plan went perfectly. After Queen's Descent and The Last Lesson, players had absolutely no resistance to the animations released at the end of every version.
The announcement had only just gone out, yet it drew away all the viewers who had been gathered in the uploader's personal page.
"Though the endless night may stretch on without end, I will become a star and ignite hope. I will fulfill your vow."
Seeing those words, everyone remembered the description for The Last Lesson:
"Though dark clouds may cover the sun, I will burn the sky and lead you home."
Was this... Kiana's reply to Himeko?
The main story was about Kiana going to find the Honkai bomb. How was this supposed to connect with The Last Lesson?
Just watch it.
In a modern metropolis filled with towering skyscrapers, Kiana moved like a swallow flying through a storm, using staircases, walls, and rooftops to perform extreme parkour.
Before long, she reached the top floor of a skyscraper. Through the vast view before her, she spotted the colossal tower, as imposing as a mountain.
At the same time, countless mechs emerged from optical camouflage and aimed their weapon systems at Kiana.
"Hmph, so you've come?"
Kiana's single line when facing the mechs instantly awakened the psychological trauma of countless viewers.
In The Last Lesson, Himeko had said the exact same thing before walking toward her death.
"I don't have time... to keep you company here!"
Another fight intertwined with parkour began, filled with high-speed movement and three-dimensional maneuvers.
As countless missiles pursued her, Kiana was like a dancer on a blade, evading every attack with dazzling yet perilous movements.
Before you continue