Why Did You Leave?

"Why did you leave?"

Na'er's question inexplicably threw Luo Ze into a panic. He vaguely sensed that there was something more to her words.

"I was just asking. Hurry up and tell me—will you miss me?" Na'er clung to Luo Ze's arm and said coquettishly.

"I will!" Luo Ze answered without hesitation.

Hearing that answer, Na'er smiled softly, then threw herself into Luo Ze's arms. Holding back the tears glimmering in her eyes, she hugged him tightly.

If time could stop at this moment, how wonderful would that be!

"Brother, thank you!"

Luo Ze did not understand why, but he still instinctively hugged Na'er. "We're family. No need for thanks! Na'er, what's wrong with you today?"

Perhaps finding Luo Ze too talkative, Na'er cut him off angrily. "Brother! Don't talk. Let me hug you for a while!"

"Oh, okay!" Luo Ze quickly shut his mouth and simply let Na'er hold him tightly.

What was wrong with Na'er today?

Luo Ze could not help feeling suspicious. Na'er was usually rather clingy and occasionally liked to snap at Tang Wulin, but she had never held him so fondly and reluctantly as she did today.

After a long while, Na'er gently pulled herself free from Luo Ze's embrace. She slowly raised her head and looked into his eyes.

"Na'er, you..."

"Brother, you should go back first! I want to stay by the sea alone for a while." Na'er smiled, and the reluctance in her eyes had already faded.

"Okay. Remember to come back early. I'll be waiting for you at home!"

Luo Ze smiled helplessly. Na'er had become increasingly willful these past few days, coming back so late every time. Was the sunset really that beautiful?

Na'er did not answer. She merely smiled happily and watched Luo Ze leave, until his figure could no longer be seen.

"Let's go, Xiong Jun." Na'er spoke slowly, her voice cold.

"Yes, my lord!"

A dark golden figure slowly appeared. The middle-aged man called Xiong Jun activated the Space Teleportation he had prepared long ago and took Na'er away from Aolai City.

Night fell, and when Na'er still had not returned to the hotel, Luo Ze's already restless heart descended into complete panic.

He hurried to the beach, only to find that the silver-haired figure had long since vanished.

"Na'er! Na'er, where are you?!"

Luo Ze shouted loudly, hoping to hear Na'er's response. But the beach was already deserted. Forget a person—even an insect could not be seen.

Seeing that Na'er was not on the beach, Luo Ze did not lose heart and instead ran into the city.

Na'er would be fine. She must have gotten hungry at the beach and gone into the city to eat. That was right, she had definitely gone into the city to eat!

Luo Ze wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes, comforting himself with that excuse.

But reality was often crueler than fantasy. Luo Ze ran through nearly every shop they often visited and searched every corner of the city, yet that silver-haired figure he missed day and night never appeared again.

Yes, Na'er had disappeared. As though she had never existed in this world, she vanished without warning.

Na'er, where are you? If you were going to leave, why didn't you tell me?!

Luo Ze clenched the silver scale hanging before his chest tightly. It was the only thing Na'er had left him to remember her by...

"Little Ze..." Elder Long slowly came to Luo Ze's side. He wanted to offer some comforting words, but found himself unable to say anything.

He had also checked the surveillance footage, but there were still no clues.

"Grandfather, Na'er is missing! Please, go look for her!" Luo Ze's voice trembled as he cried so hard he could barely speak.

"Grandfather has already sent people out. Don't worry, Na'er will be fine!" Elder Long softly comforted Luo Ze.

He had never seen Luo Ze cry like this before, so heartbroken and torn apart.

Na'er held an important place in his heart. She was his true companion, his family.

Now that Na'er had suddenly vanished, it was as if someone had split Luo Ze's heart in two, leaving it forever incomplete.

For several days in a row, Luo Ze seemed to have lost his soul. He drifted through each day in a daze, listless like a walking corpse, unable to focus even in class.

Every day after school, he went to the seaside, the noodle shop, and the stores they often visited, searching for Na'er. Though the result was the same every day, he never gave up.

What if? What if Na'er suddenly came back one day?

Clinging to that slim hope, Luo Ze remained the same.

A week later, Teacher Li could no longer bear to watch. Near the end of class, she directly called Luo Ze into her office.

"Luo Ze, I more or less understand your situation. Don't be sad. I don't think Na'er's disappearance necessarily means something happened to her," Teacher Li said.

Upon hearing Na'er's name, a faint light finally lit up in Luo Ze's dull eyes. He slowly raised his head and looked at Teacher Li.

"Think about it. Na'er is so clever, and there are surveillance cameras by the beach. If there really had been bad people, how could the patrols nearby have failed to see them?"

"That means Na'er must have been taken away by someone she knew. If I'm not mistaken, her family most likely took her away. Otherwise, with how intelligent and quick-witted she is, how could she suddenly disappear?"

Teacher Li's explanation was logical and well-supported. Luo Ze could not find a single reason to refute it, and it was precisely this explanation that rekindled the last sliver of hope in his heart.

That was right. Na'er was so smart—how could she possibly have run into danger!

But if you really had to leave, why didn't you tell me, Na'er... Luo Ze clenched his fists.

At the same time, Teacher Li keenly caught the change in Luo Ze's emotions. She had finally lived up to the expectations those two had placed on her and managed to convince him.

Teacher Li let out a long breath and patted Luo Ze on the shoulder. "What you need to do now is study hard. When the two of you meet again someday, you'll be able to shout it out loud: Brother can protect you for the rest of your life!"

Luo Ze's eyes flickered, as though he had already imagined the scene of their future reunion. "Mm! Teacher Li, thank you! I won't keep moping around anymore. I don't want her to laugh at me!"

Luo Ze patted his cheeks, doing his best to pull himself together.

Seeing this, Teacher Li nodded in satisfaction. "That's the genius Luo Ze of Red Mountain Academy. Pull yourself together and move forward bravely!"

Luo Ze nodded. Determination shone in his eyes once more as he solemnly bowed to Teacher Li.

"Thank you! For myself, and for Na'er, I won't let myself sink into despair! I promised her that I'd design the strongest Battle Armor in the world!"

"Teacher believes in you. With your talent, forget designing Battle Armor—even becoming a Limit Douluo wouldn't be difficult for you!"

Teacher Li never exaggerated. She truly believed that Luo Ze had that ability!

After leaving the office, Luo Ze went to a faucet on campus and vigorously splashed his face with cold water.

The icy coolness seeped into his skin, making Luo Ze's exhausted body shudder. His spirits immediately recovered quite a bit.

"Brother Luo!" Tang Wulin suddenly popped out from the side.

"What is it?" Luo Ze looked at him in confusion.

Tang Wulin pinched his chin and carefully sized Luo Ze up. "Mm! You've finally got your spirit back. That's great!" Tang Wulin said with an excited smile.

Hearing that, Luo Ze froze for a moment before suddenly understanding. "Oh! So you were the one who asked Teacher to help me. Thanks, brother!"

"You call me brother, so what are you thanking me for?" As he spoke, Tang Wulin placed an iron lunchbox in Luo Ze's hands.

"Try these. My mom made seafood dumplings. I guarantee you'll feel a hundred times more energetic after eating them, full of energy all day long!"

Tang Wulin was not good at comforting people. In his eyes, there was no hurdle that could not be overcome. If there was, then all it took was a good meal!