If I Had You

Shanwei Railway Station is far from Taohe Town in Haifeng County, more than 30 kilometers away.

But as soon as Xue Ming got off the train, he saw Xiao Qi craning her neck at the exit, like a big goose, waving at her sweetheart. She had finally welcomed her employer back.

After Seventh Brother finished explaining the household chores to Xue Ming, he talked about Uncle Bai Ningguang's impression of Xue Ming. He said that everything about Xueming was excellent, and that Uncle Bai Ningguang treated this future son-in-law as his most precious treasure. The reason was simple: just the fact that he could repair toys was enough to keep this kid king happy for more than ten years.

"Didn't Uncle say anything else?" Xue Ming didn't quite understand and tried to pull Xiao Qi's arm to go to the ticket office together.

Xiao Qi, looking adorably clueless, first nimbly dodged Xue Ming's hand, exclaiming, "Hey, I can't catch you!~", and then immediately grabbed her beloved's hand tightly, wanting to hold it with both fingers.

Xue Ming smiled, pursing her lips. "You're so capable. Didn't you spend more time with your uncle?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qi's face immediately fell.

"He went to the police station for questioning."

Xue Ming didn't understand. "Huh?"

Xiao Qi shrugged. "During the Lunar New Year, a lot of kids came to our house. You fixed his toys, right? There was this brat, the son of Teacher Wang from the old elementary school, who took my dad's most expensive toy out to play and started shooting sponge bullets at people's windows—the neighbors called the police, and in the end, it all came down to my dad. He's spending the Lantern Festival at the police station early with his good brothers."

Xue Ming didn't say anything, feeling that she had done something wrong.

"It's alright! They're just toys, it's no big deal." Xiao Qi didn't care. "My old father is getting on in years, and Taohe is such a small place, his good brothers won't make things difficult for him—besides, it's not the first time."

Xue Ming didn't understand. "How many times can he go to the police station for questioning?"

Xiao Qi smiled, first shrugging her shoulders and squinting her eyes, then shaking her head and swaying her body, looking very lively, with a hint of schadenfreude.

After they booked their tickets, Xue Ming started talking about things at home.

Xiao Qi was initially puzzled--

--Hengyin must be a place of heartbreak for Xue Ming.

Then, he gradually learned about his elder brother and sister-in-law from their old hometown, and listened to Xue Ming talk about his upbringing.

She finally understood that no matter how vicious and barbaric that place was, it was still Xue Ming's hometown.

--No, it's more accurate to say it's a strange city that produces a wealth of talented people.

Xiao Qi's eyes lit up, especially when she heard the scene where the big cat spoke human language. She had been thinking about this cat for a long time, thinking that Xue Ming would like it, and had always wanted Boss Ye to transfer it to her. She never expected that this cute creature was a disaster beast of the same level as the BOSS.

"The balance of Yin and Yang, the equilibrium of Yin and Yang—hey, that's interesting." Xiao Qi held Xue Ming's hand tightly, not letting go. While waiting for the train on the platform, she started reminiscing about Xue Ming's past. "If what your brother said is true, then besides the Abyssal Railway, there's also a department on the surface, at the same level as our unit, and they're both under the jurisdiction of the National Security Bureau."

Xue Ming slowly opened his mouth and asked, "Didn't the Hunter King tell you about this? I feel both unfamiliar with and curious about [Tian Shu]. The people who work in this department probably encounter far more dangers and troubles than we do. After all, in the underground world, all beings are equal—whether human or monster, they will all die in the harsh environment. But it's different on the fertile surface; the human heart is far more terrifying than monsters."

Xiao Qi shook her head. "No, the cat tree sister never talks to me about things on the surface. But I can vaguely sense that such a department exists. Like the videos I watched when I was receiving waiter training—when they were hunting down Armadillo Hunters on the surface, there were also ordinary people wearing standard spirit suits helping the passengers and armed personnel at the station. It's just that their uniforms are so similar to our spirit suits that I didn't recognize them at first. But after seeing them more often, I can tell the difference."

Tian Shu is a special forces unit against spirits in the surface world.

It is responsible for public safety in various cities and handles psionic disasters on the surface world.

--The train has arrived.

Xue Ming wanted to pick up her luggage, but as soon as the thought crossed her mind, the spirit that burst forth from her physical body immediately gripped the luggage handle tightly.

When Xiao Qi saw Xue Ming's spirit, her expression suddenly froze.

Xue Ming: "What's wrong?"

Xiao Qi: "You started to emerge from your cocoon—no, you directly metamorphosed."

The transformation process of passengers is similar to the growth cycle of a Morpho butterfly.

It's difficult to distinguish obvious stages, much like the process of a child growing up during human development.

Just as we can't clearly explain how a teenage boy becomes six and a half feet tall, a tall and strong Bu Liuxing, we can only rely on some vague characteristics to distinguish the stages of transformation.

The insect goes through three stages: egg, nymph, and pupation.

The spirits, like threads, gradually tangled into scattered linear clumps.

During the cocooning stage, these clumps can also construct complete spiritual arms. Almost all spiritual bodies and all spiritual power evolve from the limbs and organs of the [hand].

These psionic arms are no longer as fragile as they were during the pupa stage. They have complete skin texture and, depending on the difference in psionic talent, they possess a special ability with a portion of soul power. Although incomplete, they are like the scattered organs of an insect in a cocoon, gradually returning to their correct positions as they evolve.

Even the most fragile and powerless arm is far stronger than the original spirit body constructed of silk threads. As the spirit body emerges from its cocoon, the process of metamorphosis will begin immediately.

First, it starts with the hands, arms, torso, and half of the skull, then the entire lower body, until the soul leaves the body.

The morpho butterfly, its soul bursting forth from the cocoon of flesh, is the process from the emergence stage to the adult stage.

If, during this process, one suffers mental and physical damage, the unluckiest person might directly become a person with cerebral palsy or a vegetative state, while the luckier one might be like Jason Megan, falling back into the pupa at the very beginning of the metamorphosis process, leaving behind stress disorder or various emotional wounds. One would then need to find a way to mend the huge hole in one's heart, exercise, recuperate, and heal oneself before one can start this journey anew.

At this moment, Xue Ming's spirit arm looked like the body of a beast covered in white fur. Its spirit cilia seemed not to have fully grasped the situation and had not yet fully returned to their correct positions. There were many terrifying, fine pits on the surface of its shimmering silver spirit skin, waiting for the spirit threads to return to their places and form a complete skin texture.

However, there is no doubt that its skeleton and muscles are already nearly complete. According to the standards of the Galahad Magic Academy, once a passenger can construct a skeleton and blood vessels, they have already reached the cocooning stage.

Xue Ming was still confused. "What's wrong with my spirit?"

"You've already emerged from your cocoon! Oh no! You've begun your metamorphosis!" Xiao Qi exclaimed excitedly. "This year! I have an eight-month-long vacation! Woohoo! Roar..."

She instantly transformed into a monkey.

"Malaysia! Sanya! I want to go to both! I want to go, I want to go, I want to go! I want to travel! I want to go to the Isle of Man!"

She even started to push her luck, missing the monkeys' homeland.

Xue Ming couldn't stand the waiter's atavistic behavior and couldn't understand this sudden joy.

In his subjective perception, these arms didn't seem much different from the previous mass of spirit silk—their senses hadn't become more acute, and their strength didn't seem to have increased.

Etc--

Xue Ming hadn't tested whether his strength had increased, nor had he had the opportunity to test the power output of his spirit body.

Xue Ming asked, "Is there a difference?"

With the support of the two men's spiritual power, Xiao Qi put on the Steel Heart and summoned her pink psionic body. Her hands were like those of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl. Not only were they small, but layers of spiritual silk patterns could be seen on them, which were obvious characteristics of the pupal stage.

This kind of spirit would shatter into threads if a strong gust of wind blew by.

The strong wind on the train platform swept across Xue Ming's arms, but could only ruffle the fine hairs on his spirit arms. Protected by muscles and skin, it couldn't cause any ripples.

"That's the difference!" Xiao Qi explained, "Employer, take a close look at your spirit arm. Spirits are inherently fragile, but you can maintain a state of releasing your spiritual energy for a long time and use it frequently for work. With more exercise, an organ will eventually grow bigger and its growth rate will increase."

Xue Ming simultaneously raised all four arms, using only his spirit arms to bend them together.

This resilient spirit was like a lump of rubber; no matter how much it was broken, it would never break again. Like a roly-poly toy, it quickly straightened itself. The yin wind it generated blew back the side bangs on Xiao Qi's forehead, making her jump for joy. She continued to revert to her ancestral monkey form, shouting that Singapore had been added to her list of places to visit during the long holiday.

Xue Ming activated his spirit body, transforming his arm into a vernier caliper. Confirming that this function was still intact, he decided not to delve further.

He finally managed to remove his lover's ape form, and gently rubbed Xiao Qi's face, trying to get Xiao Qi to act normal.

"Calm down, calm down."

Xiao Qi: "I can't control myself when I'm happy!"

Xue Ming: "Then you can try another method."

Xiao Qi: "That's right."

Seeing that they were about to miss the train, Xue Ming put his arm around Xiao Qi's waist and rushed onto the train as if carrying luggage. He shoved the young woman into a seat and then closed his eyes to rest.

Occasionally, when I open my eyes from my dozing state, I see Bai Qingqing grinning, leaning against the car window, resting her chin on her hand, and glancing at me sideways.

Xue Ming asked, "Is it pretty?"

Xiao Qi was struck by a strange sense of amusement. "Hehehehe! Hahahaha!"

Generally speaking--

--It's always the girl who gets stared at, and then the boy asks her that question.

Xue Ming took out a tissue and reached out to wipe the drool from Bai Qingqing's mouth, as if he had done it countless times before. This moment of tenderness made Qingqing feel as if she were soaking in a honey hot spring.

Xue Ming added, "If you like it, take a few more glances."

"Okay." As soon as Xiao Qi finished speaking, it was as if she had been struck by lightning.

The moment the train starts moving, the steel wheels mesh and rub against the rails, producing a piercing yet reassuring sound.

For Bai Qingqing, familiar things are fading away, and once again she has left the platform that she rarely sees, even a few times a year.

Xiao Qi's expression changed several times. She took deep breaths, her black turtleneck sweater rising and falling with her chest. Finally, glistening tears began to well up in her eyes, as if they might fall at any moment.

"Ming! Xue Ming!" She rarely called him by that name, usually referring to him as "[Employer]" instead. Many people could call him "[Xue Ming]", but she was the only one who could call him "[Employer]"—it was unique to her.

Xue Ming immediately replied, "Yes, you miss Uncle Bai Ningguang? You're thinking about him?"

Steel Heart doesn't lie, nor do Inspiration and spiritual pressure.

From the other side of the rings, Xue Ming could sense that Qingqing was in a strange mood.

It was a deep, subtle, and indescribable sentiment of a woman's heart.

"It's not just about him." Xiao Qi's eyes and lips were downcast, as if she had suffered a great injustice. "I'm thinking, I'm really thinking. I think, I'm so lucky to be Daddy's daughter."

Xue Ming: "This is a good thing, don't cry."

Xiao Qi burst into tears. "If I could control myself from crying, I definitely wouldn't have cried—when you came home, I was arguing with that bully because he looked down on you. He seemed very arrogant and was trying to annoy me on purpose—I told him so many things about you, and I felt so happy, but for some reason, Dad was so sad, so sad."

Xue Ming fell silent.

"I'm still so immature, Xue Ming. If I were just a little bit smarter..." Xiao Qi wiped away her tears as she spoke to her lover about her family in the chilly spring, "If I thought about it for a moment, if I had a daughter like this, and she were stolen away by the neighbor's brat, and I was just as childish, it would probably be much more painful than having all my toys taken away. She's the apple of my eye."

Xue Ming whispered, "We can visit Uncle often, don't you have a long vacation?"

"Mmm... yes... I regret it so much." Xiao Qi's nose was red, and hot breath was coming out of her mouth, as if she had been crying fiercely and couldn't breathe. She shook her head and said, "I'm not going, I'm not going to Malaysia, I'm not going."

Xue Ming then wiped away Xiao Qi's tears.

"You're not like my brother anymore, Seven."

Xiao Qi pursed her lips and frowned. "You've always called me that! I'm used to it, you're not allowed to change it!"

Xue Ming: "Okay, I won't change it."

Xiao Qi: "That's not the only thing that makes me sad— Xue Ming."

Xue Ming: "I don't want to think about it anymore."

Xiao Qi: "How could I not want to! If you find a hundred women on the street, ninety-nine of them are just as emotional! The last one might even say to you, 'How dare you assume my gender!' -- You're making things too difficult for me."

Xue Ming: "Then you go ahead, I'm listening."

The train sped forward like a rocket. Other passengers, seeing the adorable antics of the young couple, smiled knowingly. Some were even travelers with children returning from visiting relatives during the New Year. The little ones seemed to have Inspiration, crying along with Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi: "When I was secretly watching you."

Xue Ming: "Hmm, just now?"

Xiao Qi nodded. "Yes, just now, when I was secretly looking at you, I was really worried, really worried."

Xue Ming: "Hmm"

Xiao Qi burst into even louder sobs. "Do we really have to go to Red Star Hill? I'm so worried, I'm afraid I won't be able to see it again. I'm afraid you won't be able to see me again either!"

Xue Ming didn't speak, but simply wiped away the tears of this girl who seemed made of water.

Xiao Qi couldn't close her mouth, and her words were unclear.

"I'm afraid you'll be sad. I really don't have any courage left. Wow—am I going to die at your hands? How can this thing be so powerful? I wonder if Jason is like that too, the person in his heart is left on Red Star Hill, never to return. What if something happens to Meteor? What if these people..."

Xue Ming interrupted rudely, "Hmm."

"Is your heart made of iron, Xue Ming? Why is it that when I'm crying like this, your expression doesn't even change, like a cast iron sculpture?" Xiao Qi gently patted Xue Ming's face. "Every time you're like this, I feel like I'm suffocating. Although my Steel Heart allows me to understand what's on your mind, you're really terrifying. My master is like that too, although she has facial paralysis, but you don't."

Xue Ming didn't speak.

He simply put his arm around Xiao Qi's shoulder and then kissed her on the lips.

Then Xiao Qi crashed; that was incredibly powerful.

She had tasted the PLUS version of Bailu's lips, but this was the first time she had ever tasted Xue Ming's male body.

She was about to cry again, but only managed to utter half a "waa...

Xue Ming immediately said, "If you cry again, I'll kiss you again."

Upon hearing this, the genuine "wow" turned into a falsetto, as if he had found the knack for asking for a kiss, accompanied by a playful, overly eager laugh.

Xue Ming took out Brother Ye Bei's tea from his bundle and fed it to Xiao Qi.

This ever-effective Worry-forgetting Tea seemed to have swept away the young woman's bad mood.

The chaotic Inspiration within Steel Heart also began to stabilize.

Xiao Qi regained her composure, but suddenly her body stiffened, and she didn't know what to say.

Xue Ming kindly advised, "Everyone has emotions. You can find other ways to express them."

Xiao Qi tilted her head and asked, "How about you recommend one to me?"

Xue Ming looked at the sounds of children crying and fussing throughout the carriage.

"Just pick something, it's better than you, a senior kindergarten student, leading the younger children in crying. Something like singing."

"Great idea!" Xiao Qi perked up and immediately took a suitcase from the luggage rack and took out her ukulele.

This is a four-string Hawaiian guitar.

Its playing style is simple and easy to understand, unlike the six-string guitar which has so many complex chords.

Immediately afterwards, Xue Ming heard the sound of a zither and singing.

Xiao Qi's voice was very pleasant. At first, Xue Ming recognized her by her voice, which was as bright as a seagull's.

Fallen leaves have no roots to return to; a single thread cannot make a line.

It was a melody Xue Ming had never heard before, and the lyrics were difficult to understand.

[Without a place to call home, and no heart to wander]

When Xiao Qi started singing, Xue Ming suddenly felt that this young woman seemed to have grown up all of a sudden.

She had plenty of breath control, and her resonance technique made the sound emanating from her throat powerful.

Instead of giving me red beans, why not write a song for me?

[Sign your name neatly and beautifully]

At this point in the song, Xiao Qi stared intently out the window, as if looking towards her hometown.

If you were a song, you would be the high mountains and flowing water.

[Beautiful women dance, heaven and earth dance, the beauty of a broken string]

At this point in the song, Xiao Qi stared intently at Xue Ming, as if she were looking at her lover.

If I were to compare you to a song, the song I sing would be filled with tender emotions.

[May all living beings be blessed, may my soul depart, the beauty of a broken string]

After singing, Xiao Qi hugged her ukulele and fell asleep, as if she was tired from crying and singing.

As usual, Xue Ming took out the convenient boxed lunch he had prepared in advance from his bundle, carefully took the ukulele from Qingqing's arms, and put it back in the box. When he returned to his seat, he heard his lover's incoherent murmurs in her sleep. Her hands hung unnaturally at her stomach, and she was leaning against the car wall in a very awkward sleeping posture, as if she needed to hug something to sleep properly.

He had just sat down, intending to adjust Qingqing's limbs, at least to prevent her from continuing to have scoliosis.

He reached out, and the young woman, even in her sleep, was very alert, like a clingy kitten, and hugged Xue Ming's arm, then fell into an even deeper and more peaceful sleep.

Xue Ming didn't move at all, and when he looked down, he could smell the shampoo in Xiao Qi's hair.

He waited, waiting for the start of the next journey.