"I'm telling you, I was scared half to death back then."
At the teahouse, Lin Yue gestured wildly as she recounted the story with great gusto. Across from her, Zhu Li took a bite of pastry and listened with a smile.
"Just when things were getting tense... What's that saying again?" Lin Yue paused. "Anyway, that's what happened, and in the end, we won."
Chen Xi was so impressed by her storytelling that she couldn't help letting out a snort of laughter.
"You didn't say anything at all!"
Chen Xi filled in the details for her: "Lin Yue and I synced up with Water Blade and chopped her down while Wu Xin wasn't paying attention."
[Put that way, it sounds like it was a piece of cake.]
[If I hadn't looked into it, I would've almost believed you.]
Zhu Li secretly controlled the flames to swirl across the tabletop, forming lines of text.
She'd never developed a move like this before because there'd been no need, but ever since she'd met the two of them, everything had changed.
[Wu Xin was actually registered with the authorities long ago. Her best-known identity is called Puppet.]
"...Puppet?" Chen Xi murmured.
"I think I've heard of her," Lin Yue chimed in.
"Puppet used to be the captain of Third Squad in the Tianhai City Countermeasure Bureau. One day, she suddenly changed completely. Taking advantage of their friendship, she killed the other squad captain she'd once depended on, without the slightest effort."
"After that, she made a habit of killing female Transcendents. She vanished half a year ago when the Countermeasure Bureau surrounded her."
Although Lin Yue suspected this might have been Wu Xin, she hadn't investigated any further.
After all, it wouldn't help her in a fight.
[But Wu Xin had only changed identities. She hadn't died in the siege at all.]
Zhu Li continued chatting with them as she manipulated the flames.
Chen Xi considered things for a moment, then offered her theory: "Given her abilities, it's unlikely that she's still a First Rank Transcendent after half a year."
"So, most likely, the more identities Wu Xin has experienced, the greater the boost she'll receive when she advances to Second Rank."
Although Wu Xin had said this herself, Chen Xi didn't entirely believe her.
Lin Yue nodded in agreement.
"True... When she fought us, she didn't use Snow Woman's ability. But an ability of that caliber would've just wasted magic power in a fight anyway."
"She's killed so many Transcendents..."
"Could she really gain every ability she's experienced once she advances to Second Rank?"
Lin Yue's instincts told her she might have stumbled upon the truth.
"That would be pretty terrifying." Luckily, the two of them had been part of Wu Xin's Ascension Ritual, and that was what had stopped her.
Otherwise, who knew what Wu Xin might have done?
The blonde girl reached for a pastry on the plate, only to realize she'd already eaten all the desserts. She awkwardly scratched her head.
Zhu Li chuckled and scanned the code to order another full serving of desserts.
[By the way, Qiu Xiao—the current captain of Third Squad—is very grateful to you. At the Exchange Meeting, she said that if she gets the chance, she'd like you to talk with her about the details of Wu Xin's case.]
The flames shifted silently. Thanks to Zhu Li's exquisite control, none of the other customers in the shop noticed a thing.
"Who's that?" Lin Yue asked, taking a bite of the matcha cake that had just arrived.
[Puppet's former best friend. She's been looking for the reason behind the change in her personality. Now, the mystery has finally been solved.]
It really was a tragic story. The two fell silent.
Lin Yue turned her grief into an appetite, easily polishing off more than a dozen plates of desserts.
Outside the entrance, the two girls were getting ready to say goodbye to Zhu Li.
"Bye!" Lin Yue waved and was just about to leave when she noticed Zhu Li looking toward Chen Xi, seeming to want to say something but hesitating.
"What's up?" The blonde girl tilted her head as she looked at them.
"It's nothing..."
Chen Xi didn't intend to keep it from her, so she told Lin Yue directly.
Lin Yue was quiet for a moment, then smiled with acceptance. "Then go keep Zhu Li company. I'll have the place to myself while you're gone."
Since there were too many people around, Zhu Li took out a sticker.
[Thank you.]
Her expression was sincere. Under Zhu Li's gaze, Lin Yue blushed with embarrassment.
"What are you thanking me for? It's not like I did anything." The girl mumbled, already setting off a storm of thoughts in her mind.
It's only one day...
Just one day... Absolutely nothing will happen...
Seeing that Lin Yue had nothing more to say, Chen Xi turned back to Zhu Li. "So, is it tomorrow... or the last day?"
Today was already the fourth day of Zhu Li's life. The Exchange Meeting was the day after tomorrow, so there were only two options left.
[See you tomorrow.]
Holding up the sticker, Zhu Li left the dessert shop.
"Let's go."
Chen Xi patted Lin Yue, who was still lost in thought. The two grabbed some barbecue, then wandered around the mall for the entire afternoon.
By night, the two were back home.
As soon as she got in, Lin Yue collapsed onto the sofa and stared blankly at the ceiling.
"What's wrong? You've seemed down all day." After changing out of the clothes she needed to wash, Chen Xi felt refreshed.
"Nothing." The blonde girl turned onto her side.
Chen Xi deliberately walked behind her, blocking the light. "Then there is something."
"I..." Lin Yue turned back and met the black-haired girl's gaze, at a loss for words.
How could she say it? That she was jealous of a poor soul who was about to die? That she actually liked Chen Xi?
If a girl liked you, would you accept her?
Lin Yue didn't want to lay their feelings bare. She was afraid that if they talked it out, they wouldn't even be able to stay friends.
"What... do you feel about me? Be bold. You can say anything." Her voice was barely a whisper.
Taken by surprise, Chen Xi thought it over before answering hesitantly, "If I had to say... it's like having a daughter?"
"That's not what I meant by 'be bold'... What do you mean, having a daughter? Am I that childish?!"
Lin Yue's voice rose without her meaning to.
Chen Xi didn't think much of it. "What's there to say? I want to ask what you think of me, too..."
"I don't feel anything." Lin Yue pouted.
Seeing that the girl was no longer so down, Chen Xi teased her, "I can't be bothered with you. Call me Dad and I'll answer you."
"Get lost." Lin Yue kicked her, then curled back up.
Chen Xi grabbed a bath towel and casually wrapped it around herself. "I'm going to take a shower. I don't have time to fool around with a kid."
When she saw that Chen Xi was really leaving, Lin Yue's face turned bright red. At last, she said what was in her heart, as tactfully as she could.
"You're the most important person to me."
After saying that, Lin Yue didn't dare look at her. Like an ostrich, she buried herself in the inner corner of the sofa.
Chen Xi paused, but didn't turn around.
"You're important to me, too."
In every sense, you're the one and only—the most important person to me.
Before you continue