The morning breeze brushed softly across Chen Xi's cheek, carrying a hint of warmth and gently waking her from her sleep.
"Hot..."
The girl sat up and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.
The weather had been cool last night, so she hadn't bothered turning on the air conditioner. Who could have guessed the temperature would shoot up the very next day?
"Morning." Lin Yue poked her head around the doorframe. "I made you breakfast today."
Chen Xi eyed her suspiciously and mumbled sleepily, "Did the sun rise in the west?"
"I just saw how soundly you were sleeping." For once, Lin Yue didn't tease her back.
After washing up, Chen Xi looked at the huge spread of food laid out before her.
"Two eggs... two sausages... four slices of bread, and even noodles. All of this is for me?"
"Yep," Lin Yue replied.
"I'm not a pig. I can't eat that much. I'll cook for you next time."
Still, since Lin Yue had made it—and because Chen Xi hated wasting food—she forced herself to finish everything.
"I'm off. See you tonight." She said goodbye to Lin Yue, who was still wearing her apron, then slowly walked downstairs.
She was going to farm CGs.
Yes, that sounded a little calculating, but one reason she'd agreed to Zhu Li's request was that Zhu Li could trigger a CG.
The moment Chen Xi stepped out of the stairwell, the scene before her startled her.
A convertible was parked in the residential complex, its engine roaring.
The red-haired girl wore Bluetooth earbuds, leather shorts, and sunglasses. Leaning against the car with both hands casually resting on the window, she had an imposing air about her.
"...Zhu Li?"
Chen Xi was at a loss for words. The sight before her was far beyond anything she'd imagined.
Zhu Li noticed her and pushed her sunglasses up onto her forehead.
[I figured I was going to die soon, so I thought I'd try something I'd never done before.]
Afraid people might gather to watch, she formed the words in faint, tiny flames.
Only Chen Xi, another Transcendent, could see and understand the message.
[What's wrong? Does it look bad?]
Chen Xi answered gently, "Nothing. It suits you."
[Then let's go.]
Zhu Li opened the car door, and Chen Xi climbed in beside her.
"So where are we going?"
[No idea. We'll just drive around. By the way, Rain Lord and Flame Ghost are already incompatible with each other, and Flame Ghost's flames have been burning stronger and stronger these past few days.]
[So for now, it's best if we avoid physical contact.]
She took off her earbuds and turned on the stereo.
A soothing song played. The female singer's voice was sweet without being cloying.
Zhu Li pressed the gas lightly, and the convertible roared away from the residential complex.
On an abandoned bridge in the suburbs,
two figures, one red and one black, stood on the old bridge, enjoying the sea breeze.
"What was that song just now?" Chen Xi leaned against the railing, completely relaxed.
Zhu Li froze, clearly not expecting that question.
[The song I sang. Did you like it?]
"Huh?" This time, Chen Xi was the one left confused.
No wonder Zhu Li's messages sounded different from those of people who were mute from birth. It had happened later in her life.
"What caused it?" She left the question unfinished, but they both understood what she meant.
[The price of controlling Flame Ghost. My throat feels like it's burning all day long.]
"...How bad is the pain?"
Chen Xi gazed silently at the distant schools of fish.
Zhu Li shook her head. [I'm used to it.]
Just as people with rhinitis grew used to having a runny nose all day, she had grown used to a pain most people couldn't endure.
[We...]
The words formed in flame, then suddenly burst apart.
Chen Xi flinched and hurriedly asked, "Are you okay?!"
Zhu Li waved a hand and took out her phone to type.
[The Resentment Fire in my heart is burning too fiercely. I can't control it precisely anymore. Sorry, you'll have to read my messages again.]
[Is this a lot of trouble for you?]
Zhu Li stared at her, wanting to see clearly the girl who had turned her life upside down.
Chen Xi stood in front of her and considered the question. "Mm... At first, it really was troublesome, and I wasn't used to it."
"But with you, it's a small thing."
"Besides..." Chen Xi smiled and took out her phone. "Why not just message me? It's only the two of us, anyway."
After speaking, she sent Zhu Li a sticker of a rabbit peeking out of its hiding place.
[You said you wanted to try something different every day, right? So today, I'll only chat with you on my phone. How's that?]
The sea breeze tousled Zhu Li's wavy hair. She stared blankly at the black-haired girl before her. The sound of her phone ringing and the pounding of her heart rose together, and she could no longer tell whether it was the sound of falling in love.
Why... did I have to meet you at a time like this...
She wanted to cry, but the flames had long since burned away her tears.
She had a thousand things to say, but couldn't express any of them. In the end, they all came down to one word.
[Okay.]
[CG generation failed. Wish Power charge converted: 48%]
A mechanical voice sounded in Chen Xi's mind, but she had no time to pay attention. She quickly typed in the chat.
[Why do I get the feeling you're about to cry?]
Zhu Li managed a faint smile and sent back just one sentence.
[That's just your imagination.]
What did people do before they died?
Others might not know, but Zhu Li felt nothing in particular.
The two of them wandered aimlessly through the supermarket, strolled around the park, went out for fried chicken when they got hungry at noon, and saw the latest movie when they had nothing to do in the afternoon...
Chen Xi hadn't expected Zhu Li to be serious about just driving around.
By the time night fell, they had covered nearly half of Tianhai City.
When Chen Xi came back to herself, Zhu Li had already driven her back to the residential complex.
The black-haired girl stood at the foot of the stairs and checked the message Zhu Li had just sent: [I want to hear you talk more.]
Chen Xi looked up and saw the red-haired girl staring at her without blinking.
"You... really don't have anywhere you want to go?"
Zhu Li gave a slight shake of her head.
If anything, there were too many places she wanted to go.
She was about to turn away, but couldn't stop herself from sending the message she'd been leaving in her chat box.
[What kind of relationship do you have with Xiao Yue?]
Chen Xi thought for a moment before answering, "...Best friends?"
So that was it...
Knowing she was going to die soon anyway, Zhu Li, acting on a sudden impulse, continued typing.
[Do you like girls?]
Caught off guard, Chen Xi looked awkward. "How did you figure that out?"
[I guessed.]
Zhu Li felt her breathing grow faster. All she could hear in her ears was the thunderous pounding of her own heart.
[Do you like me?]
After shakily typing those words, the red-haired girl no longer dared to look directly at her.
Even she didn't know why she'd asked.
When Chen Xi saw the message, her heart stirred.
She knew very well that if she said yes to Zhu Li, it would almost certainly trigger a new CG.
And after Regression, the girl would forget that she'd been deceived. Still, something stubborn in Chen Xi's heart made her change her answer.
She had a feeling that turning Zhu Li down was the right choice.
Besides... she liked Lin Yue. If she had the chance, she still wanted to try to win her over.
"...We haven't known each other long enough."
"Sorry. I can't lie to you."
Hearing that, Zhu Li smiled knowingly.
[It's okay. This is the real you.]
[I'm leaving. Goodbye forever.]
Leaving behind a carefree figure, Zhu Li waved as she walked away from the residential complex.
Before you continue