"Don't give up." Fang Ming's voice was soft, but he spoke with utmost seriousness. "No matter when it is, no matter what kind of situation you encounter, no matter what kind of... terrible things happen, don't give up.
"Xiao Qiu, sometimes, 'giving up' is easy, but 'not giving up' is hard. As long as you believe you are right, that you are doing the right thing, then never give up, no matter what happens. Believe in your choice, and believe in... your friends."
"But—"
The image of Xiao Bai being pierced through by a trident while saving her flashed through Yu Muqiu's mind.
She raised her head, then lowered it again, her voice trembling as she asked, "But... what if I... even if I don't give up, I still can't do anything?"
"Then try asking for help," Fang Ming said, pointing at himself. "Ask me for help."
Then he pointed toward the bedroom, where the scene shifted to Chen Xiaoxia sleeping soundly.
"Ask your friends for help."
As he spoke, Fang Ming pointed at Yu Muqiu again. "You can even ask yourself for help. Do what you can do.
"I just want you to remember one thing: don't give up, because—"
"Once you give up, there will never be any hope again."
Yu Muqiu's voice overlapped with Fang Ming's from her memories.
The memory had not lasted long—only an instant, or perhaps not even that.
The time around her seemed to stretch infinitely. The Witch, releasing sound waves toward Xiao Bai; Xiao Bai, clenching her fists as though preparing to sacrifice something again... everything seemed frozen in Yu Muqiu's eyes.
Her thoughts raced.
Hope, despair.
Persistence, and giving up.
All sorts of thoughts flashed through her mind.
Yu Muqiu's gaze shifted toward Xiao Bai, who was about to endure