At those words, Li Xian immediately stuffed the bag into his pocket. Once the candy was out of sight, Lu Ye panted for a while before gradually calming down.
Then he looked to Li Xian for help, his voice filled with belated doubts about this residential complex:
"What was that 'New-Type Candy' the broadcast mentioned? Will I have another craving attack like that? I can barely even remember what happened before I came here. What will I turn into if this keeps going?"
Lu Ye knew Li Xian didn't have the answers either, but right now, the only person he could vent his fear and unease to was the sole "companion" before him. He hadn't expected an answer.
As those negative emotions surged, the urge to take out the candy and eat it rose again. Lu Ye abruptly fell silent, as though something had blocked his throat, until Li Xian patted his shoulder:
"Calm down."
The young man's voice was as rational and clear as his words, as though none of those questions were impossible to resolve. Those two brief words actually helped Lu Ye gradually pull himself out of the emotions threatening to rise within him.
"I want to ask you something."
Li Xian changed the subject before the other man could speak:
"If there were no risk of dying by turning into candy, would you want to stay happy like this forever, or experience the full range of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness?"
Lu Ye froze at the question. All this time, his reason for resisting the candy had largely been his fear of death. In his panic, he hadn't had the capacity to consider much else. Only now, after hearing Li Xian's words, did he begin to seriously think about it.
Lu Ye didn't answer immediately. Instead,