Before this, Xing had thought Sie's surface personality was weak, yet she could still be all lovey-dovey with Bronya. Unable to stomach it, Xing had gone and picked on Bronya.
But what happened afterward?
Afterward, she was beaten half to death by "Sie." After suffering both physical and mental torment, Lord Xing had only dared to take detours whenever she saw Sie.
With that precedent, Ren Yu certainly did not dare lightly provoke this "weak girl" who could blast open the barrier of the Sea of Quantum with seven punches.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, "Sie" suddenly showed a struggling expression. Her eyes gradually shifted from red to blue. It seemed Sie's surface personality was suppressing her inner personality.
Then Ren Yu heard another strange voice.
"Stop it already! I just won't come out, okay? If you keep this up, you'll hurt yourself!"
Inner Sie clutched her head as though she were struggling against something.
She let out a low growl. Though unwilling, she did not want to hurt her other self, so she obediently gave up control of the body.
At last, Sie completely regained control of her body.
"I'm... I'm sorry."
After fully coming to her senses, the first thing she did was lower her head and apologize to Ren Yu.
It was clearly her own fault, yet her other self had done something so awful.
—They had even nearly fought.
"..."
Ren Yu did not respond for a long time, leaving Sie even more uneasy.
—Was he angry?
—He must have been frightened by how monstrous I looked just now.
Sie felt a little dejected.
After being trapped in the Sea of Quantum for so long, she had finally found someone like herself whom she could talk to freely and who was willing to be friends with her.
Yet now, she had actually scared him away.
The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. Her chest felt tight, as if a huge stone were weighing on her heart.
Just as she was letting her thoughts run wild, warmth suddenly spread across her head.
Sie looked up blankly and saw that Ren Yu had somehow reached out a hand and was patting her head.
"W-what are you doing...?"
Sie was at a loss.
Other than Bronya and her mother, this was the first time someone had patted her head.
Yet she found, to her surprise, that she did not dislike it. Her heart was even pounding in her chest.
—This feeling is so strange.
"It's nothing."
Ren Yu cleared his throat and said with a smile,
"You don't need to apologize. It has nothing to do with you. It was just the other you's fault."
"If you really want to apologize, how about keeping me company and chatting with me more from now on?"
Ren Yu revealed his intentions at just the right moment.
Sie blinked, looking somewhat confused.
Could she?
Did this count as punishment?
It was as if Ren Yu knew she longed to communicate with others and had deliberately made that request.
Upon hearing this, her inner personality immediately warned her in her mind.
Sie, don't believe him! I suspect he has ulterior motives. Things won't end well if you fall into his hands. What if he's a member of that "snake"? Right?
Sie pressed her thin lips together and secretly glanced at Ren Yu, only to discover that he was looking at her too.
Their gazes met. She hurriedly looked away and nodded haphazardly.
"O-okay."
—Since he knows so much about me and even promised to take me to find Sister Bronya, he should... he shouldn't be a bad person, right?
Seeing her agree, Ren Yu's smile grew even brighter. The way he looked at Sie was as though he were looking at a mountain of treasure.
—I've already owed her so many favors and formed quite a bit of karma with her. Owing her a little more shouldn't matter, right?
Since Sie could charge the badge, it meant she was fated with him. Ren Yu would never let her leave so easily.
Besides, if he let her go, with Sie's personality, she might end up being abused by others again.
Ren Yu was trying to persuade his own conscience.
Right, this was to protect Sie.
It definitely was not for his own selfish desires!
At worst...
At worst, he just would not let anyone else bully her in the future.
Seeing Ren Yu smile as warmly as a spring breeze, Sie felt warmth bloom in her heart as well.
His smile was so beautiful.
Then the girl shyly smiled too, happy that she had made a new friend.
Early morning, 6:30.
The alarm rang, and Ren Yu slowly opened his eyes.
The moment he opened them, he saw the hole in the ceiling.
Before you continue