Chapter 109: Life

"Um… Can I ask, 'What was the reason you first did this? Can you describe how it felt?'"

LivestreamJiang carefully sifted through a flood of comments, selecting the least harsh questions, while secretly stealing glances at Evelyn's expression.

If she saw even a hint of "I don't want to answer" on that beautiful face, she'd find an excuse to end today's interview.

Even if her follower count dropped, LivestreamJiang couldn't bear to carve another hole into Evelyn's soul, already riddled with countless wounds.

Evelyn stared at LivestreamJiang for half a second; having met countless people, she could instantly see genuine concern and worry etched into that sun-kissed, youthful face.

So for the first time that night, she truly smiled, her laughter overflowing with pure joy.

"It's fine… I can answer this question…" She shook the cigarette in her hand, slowly stifling her smile, brushed her hair aside, and spoke calmly to the camera.

"When I was little, I was lucky—after I ran away from the Clinic, I was picked up by a kind older sister not long after…" She exhaled ring after ring of smoke, accompanied by a soft sigh, slipping into memory, "But she wasn't well-off either—barely able to support herself. After taking me in, she'd often eat only the cheapest bread, saving all the Synthetic Meat for me…"

"One summer, my sister got a bonus and bought a few candies from the Vending Machine downstairs. On that scorching day, she kept them in her pocket. When she got home, they'd all melted… That was the first time I saw my sister cry—she cried while pounding her head, cursing herself for being useless… I held her hand and told her I didn't even like candy."

After a pause, Evelyn continued.

"When the economy crashed and those wars broke out, life became even harder…"

"Every night after work, she'd bring home one dinner and lie to me, saying she'd already eaten at the Company… Later, I accidentally found her rummaging through the trash downstairs for food…"

"Then… I grew up. She went to a store to buy me a Cake to celebrate… But on her way back, she was hit by a drunk driver and killed."

"The Company didn't pay Insurance. The driver fled. The money she left behind couldn't even cover Funeral Expenses, so I had to… Finally, I rented a spot for her at the Public Cemetery. That's about it."

"As for how it felt? Only endless nausea—nothing else. After the first time, I went home and showered countless times in my rented apartment until I fainted in the Bathroom…"

Evelyn spoke plainly to the camera, her face showing no trace of sorrow—only calmness and indifference.

As if her heart had already died.

LivestreamJiang bit her lip tightly, her gaze flickering.

"Any more questions?"

As if sensing her mood, Evelyn gently tapped LivestreamJiang's runny nose.

"Yes…"

LivestreamJiang answered briefly, afraid the audience would hear the tremor and hoarseness in her voice.

"The fourth… no, the last question," she corrected herself, a suffocating weight spreading from her heart to every limb—she wanted to end this interview as fast as possible, then burst into tears.

"When you were with those… people, did anyone ever confess their love to you?"

"Huh…" Evelyn exhaled a perfect smoke ring, lowering her eyes, "Yes, quite a few… But the one I remember most was a girl…"

"She had a real job—among the best in the industry…" Evelyn opened her captivating green eyes, staring straight into the camera, as if seeing someone's face through this cold lens.

"That week, she often came to see me, waiting foolishly outside my door after my shift… She was such a fool…" She smiled faintly—her second smile that night, a pure, heartfelt joy rising from deep within.

"Every time she saw my wounds, she'd endlessly express her pity; even though she couldn't cook at all, she kept trying again and again, cutting her hands countless times without caring—now she cooks deliciously; when I was sad, she'd hold me tightly, never minding her aching arms or stiff body…"

"Just… a sweet fool…" She dropped her burnt-out cigarette, squeezing out the last hazy puff from her lungs to mask this moment of vulnerability.

"Alright, that's all for today's interview. Thank you, Ms. Automatic_Love, for your patience. LivestreamJiang was deeply moved—how about you all?" LivestreamJiang swiftly shifted the camera, following Evelyn's gesture, chatting with viewers as she carried the equipment out of the room.

Only Evelyn remained alone.

Curled into a tiny ball on the Sofa.

LivestreamJiang rushed back after settling the audience, seeing her like this, utterly at a loss.

"I'm fine. Just let me be alone." Evelyn didn't look up, speaking softly.

"Thank you so much… I…" LivestreamJiang struggled to form words, unable to piece together a single complete sentence, sweat beading on her forehead.

"If you're thinking of splitting money with me, don't bother—you're not doing well either."

"Why?" LivestreamJiang wiped the tear tracing her cheek, trembling as she asked.

"Nothing. I just don't want you to become my second self." Evelyn lifted her head, her eyes slightly damp, yet smiling gently.

◎

On the livestream, that familiar face vanished from the frame.

Judy sighed, tossing her phone onto the passenger seat.

Knowing Evelyn as she did, Judy was certain she'd now be curled up alone, quietly wiping away tears.

"Saying I'm a fool… but you're just as stubborn a fool…" She gently dabbed at her swollen eyelids in the rearview mirror, murmuring softly.

Suddenly, she wanted to smoke.

So she reached into the passenger-side storage box, pulled out a pack of cigarettes Evelyn had left behind, picked one at random, and placed it between her lips.

"Cough…"

Judy wasn't good at smoking—this tiny, insignificant thing always left her flustered and clumsy.

But Evelyn liked to smoke.

That reason alone was enough.

Judy gave a self-deprecating smile, leaned back against the headrest, and gazed blankly at the slowly darkening, silent sky.