Chapter 56

"Wow… it's come back to life."

Evelyn buried her face in the bowl, gulping down the steaming chicken soup; the delicious flavor climbed from her tongue straight to her heart, spreading warmth that slowly seeped into every limb and bone.

"Drink slowly… don't you think it's too hot?"

Judy propped her chin on her hand, savoring her hard-won culinary creation with leisurely delight, teasing Evelyn's wolfish gulping and chewing.

"Because it's really, really good…"

Evelyn's eyes crinkled with laughter, leaving not a single drop of chicken soup at the bottom of the bowl.

"Why don't you just move in with me? Your place is so expensive and so small…"

"Judy… didn't we agree not to interfere in each other's lives?"

Evelyn wiped the grease from her lips, frowning as she feigned displeasure.

"I'm changing my mind! Look at you—covered in injuries. You're staying with me. Go cancel your lease right now!"

Judy snapped at Evelyn as she gathered the bowls and chopsticks.

Judy had changed. She was no longer as easy to fool as before.

Evelyn sighed softly, pondering the unexplained shift in her closest friend.

"We'll see…"

Perhaps there were other solutions—ways to outright refuse Judy's demand.

But Evelyn had to admit: before the person she was closest to in this world, she had softened.

Judy chuckled, tossed the dirty dishes into the sink, washed her hands clean, then cheerfully pulled Evelyn into the bedroom.

"Judy…"

"What is it?"

"No, it's nothing…" Evelyn shook her head gently, slowly peeled off the old clothes Judy had lent her, and folded them neatly to the side.

Before the cold air touched her skin, Evelyn pulled the blanket open and slipped inside.

Tiny dust motes, carried by the fluttering edge of the blanket, floated upward.

By the time they settled back to the floor, the bedroom was already warm and still.

"I've forgotten when I last slept beside someone with full awareness."

In the quiet, Evelyn turned toward the window and whispered her unspoken thoughts to the solitary night.

"It's just you anyway, isn't it?"

In the silent darkness, someone whispered back.

"Why aren't you asleep?"

Her heart pounded wildly, its thunderous beat echoing through the still night like a great drum. The vibrations reached her throat, making her voice tremble.

"If you won't sleep properly, how can I rest easy?"

Evelyn turned silently, her gaze fixed on the awake figure beside her.

She drew a breath, steadying her emotions.

"Then you'll have to wait until dawn."

"Then go to sleep!" Judy half-closed her eyes and murmured.

"Hold me."

"Hm?"

"Hold me."

"Alright…"

Judy opened her eyes and pulled the familiar yet unfamiliar friend tightly into her arms.

She had never seen such a vulnerable Evelyn Parker.

No longer towering over the world with the grace of youth.

No longer dancing through the mortal realm with effortless charm, untouched by dust.

She had simply peeled away her thick armor of self-protection, revealing the fragile tenderness within.

Like a cracked jade, fragile enough to pierce the heart.

"Xiao Ai…"

Gazing at this stranger before her, Judy locked her eyes on Evelyn, as if imprinting this version of her forever into her soul.

"You still have me… okay?" Judy clasped Evelyn's cold hands and pressed them against her warm chest.

"Do you feel it?" Judy continued, letting her gaze sink into Evelyn's blue-lake eyes.

"Feel this rhythm, Xiao Ai—it's playing only for you." She whispered.

The bedroom returned to the quiet embrace of night, the two girls entwined, hearts pressed close, resonating with the same rhythm, radiating the truest warmth.

January 19, 2074, 10:00

The rustling beside her pillow jolted Evelyn from a sweet dream.

"Good morning, Xiao Ai."

Her closest friend greeted her, that familiar voice gently soothing her trembling heart.

"Good morning…" Evelyn stared silently at the slightly unfamiliar ceiling.

Long moments passed before her motionless body finally reclaimed its wandering consciousness.

"Judy?"

She spoke softly—but received no reply.

"Judy?!"

Only her own hoarse voice and silence answered her.

She tried to sit up, but collapsed back onto the bed.

Evelyn looked at the ceiling carefully for the second time, and her nose suddenly stung with tears.

"What's wrong! What's wrong!?"

Reassuring footsteps approached from a distance.

"What's wrong? Xiao Ai?"

"... It's nothing..." Evelyn rubbed her eye sockets and shook her head gently.

"Get up quickly, lie on the blanket, and I'll apply some medicine for you." Judy shook the black plastic bag she was holding toward Evelyn, who was lying on the bed.

"Did you just go downstairs to buy medicine?" Evelyn asked while obediently lying on the blanket as Judy directed.

She buried her face in the blanket so Judy wouldn't notice the slight redness and swelling at the corners of her eyes.

"I heard this medicine works better, won't leave scars, and is far superior to those low-end medicines I had stored at home. Since you hadn't gotten up yet, I ran over to buy it for you."

"Oh..." Evelyn buried her head completely in the quilt and mumbled in response.

"Good girl, good girl." Judy patted Evelyn's short hair, coaxing the somewhat fragile girl as one would a child.

"Hurry up and apply the medicine! It's a bit cold!"

"Okay, okay, okay. Coming right up."

Judy nodded helplessly and took a bottle of simply packaged medicine from the plastic bag.

Removing the useless box, Judy squeezed the medicine into her palm, rubbed her hands together, and gently applied it to Evelyn's body.

Evelyn turned her head to look at Judy standing behind her with a focused expression and couldn't help but smile.

Judy meticulously applied the medicine to every corner, focused as if a painter treating her most beloved masterpiece with utmost care, every stroke requiring her full attention to ensure even application.

"Thank you... Judy..." Evelyn let those warm hands wipe away her pain, her head resting on the blanket as she spoke softly.

"Why thank me?" Judy pouted, feeling that Evelyn was making a fuss over nothing.

"Thank you for reminding me... that I am a person... and not a puppet to be manipulated by others."

"..." Judy sighed silently, her hands never stopping as she applied the precious ointment again and again.

"Xiao Ai..." She looked at the gruesome scars on Evelyn's body, wanting to speak but holding back.

"What is it?"

"I will stay with you... until the very end of the end."