Chapter 926

Wanweike: "How come, you feel disappointed?"

"Why would you say that?"

Wanweike shrugged: "I just feel that compared to comfort, you might need criticism more. I've seen too many people like you. After a failure, you want everyone to come and scold you; only then does your heart feel at ease. It's as if someone criticizes, then the mistake has a chance to be made up for."

"But if I really wanted to hurt you, I'd surely choose another way. For example… sympathy?"

Xingqiri let out a soft sigh: "... You're right, I can't refute that."

——

Honkai 3

"Huh…? Have you guys noticed that Xingqiri's halo is missing?" Qiana was the first to spot the blind spot.

"Eh! It really seems that way—could it be that the halo on the heads of the Halo people is just an ornament, not part of their essence?" Fu Hua curiously sized up Xingqiri from head to toe; Xingqiri no longer bears the former nobility of being the head of the Oak family, and his current attire… looks more like a tourist visiting Pinokangni.

"Maybe he hid it on purpose to escape? If his family is conducting a massive manhunt, a halo on his head would be too conspicuous." Qiana leaned over the desk, her two white ponytails swaying, "But… all the Halo people we've seen so far have their halos tightly attached to their bodies, and we've never seen one detached… so is it actually possible to do that?"

"But we don't know much about the Halo people; perhaps Miss Zhigengniao could also remove her halo, she just doesn't want to?" Mei guessed.

Qiana nodded: "Mei makes sense! But who is this Pipisi person named Wanweike? Why hasn't Xingqiri mentioned him before?"

"He's probably an old friend from the Oak family days? But to step in and help when Xingqiri is in such a sorry state, and even become his sole confidant… Mr. Wanweike's status isn't low either."

——

"Is she still in Pinokangni right now? Why not go see her?"

Xingqiri turned around: "No need. Since you're so keen on guessing my thoughts, it shouldn't be hard to understand… I can't meet her as a fugitive."

"Alright, let's keep going—helping a fugitive return home is awesome."

The two arrived at Adi'an Park and from afar spotted two hounds on patrol.

Xingqiri stood behind a crate observing: "Two hounds. Unlike the previous pair, they seem to have something important to do. What's happening at Adi'an Park?"

"Hey…!" Wanweike tried to jump up, but due to his height he couldn't see what was behind the crate in the park, and he raised his head in dissatisfaction, "You're just looking out for yourself?"

"Sorry. I forgot you're not tall."

Saying that, Xingqiri crouched down to lift him, but Wanweike refused: "I really don't get why I have to accompany you on this trip."

"I've said before, besides you I have no other choice. Moreover, we used to be at odds; dragging you into this wouldn't go against my conscience."

Wanweike pouted dissatisfiedly: "You can say that, you really have no conscience."

Xingqiri continued calmly: "Even so, you will repay my kindness. After all, to you I am like a second parent."

"I… who would brag like that?"

"You were abandoned in the wilderness, on the brink of death, and I showed you the way to live, bringing you out of the dead land. You also once lost your spirit, not knowing the future, and I likewise used all means to preserve your position in the family."

Wanweike impatiently waved his hand: "Enough, enough, you talk in circles, but owing a favor is one thing, throwing away your life is another. I truly don't get why we have to go back to Pinokangni—did the company assign you a mission?"

"'Oh, you can regain your freedom, but as a price you must become enemies with your former family'—something like that?"

——

Genshin

"Mm… Actually I think Xingqiri should finally meet Zhigengniao."

At lunchtime, Navia was enjoying her lunch at the Grey River restaurant, skillfully spearing a piece of duck meat, her tone somewhat heavy.

"... If even the last meeting with her brother never formally took place, that would surely be a great regret for Zhigengniao, right?"

"Hmm… I don't think so; I believe it's actually better if they don't meet." Charlotte, sitting opposite, wiped her mouth: "Just think—now their statuses differ, one is a big star, the other a fugitive; if some unscrupulous journalists secretly snapped them…"

Charlotte cleared her throat, extended two fingers: "Then we'd probably see in the entertainment section of the Interstellar Peace Company's newspaper—'Exclusive exposé: Popular star Zhigengniao secretly meets with family fugitive at night! Suspected of harboring and hiding, informed family members are all up in arms!'"

"Or something even more explosive: 'Sinful dealings beneath the star's halo? Zhigengniao and fugitive Xingqiri's secret talk! Insiders reveal: not just sibling love!'"

"Pfft—cough cough cough!" Navia covered her mouth, almost spitting out her tea, then started coughing violently.

"That's too low, right?! Could anyone really write such a shameless headline??"

Charlotte let out a light sigh: "Honestly, don't go overboard? Although I'm also a journalist, I still want to say… don't overestimate the ethics and professionalism of some media workers; many will take any headline just to grab attention. You forgot the match between Lu Ka and Jinjin? Although Jinjin is shameless, the media spreading false info isn't exactly clean either—once they catch a whiff of 'heat', they'll swarm like wolves scenting blood."

"Getting back to the point, even if Miss Zhigengniao herself doesn't mind being misunderstood, would Xingqiri be willing to see his sister's reputation and future in the universe affected just because they met? Any brother wouldn't want to see his sister dragged into gossip because of him."

Navia thought carefully: "... That's also true."

Charlotte put down her teacup, gently shook her head: "Besides, if the family found out that Xingqiri and Zhigengniao met in private, it would be like putting the sister between kinship and power—sigh… just thinking about it, it'll be hard to handle."