Chapter 9: Fragment (I)

Because the magic power value is too low, to ensure Party A 'Bai Yan's brain safety, the initiative has been handed over to Party B 'Xiaohei·Li Wei'.

Initiative?

Before Li Wei could figure out anything, the scene of reality before his eyes began to blur, and the next second he found himself in a pitch‑black environment.

This is the spiritual world.

From the very first instant of entering, the concept was implanted into his mind.

"What are you doing?!"

A harsh scolding startled Li Wei, and immediately the surrounding darkness collapsed like a cave‑in, transporting him into a retro‑styled yet lavishly decorated room.

"Who let you play with these things? The assignment laid out for you, have you finished it?!"

A fierce female voice rang out again, causing Li Wei to quickly turn his head toward the source.

Standing by the desk was a tall woman.

Her hair, like white snow, fell smoothly down to her thighs.

Her skin was so pale it bordered on sickly, her eyes red, and… her features were twisted by ferocity to the point that any delicate beauty was unrecognizable.

Seated at the desk, on the chair, was a little girl.

Her slightly chubby baby‑faced cheeks were filled with terror and tears.

The child's aggrieved expression made Li Wei instantly recognize her as his Witch Miss.

"Mom... I've already finished everything."

She explained with a heavy sob, her voice dripping with grievance.

"You've finished everything; aren't you going to read other books??!"

"Do I have to watch you for you to study on your own?"

"I... I'm just tired, want to rest a bit."

"Talking back now?!"

"Ah!!!"

"Why... are you always so disobedient!"

The crisp slap, the sobbing, and the booming crash of the piled books collapsing were the final sounds echoing in the darkness before this scene ended.

…

Li Wei stared blankly ahead, a vague sour feeling rising in his heart.

He felt something unsettling inside.

…

Then, the scene abruptly shifted.

A gust of cold wind dispersed the black void, and the dazzling White Light made Li Wei instinctively close his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw white snow.

The pristine snow covered everything within sight.

"Wow! It's snowing!"

As soon as the voice fell, the tiny Witch Miss excitedly lunged at the snowdrift.

The deep snow let her easily bury herself completely.

Li Wei stood beside the snowdrift, watching her roll and pose in the snow… and inadvertently fling snow onto him.

This should clearly be a memory fragment, yet the sensation felt so real.

"Ah—"

After sneezing, the Cat slowly filled his mind with snarky thoughts.

Although in his mind he had already given the mischievous Witch Miss a good beating, the Cat didn't know that his gaze toward her was full of contentment and joy.

He had never seen the Witch Miss smile like that.

This must be a happy memory…

"Stop playing, go to class! You've dirtied all your clothes!"

…

Later, the Witch Miss was dragged back home, changed clothes, and returned.

Only this time her smile wasn't as bright; her eyes were slightly reddened.

…

This memory was continuous.

It must have been after class.

Clearly having forgotten the earlier upset Witch Miss, she now carried her little red backpack, walking down the street with her mother.

The snow on the shopping street had long been swept to the sides, and the surrounding buildings and streetlights were wrapped in red, green, white, and gold neon lights.

Ding‑ding‑dang, ding‑ding‑dang…

The familiar jingling told Li Wei that it was Christmas.

The Witch Miss's mind was like a drum, excited, nostalgic, and reluctant as she gazed at the dazzling goods displayed in shop windows.

Sometimes, overwhelmed by curiosity and longing for the glittering dolls and clothes, she couldn't help but pause and exclaim "Wa—".

And as the mother holding her hand, that snow‑white‑haired lady naturally noticed this.

She furrowed her brows; her expression, once again, was filled with anger.

She lowered her voice, speaking very seriously to the Witch Miss,

"Do not let toys ruin your ambition."

"You have no time to play with these things."

"Did you hear that!"

"Hmm…"

"Why didn't you answer when you heard it!"

"I... I heard it!"

Standing under the streetlamp, Li Wei's last sight was Witch Miss pursing her lips, looking up at the sky, her eyes stubbornly reddened.

This time, she didn't cry again.

…

The scene switches again.

The perspective returns to the house.

Cat, standing before Witch Miss, keenly sensed that the atmosphere in the house this time was extraordinary.

Even Witch Miss's usually stern mother was extremely nervous.

At a loss and unsure what to do, Witch Miss mimicked her mother's manner and stood in the doorway.

Her small hands folded in front of her kept tugging at her hem, and the eyes that looked left and right were filled with unease.

Clack—

The sound of the door lock being opened.

When the main door was fully pushed open, and the butler bowed in greeting, a middle‑aged man walked in.

He had medium‑length hair, silver‑gray strands neatly tied back with a black headband; his meticulous, solemn expression and unwavering gaze signaled that he was the head of this household.

He wore a dark brown coat and leaned on a snake‑head cane inlaid with gems.

He entered without greeting anyone at the doorway, nor did he give any bodily signal.

He walked straight past Witch Miss's mother and also past Witch Miss.

Seeing this, Witch Miss hurriedly ran to him, raised her hand to grab his coat hem, and, half hesitant, half lingering, called out to him,

"Father..."

But.

The middle‑aged man, despite being called that way, looked at her with complete indifference.

He didn't even respond; like swatting away a fly, he rudely pushed Witch Miss aside.

Witch Miss, with a slightly chubby, baby‑fat face, could not withstand an adult's shove and fell sharply to the side.

A decorative cabinet thumped, and the vase placed on it crashed to the floor.

This time, he stopped.

He looked at the shattered pieces of the vase on the ground and said,

"This vase is a collection piece I spent seven hundred thousand on."

"You will need to compensate for this cost additionally."

Then, without looking back, he left.

"I understand."

Witch Miss's mother turned to glance at her, then nodded and followed the middle‑aged man away.

Watching their departing silhouettes, Witch Miss's pupils twitched violently.

But this time, she merely let the tears swirl in her eyes.

She raised her hand and touched her head,

"It's fine... it doesn't hurt, not at all, really."

After speaking, she bit her lower lip tightly until it bled, and said nothing more.

Even without the perception of a Symbiotic Contract, Li Wei knew exactly where she claimed not to feel pain.

That day, Witch Miss kept sitting here, collapsing until the middle of the night.

When all the lights in the room went out, she slowly stood up, groped the wall, and walked back to her own room.

She buried her head in her pillow and kept breathing deeply.

But this time, she failed.

She could no longer hold back; she opened her mouth and began to cry.

Her hand clutched the pillow's edge tightly, and her head slammed hard into the pillow.

The room was silent except for her mute sobbing.

Li Wei's view once again went blank.

Aside from her rising and falling breaths, all Li Wei was left with was sensation.

Whether from exhaustion or not, after a big cry, Witch Miss's sleep was comforting, and she felt a warm, soothing feeling inside.

It was like bathing in the warm embrace of sunlight.

This unprecedented, comfortable warmth dispelled all her grievances, helplessness, and resignation for the night.

Although Li Wei could see nothing, he felt Witch Miss's deep, unforgettable longing for that blank dream.