Chapter 1381

No. 285: Shi Huaiya: Throwing a party without me?

"Encounter..."

As night fell, the courtyard lights shone.

"It's about breaking down barriers..."

The corridor wasn't long; even if there were people, they couldn't stop her steps.

"It's the beginning..."

She unconsciously lowered her head, letting her slightly long bangs block her view as she ran; no one could see her resentful, unwilling, yet extremely fragile look.

But...

"Sephilar has always been here..."

"Shut up, Kailifu!"

After coming to, she didn't know which corner of the garden she was in, gazing at the frog croaks between the nearby nursery and small pond.

Would there be frogs in a place like this?

Xin Tiaoxi, who had just couldn't help but loudly curse, is now very quiet.

So quiet that after listening to the frog croaks for several seconds, she heard Alexis's innocent voice from her phone: "But I didn't say anything, Xiao Xi."

Right oh, Alexis also couldn't mimic that dreamy girl's voice.

With this belated realization, she turned her head and met a pair of deep-blue eyes like the starry sky.

「NeoUniverse? 」/「New Universe」

「…Universe is a neutrino, it failed to catch Sai's attention, 」 New Universe raised both hands, lightly waving her long sleeve that she seemed fond of, 「but the universe can always keep up with Sai's steps. 」

「…Sorry…」 It was hard to have that former light, sweet tone with a hint of affectation; Sai's voice was also low, 「I never noticed you. 」

「It's okay, CETI, communication, established on intermittent contact. 」

「Ah…」

It's rare to hear that once.

Listening to her obscure, hard-to-understand words, she added a brief explanation.

Looking at this well-behaved appearance, one could somewhat consider it a kind of healing Sai, she opened her arms to hug this well-behaved 'baby' who is a few centimeters taller than her, feeling that in this world full of men-snatching chaos, only the well-behaved child before her could have a bit of warmth.

「Sai? 」

「You've comforted her, little girl, I suggested she find An Qijun but she ignores it, indeed sons are not as obedient as daughters~」

Alexis seemed extremely indignant for Nate Ming, then was met with a cold line:

「Shut up. 」

「Oduo, OK~」

Not only did he close his mouth, he even used his phone audio device to emit a sound like a zipper being pulled up; Alexis indeed fell silent, adding a few more degrees of warmth to the scene.

Then it was broken by a phone ring.

「Kailifu! 」

Sai quickly reached out to pull out her phone, almost wanting to throw it away, but heard the phone shout:

「This time it really isn't me, oh oh, it's that your application for recommendation passed, the Ultraman Universe one. 」

「Universe? 」 It wasn't the first time hearing the phone call New Universe, she also caught the keyword, 「GridmanUniverse? 」

「Yeah, another Universe. 」

Sai, her tone softened, spoke softly, releasing the embrace, to show New Universe her pulled-up little homepage.

That little homepage, featuring a group photo, froze at the moment she was holding the little snake, smiling brightly.

Back then she was still full of vigor, which ironically made her recall some facts she wasn't willing to admit.

The fact was that back then she had already prepared herself, regardless of quantity, to strive for first place, and then……

And then, at some point, she lost the courage to compete, only wanting no one else beside the little snake.

Is it because she's been too tired lately, or because dangerous people around the little snake keep increasing, causing her to lose confidence…… She also doesn't really want to admit the fact that she's become timid.

But that indeed is the fact, no mistake.

Lacking experience, lacking scheming, she could only secretly curse a few old women to seize the age advantage, or claim the youth advantage, yet there are Suzi, Bourbon, and other girls of similar age who also care about the little snake in that way……

End-of-term studies and video production occupied most of her recent weeks; she even had no time for anything else, only able to supplement a little Aomo energy in the morning and evening.

Even thinking of using this shared memory of Ultraman Universe to make a perfect memorial, the result was that one big mountain after another appeared beside him.

Moreover, there are those who not only appear but also present themselves as understanding the little snake better, knowing the little snake better, being better for the little snake; upon closer inspection, it seems they have been trying to undermine her from long ago.

Such indefensible situations, will they still appear?

The more she thought, the more anxious she became; anxious to the point of choosing to flee by bursting out the door, there was no trace of her former self.

It's practically like going back to the beginning……

「Hey, Kailifu. 」

「What's up, little Sai? 」

「Do I look terrible? 」

「No, little Sai hasn't cried yet even now, that's already quite amazing~」

Always there when called, and always picking the words you want to hear to say.

It remains as thoughtful as before, and in that thoughtfulness, it inflicts the greatest harm upon oneself.

Shinjo Sai forever remembers the feeling of being devoured by that opponent.

Not pain, but rather a sense of peace.

A kind of peace that lets you, empty as a shell, willingly immerse yourself in it, until an external sound awakens you, stirring the desire that still remains within you.

Is the current self also an empty shell?

Is Xiaoshe my everything?

Probably not? I now have like-minded people, friends, classmates, and a comfortable campus environment, but…

But all of this is thanks to Xiaoshe!

Before deciding to look for Xiaoshe, my days in this world hadn't changed at all from the past.

Going to school, living in a cramped place, surfing the net—a pure shut-in, the ultimate homebody.

Never mind making more real‑life friends; most of my time is spent deep in games, let alone going back to Azalea Terrace to see Liuhua again and get a chance to apologize for the past and make amends.

He may not be my everything, but almost everything I have now comes from him; if she hadn't existed in the past, if he weren't here now, if he weren't in the future…

"I think, compared to worrying about those things, Xiao Qian should consider whether Aomo would be willing to lose you."

Suddenly, Alexis spoke up, letting her scattered gaze refocus on that sinister face.

"... Alexis, have you ever been in love?"

"Do I look like it? I've actually fooled plenty of girls."

His proud smirk made Qian, among those he'd fooled, snort; lifting her eyes, she saw the New Universe again.

The New Universe had always been silent, only speaking when their eyes met again:

"The Universe is returning tomorrow; there will be an 'exchange' event."

"She probably said she'd go to school tomorrow."

"Ah, should I contact Xiaoshe to send… you?" Qian blurted out the title instinctively, then belatedly realized she wasn't sure she could face him properly now.

Can I hold back, not lose my temper?

"No need, returning is convenient,"

"I hope you find inner peace, but I've linked Fliament to Sephilar."

"He's right……"

She raised both hands again, this time with her face upturned; Qian instinctively lifted her head and saw, in the pavilion atop the stone wall, someone expressionlessly looking down, a finger resting beside the face as if just having twisted the nose bridge.

"Uh……"

"Hey, Xiaoshe, hello."

"Maybe not," that person replied, and in the next sentence had already vanished from there to appear beside her, "especially if you want to run away later."

She seemed startled and stepped back two paces.

After retreating, she belatedly walked back, then cautiously checked the person's reaction—but the person stood sideways to her, gaze still on the New Universe, merely patting her head: "Go back, get some rest."

"Mm, FELT! Good night!"

FELT—a rapid luminous flash phenomenon—is a blessing of the New Universe, letting him understand and nod.

The next second, both saw the New Universe vanish without a trace; then Aomo raised a hand, and a black magic claw of conjured power swooped forth, snatching the phone from Qian's unresponsive hand, gathering it in his palm, and weaving it into a dark‑green data net.

"There's no need for Alexis to hear the rest of this conversation, and I've likewise blocked any observers on my end."

"Um… that, Aomo… don't rush."

It's hard to imagine that all this was said by the just‑excited Xin Tiao Qian, but that's the fact.

Just moments ago she wasn't sure she could keep her temper when seeing him; now she doesn't even dare to get angry, her heart feeling utterly timid.

"Your reaction reminds me of some improper times."

With a deadpan expression that shifted to utter speechlessness, Aomo sighed: "Do you know what Bicuikes told me before?"

"……"

"She expressed her feelings to me."

"……"

"But I haven't accepted it, at least not for now."

"!"

Stunned by Aomo's calm demeanor, Qian couldn't find words to speak, so she let him continue.

"I told her that for at least three months I won't be ready, even though having you and Qiena as girlfriends before doesn't mean I can casually add another."

"Love is a two‑way process; if she keeps showing affection while I'm busy with other things or people, the imbalance will lead to a quiet end."

"Lately I've been swamped—not just with work, but also with your and Qiena's winter‑vacation plans and the promotion for the Gulite Universe; at the same time, a long‑awaited segment is gaining another person, and you and Qiena surely won't be happy about that."

"... Mm……"

"So… although it's strange, I haven't accepted or rejected it; my answer is to hold off—first see if she can remember tomorrow to prove it's not just a drunken impulse, then see if she can earn your goodwill."

"Although I'm thick‑skinned, and although there are many examples of polygamous relationships that persist despite poor relations, I still hope everyone can get along—disharmonious unions only bring mutual torment."

"……"

"Still not quite acceptable? Let me think if there's room to optimize," seeing Qian still with her head down, looking like she's about to darken, Aomo unusually worried enough to scratch his head, "or maybe she'll forget tomorrow, making my current angst a bit unnecessary."

"Fondness and love are often confused by many, whether young or adult; everyone's emotional experience isn't that extensive."

"Xiaoshe!"

"Uh, what, what's wrong?"

Seeing the other suddenly lift her head and glare at him while shouting loudly, Aomo froze for a moment.

Facing each other, both were far shyer than usual.

"You…… never mind!"

Qian had wanted to repeat Kailifu's question, but she gave up the temptation to hear the answer in person.

By now it was pointless; she stepped forward two steps, grabbed his right wrist, and dragged him out of whatever corner this was.

"Come with me!"

"Um, uh, where?"

"Don't worry about it! Just come with me! It's definitely not far!"

Although she was following a horse girl, she herself wasn't one; no matter how hard she tried to run, she lacked the stamina to leave a long enough trail, and that stamina, which could only be described as tragic, turned out to be convenient for heading back the way she came just now.

Here!

Uh...

Standing before the door obviously meant for guest quarters, Aomo, whose imagination leapt forward like that of an East Flame person, subtly recalled Shu's earlier words: "You have something to do tonight?"

But how could a single pink-haired JK cricket keep me busy?

He was still thinking that when, from behind, Qi shoved him hard with a telekinetic boost she rarely gets to use, tinged with a bit of personal feeling.

He crashed straight into the door and saw Qiena and Ling staring at him, while on the bed an orca muttered something and rolled over.

Now he began to sweat profusely.