The voice calling from behind her belonged to her own mother, Zhao Xin.
“Liang Sheng!”
“Liang Sheng!”
Ah… Liang Sheng pushed open the door to the balcony and gripped the railing, staring down at the empty ground below.
The ninth floor. It was high enough to kill anyone.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Liang Sheng climbed over the railing and leaped from the home that had brought her both warmth and painful memories.
Why no hesitation? If this was a dream, jumping out and dying would send her back to reality. If it wasn’t a dream, then she would really kick the bucket.
But she wouldn’t regret it. After experiencing the warmth of family, joyful friendships, and sweet love, how could she possibly endure returning to that oppressive, dysfunctional family environment?
The wind whistled past Liang Sheng’s ears as Zhao Xin’s calls continued.
“Liang Sheng!”
“Liang Sheng…”
“Liang Sheng…”
“Liang Sheng!”
“Liang Sheng!”
Liang Sheng felt a sharp pain in her body and snapped her eyes open.
“Hah…! Huff!” She bolted upright from the sofa, feeling her clothes sticking uncomfortably to her skin. When she reached down to touch herself, her hand came away damp—sweat had soaked right through her underwear.
Her skin felt icy and clammy, thoroughly unpleasant.
After seeing Liang Sheng pass out, Akino Kazuko had panicked and spun in circles like a headless fly. She had called out to her nonstop, and if Liang Sheng hadn’t woken up soon, she was ready to sacrifice her first kiss to give her poor host artificial respiration!
“Woo-hoo!” Akino Kazuko jumped for joy when Liang Sheng stirred, bouncing up and down. “Liang Sheng! You’re finally awake! Do you know—you nearly scared me to death just now!”
“Huh? Oh…” Liang Sheng was still dazed, not quite back to herself.
Akino Kazuko didn’t wait for a reply and kept chattering away. “You have no idea the trauma you caused me in that one minute you were out!”
“Oh…” Liang Sheng responded slowly.
Wait—no, she suddenly perked up and grabbed Akino Kazuko’s arm. “What did you say? I’ve only been out for one minute?!”
“Y-Yeah.” Akino Kazuko blinked her big eyes, looking puzzled at her host.
Liang Sheng stared blankly for a moment before slowly releasing her grip on Akino Kazuko’s arm.
Even if she hadn’t checked the time in that dream, she knew for sure it had lasted more than an hour. By her estimate, it had been over three hours, at least.
It seemed it really had been a Nanke dream.
But what was that dream trying to tell her? Liang Sheng rubbed her chin and tilted her head, utterly baffled.
“Sigh.” She let out a heavy breath, tugged at her sticky underwear, and stood up. “Kazuko, I’m going to take a shower first. These clothes are cramping my style—they’re keeping my genius from shining through. Give me a sec.”
Akino Kazuko made a face of disgust. “Go on, hurry up.”
What kind of situation was this? Her big-hearted host could still crack jokes about herself.
Liang Sheng meant every word. She was shameless enough, after all. Besides, a shower could sometimes spark a burst of inspiration.
Liang Sheng stepped into the bathroom and stripped off her damp clothes, standing under the showerhead. The entire room filled with pristine white light and billowing steam.
She closed her eyes, letting the water wash over her. Liang Sheng emptied her mind, pushing aside the headache-inducing dream for the moment.
After rinsing for less than five minutes, she began lathering up with body wash. That was when she started pondering the dream again.
Hmm… Two mysteries stood out. One was the news about her current father. The other was the terrifying timeline and year that made her blood run cold upon reflection.
Staring into the mirror, Liang Sheng suddenly recalled the voice from the end of the dream.
“Save me…”
“Save me!!”
“Can you really end all this?”
It sounded like the cries of millions, like countless earnest pleas, or like a desperate call for help amid a sea of people.
Was that dream really just a dream?
Liang Sheng sank into thought.
Splash.
Ten minutes later, she slid open the bathroom door.
Back in the room, she found Akino Kazuko sitting primly on the sofa.
“Why didn’t you go watch TV?” Liang Sheng asked, toweling off her still-dripping hair and gently drying the water from her ears.
In the past, this playful little system, Akino Kazuko, would have dashed off to watch TV, play video games, or at least frolic happily in the courtyard.
Akino Kazuko crossed her arms. “Obviously, to ask why you passed out! Do you have some underlying condition?”
“Nope.” Liang Sheng scratched her head. “Go entertain yourself. I’ll tell you once I figure it out.”
“Okay, fine.” Akino Kazuko didn’t press further and floated back into the air. “You’re sure you don’t have any health issues, right?”
“Of course I’m sure,” Liang Sheng laughed. “Who knows this body better than me?”
Wait—this body wasn’t hers. Liang Sheng caught herself. This body belonged to the original Liang Sheng.
But in that novel, there was no mention of Liang Sheng having any illnesses.
A novel? Liang Sheng’s eyelids drooped again. That story, more familiar to her than poems she’d read ten thousand times—why did she remember it so clearly?
Could someone—no, some system—have forcibly implanted it into her mind?!
A chill ran through Liang Sheng’s body, and she shivered uncontrollably.
Knock knock knock.
Akino Kazuko pointed at the door. “I just saw that poker-faced girl heading this way.”
“Huh?” Liang Sheng blinked in confusion. “What’s she doing here?”
Liang Sheng forgot she was wrapped only in a bath towel and rushed to the door.
Click. The door swung open.
Liang Sheng poked her head out. “S-Sister Mo Qingrou, why are you here all of a sudden?”
Mo Qingrou stood at the threshold, perfectly composed. “May I come in?”
Liang Sheng flung the door wide and gestured invitingly. “Yes, yes! Come in, Sister Mo Qingrou!”
Mo Qingrou stepped inside. Without batting an eye at Liang Sheng’s post-shower attire, she kindly warned, “Liang Sheng, you’ll catch a cold like that.”
Only then did Liang Sheng realize she was wearing just a bath towel.
“Eek!” She yelped and instinctively crossed her arms over her chest.
Mo Qingrou said matter-of-factly, “No need to worry. As a doctor, I’ve seen more naked girls than I can count.”
Uh… That reassurance somehow made it even more awkward. Liang Sheng scratched her scalp.
She hurriedly dashed upstairs to change.
A moment later, she came back down.
“Have a seat anywhere, Sister Mo Qingrou. I’ll get you some water!” Liang Sheng volunteered, heading to the kitchen to pour a glass for the iceberg doctor.
When she returned, Liang Sheng sat on the sofa opposite Mo Qingrou, looking uncharacteristically shy.
“S-Sister Mo Qingrou, what brings you to my place so suddenly?”
Mo Qingrou took a sip of water and replied with words that left Liang Sheng blushing furiously.
