Chapter 35: Fusion…

“Then let’s eat something light today. Did your class group chat assign any homework? Do we need to go to the library this week?”

With Gu Nanqiu changing the subject like this, Yue Yiyue forgot to pursue the question about the person behind the text messages. All her attention fell back on Gu Nanqiu.

In a distant corner, Gu Ye—who had wanted to follow them to see what Yue Yiyue ordered and find a topic for next time—stood frozen. A large patch of tree shade covered her.

Her jet-black hair cast a shadow, twisting her beautiful face into a venomous expression that didn’t suit her.

So that’s it… So that’s it… So that’s why she was so vigilant…

She smiled lightly.

That one—Gu Nanqiu—was particularly loved by Yue Yiyue, so she stayed by her side.

She’d arrived too late.

Should she replace her?

Could she replace her?

————

In the distance, the Paper Box Head Monster processed the food he’d painstakingly raised.

He eyed the twisted man before him and muttered, “It’s all because of being born at the wrong time. I’m so powerful—I should be in that position… Why? Why that woman…? She clearly…”

The Paper Box Head watched resentment build. He leaned in and took a breath. So delicious.

With a flick of his hand, a fresh, red, perfect heart appeared in his grasp.

The man with the hollowed-out chest remained oblivious. He still twisted in hatred, repeating: “Impossible……. Why?”

“Because you’re incompetent.” The Paper Box Person took a bite. The taste was good. He tossed the whole thing into his box. Time to find the next delicacy…….

Not enough…….

These weren’t enough…….

Suddenly, he sensed something. A familiar, exceptionally delicious aroma drew him toward a certain spot.

His eyes locked on that spot as dead memories assaulted him.

Soon, only a puddle of muck remained here. Blood turned into paint, forming a vivid warning message on the wall—It had descended.

————

These past few days, Yue Yiyue kept seeing Gu Ye.

When she went downstairs, she saw Gu Ye at the Bun Shop, nibbling a bun.

In class, she always sat next to her.

During meals, Gu Nanqiu would invite her to join them.

Just like that, with Gu Nanqiu’s help, Yue Yiyue made a strange but decent friend.

At least since that day, Gu Ye no longer looked at her with that strange gaze.

Gu Ye also found a moment to explain.

“It’s been too long since I last saw Yue Yiyue.”

“We were neighbor acquaintances before.”

Yue Yiyue, with no childhood memories in this body, could only play dumb, standing awkwardly as she squeezed out, “You’ve… changed a lot.”

Gu Nanqiu appropriately steered the topic to the nice claypot rice at the second-floor window of the school cafeteria.

This also gave Yue Yiyue a suitable excuse to escape the somewhat awkward situation.

Days passed uneventfully.

She attended classes every day, counting down the days until that plot event arrived.

The unfamiliar shadow at the door that the delivery person had mentioned before also didn’t appear again.

Occasionally, Yue Yiyue stared blankly at the chainsaw in the corner. If something happened to Gu Nanqiu later, maybe she could try it…

Until she got the department social gathering invite—and the day before, something strange happened.

It was a peaceful night, just like always.

Yue Yiyue lay in bed, unable to sleep for some reason tonight.

Bored, she counted sheep, rolled over carefully, and peered at the pitch-black window.

Nights always stirred up some absurd thoughts.

For example, whether something crazy lurked in that dark expanse…….

Or the footsteps pacing upstairs, betraying their owner’s unease.

Wait?

Yue Yiyue instantly sobered up. How could she hear footsteps from upstairs?

They were on the top floor here.

The soundproofing was especially good!

Yue Yiyue lay still, listening intently to the sounds from upstairs.

She hadn’t misheard.

There were strange footsteps.

She picked up her phone and saw it was exactly midnight.

At this hour, could it be a neighbor going up to collect laundry?

It had been cloudy these past few days.

Or maybe it was from somewhere else? She had just misunderstood.

Da-da-da-da. Then came a knock so faint it was barely there.

“Found—you—”

Something seemed to whisper right in Yue Yiyue’s ear—like an auditory hallucination, yet all too real.

“Yiyue, wake up!” Gu Nanqiu’s voice rang out like heavenly music, rousing Yue Yiyue.

Only then did Yue Yiyue realize she was drenched in sweat, as if fished from water, and uncomfortable all over.

She gazed at Gu Nanqiu’s porcelain-white face. Even the capillaries beneath her skin were visible.

The familiar scent made Yue Yiyue feel at ease.

She let out a long breath, as if expelling the entire nightmare.

“I just had a nightmare,” Yue Yiyue said, still shaken as she sat up and glanced at the dim bedside lamp. “Sorry, did I wake you?”

“I’ll change the bedsheet first, then take a shower. You go sleep in the master bedroom.”

Though the bedsheet looked clean, Yue Yiyue still felt unclean, as if her sticky sweat might seep through and touch Gu Nanqiu’s skin.

Too dirty.

Gu Nanqiu tilted her head, nodding as if she half-understood. She obediently rummaged in the cabinet, pulled out a suitable bedding cover, eyed Yue Yiyue’s clothes thoughtfully, then said, “You go shower. I’ll change it.”

“Wait, let me hold you tonight so you won’t have nightmares.” She stood before Yue Yiyue, her distinctly jointed hand brushing her forehead to dispel the mischievous dark green aura.

“Yiyue, don’t walk around at night lately,” Gu Nanqiu said worriedly. Like a nimble little snake, she slipped into Yue Yiyue’s arms, poking her chest as her other hand snaked around to the bedside phone.

“So for tomorrow’s social gathering… how about I help you decline it?”

She blinked, pressed her finger to the sensor, and the familiar interface appeared.

The message displayed was from the class assistant yesterday: “Yiyue, come help us save face. Tomorrow we’re all going to KTV. You’ve refused so many times already. Refusing again would be disrespectful.”

Yue Yiyue looked down at the person curled in her arms. Her damp eyes reflected only Yue Yiyue—mischief mixed with probing curiosity.

She fished her out of her arms, snatched the phone, threw on some clothes, and said, “It’s one in the morning. Go back to your side and sleep.”

“I already promised them. Can’t change it. It’s been a month since school started. They’ve invited me several times, and I haven’t gone. It’d be inappropriate not to go this time.”

“But I told her I’d bring a friend.”

“Really?” Gu Nanqiu was about to whine when she heard those heavenly words: bringing a friend.

In an instant, she perked up. Even the unnoticed jealousy within her vanished.

If pink bubbles could materialize, the entire room would be flooded with them now.

“Good Yiyue, is this you bringing me into your social circle?” This was a particularly novel experience for Gu Nanqiu.

The previous Yiyue hadn’t had many friends.

If it was like this, she could completely accept it!

Matching accessories, matching things…

She had to make sure they could tell at a glance that she belonged to Yiyue.

Happily stripping the bedsheet, she confirmed Yue Yiyue was safely in the bathroom and wouldn’t emerge soon.

Her usually hidden tentacles all emerged, cleaning the room thoroughly and putting the new bedsheet in place.

Gu Nanqiu tapped the obvious cat avatar on her phone. “How’s your consideration going? There’ll be a good opportunity soon to send you over, then wait for the main body to awaken.”

The reply came quickly: “You’re sick. You’ve got nothing better to do every day. Why not just die early, monster? If you hadn’t stolen this name, die, die die.”

“Yiyue occasionally checks my phone. No need to send these. What if she sees?”

Soon, WeChat popped up a new notification: the other party had withdrawn a message.

On the other side of the screen, irritated Gu Ye had just awakened. She’d painstakingly devoured those things to grow this big and secure an identity near Yue Yiyue.

It was this damned liar! The liar occupying the spot by Yue Yiyue’s side!

She had come first originally.

Why… why had everything changed when she woke up again.

Yiyue, sis…

But accepting fusion…

“Love is never possession,” Gu Nanqiu replied aptly. “Yiyue taught me what she taught you. She just doesn’t want us fighting. As long as we stand by her side and let her love us properly, isn’t that our original wish?”

There was no more movement from WeChat on the other side.

Gu Nanqiu eyed her phone, troubled. This new little slice had too fierce a desire for Yue Yiyue and refused to return. Really troublesome.

————

When Yue Yiyue emerged, Gu Nanqiu sat on the bed. Ink-green silk pajamas draped her body against the soft, elegant bedsheets—like a vampire noble from a bygone era.

Her fair skin and ink-black hair exuded rare gentleness. Her brows and eyes brimmed with tenderness, ready to embrace everything.

Gu Nanqiu was very happy now.

Yue Yiyue wore the matching pajamas in black, layered with lace.

She nimbly climbed into bed and fluffed the pillow.

Leaning on Gu Nanqiu’s shoulder, her gaze fell on the book in Gu Nanqiu’s hand—a French book that Yue Yiyue couldn’t read well.

So she looked toward Gu Nanqiu.

“Tired? You looked bored, so I grabbed a book.” Gu Nanqiu put the book on the bedside table, lay down, and patted the spot beside her.

She drew Yue Yiyue gently into her arms. Gazing at her drowsy charge, whose mind was foggy, she kissed her forehead and coaxed softly, “Sleep.”

In the darkness, the small tentacle in the corner tossed the now shriveled nightmare ghost outside the house. It poked the little thing on the ground, confirmed it still had breath, and clocked out! Off duty!