“Based on my guess, that past you remember about Liang Sheng is very likely just a segment of memory. Of course, it’s also possible that a soul fragment from that person Liang Sheng exists somewhere in your body. So…” Akino Kazuko glanced worriedly at Liang Sheng. “You might still be the original Liang Sheng, not the traverser you believe yourself to be.”
“…”
Liang Sheng’s mind went completely blank. This was way too much information to process.
“Who the hell am I, anyway?” Who she was didn’t even matter right now. The key issue was… if there were two souls in this body, fused together or something, that was just too bizarre. And more importantly, which one was in control?
For a fleeting moment, Liang Sheng even harbored a strange doubt—was she Liang Sheng, or Liang Sheng?
“I probably should have hesitated before telling you,” Akino Kazuko said with some regret. She worried that this bombshell might have a negative mental impact on Liang Sheng.
But who was Liang Sheng? She was as carefree as they came.
“Eh~ It’s fine~” She waved her little hand dismissively. “I’m neither of those two.”
“Huh?”
Liang Sheng stood up and looked down at Akino Kazuko, who was sitting on the ground. “One of those two is dumb as a rock, and the other is such a coward. If I’m a fusion of them, that’s even better. I can just toss out both their flaws, and I’ll be perfect.”
“And besides…” Liang Sheng reached out, grabbed a handful of the sea breeze in front of her, then let it slip away like releasing the air itself. She smiled knowingly. “This version of me now is probably what both Liang Shengs dreamed of. Top of the class, smart, loved by everyone, respected, and understood.”
Seeing how calmly Liang Sheng had accepted it, Akino Kazuko floated up into the air beside her.
“You really don’t feel even a little upset about this?”
After a brief hesitation, Liang Sheng shook her head. “What’s there to be upset about? It’s just the truth. And I don’t regret it either, because I’m happy with who I am now.”
“That’s good, then…” Akino Kazuko’s voice trailed off softly.
“Come on, let’s go!” Liang Sheng turned away, not wanting her system to see the redness around her eyes. “It’s getting even colder at night, and it’s almost dark. We should head back to the hotel.”
Akino Kazuko noticed something off about her host but didn’t call it out. She simply followed silently. Right now, giving Liang Sheng some space alone was the best way to show respect.
Liang Sheng returned to the hotel by herself.
The girls swarmed her the moment she walked in. At first glance, they could tell something was wrong with Liang Sheng.
“Hey, Liang Sheng!” Lu Ziqing was the most direct, spotting the bitter smile on Liang Sheng’s face. When Liang Sheng mumbled something about not feeling well and wanting to rest alone, Lu Ziqing grabbed her arm.
Our Young Miss Lu wore a grave expression, but her words were so earnest they were almost comical. “Hey, Liang Sheng, did someone bully you? Tell me, and I’ll beat them up for you.”
Liang Sheng: “?”
“Yeah, A-Sheng, did someone pick on you?” Song An’an chimed in, peering intently into Liang Sheng’s eyes with concern.
“I didn’t—”
She was ruthlessly cut off.
“Junior Sister Liang Sheng, did you hurt yourself somewhere?” Gu Yuqi pressed down anxiously on Liang Sheng’s shoulders, scanning her up and down as if she wanted to strip off her clothes for a thorough check.
“I didn’t—”
Interrupted once again.
“Were your eyes irritated by sand? Let me… Let me blow on them for you, Liang Sheng.” An Hua leaned in close too, pursing her soft pink lips as if ready to puff away the grit.
“Hey, come on, listen to me!” Liang Sheng laughed helplessly amid the chaos, her earlier sadness completely forgotten in the girls’ fussing.
The girls gradually quieted down, focusing intently as they waited for Liang Sheng to speak.
“I just… I just…” But Liang Sheng hadn’t come up with a good lie yet.
No choice—she had to tell a bit of the truth.
“I just suddenly remembered some sad stuff from the past, that’s all…”
“What sad stuff?”
“Tell me, and this young miss will handle it for you!”
“Don’t be sad, A-Sheng. I’ll help you get through any trouble, always!”
“I…” Liang Sheng was dumbfounded. Saying something like “Who am I really?” out loud would just make her sound crazy!
“I just…” Inspiration struck Liang Sheng. “I just suddenly remembered that I lost a few thousand… a few tens of thousands bucks the other day. That’s it.”
“Huh?”
The girls exchanged baffled looks.
“You… carry tens of thousands around with you?” Finally, one level-headed girl, unswayed by Liang Sheng’s pretty face, voiced a soul-deep question.
“Uh…” Liang Sheng tied her tongue, scratching her head in embarrassment.
“Well, see, I withdrew it from the bank. Took out a bunch of cash. But then… it just vanished somewhere.” Liang Sheng looked down guiltily, avoiding the girls’ eyes.
“Why not just transfer it electronically?” Another girl piped up skeptically.
Man, kids these days were impossible to fool—they were too smart! Liang Sheng’s eyes darted around as she scrambled for an excuse.
“It’s not like that. I just… I like cash, you all know that.” Liang Sheng swallowed hard, gesturing wildly with her hands in the air. “So I wanted to feel the money, you know? It feels nice. And having it close by makes me feel super secure. So… you get it, right?”
The girls blinked at her. “Ohhh—”
Yeah, they probably got it, judging by their dazed nods.
“It’s just that little thing? No big deal.” Lu Ziqing scoffed dismissively, pulling out her phone. “Tens of thousands? If you like money that much, I’ll just give you some.”
Ha? Gifts straight-up in cash now? Liang Sheng fidgeted with her hands hesitantly. But hey, that kind of gift? The more, the better!
Still, if she accepted Lu Ziqing’s “gift,” wouldn’t she be no different from a kept pretty boy? So… she kinda wanted to be a few rich ladies’ pretty boy!
In the end, though, after mulling it over, Liang Sheng decided to turn down Lu Ziqing’s generosity.
“Young Miss…”
Once again, she was interrupted.
“A-Sheng, I’ll chip in some money too.”
“I’ll handle this kind of thing.”
“???”
No way, seriously? People were lining up to shower her with cash now? What was wrong with everyone—were they all missing a few screws?
Liang Sheng couldn’t bear to watch. She raised her little hand in a universal stop gesture. “Hold up, stop!”
The girls fell quiet again.
Liang Sheng rubbed her forehead. Why did she feel like she was wrangling a room full of kindergarteners?
“Losing the money is my problem. Why are you all pooling cash for me?” Liang Sheng looked at each girl sincerely. “Besides, I don’t even need it that badly. Sure, I’m short a bit, but I can earn it back myself!”
The girls stared at Liang Sheng thoughtfully.
Suddenly, Liang Sheng had a bad premonition.
