Chapter 39: Home

That was also a snowy day, much like today.

The snow had arrived unexpectedly. It had been a sunny morning, but as school was about to let out, the snowflakes drifted down and blanketed the ground.

She stood in the snow, tilting her head to watch the rare sight. She curiously opened her mouth, waiting for the white snowflakes to fall onto her tongue.

Little her, with a big backpack and thin clothes.

That was Yue Yiyue’s first time seeing snow. She could not say she liked it, but she did not hate it either.

But on that day, she met a strange Auntie who claimed to know her.

The Auntie squatted down and examined her earnestly. Then she smiled faintly and took her hand. “Yiyue, I don’t have much time. Let me play with you to your heart’s content, okay?”

Inexplicably, Yue Yiyue did not run away. Instead, she nodded at the beautiful Auntie before her, who looked kind just from her face.

The two of them first went to the mall. They bought soft sweaters and thick cotton-padded jackets. The strange Auntie earnestly instructed Yue Yiyue to take good care of herself and not to go off with strangers casually—of course, she was different.

Then they went to the high-end cake shop she often passed by and eyed longingly. With a grand wave of her hand, Auntie bought several varieties, allowing Yue Yiyue only three bites of each.

The sweet and sticky cake, the warm milk tea.

It was like a dream.

Finally, they went to the amusement park together. They rode the carousel and, at the top of the Ferris wheel, Auntie held Yue Yiyue and said earnestly, “You must live well, until the moment we truly meet. We will be together then.”

“What are you thinking about?” Ye Qiu gripped Yue Yiyue’s hand tightly, interrupting her reminiscence. “It’s rare to see you with such a nostalgic expression.”

“Care to tell me? It could serve as entertainment on this boring road.”

Yue Yiyue watched a snowflake land on Ye Qiu’s head, melt into water, and disappear.

Without directly answering Ye Qiu’s question, Yue Yiyue merely asked curiously, “What is this place?”

“You can think of it as between the Rifts. From here, one can go to the past, present, or future.”

After Ye Qiu said this, the two fell silent.

She was not that familiar with Ye Qiu, though she could sense the other wanted to chat with her about something.

For Yue Yiyue, there was nothing worth saying about her already blurry past, and besides, she was not good at talking about her own affairs.

Her affairs were very boring.

The two walked on in silence like this.

One in front, one behind.

Trailing behind, Yue Yiyue gradually found amusement in stepping into Ye Qiu’s footprints.

This way, it seemed like there was only one person. It was her favorite game as a child.

…….

As a child?

Favorite?

Yue Yiyue froze in surprise. Wasn’t she always going home alone as a child?

Soon, new memories surfaced.

No, that Auntie had not come only once…

In a daze, Yue Yiyue recalled that figure much taller than her.

She had appeared inexplicably in crowds many times and occasionally tutored her in studies.

“Don’t think too much, Yiyue. This place is special, after all. It’ll affect you, like recalling bits of the past, but you’ll forget them once you leave.”

The familiar voice was close at hand.

Ye Qiu turned around and looked at the teary-eyed youth with a complicated expression.

“So once upon a time…”

“Your little wish, of course I fulfilled it, Yiyue.” Ye Qiu opened her arms and unhesitatingly claimed the credit that belonged to another version of herself.

After all, they were originally one. This did not count as deception.

Yes, it did not count as deception!

In Yue Yiyue’s memories, it was the exact same action as that Auntie.

Like when she was little, Yue Yiyue charged into Ye Qiu’s embrace like a little cannonball. In the woman’s arms, she smelled that familiar scent.

Looking up at the woman’s face, Yue Yiyue suddenly realized that Ye Qiu and Gu Nanqiu looked very similar.

Particularly similar.

She also recalled that Gu Nanqiu had a cousin…

“I am an ordinary novelist who occasionally wanders through the gaps in time for inspiration. As an outsider, I get ostracized, but this kind of life is pretty good too.”

“Our story? It’s more complicated than you imagine, but I hope you can live healthily and happily.”

“Why didn’t you come find me later?” Ye Qiu smiled gently, brushing aside Yue Yiyue’s stray hairs. “Because of some matters, I got trapped somewhere. I only hurried back a while ago.”

Ye Qiu patiently answered Yue Yiyue’s one question after another.

“But my journey continues, Yiyue. I still have many things to handle. Only after dealing with them can I come see you.”

Unbeknownst to them, the snow had stopped, the air warmed, and light pierced the endless darkness ahead.

It was time to part.

Yue Yiyue remembered the Boss’s instructions. She took off her heavy clothes and placed them on the clean ground nearby.

She also removed her heavy boots.

Just as she prepared to step barefoot on the ground, Ye Qiu handed over a pair of sneakers.

“I really wish we could walk together forever, but I can’t be that selfish.”

Ye Qiu looked somewhat regretfully at the light spots surging toward them. She gazed gently at Yue Yiyue.

“Remember, no matter the past, present, or future, I am always by your side—”

————

When Yue Yiyue woke, she felt a heavy weight on her chest.

It felt like something incredibly heavy was pressing down on her.

Her vision was pitch black.

Was it still nighttime?

Yue Yiyue felt something damp brush past her shoulder.

It carried a strange fishy smell.

Like a gigantic soft-bodied creature from the deep sea, sprawled on her body, its oral tentacles exploring her nectar.

Such an absurd thought made Yue Yiyue chuckle involuntarily.

Soon, she felt the weight lift from her body.

Oh, it was just sleep paralysis from waking up.

Yue Yiyue peacefully closed her eyes again, letting herself sink back into darkness.

But faintly by her ear came the sound of crying.

It sounded quite mournful.

Yue Yiyue was too tired.

She could no longer concern herself with such things.

Her nerves, which had been taut the whole time, completely relaxed the moment she felt the familiar bed.

“Nanqiu, I’m so tired. Keep your voice down.” In her hazy state, Yue Yiyue mumbled this sentence. With her last bit of strength, she rolled into that exceptionally soft embrace and planted a casual kiss.

Good, it was quiet now.

Now Yue Yiyue could sleep peacefully.

————

She slept dreamlessly through the night. When Yue Yiyue woke, she was struck by Gu Nanqiu’s beauty.

Today’s Gu Nanqiu looked exceptionally beautiful.

Her complexion was rosy, and her usually pale lips were ruddy today.

She lay beside her, every strand of hair seeming to glow.

Like the sleeping beauty from a fairy tale.

But Yue Yiyue was not the prince to awaken the sleeping beauty.

She turned and headed to the bathroom.

For some reason, Yue Yiyue always felt sticky all over, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint why. It just felt off.

Standing before the mirror, Yue Yiyue looked at the rings of red marks in several places on her body.

As if she had been bound by something, or encircled by something.

Yue Yiyue poked at the marks on her body. There was no pain at all.

Some spots stung a little, as if something had sucked on them hard.

But when she looked, those places showed no abnormalities.

Thinking about it was useless. Yue Yiyue stepped into the shower.

She turned on the hot water and quickly rinsed off.

She had class today. Afterward, she would buy breakfast and wake Gu Nanqiu.

She also needed to ask Gu Nanqiu if she had encountered anything strange.

After quickly planning her tasks, Yue Yiyue heard a knock at the door.

“Yiyue, why are you up so early? Can you come lie with me a bit longer?” Gu Nanqiu’s voice came through the glass door. Perhaps due to the thick steam, it sounded moist to Yue Yiyue.

It made her feel a strange excitement.

This sensation was too unfamiliar to Yue Yiyue.

“We have class later. Wait a moment, I’ll be out soon.”

It was now autumn, and the seven-day holiday was approaching. Yue Yiyue wanted to resolve everything before then, so she could have fun with Gu Nanqiu.

“Huh?”

“Yiyue, you’ve been missing for several days. It’s already National Day. I’ve asked for leave from the Academy for you. After the holiday ends, I’ll go with you to cancel it.”

From outside came the sound of Gu Nanqiu yawning, followed by the dragging of slippers…

No need to look; Yue Yiyue could imagine Gu Nanqiu’s current appearance.

She quickly rinsed off the foam, dried her body, put on clothes, and returned to the bedroom.

Gu Nanqiu lay on the bed, hugging a doll, looking at Yue Yiyue pitifully. “Come here and let me hold you. I missed you so much.”

Damn it, this ruined her plans.

It was not supposed to be like this!

Back then, when she sensed Yue Yiyue’s aura disappear and prepared to rush over immediately, Gu Nanqiu was stopped by Ye Qiu, who had emerged from who-knows-where.

“She needs to go there to retrieve part of her memories. Otherwise, she’ll never remember us. Gu Ye, persuade her more during this time. We’ll reintegrate sooner, which is good for Yue Yiyue—at least there’ll be no more lies.”

“Yiyue said that feelings built on lies won’t last. Even for us, we only get three chances to deceive her.”

“As long as we activate the last two, we can return to the Main Body. But are you sure that the time Gu Ye spent with Yue Yiyue, and the time you spent with her, will really make that monster in the Main Body fall for Yue Yiyue again?”

“That side needs someone to oversee it. It’s your turn. After all, if you go only after Yue Yiyue arrives, she’ll notice something.”

Gu Nanqiu’s fists clenched and unclenched. In the end, she turned and headed to that place she loathed immensely.

Returning to the present, Gu Nanqiu burrowed into Yue Yiyue’s arms, nuzzled against her chest, found a favorite spot, and slowly counted the beats of Yue Yiyue’s heart. Being enveloped in her scent was too comfortable. She really did not want to go back to those filthy places.

But that was work!

Her duty!

If she kept shirking, the Main God would think she was slacking and find excuses to trouble Yue Yiyue.

This feeling of having a weakness made Gu Nanqiu blissfully bubble inside.

But she was also afraid, afraid of the day Yue Yiyue learned the truth.

But they would not separate.

“Weren’t you worried when I was gone for these few days?” Yue Yiyue cautiously stroked Gu Nanqiu’s sleek black hair.

“Not afraid. I met my cousin. She said she could bring you back.”

This was their agreed-upon story.

Gu Nanqiu huffed coldly, which also gave Ye Qiu a chance to remind everyone of her presence.

But little Yiyue back then was truly adorable.

Of course, she still was now!

Gu Nanqiu · Fanatic · Yue Yiyue · Solo Stan thought this as she looked up at Yue Yiyue’s captivating jawline.