Chapter 1109: What I Should've Told You Earlier
The answer is, of course, no.
It wasn't because Ji Shanqing was concerned about Lin Sanjiu's feelings for her friend that he didn't want to do this. Instead, it was because he was too clever for that. He would never create a situation that would drive Lin Sanjiu away in anger and ensure she never looked back. Even if there was just a possibility of it happening, he wouldn't allow it.
This intention of his was clear, and he knew that Lin Sanjiu was also aware of it.
During this relatively silent moment, Lin Sanjiu gazed at him fixedly, repeatedly running her gaze over his hair, shoulders, and face. If she had a real brother or sister, this was likely the kind of emotion she would have towards them. Even though she knew he would undoubtedly use Yu Yuan, she couldn't genuinely be angry with him.
"So, what's the story with Yu Yuan?" she asked, her voice tired.
Ji Shanqing hesitated for a moment and then sighed lightly. He didn't know whether he was telling her this because she was his sister or because he was genuinely struggling with it, and Lin Sanjiu wasn't sure either. She couldn't be sure how much of the grand prize's next answer would be genuine.
"I... I received a call on the communicator, but when I went to meet the person, I realized it wasn't you."
He lowered his head, his long hair sliding over his face, obscuring his features. It was a difficult thing for him to confess his true feelings to the person he most wanted to keep them from, and his words seemed plain and emotionless.
"I just took one look, and I knew what was happening... I forgot the exact details, but I kept thinking that it would have been better if it was you."
"What happened next?" Lin Sanjiu had to prompt him because he seemed to be staring blankly at his knee and had forgotten to continue.
"Then... I turned and left."
Ji Shanqing's eyes lacked their usual shine in the shadows, his hands clenched into fists, gripping his robe tightly. "He kept calling me through the communicator, so I knew sooner or later, the Veda would receive the signal. So when the Veda appeared before him, I wasn't surprised."
Lin Sanjiu closed her eyes. If the grand prize knew everything, he probably hadn't gone far during that time.
She recalled the Veda's words back then and how they were eager to recruit new members. The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart sank. Yu Yuan was not suited for the post-apocalyptic world. His idealistic background and gentle nature made him more susceptible to the allure of permanent peace and tranquility after losing his dual sanctuary of body and spirit. She could even imagine the inner turmoil he must have gone through back then.
As she was lost in thought, Ji Shanqing suddenly lifted his head, startling her. His voice was so fragile that it seemed like it might shatter any moment, and there was an inexplicable gleam in his eyes. "Sis, why did he use my communicator to call me?"
It wasn't a real communicator; it was [Battle Item]. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to say them. Was this the most critical detail? Not really.
In the shock that she couldn't even understand, Lin Sanjiu trembled for a moment. Finally, she spoke softly, "I'm sorry."
Ji Shanqing was taken aback, as if he were a rabbit in the grass that had been suddenly startled.
"Sis," he said, a bit urgently, leaning closer, "You don't need to apologize—"
No, she needed to.
"Then what happened next?" she asked in a hushed voice, cutting off his words.
"Sis."
Ji Shanqing called her gently, and there was a certain emotion in his voice that made her involuntarily raise her gaze.
"He has indeed agreed to immigrate," his voice, clear as spring water, quivered slightly with hope, and there was a gleam in his eyes. "However, it's not an irreversible situation yet."
"What do you mean?" Lin Sanjiu asked.
"I understand most of the Veda's methods. Although I'm not a hundred percent certain, if we can reverse the process, perhaps we can restore him to his original state. Of course, it sounds simple, but in practice, it may be quite complicated."
The grand prize's voice gradually faded as Lin Sanjiu fell into her own thoughts.
Yu Yuan had made the most significant decision of his life independently, in a situation where there was no external interference. What right did she have to run over and reverse his decision? Even if she disagreed with his choice, what difference would it make? It was his own will, and he had finally found a way to escape the Great Deluge.
At this point, she couldn't help but look at the grand prize again.
He was indeed too intelligent, and with just one look into her eyes, he seemed to understand her thoughts. "Sis, when he made the decision, he hadn't heard your opinion yet. Let's work on restoring him first and then let you talk to him. If he still wants to immigrate, then we can respect his decision and send him back at that time. Isn't that better?"
At first, it sounded reasonable, but upon closer reflection, it seemed a bit arrogant. However, as Lin Sanjiu gazed at the grand prize, the predominant feeling in her mind was not about arrogance, but rather a subtle and unwelcome doubt: Was this conversation part of his plan to bring her back, or was it improvised on the spot because he sensed that she had discovered the truth?
She had no doubt that if the grand prize wanted to, he had a thousand ways to keep her at the Data Stream Library. It wasn't that she didn't want to stay with the grand prize; she just didn't want to stay with him alone.
Seeing that his words didn't get the response he desired, Ji Shanqing shifted uneasily, unsure of how to proceed. He didn't show it on the surface, but inside, he was afraid.
"After I put away the communicator," Lin Sanjiu began after a long pause. Her voice was unusually low and steady, and it took Ji Shanqing by surprise. "I thought about it for a long time. I... I truly didn't understand you, or rather, I didn't understand you enough. You had only been in the human world for a few months, and I can't imagine what those days were like for you, or what impression you had of people. You hadn't even had time to form an understanding of the world before you had to survive in a constant cycle of plotting and killing. But even in such circumstances, when I told you I wouldn't take you apart... you still believed me."
Ji Shanqing stared blankly at her.
"Perhaps it wasn't complete trust, and maybe you were still scared at night. Perhaps you couldn't help but sneak a look at my expression and guess my mood at times. But in the end, you still believed me. That's actually quite remarkable." Lin Sanjiu slowly stood up and continued, "I've always taken it for granted, so I never said thank you."
As she moved, Ji Shanqing tilted his head back, and his long hair slid down his back.
"Thank you," Lin Sanjiu said as she walked up to him, bending down to sweep back a strand of his disheveled black hair behind his ear. "There are some things I should've told you a long time ago, and I hope it's not too late."
"W-what?" His voice trembled slightly, as if he was still afraid, or perhaps even more afraid now.
"It's my fault," Lin Sanjiu crouched down so they were at eye level. She looked into his eyes, her fingers slowly caressing his hair. "You believed that I wouldn't take you apart, but you couldn't believe something else. It's because I didn't do enough. I didn't give you enough confidence to believe that I would always accept you and be there for you."
As she spoke, she extended her arm and gently pulled him closer. At first, the grand prize's body remained stiff, as if still in shock, not fully comprehending the situation. But as she bent her arm slightly, he seemed to finally understand, and he followed her motion, his chin resting on her shoulder, not daring to apply any pressure.
Even if he wasn't afraid of being taken apart, he was still wearing multiple layers of clothing. However, behind those layers, his body felt light and delicate, as though he could be gathered up in her arms and taken away.
"No matter what you've done or who you've become," she said in a low voice, her fingers gently stroking the back of his head, "I will be here. So, you don't need to test or worry anymore."
Perhaps all children hoped that their mother was theirs alone. She believed that the grand prize, who was not even a few years old, probably had a similar mindset. Everything he did was likely in search of assurance, to find peace in his heart. In the end, he didn't know that what he received wasn't a reward for being well-behaved, cute, or smart, but something that was always his unconditionally.
"Sis,"
She couldn't see the grand prize's expression, only sensing his body trembling under her touch, even his voice quivering. She waited, thinking he might have something to say, but he sobbed for a while and only managed to say one word, "Sis!"
Suddenly, he raised his arm, reaching around her neck in a reverse embrace, burying his face deeply in her embrace.
"Sis..."