Aponia couldn't calm her restless heart.
After leaving that space, she returned to the church in "Twilight Street" to pray. The same church where she and Ye Feng once lived still stood as it always had. Kneeling in prayer, Aponia felt ripples of unease in her heart.
Her thoughts drifted back to that pure, pink-haired girl.
Twilight Street fell into ruin because of Aponia's involvement. When she was first brought to the Fire Moths by Sakura, Elysia did not show fear or disdain like others. Instead, she approached Aponia with warmth and friendliness.
It was Elysia, with her flower-like smile, who gently melted the icy walls around Aponia's heart, slowly pulling her away from the prison of guilt.
To Aponia at the time, seeking redemption in the depths of solitude seemed to be the only salvation for her remaining life. But Elysia told her otherwise.
"The outside world is the real cage. Because of your presence, even in the depths, I've already stepped into the sunlight."
"So, I don't want your 'story' to become a forgotten relic. I will remember everything about you in the Elysian Realm, revisiting it through the long years, waiting for someone with your same resolve to arrive."
"And... I look forward to the day when this 'page' is reopened by future generations."
When Elysia returned to the stars and moon, Aponia fused herself with the Elysian Realm, seeking an "answer."
Aponia finally remembered. No, she had never forgotten.
Yet...
"To reopen an old page or write a new chapter..."
Aponia had already made her decision. But whenever she thought of it, the weight of her sins bore down on her. No amount of prayer could extinguish the flames of karmic retribution.
"Elysia... will you forgive me?"
Her pale fingers slowly intertwined as the church was engulfed in an overwhelming darkness.
Meanwhile, Ye Feng and Mobius continued their "simulation."
[Time flowed on, and Mobius had mostly adapted to this world.]
[Though some concepts contradicted her understanding, they were minor issues.]
[Civilization, ideologies, cultural development, natural laws...]
[What Mobius pondered most was the nature of this world itself.]
Mobius felt a strange sense of "emptiness" and "futility," as if this world were a grand "theatrical stage." No matter how dramatic the "actors" performed, everything followed a preordained trajectory, unable to deviate from the "script."
This "singular path" ran counter to the "infinity" she pursued. Her sharp instincts allowed her to sense the incongruities. However, whenever Mobius tried to delve deeper, the thoughts would vanish as if erased.
It was like a severe gaming addict suddenly losing interest in video games—a switch inexplicably turned off. Similarly, Mobius would abruptly lose interest in further exploration, as though something had "locked" her curiosity.
Spring sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the living room. Mobius lounged on the sofa, her verdant hair cascading naturally, exuding an aura of tranquility. Her slender legs, crossed under her dress, created soft, alluring curves.
Deep in thought, Mobius murmured, "What exactly is the 'price' Aponia mentioned?"
Though she had arrived in this world, the "price" had yet to manifest. Mobius didn't think Aponia was merely trying to scare her.
"Whatever. It doesn't matter."
She pinched a water-dappled cherry between her thumb and forefinger, tilting her head to place it above her pink lips. Her delicate tongue emerged, lightly brushing the cherry's surface before curling around it and pulling it into her mouth.
As her tongue and the inner walls of her mouth squeezed, the cherry burst, releasing a cascade of sweet juice. The glossy sheen of fruit juice glistened on her lips.
"Mobius, don't eat while lying down."
A gentle voice broke the silence. Mobius turned her head, spotting Ye Feng approaching. Her eyes lifted slightly, and she replied lazily, "I told you before, don't meddle in my affairs."
Ye Feng smiled warmly. "How could Mobius's affairs be considered meddling?"
"..."
Mobius furrowed her brows in irritation, her expression exuding impatience as if saying, "You're so annoying. Can't you just disappear?"
Yet her feelings were more complex than her expression revealed.
Mobius, starved of affection since childhood, lost her mother at birth. Her father, infected with Honkai disease, was abusive and neglectful. Despite her miserable childhood, "another world's version" of her had a perfect father—her ideal figure.
Rationally, Mobius understood this wasn't reality. Fantasy was meaningless. But someone who has known a lack of love will always yearn for it, even if they know better.
Now, her emotions were tangled. The more meticulous Ye Feng's care became, the more uncomfortable Mobius felt. She hated to admit it, but she was a little jealous. Just a little.
Trying to maintain her composure, Mobius said evenly, "I know what I'm doing. Your so-called 'experience' is laughable. Should I write a paper on the benefits of eating cherries while reclining?"
Ye Feng sighed. "There's no need to be so prickly. We're not enemies."
"Then stop bothering me."
"...Fine. I'll probably be back late tonight. If you get hungry, there's strawberry cream cake in the fridge—your favorite."
"Who said it's my favorite? Wait, you'll be late? Where are you going?"
Mobius wasn't concerned about Ye Feng's whereabouts but was curious due to the break in his routine.
Scratching the back of his head, Ye Feng replied evasively, "Grown-up stuff. Kids shouldn't ask too many questions."
"Oh." Mobius reclined again. Whatever. It doesn't matter.
"I'm heading out."
Hearing the door close, Mobius immediately sprang up, leaning over the sofa to watch the door.
She told herself she wasn't interested in Ye Feng's movements. It was just his "unusual behavior" that piqued her attention. That's all.
After a moment of hesitation, she slid on her outdoor shoes and quietly followed him.
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