Chapter 25: The Girl Who Knows the Answer
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Liu Yuan could swear she had absolutely no ill intent, she was simply stating her honest thoughts.
The current Liu Yuan was still quite naive and hadn't learned to hide her true feelings, so when Furina asked, Liu Yuan answered.
However, Liu Yuan had no idea how much damage her words inflicted upon Furina, nor did she realize that her statement, devoid of much other thought, was practically a confession to her.
Furina froze, her cheeks uncontrollably flushing crimson at that moment, and various suppressed thoughts surged in her mind, ultimately coalescing into one: "Is she... confessing to me?!"
For Furina, this sudden, almost confessional outpouring of genuine emotion surpassed countless trials she had witnessed.
A confession...
How could she, with her damsel's heart, not have imagined this scene? Five hundred years of solitary suffering made her unconsciously yearn for beautiful things, like pretty dresses or cute small animals.
She had imagined herself as an ordinary damsel, living an ordinary life.
And a sudden "confession" like the one before her was something she had fantasized about, yet, when she truly faced this moment, the panic in her heart, the swirling thoughts, all of it made her unable to think normally.
"Liu Yuan..." Furina subconsciously murmured, staring blankly at her beautiful, jewel-like deep-blue eyes. Even though it had been less than half a year of companionship, this half-year was the happiest time she had experienced.
Because, alone as she was, she seemed to have found companionship.
However...
"No... I can't... I'm sorry, Liu Yuan, I'm sorry... I can't... I can't, I'm truly sorry..." Tears fell uncontrollably, and her thoughts once again transformed, becoming a single question: "Have you forgotten why you are playing the role of the Hydro Archon?"
As if it were a voice from within, Furina suddenly sobered up, but the price of sobriety was facing the cold truth once more.
She shouldn't be like this...
Fontaine's Prophecy, the duty of playing the Hydro Archon... there was too much. She didn't want these things to involve Liu Yuan, nor did she want Liu Yuan to participate in these matters because of her.
These matters might be heavy, and even though Liu Yuan seemed very powerful, Furina instinctively didn't want Liu Yuan to get involved.
Because it was too dangerous...
She should bear these things alone— absolutely, absolutely, she must not be affected. In fact... if possible, Furina now had the urge to send Liu Yuan out of Fontaine!
Don't be too selfish, Furina... Don't drag Liu Yuan into this because of yourself... Please don't...
The falling tears were not only Furina's uncontrollable emotions but also stirred Liu Yuan's heart. The beating in her chest abruptly paused for a moment when Furina suddenly burst into tears.
Another emotion Liu Yuan couldn't understand appeared in her heart.
Such... a hateful feeling...
Liu Yuan was somewhat at a loss. Furina's crying made this usually extremely calm being incredibly flustered at the moment.
She clumsily reached out her hand, wanting to wipe away the tears continuously flowing from Furina's eyes, but her hand passed through without any obstruction.
Her hand paused, and at that moment, she realized the fact that she couldn't touch anything. Also, at that moment, the idea of having a physical body appeared in Liu Yuan's mind.
"I'm... I'm sorry, did I say something wrong? I'm sorry, Furina, I'm sorry..." Liu Yuan's tone was a bit low, and her hand, covered in the element of water, clumsily wiped away the tears from Furina's eyes.
However, hearing Liu Yuan's apology and seeing her visibly flustered face, Furina cried even louder.
"Waaah... Why are you so good to me, you jerk! I, I didn't need you to be, why did you appear by my side!... You jerk... Waaah... Waaah..."
Furina's crying left Liu Yuan at a loss, trying to search her memories for how to make Furina stop crying. However, her usually infallible memories were incredibly difficult to access at this moment. The helpless Liu Yuan could only keep apologizing, but the more she apologized, the louder Furina cried...
--- Several hours passed.
Now Liu Yuan stood obediently like a child who had done something wrong.
On the other side of the bed, Furina sat holding a pillow, her eyes slightly red, the lingering effect of prolonged crying.
At this moment Furina was gently biting her lip, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her heterochromatic eyes stared intently at Liu Yuan.
This girl... annoying, so annoying, super annoying!!!
When the crying ended and Furina slowly regained her composure, she suddenly thought of a possibility.
Liu Yuan hadn't confessed... she just genuinely felt that Furina was the meaning of her existence...
Hmm, with Furina's understanding of Liu Yuan, this possibility was not nonexistent; in fact, for Liu Yuan, this possibility was quite high!
And after observing Liu Yuan's behavior for a bit, Furina came to a conclusion — Liu Yuan... really considers me the meaning of her existence...
Liu Yuan's understanding of emotions was extremely shallow; she knew this. So, for her, Liu Yuan almost always answered any question plainly.
And a response that seemed like a confession was naturally Liu Yuan's true thoughts, without any other impurities.
This meant that Liu Yuan genuinely believed this.
If understood this way, then this statement wasn't a confession, but merely Liu Yuan's true thought—
As if! Doesn't that make it even more like a confession!!!
But thankfully, at least for now, Liu Yuan shouldn't have that kind of romantic love for her, right?
Furina silently thought to herself.
Having reached that conclusion, Furina instantly relaxed. That's good; this way, those burdens wouldn't affect Liu Yuan, and Liu Yuan would be safe!
However, the inexplicable sense of loss in her heart was something Furina couldn't hide.
A question suddenly rose in her mind and took hold of all her thoughts.
"Then... do I like Liu Yuan?" Furina looked at her deep-blue eyes, unconsciously hugged the pillow in her arms tighter, and then silently buried her head into it.
The world turned dim, and Furina fell quiet.
She... knew the answer.
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