Lingquan’s words struck a quiet chord in her chest, not just because of the idea of him vanishing though she hated that but because he was right.
She had been alone once before. Dragged herself through betrayal and blood. And sohow, she had co out on the other side stronger.
But still, she couldn’t deny how comforting his presence was now. The sense of balance he gave her. Of having soone who saw beyond the human complications and calculations.
Who saw her and her vulnerability. She knew no one knew her the way Lingquan knew her.
She blinked away the sting in her eyes and reached over, patting his silky side. "You’re not allowed to go anywhere. Not yet."
[That’s not up to , rember? Systems are bound by our own contracts. Once your role reaches the final stage, I might be reassigned. Or... decommissioned.]
"Decommissioned?" Qingran’s voice sharpened, her whole body stiffening. "That sounds like a fancy way to say killed."
[It’s not death the way you understand it.] Lingquan said softly, curling into her palm like he could absorb her warmth. [More like returning to the data stream. A recycle. We lose personality, mory, and attachnts. I usually go to a different universe, keeps things interesting.]
Her throat clenched.
"That is death."
Lingquan didn’t answer for a while. Then, after a pause too heavy to ignore, he added, [It’s why I’m making the most of the ti we have left.]
Qingran didn’t speak again for a long mont. She simply laid there, her hand resting against his side, trying to push down the ache crawling into her chest.
She hated the idea of losing him, but if his mission was completed, she had no reason to hold him back.
But she knew better than to rail against things she couldn’t control. All she could do was make what ti they had count.
"I’ll make sure we get through this mission quickly.." she whispered. "And when we stop the apocalypse system, I’ll... I’ll request a clause to keep you with ."
[It’s not that simple.] Lingquan’s tone was gentle. [But thank you.]
She pulled the blanket a little tighter around them both, settling back against the pillows. "I just don’t want to win the war and lose what matters most. You’re a good friend"
[Then don’t. Hold tight to the people who stayed. Let them help you. That’s how you win.]
The words were simple, but they landed with weight.
Qingran closed her eyes and breathed. She could hear faint sounds through the walls, hamring, voices, movent.
These people were working hard. Holding the line, even without her out there barking orders. It made her both proud and wistful.
"Alright.." she said softly, more to herself than to Lingquan. "Recovery first. Then the flood challenge. Then Feng Yizhou and the elite team. And finally... the system behind all this."
[That’s the spirit.]
She tilted her head, eyes still shut. "You’ll let know if anything changes, right?"
[Of course. I’m watching everything. Even while you sleep.]
"Creepy..."
[A little..haha..but that’s how I keep you safe..]
Qingran gave a soft huff of laughter, the edge of her lips curling despite the heaviness in her heart.
"You’re a clingy watchdog."
[".."]
[You an watchcat.] Lingquan sat up a bit, his blue eyes, glowing in the dark.
[Soone has to be. You attract trouble like it’s scented candy.]
"I do not."
[You do. Just look at your track record, jealous survivors, roving death squads, rabid zombies, rogue systems...]
"That’s just... life."
[Your life. Which ans I’ve got my work cut out for .]
The banter helped. It lightened the heaviness that had crept into her bones earlier.
It reminded her that she didn’t have to carry the end of the world like a stone in her hands every waking mont.
Her breathing evened out, finally steady, her body sinking deeper into the mattress. She hadn’t realized how much tension she’d been holding in until it started to slip away.
Minutes passed in a companionable silence. Lingquan didn’t press her to speak, just stayed curled at her side like a loyal cat.
Then, soft and nearly drowsy, Qingran murmured, "Do you think the others would still follow ... even if I lost everything?"
[They didn’t follow your strength. They followed your heart.]
A long pause.
"...Cheesy.." she muttered.
[True...]
Qingran fell quiet again, this ti slipping into the edge of sleep.
She was just on the cusp of dreams when Lingquan’s voice tickled gently at her thoughts once more.
[System abilities will be up and running soon. You’ll be back to your old self in no ti, for now just relax.]
Qingran nodded and lonely drifted back into sleep.
Yiran walked into the room, with Bai Shiyue who was holding the tray of warm chicken soup.
"She’s asleep." Yiran whispered as they stopped.
"We’ll co back later. She’ll be in and out of it. So we have so ti."
Yiran nodded in agreent and turned, motioning for Bai Shiyue to step out quietly.
The other woman hesitated, her eyes lingering on Qingran’s resting form for a mont longer.
There was a tenderness there, quiet and unspoken. Then she turned and followed Yiran back out into the hallway.
The door clicked shut softly behind them.
In the quiet that followed, only the sound of Qingran’s breathing filled the room, slow and deep, the kind of sleep that ca not from peace but from sheer exhaustion.
Lingquan remained curled beside her, his blue tail flicking gently, the glow in his eyes dimd but ever watchful.
Outside the room, Yiran walked a few steps before pausing, looking down the long hallway lined with exhausted survivors and makeshift supplies. He exhaled through his nose.
"She looked... better.." Bai Shiyue said softly.
"She did.." he agreed. "Still too pale. But better."
"You think she’ll really be up and fighting again in ti?"
"She will..." Yiran said. "She always finds a way. She’s really strong, makes feel like I’m standing next to a man but she’s just a woman ."
Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnovel(.)com
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