"Hey, you're here." Xu Xiaoyou greeted Tang Xin.

"Why did you call me to this kind of place?" Tang Xin asked with a frown.

Seeing the girl somewhat glum, Xu Xiaoyou smiled and stood up, walking behind Tang Xin and squeezing her shoulder, leading her to the sofa.

"Relax~ It's serious business, sit down, sit down."

The environment in the private room was rather dim, with dazzling lights hitting the glass stage, purple and light blue beams criss-crossing, and mottled light spots reflecting on the crystal walls of the private room.

"Do you remember what happened a week ago?" Xu Xiaoyou asked while cracking some sunflower seeds.

Tang Xin's expression softened a bit, and she said, "You mean when you were called to the Tuning Institute for tea?"

"Uh-huh, now that investigator is still watching me, it's quite troublesome."

"What can I do to help?" Tang Xin asked.

Xu Xiaoyou said mysteriously, "For now, just keep me company and chat for half an hour."

The curtain played an enlightenment cartoon, something that seemed naive when watched as a child, but now felt just right.

Seeing Xu Xiaoyou genuinely engrossed, Tang Xin chuckled softly and said nothing more.

Maybe I was wrong about You, how could that person be so?

Twenty minutes later.

Lights flickered, the explosive music shook the air.

Under the dark red light, the clinking sounds of ice hitting glass filled the air, the sounds of revelry intertwined.

"Have another drink, come on, another one, darling~"

In the private room, not sure when it filled up with Flower Buds, a blonde girl sat on the sofa, several female buds gathered around, eyes dreamy and hazy, a line of male buds dressed as bunny girls lined up in front of the glass stage, dancing a tap dance, the dim room filled with a pink atmosphere.

"I can't drink anymore, really can't drink anymore." Xu Xiaoyou shook her hand, a hint of shallow red on her face, her mouth carrying a casual smile.

"Just one more drink, the final one, this one's called - Dream Fantasy Night~"

"Hey... you're getting carried away." Tang Xin's eyebrows nearly stood up, her voice lowered.

"Why are you meddling so much? My darling can do whatever she wants." A female bud wasn't pleased, speaking up loudly.

"Exactly, why meddle so much." Another female bud reached out to hug Xu Xiaoyou's shoulder, sitting next to her, her whole body leaning on the girl, eyes suggestive.

Xu Xiaoyou lowered her head, her consciousness began to blur under the alcohol's stimulation, saying nothing, the pinkish mist drifting to her nose made her furrow her brows slightly, shaking her head.

"Come on, darling, create art, hold this~" A female bud handed a paintbrush to Xu Xiaoyou with a coquettish tone.

"Create art, where to paint? There's no canvas."

"Oh, you must be a regular here, asking us where to paint."

The female bud bit her lip and turned around, the golden silk open-back dress showing smooth and flawless skin in front of Xu Xiaoyou.

Pushed and shoved between the female buds, Xu Xiaoyou felt a bit dizzy, at a loss.

"Get out." Tang Xin raised her voice. "Everyone out!"

The Flower Buds in the private room seemed not to expect the silent blue-haired girl in the corner to suddenly erupt at this moment, they all looked at Tang Xin incredulously with wide eyes.

"Didn't you hear me? Now, out!"

Noticing everyone's gaze land on her, Xu Xiaoyou hazily raised her head, seeing that Tang Xin's face bore irritation, sternly watching her, she covered her face and waved her hand:

"Go out, go out."

"What a killjoy."

"Yeah, the beautiful night was just beginning."

The male and female buds lined up, one by one walking out of the private room.

After everyone left, Tang Xin held Xu Xiaoyou's hand, intending to walk out, when suddenly Xu Xiaoyou leaned her entire body toward her, as she panicked slightly, the girl's voice came:

"In a bit I'll leave it to you, protect me well."

Tang Xin paused, turning her head, finding Xu Xiaoyou's face imbued with a hint of alcohol now bore a changed expression, confused yet serious.

"Otherwise, I might die."

Before Tang Xin could ponder the meaning of those words, Xu Xiaoyou lowered her head, as Tang Xin worried the girl might collapse, she gently turned her shoulder, letting the girl's head rest on her.

At this moment, someone knocked on the private room's door.

Opening the door, a black-haired, white-clothed girl came into view, it was Bai Nian'an.

As she entered the room, she covered her mouth and nose, from the pungent alcohol scent causing discomfort, she glanced around, empty bottles and food scraps scattered everywhere, a multi-faceted glass cup rolled to her foot, residual liquor inside refracting colorful light.

Bai Nian'an furrowed her brows tightly, "You all?"

"Sorry." Tang Xin said softly. "For letting you see this scene."

Bai Nian'an looked at Xu Xiaoyou with complex expression, shook her head without saying anything, handing a CT scan over to Tang Xin.

"What's this?" Tang Xin took the CT and glanced at it.

"Earlier, I took her to get a brain CT at Life Daylight Medical Institute..."

Before Bai Nian'an finished speaking, the blonde girl interrupted, both in the room stared at the dazed Xu Xiaoyou, who was crying, mumbling nonstop: I don't have much longer to live, am I going to die?

"Before dying, I don't want too many regrets."

Bai Nian'an's corner of the mouth twitched slightly, thinking indeed, any average person learning they've been attacked by a mysterious entity, possibly suffering an intracranial mutation, not having long to live, would have this mentality, letting themselves wallow in indulgence.

"Don't worry, she's fine, at least the bird-beak physician says there's nothing abnormal with her."

"But if she keeps up this lifestyle, it's hard to say."

"Head home early, lately... try not to be out alone at night."

Watching Bai Nian'an leave, Tang Xin's ears echoed with her final words, she looked at Xu Xiaoyou again, finding the other also watching her, not a hint of sadness on her face at all.

"I'm very clear-headed now, I know what I'm doing."

"Good people don't live long, while evil ones linger forever, don't worry, I'll live well."

With that, Xu Xiaoyou put on her black woolen coat and walked out of the private room.

"You're still not clear-headed..."

Tang Xin hesitated, recalling Xu Xiaoyou's instructions, quietly holding back thoughts, following the girl out of the florist.

...

Xu Xiaoyou walked unsteadily in the biting wind, as if with just a gentle push, she'd tumble into the snowdrift.

Both sides of the street were brightly lit, various lights and the radiance of luxury shops intersected, under the silhouettes of tall buildings, hurried people like tiny ants, as if in the shadows, lurking danger and dark tides surging.

Don't know when it started, the bustling street scene began to recede, replaced by desolation and overgrown weeds.

On the city outskirts, trees' branches meld together, forming heavy shadows like ghostly hands extended, winds wandering between the woods, making piercing howls like mournful wails.

In front of knee-high weeds, Xu Xiaoyou's figure passed through, stirring a gust that flattened the wild grass against the ground.

An abandoned factory stood in the suburbs, its mottled roofing casting immense shadows, resembling a rusted iron beast without beauty, incongruous with the city hidden among distant mountains.

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