Luo Ye lay on the hospital bed.
This was her first time wearing a hospital gown in her life. She had thought such a time would never come for her, but in fact, in the past few days, she had experienced many things she thought she would never experience in her life.
Becoming a patient was nothing compared to being beaten to her knees and apologizing to her younger sister, whom she had originally only regarded as a small animal, for her past wrongdoings.
Luo Ye knew Lin Yilin was powerful and had anticipated that she might be dissatisfied with some issues. Luo Ye hadn't really cared whether she was dissatisfied or not, only hoping that she could live according to the future she had envisioned for her.
She didn't want Lin Yilin to become another version of herself.
She had self-indulgently planned out Lin Yilin's life, and any remaining dissatisfaction would be maintained through force. That would be good.
… … Was it really good?
Could the equal relationship that everyone called “friend” be maintained purely by that logic?
It depended on whether she wanted to be a “friend” or a “solitary strong person.”
Before June 31st, she would have unhesitatingly chosen the latter.
But now, it seemed her desire to become that kind of strong person was not as firm.
Otherwise, how could she have revealed her timidity after just a few questions from Lin Yilin?
Some people always think that being single-minded, stepping over everything, commanding all living beings, standing high and looking far, and transcending everything including one's own desires is a very easy thing. Or rather, they believe it's easy for a “strong person,” just like believing a protagonist in a light novel is omnipotent.
But at least, for Luo Ye, who had persisted for so many years…
She covered her eyes with her arm.
“It's too difficult…”
Lin Yilin's vortex, her own vortex, that vortex named Zheng Fan.
They made it difficult for her to ignore.
Suddenly, the hospital room door was pushed open, and scattered footsteps entered.
Luo Ye moved her arm slightly, revealing one eye, and looked at the newcomers.
“Hello, Miss Luo Ye, I am Baishi, Chief of the Xixikoke and Surrounding Processing Bureau. I apologize for the intrusion, and I want to express my gratitude and respect for everything you did for Xixikoke during my absence from Xixikoke on June 31st,” Baishi said softly, bowing.
Luo Ye glanced at him and said, “Oh, you're that rather famous one from before. So Xixikoke is your jurisdiction, I didn't even know.”
Baishi glanced at the accompanying people, who also looked embarrassed, unsure what to say.
Without showing any dissatisfaction with Luo Ye's words, Baishi said, “I have long admired your reputation as well. Returning after two years, it truly lives up to its name.”
“Stop it, I'm lying in a hospital bed,” Luo Ye said helplessly.
“According to the on-site situation, you engaged in combat with the mysterious Illusion that appeared on June 31st. That Illusion, judging solely from the clues, was quite formidable. Your act of repelling it and limiting the scope of the disaster is already a tremendous contribution.”
As Baishi spoke, he unexpectedly scrutinized Luo Ye on the hospital bed. To be honest, rumors said this free individual, though powerful, had a terrible temper, but their current conversation felt very calm.
There was a sense of docility, like a mischievous cat that had been thoroughly “loved”…
He subtly shook his head, thinking it was an Illusion, probably due to the injury.
Luo Ye wanted to curse.
Was it possible that she was the one who got beaten down?
After beating her down, Zheng Fan got off Lin Yilin, but Lin Yilin also seemed to be exhausted from that special possession state, and then Zheng Fan left with Lin Yilin.
From the Processing Bureau's perspective, the mysterious Illusion did not cause too much damage, and only Luo Ye was left at the scene, so it was naturally Luo Ye's credit.
It was truly ironic.
“Besides expressing my gratitude, I also wish to inquire about information regarding that mysterious Illusion. Such a dangerous Illusion, we must take it seriously,” Baishi stated his true purpose.
Luo Ye had already guessed it: “Alright.”
She described an incredibly ugly humanoid Illusion with four arms, a second mouth on its belly, four eyes on its face, and a disgusting tumor on its right cheek, which favored cutting as its primary attack method.
“Cutting, huh… That does match some of the traces,” Baishi instructed the person next to him to record it. Not that there was much doubt to begin with, but hearing “cutting” combined with the on-site intelligence made it even more credible.
After Luo Ye finished her narration, she slumped back onto the hospital bed: “That's it. You go look for it. If you find it, you're amazing. It'll be your turn to fight that thing.”
Baishi felt her words were strange, but he simply took it as Luo Ye's eccentric personality and nodded, saying, “Thank you for the information.”
“No need. Just remember to transfer the commission fee to my account… No, transfer it to the Zero One Office's account,” Luo Ye covered her eyes again.
“Zero One Office…” This name was not unfamiliar to Baishi.
“She discovered some clues about the Earth Tremor Society, and my battle with the mysterious Illusion was also largely thanks to her help… Hmm, I suppose so.”
“I know the former head of this Office. We had some dealings. It seems that gentleman has a successor,” Baishi couldn't help but praise.
Luo Ye moved her arm: “Really?”
Baishi nodded and said, “Yes, Edman was talented and a pure Office person, adhering to the original intention of the Dadu Office. I deeply regret what happened to him. I saw the current head when I attended the funeral, but I didn't say hello. That girl is very strong; even without any support, she never cried. Unfortunately, my position limited me from freely assisting her, but I did provide some conveniences for her in some minor ways. Looking at it now, she probably would have grown up even without that little help.”
Luo Ye: “…”
“Is something wrong?” Baishi asked, puzzled by Luo Ye's sudden blank stare.
Luo Ye picked up a pillow and covered her face with it: “Nothing, I just feel like I'm really not a human…”
Baishi: ?
“Thank you, she is also my… friend,” Luo Ye's muffled voice came from under the pillow.
“No need. As long as she truly makes contributions, it is only right,” Baishi said, then thanked her again and left with his subordinates.
Hearing the hospital room door close, Luo Ye remained motionless for a long time.
“Dead?”
Suddenly, a frivolous voice came from beside her ear.
Luo Ye jumped, moved the pillow, and saw a Black Sparrow that had appeared on the hospital room windowsill at some unknown time. The sparrow tilted its small head, its gray eyes fixed on her.
“Ah!” Luo Ye cried out, pulling up the quilt and shrinking into the quilt entirely.
“What are you doing? Are you sleeping naked in the hospital room? I feel like your personality is certainly capable of that,” Zheng Fan felt inexplicable.
Luo Ye poked her head out, looking at Zheng Fan with a complex expression: “…This is Jiyun District. How did you get in?”
“I just tried and got in. Although I feel all my power is severely suppressed, I did get in. And some small animals seem to be able to see me, but it seems I can't invade them,” the sparrow said casually, flapping its wings.
“This is the White District, not a public restroom.”
“Then it's my public restroom now.”
“Your personality is much worse than mine.”
“But you've already knelt, so I say my personality is better than yours. Any objections?”
“…” Luo Ye, shrinking her head back into the quilt, remained silent.
The sparrow landed on the headboard, looking down at the white lump in front of it: “Don't want to pull out the nails anymore?”
Luo Ye poked her head out again.