Zhan Xinjia never imagined things would turn out this way.
As the plot had already unfolded, the assassins sent by Nanjun had broken in, and the tragedy of nine years ago was about to repeat itself. But this time, someone stood in front of the two children without hesitation.
The woman reloaded the hidden weapon repeatedly, her face expressionless.
Her expression was utterly calm and undisturbed, yet a near-mad light flickered in her reddened eyes.
Little Zhi was terrified by this sudden turn of events and hid behind her brother. The boy stared at the woman in front of him in astonishment, unsure whether to take his sister away or stay and help.
Gritting his teeth, the young man took out his usual longsword and decided to take a gamble, but he was stopped by Mu Yunlan as soon as he stepped forward.
Mu Yunlan frowned, glared at him, and shouted each word with all her might.
"go back!"
Go back, Paper will be in great pain if I lose you.
But it wouldn't matter to me. Anyway, I already hate Master, so I won't be too sad even if Master is gone.
To ensure the safety of both children for the time being, Mu Yunlan used a hidden weapon from her sleeve to block Yan Shuang's attack again. She tried her best to resist, but her body, which had been bedridden for many years, was too weak even nine years ago.
Staggering backward a few steps, Mu Yunlan steadied herself by grabbing the table and chairs, then fiercely raised her eyes, her gaze filled with a sharp and murderous intent.
In order to send her back to nine years ago, the system that called itself P1 had exhausted all its points. As long as it can save Zhi'er and Zhan Yinshu this time, P1 will no longer be able to pose any threat to Zhi'er.
Having been manipulated for half her life, Mu Yunlan had never felt so light-footed or so carefree.
There was even a sense of vengeful relief.
Freedom—at least she's doing what she wants now; she no longer has to be a puppet, a mere puppet.
At this moment, she is simply herself.
In its mind, P1 collapsed in disbelief, cursing and screaming sharply. From coercion and enticement to intimidation and pleading, it, which had always been high and mighty, tried to salvage the moment with every word.
Are you crazy?!
Don't you want to go home?! Just one step away, just one step away I can give you a large sum of money and send you home. You can cure your daughter's illness and continue being with your husband!
I've staked all my points on this one gamble. If you keep going crazy, we're both finished!
【If I lose, you can't go back either, you can't go back, do you understand? Your daughter is still waiting for you in the hospital, your husband is still working hard from dawn till dusk on the construction site, are you going to abandon them?】
【Mu Yunlan!!!】
Are you crazy?? You'd abandon your family for someone unimportant and completely unrelated to you?!
p1 was going crazy. If it weren't for the fact that it, as a system, couldn't detach itself from its host, it would have strangled Mu Yunlan to death.
How could there be such a strange woman? When the data was tested, it was clearly found that this crazy woman was willing to do anything to save her daughter, but now, now she is treating another person who has no blood relation as her own child!
Yes, when she goes crazy, she's willing to do anything for her child, including ruining his entire performance.
Humans... how... how could they be so strange?
Two completely unrelated people can develop a bond, even... familial affection?!
I absolutely cannot understand p1!
And Mu Yunlan only responded with its last sentence—
Her tone was calm, and her answer was quick and firm, without any wavering or hesitation.
All I'm doing right now is protecting my child!
As she said this, Mu Yunlan looked in the direction where Zhan Xinjia was.
Her eyes held the same gentleness they had shown over the past nine years, a heart-wrenching compassion, and undisguised indulgence and pampering.
But this time, there was a hint of relief in his eyes.
At that moment, her heart clenched suddenly, as if it were wrapped and entangled by something. Unable to utter a word, Zhan Xinjia could only take deep breaths and stare blankly at the person in front of her who had once been her closest confidant but had deceived her with one lie after another for nine years.
His lips parted, but no sound came out for a long time.
There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but in the end, they were stuck in my throat, and all I could utter were broken syllables that sounded like crying.
Aren't you... coming back to kill me?
Just like p1 said, you can go back to your distant hometown with just a few clicks, be with your husband and children, and no longer have to work so hard, no longer have to be bedridden due to chronic illness, and no longer have to cough all night long.
But why?
Why is that, Master?
You've told me so many stories about your hometown. I know you're not bored; you're just homesick.
"Master..."
Reaching out his hand in the direction of his master, Zhan Xinjia took a few steps forward, but Mu Yunlan simply shook her head silently.
Don't be stubborn, don't waste any more opportunities on me, Paper, you know what you should do.
Since the system would be ejected from the world by the will of the heavens once it separated from its host, Mu Yunlan thought that if she died, perhaps P1 would no longer be able to stay in this world.
Or perhaps, she didn't die; she simply found a different way to finally go home.
Warm blood splattered on her cheeks; whether it was her own or someone else's, Mu Yunlan could no longer tell.
As she watched the last assassin fall, the light in Mu Yunlan's eyes dimmed little by little. Her frail body, exhausted and weak, collapsed heavily into the mud and dust.
Her eyes trembled, and her raised hand still groped around, yearning for something.
Until the seven-year-old girl cried and clenched her blood-stained hand.
Mu Yunlan forced a smile and tightly gripped that hand, the soft hand that she had once led through the long streets and alleys, the hand that had always playfully tugged at her sleeve in her memory.
Master said that he never intended to hurt you...
Feeling the fluorescent blue light in her consciousness gradually disintegrate, Mu Yunlan closed her eyes peacefully, hoping for a sweet dream.
"Why did you tear your skirt again? What kind of cat do you like? Master will sew it for you."
"I haven't even finished practicing my calligraphy, and all I think about all day is going out to play... Sigh, alright, this is the last time. I'll go with my master to listen to the opera."
"Why are you always in such a hurry when you eat fish? No one is going to take it from you. Next time, wait for Master to remove all the fish bones."
"Zhi'er is finding medicine for Master. Zhi'er is so kind, she's the best girl in the world!"
"What beautiful fireflies! How about we put them in a bottle and make little nightlights for paper people who are afraid of the dark?"
...
That year, while watching a play at the opera house, Mu Yunlan turned around and couldn't find the little girl who had been pestering her to come out and play. The "Xue Xiangling" on stage was still singing.
"This is also a lesson from God. He taught me to let go of lingering resentment, to refrain from being spoiled, to start anew, to change my temperament, to stop clinging to the past, to turn back from the sea of suffering, and to realize the cause of my misfortune as soon as possible..."
Grabbing the little girl's hand, Mu Yunlan sighed softly, tapped her forehead disapprovingly, and led her outside.
"Why are you running around again? What if you get lost? Come on, your master will take you home."
"But Master, where is your home?"
Mu Yunlan paused for a moment, then smiled gently.
Once the paper has found its home, Master can go home in peace.
——
Sitting alone under the pear tree, Zhan Xinjia covered her face tightly, trying to make herself look less disheveled, but tears kept spilling from between her fingers, splashing little by little into the mud mixed with blood.
In his mind, Ji De sighed softly.
[p1 is gone, this retrospective is also coming to an end, and time will accelerate rapidly until it stops nine years later, which is the real reality.]
What do you want to do during this process? Uh… after all, we still have two more chances to interfere with the past. You can do whatever you want, as long as… you can be a little happier, meow.
Then Zhan Xinjia slowly stood up.
The scenes before his eyes played like a revolving lantern, constantly fleeting and being drawn away with the passing years, until one day, Zhan Xinjia suddenly parted the curtain of paintings before him and stepped inside.
That was the Flower Festival of a certain year.
"Miss, miss, slow down! There are too many people!"
A maidservant called out in a panic, but in the crowded throng, she couldn't find her mistress anywhere.
At that moment, Zhan Xinjia was walking against the flow of people, as if searching for something. She looked around carefully, and suddenly, with surprising precision, she picked up a little girl who looked to be about ten years old from the bustling crowd.
"Qiaoqiao, don't run around."
The little girl, who had gotten separated from her maid while playing, pitifully carried her kite. Suddenly, her eyes widened, tears still welling up, as she stared blankly at the unfamiliar older sister in front of her.
How do you know my name?
Zhan Xinjia smiled and gently wiped away her tears with her sleeve, then pinched her cheek with a smile, "Oh, how could I not know, you little crybaby~"
As she spoke, she walked to a less crowded area, put the little girl down on the ground, and smiled as she pushed her towards the direction where the maid was.
"Come home quickly, Qiaoqiao, your parents have been looking for you."
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