Chapter 126 A Gentleman's Character is Like a Steadfast Jade Pendant (1)
She could rest for a while before returning to school, but Weston didn't allow her a moment's relaxation.
First, he was reinstated at the research center. After clocking in at the Union Building, he had to go back to the research center to clock in again.
Secondly, after unanimous deliberation in parliament, it was decided to put him in charge of coordinating the election, since he was a "people's hero" among the elite, born in the poorest neighborhood of Pinneco, and had a legendary influence among the people.
Voters prefer to see a clean-looking face, even if it looks unpleasant, rather than a pot-bellied old man.
Weston attributed the disastrous outcome to Shu Ningmiao's overly exaggerated packaging.
She bribed a bunch of media outlets to publish a touching autobiography that he himself was unaware of, describing him as spirited and fearless of authority, along with a heavily edited photo that was magnified several times and made him look cold and aloof—which has led him to now have to cover his face with a mask when he goes out.
Shu Ningmiao was sitting in his office, waiting for him to finish reviewing all the approvals. She looked down, picked out the largest cherry from the fruit plate, took a bite, and denied, "Elections are just like reality shows."
“You have a misunderstanding of politics.” Weston lowered his eyebrows, his pen making a “swoosh” sound as it traced lines on the paper. “It’s a waste of effort.”
The election of representatives is nothing more than a contest between two political parties. He may have a seat in parliament now, but he can never truly become a spokesperson for these elite ruling classes.
“People don’t think they can be ruled, nor do they think they can decide anything important, but they do think they can choose the person who makes those decisions.” Shu Ningmiao lazily lay back on the sofa looking at her terminal: “At least you can be the one who is chosen.”
He glanced at her, frowned, and his green eyes beneath his brows seemed even more unfriendly: "Why don't you do it?"
"Those who are capable should do more work."
Weston calmly replied, "I don't feel honored."
He closed the folder.
Shu Ningmiao stood up and tossed the cherries in her hand to him: "But I paid for them."
She suddenly remembered something: "Why did you change to fresh fruit today?"
Weston caught the bright red cherry she tossed to him, threw it onto the porcelain plate, and said without answering, "I'm leaving."
Union Tower remains like a hardworking anthill, with people bustling about, unaffected by the chaos it has caused.
The case of the death of the nun in New Territories has been concluded in a hasty manner. Pinheis only cared about the result, and no one cared about the life or death of a student like Erice.
Zhao fabricated a mission report to barely cover up the matter, proving that his status as a war star was not in vain and that he still had some influence in the upper echelons of Pinne.
During the emergency meeting this morning, at the strong request of parliament member and Cornunos principal Aloberia, the National Security Bureau granted a special pass to a number of Cornunos students in the new area.
Due to the recent general election, there is virtually no possibility that New Zealand will reopen its borders.
In Shu Ningmiao's view, the current election situation is even simpler than the student council reshuffle.
Pinheeu's Electoral College system made it difficult for minority parties to compete with the major parties; it was merely a show of fighting between the Liberal Party and the Whig Party.
The Liberal Party candidate, Lucicolay, who currently holds the advantage, will be elected next Sunday. Soon after, war will break out, resulting in the heavy loss of many ability users. This is because the ability users who fled after the destruction of the Tori kingdom are instigating riots in various places, plunging the planet into chaos.
If the information she heard in the string current is correct, then this is the original trajectory of the world.
Shu Ningmiao was certain that someone had played a part in this series of chain disasters, but she couldn't find a way to get to the bottom of it.
She did consider assassinating Lucico, but she knew it would be futile.
Compared to when she first gained her powers, her objective strength is undeniable. She is confident in her strength but not arrogant. Even if she were to confront an executor, she could still assassinate a candidate without being surrounded.
But if Lucicole dies, the Liberal Party will immediately push for a replacement like Lacicole or Pucicole. The death of one person is insignificant to a country, and she can't possibly silence everyone who disagrees with her.
When you can easily decide someone's life or death with great power, you'll find that there aren't many problems that can truly be solved with death. Death, at most, only has meaning for those around the person who died.
Shu Ningmiao rested her chin on her hand, calmly looking out the car window. The half-lowered window reflected her vacant eyes.
We've arrived at the medical clinic.
Weston had one hand on the steering wheel, and a bunch of yellow roses sat between them.
Arsya remained the same, lying in her hospital bed day after day, gazing out the window, and occasionally reading a book when she felt a little better.
A normal person's body cannot handle the strain of string flow; her illness is an added burden of "omniscience," and there is no possibility of ever getting better.
Arcia seemed to be in good spirits today, sitting on the bed making a handmade gift that came with the picture book.
Shu Ningmiao walked ahead with her hands behind her back, while Weston, carrying the flowers she had brought, followed slowly behind her.
Arsia looked up, saw the two of them, tilted her head back, smiled with her eyes crinkled and her lips pursed, her expression still somewhat childlike.
Her superficial smile showed only happiness, not much surprise. She raised her hand to her ear and whispered, "I heard you're coming."
Weston, unfazed, bent down and picked out the flowers one by one, placing them in the vase by her bedside.
Shu Ningmiao was curious about how much Arcia knew, but she didn't say anything because Weston was present.
There was nothing particularly interesting between Arcia and her brother to begin with, and seeing that she was alright, Weston got up and left to discuss the treatment plan with the attending physician, no longer paying attention to the two of them.
After they were left alone in the ward, Shu Ningmiao took out a delicate little box from her pocket.
Arcia took it and opened it; inside the velvet box was a chip.
Shu Ningmiao's gaze fell on the game chip of "Secret Love" along with hers. After a pause, she said, "I think... it would be better to return it to its rightful owner."
Arcia looked away from the chip, glanced at Shu Ningmiao, and smiled slightly: "Actually, I haven't played with it yet."
She closed the box, a warm smile spreading across her face, her eyes filled with childlike clarity: "...This is what I said two years later."
Shu Ningmiao seemed stunned by what she suddenly said.
"I'm sorry, I haven't been able to help you yet. The guide chip I used to protect you has been hacked and is in terrible condition." She had only said two sentences when she touched her lips with her fingertip, and a faint black string flowed through her again: "I can't say any more, or he will sense it."
"It's alright, no need to say anything more." Shu Ningmiao shook her head almost imperceptibly.
“A long time ago, I could hear the sound of strings intermittently.” The girl smiled at her reassuringly. “At first, I tried to tell my parents and Pinheis what I heard, and then I understood why the ‘omniscient one’ could only be an observer who listened to the world.”
Shu Ningmiao said frankly, "At least you didn't become a bystander to me."
“The string chose you.” Arcia shook her head softly: “The string is the consciousness of the planet. The reverse flow it controls is the only one that cannot be interfered with by that person’s will. It cannot change for a certain country or a certain person, but only for the planet itself that is about to be destroyed.”
She uttered softly, "What 'Fate' seeks is the destruction of the planet."
Shu Ningmiao raised her hand and pressed it to her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
Arsia looked up at the window. From the garden downstairs, the laughter and sounds of children playing football could be heard from time to time: "Or rather, 'self-destruction'."
The girl's voice stopped there, without making any other wishes or requests.
The world is a very broad concept, and people can only see what's around them. Therefore, for her, Shu Ningmiao being alive is a more concrete concept than saving the world.
Shu Ningmiao didn't continue the topic and lowered her voice to ask her, "What do you want, yourself?"
The sounds of children playing downstairs drifted around. She and Shu Ningmiao watched the children chasing each other among the intertwined trees below the window. Her face showed a touch of innocent childishness. She bit her lip and said, "Well...actually, I want to see the world outside the clinic."
The warm light cast a soft shadow on her face, and the dark shadow cast by Arcia's eyelashes made her look somewhat lonely. After being protected by Pine, she had not seen the world outside the ward for several years.
The girl blinked pitifully.
Shu Ningmiao did not answer and remained silent.
She stood quietly for a moment, estimating the time, before finally saying, "Okay."
There were many plainclothes officers from the Public Security Bureau guarding the area and changing shifts, but she had nothing to worry about.
Having the ability to achieve something but still being hesitant and indecisive only makes the ability seem worthless.
She found a spare portable respirator and medicine, put them in her backpack just in case, covered Arsya's head with her hat, and used one hand to pick her up.
Arsia's eyes widened, and she stared blankly for a moment before smiling, reaching out to wrap her arms around Arsia's thin neck.
The girl gently and carefully supported her with one hand, her arm taut, strong, and warm. Arcia raised her head, her eyes wide open.
Shu Ningmiao pried open the safety lock, jumped out of the bathroom window, landed lightly on the ground, and slowly left the medical station.
With one hand holding Arcia, she took out her terminal and typed a message to Weston, asking him to stall for time.
Arsia stretched her arm over her shoulder, clenched her fist excitedly. Years of illness had made her very thin, even her slender fingers were thin and sickly withered, but she was completely unaware of it, and said happily, "...It was like this before too."
Shu Ningmiao, with her back to the wind, couldn't hear clearly: "What before?"
“Before… you were like this too, bringing me out without hesitation.” Arcia gripped her arm, her emerald eyes shining with a clear, gentle light, a blush of laughter spreading across her pale face. “You took me to the Belial Corridor and bought me a very expensive bag. I asked, ‘Why is this bag so expensive?’ I can tell its quality, I can hear about its production process, I know so much, but I don’t know why it has such a high price. You told me—there are many things in this world that cannot be understood through ‘omniscience’.”
Shu Ningmiao felt as if this non-existent memory did not exist in her mind.
Arcia looked up at her: "You asked me what I want to be?"
Shu Ningmiao asked her, "What kind of person do you want to become?"
“Back then, I said I wanted to become a researcher like my brother, but I couldn’t get out of bed. My brother has already helped me realize my dream.” There was always a light smile on Arcia’s lips: “You said I would become a researcher even better than my brother, just like that day you told me that I would definitely become a more popular teacher than him.”
After she disappeared, even that statement became unbelievable. She listened carefully to her memories, still hoping to find her and reclaim that dream.
Shu Ningmiao knew she hadn't said it, but she quickly realized when she had.
“So that day I sat by the window waiting for you to appear, and then I threw the book down.” Arcia looked at her with bright eyes, her smile revealing two dimples, and a hint of slyness in her eyes: “Because I wanted to go out with you again.”
Shu Ningmiao was silent for a moment, then asked in a casual tone, "So where do you want to go this time?"
"I want to go...to a sunny place to see the flowers."
"good."
...
She kept her word and took her to the place she wanted to go.
Arcia was exhausted and soon slumped listlessly on her shoulder like a fluffy ball of cotton.
It rained lightly last night, so the air is exceptionally fresh today.
After breathing quietly on her back for a long time, the girl suddenly spoke, whispering almost inaudibly in her ear: "This time, you will definitely have a bright and brilliant future."
"I will," Shu Ningmiao hummed softly in response, "and you too."
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Author's Note: 'Weston's Year-End Report'
Your search volume this year is 0, it seems the real world is more attractive to you.
The contact you care about most is [N]. You've been secretly following her updates 26 times. Click "Share Report" to tell her!
Your footprints have illuminated the [Medical Institute], [Cornunos], [Pigne VII National Research Center], and [Pigne National Union Building]. The most frequented place is the [Medical Institute]. This niche spot has attracted more than 63% of the people nationwide. Are you surprised?
This year, you received nearly 97% anonymous feedback from students, with the most upvoted comment being "Who dares to get rid of this plague god?" You also achieved the title of "Teacher with the most negative reviews in Cornunos." Keep up the good work next year!
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