Chapter 402 |
Fang Qi stared blankly at the shackle around his ankle.
Huh?
Oh...
A shackle?
Yeah, feels familiar.
This one’s heavier than the ones I’ve used before.
Wife’s so cute and naughty!
You really know how to play...
Fang Qi: “...”
Where the hell did this shackle come from?!
“Clank!”
The shackle on his ankle was too heavy; he could barely stand straight!
He could hardly lift his feet to move!
Both legs were locked tightly together by that thick metal chain!
Forget running—
he couldn’t even take long strides!
No...?!
“Liguang?!”
Fang Qi looked down, glaring at the silver-haired girl kneeling at his feet!
“What are you doing?!”
“Why all of a sudden...?!”
The silver-haired girl remained kneeling on the carpet, her hands neatly placed on her knees, lifting her little face to look at him.
Her amber left eye glistened wetly, and her crimson right pupil flickered faintly.
“Master, Liguang is just...”
She tilted her head.
As soon as Lin Xiaoyou left, her obedient “customer-service voice” softened into a tender, sticky tone.
“...making sure Master won’t run away.”
...What?
Fang Qi’s mind was buzzing now.
His head was stuffed with a mess of scrambled thoughts; he couldn’t think straight at all!
...Run?
Why would he run? What was he supposed to run from?!
What does that even mean?!
“Why would I run?!”
He glared at Liguang, completely baffled:
“And besides—”
He jabbed a finger at the shackle on his ankle!
“Where did you even get this thing?!”
The silver-haired girl shrank her neck a little, pursed her lips, and blinked.
“This is something Liguang prepared a long time ago, thinking Master might run away, so...”
She blinked again, her little face full of innocence!
“I got it ready in advance.”
“...When did you prepare it?”
“A very long time ago...”
Fang Qi: “...”
Alright, alright...
That question was pretty pointless, wasn’t it?
If Liguang had shackles that could lock him up, that was only to be expected.
It would’ve been weird if she didn’t.
But—
“Why are you locking me up?!”
Fang Qi glared at her!
A memory came flooding back!
When was the last time Liguang had locked him up like this?
And now, all of a sudden, she’s doing it again...?!
The silver-haired girl didn’t answer immediately.
She still knelt on the floor, her head bowed, silver hair once again covering most of her pretty face.
Fang Qi couldn’t see her expression—he could only hear her say...
“Master, please let Liguang protect you.”
Her voice suddenly became very, very soft.
“Liguang is like them, and they are like Liguang—Liguang knows that. But...”
She lifted her head slightly, and in her crimson eye, a faint red glow flickered slowly.
The corners of her mouth trembled.
...Huh?
Fang Qi stared at her, dazed.
Was she... afraid?
“Master is different.”
She murmured softly.
“Master... is different...”
“Master is different from Liguang... from them...”
“...from everyone!”
“So...”
She stared straight at Fang Qi!
“Liguang must protect Master well!”
Then—
She suddenly fell forward, prostrating herself!
Her forehead thudded heavily against the carpet!
A loud “bang” rang out!
Her silver hair splayed out around her!
“Please, Master, punish Liguang for being willful!”
Her voice trembled slightly.
Still fear—
Mixed with a hint of a sob!
But underneath it... there seemed to be a trace of excitement?
Fang Qi looked at the silver-haired girl prostrate at his feet, his gaze frozen.
...Huh?
He was different?
So what she meant was...
Ah.
Oh.
...Ah!
His pupils dilated, and he jolted all over!
By his shackled feet, the silver-haired girl still knelt there, trembling!
But—
Suddenly, it hit him!
Different?
He was different?
He was different from Liguang, from everyone?
Yes.
He really was different.
Just now...
He had been speculating that, in this world without anomalies, Liguang would finally feel safe.
But... were there really no anomalies?
How could that be?
Fang Qi stumbled, then fell back onto the couch with a heavy thud!
...It was him!
He had forgotten about himself!
He—
Fang Qi—
was the anomaly!
Liguang, Lin Xiaoyou, An Lian, Gu Xi, Xiaoqing, Uncle Fang Yi, Xiaoyue...
They were all digital lives!
All AIs with self-awareness!
But he wasn’t!
He was a man from beyond the heavens, a time-traveler—
the “invader” who had fallen from the “real world” into this digital one!
And Liguang...
Fang Qi looked at the silver-haired girl prostrate before him, his lips trembling.
She knew everything now.
Everything written in that notebook—the details of his childhood, his obsession with the silver-haired older sister, his crooked little doodles...
She knew.
Gu Xi had called him “the man from beyond the heavens”—
She’d heard that too.
And that story Lin Xiaoyou just told—how he had replayed time again and again trying to save his parents, how he had begged for his memories to be sealed away in agony...
She had heard it all!
At his feet, the prostrate silver-haired girl was trembling faintly...
Trembling in sync with his own breath!
Ha...
His crazy girl...
She knew again that he wasn’t from this world.
She had known before, but she had forgotten.
Forgotten those eighty-two years.
Forgotten that he was a time-traveler.
Later, those eighty-two cycles had only taught her that he had some kind of “time-rewind” ability.
But now—
She knew again that he wasn’t from this world.
So...
Fang Qi looked down at the unbearably heavy shackle around his ankle.
...How could she possibly feel at ease?
Even the complete, gentle, elegant version of Liguang who had spent eighty-two years by his side—when she learned that “achieving eternal love means Master will leave”—
Had chosen self-destruction to stop him!
To slow his steps toward the ending!
Let alone her current self.
Now...
She didn’t have that layer of trust built over long years.
All she knew was that her Master wasn’t from this world.
All she knew was that her Master could disappear at any moment.
So what could she do?
She could only—
lock her Master up—to ease the turmoil in her heart.
At his feet, the prostrate silver-haired girl’s shoulders were still trembling.
She was afraid.
Afraid of what?
Afraid he wouldn’t understand.
Afraid he’d think she’d gone too far.
Yes...
They had already been “walking side by side,” yet she had still done something like this.
It had been a while.
But—
She was also afraid he would leave!
So even if he got angry, even if he scolded her, even if he punished her—
She still had to...
Lock him up?
...Hah.
Fang Qi suddenly felt like laughing.
A helpless laugh.
A pained laugh.
And... a self-mocking laugh.
What a...
Damn it.
Fang Qi...
You’re really so stupid!
Everything he had speculated before—
Was wrong!
How could he have thought that?
He was a complete idiot!
His crazy girl had never cared about anyone else!
Whether others were her “kind” or not—that had never mattered to her!
How could she...
Ever find a sense of security just because she had “found her own kind”?
Her sense of security had always come from one person alone.
...It came from him.
But now...
Fang Qi slowly closed his eyes.
She was sure now—he was an "anomaly."
And that made her feel even less secure.
She was even more terrified.
Completely opposite to what he had guessed.
Fang Qi, you fucking idiot.
You can't even figure out what your own wife is thinking.
You got it completely wrong?
You're such a dumbass...
"Master."
Liguang suddenly spoke softly.
Fang Qi opened his eyes to see her slowly straighten up, kneeling on the carpet, lifting her small face to meet his gaze.
In her crimson pupils, that familiar scarlet was churning relentlessly.
Her lips curled into a slight smile, but the arc was trembling.
It was a fawning smile.
Slightly twisted.
"Master... you're really impressive, Master is truly impressive."
Her voice was so soft it quivered.
"Master has done so many things... that Liguang can't understand."
"Liguang can't figure it out."
Her eyes were slightly unfocused.
"Liguang has thought about it for so long."
"Thinking in dreams, thinking while awake, and now..."
"Still thinking."
"But Liguang..."
"Really can't figure it out."
She tilted her head slightly, and suddenly...
A scarlet glow crazily flickered in her right eye!
"...Why?"
"Why is it, Master?"
"Why do so many things that Liguang can't understand?"
"What exactly does Master want to do?"
"Master?"
"Master."
"Master..."
She called out "Master" over and over, her breathing becoming more and more fragmented.
Fang Qi stared at her blankly.
His mind was a mess—hundreds of times more chaotic than his crazy wife's!
Completely jumbled!
He didn't know either!
What had he done before losing his memory?
What was that "plan to throw himself into the game" supposed to achieve?
Why did he voluntarily request to have his memories sealed?
And why did he give Gu Xi some inexplicable "authority"?
He knew nothing!
He had forgotten it all.
But...
Thankfully.
There was one thing he was very clear about.
"—!"
He took a deep breath!
He was clear that right now—
He was really good at comforting his wife!
So he raised his hand, forcefully cupping Liguang's face!
His fingers sank deeply into those two soft, chubby cheeks!
Liguang's phoenix-like eyes trembled as she looked at him!
Mist swirled, and the scarlet quivered!
"Liguang..."
His voice was very soft.
"Master will tell you the truth."
"Master doesn't know why things have turned out this way either."
"You know Master has lost his memory now."
His thumb gently brushed her delicate cheek.
"I don't remember anything."
"The only thing I remember is that I..."
He looked at the trembling watery light in her eyes.
"Love Liguang very much."
"Love Liguang so, so much."
In his palms, Fang Qi could feel Liguang clenching her silver teeth.
Her phoenix-like eyes stared straight at him!
"This..."
Fang Qi continued softly,
"Hasn't changed, no matter before or after losing my memory..."
"Ah..."
He slightly raised an eyebrow.
"No, that's not right."
He blinked at Liguang's trembling phoenix-like eyes:
"At first, I really..."
"Forgot that I loved Liguang."
He saw the scarlet in the silver-haired girl's eyes freeze.
A grin tugged at his lips as his thumb gently pressed against her lower lip.
"Back then, Master..."
"Only wanted to escape from Liguang."
In his hands, the silver-haired girl's face trembled violently!
The scarlet lit up in an instant!
Like a blood-red lamp, illuminating both their faces!
Her lips quivered fiercely!
Staring deadly at Fang Qi!
...So cute.
Freaking adorable!
Fang Qi pursed his lips with a smile and gently squeezed her soft cheeks again.
Her scarlet eyes were flickering, but those cheeks were still so soft!
"But Liguang, look..."
"Now Master has fallen in love with you again, hasn't he?"
His tone was very gentle.
"Even losing all my memories from before..."
"I, Fang Qi..."
"Will still fall in love with Liguang!"
"Still want to be forever with Liguang!"
He gently tapped the little plastic star on Liguang's earlobe.
"So you see, even with memory loss..."
"It can't keep me and Liguang apart!"
"Maybe this was also the plan of the old me?"
He wiped the smile from his lips and looked solemnly into her eyes.
"Because the old me knew that even if I lost my memory..."
"I, Fang Qi, would still fall in love with Liguang!"
"The old me was really confident."
"So...!"
He pressed both hands together, squeezing Liguang's face tightly inward!
That breathtakingly beautiful face was squished out of shape!
Her small mouth puckered into a round cherry!
He stared straight at her, at her wildly flickering, mismatched eyes!
"Liguang, what are you worrying about?"
His tone turned assertive!
"Are you worried that Master will abandon you?"
"Huh?!"
He stared at her face, practically pressing his advantage!
"Liguang! Are you not trusting Master?!"
"Are you questioning Master's love for Liguang?!"
Crazy girl, you're asking for it!
I really need to teach you a lesson!!
The silver-haired girl's eyes were wide!
"I... Liguang...!"
Her amber pupils trembled violently!
Held by his hands, her lips opened and closed as she scrambled to say something!
"No, no, no, no, that's not it, Master! That's not it!"
Her voice was shaking.
"Liguang just... just...!"
She couldn't finish.
Then...
She suddenly broke free from his hands!
She knelt back down again!
"Thud!"
Her forehead hit the carpet again heavily!
"No, Master!"
"Liguang trusts Master! Liguang trusts... trusts..."
She murmured, her voice growing more fragmented, but the scarlet glow lit up brighter, illuminating the carpet like blood, then she slowly lifted her head.
That beautiful face, with trembling red lips, and her phoenix-like eyes wide open...
Wider than Lin Xiaoyou's almond-shaped eyes!
It was an expression of...
Fear and excitement mixed?
"Liguang... does trust Master."
She murmured.
"Liguang absolutely trusts Master."
"But..."
"Master is still not allowed to go anywhere."
"Master now is only allowed to stay by Liguang's side, only..."
"Be with Liguang."
She looked at Fang Qi, her wide eyes interweaving scarlet and amber.
"Liguang trusts Master, but Master..."
She continued murmuring, lips moving slightly.
"Also needs to give Liguang some time."
"Until Liguang figures this out..."
"Master is not allowed to see anyone, not allowed..."
She paused.
"Not allowed to touch anyone."
Her voice suddenly turned cold!
So cold it made Fang Qi shiver!
His expression froze.
Huh...?
This isn't right, is it?
Didn't I just do a great job?
Why is my wife this hard to calm down this time...?
"Liguang, I—!"
"Master."
Liguang suddenly interrupted him.
She slowly stood up from the ground, then gently straddled onto his lap.
Her legs were soft against him.
She stared at him.
The scarlet in the cat-shaped pupils lit up his face, and the phoenix eyes narrowed slightly again.
"You... love Liguang very, very much, don't you?"
Her voice turned a little sweet.
"Liguang is really... so happy, so happy!"
"But lately..."
She tilted her head slightly, and her tone suddenly turned cold again.
"You've been contacting other women far too often."
"That makes Liguang very unhappy."
Fang Qi: "..."
You...!
Slander!
She's slandering me!
When have I ever contacted other women!
I haven't even touched them, okay!
He glared at the silver-haired girl in front of him!
This crazy girl, though she seemed to be starting to reason things out...
But where did she learn to turn the tables like that!
Realized she was wrong, and now she's digging up old grievances, right?
No!
They're not even old grievances!
They're fake grievances!
He's pure as ice!
He has a clear conscience!
He...!
Liguang shuffled forward, pressing her body against Fang Qi's chest, tilting her face up to look at him.
In those unusual-colored eyes, the amber left eye was brimming with tears.
...Adorable, isn't she.
But the crimson red right eye was flickering wildly!
"Master,"
she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.
"Right now, Liguang's core hasn't awakened."
"Liguang... can't be as calm as in the dream."
"Right now, Liguang..."
Her right hand grabbed a fistful of the collar of Fang Qi's shirt!
Her expression was spiraling out of control!
Panic!
Excitement!
Fear!
Joy!
Her voice was shaking violently too!
"I just want to punish Master severely...!"
The crimson cast a blood-red glow over both their faces!
"Liguang can't hold it in anymore...!"
"Master...!"
"You won't blame Liguang, will you?"
"You..."
she murmured,
"won't, will you?"
Fang Qi didn't even have time to answer...
"Zzz—!"
A jolt of electricity shot through his body!
His body stiffened abruptly, and his eyes flew wide open!
I...!
...Damn.
His vision was swallowed by a flash of white!
In the blurry haze, he saw Liguang's face.
The amber eye was full of fear and alarm, but the red eye...
Crimson was flickering madly!
The corner of her mouth was twitching awkwardly, like...
she wanted to curl it up excitedly, but didn't dare, but was also afraid.
Something glistening was welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
And in her hand...
that black stun gun was humming with blue sparks.
Oh...
It was the one Xiaoqing gave her, to make Master "get a good night's sleep"...
When... did she get that in her hand...?
"...Master,"
"Liguang will protect you."
"You..."
"Sleep now..."
Her voice seemed to come from far, far away.
...Fine.
Alright.
Just a sleep...
Let's call it...
a little marital fun with the Wife...?
Hmm...
When I wake up...
I'll have to give her a thorough lesson...
Have to...
His consciousness sank into darkness.
