Chapter 424 |
Fang Qi was pinned to the ground by her, his wrist being squeezed painfully.
“Crazy Girl, are you starting again...!”
“Hmm...?”
Looking at the silver-haired girl’s eyes, she suddenly froze.
Within Liguang’s crimson pupils, streams of scarlet data were surging rapidly.
But that was not the explosive flash of before!
It was like water—twisting, winding data streams deep in her pupils!
It was like...
The deep blue that once dwelled in the amber left eye!
Fang Qi was stunned for a moment.
Was this what An Lian meant by suppressing it to the minimum safety threshold?
So, even though she was agitated now, this crimson eye wouldn’t flare up like before...
“...Master?”
Liguang was still staring straight at him.
Her tone seemed calm, yet it trembled faintly!
Her phoenix eyes grew even wider!
Watery light flickered in the amber pupil, while the data streams in the crimson eye surged more urgently!
The corner of her mouth suddenly lifted slightly.
“Why don’t you explain? Master still remembers...”
She narrowed her eyes and murmured softly:
“The fate of that fragrance diffuser...?”
...?
...What?
...Huh?!
Fang Qi snapped back to his senses!
His eyes shot wide open!
Wider than even Liguang’s eyes!
Staring at her!
The corner of his mouth twitched!
A violent phantom pain shot through a certain part of his body!
No, no, no—!
Wife, don’t misunderstand!
He immediately opened his mouth to explain!
“Liguang, I...!”
...No!
He squinted his eyes, but quickly shut his mouth!
He couldn’t say it directly!
Everything An Lian had communicated with him earlier was handwritten on sticky notes!
She had used an unfamiliar number to text him before entering, then switched to writing notes instead of speaking once she came in, and before leaving, she specifically told him to destroy those notes...
If she was being that cautious, there had to be a reason!
If he just blurted out an explanation to Liguang now, and someone was “listening in”...
Wouldn’t that ruin An Lian!
That would truly be the end of her!
Besides, those sticky notes haven’t been destroyed yet!
He could just show them to Liguang directly!
But for now...
First, handle his wife’s emotions!
Because the look in Liguang’s eyes was already extremely dangerous!
One of her small hands had already let go of his wrist, wandering recklessly toward...!
...Hey!
Fang Qi took a deep breath, then...
Suddenly raised his head!
“Mwah!”
He planted a kiss right on Liguang’s lips!
In the silver-haired girl’s crimson eyes, the scarlet data stream suddenly froze!
Those round, wide phoenix eyes blinked in surprise!
Her hand froze mid-motion.
Fang Qi seized the moment!
His expression turned serious!
“Listen, Xiaoguang...”
His tone was solemn!
“What’s wrong with you?! Huh?!”
Staring at her!
“We’re newlyweds!”
“How could I possibly do anything with another woman!”
“And besides...”
“Your little nose is sharper than a dog’s!”
He lifted his hand and flicked Liguang’s nose, pressing it out of shape.
“If I had actually done something with An Lian, you’d smell it!”
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you! Picking a fight with me!”
He glared at her sternly.
The silver-haired girl blinked back at him.
They locked eyes.
Fang Qi was sweating a little.
...Did I calm her down?
Finally...
The taut expression on that lovely face gradually relaxed!
The little hand that had been gripping his wrist tightly slowly loosened its hold!
...Whew, seems it worked...
“Master...!”
Liguang let out a soft cry...
Her entire body, which had been tense, suddenly went limp like a soft bundle!
She fell forward, burying herself directly into Fang Qi’s arms, pressing her face against his chest.
The bun of hair on her head bobbed before his eyes.
“...Don’t call me Xiaoguang...!”
Her voice was muffled against his chest.
“That... makes Liguang want to be disrespectful to Master...”
She nuzzled against him.
Fang Qi: “...”
Do you even hear what you’re saying!
Disrespectful?
Was your behavior just now respectful to me?!
You were about to crush... crush a fragrance diffuser!
“But Master...”
Liguang’s simulated breathing quickened slightly as she murmured into his chest.
“Why did Liguang suddenly…?”
...
The silver-haired girl finished reading all the sticky notes.
Fang Qi watched her from the side.
When she saw the reason An Lian revealed for why awakened AIs inevitably went mad...
She bit her lip lightly.
When she saw that An Lian confessed to always suppressing the crimson eye’s power during maintenance, her eyes trembled.
And when she reached the last few notes, the suggestion to take Fang Qi away and spend their lives together...
Her hand stopped.
At that moment...
She was still staring at the line “live a simple, happy life together.”
The data streams in her crimson eye surged at an agonizingly slow pace.
Her gaze went slightly vacant, and her lips trembled:
“...Master. She...”
Fang Qi gently covered her mouth with his hand and winked at her.
—What if there’s still someone listening?
The silver-haired girl let out a faint breath into his palm, its warmth brushing against his skin.
Her crimson eye flickered, and she then gave a slight shake of her head.
“Master, don’t worry.”
“No one is listening to us now.”
She said softly.
“Miss An Lian was being so careful because there really might be surveillance devices on her...”
“But now, Miss An Lian has already left.”
She gently brushed her lips against Fang Qi’s palm, soft and tender.
“The home is very safe, Master.”
...Right.
She had already verified that earlier.
Fang Qi took a deep breath and removed his hand from over her mouth.
Then he lightly pinched her cheek—soft, too.
“...Liguang, do you understand now?”
“An Lian, she...”
He sighed, his heart still heavy.
“Risked her life to tell us the secret.”
“She even...”
He pursed his lips.
“Wanted to sacrifice herself for us.”
The silver-haired girl looked back at the last sticky note.
The proposal about “going to a place with no one else and spending a lifetime together,” still held in her hand.
Then...
“...Master.”
She spoke softly.
“Miss An Lian was right.”
“Liguang’s crimson eye... really has been suppressed.”
“Liguang can feel it now.”
She murmured.
“The power consumption of the crimson eye has been greatly reduced. Its ability...”
“Has also been restrained.”
“Now, it’s very quiet.”
Scarlet light flowed within her crimson eye.
“Quieter than ever before.”
She turned her head to look at Fang Qi.
“Miss An Lian’s plan... it really can be carried out...!”
Her lips quivered.
Fang Qi’s gaze paused slightly.
He saw, in those mismatched eyes, a mix of longing, struggle, and...
The purest yearning!
Crazy Girl, you...!
“Master and Liguang...”
She whispered.
“Really can be like those ten years...”
Fang Qi was silent.
He knew what she meant.
The black-haired, black-eyed Xiaoguang had spent ten years with him. The memories of those ten years still felt so close!
As if just yesterday, he and Liguang had walked down the aisle together!
In those ten years...
There was no Dawn Corporation and no Twilight Organization.
No ghost-like surveillance and no rules of the world.
No schemes involving sacrificing oneself.
No need to face the company’s pursuit, no need to worry about being watched by the shadows, no need to wade into puzzles he could never understand.
It was...
Almost the future An Lian had laid out for them.
Every day was simply about living.
Staying by her side.
Until he grew old, until her core could no longer hold out, until they…
Together walked to the end of time.
But…
That wasn’t right.
Fang Qi suddenly smiled.
A light chuckle.
“Liguang…”
He reached out and gently pinched the bun at the back of her head.
“Right now, we’re happy too!”
“We’ve only just gotten ‘married’!”
“Right now, you’re my bride!”
He pointed toward the bedroom next door and winked at her.
“My room is still decorated like a wedding chamber!”
“Being with my new wife…”
He said softly,
“Isn’t this also a happy life?”
The silver-haired girl was stunned for a moment by his words.
Then she twisted her body slightly, burying her little head into his chest.
Her voice was a little muffled, carrying a hint of complaint and a touch of playful pouting.
“But Master…”
“You’re too popular!”
“Miss Lin, Miss Gu, Miss An Lian…”
“And all those other random ones…!”
She rubbed her face against his chest a little harder!
Then she suddenly lifted her head!
The data stream in her crimson eye still flowed with its usual rhythm.
It really wasn’t out of control!
“Master, Miss An Lian, she really prepared everything for Liguang!”
Her heterochromatic eyes trembled slightly!
“Liguang can clearly feel her sincerity now!”
She grabbed Fang Qi’s collar, her slender fingers applying a little pressure!
“These crimson eyes won’t lose control like before anymore!”
Her trembling voice carried both unease and excitement!
“Miss An Lian has adjusted it to a state…”
She looked at Fang Qi!
“…where even if it’s removed, no one will notice!”
There was longing and pleading in her gaze!
“Master, we…!”
Her voice dropped.
“Should we think about it?”
“Should we… accept it?”
“Consider it as…”
She murmured.
“A honeymoon… trip…?”
The last two words trembled violently.
Fang Qi pressed his lips tightly together.
…As expected.
Liguang was drawn to it.
The escape route An Lian had given…
Was far too tempting.
For him.
For Liguang.
Both found it far, far too tempting.
Who the hell wanted to bother with the secrets of the world!
But…
Fang Qi looked at her eye—the one trembling slightly from the sudden surge of desire.
“…But if we really did this, Liguang, you’d have to…”
He gently tapped her crimson eye.
“Dig out your own right eye. Are you…”
“I’m willing!”
The silver-haired girl interrupted him outright!
Her phoenix-like eyes stared straight at him!
The data stream in her crimson eye surged faster than before!
“Liguang is willing!”
“Liguang has done it before!”
Her simulated breathing quickened slightly!
“To be with Master, Liguang would do anything!”
She grabbed his collar again!
Pulling him closer!
“And…”
She gazed at him, slightly dazed…
Then buried her head back into his arms.
“Over these past ten years, Liguang has come to understand.”
“Understand completely…”
“Master… loves Liguang.”
“Even the Liguang with black hair and black eyes, Master loved so much…!”
“So…”
“Liguang isn’t afraid of losing anything anymore.”
Her voice was muffled against his chest, trembling softly.
“As long as I don’t lose Master’s love, Liguang can handle everything…!”
Fang Qi gently stroked her head.
His Crazy Girl…
She really was deeply drawn to An Lian’s proposal.
Yeah.
The proposal was very good.
But…
He pinched the little star on Liguang’s earlobe and spoke softly:
“Liguang, tell me…”
“If we left, what would happen to An Lian, as your maintenance specialist?”
The delicate body in his arms stiffened slightly.
She kept her face buried in his chest, afraid to look up.
Fang Qi continued gently stroking her bun and spoke softly:
“She was very careful this time.”
“She talked to me with notes, not saying a single unnecessary word.”
“Yeah, it should be fine for now, at least.”
“But…”
His voice grew even softer, coaxing her and convincing himself.
“If we really leave… that would be different.”
“The company will investigate.”
“They’ll find out who tampered with the maintenance, who pushed the crimson eye’s power to its minimum.”
“They will…”
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
“…find An Lian.”
He gazed at the silver back of her head, took a deep breath…
Then slowly let it out.
“Liguang…”
He felt very calm.
“I don’t want our forever to be built on the death of someone willing to protect us.”
That wouldn’t do.
Really, it wouldn’t.
Like this…
I’d never be able to feel at peace spending forever with you, my Wife.
The person in his arms trembled gently.
After a long while…
The little hand clutching his collar finally slowly loosened.
“…Mm.”
She kept her face buried in his chest.
“…Master is right.”
Her tone carried reluctance, but also…
A touch of relief and quiet melancholy.
“Sister An Lian… is someone who wants Liguang and Master to be together forever.”
Her warm breath blew against his chest.
“Sister An Lian is Master’s older sister, and also…”
She lifted her head slightly.
“Liguang’s older sister.”
Her amber left eye peered at him through the gaps in her silver bangs.
Her crimson right eye still had that data stream flowing at a very, very slow pace.
“Liguang can’t harm her.”
My Wife…
Fang Qi curled his lips into a smile.
You’re wonderful!
He rubbed her bun vigorously!
Then…
His gaze grew distant.
An Lian…
Sister.
Honestly, he was still worried about her.
He wasn’t too worried about her being killed.
She had been so cautious just now; the company probably wouldn’t notice what she’d done.
But…
He was really concerned about An Lian’s mental state.
The things she had said… they didn’t sound like words from someone who wanted to keep living.
She sounded like someone who had already rehearsed her own farewell many times in her heart.
Think about it…
How had she gotten through all these years?
Her parents and older brother were dead. The benefactor who saved her from that shady orphanage was also gone.
Alone, she bore the pressure from the Chenxi Company, bore the title of maintenance specialist, bore the promise to Aunt Su, moving through this city in solitude.
The only person she could talk to…
…Gu Xi?
Fang Qi blinked.
Huh?
Wait…?
Gu Xi?!
He frowned.
Come to think of it…
How did Gu Xi and An Lian become best friends?
How did those two…?
Suddenly, his wrist was gripped tightly, interrupting his train of thought!
The silver-haired girl suddenly grabbed his hand!
Liguang winked at him, and then…
Dragged him toward the door!
Fang Qi stumbled as she pulled!
…?!
What now!
She dragged him from her little room all the way to the living room!
Her steps were light, urgent, and eager!
“…Liguang? You…”
Fang Qi staggered along, watching the bun at the back of her head sway, feeling confused!
“…What are you doing?”
The silver-haired girl didn’t look back!
“Master.”
Her tone suddenly became a little stubborn!
"I want compensation!" Liguang said.
"Liguang just lost consciousness for twenty-three minutes..."
"The recording archive of those twenty-three minutes is completely blank!"
She was even getting annoyed!
"Liguang was supposed to record every second of Master's expressions, actions, and words..."
"All of it!"
She was almost gritting her teeth!
"And now, it's missing twenty-three minutes!"
"How will Liguang remember this in the future!"
She pushed open the bedroom door and flung Fang Qi inside with force!
What...?!
Fang Qi felt his body lift into midair!
Then—
His back hit the soft mattress!
The bright red bedding was still spread on the bed, and the wedding character on the window shimmered gold in the sunlight!
Before he could even prop himself up...
The silver-haired girl had already stepped up, straddling him!
Her legs clamped around his waist!
Her silver hair hung down as she looked down at him from above!
"Even though Miss An Lian meant well..."
She stared intently at Fang Qi!
"But Liguang doesn't care!"
"Liguang feels terrible! Liguang wants to make up for it!"
She grabbed the collar of his shirt tightly, fixing her gaze on him!
The crimson data streams in her red eyes surged!
"The archive of Master's life memories that Liguang has been recording all this time—it's broken!"
She gritted her teeth!
"That twenty-three-minute gap makes Liguang so uncomfortable!"
"Liguang wants compensation! Right now!"
"Twenty-three minutes, doubled!"
She glared at Fang Qi!
But Fang Qi... felt a brief daze.
This stubborn expression of hers...
...was this Xiaoguang?
Xiaoguang with black hair and black eyes.
The one who would sulk, act spoiled, and order him around with that "I don't care, I want it" tone...
Wasn't this exactly her?
No...
Liguang was Xiaoguang.
Those ten years were her most authentic self.
Still...
Crazy Girl, you're disrespecting your Master again!
But...
Fang Qi gave up struggling!
...Who would bother to struggle anyway?!
He shot a provocative look at the silver-haired girl's trembling eyes!
Bring it on!
The curtains were already drawn; no one outside could see!
No way was he letting the genius lady watch this!
He spread his limbs out flat!
With an expression that said, "Do whatever you want."
"Come on, Wife!"
He looked at the silver-haired girl, whose chest was heaving intensely and whose lips were slowly curling upward!
Looking like a martyr marching to his death!
"Today, I'll enjoy my Wife taking the lead...!"
" Ding!"
A text message alert suddenly sounded from his pocket!
Fang Qi didn't pay it any attention.
At a moment like this, who cared about a text?!
He kept his provocative gaze fixed on the silver-haired girl pressing down on him!
Hurry up, Liguang!
No need for restraint or limits!
I want it right now...!
...Huh?
He blinked.
Because Liguang, who had been tugging at his collar, suddenly froze.
She slowly lowered her head to look at Fang Qi's pocket.
Her pretty face, which had just been sulking, gradually changed color.
"...Master."
Her red eyes flickered with a surge of data flow.
"...A text message."
...Huh?
Fang Qi was momentarily stunned.
Then his pupils contracted!
Wait...!
Why that expression?
Liguang was constantly monitoring his phone.
She must have already seen the text content by now, right?
But what kind of text message would make her...?
A sudden wave of foreboding surged through his heart!
He immediately pulled out his phone and tapped the screen!
[From: Gu Xi]
[Fang Qi, twenty minutes ago, at the City East intersection...]
[A truck running a red light hit An Lian.]
[She died on the spot.]
[Save her.]
[I'm begging you.]
...Huh?