Chapter 71: Dreams and Shadows
A Rare Expression
“Pfft.”
Lan Yi couldn’t help but laugh at Yu Li’s flustered expression. She had never seen such a look on Yu Li’s face before.
In her mind, Yu Li was always composed, as if everything was under her control. But now, seeing Yu Li caught off guard by her family, Lan Yi felt a spark of joy.
‘Yu Li is really so cute…’
The thought slipped into her mind unbidden. Lan Yi shook her head lightly, pushing it away. After all, she wasn’t actually like her family thought—she hadn’t fallen for a girl.
She reached out, gently taking Yu Li’s hand, her face glowing with a tender smile. “Yu Li, despite all the misunderstandings, my family and I truly welcome you.”
“Will you… stay?” A flicker of hope shone in Lan Yi’s eyes as she gazed earnestly into Yu Li’s silver eyes.
Yu Li, who had nowhere else to go, met Lan Yi’s hopeful gaze. The refusal on the tip of her tongue faltered, and she could only nod reluctantly.
A Silent House
At Fu Qingyue’s home, the atmosphere was colder than ever. The vast villa was eerily silent, devoid of any sound. Liang Bo’an, the butler, could only frown in worry. Fu Qingyue had said nothing, only stating flatly that she wouldn’t train today.
For years, Fu Qingyue had maintained a strict routine, but today, she broke it. She locked herself in her room upon returning home, refusing to explain despite the butler’s inquiries.
As her butler—the only constant presence in her life since childhood—Liang Bo’an didn’t want to stand idly by like someone useless.
He pulled out his phone, hesitation in his eyes. If he asked that person about school matters, they might know something, being a student themselves. But as Fu Qingyue’s butler, he didn’t want to owe a favor to someone who approached her with ulterior motives.
Caught in a dilemma, Liang Bo’an hesitated, while inside her room, Fu Qingyue was equally tormented.
A Haunting Memory
Lying on her bed, despite the summer heat, Fu Qingyue wrapped herself tightly in blankets, trembling as if cold.
Yu Li’s icy words replayed in her mind like a relentless loop. Since waking from her spiritual energy outburst, she had been torturing herself, deliberately recalling every word Yu Li had said, searching for any hint of a flaw.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t understand why Yu Li had said those things, why everything had changed in just one day.
Even though she didn’t want to think about it anymore, those words clung to her like a nightmare, impossible to forget.
Lost in her thoughts, Fu Qingyue drifted into a despairing sleep.
A Dark Dream
“Fu Qingyue, the game of friendship ends here.”
The words struck like thunder, jolting Fu Qingyue awake. She looked around in panic, only to realize this wasn’t her home. The space was pitch-black, with only a faint light ahead.
“Where… is this?”
She stood slowly, moving toward the light. As she drew closer, she saw it was a screen, displaying a familiar scene.
“No matter what… I’ll always be by your side.”
“It’s okay now. Little Qingyue won’t be crushed by one or two betrayals, right?”
“Hey, Little Qingyue… missed me?”
The screen flickered with memories of her and Yu Li—some good, some painful.
“She lied to you, didn’t she?”
A voice came from behind. Fu Qingyue spun around, but there was nothing there.
When she turned back, the scene had changed. Screens now lined both sides of her, each showing the hardships she had endured.
Her brows furrowed tightly as she quickened her pace, but the screens seemed endless, following her relentlessly.
“Just like… all those bastards you met before.”
The voice sounded again, closer this time. It was eerily familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
Fu Qingyue turned again, but still saw nothing.
With no choice, she continued forward, relieved to find the screens fading, leaving only one ahead.
A Distorted Memory
“Little girl, are you okay?”
The screen showed a young boy seemingly concerned for an injured girl. But his expression held a trace of impatience, as if someone had forced him to act this way.
This… wasn’t how it was supposed to be…
In Fu Qingyue’s memory, it wasn’t like this. Why was the screen showing this version?
“Hahaha, you didn’t expect it, did you? The biggest liar in your life is Ye Sheng!”
This time, the voice was unmistakable—it was her own.
She whipped around and finally saw it: her shadow, pitch-black, blending perfectly into the darkness.
“You can see me this time,” the shadow said slowly.
“Where is this… and what are you?!” Fu Qingyue’s voice was sharp, barely containing her anger.
“Hahaha… don’t get so worked up. This is your dream… and as for me, I’m you.”
The Shadow’s Truth
“That’s impossible…” Fu Qingyue frowned. The shadow claiming to be her? That couldn’t be right.
If it was her, how could it act so differently?
“I’m the other part of you, the part that was stripped away since your birth… or rather, I’m your… ability.”
Though just a shadow, Fu Qingyue sensed its expressions were vivid, far more lively than her own.
“The part… stripped away?”
Looking at the animated shadow, Fu Qingyue began to piece things together.
Seeing her realization, the shadow’s lips curled slightly. “Not bad. As expected of me, you’re sharp.”
“Then why… are you in my dream?” Fu Qingyue voiced her confusion.
“Because I couldn’t stand watching anymore. I couldn’t stand seeing someone keep getting fooled by that awful woman.”
A Painful Question
Fu Qingyue fell silent at the shadow’s words. She knew what it meant by “fooled by that awful woman.” Hesitantly, she asked, “Do you… know why Yu Li acted that way?”
“Huh? Desperate enough to ask anyone, huh? I told you, I’m you. If you don’t know, how could I?”
Hearing this, Fu Qingyue lowered her head, disappointed. “Is that so…”
“Ugh, really…” The shadow’s tone grew impatient. “You like Li Bao, don’t you?”
“…Huh?”
“What’s with the ‘huh’? Trying to hide it even from yourself?” The shadow sounded exasperated.
“Do I… like Yu Li?”
Confusion clouded Fu Qingyue’s eyes. She truly didn’t understand.
Her mind replayed moments with Yu Li, her hand gently touching her chest, feeling her racing heartbeat.
“Maybe… I do.”