Chapter 44: Back to the Past
“That Truman lived his whole life in a reality show.”
“And this Truman’s life—from start to finish—manipulated by a pair of hands.”
“His personality, hobbies—even the girlfriends he dated—all deliberately cultivated by those hands behind the scenes.”
“Until one day, he spotted the anomalies in his life.”
“Like the story’s Truman, he chose to rebel, fighting with all he had.”
“Finally breaking free, escaping the vicious cycle trapping his existence.”
“But on the road to freedom, he met a man.”
“He thought defeating this man would grant true liberty.”
“But the other just smiled:”
“‘Congratulations on reaching here—actually, getting this far? That was my arrangement too.’”
The white-haired blue-eyed girl paused here.
Her gaze drifted afar, staring quietly for ages.
“What happened next?”
Lu Qingqi was hooked; the tale cut off abruptly—like a stalled serial novel—she asked on reflex.
“Nothing.”
“Huh?”
“That’s where the story ends.”
The girl spread her hands.
Then fixed a complex gaze on her “self” before her.
“Past me—if you were that ‘Truman,’ hearing the man’s truth, what would you do?”
“I’d blow up at that guy!”
Lu Qingqi fumed, tiny fists clenched.
“Who does he think he is?”
“Daring to puppeteer my life!”
“I’d gender-swap him on the spot, sell him off to rural bachelors as a wife!!”
“Not fond of controlling lives?”
“Then I’ll have him controlled!!”
The white-haired blue-eyed girl laughed.
Like hearing a familiar answer, or fated destiny.
She reached out, ruffling Lu Qingqi’s black locks—soft to the touch.
“You’re right—with superpowers, we’re unbound, whimsical.”
“Anything distasteful, we can explode it anytime.”
She paused, voice softening.
“But sometimes, one must bow to reality……”
“This trip back—think more, read fewer novels; ditch the chuunibyou a bit.”
“Spend time with parents, exercise plenty.”
Lu Qingqi crossed arms, turning away with a pout.
“Why sound like a nagging mom?”
“What’s wrong with chuunibyou?”
“Boys aren’t chuunibyou in vain!”
She paused, lips pursing again.
“Story done?”
“Done.”
“Then I’m off.”
Lu Qingqi shouldered her bag toward the star gate.
A step shy of entering, she whirled back, calling to the girl.
The next second, she crashed into the other’s embrace—held gently.
A low whisper tinged with faint sorrow at her ear.
“If you can—come back often to see me; it gets lonely alone.”
“And—a little gift for you.”
With that, the girl patted her shoulder lightly.
Lu Qingqi’s vision bloomed a phantom panel.
Green digits raced across, like forced refresh.
Before surprise hit, a pale hand nudged her gently into the star gate.
The room fell silent anew.
Soon, a heavy door-push sounded.
The deep-purple-eyed man entered.
Thick black mist coiled his form—tendrils gathering at his fingertips.
Crystallizing in a blink into cold metal cuffs.
He stepped forward, unceremoniously snapping them on the white-haired blue-eyed girl’s wrists.
The metallic clink piercing the empty space.
“My dear canary—what was that story for, telling her?”
The man’s tone dripped utmost gentleness—yet threaded with chills, spine-tingling danger.
The girl ignored the wrist chill, tilting her head back with a beaming query.
“What do you think, my dearest Master~~”
Past timeline, Lu family villa, living room.
A star gate materialized without warning.
A figure emerged—black locks to the waist, features refined, small backpack slung over one shoulder.
The gate winked out.
The girl stretched lazily, fished out her phone—brows furrowing: 13:10.
She’d lingered days in the future—yet past had ticked mere ten minutes.
Time flows differed?
As Lu Qingqi puzzled, she recalled future self’s parting “little gift.”
Gaze snapping to the phantom panel.
Sure enough, the episode superpower board sported new entries:
[Superpower Episode [Teleport]: You can warp to any spot—provided you know its precise coordinates; costs stamina equal to distance.]
[Beast Ear Girl Episode [Catification]: Become a cat, toggle between cat and cat-eared girl; humans instinctively fond of you—human/cat form switches have cooldown.]
[Conditioning Episode [Hypnosis]: As humanoid on human, gain hypnosis master skills. Note: Those who swim drown; hypnotists inevitably hypnotized.]
[Fatherly Love Episode [Hinata Mitsuki and Hinata Kyouko’s Deep Sisterly Bond]: Create a “sister half-self”—customize looks, age; gender female-locked. She bears all harm, curses—even death transference; upon her consumption, grants divine purge—cleansing all buffs, resetting to origin.]
Awesome!
Lu Qingqi pumped a tiny fist.
Future self too generous—four abilities at once, high value.
Teleport: getaway godsend, straight Great Love Immortal Venerable’s Fixed Immortal Wander.
Catification: so-so, but feline worldview novel; Lu Qingqi didn’t mind cat-novelty.
Hypnosis: potent on hear—novel fan Lu Qingqi brainstormed a dozen plays: Miss, it’s hot—time to shed clothes.
Last: pure reviver coin.
As Lu Qingqi mulled combo-killer-moves, her phone buzzed.
She picked up casually.
“Hello—who’s this?”
Silence two beats.
Then a familiar female voice, tentative.
“Qingqi?”
The voice stunned Lu Qingqi half-second—then clicked.
Holy crap—Mom!
“Mom! It’s me!”
She yelped back, questions cascading.
“How’re you and Dad at the company? Smooth sailing?”
“Snagged big deals? When you visiting?”
“Not waiting till New Year, right?”
The barrage dumbfounded the voice on the line.
Hearing the feminized, soft timbre, Lu Mother blanked a while before recovering, words measured.
“Qingqi—is it really you?”
“Who else! Your fine son, duh!”
The black-long-haired girl hip-cocked one-handed, chuckling.
“Uh…… honey—come here a sec……”
The line rustled—Lu Mother seeming to set the phone down, calling aside.
Picking up again.
“Qingqi—this month, your dad and I’ll head home.”
The girl’s eyes lit like fireworks.
“That’s great! I miss you tons!”
“When? Need airport pickup?”
“Play it by ear—let you know.”
With that, Lu Mother rang off—like conferring with Lu Father.
Here, the black-long-haired girl—parents returning—buzzed with glee.
Dad and Mom home—house finally lively!!
Yet, in her thrilled haze, the black-long-haired girl missed it.
Deep in those pretty eyes, a faint gray mist veiled subtly.
Silently blocking…… something.