Chapter 49: Reflection of the City

Three in the morning.

Zhao Meng and the others were seasoned all-nighters, still hyped and shouting at their screens.

Chen Xinya, who rarely stayed up late, couldn’t keep going after two more matches. She quit the game, opened a browser to watch a drama, and soon curled up on the sofa chair, fast asleep.

Meng Zhi was tired too. She stretched, glancing at Chen Xinya.

Her small head rested gently on the armrest, tilted toward Meng Zhi’s side. If Meng Zhi wanted, she could easily ruffle her hair.

But Meng Zhi wasn’t that mischievous. She asked the staff for a blanket and draped it over Chen Xinya.

Her profile looked pale and soft under the screen’s glow, her steady breathing like a quiet kitten.

…Even now, Meng Zhi still thought Chen Xinya was beautiful.

Back when she hadn’t received system tasks, Meng Zhi had occasionally dreamed of moments like this: Chen Xinya as her girlfriend, spending days shopping, eating hotpot, drinking milk tea, and nights gaming together, with her falling asleep in Meng Zhi’s arms when tired.

But when Chen Xinya actually became her girlfriend, Meng Zhi no longer had time to indulge in those fantasies.

She could sense it. In this life, Chen Xinya was subtly changing compared to the last one. Meng Zhi wasn’t sure if the change was good or bad, but she genuinely hoped Chen Xinya would become better.

Less anxious, less self-consuming, less sensitive. More like an ordinary girl.

At least the Chen Xinya that young Meng Zhi had once liked was supposed to be a pretty, yet normal girl.

By five in the morning, Zhao Meng and the others were worn out too. They decided to call it a day and head home.

“So, Meng Zhi, what about Class Flower Chen…?”

Meng Zhi turned and poked Chen Xinya’s chubby cheek.

“Mmm…”

Chen Xinya only mumbled sleepily, showing no sign of waking. Helplessly, Meng Zhi turned to the others: “I’ll take her home.”

Zhao Meng and the others grinned knowingly.

Meng Zhi rolled her eyes, too lazy to explain. After they left, she logged Chen Xinya out, then gently shook her awake.

“Hey.”

“Mmm… huh?”

Chen Xinya was clearly still half-asleep, letting out a soft, whiny noise like when she didn’t want to get out of bed: “Time to go…? So sleepy.”

“Can you stand?”

Chen Xinya stumbled to her feet, but her body swayed like she might collapse back into sleep. After a few steps, she leaned against Meng Zhi’s back.

With no other choice, Meng Zhi grabbed her hands, letting her wrap them around her neck, then lifted her legs to carry her piggyback.

“Hold on tight. Don’t fall.”

“Mhm… huh?”

Chen Xinya was indeed groggy.

But the moment they stepped out of the cafe, the chilly morning breeze hit her like a splash of cold water. She snapped awake.

And instantly realized how intimately she was pressed against Meng Zhi’s back.

Is she… carrying me?

She’s really carrying me!

Like a drama hero carrying his girlfriend.

“Awake?” Meng Zhi’s sudden voice made her flinch.

But Chen Xinya chose to keep pretending to sleep, barely daring to breathe.

She couldn’t bear to get off Meng Zhi’s back.

Seeing no response, Meng Zhi sighed, muttering to herself: “If you’re awake, stop faking it… You’re heavy.”

Chen Xinya’s cheeks flushed. She couldn’t help but tighten her grip around Meng Zhi’s neck, pressing her face closer to hers.

At this hour, taxis were hard to come by.

Since home wasn’t too far, Meng Zhi decided to walk, carrying Chen Xinya slowly through the early morning city.

X City’s summer dawn at five was just starting to show a faint red on the horizon. The empty streets, not yet at morning rush, saw only a few cars passing by.

Occasionally, a street cleaner would glance curiously at Meng Zhi, probably thinking they were some playful young couple.

Chen Xinya quietly clung to Meng Zhi’s neck. She felt bad that Meng Zhi might get tired carrying her so long but was too reluctant to give up the comfort of being carried.

She wished the road was shorter. Yet hoped time would slow down.

Hoped the morning breeze was cooler. Hoped the city’s dawn came later.

“…Tired?” Finally, she couldn’t resist whispering near Meng Zhi’s ear.

“A bit,” Meng Zhi said casually. “You should lose some weight.”

“Hmph!”

Chen Xinya pouted, playfully tightening her hold on Meng Zhi’s neck.

The morning streetlights hadn’t yet turned off, their soft glow stretching their shadows long.

“By the way, aren’t you awake? Walk yourself.”

“…No way.” Chen Xinya hid her face behind Meng Zhi.

“Don’t act spoiled.”

“Feng Xiyue gets to act spoiled with you. Can’t I do it just once?”

Meng Zhi let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. As she hesitated whether to set her down, Chen Xinya’s legs wrapped around her waist.

Like an octopus, she clung to Meng Zhi’s back, pressing her head tightly against her neck.

“…Just a little longer.”

“Only a bit,” she said, her eyes glistening, her voice soft like a plea.

Meng Zhi stayed quiet for a moment, unable to bring herself to let her down.

She was too soft-hearted sometimes. If she weren’t, maybe she wouldn’t have always tried to save this or that.

No idea if she’d ever fix that flaw in this life.

Since home was just half a street away, Meng Zhi decided to walk the rest of the way.

With Chen Xinya holding on tighter this time, carrying her felt less tiring.

The final stretch was unusually quiet, not even the birds in the greenery chirping.

“I love how it feels when you carry me.”

“…Don’t build your happiness on someone else’s suffering.”

“Mhm… you’re right. Sorry.”

“Er, no need to apologize.”

“It’s not just this.” Chen Xinya murmured softly, “A lot of times, I didn’t notice how you felt.”

Meng Zhi fell silent.

“So many times, I thought I was the most special person to you. That I could act reckless, be spoiled.”

Chen Xinya’s eyes lowered, half her face hidden behind Meng Zhi: “But… I’m not special anymore, am I?”

“Or maybe.”

“I was never that special person to begin with?”

Suddenly, the streetlights flickered off.

They seemed to fall into the city’s reflection.

A faint orange-red began to bleed across the sky. Meng Zhi looked up at the nearby neighborhood gate and said:

“Thanks for coming to the cafe with me.”

“I know you were just going along with my hobby. But I’m still happy.”

Ripples stirred in Chen Xinya’s eyes.

She timidly lifted her head, catching a faint smile on Meng Zhi’s face, lit by the morning glow.

“As for your question.”

“I’ll give you the answer when we visit our alma mater.”