"Me? A good person?"
Ning Yu was taken aback, showing a thoughtful expression.
Shen Yiyue immediately nodded and began to imitate Ning Yu with exaggerated gestures:
"Ahem... I advise you, in a world like this, put away your excessive kindness. It's better for both of us..."
She spoke with a funny voice, mimicking Ning Yu's lines with a mischievous expression.
Perfect! You're always the one teasing me, you little troublemaker, but today it's finally my turn for revenge!
Ning Yu didn't appreciate Shen Yiyue's poor imitation but instead fell into serious self-reflection.
Was giving this task to Bai Xuan really a fair trade?
Was she feeling sympathy for her? Why?
When did she start becoming soft?
Was it because of that stubborn look in her eyes?
She remembered how Bai Xuan was determined to help Teacher Zhang with his difficulties.
It reminded her of herself in her previous life.
In her previous life, Ning Yu grew up with only her grandmother, having lost her parents early.
Her grandmother had no job and supported Ning Yu by collecting garbage.
Ning Yu was very sensible from a young age, always helping her grandmother collect garbage after school, regardless of her classmates' mockery.
But her grandmother, feeling heartbroken about Ning Yu being looked down upon at school, always tried to stop her from helping.
Ning Yu never listened; she was stubborn and always followed her grandmother to help, no matter what she said.
She knew her grandmother was seriously ill with no money for treatment, like a candle in the wind, and she wanted to share some of the burden.
She hated feeling useless.
Come to think of it, the look in her eyes back then must have been just like Bai Xuan's today.
That moment then was just like this moment now.
Later, her grandmother still passed away, and they didn't even have money for a funeral. Ning Yu was heartbroken but didn't cry.
Her grandmother had said, "Yu'er must live well, don't cry. If you cry, grandmother will be sad when she hears it."
Without any family, Ning Yu later entered an orphanage and was recruited by an organization, trained to become an assassin.
But later, she had become a cold-blooded killing machine, rarely recalling these memories.
It was such a cliché story, a cliché fate.
Cliché yet real.
Thinking about it now, she was no longer the child she was in her previous life.
Years of experience as an assassin had taught her:
Emotions only slow down your draw speed.
Ning Yu suddenly felt an inexplicable anger.
Angry at her own weakness, angry that she was becoming soft, becoming capable of empathy.
She hated this version of herself.
Ning Yu snapped back to reality and looked up at Shen Yiyue, the instigator, with cold eyes.
Her snow-white hand raised, and a crimson Tang sword suddenly appeared, pressed against Shen Yiyue's throat!
"You think I'm a good person? Want to bet I'll kill you right now?"
The silver-haired little girl's eyes gleamed with murderous intent, and the room's temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
But Shen Yiyue met her gaze without fear.
Because she clearly sensed that despite Ning Yu's murderous aura, she had no real intention to harm her.
Shen Yiyue understood clearly: she was panicking.
So she smiled and said:
"If it's Yu, then it's okay."
???
"What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Ning Yu demanded angrily.
"I'm saying, if Yu wants to kill me, you can do it anytime."
"My life was given to me by Yu in the first place, so Yu can take it back whenever she wants."
Shen Yiyue paid no attention to the sword at her throat, instead looking earnestly at the silver-haired girl, even moving closer.
So close that Ning Yu could smell her faint fragrance.
"I just think Yu doesn't need to suppress herself. Do whatever you want to do."
Moving even closer, Shen Yiyue simply hugged Ning Yu.
The embrace caught Ning Yu off guard; she forgot to withdraw her sword, only feeling the soft warmth against her.
"Whether it's the cold-hearted Yu, the clever and cunning Yu, or the kind and gentle Yu."
"I like them all, as long as Yu remains herself."
"But that sword just now wasn't really at my throat, Yu. You were holding it against your own throat, and that's what scared me."
The sword had definitely been at Shen Yiyue's throat; Ning Yu was certain of this.
"You want to kill your own softness, but that's also a part of Yu, an important part of what makes Yu who she is, I think."
"I like this genuine Yu, I want you to be real."
Being held tightly, Ning Yu was lost in thought.
Shen Yiyue's words caught her completely off guard.
She had never discussed such matters with anyone, never had the chance.
What was her true self really like?
She had no answer.
The scene suddenly fell quiet, and Ning Yu raised her hand that had been holding the sword, unsure what to do.
The sword had already been put away.
Shen Yiyue, still hugging Ning Yu, suddenly cheered:
"Yay! Mission accomplished - got to hug Yu!"
"Today's Yu energy recharge complete! Big victory!"
Still dazed, Ning Yu was suddenly brought back to reality by Shen Yiyue's voice.
Looking at this suddenly energetic person, she felt speechless and said irritably:
"I'm telling you, I'm angry."
"Your chips are gone."
The cheering Shen Yiyue's face instantly froze, showing a forced smile:
"Yu... you can't do that..."
The silver-haired girl pushed her away with disgust.
"Even if the king of heaven came today, you still wouldn't get any."
......
The night grew deeper.
Because the entire city had lost power, the gymnasium was plunged into endless darkness and silence.
Ning Yu lit a candle in the room, one they had brought from the supermarket.
She took out her familiar copy of "The Stranger" and began reading.
With no magazines left to read, Shen Yiyue had nothing better to do than read along with Ning Yu.
After just a few glances, the sentences made her drowsy:
"These four shots were like four quick knocks on the door of unhappiness."
What was this book even about?
She felt sleepy and dozed off before long.
Ning Yu felt a weight on her shoulder and saw that Shen Yiyue had fallen asleep against it.
Her smooth hair touched Ning Yu's face, feeling slightly ticklish.
Her beautiful eyes were closed, and from the side, Ning Yu could see her pretty eyelashes trembling slightly with sleep.
Her thin pink lips were gently closed, her delicate nose breathing evenly, sleeping peacefully.
Ning Yu could feel her sweet breath blowing onto the book pages.
The story seemed to be reaching a crucial point, so Ning Yu carefully folded the corner to mark her place, planning to continue next time.
Carefully taking out her bag, afraid of waking the sleeping Shen Yiyue, she put the book back inside.
Then she closed her eyes and began to meditate.
In the calm night, Ning Yu didn't fall asleep, lost in unknown thoughts.
But soon, she heard some subtle movements outside.
The door muffled the sounds, making them unclear.
She couldn't help but complain: why did something always disturb her meditation?
Beside her, Shen Yiyue had started dreaming, occasionally calling out her name.
Must be another sweet dream about snacks.
Ning Yu moved, carefully replacing her shoulder with the backpack for Shen Yiyue to lean on.
She silently walked to the door.
And opened it.