Everything was falling into place.
You Xue affirmed this to herself.
The heart that had been hanging in suspense all along now seemed to relax a great deal.
You Xue lowered her eyes.
The last thing she saw was Su Li in the training ground, amidst a crowd of students, talking with his companions.
She turned around and prepared to head back.
Her mood wasn’t irritable.
It felt like simply watching him from afar could ease her heart.
This was a habit left by the childhood sweetheart from the original story.
Even when not speaking, she would watch him.
Just watching, doing nothing, thinking nothing—that alone brought a sense of peace.
Because in the memories of the past, most of the time was spent only with him.
Those moments might have been quiet, but precisely because they were shared, they weren’t lonely.
The reason she didn’t keep watching was also because of this.
She was afraid of being discovered.
Afraid of the truth being exposed.
Even if Su Li treated her as You Xue, as the childhood sweetheart he had lived with,
She herself couldn’t see it that way.
She didn’t want to deceive, didn’t want to take over someone else’s life.
She had still lied to Su Li.
Hadn’t explained anything to him.
But this was for his own good.
For the sake of that good ending that absolutely had to be reached.
You Xue lowered her head, thinking as she walked forward.
‘If… if by the time I reach the ending, I still have some leeway, if I can still speak it out—then I’ll tell him the truth.’
‘Whether he forgives me or gets angry, it doesn’t matter. In the end, I’ll drift away and die just like the original childhood sweetheart.’
‘If he really can’t bear it, I’ll apologize to him.’
Of course, the prerequisite for doing anything was that she could complete this task, that she could meet him at the final moment.
Without realizing it, You Xue had already walked back to the logistics area, but she didn’t plan to go inside.
She wanted to walk around outside for a bit.
In her previous life, she had always been confined to a hospital bed.
The scents she could smell were mostly the faint smell of disinfectant.
Even through the window, all she saw was a world blocked by concrete buildings.
So she didn’t return to the dormitory.
Instead, she walked deeper into the base.
After walking some distance, the space inside became more open.
It seemed she had arrived at a place similar to a temporary warehouse.
Many unorganized supplies were stacked there.
Among them, a middle-aged man was fumbling with something on a wooden crate.
Seeing You Xue approach, he showed a hostile expression.
“Hey, little girl.
This place isn’t open to just anyone!”
You Xue paused in her steps, her gaze calm as she swept over the middle-aged man.
He wore a gray-blue work uniform, sleeves rolled up to the forearms, revealing sturdy but slightly rough arms.
His face wasn’t particularly fierce, but his eyes held clear vigilance.
“This is a temporary unloading area. Non-staff are not allowed in.”
He straightened up, walked over from the crate, and blocked You Xue’s path.
He glanced at the girl in front of him.
“If you’re looking for the restroom, it’s behind you. Go to the end and turn left.”
You Xue’s eyes showed no ripple.
Her gaze passed over the middle-aged man.
Most of the crate was blocked, so she could only see a small part of the label.
It read: Safety Locator.
In the original story, during the final practical exercise, every student would receive a locator.
If they encountered an unsolvable problem, they just had to press the button, and the base would dispatch nearby security personnel to rescue them.
In the original story, Su Li never used it.
He achieved a good ranking by using a new application of his awakened ability.
You Xue withdrew her gaze, slightly lowered her head, and spoke softly.
“Sorry, I took a wrong turn.”
She turned around and left directly.
Passing through a long corridor, she changed direction.
The area was still very quiet, not many people.
“Huh? Miss You Xue, what are you doing here?”
From the doorway ahead, half a body leaned out.
Light orange hair swayed slightly.
Mei Lulu asked with some confusion.
You Xue looked up at the doorplate.
It read: Medical Room.
“Are you sick?”
Mei Lulu’s tone carried the same concern as when they first met.
“I’m fine. I just wanted to walk a bit and get some air.”
You Xue explained flatly.
“I see.”
Mei Lulu let out a sigh of relief.
“Since you’re here anyway, would you like to come in and sit down?”
Mei Lulu gently invited.
“I just finished organizing the medicine. I happen to have a little free time. I can make you a cup of hot tea. It’s nothing fancy, but at least it can warm you up.”
You Xue wanted to refuse, but looking at the other’s worried expression, she couldn’t say anything to decline.
“Then I’ll impose on you.”
Mei Lulu stepped back into the doorway.
Only then did You Xue get a full view of the inside.
The room wasn’t large, but it was neatly arranged.
Several hospital beds lined the walls, their sheets snowy white.
By the window was a wooden table with a half-full teacup on it.
A faint white vapor rose from the rim.
You Xue walked in and sat down on a chair.
Mei Lulu poured You Xue a full cup of tea.
“Mei Lulu, can I call you that?”
You Xue asked tentatively.
Mei Lulu tilted her head.
“Of course. In fact, it makes me feel more at ease.”
“I have a ridiculous question.”
You Xue didn’t drink the tea.
She spoke first.
“Hmm? What?”
Mei Lulu was full of curiosity.
“I feel like Mei Lulu… seems to be somewhat concerned about me. We’ve never met before, have we?”
Hearing You Xue’s question, Mei Lulu blinked.
“Concerned is concerned. Of course we’ve never met. I’m just acting out of a doctor’s care for a patient.”
“I only have a minor illness.”
You Xue retorted with a hint of guilt.
“But you really do look so pale. Like someone who could collapse at any moment.”
Mei Lulu’s words remained gentle.
“Just rest here with me for a while. I’m bored anyway, so consider it as keeping me company.”
Hearing Mei Lulu’s words, You Xue realized today the logistics area was so deserted.
Just yesterday, there had been many people busy.
“Where did everyone else go?”
“Today is the formal lecture for the students, isn’t it? Everyone is preparing for that. Ah, it’s getting busy again.”
Mei Lulu remarked.
“Everyone?”
You Xue was a bit puzzled.
“That’s right. Almost all available hands were sent. It’s like this every time there’s a combat drill. Moving iron cages, checking equipment, setting up the training grounds… Those magic beasts might have been injected with inhibitors, but they still weigh a lot. Just unloading them from the transport vehicles takes half a day.”
Mei Lulu picked up her teacup, took a sip, then said as if recalling something.
“Oh, right. Even the kitchen staff went to help, so lunch today might be a bit late.”
You Xue didn’t speak.
She just looked down at the tea in her cup.
She felt a vague sense of unease.
“Everyone went?”
You Xue asked again.
“Maybe someone took leave… but definitely everyone who could be mobilized went.”
Something’s wrong, You Xue thought to herself.
She remembered that middle-aged man working alone.
Given what Mei Lulu said, that person was definitely suspicious.
“I ran into a strange person earlier…”
So You Xue told Mei Lulu everything about the man she had encountered.
She felt that the gentle doctor in front of her was someone she could trust.