“You mean, you two went up on the dam to watch the sunset?”
Even the Police Officer found it unbelievable.
Say that again while looking at the moon in the sky—what were you doing?
Coming all the way here in the middle of the night, isn’t that basically a suicide pact?
Although he remained skeptical, considering the couple’s sincere attitude in admitting their mistake, he barely chose to believe them.
“You young people, out of all the places to go on a date, you chose here? Don’t you know a few careless ones fall off every year? It’s a yearly test, yearly mistake!”
“We’re very sorry, we won’t come here again!”
Xia Yuanhua bowed ninety degrees, deeply ashamed.
Just last month, she had posted an anti-drowning notice in the Teacher Group and had all the Class Advisors remind students during meetings.
She never expected she’d be the first to step on a landmine.
Fang Wei was also held down by her, and after the two apologized, the Police Officer waved them off.
“Alright, alright. Luckily nothing happened. You two brought your IDs, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… then make a post on the Circle of Friends. If you get twenty likes, you don’t have to come back with me tonight.”
After checking their IDs, the Police Officer returned them, and at the same time, issued a fine worth two hundred yuan.
Climbing the dam isn’t a traffic violation, but it was clear this Public Security Bureau officer was being lenient—maybe to avoid trouble, as long as they suffered some social death, it was fine.
“I’ll post it!”
Xia Yuanhua stood in front of Fang Wei, like a knight gallantly heading to death.
“I’d better do it.”
Fang Wei quickly followed.
Xia Yuanhua’s WeChat was probably filled with colleagues, relatives, and students.
There was no way he’d let someone with such a fragile mental state suffer social death.
Otherwise, she’d be swinging on the apartment balcony tomorrow.
He paid the fine, stood beside the Police Officer, and took a photo holding the “Safety First” flag.
“Ok, post it. Make sure the caption is positive, young man.”
“Yes, Police Officer.”
Fang Wei, under his real name, posted online: Today, I went to the dam bridge in Dongpei District with the 24-year-old daughter of the school secretary, got cold in the wind, and after a hug, had a bank card forced into my hand. The Senior Sister’s figure is…
No, that’s not how the caption should be.
“Today at the Dongpei District dam bridge, I climbed up out of curiosity. From now on, I’ll travel safely, obey the law, and stay away from dangerous areas! Please help me by liking this post!”
After sending it, his Circle of Friends—full of grassroots organization employees and a couple of weirdos—quickly got twenty likes within a few minutes.
“Is this enough?”
“Yes, you young people can play, but don’t do such dangerous things again.”
After another round of criticism and education from the Police Officer, Fang Wei repeatedly nodded and apologized.
When the officer finally left, he let out a sigh of relief and grinned at Xia Yuanhua.
But Xia Yuanhua remained frozen in her earlier pose, staring blankly with hollow eyes, her breathing growing irregular.
“Sister… what’s wrong?”
Fang Wei sensed something was off.
Xia Yuanhua’s state reminded him of their first meeting, so he quickly grabbed her hand, discovering she was trembling slightly.
“What’s wrong? Sister is fine.”
Xia Yuanhua forced a smile, but her eyes were devoid of emotion, cold enough to suffocate.
After a brief moment of confusion, Fang Wei realized how stupid his actions just now had been.
He shouldn’t have shown the ability to handle something alone in front of Xia Yuanhua, nor should he have stopped her from standing in front of him.
In this relationship, he was supposed to be the one “needing help.” If even Xia Yuanhua couldn’t be of use, then what was the point of living?
He recalled a psychological phenomenon—White Knight Syndrome!
So-called White Knights were heroes in Western romantic literature, clad in white armor, rescuing those in distress.
They symbolized protection and salvation.
These people shared a common trait: they enjoyed saving others and were only interested in the suffering.
In extreme cases, it could even develop into an obsession with rescuing the damaged.
Simply put, it’s an excessive desire to protect—if you’re not hurt, they become unhappy.
If you don’t need their help, they can’t prove their own value, leading to pathological anxiety, panic, and internal conflict.
In severe cases, they might even create pain for you just to appear as a savior.
Xia Yuanhua shouldn’t… be at that level, right?
A cold sweat ran down Fang Wei’s back.
In the night, the red light above her head was flashing violently.
Though she tried hard to hide it, the frustration and anxiety on her face were almost overflowing.
She kept a stiff smile, breathing greedily through her small mouth, her whole body enveloped in unease.
Fang Wei knew that, as the one being saved, he had to do something.
He wrapped his arms around Xia Yuanhua, his voice gentle and tender.
“That really scared me just now. Seriously, posting on the Circle of Friends is so embarrassing, but I couldn’t let Sister do it for me. After all, Sister has always been helping me. Sometimes, I want to do something for Sister too, to repay you.”
“I… Is that so?”
Xia Yuanhua’s breathing steadied slightly.
“Yeah, yeah. Without Sister by my side, I wouldn’t even dare to speak. Hehe, I feel like I can’t live without you anymore.”
Fang Wei felt like he was acting like a manipulative little schemer.
But this move was effective.
Xia Yuanhua’s gloom faded instantly, replaced by a radiant smile.
Her steps became light, her pride floating to the heavens.
Because, ah, their Little Fang Wei said he couldn’t live without her anymore~
On the way back, the two walked slowly, Xia Yuanhua’s gaze never leaving Fang Wei’s face.
She resembled a master reading Fang Wei’s fortune, her seriousness making him uncomfortable all over.
Fang Wei had to use the excuse that it was late to promise to eat together next time and refused Xia Yuanhua’s offer to escort him home.
“Let’s stop here. Sister, be careful on your way too.”
The ride-share carrying the boy vanished at the end of the road.
Xia Yuanhua stood like a lovesick stone, until the trembling of her wrist brought her back to reality.
She walked on the way home, the city’s bright lights bringing a bit of warmth to the small inn.
Lowering her head, she casually pulled out a cigarette.
When the cigarette touched her lips, Xia Yuanhua paused, then threw the whole pack into the trash.
Smoking in front of Little Fang Wei was not what a good sister should do.
She needed to play this role more seriously.
She had to use her unique gentleness to bind him tightly by her side, pouring all her love into him.
Even giving her whole heart wouldn’t be enough, because only she could appreciate and heal his wounds.
Those wounds attracted her like stars.
Xia Yuanhua fell silent.
She had seen it countless times in her dreams: shadowy figures using words to leave matching wounds on a girl, crowding to push her off the dam.
And she, passing through the blur, could never grasp her sister’s hand.
…
After parting with the somewhat calmer Xia Yuanhua, Fang Wei received an update from Si Chen during his ride-share.
——Xia Yuanhua became a magical girl at age 13.
According to her former Spirit, when she became a magical girl, she wished for her family to find happiness.
One week after making her wish, her older sister jumped into the sea in suicide.
That April, her parents divorced, and she was forced to live with her father.
Magic and miracles simply don’t exist.
Even if you make a wish, it does no good. After signing the Contract of Servitude, she fought in a daze until adulthood, then continued to suffer and regret under Society’s lash.
As for Xia Yuanhua’s last recorded appearance as a magical girl, it was three years ago.
In July of that same year, another magical girl in Nantong City completely took her place.
Since then, Xia Yuanhua’s life was a complete failure.
Having called her “Sister” so many times, Fang Wei felt terrible after reading the report.
No wonder Xia Yuanhua was so good to him.
Her failed magical girl career and the original family that even her wish couldn’t save…
Living like this, is it so wrong to find a useless man to prove her value?
If it were him, he’d also find…
Uh, a woman.
[I understand. Xia Yuanhua’s emotions are stable for now, but this isn’t a long-term solution. Her corruption value has hit a bottleneck, so I need to contact her family—preferably the older generation, not her parents.]
Sending the message to Si Chen, the ride-share arrived at its destination.
As the Assistant Leader of the [Kaxiu] organization, Si Chen had no social security or benefits, but at least had a conscience and assigned him a small apartment—number 303.
The Moving Company had just set up the place today, and Fang Wei was too lazy to keep battling mosquitoes at the Youth Hostel.
He went up to the third floor, foam sheets scattered messily underfoot.
Even before approaching, he could hear faint mumbling.
What was that noise?
Curious, he walked up to his door—only to see a small figure curled up on the ground, back facing him.
Fang Wei was puzzled.
What… is this lump?