“You are me?”
“Mhm.”
“Alright, alright, then tell me—what’s my biggest secret?”
“Soul and body misalignment.”
“Hah, I hate riddlers the most.”
“You were a man in your previous life, fond of braised chicken rice and lemonade, loved playing Wa and Zhou, and whenever you got tired from gaming, you’d reward yourself with a shot.”
“…Could you not be so blunt? Thanks.”
“Any other questions?”
The other Chu Youhu’s fox ears twitched slightly as she crossed her arms, smiling gently at her.
Hearing this, Chu You glanced around, puzzled.
“Where exactly is this place? And… why am I here?”
The other self replied calmly, “This is my home—or rather… the prison that suppresses me.”
Chu You remained silent, quietly watching her, waiting for an explanation.
The other her put down her crossed arms, barefoot, and paced over to the crescent-shaped lake.
She lifted her two fair little feet and gently dipped them into the lake water that flickered with a pale flame.
The ripples reflected her slightly swaying figure.
“The essence of the Monster Race (demon clan) shouldn’t have consciousness, but I’m an exception…” she narrated softly.
“You know your origins clearly, and you should understand that your existence is merely a fantasy that once only lived within storybooks.”
She tilted her head, meeting Chu You’s gaze.
“Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying you’re an intruder. It’s just that the original soul of this body vanished, and your arrival just happened to fill that void.”
“As the Monster Race essence of this body, for a long time my instinct was to expel you…”
She paused, her tone tinged with helplessness.
“But you awakened the Divine Oracle, and worse, Qi Wutong actually created this space, trapping me inside.”
“Later, that Monster Race called Mirror Lake appeared and left a small gap in the seal through some method, allowing me to occasionally come out for some fresh air—” she gently stirred the water with her feet, causing rings of ripples, “Of course, all of this depends on you, the original body, guiding me.”
Chu You nodded and walked to the lake’s edge, sitting side by side with the other self.
“After I faked my death and escaped, the Divine Oracle fell silent, and then you were completely free, right?”
The other self shook her head slightly.
“I told you—I am you… If you don’t actively guide the essence to awaken, I can do nothing. Only when you use the essence’s power can I gradually wake.”
Hearing this, Chu You understood— the original soul had long since dissipated, and she had just crossed over.
The Monster Race essence, having been severed from the soul for a long time, gradually developed its own consciousness but was then suppressed by the later-awakened Divine Oracle.
After sorting all this out, Chu You softly asked, “Then the second question: why am I here?”
The person beside her turned her head, smiling brightly and warmly.
“I pulled you in… Your injuries were severe, your body on the brink of collapse. If left unchecked, your soul would have been damaged as well.”
Her small feet lightly splashed the water, the pale flames flickering with her movements.
“Bringing you here is for two reasons—the first is my existence, and our relationship, which I just explained.”
“The second is…” her voice grew quieter, “I’m leaving.”
Chu You’s pupils contracted slightly.
The other self tilted her head, her fox ears trembling softly.
“To be precise, all control between us has always been in your hands. I’ve thought it through—rather than being trapped here forever, it’s better to accept everything calmly, right?”
She stared into Chu You’s eyes earnestly.
“Chu You, stop resisting your true self. We are Monster Race, but we are also ourselves.”
With that, she slowly rose, stepping lightly to hover above the lake’s surface.
Turning around, she lowered her gaze at Chu You sitting at the lake’s edge, smiling sweetly.
“Remember that game you played in your past life?”
Chu You looked up, instinctively asking, “What?”
The other Chu You, suspended in midair, slowly extended her hand.
Her body began to glow, becoming translucent and ethereal.
She whispered, “Take my hand…”
At the lake’s edge, Chu You felt an emptiness suddenly swell in her heart and reached out instinctively to grasp the other’s hand, but their fingertips barely brushed.
“Live together with me…” the voice softly finished.
After saying this, her form became even more insubstantial, as if she would vanish entirely with the next blink.
Chu You watched this scene, unsure of what to do or say.
The other Chu You slowly retracted her arms.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she murmured, “Oh, right… Qi Wutong has fallen silent. You must be troubled, right? Don’t be afraid. The anchor point you’ve been searching for has always been by your side—”
Her voice grew fainter, like a whisper in the wind.
“Look carefully, listen carefully, feel carefully…”
With those words, her form completely dissolved, transforming into countless glowing white stars that slowly fell.
Chu You raised her hand, trying to catch the falling starlight, but the light passed through her palm like flowing sand, silently disappearing into the pale lake water.
…
…
The dusk deepened, enveloping the special care ward of the Coastal City People’s Hospital in tranquil stillness.
Chu You lay quietly on the hospital bed, her complexion as pale as paper, with only the steady beeping of the heart monitor proving life’s continuation.
Lin Mo kept watch at her side, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her face.
Suddenly, Chu You’s fingers resting on the bed rail twitched imperceptibly.
Lin Mo’s eyes were lowered, catching the subtle movement.
His pupils contracted sharply as overwhelming joy surged within him.
He cautiously grasped the slightly cool hand, leaning close and whispering, “Senior…? Senior… can you hear me?” His voice trembled with disbelief.
“Senior, are you awake?”
However, after his words, Chu You gave no further response.
Time passed in silence.
Lin Mo pressed his lips tight, the flicker of hope in his eyes dimming with each passing second, replaced by heavy disappointment.
He slowly released her hand and prepared to sit back in his chair.
But just as his fingers were about to let go.
Chu You’s hand instinctively closed around his once again.
The pressure was light but undeniably real.
Lin Mo jumped up from his chair as if burned, his face instantly alight with the joy of regained hope.
“Senior! You’re awake! It’s me, Lin Mo! Can you hear me?” He called out urgently, tightly holding her hand.
On the bed, Chu You’s brows knitted slightly, as if shaking off some heavy burden.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and with great effort, she opened a narrow slit of her eyes.
Adapting to the dim light, her cracked lips parted softly, producing a hoarse, faint voice tinged with a hint of complaint that was clear to Lin Mo’s ears.
“Too noisy…”
The blurry shadows before her eyes gradually focused, and her scattered consciousness began to flow back like a rising tide.
She slowly turned her head, her gaze finally settling on the worried face by the bed.
“…How long,” she croaked, her voice dry from disuse, “have I been lying here?”
Lin Mo immediately leaned forward, his tone gentle enough to drip warmth.
“Eight days, Senior.”
Chu You blinked lightly, as if absorbing this information, then asked again, “What about those I saved? Director Zhao’s wife and daughter, and the other tourists… are they all okay?”
“They’re all fine.” Lin Mo replied patiently, a comforting curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
“Many have even written thank-you letters to the city government and sent banners, all hoping to meet their lifesaver and thank you in person.”
He paused slightly, a faint chill flashing almost imperceptibly across his otherwise gentle expression.
He omitted the unpleasant part—that last young man who was rescued not only showed no gratitude but insulted the staff and threatened to report Chu You for delayed rescue.
Lin Mo had already noted the man down, intending to teach him a lesson.
Unexpectedly, before he could act, he heard that the guy was beaten to have his leg broken after a night of drinking, and was sent to the hospital.
And the surveillance footage from the scene clearly showed the figure wielding the stick with ruthless blows looked suspiciously like a certain enthusiastic citizen surnamed Zhao.
“In any case, everything’s fine.”
Lin Mo finally summarized quietly, hiding all turmoil beneath calm words.
“That’s good,” Chu You forced a faint smile but then furrowed her brows, worry clouding her eyes.
“But that commotion was so loud that day… what about Gu Qiancheng’s side…”
Before she finished speaking, The ward door was pushed open abruptly, and a figure strode in unannounced.
“Junior, you’re in for a treat! I packed dinner for you today—”
Gu Qiancheng paused mid-step, spotting the awakened Chu You, his shout cut off instantly.
The air fell suddenly silent.
Chu You’s face filled with panic as she saw Gu Qiancheng burst in, her mouth moving faster than her mind: “Lin Mo, get him!”
“Knock him out! Hit him on the head!”