8/11/25
Yin Que had always felt there was a distinct sense of division about Ning Li.
The contrast between the version of her in the first Samsara Sphere and the one in reality was stark.
He had vaguely sensed something was off before, but couldn’t figure out why.
Now he finally knew the reason.
Before the age of twelve, she must have lived a happy life.
Maybe her family wasn’t wealthy, but there had to be someone who loved her, so she could act spoiled and sweetly call someone “Big Brother.”
Maybe she really had a brother.
Even if not a blood brother, then perhaps a cousin.
But after she turned twelve, she became an Experiment Subject.
Everything from before slipped far away from her.
What about her family?
Her friends?
How much suffering had she endured to become so strong now?
That process must have been excruciating, and utterly inhumane.
To keep her under control, they would manipulate her spirit, with judgment being an ideal method.
They would try to make her truly believe, deep down, that she was guilty.
Only by being guilty would she need to atone, and her way to atone would be doing things for them.
How many times had she been judged?
Surely more than once.
The version of her in the first Samsara Sphere was the most original, the purest her.
She would rely on others, want to be cared for and loved.
Because she really had once been that way.
Ning Li felt a wet warmth at her abdomen.
It wasn’t particularly hot, yet it made her heart clench tight.
She was a little stunned and placed her hand on Yin Que’s head.
Was his mother’s attitude really making him this sad?
The word “mother” was far too distant for her.
Experiment Subjects weren’t supposed to have family.
“Yin Que?”
She was really not good at comforting people and could only say dryly, “Don’t be sad. It’s all their fault.”
That Noble Lady had looked so arrogant.
Qi Sigui’s wife didn’t seem like a good person either; the look in her eyes was like she was sizing up a piece of property.
She really disliked that.
“Yeah, they’re all terrible. The ones who made Ning an Experiment Subject are all scum.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Mhm.”
It’s not your fault either.
“You’re really amazing.”
Yin Que softly echoed, “You’re really amazing.”
No one else knew, but only he understood how wonderful Ning Li was.
Ning Li squeezed those words out like toothpaste, then fell silent.
The lounge was quiet for a time; no one spoke.
They hugged each other in silence—just an embrace, yet time didn’t seem to slow at all.
On the contrary, it felt like time passed too quickly.
It seemed like they’d only held each other for a moment before someone knocked on the door.
In truth, they’d been hugging for half an hour.
But it still didn’t feel like enough.
The person knocking was persistent, rapping for a long while.
Yin Que, looking sharp in his suit, appeared at the door.
He straightened his cuffs; no one would have guessed what had just happened, or what he was thinking.
“Yin Que, the President of the Sentinel Association is here to see you.”
A strange look flashed in Yin Que’s eyes.
President Mo…
He nodded slightly and left with the person who came to notify him.
Not long after he left, another figure slipped into the lounge.
A young man, about the same age as Ning Li.
His eyes, always wet and sticky even when looking at a dog, a seductive tear mole beneath them, thin lips, a high nose—put together, he had the face of a cold-hearted scoundrel.
“Boss?”
He looked at Ning Li, testing.
Seeing K, Ning Li paused, “What are you doing here?”
K walked over and sat beside her.
“I’m here to see you.”
When the Regression Prism activated back then, he’d grabbed Ning Li’s arm at the first opportunity and traveled two hundred years back with her.
Unfortunately, he too had false memories implanted by the Regression Prism.
It was only in the past couple of days, after seeing Ning Li through the lens, that he began recalling the past bit by bit.
He leaned back on the sofa, turned his head, and gazed at Ning Li deeply.
“You and Yin Que were in here together for over half an hour. What were you doing?”
The doors and windows were tightly shut—he couldn’t even snoop if he wanted to.
Half an hour was enough time to do anything.
Ning Li said casually, “Nothing much.”
K scrutinized Ning Li’s lips and her overall condition.
Seeing that her lips were full and bore no strange marks, he finally let out a long breath.
“Boss, why is everyone online saying you’re Yin Que’s girlfriend? Would you really be interested in someone like him?”
Ning Li frowned in displeasure, “What’s he like? Is there something wrong with him?”
K stiffened on the spot.
“So the rumors online are true?”
These past few days, Yin Que and Ning Li were always seen together.
At every one of Yin Que’s speeches, Ning Li was always present.
The internet was full of speculation.
The nobles on Sky Island never discussed their love lives in public, nor did they need to—what mattered was the result.
Take Qi Sigui, for example.
No one knew he was dating Xi Dian, nor how long they’d been together, until a few years ago when he abruptly produced a marriage certificate.
Only then did the sentinels realize the Commander’s wife was the top-tier guide Xi Dian.
The nobles hated having their romantic affairs discussed by the common folk, as if ordinary people weren’t worthy of knowing their world.
Plus, they changed boyfriends and girlfriends at a rapid pace.
Right now, it’s the election period, so all candidates should be focused on their campaign declarations.
But Yin Que had never denied anything on social media, which was already an implicit acknowledgment.
“But…”
K’s eyes were turbulent, his heart roiling as if in boiling water, yet his tone stayed calm.
“But, you and he aren’t the same kind of people.”
He stared straight into Ning Li’s eyes, the tear mole beneath his eye tinged with a pleading look.
“Boss, you and I are the same.”
Because he, too, was an Experiment Subject.
Only an Experiment Subject could understand how hard it was to be one.
Only an Experiment Subject would equally despise this disgusting world.
“Boss, we’ve known each other for over seven years. How long have you known Yin Que? Don’t be fooled by that gentle act of his! He’s a noble—he’s no different from the others!”
“He’s not like the others,” Ning Li said with certainty.
K was speechless, almost suffocating; he leaned closer, the emotion in his eyes surging like a tidal wave.
“Then, do you dare let him know you’re an Experiment Subject?”
Ning Li fell silent.
She knew very well—she wasn’t willing.
She didn’t want Yin Que to know about it.
Even as lovers, not every secret needed to be revealed.
She and K were the only two perfect Experiment Subjects left.
So even though she was a Guide, she could still possess a Sentinel’s attack skills.
K was the same.
K was a Sentinel, but he had Assistant Skills.
They were the only two such special beings in the world.
All other Experiment Subjects were dead.
The success rate of the experiments was never as high as imagined.
In a sense, K hadn’t been entirely wrong—they were, indeed, the same kind of people.
But two people covered in scars, coming together, would only double the pain.
Sometimes, her negative emotions would affect K, making him irritable and manic.
Occasionally, K’s world-weariness would affect her, draining her zest for life.
They influenced each other, spiraling deeper into the abyss of suffering.
They were like vicious hounds living in hell: violent, jaded, their strength greater than the sum of its parts, and their pain, too.
But—
She had never felt anything for K beyond familial affection.
He could be family, a friend, a comrade, a subordinate—but never a boyfriend.
During the days she traveled with K, they supported each other, always on the run from the lab researchers’ pursuit.
Those days were gray, numb, and cold.
Sometimes, she’d think maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if it all ended there.
Those years, she was exhausted.
K was tired, too.
They were both utterly worn out.
Two people who were equally drained and equally fed up with the world, forced together only by similar experience.
Even if they parted ways, there would be nothing to regret.
Sometimes, looking at K, Ning Li felt like she was looking at another version of herself.
They were so alike.
But Yin Que was different.
Every day of being hunted in the Samsara Sphere felt new.
The hardship was real, but she found herself looking forward to what unique and unforgettable experience she might share with Yin Que the next day.
It turned out that being hunted wasn’t pure suffering after all.
There was sweetness within the pain.
In fact, the sweet moments prevailed.
“You should go, K.”
For the sake of nearly eight years of acquaintance, Ning Li chose her words carefully.
K remained unmoved.
He stood up, calmly poured himself a glass of warm water, leaned against the wall with one hand in his pocket, his gloomy, sticky eyes fixed on her.
Sipping the water, he said, “Boss, don’t you want to find the Regression Prism? Don’t you want to know why it brought you back here?”
“Two hundred years later, if you want, you can rule as king.”
“But right now, Yin Que is the center of attention for all the sentinels. Are you really willing to accept that?”
Seeing Ning Li’s unmoved face, K leaned in a little.
“By the way, the perfect malformed species experiment has just started. We could totally blow up the lab—show those swine what we’re made of.”
“So, how about teaming up again and doing something big, Boss?”
None of what he said had moved Ning Li.
But that last sentence did tug at her heart.
In 1357, the experiments were still in their infancy; many people had yet to fall victim to the researchers’ claws…
At that thought, Ning Li froze.
“So many people haven’t yet fallen into the researchers’ claws?”
Why would she think that?
She’d never considered that before.
After spending so much time with Yin Que, had she somehow picked up his way of thinking…?
Was that a good sign, or a bad one?
Ning Li couldn’t tell, only felt a strange softness at her heart, something she was unused to.
She rubbed her chest.
“Are we going, Boss?”
Ning Li picked up a pen and quickly wrote a few words on a piece of paper.
K watched her the whole time.
When he saw what she’d written, he crossed his arms, looking disdainful.
“Boss, is that really necessary? You never did things like this before.”
Ning Li:
She had never dated before, after all.
But she couldn’t be bothered to argue with K.
Which Experiment Subject had a sound mind, anyway?
In others’ eyes, K was probably a complete madman.
Sarcastic and weird was his normal.
K opened the window, turning to Ning Li, “Boss, let’s not use the main door. Let’s go this way.”
With that, he braced himself with his right hand and effortlessly jumped out of the lounge.
Ning Li followed close behind.
The area behind the temporary lounge was rarely visited, just a small path.
Follow it to the end and you’d reach a certain noble’s private amusement park.
On Sky Island, there were many such private amusement parks.
Pastimes for the wealthy.
Whether it was Ning Li or K, their concealment skills were top-notch.
If they truly wished to leave, no one could stop them.
But they’d only just gone a few steps when a gentle voice sounded from behind, “Ning Li, where are you going?”
K whirled around, a sharp chill flashing in his eyes.
Hadn’t he arranged for someone to send Yin Que away?
Why was he here?!