Chapter 589

The sea breeze was light and gentle, carrying a salty dampness as it brushed against his face again and again.

Fang Qi sat on the edge of the offshore platform, holding that familiar bundle of warmth in his arms.

He gazed quietly at the distant horizon, his eyes unfocused.

The sun had already risen completely in the east, its orange light spreading across the entire surface of the sea.

The intense emotions from earlier had come like a surging tide, only to recede just as quickly. Now…

All that remained was a sense of melancholy.

Almost instinctively, he tightened his arms, pulling the silver-haired girl in his embrace a little closer.

Liguang buried her face even deeper against his chest.

And a few meters away…

Lin Xiaoyou was sprawled at the edge of the platform in an extremely twisted position.

Her butt had taken a terrible beating. She couldn’t sit down, and she couldn’t stand up straight, so in the end, she simply lay back down.

She leaned her entire upper body over the edge of the platform, bringing her face right above the surface of the sea…

Then she stuck out the tip of her tongue and gave the seawater a quick lick!

“Blech, blech—!”

Her round little face immediately scrunched up!

While forcefully sticking out her tongue, she rubbed her mouth hard with the back of her hand!

“So salty! It’s really salty!”

She scooped up another handful of seawater, held it up before her eyes, and examined it carefully. Then she gave it a sniff before flinging it away with an expression of disgust.

She muttered,

“Did it really have to be this accurate…?”

A faint rustling came from Fang Qi’s arms.

He lowered his head, and by sheer coincidence, met a pair of glistening, mismatched eyes.

Through the gaps between her hair and his arm, one wet amber eye peeked out, staring at him without blinking.

When she realized he was looking down at her, she immediately whooshed that eye back out of sight, burying her entire face in the front of his shirt.

He raised his head and continued staring at the sea.

The sea and sky blended into one, stretching endlessly in every direction. The breeze was warm and gentle.

And his heart had finally calmed down.

…Forget it. Let it be.

He pressed his lips together.

If the world he had originally lived in really had been destroyed, then…

What good would it do to grieve now?

He stroked Liguang’s silver hair, his fingers slowly combing through the strands.

Besides…

He had never intended to go back in the first place.

He had already decided to stay here.

He had already decided to remain with Liguang forever.

…Hadn’t he?

Fang Qi blinked, staring at the sea as his eyes gradually lost focus.

Yes.

Ever since Liguang had “completely won him over,” he had immediately decided that he would be with Liguang forever.

There had been almost no hesitation, no struggle, and he hadn’t even looked back once.

As for going home, it seemed he had…

Never seriously considered it at all.

Well… he had thought about it from time to time.

For example, late at night, when he was alone and staring blankly at the ceiling.

Or when he saw some scene reminiscent of his old life.

He would think of his parents. He would think of how they might still be waiting for him in another world.

He imagined them worrying about him, grieving for him, perhaps even standing by the door every day, waiting for their long-missing son to come home.

But every time such thoughts surfaced, he would immediately force them back down.

He refused to think about them too deeply. He didn’t dare to.

It was as though, so long as he could remain with Liguang forever, all other problems ceased to matter.

He felt like a coward—a son who had failed his parents.

But now…

Fang Qi’s gaze trembled faintly.

Perhaps that wasn’t entirely true.

This was probably his subconscious at work, wasn’t it?

Because he knew that his original world had already become a wasteland.

There were no parents waiting for him to return anymore. Even if he went back…

All that would remain would be ruins and endless desolation.

And so, his subconscious had always been preventing him from thinking about “going home.”

That was why…

He had chosen to stay here long ago, and had done so with a clear conscience.

Fang Qi looked at the sun rising in the east. The corners of his lips twitched, as though he wanted to laugh.

So, from the very beginning, he had been thoroughly influenced by his own subconscious—and by the past that had already vanished.

No wonder.

Other “transmigrators” who crossed into another world clung to the desire to go home from beginning to end, desperately searching for a way back!

But what about him?

He had given up on going home long ago.

And he had done so with practically no psychological burden at all.

So that was the reason behind it, huh?

He smiled helplessly and shook his head.

…Well, that was fine. At least he no longer had to agonize over it.

His “home” was now only here.

Only this…

Fang Qi lowered his head slightly and looked at the warm bundle in his arms, only to meet a pair of…

Crescent-shaped phoenix eyes.

The silver-haired girl was gazing up at him. Clearly, she had been secretly watching him the entire time.

But… huh?

Fang Qi couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

The moment the silver-haired girl noticed his gaze falling on her, she panicked!

Whoosh—she buried her head again!

Her silver hair flew up, and her entire face disappeared into his chest once more!

But…

Fang Qi had already seen it.

He stared blankly at the little silver bundle in his arms as a question mark slowly rose in his mind.

Wait… what?

The way Liguang had looked at him just now…

Why did it feel like she was so happy?!

Huh?!

Those curved brows and smiling eyes—there was no sign that she was grieving over what had happened to him!

She was clearly overjoyed, delighted beyond measure, practically ready to fly!

…Huh?!

Fang Qi’s gaze slowly sharpened.

Crazy Girl, you…?

He narrowed his eyes slightly, tilted his head down, and leaned closer to look at the side of Liguang’s face hidden behind her silver hair.

And then he saw it.

The half of the silver-haired girl’s face exposed against his chest… had a grin that was practically stretching from ear to ear!

The crimson pupil of her right eye was blinking at an astonishing speed!

The red light flickered on and off, tinting her fair little face with a faint blush!

She also realized that Fang Qi was watching her.

Those crimson eyes darted toward him. They widened in panic for an instant, then she hurriedly turned her head away!

Her whole body shrank in on itself, and she hugged his waist even tighter.

Then…

“Even if Master can never go back…”

A voice carrying a sobbing tone came from his chest:

“Liguang will make Master happy forever and ever…”

“Don’t be sad, Master… You still have Liguang…”

“Hee… sob…”

Fang Qi: “…”

The corner of his eye twitched as he glared fiercely at the little silver thing in his arms!

“Hee”?!

What did “hee” mean?!

Crazy Girl, explain yourself!

What are you “hee”-ing about?!

Your husband just lost his entire home, and you’re sitting here going “hee”?

You, you, you…!

Even if you were pretending, couldn’t you at least make it look a little more convincing?!

Fang Qi took a deep breath and felt…

The vein at his temple begin to throb violently!

Meanwhile, the little silver thing in his arms continued to put on an act. She kept her little face buried tightly against him, her body squirming ever so slightly.

Fang Qi was truly…

Amused to the point of anger.

If he still didn’t understand what was going on, he would have to be a complete idiot!

Of course Liguang wouldn’t be sad.

He couldn’t go back. His original home was gone. His former life, his family, and his friends—all of it was gone.

He was very sad. He was deeply melancholy. But…

Liguang certainly wasn’t sad!

Not only was she not sad, she was probably overjoyed!

Because he couldn’t go back!

Because he could only stay here!

All of his former family, his friends… everyone who had ever loved him was gone!

And the only person he could rely on, the only one who could stay by his side, was Liguang!

For this Little Yandere…

Wasn’t this simply the best thing that could have happened to her?

It was a blessing from heaven!

The greatest news imaginable!

She had always been worried that he would leave her!

She had even forbidden him from thinking about “going home,” refusing to let him keep that unreachable world in his heart!

The last time it happened, she had even “disappeared” because of it!

She had driven him to the brink of collapse before reappearing, all to completely sever his desire to return home!

And now, she knew…

He could never go back in the first place!

Of course she was practically beside herself with joy!

But this Little Yandere still had to put on an act, pretending to grieve and suffer alongside her master…

The corner of Fang Qi’s mouth twitched violently.

This Little Yandere actually knew how to take her master’s feelings into consideration now?

Her emotional intelligence really was improving!

“Li…guang!”

Fang Qi gritted his teeth and raised his hand…

Then he aimed it at her fluffy silver head and gave it a vigorous, chaotic rub!

“Get. Up. Already!”

“Waaah…!”

Liguang’s head was rocked from side to side under his assault!

Her long silver hair was instantly rubbed into a tangled mess, with countless stray hairs sticking up in every direction!

Yet she stubbornly refused to lift her head, clinging tightly to his waist.

“Mmm… Master can rub me all he wants… Rub me as much as he likes…!”

“As long as it makes Master stop being sad, Liguang will do anything…”

She even continued “comforting” him as she spoke.

But whenever her head was jostled upward, Fang Qi could still clearly see…

The corners of her mouth, hidden beneath her silver hair, were curved into an uncontrollable grin!

Fang Qi: “…”

Fine, fine! What a Liguang!

You really are my wonderful wife!

He was so furious that he actually laughed, and rubbed her hair even harder!

He messed it up into an enormous tangled ball!

But even though he was annoyed…

The corners of his own mouth couldn’t help lifting slightly.

Liguang like this was pretty nice, too.

The smile she couldn’t hide, the joy practically overflowing from her crimson eyes, the clumsy performance in which she pretended to be sad while barely managing to contain her excitement.

…He couldn’t go back. He really couldn’t go back.

But the Crazy Girl in front of him was genuinely, truly happy. She was so happy that she couldn’t even act properly.

Because…

She no longer had to worry about him leaving.

Yeah.

That was pretty good, too.

Fang Qi slowly stopped rubbing her hair, though his fingers remained buried in her disheveled silver locks.

A flash of pink caught the corner of his eye.

Lin Xiaoyou had changed positions at some point.

She was lying half-reclined on the edge of the platform, supporting her chin with one hand while lazily stirring the seawater with the other.

Her backside was probably still hurting, because her whole body was slightly hunched over. Even so, she was watching them with a bright smile.

When she noticed Fang Qi looking over, she immediately winked at him and curled up the corner of her mouth…

Revealing a meaningful, smug smile!

—Senior, look how happy I made your Liguang!

Fang Qi: “…”

Fine, fine.

He finally understood everything!

Lin Xiaoyou hadn’t told Liguang because Liguang had tortured her into confessing the truth.

She had clearly…

Taken this news as the greatest piece of good fortune imaginable and presented it to Liguang as a precious offering!

He could practically imagine what had happened inside the wooden cabin just now.

Liguang had probably been about to continue beating her, when the genius girl had immediately scrambled over, hugged Liguang’s leg, and wailed:

“Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! I’ll tell you some good news!”

“Your master’s world is finished! Your master can’t go back anymore!”

“From now on, your master can really only love you!”

And when Liguang heard the whole truth, she must have been so happy that she let Lin Xiaoyou off the hook…

That was why she had spared her!

He was speechless!

He knew Lin Xiaoyou wouldn’t tell Liguang anything good!

He couldn’t help glaring at Lin Xiaoyou.

The Miss Genius immediately put on a pitiful expression, covered her backside, and winked at him.

—Senior, I already took a beating for you. What’s the harm in making a little sacrifice to coax your wife?

That was practically what her expression was saying.

Fang Qi shook his head helplessly.

Whatever. It didn’t matter.

He hadn’t planned on hiding this from Liguang anyway.

He lowered his head and looked at the tangled silver bundle in his arms.

The bundle was still squirming against him, whimpering as she continued to “grieve” with him!

Fang Qi: “…”

He raised his hand—

Smack!

He swatted her bottom.

“Liguang, stop pretending!”

“I know you’re very happy. Get up already!”

In his arms, Liguang let out a soft “mmph” and trembled from the slap. Then, at last, she slowly lifted her head.

Her pretty face still wore an expression of sorrow!

“Liguang isn’t happy at all…”

Her voice was thick with tears.

“Master’s family is all gone. Liguang is just as sad as Master…”

“Waaah, waaah…!”

Her amber eyes glistened with tears, as if she might burst into sobs at any moment!

Fang Qi reached the limits of his patience!

Still pretending!

He raised his hand and aimed it at her forehead—

Flick!

He gave her a solid forehead flick!

It hurt his own finger!

“Ow!”

The silver-haired girl cried out, clutching her head and shrinking backward as she stared at Fang Qi with teary eyes.

It clearly really hurt. Actual tears had been flicked from her eyes!

But…

The corners of her mouth finally began to rise uncontrollably!

Higher and higher, until her entire face bloomed into a radiant smile!

“Liguang is sad, that’s all!”

She suddenly threw herself back into Fang Qi’s arms!

“Liguang is sad!”

“I’m sad, I’m sad, I’m sad!”

Her body kept squirming as she spoke!

“Liguang really isn’t pretending! I’m just sad!”

That tone…

She was truly “devastated”!

Fang Qi: “…”

What the hell are you sad about?!

He grabbed her cheeks and pulled her upright!

He stared at the face before him—those eyes shining with astonishing brilliance, the corners of her mouth impossible to suppress, a flush of excitement spreading across her cheeks…

It was a little face practically covered in the words “I’m so sad.”

Honestly…

Fang Qi was so exasperated that he laughed again.

“—!”

He drew in a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

Good grief!

…Whatever. He wouldn’t argue with her about this for now!

At present…

He looked out over the beautiful, calm sea.

The Earth had been destroyed. So be it.

Ah, no.

That wasn’t quite right.

Mother Earth was doing just fine. There were no ruins everywhere, no yellow fog blotting out the sky…

At most, she had merely sneezed.

Was it humanity that had been wiped out? Human civilization? Had there been a mass extinction?

…Well, if they were gone, they were gone. He still had Liguang.

As long as Liguang was still here, that was all that mattered.

So there was one other important matter now.

Regarding…

He lowered his head and looked at the bright, smiling face in front of him—the face that wasn’t even bothering to pretend anymore.

Regarding his only remaining precious darling, Liguang!

With that, he raised a hand and pointed toward the sea, his expression turning serious.

“Don’t give me any of that first! Tell me this…”

He narrowed his eyes.

“What exactly happened outside the wooden cabin just now?”

“What happened to that giant thing in the sea?”

“Where did it go?”

Lin Xiaoyou leaned over as well, opening her almond-shaped eyes wide as she stared at Liguang.

Liguang’s cheeks were pinched between his fingers, squished until her little face was all misshapen, yet she still gave Fang Qi a cheerful wink.

In the corner of her curved amber left eye, a stream of deep-blue data suddenly flickered!

“Of course… Liguang took care of it!”

Her tone was so light and casual, as if she were saying, “I just finished washing the dishes!”

She raised her little hand and gently placed it over the one Fang Qi was using to pinch her cheek, her soft palm wrapping around his fingers.

“Now, its permissions belong entirely to Master.”

Her phoenix eyes curved into crescents, her voice utterly carefree.

“And Master’s permissions… are Liguang’s permissions, too.”

Seeing how happy and reassured she looked, Fang Qi gradually relaxed as well.

…That was true. What belonged to him belonged to Liguang, too.

After all, even Liguang herself belonged to him.

“Master…”

Her voice softened as her mismatched eyes gazed at him.

“What kind of world… do you want to see?”

There seemed to be a trace of fervor hidden deep in her eyes.

“Liguang will reshape it for you right now.”

The sea breeze drifted gently past, scattering her silver hair in the morning light.

She was beautiful.