NOVGO.NET Chapter 297: The golden fruit 8.
Chapter 297: The golden fruit 8.
"The system said retrieving it will be extremely difficult. It wasn’t exaggerating."
Yan Cijin was silent for a moment. She also purposefully chose to ignore the existence of this ’system’ bai li just revealed so casually.
Then she asked, "How difficult?"
Bai Li gave a small, humorless laugh.
"Difficult enough that I don’t want LiLi anywhere near it."
Yan Cijin understood the implication immediately.
The fact that Bai Li was worried about LiLi was obvious.
The fact that Bai Li was worried about Yan Cijin was also obvious.
At least to everyone except Bai Li herself.
Yan Cijin looked at her quietly.
"You still want to go."
"Yes."
"Even after knowing all that?"
Bai Li nodded.
"Especially after knowing all that."
Yan Cijin could not help it.
A tiny smile appeared.
Of course.
That was exactly the kind of answer she had expected.
Bai Li always seemed to be most determined when the odds were terrible.
Yan Cijin’s heart warmed again.
She looked down at her hands so Bai Li would not see it.
She should not be this happy about something so dangerous.
But there was something strangely reassuring about watching Bai Li make these decisions. She was not reckless because she enjoyed danger. She simply understood that in the apocalypse, sometimes the dangerous path was also the only path that could give them a future.
Still, there was one thing Yan Cijin noticed.
Bai Li kept saying "we" when talking about the benefit.
But when she talked about going there, her words were becoming more and more carefully chosen.
Yan Cijin’s eyes sharpened.
"When are you going?"
Bai Li hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Yan Cijin stared at her.
"Bai Li."
"Hm?"
"You’re planning to go soon."
"Yes."
"With whom?"
Bai Li looked away for half a second.
"I haven’t decided."
Yan Cijin was silent.
Then she said, "You’re going alone."
Bai Li immediately shook her head.
"I didn’t say that."
"You didn’t need to."
Bai Li rubbed the side of her nose.
"I just think it would be safer if I went first."
Yan Cijin’s expression changed.
"Safer for you."
"For everyone."
"Especially me."
Bai Li did not answer.
Yan Cijin understood immediately.
She felt something in her chest tighten.
"You’re going without me."
Bai Li sighed.
"Cijin..."
"You’re going without me."
"I just think the place is too dangerous."
"So?"
"So I’ll go first."
Yan Cijin stared at her.
"No."
Bai Li blinked.
"No?"
"I’m going."
"Cijin."
"I’m going."
Bai Li frowned.
"It’s dangerous."
"You just explained exactly how dangerous it is."
"Yes. That’s why you shouldn’t go."
Yan Cijin’s expression went flat.
"Why?"
"Because I can handle it better."
"You don’t know that."
"I do."
Yan Cijin stood up.
"You know I can fight."
"I know."
"Then why are you talking to me like I’m someone who needs to be locked in a room?"
"I’m not."
"Then what are you doing?"
Bai Li stood too.
"I’m trying to protect you."
The words came out before she could stop them.
Yan Cijin stared at her.
There was something strange in her expression now.
Not just anger.
Something deeper.
"I don’t need that kind of protection."
"Everyone needs protection sometimes."
"Then why can’t I protect you too?"
Bai Li had no immediate answer.
Yan Cijin took a step closer.
"You’ve already decided you are going. You have already accepted that it’s dangerous. You are already willing to risk your life to get that fruit. And now you’re telling me that I should stay here because you are worried about me."
She shook her head.
"That’s not fair."
Bai Li frowned.
"I know it isn’t fair."
"Then stop doing it."
"I can’t."
Yan Cijin’s eyes sharpened.
"Why?"
Bai Li opened her mouth.
The truth rose to the surface instantly.
Because I can’t stand the thought of you being hurt.
Because I am afraid that if you disappear from my sight, something terrible will happen.
Because I care about you more than I should.
Because every time I imagine you lying somewhere with blood on your clothes, my heart feels like it is tearing apart.
Because I have already started thinking about a future where you’re beside me.
Bai Li swallowed all of it.
"Because it’s my responsibility."
Yan Cijin’s expression darkened.
"Your responsibility?"
"Yes."
"Who gave you that responsibility?"
Bai Li went quiet.
"Nobody."
"Then stop claiming it."
Bai Li took a breath.
"Cijin, I’m not saying you are weak."
"But you are treating me like I am."
"I’m trying to make sure you survive."
"I can survive."
"I know."
"Then let me prove it."
Bai Li shook her head.
"Not this time."
Yan Cijin’s eyes narrowed.
"Why not this time?"
"Because this isn’t the same as anything we’ve faced before."
"Then we’ll face it together."
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Yan Cijin stared at her.
Bai Li realized immediately that she had gone too far.
But the moment had already passed.
Yan Cijin’s face turned cold.
"Fine."
She walked past Bai Li.
"Cijin."
She didn’t stop.
The bedroom door closed.
Bai Li stood in the middle of the room, staring at it.
For several seconds, she simply stood there.
Then she closed her eyes.
"Great job, Bai Li."
She whispered it to herself.
"Absolutely brilliant."
LiLi peeked out from the other room.
"Mommy Bai Li?"
Bai Li immediately smiled.
"I’m okay."
LiLi looked toward the closed door.
"Did Mommy get angry?"
Bai Li crouched down.
"A little."
"Why?"
Bai Li sighed.
"Because I’m stubborn."
LiLi considered that answer with great seriousness.
Then she nodded.
"You are."
Bai Li stared at her.
"Whose side are you on?"
LiLi giggled.
Bai Li sighed and hugged her.
After a while, she stood up.
She looked at Yan Cijin’s closed door again.
There was no point standing here.
She had to think.
Bai Li walked to the nearby chair and sat down.
Her thoughts were still buzzing.
The Golden Fruit was dangerous.
That was true.
There was no denying it.
But another truth was just as obvious.
Yan Cijin could not stay weak forever.
No matter how strong Bai Li was, she could not be beside Yan Cijin every second of every day.
.
.
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TO BE CONTINUED.