She needed to distance herself from him.
Si Yiheng took a deep breath. It didn't matter.
As long as Shu Yu didn't bring it up, he would pretend he didn't know.
Si Yiheng transferred the money back to the original account.
Iron Egg toiled on for a long time, sweating bullets—what did it mean to send money out and then bring it back?
And sending back even more each time.
Si Yiheng put the dishes into the dishwasher. "Want to watch a movie?"
Shu Yu replied, "Sure."
They went together to the home theater and played a comedy.
At the funny parts, Shu Yu would suddenly let out a laugh.
Iron Egg was truly exhausted from all the transferring. After all its effort, Shu Yu's account had grown from nearly two billion to two and a half billion.
Fifteen billion of that was the system's reward.
Just as Iron Egg didn't know how to explain this to Shu Yu,
A system email arrived in Iron Egg's inbox.
Iron Egg opened it—the results of the earlier appeal were in. Gousheng had sent a notification with the outcome.
After reading it, Iron Egg wanted to tear apart that faulty system even more.
Iron Egg sidled up to Shu Yu and said, "Baby, there's something I didn't tell you before."
"At first, I didn't think it had much to do with you."
"It was about Si Yiheng's personal fate."
"But now, I feel like I should let you know."
Shu Yu finally pulled her attention away from the movie to listen to Iron Egg. "What is it?"
Iron Egg explained, "Actually, in this world, you and Si Yiheng were supposed to be the protagonists. You met as children and later became neighbors."
"You grew up together, and of course, your storyline also involved an online romance."
"Only, it was the childhood friend Si Yiheng pretending to be a stranger online, dating you. After meeting in person, you ended up together."
Shu Yu listened in silence to the life that was supposed to be hers and Si Yiheng's—so different from what it was now.
"But because of a system error, you ended up in another world."
"This novel world lost its female lead. To cover up its mistake, that system altered the plot, trying to find a substitute female lead to replace you, and even attempted to erase your existence, turning you into the villainess."
"Many times before, Si Yiheng retained his memories."
Iron Egg paused. "Maybe Si Yiheng couldn't forget the warmth of your hand when you first held his, that never-started online romance."
"So, over and over, Si Yiheng was killed by the plot."
"The last time, if he failed again, the world in the book would collapse."
"The errant system created a new script, erased Si Yiheng's memories, and brought you back. This time, it might have been gambling."
"Gambling that Si Yiheng, with his memories gone, would follow the new plot, and with a new female lead, the world could maintain order."
Fate had already been rewritten the moment Shu Yu left this world; her reunion with Si Yiheng could only be altered.
"Or gambling that Si Yiheng, with no memories, would still fall in love with you. That way, the female lead would return, and the world would be restored to order."
That system was really devious.
Either way, it might have gotten away with it.
If it weren't for the memory recollection card from Gousheng, they never would have seen through it.
After listening, Shu Yu seemed eerily calm, except for her slightly trembling hands that betrayed her emotions.
Shu Yu asked, "Iron Egg, did Si Yiheng die many times?"
Iron Egg was silent for a long time. "Yes. Here's his character file."
Shu Yu read through Si Yiheng's information word by word.
He had been waiting for her tens of thousands of times.
In her ears, the comedy's laughter echoed; behind her stood Si Yiheng.
For a moment, Shu Yu felt the world was unreal.
She turned to Si Yiheng: "Si Yiheng, what if I said we..."
Iron Egg cried out, "Baby Yu!!!"
But the rest of Shu Yu's words were blocked.
All Si Yiheng saw was Shu Yu, face tilted up, clinging to him and crying uncontrollably, sobbing so hard she couldn't speak.
Si Yiheng felt as if his own heart was being torn apart.
He frantically wiped away Shu Yu's tears. "Don't cry. I'm sorry, Baby."
He had been so selfish. How could he have been so selfish as to bring Shu Yu back?
He had made Shu Yu cry like this.
He was wrong.
He should have let Shu Yu leave.
She still had a family waiting for her at home.
Probably overwhelmed by the intensity of her emotions, Shu Yu fainted.
Si Yiheng panicked and called for a doctor.
But Iron Egg breathed a sigh of relief. It was the mildest of restrictions—just sending Shu Yu to sleep to stop her from saying those words.
Si Yiheng waited for a long time, but Shu Yu didn't wake up. The doctor's answer was simply that she was asleep.
Si Yiheng dialed Song Wenzhao's number. "Big Brother, I'll send you my location. Come and take Baby Yu home."
Song Wenzhao, who had been confirming an island's location, was puzzled. "?"
"I can't take care of her properly. She should go home."
Back to the family that loved her.
Song Wenzhao was silent for a moment.
Then his voice was flat. "Send me the coordinates."
"I'm on my way."
If Si Yiheng was saying this, it meant Shu Yu must be unhappy right now.
When Shu Yu woke up again, Si Yiheng was still gentle. "Awake? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Shu Yu shook her head. "No, I'm fine."
"Si Yiheng, hold me."
Si Yiheng replied, "Okay."
Shu Yu wrapped her arms around Si Yiheng, tightening her grip for the first time, as if she never wanted to let him go.
Si Yiheng held her with longing and quietly kissed the top of her head.
Even if she didn't love him, it was okay.
As long as Shu Yu was still happy.
"Do you miss Big Brother? Do you want to go home?"
Shu Yu nodded. "Yes."
Si Yiheng said, "Then get dressed, and we'll go downstairs. Big Brother is here."
Shu Yu was a little surprised that Si Yiheng had called Song Wenzhao. She changed clothes, followed Si Yiheng downstairs, and there was Song Wenzhao.
Shu Yu instinctively ran to him, and Song Wenzhao immediately opened his arms, catching her in a tight embrace.
"Big Brother."
"Little Treasure."
Si Yiheng quietly watched Shu Yu holding onto Song Wenzhao.
Alright.
Now he had to let go.
Si Yiheng clenched his fists, his eyes barely holding a forced calm. "Baby Yu, go home with Big Brother."
