Remember the Promise Back Then

By the time she got home, it was nearly nine o'clock. Strolling and stopping along the way, her mood had improved. She had bought quite a few snacks and new clothes, as if using this outing to vent her pent-up frustrations.

She finally understood the meaning behind the phrase "Life is short, so why care where you are?" Now that she had begun to untie the knots in her heart, she was happy to treat this world as her new home. With a growing sense of curiosity about everything, what should have been a one-hour journey took her over two hours. It was tiring, yes, but it satisfied her shopping urge.

When she returned home, she turned on the lights and looked at the quiet house. In a few days, her parents would be discharged and come back. Her older brother, sister, and younger sister would probably return for a visit as well. It would surely be lively then—at least much more so than this empty home now.

She put down the things she was carrying, gently placed the ceramic pot that had held the chicken soup into the kitchen, washed it clean, then picked up the clothes and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Warm water flowed over her flawless, fair skin, white bubbles floating in the tub. Her hands gently scrubbed her body as her thoughts began to drift.

The memories from the past year, the faces of different people, unfamiliar scenes, and prickly, needle-like emotions flashed rapidly before her eyes like a carousel.

What remained at the end were:

That fiery red, bewitching figure;

The blue-clad woman whose face was hidden, hugging Ayase's shoulders;

The little girl who gave her body over and chose to blend her memories into hers;

Her grandparents who died in a car accident while out with her parents;

Her current life's parents, her brother, sister, and younger sister;

And those people—some familiar, some strange—classmates, friends, and those who harbored fantasies about her or Ayase.

All of them passed through her mind, making her slowly realize that she had truly missed out on so much. This world might be unfamiliar, but couldn't she shape it into a place she could call home?

"Condition met. Hidden Passive ① unlocked: Aura - Orchid in the Valley. Your aura is like a newly blooming azure lotus, or a blooming lily—pure and cleansing of all worldly dust. Effect: Charm +10%. When wearing light-colored clothing, charm increases by 20%. When dressed in all white, there is a chance to leave an angelic impression in the minds of others." Just as she was lost in her memories, the system's voice suddenly echoed in her mind, startling her slightly.

"Hidden passive? What's that?" She had recently reviewed all the information provided by the system and hadn't seen anything about this, so she was confused.

"Hidden passives are one of the system's concealed features. They unlock when a host's mood, surroundings, and overall influence meet certain criteria. These passive skills are not granted by the system but are innate to the host—buried due to various reasons. Once specific requirements are met, the system assists in awakening them. In essence, we're just returning to you what was originally yours. No need to be too surprised."

"I see. So this so-called hidden passive must belong to the little girl who originally had this body, right?" Chu Lian paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled and asked.

"Yes. If the host fails to fully integrate into this world within a year, becoming one with this body, you will lose this aura. This is one of the gifts she left for you—don't disappoint her."

Hearing the system's explanation, Chu Lian's soft pink lips parted slightly, as if murmuring:

"Her wish, huh..."

"Big Brother, Lian'er is leaving now. I'm going to be with Grandpa and Grandma. From now on, I'll leave Mom and Dad, and Brother, Sister, and Little Sis to you. Please take good care of them, okay?"

"And also, Lian'er has a wish she wants Big Brother to fulfill. Mom and Dad always say I'm their pride, but I rarely do anything that really makes them proud. If possible, in the future, please make this dream come true for me, okay? Let them become the most admired parents in the world, the parents most worthy of pride."

The little girl walked up to him, holding his hand, tilting her head up, gently rubbing her cheek against the back of his hand.

Standing in the darkness, he suddenly felt a warmth on his hand. Looking down, he saw that the little girl was crying. One by one, her warm tears fell onto his hand—and into his heart.

During the seven days of her fever-induced coma, she had been trapped in this dim space. He was the only one with her. He told her he was a soul from another world, who had lost his way and ended up here. He only appeared before her after she fell unconscious.

He said he liked her very much. He said he wanted to stay with her. He said he would never leave her. But… but—

But Lian'er couldn't go on any longer. She knew Grandpa and Grandma had passed away, and she knew Mom and Dad were waiting outside. It's just that…

It's just that Lian'er felt so tired. Every day she just wanted to close her eyes and never open them again. Lian'er was so tired, so tired. Big Brother, will you help me?

He didn't quite understand, but when he saw her tear-streaked face still looking up at him, he slowly nodded.

Lian'er knew Big Brother was the best. Lian'er liked Big Brother the most. Liked him... so much...

She suddenly smiled, and her tearful face lit up the dim space like a beam of light. It was as if two wings had sprouted from her back. Her final words echoed:

"Lian'er is going now, Big Brother. You must remember—when the day comes that you recall this memory, I hope you will still remember Lian'er's promise..."

With that, her body slowly faded.

Light—dazzling light—yet the space returned to darkness, and she became scattered motes of brilliance, merging into the colors illuminated by his soul...

When he opened his eyes again, he had become her. But the memory of that final moment was gone. Faced with a strange world, unfamiliar people, a foreign self, and the sudden emergence of the system in his mind, everything gradually pushed her toward emotional isolation.

If it hadn't been for what happened yesterday, which led her to make today's decision—

If it hadn't been for remembering those who never forgot her, which allowed her to recall that small figure from her memories—

Then perhaps she would never have understood why it felt like a piece of her heart was missing.

So that missing piece... was our promise, wasn't it? I'm sorry I only just remembered now. But it doesn't matter. I've already decided to fulfill this promise. I think... you would be really happy, right?

"Lian'er, I know you're still listening, right? From now on, I will truly live as you—and make Mom and Dad the proudest parents in the world..." She closed her eyes, sinking slowly into the bath, silently speaking in her mind.

That tear-streaked little face appeared once more before her eyes. The lips parted slightly, as if whispering:

"Big Brother, it's enough that you remember the promise. Lian'er is very happy now, very happy. You must be happy too, Big Brother. Someday, Lian'er will definitely see you again. Please believe in Lian'er..."

She couldn't tell if she truly heard it or just imagined it.

"Huff... so cold, so cold..." The water temperature had long since cooled. Only when the warmth had nearly faded did she notice, and she jumped out of the tub, quickly turned on the shower to rinse off the foam, then wrapped herself in a bathrobe and returned to her bedroom.

This was the most fulfilling day she had spent in this world—a day that truly belonged to her.

Wearing a faint smile, hugging the body pillow Ayase had tossed her, she curled up and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Good night. Sweet dreams...