44

Cen Lingqiu opened her eyes and found herself back in the system's center.

She panted heavily, instinctively reaching for her neck, only to find the skin smooth, with no trace of any wound.

The abrupt transition had caught her off guard, and before she could fully comprehend what was happening, she had died once again.

And it happened on Yu Mingjiao's birthday, once more.

Why could she never give her a proper birthday celebration?

Yu Mingjiao must be heartbroken now.

Was she crying?

Recalling Yu Mingjiao's heart-wrenching sobs, Cen Lingqiu felt a surge of intense pain as if her heart was being torn apart. The pain was so overwhelming that she bent down, squatting on the ground, her face buried in her hands, her eyes red with unshed tears.

The system detected her emotional distress and asked with concern, [Qiu Qiu, your emotional state is very unstable. Did something happen? Is it because the mission failed? It's okay; we can move on to the next one.]

Cen Lingqiu shook her head, her voice hoarse. "Seven, I need to request to return to that mission world."

The system was silent for a few seconds before responding in its cold, mechanical tone: [That is not possible, Qiu Qiu. You know you failed the mission, right? Things were looking up before, but the female lead's self-destructive tendencies escalated dramatically in a short period.]

Cen Lingqiu's face turned pale as she murmured, "Jiao jiao..."

The system continued, [According to the regulations, a mission agent cannot return to the same world after failing a mission. The previous time was an exception granted by the center as a recovery opportunity, but you failed again. The center cannot grant you a third chance.]

"What about her?" Cen Lingqiu asked quietly.

[A new agent will be assigned to the female lead, or the world will be destroyed if there's no other option. The latter is a last resort] the system explained.

"No," Cen Lingqiu's voice trembled with fear. "She can't be with someone else, and she can't just disappear. That would be too cruel."

[This is a measure taken when all other options have been exhausted.]

"Seven, please help me find a way to return to her," Cen Lingqiu's eyes were filled with determination. "I promised her I would come back."

"Seven, she'll die if I don't go back. I have to save her."

The system, which had been with Cen Lingqiu for several years, was witnessing her emotional turmoil and desperation for the first time.

[I will consult with the center. Please wait for my response] the system said.

"Alright."

The following two days were agonizing for Cen Lingqiu as she waited, her mind on the brink of collapse. Finally, the system returned with news.

[Qiu Qiu, there is a way.]

Cen Lingqiu felt a glimmer of hope as she asked eagerly, "What is it?"

[Because Ning Jia was a bug in the storyline, which was an error on the center's part, after much discussion, the center is willing to give you one more chance. But it will be difficult.]

The system explained that Cen Lingqiu would need to accept a new mission, set in a post-apocalyptic world where she would play the role of a villainous supporting character. This character had an extremely tragic fate, constantly subjected to violence and often on the verge of being devoured by mutated creatures. The world was filled with such brutality and suffering that no one wanted to take on this mission.

If Cen Lingqiu agreed to complete this mission, the system could temporarily maintain "Lin Qiu's" life force, allowing her to return to Yu Mingjiao's side after the mission was completed.

The system also reminded her, [However, Qiu Qqiu, even if you return to that world, you won't be able to stay for long. The 'Lin Qiu' character is technically already dead; her body has begun to deteriorate and is being slowly erased by the world's core. No amount of life-supporting fluids will change that. In other words] the system paused, [you will only have about two months left in this body before it completely decays.]

[This is a losing proposition.]

"Seven, please accept the mission for me," Cen Lingqiu said without hesitation.

[Are you sure? This trade-off is detrimental in every way.]

"Seven, I must go back to her."

The system, unable to comprehend human emotions, asked, "Why?"

Cen Lingqiu smiled faintly.

"Because I need to say goodbye."

Each time she left, she had never gotten the chance to say goodbye.

—

Cen Lingqiu accepted the mission, and as the system had warned, the character she played was hated by everyone in this new world. Living in a lawless, post-apocalyptic society, she was constantly beaten and tormented by both humans and mutated creatures. She endured such horrific pain every day that her expression became perpetually cold and detached.

To Cen Lingqiu, this world was nothing but a nightmare. She reminded herself that she was merely experiencing a bad dream and that when it was over, she would be with the person she longed to see.

Every night, Cen Lingqiu dreamed.

And every night, her dreams were filled with Yu Mingjiao's tear-streaked face.

She would wake up in a cold sweat, clutching her chest with the hand that had lost a finger, gasping for air.

One of her companions, noticing her constant suffering, asked her, "You're always getting hurt, and so many people despise you. Why don't you just end it?"

This wasn't a taunt but a genuine question. In a world where danger lurked at every corner and death by a mutant's fangs was a constant threat, many preferred suicide to the alternative.

Cen Lingqiu had no answer.

Her mission was to survive until the main characters succeeded, after which they would kill her in a final act of revenge, bringing her role to a close.

She couldn't die yet.

Dying would mean failing.

"I need to go home," Cen Lingqiu said as she sat among the ruins, staring at the setting sun, her tone resolute and unwavering.

"Is there someone waiting for you at home?"

Cen Lingqiu nodded and repeated, "I must go home."

—

Cen Lingqiu lost track of time in this world, growing numb to the endless pain. Eventually, after what felt like years, the protagonists finally triumphed over the mutants. One winter day, the female lead shot and killed Cen Lingqiu, fulfilling the mission.

To Cen Lingqiu, it was a merciful death.

As she lay dying, she smiled. The female lead, puzzled, asked, "Why are you smiling?"

Cen Lingqiu smiled because this long nightmare had finally ended.

She could finally return to Yu Mingjiao.

—

After completing the mission, Cen Lingqiu wasted no time in returning to the world where Yu Mingjiao was.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed.

She touched her neck, feeling a deep scar there.

The system had indeed maintained the life force in this body. In normal circumstances, a slit throat would have been fatal.

But just as the system had warned, the body was deteriorating. On the first day she woke up, she felt weak, with her limbs aching and unable to muster any strength.

She couldn't even get out of bed.

Even though she was burning with anxiety, she had no choice but to rest and recover for a few days.

When Zhang Li saw that she had woken up, she hugged her and cried for a long time.

Zhang Li's eyes were now lined with deep wrinkles, her once radiant and refined appearance had faded significantly, and she looked much older.

After all, it had been five years.

As Zhang Li tearfully recounted what had happened, Cen Lingqiu learned about the events that had transpired in her absence.

After she was killed by Ning Jia, Lin Dong finally realized his mistakes. He believed that he was responsible for Lin Qiu's death and, overwhelmed by guilt, turned himself in. Thanks to the Lin family's influence, he was sentenced to nearly thirty years in prison.

As for Ning Jia, she had committed suicide by taking poison that same night.

When Zhang Li discovered that Lin Qiu still had a faint pulse, she, who had already lost her son, couldn't bear to lose her daughter as well. So, she used the best medical equipment available to keep Lin Qiu alive, waiting for her to wake up for five long years.

But so much had changed.

Seeing Zhang Li's weary and aged face, Cen Lingqiu couldn't bring herself to tell her that she wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer. At most, she had two months left before this body would truly die.

"By the way,," Zhang Li wiped away her tears, "when you're feeling better, you should go see that child, Yu Mingjiao."

Cen Lingqiu's pupils contracted. "What happened to her?"

Zhang Li sighed heavily. "That child… You should see for yourself."

"Did something happen to her? Is she in good health?"

Zhang Li slowly shook her head.

" that child has gone mad."

—

As soon as Cen Lingqiu was able to walk, she hurried to Yu Mingjiao's home. Zhang Li's words echoed in her mind.

She had said Yu Mingjiao had gone mad.

She had become mentally unstable.

Cen Lingqiu's chest felt tight, and she was on the verge of vomiting. Her heart raced so violently that it seemed like it might burst from her chest, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She rushed to Yu Mingjiao's door as fast as she could and unlocked it.

The door opened.

Five years had passed, but the lock hadn't changed, as if it had been waiting for someone to return.

Cen Lingqiu entered the familiar home, and after being apart for nearly five years, everything felt like a distant memory. Cen Lingqiu was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of nervousness, like a traveler returning home after a long journey.

The past felt both distant and yet as if it had only happened yesterday.

Every detail of this place was etched clearly in her mind, along with the face of the person who lived here.

Her heart had never pounded so fast.

Cen Lingqiu's palms began to sweat.

She was finally going to see the person she had longed for, and she felt a bit flustered.

What had Yu Mingjiao become?

Had she grown more mature over the years?

Had she lost weight?

How would she react upon seeing her?

Would she cry?

Taking a deep breath, Cen Lingqiu noticed that Yu Mingjiao wasn't in the living room. Since it was evening, she was probably in her room resting.

She quietly opened Yu Mingjiao's bedroom door.

She saw Yu Mingjiao sitting in her wheelchair, painting on a canvas. Her hair had grown very long, still with straight bangs, and her hair was still black.

Her features had lost their youthful softness, replaced by a more serene maturity. Her face was even more delicate and striking than before, like a glass of rich wine, deep and intense.

But she was too thin.

Her entire body was so thin it looked fragile, and her wrists were so slender they seemed like they could snap at any moment.

Her complexion was pale, devoid of any color.

Cen Lingqiu spoke, "Jiao Jiao."

Yu Mingjiao heard her voice, looked up at her, and then smiled, setting down her paintbrush.

"Lingqiu jie, you're here."

She opened her thin arms and smiled. "Please, hug me, Lingqiu jie."

Cen Lingqiu faintly noticed something hollow in her smile.

But she had missed Yu Mingjiao so much. She quickly stepped forward, bending down to hug her tightly.

"Jiao Jiao…" Cen Lingqiu held her close. "I'm back."

Yu Mingjiao simply smiled, returning Cen Lingqiu's embrace and resting her chin on Cen Lingqiu's shoulder, nuzzling her affectionately.

"Lingqiu jie, why did you come to see me today?" Yu Mingjiao asked.

Cen Lingqiu was puzzled. "Didn't I promise you that I would come back?"

Yu Mingjiao's voice held a hint of doubt. "But you came to see me yesterday too. You usually take a long time before appearing by my side."

Cen Lingqiu froze. She slowly released Yu Mingjiao, forcing a smile. "Jiao Jiao, what do you mean? I don't understand."

Yu Mingjiao tilted her head.

"Lingqiu jie, why did your hair get longer?"

Cen Lingqiu had always kept her hair short, but in the five years that had passed, it had grown considerably. There was nothing unusual about it, so she didn't understand why Yu Mingjiao had mentioned it.

Then, Yu Mingjiao added, "When you came to see me yesterday, you had short hair. And why are you wearing summer clothes? That red coat you wore yesterday looked so good on you."

Cen Lingqiu's pupils contracted sharply.

She had only worn a red coat once in her life. She didn't like the color red, but five years ago, when she was planning to celebrate Yu Mingjiao's birthday, she decided to wear something more vibrant and chose a red coat for the occasion.

Short hair, a red coat—those were the exact details of how she looked on Yu Mingjiao's birthday five years ago.

Yu Mingjiao said she saw her yesterday, but they had been apart for five years.

Cen Lingqiu recalled how unusually calm Yu Mingjiao had been from the moment she entered, a calmness that seemed almost too ordinary, as if this was something she had experienced many times before.

After five years of separation, even she couldn't hide her emotional turmoil. How could Yu Mingjiao, who had always been more childlike, remain so composed?

Putting everything together, Cen Lingqiu could only come to one conclusion.

Yu Mingjiao might be experiencing some form of hallucination.