123. The Girl's Changed Daily Life
The first rays of morning sunlight pierced the room through the gaps in the curtains as the girl nestled deep in her fluffy blankets. Less than three seconds after her phone alarm rang, a pale arm shot out from the edge of the covers, swiftly silencing the noisy electronic sound.
"Hmm..."
After a muffled murmur, the arm quickly retreated into the fortress-like blankets. Even breathing soon resumed.
In the room that should have been empty, a semi-transparent figure stood silently by the window. Fu Hua, hands behind her back, gazed at the gradually awakening city outside. After a long while, she turned to look at the girl on the bed. Two months ago, she would never have imagined seeing Kiana like this—the girl who used to wake up in terror from every dream, always ready to flee, now sleeping peacefully until late morning.
"She's really... being spoiled."
Fu Hua murmured, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips. She turned and stared at the bulging blanket, her gaze piercing through the fabric to see the curled-up figure inside. At this moment, the other person seemed to have returned to the past.
It wasn't that this was bad; rather, it was good.
The other person's shattered heart was quietly healing itself in this unexpected haven. It wasn't that the other person had forgotten the teachings of that moment; on the contrary, she understood the meaning of that lesson even more deeply.
It was just that the other person was currently somewhat at a loss; even Fu Hua herself didn't know what to do.
The other personality within the body of the Herrscher of the Void girl, who should have been constantly trying to seize the girl's body, hadn't shown any signs of awakening after so long. Even the honkai events in the city had almost stopped; everything seemed to be developing in a positive direction.
And all of it was the beginning of this.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The sudden banging on the door shattered the morning tranquility. The blanket jolted violently, and a dissatisfied whimper came from within.
"What time is it? Still sleeping? Wake up! Stop living like a pampered young princess!"
Xiling's voice pierced the door, accompanied by rhythmic knocking. Kiana, wriggling in the blankets, suddenly arched her back like an angry cat, pulling the covers tighter as if to block out the outside world. Unfortunately, against the onslaught of the voice, her blankets were too weak.
"Xiling!"
Fu Hua watched as Kiana angrily jumped out of bed, deliberately stomping her bare feet on the wooden floor. When she flung open the door, Xiling's smiling face greeted her.
"Awake, lazybones."
Kiana swung a pillow and smashed it hard against his face, quickly followed by a cry of pain.
Fu Hua shook her head helplessly at this scene. It seemed that everything had started to improve ever since she met this group of people.
Fu Hua followed Kiana to the washroom, where Xiling was already standing there.
Kiana and Xiling quickly began bickering.
Fu Hua silently observed everything, but if she could have observed anything, she would have already done so. They had been living together for almost a month, and although they were all ordinary people, what changes had this brought to Kiana? Fu Hua couldn't understand it.
Perhaps even heaven was favoring this girl.
"You two have been arguing since early morning, are you ever going to stop?"
Fu Hua looked at the white-haired man who entered the washroom. Kevin—for some reason, that name always gave her a strange feeling, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
"It's all because of Xiling, knocking on my door first thing in the morning!" Kiana mumbled through her mouth, toothbrush in hand.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's all because you wouldn't get up! We have a mission today, and I just did what every roommate should do. Instead of thanking me, you attacked me!" Xiling looked aggrieved.
"I already asked Sister Lemuen to wake me up! I don't need you!"
"Oh, Lemuen and I are the same; we're bound by fate! I am Lemuen, and Lemuen is me. I can totally wake you up in Lemuen's place!"
Kiana glanced at him disdainfully:
"Do you think Sister Lemuen would agree to that?"
Just then, the pink-haired woman appeared at the door, smiling, "I agree."
Xiling spread his hands.
"As you can see."
What could Kiana say? She silently turned around and started brushing her teeth.
Just then, the Tarnished walked in and went to the washroom. There were six sinks in the bathroom, created by a certain hero using magic. Five people started brushing their teeth in front of the mirror.
Fu Hua silently observed this scene; she knew their schedule for the day.
After they finished washing up and eating breakfast, Xiling clapped his hands.
"Then, the first team-building activity officially begins! Please get ready, we're about to depart!"
"Okay!" the four responded, each heading to their room. However, when they returned to the living room with their backpacks, Xiling was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh no!" Kevin and the Tarnished's expressions changed drastically simultaneously, and they rushed towards the door.
Outside, in a car, Xiling was excitedly waving from the driver's seat:
"Yo, okay, no time to explain, get in!"
At that moment, Fu Hua saw the other three's faces turn deathly pale. Kevin lunged forward and pulled open the driver's door.
"You dare to drive? Are you crazy?! There aren't that many speed bumps around here!"
"Last time was an accident! I'm a great driver!" Xiling clung tightly to the steering wheel.
"Give me a chance, believe me, let me prove myself!"
"Believe you? Hahaha, you're dreaming!" The Tarnished rushed over and grabbed Xiling's hand, pulling hard.
A few seconds later, Lemuen naturally got into the driver's seat.
Xiling was shoved into the back window seat, letting out a long sigh like a wronged child.
"Sigh~"
"What's wrong with you now?" The Tarnished, sitting in the middle, glanced at him sideways.
"Trust!" Xiling clutched his chest; his expression was one of utter anguish.
"Our trust has been shattered!"
Kevin turned his head, his eyes filled with absurdity.
"Don't talk about things that don't exist, okay?"
Kiana, sitting in the front row, burst out laughing upon hearing this, then quickly covered her mouth, but soon realized she'd already given herself away, so there was no need to hold back.
"Hahaha, sorry, I just couldn't help it."
"You're not laughing at me, are you? If you are, I'm going to attack you." Xiling immediately shifted his target.
"Laugh out loud, Xiling. If he dares to attack you, I'll attack him." Kevin encouraged Kiana.
"Oh dear, you actually dare to attack me!" Xiling changed his target again.
Soon, amidst their playful banter, the group headed to Arc City, a rather famous amusement park.
Or rather, an amusement park on the verge of collapse.
—
—
If the four lights that rekindled Kiana's spirit were to go out in front of her, something exciting would surely happen, wouldn't it?