In truth, the process of Lynelle connecting with Tingyun's consciousness wasn't particularly complicated.
The real challenge lay in explaining everything to Tingyun.
Words alone felt utterly inadequate to convey everything that had happened to her. Besides, Lynelle herself didn't actually know how Tingyun had encountered Phantylia, or how her body had been taken over.
Fortunately, memories record everything.
Though Tingyun's body had been possessed and her soul severely wounded, perhaps due to Phantylia's twisted whims—or because she needed some method to utilize Tingyun's abilities—after Ruan Mei rescued Tingyun, they discovered Tingyun still retained those memories.
Not just her own, but also those from when Phantylia was possessing her.
So, Lynelle's task became much simpler: guide Tingyun through those unfamiliar memories, helping her understand what had occurred.
But that was precisely where the problem lay—as Tingyun absorbed more and more of Phantylia's memories, Lynelle suddenly noticed the way Tingyun looked at her was... changing.
What, what's going on now? she thought, feeling a bit guilty...
Luckily, Tingyun's social grace was deeply ingrained in her very bones.
Even though Lynelle could keenly sense that Tingyun's feelings toward her seemed a little off, at least on the surface, Tingyun's behavior remained perfectly normal.
"Well, that covers your memories from while you were unconscious, and what's been happening on the Luofu since then..."
Watching the silent Tingyun, Lynelle worriedly poked her big fluffy tail.
Of course, Lynelle's goal was purely to poke it—not to take the opportunity to pet the tail! And she definitely didn't want to touch the ears!
"Don't worry, Benefactor, I'm fine..."
As if sensing Lynelle's action, Tingyun offered a wistful smile and said, "It's just... taking in so much information at once is a bit difficult for me…"
"Benefactor, according to what you've said, I'm still not out of danger?"
"Not really, no. Strictly speaking, waking up is only the first step for you. But as long as you have the will to live, Miss Ruan Mei will have a much better chance with the next steps. Though, you certainly can't wake up just yet."
Lynelle sighed. "After all, the feeling of your body being corroded by Destruction... is truly agonizing."
"Is that so..."
Tingyun fell silent for a moment. "Then... how did you overcome it back then, Benefactor?"
"Me?"
Lynelle chuckled awkwardly. "Ahem... Well, I didn't really feel much, to be honest. Maybe because I've died so many times, my sense of pain and such has just... dulled?"
"Eh?"
"A-Anyway, as long as you don't give up yourself, you'll definitely pull through! Have faith in the genius's wisdom!"
Lynelle put her hands on her hips, earnestly trying to comfort the confused foxian girl.
"Besides, the Luofu is about to hold a Verdantia Returning soon. If you wake up too late... Tingyun, you wouldn't want to come back only to find all your belongings already packed into a starskiff and sent off into the sky, would you?"
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Lynelle's sudden change of topic nearly made Tingyun lose her composure.
"Benefactor, your method of encouragement is... quite unique."
"But... I understand what you mean, Benefactor. Don't worry. Even if it's just to live up to your expectations and see you again soon after waking, this humble one will not give up."
"Mhm, that's the spirit... Wait a minute?"
Lynelle looked at Tingyun suspiciously. "Did you just... sneak something personal in there?"
"My, the Benefactor is so perceptive~"
Tingyun smiled, her ears swaying slightly. "But it's not really anything sneaky, you know?"
"Waking up soon and seeing you again, Benefactor, is naturally one of this humble one's goals."
"That sounds a bit weird..."
Though she had no proof, Lynelle—a perennial 'little cake' who always seemed to attract various girls—instinctively felt that Tingyun's attitude toward her was a little... unusual.
"What's so weird about it? It's just a fox's way of repaying kindness. It's only natural for a foxian..."
Tingyun chuckled, then proactively moved her tail closer to Lynelle.
"I noticed the Benefactor kept sneaking glances at this earlier... Did you want to pet it? It's very soft, you know. And this humble one doesn't mind~"
"If it's something the Benefactor likes, this humble one doesn't mind anything."
"Yay!"
Inheriting the same fondness for touching horns, ears, and tails as her predecessor Elysia, Lynelle immediately tossed her suspicions aside and excitedly dove in, burying her face in the fluffy tail.
However, easily bribed by the tail, Lynelle failed to notice... her intuition had actually been correct.
Tingyun's feelings for her... were indeed a little unusual.
Had Lynelle carefully recalled the storyline involving Fugue, she might have easily figured out the reason...
But perhaps her memory of that plot was a bit fuzzy, because Lynelle didn't remember the words Tingyun had spoken during it.
[Foxians always return like for like, and never suffer losses. This humble one simply must get something back from her. But after much thought, the only thing of equal value... is the bond shared with all of you.]
So, during this incident with Phantylia's havoc, what was it that Phantylia cared about most?
What did she most desire to possess but failed to obtain?
And who was it that caused such intense emotional turmoil in Phantylia? My, what a difficult puzzle.
In any case, whether it was due to the influence of Phantylia's own lingering memories—filled with this craving for Lynelle—now imprinted on Tingyun, or Tingyun's own desire for revenge against Phantylia, combined with the huge bonus points of Lynelle successfully pulling her back from the brink of life and death...
Tingyun had begun to pay extra special attention to Lynelle.
"Benefactor~"
"Mhm?"
Immersed in the fluffy tail, Lynelle heard Tingyun's sweet, saccharine voice and looked up, puzzled.
"What is it, Tingyun?"
"Nothing. It's just that seeing the Benefactor so happy... this humble one's mood can't help but improve as well."
Tingyun rested her cheek on one hand, smiling. "If this humble one successfully wakes up, where should I go to meet you, Benefactor?"
"Probably the Luofu or Penacony?"
Lynelle sounded uncertain. After all, compared to her original time in the story, Tingyun's awakening this time was undoubtedly much earlier.
"But if you do wake up, you should focus on recovering first. I can come visit you instead. A patient shouldn't be running around everywhere."
"But this humble one wants to see you as soon as possible~"
"Then... judging by the timing, it'll probably be Penacony?"
Lynelle said, still uncertain. "Or possibly... Bzzzt—"
Lynelle's figure suddenly flickered, growing unstable.
"Ah, seems my Path energy is running out... Tingyun, let's talk again next time!"
Barely managing to leave those words, Lynelle's figure instantly vanished from the mental space.
"..."
Looking at the now empty mental space, Tingyun let out a soft sigh, casually materialized a chair, and curled up in it.
Whether it was due to Phantylia's influence, or because she genuinely harbored such feelings herself, Tingyun was somewhat surprised to discover that she felt... a strange sense of possessiveness toward Lynelle.
"So... as long as I go to Penacony... I can see Lynelle?"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.