The day slipped by peacefully after an uneventful weekend.

A new week dawned with the rising sun.

Glancing at the calendar, I saw it was December 29th—just two days until New Year’s Day.

Memories of last New Year’s Day surfaced…

My head drooped slightly, a pang of loneliness tightening my chest.

Slowly, vivid fragments of the past flickered in my mind…

Father’s warm smile, his gentle voice…

That day we’d laughed together until our sides ached—it felt frozen in time.

The thought of him no longer being here…

I let out a long sigh, nostalgia and sorrow flooding my heart.

If Father were still alive, this New Year’s would’ve been the same as always, wouldn’t it?

Lin Jincheng, Shen Shiyu, all my classmates…

We’d definitely be out celebrating wildly two days from now…

But…

This New Year’s wouldn’t be nearly as lively as the one at the year’s start.

My gaze drifted upward, heavy with melancholy, settling on the photo frame atop the TV.

Inside it, my silhouette had already blurred almost beyond recognition.

Only my brother’s sunny grin and Mother’s tender smile remained clear…

Everything else had faded away.

*Ding-dong~~*

The doorbell shattered my trance.

“Who could it be this early?”

I scratched my head slightly, trying to guess who’d visit at this hour.

It was Monday, but school was the last thing on my mind.

With only two cards left in my life, I couldn’t afford regrets by not making the most of my time.

I refused to drown in regrets within that gray, hollow world.

I knew exactly what awaited me there…

Smiling bitterly, I shuffled slowly to the door.

“Who is it?” I called out.

I never opened for strangers without checking first—learned that the hard way after someone once greeted me with, “Ever heard of Amway?”

“Me! Shen Shiyu!”

A soft, familiar voice answered immediately.

Recognizing her, I unchained the door without hesitation.

Standing there was a girl in a lacy white dress.

Her youthful face was tense; her hands twisted behind her back, radiating nervous hesitation.

“Morning. What brings you here so early?” I asked gently, sensing she had something to say.

“I… um…”

Shen Shiyu fidgeted with her fingers, eyes darting upward as if words were stuck in her throat.

“No rush. Come in,” I said, stepping aside.

“O-okay.”

She clamped her mouth shut, nodded obediently, then murmured, “Sorry to intrude,” before stepping inside.

“Follow me.”

I led her past the entryway into the living room.

“Take a seat.”

I gestured to the sofa, then headed straight for the kitchen.

Returning with a glass of cola, I set it before her.

“Oh! I don’t drink soda!” Shen Shiyu waved her hands frantically.

“Really? I’ll get you something else.”

I reached for the glass, but she snatched it first.

“No, no! Since Tubby offered it… I’ll manage!”

She chugged it down in one go—*glug glug glug!*

*Cough! Cough!*

Her face flushed crimson. Carbonation clearly wasn’t her friend.

“You okay?” I rushed to pour her water.

*Cough… cough…* “I’m… fine… thanks.”

She patted her chest, sipped the water slowly, and finally relaxed. “Thank you.”

“Shiyu,” I pressed gently once her color returned, “why did you come today?”

It wasn’t about school. We hadn’t walked together since our paths split.

She’d forgotten parts of our past—I doubted that alone brought her here.

“Well…”

“Yes?”

“That man invited me. I joined his group—the ‘Falling Wings’.”

“Congratulations. And?”

“He knows I know you. He wants me to convince you… to join us too.”

She took a deep breath, steeling herself before revealing her true purpose: to recruit me into Falling Wings.

“Join them?”

I stroked my chin, thinking.

“It’s an official national organization! Not some shady club! The state backs us—and we have a way to keep you from vanishing after using your cards! It’s completely reliable!”

Seeing my hesitation, Shen Shiyu leaned forward eagerly, dangling the promise like a lifeline.

“I…”

I almost refused outright.

*National organization? Sounds impressive. A way to survive after using my cards?*

But… Kyuubi never mentioned such a method.

“What do you say? Zero downsides!” Shen Shiyu pressed, eyes bright with hope.

“I… no. Thank you, but no.”

After a long internal struggle, I shook my head.

The offer glittered, but a voice inside screamed *danger*.

Especially after learning Liu Kai and Shen Shiyu both answered to Bonesoul…

Was their “survival method” like the one Lin Jincheng used?

“Huh?!”

Shock flashed across Shen Shiyu’s face—*What the—?!*

“I’m fine ending it like this,” I said softly, forcing a bitter smile as I stared at the ceiling.

“*Fine?!* No one’s okay with fading away! This feeling is awful!”

Her words tumbled out, frustrated. She couldn’t grasp why I’d refuse salvation.

Most dragged into the Fallen World would weep with gratitude at this chance.

But my calm rejection left her swinging at air.

“I’ll… watch over my brother and mom from the Fallen World. Even if I can’t see them again.”

Her persistence moved me, but not enough.

My vengeance. My resolve.

Returning didn’t matter anymore.

Cutting ties with my family was the wisest choice—for them and me.

I knew…

The black flames raging within me could never be extinguished.

One day, my brother or mom would sense the darkness in me. They’d meet misfortune because of it.

I had to sever every tie to prevent that future.

And I was terrified…

Terrified of hearing them ask,

*“Who are you?”*

That question might be the final straw.

“Just think about it! Falling Wings can preserve your existence!” Shen Shiyu pleaded, missing my resolve entirely.

“No. I appreciate it… but I’d rather not see hope ignite only to be snuffed out.”

I shook my head again, closing the door on her offer.