The overwhelming chaos plunged Ming Yi into deep confusion.

Since arriving in this world, every event around him had reeked of strangeness and unease—like a long-laid conspiracy, or a suffocating fog where you couldn’t see your own hand.

All his frantic thoughts froze at a soft knock on the door.

“Little Yi, may I come in?”

Senior Alice! Ming Yi flustered instantly, eyes darting to tidy the room—then froze. *Right. Not Earth anymore. Not my room.*

Too many chaotic days had frayed his nerves. He shook his head and opened the door.

Senior Alice wore a simple white tee that accentuated her curves. Golden curls cascaded softly over her shoulders; sky-blue jeans traced the line of her long, graceful legs. Her tall frame was effortlessly elegant.

Even now, seeing her flawless smile aimed at him made Ming Yi’s cheeks burn. He dared not meet her eyes.

“You’ve been acting off today. I got worried—came to check on you.”

She strode to the bed, sat without hesitation, patted the space beside her. “C’mere.”

“Must be unsettling, waking up in a new world. Don’t be scared. Tell big sis what’s on your mind.”

Ming Yi hesitated, then stiffly sat beside her.

So close. A faint lavender-like scent drifted from her.

“Missing home?”

He shook his head. Truth was, he hadn’t once worried about home. An only child—his parents worked far from Shanghai. Even a massive quake wouldn’t reach them.

*But… would they grieve for me?*

Of course they would. He knew it. He just avoided thinking about it.

His college life had been stagnant: gaming in dorms, loafing in the student union, skipping every lecture, cramming last-minute to scrape by. Always taking money, avoiding part-time work despite being able. Never daring to picture the future.

No different from a bloodsucking parasite.

*If my disappearance gave them a “reason”… maybe they’d breathe easier…*

*Spit.* What the hell was he thinking? Disgust twisted in his chest.

Watching his shifting expression, Senior Alice’s worry deepened.

“Little Yi, don’t overthink. Maybe time flows differently here. When we return, only minutes might’ve passed—”

“Can we even go back?” Ming Yi cut in.

Her voice stopped short.

“You always act so carefree comforting others… but you’re scared too, aren’t you?”

Her smile faded, replaced by a loneliness he’d never seen.

“Yeah… big sis is scared too. All that ‘I’ll protect you’ talk? In real danger… I might need *your* protection.”

Ming Yi knew she still carried guilt over him and senpai luring the Ravager away.

“I’ve considered never going back… I just shut the thought down fast.” She slipped off her shoes, curled her legs, buried her face in her knees. “Because imagining it… this strange world full of death… a future of pure void… it’s terrifying.”

A faint tremor edged her voice.

Ming Yi panicked. *She came to comfort me. I was too harsh.*

“But,” she paused, voice steadying, “dwelling on it changes nothing. Only feeds the fear.”

He knew that. Of course he did.

They were like creatures fallen into an abyss—stripped bare, all the same: stumbling, shivering, whimpering into silence.

Senior Alice and senpai were just forcing themselves to lead.

To survive, you had to learn to grope in the dark. Walk in the dark. Adapt.

“At least… we still have hope, right?” Her voice brightened suddenly. “We awakened Corruption Artifacts—we’re not helpless here~”

“Just wait. One day, big sis will become the strongest Shatterborn. When no one can beat me… I’ll stand tall and say—”

“Big sis has got your back!”

A light shone in her eyes—warm, resolute, blooming like a flower from ash.

A beauty beyond words.

Ming Yi stared, breath caught.

*She finds hope no matter what. Maybe that’s why I’ll never be worthy of her.*

“Senior Alice… you’re truly strong. Guess I’ll wait for the day I can swagger around using your name!”

“Hehe~ Go wild, have fun—I’ll clean up your messes!” She grinned.

Not elegant. Never cared about “ladylike.” Ming Yi sighed inwardly—*Did she ever?*

And yet… this was exactly why his heart still raced for her.

“Alright, big sis is off to sleep. Less overthinking, more resting, okay?” She slipped on her shoes, waved, and left.

Ming Yi watched her go, shaking his head with a wry smile.

—

—

Unseen by Senior Alice, Akiko leaned against the corridor wall.

She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop—just unsettled by today’s events.

*Sean and the others… really had nothing to do with Ming Yi?*

Hearing voices from his room, curiosity won. *Sorry,* she whispered inwardly, pressing close to the crumbling wall.

Poor insulation let most of the conversation through.

But frustratingly—everything sounded normal. Not a trace of oddness in Ming Yi’s tone.

*Just a coincidence. I overthought it.*

*Let it be so.*