"Why the surprised look? We’ve only been apart for a few days. Has Manager Wilson forgotten me already?"
Xu Xiaoyou didn’t move.
As she spoke, Wilson felt the girl's shadow stretch toward him like a mass of writhing claws; wherever the shadow passed, all light was swallowed whole.
She looked up. "I, for one, haven't been able to stop thinking about you."
"You're not dead?"
Wilson took a step back.
"How could you possibly be alive under those circumstances!"
"Are you disappointed?"
Xu Xiaoyou placed the tray on the table and walked forward.
"In the fact that I'm still alive?"
"You—you planted a tracker on me!" Wilson shouted, a realization hitting him. "You never planned on letting me go from the very beginning, did you?"
"Mhm." Xu Xiaoyou didn't deny it.
"This is just a game between hunters. We both have guns. What’s wrong with wanting to kill another hunter who poses a threat?"
"Hmm, you have a point."
She didn't make any sudden moves, just walked toward him step by step. Yet, the werewolf felt an immense crisis looming. Backing away as if facing a mortal enemy, he retreated further with every stride she took.
Relentless pressure, a desperate retreat.
"What exactly do you want?!"
"To take back what belongs to me."
Their figures passed the pool, crossed the glass curtain wall, and moved past a fish tank. The small fish swimming inside watched the scene with tiny, grain-sized eyes full of curiosity, their bubbles rising to the surface.
Finally, the werewolf’s psychological defenses crumbled completely. He turned and ran recklessly, only to be tripped by his own loose, rose-gold silk robe. He fell, then scrambled back up.
Xu Xiaoyou followed at a leisurely pace.
"Stay back!"
The werewolf stumbled to a glass keypad door. He fumbled with the code, getting it wrong several times in a row. This triggered the apartment's alarm system; red lights flashed rhythmically as Xu Xiaoyou reached him.
"Manager Wilson."
"DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!!"
Xu Xiaoyou sighed helplessly. "That's not the exit. Behind there is the bathroom. Where exactly are you trying to go?"
Wilson looked up. Sure enough, behind the glass door was the bathroom of this high-end apartment. The werewolf panted heavily, swallowing hard. Xu Xiaoyou wasn't in a hurry. She simply watched his pathetic state, her eyes devoid of anger or contempt—there was only a freezing silence.
Wilson straightened his body. "You must be laughing your head off inside! You're quite proud to see me making such a fool of myself, aren't you?"
"We're both hunters. I know exactly what kind of person you are! You're looking down on me; you're despising me! It feels good to have your revenge, doesn't it? Stop pretending—you’ve wanted to gloat as the victor for a long time!"
Seeing no reaction from the girl, something deep inside the werewolf seemed to shatter—his pride.
It was the pride he had maintained after dodging countless hunters' guns, surviving the snow and wind, and climbing up from the deepest darkness over the bodies of others to stand at the top, overlooking the city night. He felt like a clown now, dancing while everyone watched him fail, waiting for him to fall from his pedestal.
"Hahaha!"
The werewolf suddenly burst into laughter.
"You think you’ve won?"
"You think you're the one who gets the last laugh?"
"That ticket is locked in a safe! You can't open it without the password, and trying to force it will cause it to explode!"
He struggled to his feet and roared at Xu Xiaoyou.
"Beg me!"
"Beg me, and I might tell you the password! Otherwise, you’ll never leave this Corrupt Hive City! Rot in this mud pit with me!"
The corners of Xu Xiaoyou’s mouth curved slightly.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Wilson's breathing became increasingly rapid and labored. Finally, he squeezed out a fawning smile.
"How about this? I think there’s still room for negotiation. I promise! If you just let me go—if you just let me go—I’ll tell you the code. The safe is in my bedroom. You can take it and leave this apartment right now."
The werewolf’s eyes brightened slightly. "How about it?"
"You can leave this hive city immediately. Go somewhere with more potential and value. You have a bright future ahead of you; there’s no need to lower yourself for a nobody like me..."
Seeing the girl still didn't react, Wilson's eyes turned blood-red. His entire body suddenly surged in size, his fur becoming thick and dark, and sharp claws left deep gouges in the glass wall.
"You leave me no choice!"
The werewolf lunged at Xu Xiaoyou. Before his claws could touch her collar, his heart gave a violent throb, as if it were trying to burst through a door and leap out of his chest.
He collapsed to the floor, his eyes bloodshot as he clutched his chest. Purplish-blue veins spread from his heart across his entire body.
He looked up at the blonde girl, his eyes filled with nothing but disbelief. "You... you poisoned the wine? You lunatic..."
"You knew from the start I would die..."
"Weren't you afraid... you'd never get the ticket..."
Xu Xiaoyou looked down at him.
Her tied-up blonde hair swayed like the hands of a clock. Each movement was a countdown for his life until the hands stopped, his heart beat for the last time, and a final bell tolled.
"Aren't we the same kind of person?"
"How dare you..."
His last words echoed in her ears.
Xu Xiaoyou leaned down and quickly found a ticket on Wilson's body.
Fluttering with white, marshmallow-like wings, it looked exactly like an envelope. In gold-embossed lettering was the word 'Welcome', with a red heart at the seal.
The werewolf was right—they were the same kind of person.
People like them would never put something that could change their fate inside a safe. They would only keep it on their person.
She opened the envelope, and a light screen appeared before her. The jumping text seemed alive, flickering with a ghostly blue glow.
"Hello, esteemed guest. Welcome aboard the Heart's Desire. Skywing Spacetime is pleased to serve you."
"Individual identity change detected. The ticket holder has been updated from 'Wilson' to 'Xu Xiaoyou'. Universal Heavy Industries has purchased life insurance and travel insurance for you..."
"00:00:34 until the departure of the next train, 0E3604."
"First-time passengers of the Heart's Desire may experience symptoms including, but not limited to, dizziness, nausea, and disorientation. These are normal phenomena. If you still feel significant discomfort after arrival, please contact a crew member. All medical expenses are covered by the Life Daybreak Company."
"00:00:30 until the departure of the next train, 0E3604."
"If you are ready to board, please remain where you are. Hold this ticket and count down ten seconds in your head..."
"When the countdown ends, you will board the train to your destination of dreams."
Rate on N.U.
