Do you think this world is serious?

"My brother-in-law suddenly woke me up, and then..."

Maria Shaniat recounted the events that had occurred, which had left a deep impression on her.

The scene of Chen Xiuming being pierced through the body by a rifle, in particular, was etched into her mind like a brand, almost unforgettable for the rest of her life.

Maria Shaniat suddenly remembered the terrifying power and incredible abilities Cecilia Shaniat had just displayed, and decided to ask Cecilia Shaniat how to become stronger.

She didn't want to experience the tragedy of watching her beloved "brother-in-law" suffer serious injuries and be on the verge of death a second time.

"Sister Cecilia, what happened between you and Angelia this time?"

Maria Shaniat collected her thoughts and turned to ask Cecilia Shaniat a question in return.

Cecilia Shaniat sighed softly and said, "The quantum shadows that Angelia and I encountered were rather peculiar. They were only half a person tall, but they felt like mosquitoes. They weren't very powerful, but they were very annoying."

The quantum shadow couldn't even withstand a single punch from Cecilia Shaniat before it shattered into five smaller quantum shadows of varying sizes, the largest being only two-thirds the size of its original form and the smallest only one-fifth the size of its original form.

Even Angelia Shaniat, an ordinary person, could accidentally swat away the smallest "small" quantum shadow in the chaos.

“If I had gone to you instead of Chen Xiuming going to Angelia, the situation would have been completely different.”

Cecilia Shaniat felt somewhat guilty.

Maria Shaniat gently shook her head and comforted her, saying, "Sister Cecilia, don't blame yourself. After all, no one could have predicted something like this would happen. It's fortunate that your brother-in-law is out of danger in the end."

"Ah."

Cecilia Shaniat pursed her lips, lowered her eyelids slightly, and quietly gazed at the sleeping Chen Xiuming.

Maria Shaniat looked at Cecilia Shaniat, hesitant to speak, wanting to ask Cecilia Shaniat directly how she became so strong, but hesitant to speak.

The silence in the ward lasted only a few seconds before Angela Shaniat asked in confusion, "Sister Maria, I remember you were very averse to your brother-in-law, weren't you? Why are you calling him brother-in-law all the time now?"

“What—it’s not that exaggerated!” Maria Shaniat did not refute Angelia Shaniat. “After this incident, I realized that I don’t actually hate my brother-in-law. Before, I disliked him because I felt that he had taken Cecilia away from me.”

In addition, Maria Shaniat discovered something else, but dared not tell Cecilia Shaniat.

—It seems she has developed some feelings for Chen Xiuming that she shouldn't have.

Upon realizing this, Maria Shaniat clutched the hem of her dress, lowered her head, and seemed guilty, unable to look Cecilia Shaniat in the eye. A faint blush had already appeared on her cheeks.

Cecilia Shaniat stared blankly at the sleeping Chen Xiuming, unaware of Maria Shaniat's unusual behavior.

Sitting next to Maria Shaniat, Angela Shaniat noticed the faint blush on Maria's cheeks and, as if realizing something, whispered in a low voice, "Sister Maria, you wouldn't happen to like...?"

Before Angela Schariac could finish speaking, Maria Schariac was startled and quickly covered Angela Schariac's mouth to stop her from speaking further.

“Angelia, don’t talk nonsense.”

Maria Shaniat kept her voice very low, while secretly observing Cecilia Shaniat's reaction as if she were doing something wrong.

Seeing that Cecilia Shaniat didn't seem to care about her and Angelia Shaniat's actions, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Little did she know that as her physical condition improved, Cecilia Schariac's hearing was also getting better. She had no problem hearing the whispers between Maria Schariac and Angelia Schariac, but she didn't pay any attention to it.

She would much rather see Maria Shaniat get closer to Chen Xiuming than have a cold and distant relationship.

Before long, seeing that Angelia Schariac had given in to her "clutches," Maria Schariac snorted and chose to spare Angelia Schariac.

Then, after thinking for a moment, she said casually, "Angelia, go buy some food first."

Although it is the early hours of the morning and the hospital restaurant has closed, the convenience store is still open as usual.

"Uh-huh!"

Angela Shania nodded in response, then walked briskly out of the ward to the convenience store on the first floor of the hospital to shop.

Seeing that Angelia Schariac had left, Maria Schariac made up her mind and looked at Cecilia Schariac.

Cecilia Schariac noticed Maria Schariac's determined gaze and looked up in confusion to meet Maria Schariac's eyes.

"Sister Cecilia, there's something I want to ask you."

"what's up?"

How did you become so powerful?

Maria Shaniat looked directly into Cecilia Shaniat's eyes. Although she was determined to become stronger no matter what, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy and guilty when she met Cecilia Shaniat's gaze.

Upon hearing this, Cecilia Shaniat released Chen Xiuming's hand, but instead of answering Maria Shaniat's question, she asked again, "Why do you want to become stronger?"

"I don't want to experience my brother-in-law being seriously injured while protecting me again, and I want to fight alongside you, Cecilia."

Maria Shaniat spoke in a serious yet gentle tone, then abruptly changed, stating her thoughts firmly: "Sister Cecilia, I really want to become stronger right now."

19. Maria: Is there really such a good thing?

"..."

Cecilia Shaniat remained silent, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she were deep in thought.

Maria Shaniat didn't continue speaking, looking at Cecilia Shaniat nervously and anxiously, her fingers already crumpling the hem of her clothes.

A somber silence fell over the ward.

Half a minute later, Cecilia Schariact, in a somber tone, reaffirmed Maria Schariact's resolve.

"Maria, do you really want to know my method to become stronger? I don't think this method is suitable for you, so you should prepare yourself mentally first."

“I’m mentally prepared—Sister Cecilia, I want to grasp the ‘future’ with my own hands!”

After what happened tonight, Maria Shaniat began to shed her naivety and vaguely realized that her future experiences would become increasingly bizarre and dangerous.

Without the support of power, let alone taking control of their own "future," they might even become a hindrance to Cecilia Shaniat and Chen Xiuming.

Upon hearing this, Cecilia Shaniat sighed softly and said, "Maria, sit next to me."

Maria Shaniat was both nervous and anxious, and quickly moved closer to Cecilia Shaniat.

Cecilia Shaniat first stared silently at Chen Xiuming, as if recalling the tragic scene she had just witnessed, and then made up her mind.

“Maria.” Cecilia Schariat called out softly to Maria Schariat, leaning close to her ear, “As long as you have relations with Chen Xiuming, you will gain power, and the more times you have relations with him, the stronger you will become.”

"Ah? This..."

Maria Shaniat looked astonished.

If she had known about this before tonight, she might have been surprised and astonished, but she would definitely have despised such a thing. But now, her feeling is...

Is there really such a good thing?

The next second, she suddenly realized something and asked in surprise, "Sister Cecilia, don't you mind this?"

“You don’t want Chen Xiuming to be seriously injured again, and I don’t want Chen Xiuming to be injured again either. Besides… we don’t have much time left.”

What does "not much time left" mean?

Maria Shaniat looked puzzled, feeling a barrage of questions coming her way.

Cecilia Shaniat shook her head slightly, offering no answer to the question.

Although the subtle changes in the "world bubble" have subsided, the "world bubble" remains riddled with holes.

With about a month to go before the next reset of the "World Bubble," Cecilia Shaniat doesn't believe she and Chen Xiuming can find any other way to get Maria Shaniat and Angelia Shaniat out of the "World Bubble."

If Chen Xiuming hadn't been injured, Cecilia Shaniat could have tried to increase her strength as much as possible and then "reverse" it into her body before the "World Bubble" reset.

“Maria, if you really decide to become stronger, I won’t stop you, but… you can’t force Chen Xiuming, and you must genuinely like Chen Xiuming.”

“What—Sister Cecilia, don’t listen to Angelia’s nonsense…” Maria Shaniat quickly explained.

Cecilia Shaniat chuckled and shook her head, saying, "Maria, I'm your 'older sister,' how could I not notice the changes in you?"

"Well……"

Maria Shaniat opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything, and could only lower her head shyly.

Cecilia Shaniat reached out and ruffled Maria Shaniat's hair, smiling slightly as she continued, "Maria, I won't mention this to Chen Xiuming on your behalf. You'll have to rely on your own efforts, understand?"

If Chen Xiuming hadn't been seriously injured, Cecilia Shaniat would never have allowed such a thing. At most, she would have reluctantly allowed the two girls to have a relationship with Chen Xiuming if she really couldn't help Maria Shaniat and Angelia Shaniat escape from the "World Bubble".

"Um……"

Maria Shaniat responded to Cecilia Shaniat's words with a soft nasal sound.

"but……"

Cecilia Schariac suddenly changed the subject, making Maria Schariac nervous.

"Chen Xiuming needs to rest for the next few days."

"Yes, I know, Cecilia."

Maria Shaniat nodded vigorously, feeling her cheeks burning and even her earlobes tingling.

Cecilia Shaniat then pinched Maria Shaniat's cheek and teased her with a light laugh, "Maria, go wash your face and calm down—your face is really hot right now."

"Ah... okay! I... I'll go wash my face right away!"

Maria Shaniat stammered a reply to Cecilia Shaniat, then rushed out of the ward as if fleeing in panic, heading towards the toilet at the end of the hospital corridor.

Angela Shaniat, carrying a bag of snacks, looked at Maria Shaniat's back with a puzzled expression, then walked into the ward and placed the plastic bag on the bedside table next to the bed.

"Sister Cecilia, Sister Maria's face is so red, is she sick?"

"Maria is fine. She's probably just a little excited. She should be fine after she washes her face."

Cecilia Shaniat grasped Chen Xiuming's hand again, her eyelids slightly lowered, her bangs falling down, vaguely obscuring half of her face, making it impossible to see her expression.

Even though she had already decided to allow Maria Shaniat and Chen Xiuming to do what they were doing, she would inevitably feel uncomfortable.

After all, it's impossible to share your deepest love with someone, even if that person is your closest sister, without any reservations.

At least in the short term, Cecilia Shaniat will find it difficult to truly accept this.

"Sister Cecilia, when will my brother-in-law wake up?"

Angela Shaniat opened a bag of nut bread, but her gaze was fixed on the unconscious Chen Xiuming.

Cecilia Schariac looked up at Angela Schariac and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'd like my brother-in-law to take me to another ice cream feast."

"Have you forgotten how you got a stomachache from the ice cream feast last time?"

"Sister Cecilia, that...that was just because I caught a cold, not because of the ice cream feast!"