The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

Lin Mo almost burst out laughing in his consciousness space.

Using one's skills? Exerting physical strength?

It's just a broken door opened with a key, isn't it? This liar can't even lie properly, yet Lin Xiu, the person involved, believes him without a doubt.

Sure enough, Sun Ye's words became the last straw that broke the camel's back in Lin Xiu's hesitation.

The words "exhausting physical strength" and "hidden skills" made him feel a pang of guilt.

Even if it's only a tiny bit, it's inexplicably magnified under these circumstances.

Lin Mo was speechless. He really wanted to grab the kid's ear and say: "Screw your guilt! You believe everything people say, and you even help them count the money after being scammed."

Besides, you spent the money, so what's there to feel guilty about?

At this moment, Lin Xiu finally snapped out of his daze. He had waited so long for this moment, how could he possibly hold back?

Besides, Brother Ye has sacrificed so much for me, how can I back down here?

The thought of seeing the person he had been longing for day and night filled Lin Xiu with excitement.

Taking a deep breath, as if using all his strength, he forcefully pushed open the heavy door.

"Squeak—!"

The harsh scraping sound echoed through the quiet alley.

The sight behind the door made Lin Xiu's heart skip a beat.

Dim and oppressive.

In the entire room, only a half-burnt candle on the corner of the table cast a small, faint, and flickering halo of light in the darkness.

Before the candlelight, a slender figure in a white dress stood quietly with her back to the door.

That familiar figure, that white dress he loved most in his memory.

With just one glance, Lin Xiu was completely stunned. All his reason and doubts were swept away by the surging emotions.

His nose stung, and warm liquid instantly blurred his vision.

"Ling'er..."

His throat was dry and tight, and the two words he uttered trembled uncontrollably.

"Is it you? You really...you're really back..."

Upon hearing the call, the slender figure trembled slightly.

She didn't turn around immediately, but her shoulders were trembling slightly, as if she was trying her best to suppress something.

Time stretched out infinitely at this moment.

Sun Ye had long since disappeared from the doorway, leaving only a deathly silence in the alley.

Finally, the figure slowly, very slowly turned around.

The candlelight flickered, its dim yellow light outlining Lin Xiu's unforgettable face.

She still had those beautiful almond-shaped eyes, and that delicate nose, but now, those bright eyes were filled with tears, which slid down her pale cheeks, gathered into a single drop on her chin, and then fell into darkness.

She saw the thin, haggard man at the door, her lips moved, and all her words finally turned into a tearful cry of surprise.

"Little Linzi!"

These three words are the key to unlocking Lin Xiu's memory.

With a deafening roar, all the long-forgotten memories and sweet moments crumbled his last line of defense.

He could no longer control himself and charged toward the figure like a madman.

The girl opened her arms and ran towards him, her face streaked with tears.

He had dreamed of the embrace of a long-awaited reunion countless times.

However, just as the two were about to touch each other, the girl's actions suddenly changed.

Her slender, fair right hand clenched into a fist, drawing a short arc in the air.

"state!"

A muffled thud.

The fist struck Lin Xiu squarely in the chest.

The force was not great, even somewhat weak, but it brought Lin Xiu's forward momentum to an abrupt halt.

He stood there, stunned, looking down at his chest and then up at the tearful girl in front of him.

The girl's eyes were red, tears still streaming down her face, yet she was cursing viciously:

"Damn it! Why are you only coming to see me now?!"

"It's so cold down there, and I'm all alone... I'm so scared..."

Her words were filled with grievance and resentment, and by the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably.

After taking the punch, Lin Xiu was not angry at all; instead, he laughed.

Lin Xiu grinned, smiling silently, but his tears flowed even more fiercely than the girl's.

Really.

She really is Ling'er.

Ling'er, who would act coquettishly with him, act spoiled with him, and punch his chest with her little fists.

Since her accident, he has only seen such scenes in his dreams.

Before he could recover from the ecstasy of regaining what he had lost, the words "so cold" and "so scared" became the sharpest needles, piercing his heart.

His smile froze on his face, and tears instantly blurred Lin Xiu's vision.

Lin Xiu pulled the girl tightly into his arms, using all his strength, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

"sorry......"

Lin Xiu's whole body was trembling. He rested his chin on the girl's shoulder and spoke with a tone full of self-reproach.

"It's all my fault, it's my fault, it's all my fault!"

If he hadn't asked Ling'er to go out that day, Ling'er wouldn't have had this accident.

For the past six months, this guilt has been constantly gnawing at his heart.

The girl in his arms struggled slightly and gently pushed him away.

Lin Xiu subconsciously let go of her hand, looking at her somewhat at a loss.

Ling'er took a half step back and their eyes met.

She raised her hand, her cool fingertips touching Lin Xiu's cheek, and gently cupped his face in her hands.

She looked at him closely, at his sunken eye sockets, his stubble chin, and his bloodshot eyes, her heart aching with heartache.

"I really have never blamed you."

Her voice was soft, yet it possessed a power that could soothe the soul.

Lin Xiu's heart skipped a beat.

The next second, a sweet smile suddenly bloomed on Ling'er's face, but she immediately straightened her face, pretending to be serious, and even showing a hint of barely perceptible anger.

"Seriously, I swear, but seeing you like this really makes me angry!"

Lin Xiu covered Ling'er's hand that was cupping his cheek with his own; the icy touch felt so real.

"You know, I really can't live without you..."

He tried to explain himself, but was defeated under the girl's stern gaze.

"But I promise you, I will never do it again! I will eat well and live well!"

Hearing this guarantee, Ling'er finally gave a satisfied hum.

The seriousness on her face vanished instantly, and she reverted to the smiling girl Lin Xiu remembered.

"That's more like it."

She took Lin Xiu's hand and led him to the only table, pressing him to sit down.

"Let me tell you, dying isn't actually that scary."

She stood to the side, talking enthusiastically as if she had endless things to say.

"It was really dark and cold at first, but then I discovered some interesting things."

"For example, I can walk through walls, isn't that amazing? I've also seen the ghost of Grandpa Wang next door searching for his hidden stash of money every day, but his wife found out a long time ago and just watches him anxiously every day. It's so funny!"