Even If I Go to Hell, Will You Stay with Me?

When the edge of the sky grew misty, dew drops refracted the crisp, refreshing sunlight. Dawn had arrived. Cool air drifted in through the crack in the window, thread by thread. The gentle warmth of the sunlight coaxed Bai Zhou into lazily opening his eyes, quietly tidying up the residual traces of the warning ritual he had set nearby. Fang Xiaoxia had already left for school. Everything was quiet. Assuming the kitten was fast asleep, she had tiptoed around the entire morning, careful not to wake him. She had no idea that her cautious, breathless movements had been observed from start to finish by Bai Zhou's Mind's Eye. The bedroom was peaceful, giving Bai Zhou time to examine this room steeped in youthful feminine charm while pondering whether there was anything he needed to do. As a Destined accustomed to operating in the depths of night, facing such a cozy bedroom alongside the dazzling sun, clear blue sky, and white clouds outside actually felt somewhat unfamiliar. "The weather is pretty nice today." Bai Zhou nodded to himself. "A fine day to hunt down and kill one of the Major's lackeys." *Clatter—* The window slid open, then shut. Leaping silently through the opening, Bai Zhou went once more to look for "Teacher Sun." However, Teacher Sun was still not home. Perhaps he was teaching classes, or perhaps he truly had gone on a business trip. Returning empty-handed did not surprise Bai Zhou in the least. Finding a secluded corner to shift back into human form, he wound the black ribbon around his wrist, threw together a simple clothing disguise, and strolled casually out of the alley. His stomach began to rumble. Things being what they were, he might as well eat first. *Let me calm down and think. What does my stomach actually want right now?* From the growls within his gut, Bai Zhou heard his answer. First thing in the morning, feeling refreshed and alert, there was naturally nothing better than his familiar jellied tofu and steamed buns. In truth, after advancing to Tier 4 and awakening the pre-natal essence within all of his spirituality, Bai Zhou's need for physical sustenance had steadily dwindled. According to the ancient Extraordinary of the Eastern Federation, this was called *bigu*. Some Extraordinary believed that consuming worldly food introduced impurities into the physical body, weighing it down and hindering advancement along their pathways. Working from this principle, certain Extraordinary had even developed shortcut methods—relying on regular periods of fasting, abstaining from or sharply reducing food intake for specific intervals to accelerate their promotion to Tier 4 and ignite their pre-natal essence. Yet only mediocre talents needed shortcuts. Bai Zhou ate and drank to his heart's content, and his progression to Tier 4 had never slowed in the slightest. Why torment himself? Life in this mortal world boiled down to eating and drinking. Existence was already bitter enough; only delicious food offered the purest form of happiness. Blue Star's Tinghai boasted so many delicacies, and Bai Zhou wanted to experience every single one. He could scarcely imagine how miserable a life spent without eating or drinking would be. Only when burying his head in a meal could he clear his mind completely, focusing solely on savoring the flavors, chewing at his own pace, and feasting freely without worry or restraint. It was a brief, pure moment of unwinding—the fastest and cheapest psychological therapy, a healing indulgence sought out by a youth constantly chased to the brink of suffocation. It was the same familiar breakfast stall, mist drifting around the entrance and steam billowing inside. Bai Zhou sat on a small folding stool outside, watching the middle-aged proprietor with a white towel draped around his neck use a rag to swiftly wipe down the weathered wooden table in front of him. "The usual: spicy jellied tofu, a bowl of millet porridge, and two steamers of buns." "Right you are! The buns just finished steaming, perfect timing!" The owner offered the practiced smile reserved for regular customers, though in truth he didn't recognize Bai Zhou at all. "Pickles are inside, help yourself." "Thanks." Bai Zhou stood up and took two or three steps inside. The floor was mopped to a gleam. Behind the counter by the entrance, the proprietress in her apron appeared engrossed in writing, the silver cap of a fountain pen resting on the counter, bearing a PRER logo. Likely doing the accounts. Bai Zhou didn't linger, his nose quickly drawn toward the aromas from the steamer baskets nearby. The scent of dough mingled with the rich savor of fatty pork. Bai Zhou could almost sense the lard-kissed flour drifting into his nostrils, setting his appetite on fire. On a small square table stood several large bowls packed with shredded pickled tuber, chili oil, sweet bean sauce, shredded scallions, and minced onions. On the wall beside the table hung a sign reading: *Self-Service Pickles Area*. "Buns are up!" *Clack, clack.* Two bamboo steamers were set down, causing the wooden table to wobble twice. A saucer of pickles, a dish of vinegar, several cloves of garlic, two steamers of buns, a bowl of soup, and a side dish—at least, a side dish in Bai Zhou's eyes. In reality, it was jellied tofu topped with chili and cilantro. The modest table was soon packed to the brim, steaming and resplendent. What should have been a simple breakfast felt exceptionally lavish under Bai Zhou's treatment. He sipped the millet porridge from the edge of the bowl with a quiet slurp, then took a bite of a steamed bun accompanied by pickles. The rich aroma of the meat, the springy softness of the dough—the moment it touched his tongue, it melted into sheer satisfaction. Delicious. The drink was great too. For reasons he couldn't name, Bai Zhou always felt the millet porridge here was different from other places. It tasted faintly as if it had been simmered with flour used for making buns, making each bite of the steamed buns feel naturally paired and deeply comforting, like soup restoring the food that birthed it. Dining alone was an enjoyable, thoroughly relaxing affair. If only he could be this relaxed in everyday life. If someone were around to share meals with him, that would be even better. The shredded pickled mustard tuber was a little on the salty side, but paired with the mild, thick porridge, it struck just the right balance. It didn't taste like the stall's own homemade pickling; Tinghai had long abandoned the tradition of pickling vegetables at home. If anyone wanted them, they simply bought them at the supermarket—inexpensive and remarkably convenient. Back in Wancheng, Bai Zhou used to pickle vegetables often. He would gather the unsold, slightly bruised greens from an auntie at the market. Autumn greens were the plumpest; he would wash them, let them air-dry, layer them in a crock with salt between each tier, and press them firmly down. Fresh pickles cured for four or five days were the best—not overly salty, but tender, crisp, delicate, and sweet. Scooped out as needed and eaten with a steamed bun or two, it was far cheaper than Four Flavors Instant Noodles. —In truth, those greens hadn't really been spoiled. Even if the auntie had taken them home for herself, they would have made fine meals. Yet whenever Bai Zhou walked over, the auntie would lift a worn cloth from the bottom of her tricycle cart and pull out the greens kept beneath. *"These are leftovers no one wanted. Go on, Little Zhou, just take them."* Yet those greens had all been verdant, crisp, and plump. How could they have been unsellable? And how could there have been leftovers discarded by others every single day? Later, after leaving Wancheng, he found that Tinghai didn't sell Four Flavors Instant Noodles, nor were there greens or pickled vegetables like those. Bai Zhou had even less time to pickle anything himself. Tinghai was brimming with snacks, varied and wondrous, each offering a different flavor. Bai Zhou never felt nostalgia for the harsh days in Wancheng, nor did he truly think pickles and instant noodles were all that magnificent. Yet right now, as he used an iron spoon to dollop sweet bean sauce over the shredded pickles, Bai Zhou suddenly remembered the pickled greens of Wancheng, and the auntie who had always kept vegetables aside for him. He felt a sudden yearning for a bite of pickled greens stuffed into a plain steamed bun. He found himself thinking of everyone back in Wancheng. A single day could be both fleeting and vast. For Bai Zhou, experiencing idle leisure for the very first time, such a day was practically an extravagance, stretching out languidly. Yet just as Bai Zhou began settling into this relaxed cadence, savoring this hard-won respite, daylight slipped away before he realized it. By this point, he had been out of the Reflected Ruin Realm for two days and two nights—and a full three hours. Taking advantage of this time, his battered trench coat had largely mended itself, and his injuries had practically healed. The Moon Wolf Totem and the Tears of the Moon Goddess continued their steady work. Even though his Fate Principle was a radiant sun, Bai Zhou remained reliant on the moon's grace. Night fell, the sun sinking as the moon rose. Streetlights flickered on one after another, illuminating the silhouette of a running girl. Carrying a backpack emblazoned with a certain green twintailed character, Fang Xiaoxia dashed home in her school uniform, full of high spirits. She practically sprinted the entire way. Because there was something awaiting her at home, she raced back with wild urgency, heedless of how her backpack clattered and swung violently from side to side. "I'm home! Kitty!" The moment she reached the doorway, the girl was already shouting in impatience. Perched on the windowsill gazing up at the moon, Bai Zhou was somewhat speechless. Why yell so loudly at a cat? Was she actually expecting him to open his mouth and say, *"Welcome back"*—? The bedroom door swung open. The girl's eyes locked onto Bai Zhou instantly. Only when she saw the familiar black cat wrapped in bandages did she seem to breathe a sigh of relief. It was as if she had been dreading something the entire time. Dreading that the black cat would vanish again without a word. Glancing at the silly girl in the doorway, Bai Zhou turned his head back and continued bathing in the moonlight. The bandages felt somewhat uncomfortable, but he had no choice. To keep Fang Xiaoxia from suspecting anything, he had deliberately re-wrapped them around himself whenever he slipped back in the early morning and this afternoon. However— "Huh?" Fang Xiaoxia blinked abruptly, sensing that something was slightly off about her familiar black cat. "Where is this weird feeling coming from?" Her suspicious gaze flickered. Circling the cat's aloof silhouette, Fang Xiaoxia inspected him closely. A black ribbon tied in a bow swayed jauntily atop the cat's head. "—Where did this black ribbon come from?" Fang Xiaoxia stared dumbfoundedly. How did she recall that yesterday, the black cat hadn't had a black ribbon on his head? At the time, she had even asked: *"Was that from your previous owner? Did she abandon you?"*— When did it appear? Fang Xiaoxia scrutinized the black ribbon atop Bai Zhou's head intently. Wait—though she had left in a hurry this morning, why did she remember that the little cat had already been wearing a black ribbon bow back then too? Was her memory playing tricks on her? Or had the kitten slipped out while she was asleep— She had slept so soundly last night, and even her dreams had been sweet. Yet the moment she woke up, a black bow had materialized out of thin air atop the kitten's head, leaving her feeling as though something inexplicably heavy had settled over her own head as well— "And..." Fang Xiaoxia knitted her brows, leaning in close to sniff the kitten. A faint, almost imperceptible roasted scent lingered on him. "Why do you smell like coffee?" Fang Xiaoxia couldn't recall anything of the sort being in her room. "I knew it—" Her brows drew tight, and she lifted the cat, bringing Bai Zhou face-to-face with her. Bai Zhou blinked twice, shifting his gaze guiltily away. Just as Bai Zhou was wondering what Fang Xiaoxia might be thinking, a soft sigh drifted into his ear. "Whatever. Are you hungry?" "I'll go see what's for dinner tonight." Fang Xiaoxia gently set Bai Zhou down on the bed and turned to leave. The scuffing sound of her slippers faded into the distance. Before long, Fang Xiaoxia returned carrying yesterday's leftover family bucket of fried chicken. The moment the bedroom door opened, the aroma of fried chicken wafted into the room. "I heated it up in the microwave. It should be plenty for the two of us—and there's an egg tart here for you." Eagerly slipping off her uniform jacket, Fang Xiaoxia swung her ponytail, split the chicken with Bai Zhou, and settled him in her lap while booting up her laptop as she ate. "Happy weekend! No homework right now—kitty, wanna watch me play a game?" Bai Zhou said nothing. Before Fang Xiaoxia could even finish speaking, she had already clicked the game icon on her laptop. What was it called—*Plants vs. Ghosts*? Smiling sunflowers produced sunlight, while bared-teeth chili peppers blew squirming ghosts to bits. It was rather brutal. Although the opening stated that invading ghosts would eat people's brains, Bai Zhou felt these smiling plants, each possessing bizarre superpowers, were actually far creepier. Looking at that sunflower with its oddly unsettling grin, Bai Zhou couldn't help but recall the anthropomorphic sunflowers summoned by Van Gogh, which had nearly engulfed and devoured him whole. From this, it was evident that the mysterious supernatural realm and the video games played by ordinary folks shared uncanny, hidden parallels. —*Art imitates life. That saying really isn't wrong.* After a while, Fang Xiaoxia picked up a controller, cradling Bai Zhou as she booted up another game. What was it called—*Horizon*? The screen shifted to a first-person perspective, showing a steering wheel and various control buttons. Bai Zhou found it familiar. The layout looked quite similar to the interior of Big Brother Liu Zhen's car from back then. Bai Zhou understood. Fang Xiaoxia was "driving." Crow had mentioned that driving was a fairly fundamental skill in modern society, though Bai Zhou's understanding of it remained superficial. This happened to be a good opportunity to learn a bit. In the game, Fang Xiaoxia was nothing like Big Brother Liu Zhen, who dutifully waited at red lights. She slammed the accelerator to the floor, roaring down the road. The wild twists and turns made Bai Zhou dizzy. Several times, the front bumper nearly slammed into neighboring vehicles, only for Fang Xiaoxia to dodge at the very last second. Pressing the buttons on the controller, Little Fang's eyes shone as she shouted bewilderingly impressive jargon: "Lightning drift! Razor overtake!" Turns out she was a seasoned speed demon. Bai Zhou's eyes remained wide and unblinking, reflecting the blazing velocity on the screen where the tires practically sparked with friction. Fang Xiaoxia's "driving skills" were genuinely impressive; Bai Zhou felt she was far sharper than Big Brother Liu Zhen. At the very least, there was no waiting for red lights. If a car blocked the path, overtake it. When hitting a curve, drift through it. The accelerator was meant to be floored without letting up, and the stereo had to be cranked to the absolute max— Lesson learned! "—" The ecstatic girl and the deeply contemplative black cat formed a peculiar contrast. Yet the driving gameplay stuttered constantly, the laptop whirring furiously and running scaldingly hot, sounding like a tractor rumbling across the desk. "Can't be helped. I can never bring myself to buy expensive things, so I buy cheap ones thinking they'll be a temporary stopgap—and then I end up using them forever." Fang Xiaoxia spoke as if explaining herself, yet also as if muttering in lonely solitude, her eyes still fixed intently on the game with apparent enthusiasm. "It's like that with clothes, with laptops, with everything... I always think I'll just make do for a bit, and before I know it, ages have passed." "What I call 'making do' is really just failing to get what I actually want, settling for second best, and resigning myself to a compromised life." "I'm just a failure like that, so don't you go learning from me, kitty." The girl chuckled softly, her tone entirely nonchalant as she delivered the words like a joke, as though she had long grown accustomed to it. The darkness outside deepened, and the fried chicken in the family bucket gradually reached the bottom. Before the roaring, overheating laptop could throw in the towel, Fang Xiaoxia reluctantly stopped the game, lingering on a note of regret. She drew the curtains, turned on the lights, gathered a change of clothes, and headed to the bathroom. *Splatter—* The muffled sound of running water drifted over from afar. A short while later, having changed into pajamas and carrying a sweet, milky fragrance, the pretty girl returned with damp, dark hair tumbling over her shoulders. The ends of her hair had a natural slight curl, evoking the image of a freshly bathed puppy. She turned the bedroom lights off once more, gathered Bai Zhou into her arms in the dim glow, curled her long, pale legs under her nightdress, and scrunched up before the computer desk to open an anime video. The familiar scenes came into view—it was the exact same episode from before, so familiar that Bai Zhou had practically memorized the plot. Yet Little Fang wasn't truly watching the anime. As the video played, she simply mumbled under her breath, pouring her heart out to the little cat. Enveloped densely in that milky warmth, the slightly dazed kitten listened as the hissing little fire dragon of his impressions spoke endlessly. From life ideals to personal hobbies, from the Warring States period to the interstellar future, from Souls-like games to romance anime—the girl mentioned that while she had once wished to grow up quickly, she no longer felt that way. A teenage girl's inner turmoil wasn't some inexplicable secret crush, nor was it anxiety over her looks; it was the persistent feeling that she wasn't as clever as others, the lingering doubt that she had no real talent. The pressure from her parents left her adrift as well. She was a hundred percent certain that her parents loved her, and equally certain that they loved each other. Yet those parents who loved each other argued day in and day out, leaving her constantly walking on eggshells, starved of any sense of security. Bai Zhou harbored his own reservations about this— In Fang Xiaoxia's telling, her parents loved her deeply, indulging her to an extreme degree. Ordering takeout whenever she pleased was fine, and it didn't matter what hour she came home after school. Yet when it came to major life decisions, they exhibited an overwhelming need for control. Whether it was higher education or the cultivation of hobbies, her parents refused to step aside, always stepping in to make choices on her behalf. Just like now, they felt perfectly at ease leaving a young girl alone at home, not returning even in the middle of the night, consumed by work and business trips, leaving her to eat and drink whatever she liked. After all, they gave her money and fulfilled their legal duties; after all, Fang Xiaoxia could amuse herself. This was another form of indulgence in "minor matters." Or rather, an exceedingly hands-off way of letting her raise herself. Yet Bai Zhou felt this was wrong. Indulgence was not love. In the balance between control and tolerance, Fang Xiaoxia's parents seemed to be the exact opposite of what Bai Zhou imagined parents should be. Still, Bai Zhou didn't actually know whether his own idea of parents was right or wrong. Perhaps everyone was like this; perhaps Fang Xiaoxia's family truly was happy. After all, Bai Zhou had never had parents, nor had he ever tasted familial warmth, leaving him in no position to pass judgment. "A stopgap existence, a life of compromises, and a me who just settles..." "Honestly, kitty, I don't think my future will be happy." As she spoke, Fang Xiaoxia's face remained calm, even carrying a smile. She simply shrugged. "But I hope I can be happy." "Because of that, I'm still trying my best." "After all, there are so many people whose lives are far worse than mine. I have no right to complain, and a lot of my troubles really are my own doing..." The girl rambled on. For instance, after reading a line in an anime that deeply resonated with her, she had copied and pasted it onto her social media Moments. The post read: *[Girls who form cliques to ostracize others are all brainless idiots who only care about men!]* *[Men who hang out with that kind of bitch are absolute scum. Hanging around with garbage like that is worse than staying alone, damn it!]* To Fang Xiaoxia's ears, reading that had been like Boya meeting Zhong Ziqi; her very mind had shuddered with resonance. After all, she was precisely the "aloof and elegant woman" frequently shut out by those cliques. —And then, her friend list on social media had been pruned until only "Service Notifications" remained. Bai Zhou was rendered speechless, utterly at a loss for words. Yet listening to the little fire dragon's steady stream of murmurs, Bai Zhou's expression gradually shifted. He realized that although this down-on-her-luck girl always leaned pessimistic, resembling an exhausted stray puppy on the curb... Just as a puppy would perpetually pant with its tongue out and wag its tail in delight, she possessed an inextinguishable optimism and drive. No matter how lonely or sorrowful she felt, she could always comfort herself back to good spirits. Like green foxtail grass that nobody paid attention to—ever vigorous, ever cheerful, blooming plainly and unassumingly in scattered patches, spreading unnoticed across hills and fields until, before one realized it, it surged as lush and wild as a rolling sea. Just like now. She was cheering herself up again: "Still, things are finally looking up recently!" Fang Xiaoxia's eyes sparkled. "This Sunday evening, my classmates are having a gathering, and they invited me!" "It's our last get-together before graduation. Everyone has prepared quite a lot for it—and I've put in the effort too, which they noticed." "As it happens, while chatting with someone, they found out my birthday is next Monday!" "In other words, the moment midnight strikes that night, it'll be my birthday!" "—And guess what, kitty?" Fang Xiaoxia's eyes shone bright, sparkling like the stars outside the window. "I overheard people discussing a cake!" "—They must be planning a birthday surprise for me!" Deeply moved, Fang Xiaoxia rallied her spirits. "They're so sweet... I have to prepare properly!" "I already ordered custom return gifts in advance, one for each person. They'll definitely love them—" The girl chattered away tirelessly, brimming with excitement. Watching her, Bai Zhou couldn't help but feel a pang of sentiment. Youth— It truly was wonderful. Even a hissing little fire dragon had her own turbulent, awkward, yet undeniably warm youth. Fang Xiaoxia shared a great deal: about her parents, about herself, about her classmates, and about countless other things. Late into the night, Fang Xiaoxia scooped Bai Zhou into her arms, climbing into bed to sleep. "Mom and Dad said kids need to drink milk before bed and take calcium tablets or multivitamins." Before settling down, there came the clinking rattle of a shaking bottle. Fang Xiaoxia tipped out several milky-white calcium tablets. A sweet, milky fragrance wafted out, sharing a faint resemblance to the scent she carried. "Want one? It helps you grow taller. It's sweet!" she teased the kitten. Bai Zhou rolled his eyes, ignoring her completely. *Got it, got it—I know your parents are worried you won't grow tall.* So parents actually suffered from height anxiety over their children—though in truth, Fang Xiaoxia wasn't short. Barefoot, she was around one meter sixty-eight, just shy of one meter seventy. It was an ideal height; she simply had a habit of slouching her head and shoulders, which kept her from looking tall. At any rate, she was taller than Crow. After a while, the girl drifted off, her breathing soft and steady. Bai Zhou slipped silently from her embrace. He proceeded through the same routine as before. Waiting for the Major's pursuers to arrive, which came to nothing. Visiting Teacher Sun's home, which also yielded nothing. After hypnotizing and questioning the neighbors, Bai Zhou was able to confirm that Teacher Sun genuinely had left on a business trip— Then he returned "home." He quietly slipped back onto the bed, lying down beside the sleeping Fang Xiaoxia to rest. Whenever bedtime came, Bai Zhou would hypnotize Fang Xiaoxia, ensuring she slept more deeply and enjoyed sweet dreams every night. Even if someone were murdered right beside her, she wouldn't wake in the slightest. —Time drifted past in this manner, and two days slipped by in a flash. On the third day, Sunday at noon. Bai Zhou's injuries were essentially healed. The security guard he had hypnotized earlier was scheduled to return to headquarters on this day—the timing Bai Zhou had been waiting for had finally arrived. Beside him, the phone resting near the pillow was still chattering away with an anime, while the girl in pajamas lay sound asleep on the bed. She was resting up to conserve her energy for the class gathering tonight. Thus, Bai Zhou knew. It was time for him to leave. With his injuries mended, this time he was truly leaving, never to return. *Time to head back to the air conditioning unit—* Carrying a touch of natural human reluctance, Bai Zhou took one last glance at the cozy, familiar bedroom, then turned and leapt onto the windowsill. Just as the black cat stood upright on his hind legs, gently pressing against the window to slide it open without a sound—a voice suddenly drifted from behind, faint and solemn: "Are you... leaving?" Bai Zhou: "?" Freezing instantly, the black cat turned his head, spotting Fang Xiaoxia half-propped on the bed, her face a mix of sorrow and shock. *You figured it out again?* Bai Zhou couldn't help but recall that piece of knowledge he had gleaned from the gray mist: *"The wolf in front feigned sleep merely to lure the enemy?"* The girl's eyes widened as she stared at the cat standing on two legs and opening the window himself. Taking a deep breath, she made sure she wasn't hallucinating. She had anticipated this, yet seeing it with her own eyes still left her stunned. "I was wondering why I slept so heavily every single day... It was like someone was drugging me!" "Always showing up injured, slipping out in the middle of the night, and that bow that suddenly appeared on your head—you really do have secrets I know nothing about." Fang Xiaoxia murmured softly, "Maybe you have another owner, or maybe you really aren't an ordinary cat. Maybe you're a Pokémon, a magical spirit... But no matter which it is, you could never belong to me, right?" Bai Zhou remained silent. At the same time, he looked away. He seemed to be deep in contemplation. This made the look in a certain hissing fire dragon's eyes grow even more plaintive. Perhaps this cat truly was someone's magical creature. Maybe above the atmosphere where no one could see, there really were nine-tailed birds wheeling in flight, and deep within the forests dwelled Greymon and Fairimon that only children could see. Perhaps these wondrous beings had always existed, living in a magnificent world unbeknownst to ordinary people, visible only to the chosen children. Yet Fang Xiaoxia realized she wasn't that person. She had merely crossed paths with a magical cat by chance, rescued him in a fleeting encounter, never destined to stand by his side. Was it because she was already grown up, an "older kid" stripped of childhood fantasies? Just as people imagined bizarre wonders unfolding in the night, weaving beautiful tales into sparkling garlands across the black sky. Yet people could never step into that magical long night. He was clearly an elegant, noble cat who already belonged to someone. The chosen child and their chosen companion creature were a match made in heaven; perhaps they fought side by side in an unseen world, braving thrilling perils that ordinary people couldn't even fathom—what right did an ordinary, pitiful, clumsy ugly duckling like her have to flatter herself and make a fool of herself out of thin air? The little fire dragon spun these thoughts in her head. Suddenly, a sentence came to mind— *[Is a brief encounter a reward, or a punishment?]* Unable to hold it in any longer, Fang Xiaoxia suddenly asked, "Are we still friends?" "Are you really leaving me?" "If you have to go... can you take me with you?" Hearing Fang Xiaoxia's words, the black cat's frame stiffened slightly, his eyes blinking twice. He looked back, eyes filled with contemplation. Then, under Fang Xiaoxia's bewildered gaze, Bai Zhou leapt down from the windowsill, taking elegant, deliberate strides toward her hand. Right there lay a smartphone that had been playing anime ever since before Fang Xiaoxia "fell asleep." It was still that familiar anime; Bai Zhou had practically memorized the lines. Fang Xiaoxia seemed especially fond of it; perhaps it held special meaning for her. The black cat tapped his paw against the screen. The video paused. Then, his paw dragged across the interface. The video rewound, stopping at a specific moment in the very first episode of the first season. It paused. Then, it played. On the screen, a young nun clad in white habit gently asked the spiky-haired boy: *"—Do you mean that even if I go to hell, you're willing to stay by my side?"* The spiky-haired boy in the video was rendered speechless, looking thoroughly startled. After a long pause, the spiky-haired boy finally spoke: *"If you run into any trouble, you can always come find me again. It's fine."* *"Mm. If I get hungry, I'll come back."* The dialogue between the boy and the girl drifted continuously from the phone. Whatever played after that no longer mattered. The black cat raised his head and looked at Fang Xiaoxia. Whether it was an illusion or not, when Fang Xiaoxia met the black cat's gaze, she felt as if she were looking into the eyes of a living human being—a gaze layered with deep, unspoken meaning. At this moment, that line from the video echoed on a loop inside Fang Xiaoxia's mind. *"Even if I go to hell, you're willing to stay by my side?"* "I—" Fang Xiaoxia parted her lips, but the sudden turn of events left her mind completely blank. *Just as I thought.* Seeing the girl's reaction, the black cat nodded with quiet reassurance and turned around. He leapt onto the windowsill and pushed the window open. The breeze from outside rushed in. Bright weather, warm sunshine, and a refreshing wind ruffled the black cat's fur and the stray strands across the girl's forehead. Squinting slightly, Bai Zhou stepped forward on soft paws, bathed in the brilliant sunlight as he walked toward the ledge. Lifting his right paw, the black cat Bai Zhou gave it a gentle wave without looking back, as if bidding farewell to the girl behind him. *Goodbye.* *And happy birthday, classmate Fang.* The thought flickered briefly through his mind. Regardless of whether the girl behind him could comprehend the meaning behind that waving paw, Bai Zhou slowly drew it back. He reached the wind-whipped window ledge, every tuft of fur enveloped in the wind and light, shimmering as if glowing. Then, beneath the girl's utterly dazed gaze. Braving the wind, the black cat Bai Zhou leapt down toward the glorious, radiant sun blazing beyond the window.