Recalling the Promise Made
When she returned home, it was nearly nine o'clock. Walking and stopping along the way, her mood improved, and she bought a lot of food and new clothes, seemingly using this behavior as a way to vent her frustrations.
This time, she finally understood the saying "Life is short, why care about where you are?" Gradually resolving her inner conflicts, she was happy to consider this world her new home. As a result, she was curious about everything. What should have been a one-hour journey took her more than two hours. Although she was a bit tired from walking so long, she was satisfied with fulfilling her shopping desires.
Back home, she turned on the lights and looked at the silent house. In a few days, her parents would be discharged and return home, and it would soon be time for her brother, sister, and younger sister to visit as well. It would be lively then, at least much more so than the empty house now.
She put down the things she was carrying, gently placed the pot she used for the soup in the kitchen, and cleaned it. Then she picked up her clothes and went to the bathroom to take a shower.
Warm water glided over her flawless white skin, with a bunch of white bubbles floating in the bathtub. Her hands gently rubbed her body as her thoughts gradually became absorbed.
The light and shadows of the past year, the faces of different people, scenes of unfamiliar places, and emotions like pinpricks flashed before her eyes like a carousel.
What remained in the end was the bewitching figure dressed in fiery red;
The blue-clad woman whose face was unseen, only her silhouette visible as she embraced Ayase's shoulders;
The little girl who gave her body to her, choosing to voluntarily merge her memories;
Her grandparents, who died in a car accident while out with her parents;
Her parents in this life, her brother, sister, and younger sister;
And those familiar or unfamiliar people, classmates, friends, and those who harbored fantasies about her or Ayase.
All these thoughts made her slowly realize that she had missed so much. Although this world was strange, she could make it a familiar place, couldn't she?
"Condition met, hidden passive activated. Gained aura: 'Serene Orchid of the Secluded Vale'. Your aura is like the first bloom of a blue lotus or the opening of a lily, pure and clear, cleansing the mundane. Effect: Charm +10. When wearing light-colored clothes, charm increases by 20. When wearing all white, you leave an angelic impression on others." As she was slowly recalling, the system's voice suddenly echoed in her mind, startling her slightly.
"Hidden passive? What is this?" She had recently reviewed all the information provided by the system and had not seen this term, so she was a bit puzzled.
"Hidden passives are one of the system's concealed functions. They activate when the host's mood, environment, and their impacts collectively meet certain conditions. These passive skills are not granted by the system but are inherently possessed by the host. Due to various reasons, they have been buried and only emerge when specific criteria are met, with the system assisting in their activation. Essentially, it's just helping you reclaim what was originally yours, so there's no need to be too surprised."
"I see, this so-called hidden passive must have belonged to the little girl who had this body before, right?" Chu Lian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled and asked.
"Yes, if the host cannot fully integrate into this world and completely become one with this body within a year, you will lose this aura. This is one of the gifts she left for you; do not let her expectations down."
Hearing the system's explanation, Chu Lian's pink lips parted slightly, as if asking, "Her expectations?"
"Big brother, Lian'er is leaving. Lian'er is going to be with Grandpa and Grandma. From now on, Dad, Mom, and Brother, Sister, and Little Sister are all entrusted to you. You must take good care of them."
"And, Lian'er has a wish she wants you to fulfill. Mom and Dad always say I'm their pride, but I've rarely made them truly proud. If possible, could you realize Lian'er's dream in the future? Make them the most envied parents in the world, make them the most proud parents."
The little girl walked up to him, held his hand, and raised her head, gently rubbing her cheek against the back of his hand.
Standing in the darkness, he felt his hand suddenly become wet. He looked down at her and saw that the little girl had started crying, with warm tears falling onto his hand, and into his heart.
During the seven days of unconsciousness due to a high fever, she was trapped in this dark space, with only this big brother accompanying her. He said he was a soul from another world, who had lost his way and ended up here, appearing before her after she fell into a coma.
He said he liked her very much. He said he wanted to stay with her. He said he would never leave her. But, but...
But Lian'er can't continue anymore. Lian'er knows that Grandpa and Grandma have passed away, and she knows that Dad and Mom are outside waiting. But, but...
But Lian'er feels so powerless. Every day she wants to close her eyes and never open them again. Lian'er is so tired, so tired. Big brother, can you help me?
He didn't quite understand, but seeing her small face looking up at him, even though she was crying, he still slowly nodded.
Lian'er knew that big brother was the best, and she liked big brother the most, she liked... big brother the most...
She suddenly smiled, her tear-streaked face making the previously dark space dazzlingly bright in an instant. It was as if two wings sprouted from her back, and she said one last thing: "Lian'er is leaving, big brother, you must remember, when you recall this memory one day, I hope you still remember Lian'er's promise..." After saying this, her body gradually became more and more transparent.
Light, brilliant light, then the space returned to darkness, and she transformed into dazzling points of light that merged into the colors illuminated by his soul...
When he opened his eyes again, he had become her, but without the memory of that final moment. Facing this unfamiliar world, unfamiliar people, unfamiliar self, and the system that suddenly appeared in her mind, all these things slowly pushed her toward the abyss of a closed heart.
If it wasn't for yesterday's events, which led her to make today's decision; if it wasn't for recalling those who had never forgotten her, making her remember that small figure again. She might never have understood why her heart seemed to lack a piece.
So the missing piece was the promise with you? I'm sorry I only remembered it now. But it's okay, I've decided to fulfill this promise. I think you will be very happy, right?
"Lian'er, you're still listening, aren't you? I will truly live as you from now on, making mom and dad the proudest people in the world..." She closed her eyes and slowly submerged herself in the bathtub, silently speaking in her mind.
That tear-streaked little face appeared before her eyes again. She slightly opened her mouth, as if saying, "Big brother, it's enough that you remember this promise. Lian'er is very happy now, very happy. Big brother should be happy too. In the future, Lian'er will definitely see big brother again, believe in Lian'er..." These words she seemed to hear clearly and yet not at all.
"Phew, it's so cold, so cold..." The water had long cooled, and when it had finally become only lukewarm, she noticed, jumping out of the bathtub. She quickly turned on the shower to wash off the bubbles, then wrapped herself in a bathrobe and returned to her bedroom.
This was the fullest day since she arrived in this world, and the first day she truly lived for herself...
With a faint smile, hugging the pillow Ayase had thrown to her, she curled up and slowly fell asleep.
Good night, sweet dreams...