a young boy was born possessed with dark energy from another universe and he tries to understand the dark energy

Have you ever wanted to ability to have complete control of time? Well a select few people here has this ability. But there are rules and if those rules are broken, then a punishment will be served....

That what happened to the 24 year old man named Sora. He's a time manipulator that has broken a law of time on accident. Father time took pity on him and gave him a chance to break the curse from the punishment.

He has 5 years to simply find father time pocket watch. Sora has to go on the wildest adventure no one has ever seen.

Leylin had found information regarding the arcanist ruins in the Dambrath Kingdom, using a book he’d found from decoding a map. Leylin now found something else from the information the A.I. Chip had copied.

The information that the A.I. Chip had recorded was complete, with the information on the spell models that arcanists had used among others. This included even personal diaries of some arcanists and the like.

There was some short poetry in the disordered data, something that most people would probably overlook.

No! In the short span of time it took for the pocket dimension to collapse, most adventurers would find it difficult to even find information on the arcanists, having to turn their heads. Only someone like Leylin who possessed the A.I. Chip could copy this information.

Along with these few poems were some recipes that caused Leylin to look disconcerted. Even if adventurers unknowingly found the resources that had this information, they would quickly ignore it, but he was different. With his previous experience breaking code, he immediately saw that there was something different about these poems. They were encrypted the same way, and likely came from the same arcanist.

‘Such high-level encryption and difficulty in getting the resources… The secrets hidden must be astounding…’ Leylin transferred the information into his mind with interest.

With his previous experience breaking code, he made much quicker progress. It took just a few hours for the information hidden within the incomplete phrases to be laid bare before him.

“The coordinates of a location and a specific time?” Leylin scratched his head.

“If I calculate it… year 37670 of the Calendar of the Gods. That’s three years from now. When the black crows cry out to the blood moon… It’s in the Frostfall Valleys, slanting to the east of Cygnus.”

“This again… A specific time and location. What appears will be…” This method of stacking space caused Leylin to frown slightly, he associated it with Distorted Shadow. Only he could warp space and hide his items as he wished, waiting for people to unearth them.

“But… Distorted Shadow has already passed down his path. It might be possible for a legendary arcanist who was his disciple…” Leylin pondered over this as even more information was decrypted.

“What will appear is a floating city?” Leylin stroked his chin, seemingly in disbelief. A floating city didn’t seem like much to his eyes. The Magi of Sky City had already developed such a technique.

The city floated eternally using the powers of the Adept Scepter, something that could even boost one’s vitality a single time. Leylin had made use of that feature, and even toured the core control room of Sky City to personally touch the scepter. He hadn’t found it all that amazing.

“No, that’s not it. It mentions a floating city, it might be due to an arcane spell that the legendary arcanists came up with by themselves! It’s a fort used by arcanists to fight gods, and one of the major accomplishments of arcane spells. How could it be that weak?” Leylin’s expression changed, and he then looked through the descriptions of the arcane spells.

Soon enough, he learnt that the arcanists’ floating city and Sky City’s floating vessel were two entirely different things.

“I see… a true floating city is powered by a Mise energy core, and needs the strength of a pocket dimension. At its final stage, it’s a dimensional fort! In such a floating city, legendary arcanists would be comparable to gods! So terrifying, even divine realms aren’t much in front of this… Sky City’s floating can at most be considered a weakened version that lacks this amount of power,” Leylin muttered.

It now seemed like the arcanists’ floating city had truly inherited the design concepts and core of the ancient Magi. Sky City was probably a copy from incomplete information and not authentic. It was like a clumsy version of a toy made by a child.

‘Interesting! When my main body awakens, I should get the Monarch of the Skies to do research on my behalf for a few days…’ Leylin quickly made up his mind. Given his strength near rank 7, the Monarch of the Skies had no power to resist whatsoever.

“As for this…” Leylin eyed the resources in his hand, sighing a little.

The information hidden in the short poems said that an arcanist who was performing experiments during the fall of the Netheril Empire had made a mistake. Due to it, he’d jumped the floating city to a lost plane.

The legendary arcanist, his students, and all other life forms had died in the floating city, but that plane might still exist. Due to this incident, the floating city evaded the gods’ investigations and luckily got away. That was probably the only one in the World of Gods.

The arcanist who had left this trail behind had spent his life pursuing the peak of arcane arts, and had found this treasure in a ruin. He had successfully deduced the time and location that the floating city could return.

However, He had been born far too early. There were over ten thousand years till the floating city leapt back. Evidently, unless he successfully become a god or turned into an undead lich, he would not be able to wait that long. Hence, he chose to leave the information and related clues behind for others to discover.

“From the inheritance left behind, the arcanist that discovered the clues must have died long ago…” Leylin sighed.

After the destruction of the Netheril Empire, the churches went all out in persecuting the arcanists. To be able to find this, the arcanist must have reached the legendary realm himself. That led to more fear from the gods, and chances of him still surviving were far too low. However, that made things easier for Leylin.

“A floating city that can rival the gods’ realms?” Leylin stroked his chin, eyes full of wonder. Ancient floating cities were very powerful. There had even been records of legendary arcanists piloting them to attack divine realms

Even if it wasn’t for defensive purposes and just research, Leylin was very interested in the design, Mise energy core, and magic cannons.

“A floating city without a master that can independently operate for tens of thousands of years and even automatically leap back to the World of Gods… The intellectual core and Mise energy core must be incomparably perfect…

“Treasures from the peak of arcane culture? Interesting. Interesting! I’ll have to give it a go if I get the time.” Leylin made up his mind.

……

Tens of days passed by. The weather was exceptional that day, and Leylin had left the hold of the ship and arrived at the deck.

The sea breeze had a clean, salty smell, and the warm sunlight felt very comfortable.

“I’ve already made records of the arcane spell models. Information on the floating city has all been deduced…” With these two parts done, Leylin was in a good mood, “The calculations say I should reach Port Venus today.”

He’d left home for many years, and was finally returning. In that moment, Baron Jonas, his wife, Ernest, Jacob, and many other faces appeared in Leylin’s mind, causing him to feel emotional.

“I was only around rank 10 when I left, but now I’m a high-ranked wizard. Master Ernest will be shocked.” Leylin took a look at his stats.

[Leylin Faulen. Race: Human, Rank 15 Arcanist. Strength: 13. Agility: 11. Vitality: 12. Spirit: 15. Arcane Energy: 150. Status: Healthy. Feats: Sturdy, Erudite, Elementary Perfect Body. Specialties: Arcane Energy Detection, Arcane Amplification]
Becoming an arcanist had changed his stats greatly, and the window had grown more concise. He could still use spell slots like before, and he also had the spell slots for a rank 15 wizard, but after becoming an arcanist Leylin now had another card up his sleeve beside the analysis of the Weave.

‘After somewhat breaking away from the Weave, the A.I. Chip’s analysis of the Weave has increased in speed… Seems like the Weave has a very tight hold on wizards…’ Leylin took a look at the A.I. Chip’s analysis report of the Weave, lowering his head in thought.

At this moment, the A.I. Chip’s prompt rang out, and Leylin’s stats changed once more.

[Beep! Analysis of level 4 Weave: 100%. Obtained all rank 4 spell models. Spell slot limitations removed. Host is now immune to forgetting rank 4 spells, no materials will be required to cast them.] [Analysis of Weave: Level 0 Weave 100%. Level 1 Weave 100%. Level 2 Weave 100%. Level 3 Weave 100%. Level 4 Weave 100%. Level 5 Weave 55.21%. Level 6 Weave 33.89%. Level 7 Weave 17.22%.] [Spell Slots: Rank 7(1), Rank 6(4), Rank 5(6), Rank 4(???), Rank 3(???), Rank 2(???), Rank 1(???), Rank 0(???)]
Rank 7 spells were considered high-ranked spells. The Ring of Wizardry had now last all its effect, increasing only a single spell slot for spells below rank 6 originally.

“I’m advancing too quickly! My equipment isn’t keeping up with my needs.” Leylin muttered to himself, “Thankfully, I still have many ingredients from the legendary red dragon that I can use to make a new batch of items…”

Leylin is transported from an advanced technological era into a medieval world— except there’s magic. Equipped with only his quick wits and an A.I. chip fused to his soul, he sets out to become the most powerful magus the world has ever known. In a land divided into the Light and Dark Magi, the weak can either be cattle or disposable slaves. Only the strong can determine their lives, and only they have the luxury for virtue. Yet strength is only a tool for Leylin, like any other. His goal, in the end, is his own.

Translator’s desc:
What happens when a scientist from a futuristic world reincarnates in a World of Magic and Knights?

An awesome MC — that’s what happens!

A scientist’s goal is to explore the secrets of the universe, and this is exactly what Leylin sets out to do when he is reincarnated. Dark, cold and calculating, he makes use of all his resources as he sets off on his adventures to meet his goal.

Face? Who needs that… Hmmm… that guy seems too powerful for me to take on now… I better keep a low profile for now.

You want me to help you? Sure… but what benefit can I get out of it? Nothing? Bye. 

Hmmm… that guy looks like he might cause me problems in the future. Should I let him off for now and let him grow into someone that can threaten me….. Nahhh. *kill*

   There was a flash of coldness in Rudolph's eyes as he heard sounds of warm praises around him. He could feel that this peom was meant as a counterattack. Stand together behind the tree? Hmph! There was faint smile on his face but he sneered. If Dudian had reached today's achievements and identity earlier on he may have considered him but after today he would not! He didn't think that Dudian will be an obedient and well-behaved son-in-law. 

    Dudian looked around at nobles. He covered his chest and stood as gentleman's in front of the crowd.: "This poem is called 'Oak'." 

    "Good poem, good poem!"

    "Oak! Oaks seem to have disappeared a long time ago."

    Nobles joined in to warmly applaud and praise him. In fact they sincerely exclaimed when they heard Dudian say the name of the poem. They knew that it was not an arbitrary writing of the lyrics but had an unusual meaning. 

    Oak was a long extinct old tree. He had borrowed the word oak to pay tribute to love. This kind of artistic expression was unique! 

    Poet!

    The nobles respected poets and bards. For ordinary civilians the poets were bards who made soul shaking poems. However aristocrats loved this kind of poems. Especially the nobles ladies. 

   Bard sung out beautiful stories however compared to traditional classic poets the bard's threshold was lower. The bards combined poetry and story to give the hype. Their singing was mainly for demands of civilian appetite. Nboles were dismissive of this kind of poetry. 

    "Thank you." Dudian continued.: "I don't want to disturb the banquet. Please continue." He made a gesture and the aristocrats dispersed slowly. 

   Kerry looked at Dudian and laughed.: "I was worried that you would be weak. But you are worthy of a hunter. Quite bold! If I didn't know you I would doubt that you didn't grow up in an aristocratic family. Especially your poem. I like that part about dignity and pride. Too good!"

    Dudian smiled and did not say anything.

    Kerry looked at spread nobles and said to Dudian.: "Few senior nobles will come to greet you. You have to deal with them for the sake of performance. They won't be rude. If there are nobles who want to ask you for cooperation then decline politely. The holy Church will take care of you. You only need to concentrate on studying your experiments. Temple will manage every other aspect!"

    Dudian nodded.

   Soon aristocrats began to come over. The first to come was a tall middle-aged man. He was holding onto a thirteen year old girl's hand. She was very beautiful and attractive. 

    "Mr. Dean, Mr. Kerry." Middle-aged man came towards Dudian and Kerry. He spoke in a polite tone.: "I am the Cole from Kurt family. This is my little daughter Colley. I loved Mr Dean's poem. It was stunning. I never heard that Mr Dean writes poetry. You are very talented."

    Dudian said: "Thank you." His eyes swept over them. His daughter was looking at him with strong interest which she didn't hide. 

    Dudian politely nodded at her and retracted his eyes. Cole laughed.: "You are modest. I haven't seen anyone at your age with the same level of achievement." 

    "Haha ... ..." He wasn't finished when a laughter echoed from behind. A middle aged man holding a small girl's hand came over.: "Cole didn't you used the same words last year?"

    Cole looked back at the person and smiled.: "Why are you slandering me?"

    The man shrugged his shoulder and turned to Dudian.: "Mr Dean this is gift from our Hamm family." The man handed out a fine gift box. 

    Dudian has long been aware of the gift box. He didn't think that it was meant for him.: "It is too expensive, I can't accept it." 

    "Don't hold back." Middle-aged laughed: "If you don't accept it then we will be offended."

    Dudian reached out, took the gift and said.: "Thank you." 

    "Mr. Dean why don't you look inside?"

    Dudian opened the box as he heard him say so. There were bunch of exquisite purple gems. By looking at the details he knew that it was worth a lot of money. However his face didn't change and he smiled back.: "This is for woman. I have no wife. What I'm going to do with it?" 

    There was a trace of surprise in middle-aged man's heart as he saw Dudian's calm look. He smiled.: "I know you don't have a wife so I specially got this 'Purple Star Chain' for you. If you find the right girl then give it to her." Finished he winked at Dudian. 

    Dudian smiled.: "Thank you."

    Another middle-aged man was coming towards him. Cole took the change and immediately give the gift to Dudian. It was a small gift box. There was a man's pocket watch inside. It was delicated built and seemed to be a valuable watch. 

    Dudian accepted it. The other nobles also gave gift. Some were expensive some were not. Ordinary gifts clearly were symbolic. Dudian and the others were well aware of everything. 

    "This is the gift she has prepared for you." Rudolph came towards Dudian and give him a box. He was smiling. 

    Dudian politely replied: "Thank you."

    Rudolph saw that Dudian's expression didn't fluctuate so he said few words and left. 

    Dudian put away the gift box. Jenny's smell wasn't on gift box. He understood that Rudolph tried to test his temptation. It made his heart more colder towards him.


Catastrophe erupted, it was the end of the world.
Survivors were surrounded by the impregnable wall, a new order was established...
The desire for power, faith, and darkness pervaded each other, layer upon layer of brands imprinted in every corner of the heart.
The virus wreaked havoc, were these humans' true colors?
"I unexpectedly survive, I want to live." –Du Dian

Ren Baqian looked at the girl who was walking down the road and was carrying luggage of different sizes. It looked as if she was either moving to a new house or going to the train station. He felt slightly sympathetic towards her. After all, he had been just like her in the past and naturally understood how difficult it was for a youngster to survive on their own in the city—not to mention a girl who was somewhat handicapped. 
Since Ren Baqian was currently unoccupied and he ran into this girl who'd given him a very good impression back then, he stopped his car somewhere ahead, opened the doors and walked backwards.
"Do you still remember me?" Ren Baqian went in front of the girl and asked loudly. He wasn't sure how loud should he be for the girl to hear him.
"The previous time at the restaurant, one of my classmates had a drink too many."
His unexpected appearance seemed as if he was planning to commit a robbery, giving the girl a shock.
After seeing clearly and recalling who the person in front of her was, she expressed a look of sudden realization on her face.
"Do you need any help?" Ren Baqian saw her expression and knew that she recalled who he was.
The girl put the luggage that she was carrying on the ground, fished out a small notebook from her pocket and wrote, "I remember, thank you."
"Do you need any help?" Ren Baqian pointed at her luggage. "Where are you headed to?"
"I will be fine, thank you," that girl wrote.
"Are you going home? Or going to the bus station?"
"I have lost my job and in the midst of changing my living quarters now. Previously, I was staying in a dormitory."
Ren Baqian's gaze froze for a split second. He did not expect that she was not working at the restaurant anymore. 
Even though it was not difficult for an ordinary person to find a job, but, it would definitely be more difficult to find a job in her case.
After all, not all bosses would accept someone who was somewhat handicapped as their employee.
But, thinking about it, someone like her should have access to some sort of mutual assistance among the disabled. Something like a WeChat group and such to help seek jobs for the disabled.
"Where do you live? I'll send you there? Consider it to be an apology for my classmate's lack of manners. Furthermore, I have nothing much to do now and was just driving around." Ren Baqian spoke the truth as he really had nothing to do. All day he was painstakingly memorizing many Tang poems, and now, he was just wandering about aimlessly, entirely out to take a breather.
The girl revealed a vexed expression. It was indeed challenging for her to carry so many things, and although the place she was going to wasn't far, it wasn't that near either. It was also difficult for her to hail a taxi in the vicinity.
Seeing that the girl was in distress, Ren Baqian grabbed a piece of her luggage and said, "Don't worry, I have no evil intentions. I just want to apologize for what had happened previously. Since I'm currently unoccupied and bored, if I can help, I should definitely help. Seeing that you are carrying so many stuff, the place you are headed to shouldn't be too far as well. It doesn't need much effort anyway."
The girl finally nodded her head. She got on the car and flipped her notebook to a page which showed "Thank you" to Ren Baqian.
Ren Baqian waved his hand.
"Where are you headed to?"
The girl wrote down an address. Ren Baqian took a glance and entered the address into the navigation system. It was considered relatively near to here. If she continued to walk, it would be approximately one kilometer away. However, holding these things was indeed somewhat troublesome.
"Have you found a new job?" Ren Baqian asked.
"I will find a job soon enough." The girl wrote. Ren Baqian could feel her gush of dynamism from the words that she had written down.
"My apologies, what is your name?" Ren Baqian felt a bit apologetic. Previously, another waiter did shout her name before but he had long forgotten.
"My name is An Fei."
"Very nice name." Ren Baqian praised her even without thinking.
An Fei flipped the piece of paper again to show "Thank you."
It appeared that a few commonly used words or phrases were written on the notebook. Each piece of paper consisted either a word or a phrase. Whenever she needed to use them, she would just have to take the notebook out directly and flip to the page.
The place that An Fei was going to live at was a little neighborhood that was outmoded. It seemed like it had been almost two days since someone cleared the trash from the trash cans in the courtyard.
Ren Baqian sent her to the bottom of the building. An Fei wrote on a piece of paper, "Thank you, I will treat you to a meal when I manage to find a new job. Can you leave your phone number with me?"
Ren Baqian smiled and wrote his number on the piece of paper. Soon after, he watched her enter the passageway of the building.
Ren Baqian sat in his car and zoned out for a short while, even he felt that his own change was drastic. If it were in the past, he would definitely not do such a thing. Otherwise, he would not have been immersed in his own world after attending so many years of school that he did not have a single friend at all.
After wandering outside for some time, Ren Baqian felt somewhat relaxed. He found a place to have a meal and returned home to continue memorizing poems.
Ren Baqian opened his eyes to a familiar wooden beam. He shook his head and sat up, in his hand was still the Three Hundred Tang Poems. Even after he slept, he was still a little dazed. Ren Baqian felt that if he continued to memorize like that, he would become a fool.
It would be better to go out and play with Tiantian and Gungun.
The bag to the side consisted of White Rabbit Creamy Candies, chocolates, and two stun batons which he prepared when he was on Earth. Ren Baqian stuffed the two stun batons at his waist and felt that he had once again regained his Jedi aura.
From today onwards, he would continue to strive hard and learn how to slap people using soles in the mornings. In the afternoons, he would learn how to read, and in the evenings, he would narrate stories to Her Majesty.
After planning out the things that he needed to do every day, Ren Baqian pushed open the door and picked up the pandas, who slept as if they were unconscious, each on one of his hands. Then, he spun around like a windstorm before putting the two chaps, who were dizzy and seeing stars appearing in front of them, down.
Once Tiantian and Gungun fell to the ground, they immediately staggered along to seek Ren Baqian out for revenge. In the end, one of them stumbled and knocked into the door frame while the other fell directly from the slab. Both Tiantian and Gungun rolled non-stop on the ground.
Ren Baqian hurriedly lifted his camera and captured the dorky moment of the two little chaps.
When Ren Baqian was having his breakfast, he suddenly recalled that the "electric fans" should be ready for collection.
He left the beast park with Teng Hulu and Tie Dao. When they returned, Teng Hulu and Tie Dao each carried ten "electric fans" on their back.
They directly passed them along to Tong Jia to manufacture accordingly to the boxes he made previously. As for the color of the box, it wasn't as troublesome as the previous time, and painting a dark color would suffice.
In any case, there was no competition for this item. He could sell them however he wanted as long as it was functional.
If the stuff Ren Baqian sold was more exquisite than the one he gifted the empress, then he would be creating trouble for himself.
"Brother, I have retrieved your secret treasure." Ren Baqian was lost in thoughts when he heard Caretaker Shi's voice. He turned his head over and saw Caretaker Shi, whose facial injuries had not healed yet, tossing the stun baton up and down complacently.
Needless to say, Ren Baqian was certain that the stun baton ran out of battery again. Otherwise, with Caretaker Shi's fighting capability, he would absolutely be unable to retrieve the other stun baton back.
Ren Baqian stretched his hand and received the stun baton from Caretaker Shi. He was afraid that Caretaker Shi would mention about the stun baton again and diverted his attention. "How's the shop at Jingyang Road?"
"We just hung the signboard yesterday but couldn't locate you. The reputation of our shaved ice business has spread outwards. We are also not making the shaved ice at the entrance of the shop at Jingyang Road anymore. Many people started to enter the shop after we hung our signboard."
Sure enough, Caretaker Shi was in high spirits as he spoke of this.
Soon after, he drew back the corners of his mouth and extended his five fingers extremely happily, "I have tripled the price for the foreigners according to what you say. Fifteen coins for a bowl of shaved ice. In any case, what they have is money. Heh, I have never felt so happy seeing their expression."
Ren Baqian grabbed his hand and forcefully pushed back three of his fingers, "Back then, I said double the price. In addition, you take the blame for the own trouble you have caused."


In a world where its inhabitants can destroy a city wall single-handedly, the empress has a kirin as her pet, and the imperial palace of Great Xia has a pool containing a dragon. There is also a Sword Mountain where spirit swords occasionally leave in search of a master .

Bootlicking the empress, Ren Baqian ascended to the apex of life.　　

The concert was jubilant and brilliant. The people who performed it seemed as if they weren't students but trained artists. Are they truly studying business? This college is a treasure trove of talents. 

At the end of the concert, they put up peppy songs. The area soon transformed into a large club. We five, including Vihaan and Tarun, shifted aside, a little far from the large crowd. Riya and Kabir came after a while. After congratulating and thanking them for a great performance Avika pulled me towards the now dance floor. We danced a little when we pulled Trisha and Riya in. Kabir and Tarun joined too but he didn't bother to. 

"Come on, join us." I said walking towards him.

"I can't dance." He shouted. In the ear busting music, we have shout even though we were very near.

"You can. Come." I held his hand and dragged him in our circle.

Yeah, he couldn't dance as he said but stood there and clapped according to the beats. After enjoying a lot we decided to hit the fest stalls. They were arranged like stalls in a fair. There were numerous things to see. I can easily lose things so I gave my purse, with my phone in, to Avika and kept a 500 rupee note in my hand.

The night is boisterous. The energy and spirit are high everywhere. But my heart is still beating a little fast than usual. That's solely because of the look I have received when he said I looked pretty. I never felt that I would be so flustered because of a compliment.

We surveyed the stalls, stopping at the delicacies. Although I don't like these stuff I trust the hygiene level of our college, and I ain't stopping myself from having fun. 

We pass by the accessories stall. I think my girls controlled their desire to hit the stands very hard because I found it hard too. There were various things but a special thing caught my attention. I saw a dark blue dream-catcher. I don't believe in the legend that dream-catchers could chase away bad dreams but somehow they always attract me. Obviously, they are beautiful. Blue shiny thread wound around in a web pattern and beads, pearls and feathers hanging down. I always wanted one. Suddenly, I found myself standing alone near the stall, my rest of friends went on. I should hurry to have it, there is only 1 left.

"Excuse me, how much does that cost?" I squeezed my way in.

"250 rupees." She replied

"That's expensive!" I replied.

"Fixed-rate!" She replied.

Unexpectedly I had only 200 left as I carried less money in hand. This dress doesn't have a pocket. And for the first time, I blamed myself for wearing this dress. Avika has my purse. 

"Avika" I shouted.

"Please reserve it for me, I'll be right back." I said.

"Miss, if someone else desires to buy then I can't help you." She said and began selling to other girls.

"Avika purse!" I rush towards her.

I gave no room for an explanation as I ran to grab the bag and was back to the stall. But it was gone.

"Are you kidding me? It's sold?" I asked.

"Yes, you were late, now go, as there are many people here to buy things here."

I was upset but then ignored. Maybe that dream-catcher didn't have the luck to hang in my room. Yeah yeah, I know that's a case of sour grapes. But, whatever.

I reached my group. I noticed that Vihaan isn't here. I think I haven't seen him for a while. I could have asked his help if he would be around. Sigh.

He joined us out of nowhere.

"Speak of the devil and he has arrived." I said under my breath.

"Did you say something to me?" He asked.

"No. I just said you will live a hundred years. Where were you?" I asked.

"I went shopping around." He showed me a small bag.

"What did you buy?" I asked, curious.

"I'll show you later." He said and walked ahead.

"Hey wait." I rushed behind him.

We all reached a place beautifully decorated. 

"We haven't clicked pictures, let's do so." Exclaimed Riya.

We girls got a lot of selfies. The guys were sitting and talking. 

"Hey, come on, you all" she called to them.

We had a group selfie then. Then the guys clicked some of ours and now they are clicking theirs. I told Avika to click some single ones of me.

"Go there. The view is nice." She said.

"Go a little behind. Left. Yeah. Right there." She said. And behind her stood Riya and Trisha.

And then somebody bumped into me from behind. I turned to see Vihaan behind me, him facing me. Unexpectedly he was clicking photos and Kabir was guiding him. Perfect couples. Conspiring together. I glanced at his brown eyes, the unfathomable intensity of gaze drew me in.

"Perfect!" Shouted Avika. And we broke our stare.

I was... I don't know what. 

"Hey, if you wanted our picture together we could have stood to pose, why to plot so much." I said.

"What do you say Vihaan, won't you have a picture with me?" I asked. It took all my courage to ask that. What if he says no?

"Yes, of course." He answered.

"Avika, take a nice one okay?" I said.

I stood beside him. He kept looking at me.

"Camera is there." I said softly.

While being embarrassed he turned towards Avika.

When our photo session ended. It was already 10 p.m.

I didn't want to admit but I felt sleepy. Riya and Trisha retired first to solve a girly problem. It seemed this week Riya will stay in dorms. Tarun drifted off somewhere I don't know. It was only Avika, Kabir me and him.

To give them alone time I asked Vihaan to come along with me to take a walk.

We have been walking in the beautiful dark night, the lights still gleaming in the darkness, the air a little cool. The monsoons have ended. The air still contained moisture. It feels so good. He was quiet like me. Why? I don't know. We didn't talk tonight at all. Why? I don't know.

Something changed today. Why? I don't know. But it feels magical. Sometimes the realists need a fresh air of magic. Everything so ordinary yet so ethereal.

"What are you thinking?" I asked him.

"Trying to guess what are you feeling." He said honestly.

"I? I'm very happy. This night, no this day was the best day. It would be one of the most cherished days of my life. That I can promise." I said.

"What are you staring at?" I asked when he didn't say anything.

"You." He answered.

I was stunned to hear that, so honest? I stopped in my tracks.

"Do you have a fever?" I asked.

He laughed, heartily. My heart skipped a beat. He looked so handsome in his dark jeans and a dark blue untucked shirt. I loved blue shirts and I think this is going to be my favourite. 

"Okay, you told me you would show me what you shopped." I said.

"Yeah, but first I have to get my bag." He said.

"Why?" 

"I have something to give you." He said.

What does he have to give? Chocolates?

******

Vihaan's P.O.V

I hope she won't hate me after this. I entered the building and saw my bag laying on the ground, picking it up turned to Manya.

"Don't scold me okay?" I said.

"Why what happened?" She asked.

"I have your poetry notebook," I said.
"I should say the poems were lovely."

Her eyes widened.

"Thank God I found it. But how and where did you get it?" She asked.

"Well, you remember that day, when we fought and your books fell over. While I was running behind you, someone called me and said I left this behind." 

That day was amazing as we visited my favourite cafe "Cafe Tranquil".
But because of my foolishness, it ended pretty fast.

"Well, it's okay. But you know I love my poems. They are a lot personal." She said.

"I read them after you stayed in my apartment," I said. I understood her better by them. Maybe that's why I like her so so much. I wish I could tell her right now, but I know she isn't ready, I can feel that.

"And I know I did wrong reading these without your permission but I have a gift for you to quell your anger." 

I took out the thing in the bag.
It was a blue coloured dream-catcher.

But that wasn't a reaction I thought I would see. I was expecting surprise or happiness, I saw a confused expression.

"I saw this in a stall today. It looked so beautiful, I was captivated by it and thought of you. You don't like it?"

"I love it, I was wishing to buy this very thing, but when I got the money it was already bought. So you were the one to buy this?" She said, now beaming with a smile that warmed my heart.

"That's a total coincidence. Well, I have something else too." I said.
Taking out a pack of chocolate.

"Why are you treating me so well?" She said.

"Um, there's a lot of things actually. You helped in scriptwriting, heard my story, spent time with me and then these poems." I said. I know that it's not the real reason and she is too smart to fool but I don't know what else to say.

"Thank you, so much. And as for the things you mentioned that's utter excuses. I will take these as a late birthday gift. I told you I'm a selfish person." she said and we laughed together.

What a lovely night it is. Will I be this happy in future too? Maybe, if she is walking beside me like this always.

A girl with a past she couldn't let go. Once cheerful and chirpy, she began to question her values, intention and even existence.

"God? Have you kept me here just to feel immense guilt each moment I breathe?" She asked, voice breaking and trembling in between her sobs as she tried to compose herself.

After suffering she regained her will to live but still didn't overcome completely. Will the arrival of her soulmate relieve her or will she lose this opportunity too?

Stay High

An hour later I was leaning against a couch with a red cup filled with Coke in my hand. I had nothing against drinking or people who drank. I just didn't like the taste of alcohol. Marcus had teased me about my Coke when everyone else were drinking beer but I just rolled my eyes and flipped his precious snapback off his head.

We were playing truth or dare although it had mainly consisted of dares so far. I had already been dared to do the shot of Jagermeister by a bitter Marcus whom I got back at by daring him into prank-calling our meanest lecturer.

There was a hole bunch of us playing and I was having a wicked good time just listening to the dialogue around me.

"How many people have you slept with on campus?"

"Take a shot Jonas!"

"Which is your least favourite frat on campus?"

"Don't you dare say ours!"

"Fuck you, Luke!"

"Which one of our professors would you fuck if you had to?"

"I bet you'd wanna bang that old bat, what's her name? Tristein!"

"Ewwww!"

The bottle was spun again and now it landed on the person sitting next to me.

"Azaleaaaa!" Marcus shouted when the bottle finally landed on Azalea. All through game Marcus had been attempting to spin the bottle so it would land on Azalea and he looked happier than ever now that it finally had.

"Shut it, Marcus. I'm right here, you need not shout." She said acting very classy.

"I have a dare for you! Slap the person to your left on the booty." Marcus hollered, not lowering his volume one bit. Azalea slapped the back of his head instead and Marcus wailed, holding his head. "The booty, I said! You cruel woman!"

Azalea tried not to smirk but she failed miserably. She and Marcus had been flirting madly all evening long which surprised me since I hadn't thought that she was that much of a flirt. I was still happy for her, even if seeing new love beginning to bloom did kind of bring me down.

"You got what you deserved. And now it's my turn to spin the bottle! She said and did just that while Marcus focused on giving her the stink eye.

"Isaac!"

I was glad that I was sitting down since my legs went numb upon hearing his name. How had I missed him joining our crew?

I inconspicuously turned my head a little and found him in my peripheral vision. He was lounging on the armrest of the armchair, Gigi was sitting on a wore a bored, yet somehow challenging expression on his handsome face. I realized that I was staring and quickly turned away. The last thing I needed was for him to figure out that I had a crush on him and then cruelly tease me about it every chance he got.

"Hit me with your best shot." Isaac said.

"Make out with someone's boyfriend or girlfriend." Marcus ordered.

"Why you always gotta stir up some shit? He has a girlfriend, man!" Cole interfered but Isaac was already on the move. My thoughts ran wild, too fast for me to even fully grasp them. Would he.... no he couldn't .... but what if he did?

Isaac smirked and walked around the circle where we were sitting. My heart was beating so loudly that I was certain he could hear it. I held my breath as he passed by me only to keep walking right over to Gigi. Gigi responded to his smirk and then he crouched down to kiss her.

My breath got stuck in my throat and I needed to cough out the Coke I had been sipping. Azalea hit my back to ease my choking but it did no good. All the fun I had been having seemed to vanish. Why had I come here again?

"Cheating, cheating!" Marcus yelled.

Isaac finally turned away from Gigi to answer Marcus. "How is it cheating? You told me to make out with someone's girlfriend and I did." He claimed smugly.

"Someone's else, you dumb fuck!"

"You never said that."

Marcus growled under his breath but then said. "Fine, you slimy bastard. But I'll get you next time!"

Isaac raised one eyebrow at him. "Looking forward to it."

"Okay, okay! Kendric! Make a poem of one person in this room." Marcus commanded reading from the list of dares the frat boys had written down before the party. I suspected that the list had been going around longer than that, though. I had read a bit of the list over Marcu's shoulder while he wasn't looking and some of the dares were near ancient like allow one of your fraternity brothers to ride your favorite horse. Maybe every year they had added a new dare to the list.

"A poem?" Someone repeated incredulously.

"That's weak, man!" Another yelled.

"The fuck! I had to do a fucking shirtless lap dance!"

"And it was glorious, really Artie."

"You're playing favorites." Accused Cole.

Marcus put on his most hurt face. "Am not!"

"Are too!"

"I'd like to recite my poem now. It's about Dawn, my angel." Said Kendrick from my history class and winked at me while I went beet red.

The entire room hollered, save for Isaac whose face turned expressionless as if someone had pressed an off button.

"Dawn

sweet pea

won't you dance with me?"

There was silence in the room until Erika whom I had only just met but already really liked spoke up. "That is the worst poem in the history of drunken poems." She declared and everyone agreed except for me.

"I thought it was sweet." I defended and Kendrick smiled gratefully at me while Isaac stared at his phone. He looked hella pissed but maybe I was just hoping that he was.

"Aren't all poems drunken poems? They sure sound like it." Marcus pointed out. "With all the dumb metaphors and shit."

"Barbarian." Azalea sighed.

Marcus immediately turned to her, sensing a chance to flirty bicker some more. "Well, excuse you, Ms. History Major."

"Gigi!"

Kendric took over as the card reader since Marcus was occupied with Azalea. "Spin the bottle, whomever it lands on you must take their shirt off, only using your teeth." He announced sounding victorious.

It landed on Cole and the entire room hollered. Gigi flashed him a flirtatious smile and crawled over to where he was sitting on the floor which earned her another round of whistling and applause.

Isaac put his foot, on her way, stopping her.

"Woman, don't you dare." He warned her with a smile and smirked in response.

"Oh, but baby, it's just a game." She replied coyly.

I stood up from my position on the floor. I figured that no one would notice me leaving with a dare like that in progress. I had enough of the happy couple and their disgusting flirting. I just wanted to go home.

I searched high and low for my jacket until I found it under six other coats and then I called a cab company to come pick me up. I wasn't sure where or when the buses ran so I just took the easy way out. Usually a student like me wouldn't have that kind of extra money to spend but I had just received a little money from my grandma so I allowed myself this small joy.

I put on my jacket and headed outside. I'd rather wait for the cab outside than to spend any more time in the full house.

After I had been waiting for a few minutes I heard the door behind me open and close. I looked over my shoulder and suddenly all my senses were on high alert.

Isaac had just appeared on the porch. He stopped by the fence surrounding the porch, leaning against it and holding my gaze. He lighted a cigarette, never taking his eyes off of me. My artistic side was aching to take a picture of the scene, it was like my very fingers were craving to feel the familiar cool surface of my camera. Although nowadays I usually kept it with me I had left it at home that night because I was afraid it would get broken at a place like this. It was cruel fate that the one night I didn't have my camera with me I was inspired to photograph again.

"That really is an awful way to die." I said, mainly just to break the strange tension between us.

He made no effort to put out his cigarette. "I know."

"Then why do it?" I asked, feeling brave because he hadn't shot me down right away which I took as a good sign. Maybe one day he'd find it in himself to forgive me.

He shrugged and exhaled smoke. "Nervous habit, I guess."

"Who's giving you trouble now."

He looked away, not answering and I suddenly knew exactly who. "Oh."

This felt too weird for me to handle. Isaac and I had never been the best of friends but we had never felt this distant. Now we were only strangers who shared memories. I knew so many things about him, things that I had never noticed I was memorizing until now that I was no longer supposed to know them.

He put out his cigarette and I knew that I was about to lose him once more so I let my gaze wander to find something else to talk about.

Something was peeking out of the pocket of his black jeans. Before I couldn't think further I had already snatched it. It was a joint. I found it curious that he had stuffed it in his pocket. This was college, no one here cared what you smoked so why had he hidden it? Was it because of me? Had he not wanted me to see it? But how would he have known that I was even out there? Had he followed me outside? But why?

Isaac glared at me, preparing to say something nasty, I'd bet, but I beat him to it. I glared at him right back and much to my shock, he looked away as if he was ashamed of what I had found in him.

"Weed can cause anxiety attacks, Isaac."I said sternly.

He shook his head stubbornly. "No, weed is what helps me cope." He claimed.

"Sometimes, maybe. But other 
times..."

Isaac lit the joint as if just to spite me. "Stop meddling." He said taking a hit. Immediately I retaliated by stealing it from his lips. He glared at me and tried to pry the joint off my fingers but I stood my ground and walked away from him, only to have him follow.

"So you wouldn't care if I did the same?" I asked turning the joint around my fingers. I put it closer to my lips, not sure if I was going to take a hit or not.

"Okay, all right, that's enough." He said seeking to retrieve what was his but I easily dodged his hand.

"Why? I thought we weren't anything. I thought you didn't care anymore at all." I provoked him, desperate for a sign that he still cared about me.

I put the joint to my lips once more. I wasn't really going to smoke marijuana since I hated drugs but Isaac's reaction to me even attempting to do so made it somehow intoxicating.

He frowned. "Dawn, stop it." 

"Why? If it's not a big deal why can't I try too?"

He looked lost for a moment and struggled to find a reason to tell me no for something he himself was guilty of. "Because....you're Dawn." He ended up saying.

I rolled my eyes. "And you're Isaac. Great argument, by the way."

"Knock it off, Dawn. This isn't funny. You don't do this kind of shit. I'm not going to let you."

"You can't stop me."

He laughed but it didn't sound amused and the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Oh yes I can be." He replied threateningly.

"You have no control over me." I claimed but I really shouldn't have said that. His eyes lit up like flares after hearing the subtle challenge in my voice. He grabbed my wrist and forcibly made my fingers, one by one, let go of the joint.

He pushed me against the wall that surrounded the house. "Oh, yeah? Watch me." He nearly growled and threw the joint in a cup of Coke someone had left outside.

"Why did you start smoking?" I questioned, determined to not show him any hesitation on my part.

He stayed quiet and at first I thought he wasn't going to answer me at all until a few minutes later I was proven  wrong. "Because no matter what I do I can't get you out of my head and it's getting really fucking annoying." Isaac spat.

My heart started beating faster but I tried to play it cool. "Having a girlfriend really doesn't convey the message, you know."

"Anything... to distract me. She knows that it's nothing serious. Nothing like you and..." His voice faded away even though I was desperate to hear the end of the sentence.

"Chase and I broke up." I blurted out. I just needed to get it out in the open and he needed to hear it.

His expression did a 180. "What? When?" He asked just as the cab I had called rolled into the yard. I made an attempt to go to it but Isaac put a hand next to my head, effectively cutting off my exit.

I decided not to fight it. I'd just call another cab if this one got tired of waiting for me. "Last Monday."

"And nobody told me. Figures." Isaac huffed. The way he said it set off butterflies in my stomach as if had he known about the split he would have done something about it.

"Well, you didn't want to speak with me so it would have been kind of hard for me to tell you." I replied rather dryly.

"You pissed me off." Isaac said and straightforward manner. It still managed to surprise me, how he at times could be so direct.

"And I apologize for that." I said for what felt like the million time.

Isaac stared at the chipped white paint behind me, not meeting my eyes as he spoke. "You're the only person even capable of pissing me off. I don't care enough to get angry at anyone else. But...you get under my skin like nobody else does." He reluctantly admitted.

I pushed his hair back, surprising as both. I didn't mean to do it, it was like my hand had a mind of its own. There was a heavy pause during which we just stared into each other's eyes. We both wanted to say something but neither could find the right words for it.

"I ruined it." He blurted out just then.

My eyes widened. "What?"

"I ruined it, okay. I always do. I'm sorry, Dawn. I miss you. Please don't shut me out."

He looked at me and I stared right back. Then, as if we were acting as one, we simultaneously leaned in. I managed to take a quick breath until our lips collided. He took my breath away, my whole body was tingling from his touch and I could have swoon that sparks flew as our lips connected, over and over again. It was amazing, beautiful, perfect and I could have kept kissing him until the sun rose. If not for one tiny thing.

Gigi.

Guilt flooded over me. How could I have forgotten her? The only thing that had kept me in my right mind after breaking up with Chase that despite loving another was that I hadn't cheated. But now I had gone and kissed someone who already had a girlfriend! What had I done?

Devastated, I untangled myself from Isaac, ran into the taxi that was just about to leave the yard and slammed the door shut. I pretended not to hear Isaac yelling my name and not to see how the cab driver was looking at me via the mirror.

I just curled up into myself and cried the whole way home. What was wrong with me? Why did I have to keep messing things up?

Dawn Montenegro has never been one to swoon over guys. But when absolutely gorgeous creatures moves nextdoor, even she has to admit that she's a little taken aback. That is until said hottie opens his mouth and turns out to be the most arrogant person Dawn has ever met. She makes sure to voice....

Fang Mo's face darkened.
What little meatballs? And how many did she mean by a lot of them?!
Little meatballs would be eaten the same way as the big one here! Hmph!
"We're going to start reciting the '300 Tang Poems' tonight!" Fang Mo said in an intimidating voice.
Meatball felt like crying. Did she say something to piss off her brother again?
-
An Yibei, on the other hand, went up to Si Bai and looked him up and down.
"You said Pepsi is your wife?" he asked casually.
Si Bai nodded earnestly. "Good evening, Uncle."
"Heh." An Yibei adjusted his glasses with his middle finger. "I see you've got some balls, little one, for coveting my niece!"
Si Bai pondered those words for a while before replying with a tentative voice, "Are you Pepsi's maternal uncle and my mother-in-law's brother?"
An Yibei was surprised. The kid looked no more than two or three years old and was barely old enough for nursery school. But somehow, he had figured out the family hierarchy that could confuse quite a few grownups.
However… he didn't like that "mother-in-law" at all!
"Don't you know that you're not supposed to address a girl that way before you're married?" An Yibei said coldly.
He successfully frightened little Si Bai with his imposing manner and impassive face.
Si Bai pursed his lips. "I'm sorry…"
"Since you've admitted you mistake, then…" Before An Yibei could say "good," Si Bai clenched his fists and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Uncle. I'll grow up soon and marry Pepsi!"
An Yibei was speechless.
Somebody please show him how to love again.
Ignoring the infatuated little brat, An Yibei looked around, but couldn't see An Xiaxia anywhere.
He grabbed Qi Yanxi by the collar. "Have you seen Xiaxia?"
Qi Yanxi was playing "eagle catches chickens" with the kids and he was playing the hen. He cried out when An Yibei grabbed him. "Gosh! She's in the living room! Let go of me! My chickens are going to be taken!"
An Yibei rolled his eyes. "… Good luck, mother hen."
He strode into the villa to find the inside brightly lit. On the supersize TV screen was the New Year's Eve Gala. Love songs resonated in the room.
Looking around, he soon spotted An Xiaxia.
She was in the kitchen. The tall, handsome man beside her was cutting fruit with graceful movements and she was putting the pieces on a plate. Before she could finish, the man bent over and kissed her on the mouth. She blushed prettily.
It was a beautiful picture.
She was beautiful.
But neither of them were his anymore.
An Xiaxia saw him at that moment. She pushed Sheng Yize away and hurried out. "Brother, you're here!"
"Yes." Without knowing it, An Yibei looked at her lips. They were pink, smooth, and looked a little swollen.
His head began to throb.
He cleared his throat and said, "Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you."
"Sure. Let's go to the study, then."
"Alright."
-
In the study.
An Yibei took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her.
"What's this…" An Xiaxia took it hesitantly. She opened it to find a bank card inside.
"Your wedding is tomorrow and this is your dowry," An Yibei said without preamble. "Take it. Dad saved up for you. He'll be sad if you gave it back."
"Hm… thank you."
"Dummy, you don't need to say thank you to me." An Yibei smiled self-mockingly. "Well, I'm sure you'll be the most beautiful bride tomorrow. I… I'm looking forward to it."
He then rubbed An Xiaxia's hair and left without looking back.


As an anti-fan of the idol group, Starry Night, An Xiaxia is happy to spend her time online slandering lead singer Sheng Yize. 

But things take an unexpected turn when An Xiaxia starts high school - the Starry Night trio somehow becomes her classmates, and even end up moving into her house. 

Also, the nation’s idol Sheng Yize seems particularly interested in An Xiaxia for some reason...

Sheng Yize: Xiaxia, if I and a chicken wing fall into the water together, which one will you save?

An Xiaxia: Hm… I can't swim, so obviously you're going to save yourself and get my chicken wing out!

Sheng Yize: I thought I was the nation’s idol???

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