Chapter 18: Confession

She laughed without knowing why.
Bai Yanci held grudges—never provoke—or one story for life.
Wasn’t that happiness too? Wrapped in it—she’d take it gladly.
“Deal.” Light laugh. “If you’re not fully healed—I won’t let you go.”
Bai Yanci’s brows curved: “Deal.”
Eyes full of smile—love’s seed sprouted branches—bloomed.
Sister—please never go.
Stay beside me—a lifetime.
After my hundred years—then back to the moon—then let others fill your eyes.
The dream still shook her.
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Too much information. She’d thought Mu was distant—not that she’d harm her.
She stayed at SI—name on police rolls—worked for the Ability Bureau.
Knowing all this—what mindset now?
After waking—foggy memory shifted. Black not total—light leaked in.
Without thinking: “Sister—I kind of want to go home.”
After saying—she puzzled herself.
Since memory began—unwanted orphan—police found her—Wangshu Orphanage.
Quiet kid—bullied by peers.
Yang Yufei pitied her—cared—taught painting—she picked up the brush—chose design.
Now—not that child. Yang Yufei—not Vice-Director Yang.
Years—everything changed.
“Home?” Bai Yanci asked. “Where you lived with your foster mother? When you’re healed—I can go with you.”
“No—that was never home—only where I stayed.” Smile shake head. “Truth is I don’t know where home is.”
Scraps in mind—painful stitch of a picture.
“Memory—night sky outside the window—beautiful—brighter than Jintian.” Smile in recall. “I saw a meteor shower once—like I could touch it.”
Bai Yanci thought—stood up.
She looked up—watched Bai Yanci take off Ice-Clear Jade—pale white power in her palm.
Lights in the room died.
“Ke-ke—look up.” Soft.
She looked—ceiling became night—meteors within reach.
Even that beauty—couldn’t match Bai Yanci beside her.
Beauty and beloved—she froze.
Back—grabbed Bai Yanci’s hand: “What are you waiting for—wish!”
“Wish?”
“No time to explain.” Fast summary: “When meteors pass—wishes come true. Don’t say them aloud—or they won’t work.”
Eyes closed—wish in heart.
Dear gods above—if you hear me—may days stay like today—may Bai Yanci stay beside me forever.
After—curious about Bai Yanci’s wish—couldn’t help: “Sister—what did you wish?”
“Won’t tell.” Brow arched. “You said—spoken wishes don’t work.”
Crafty rabbit spirit! Shouldn’t have told her!
Seeing her face Bai Yanci laughed light.
Hand she’d held still warm—passed warmth—rare in her chest.
Hadn’t felt that in long time.
“Ice-Clear Jade stores images.” Bracelet back on wrist. “That meteor shower was real—only one the moon palace ever had.”
Saying it Bai Yanci’s eyes dimmed—rare look.
Like… remembering someone important.
“Besides the shower—anything special that day on the moon?” She asked.
“Don’t mention—ancient history.” Looked away sudden. “You were restless in dreams—dream anything?”
Mu’s full use—heart uneasy—acted calm: “Old dust—not important.”
“Don’t go into danger alone again.” Serious gaze. “Cases or investigations—take me.”
“But…”
“No buts.” Cut in. “I don’t want to pick you up outside again—you’re heavy.”
Laugh came easy again.
“Okay—I promise.” Quick yes. “Then hide well—don’t let people hunting you spot you—I can’t save you.”
Next morning after breakfast—both to SI.
Seeing Bai Yanci Jiang Ran puzzled: “Leader—this is…”
Holding rooms were one thing—SI rules said no outsiders.
Rules dead—people alive.
Besides familiar Jiang Ran—no one dared challenge her calls.
Jiang Ran only saw Bai Yanci from afar—Lin Qingzhu had seen her more—less gossip.
“This is…” Instinct look at Bai Yanci—eyes met—idea—light laugh: “Distant cousin. Look alike?”
Bai Yanci that beautiful—stunning—looking like her was top praise.
Jiang Ran’s right eyelid jumped—leader lying with straight face: “…Yeah, kinda.”
Leader herself delighted—like winning the lottery.
Occasionally humoring the kid was fine.
Jiang Ran coughed, reported: “The man from the warehouse who was destroying rejects said something. Woman still won’t talk—won’t confess anything.”
“Loyal.” She asked: “What did the man say?”
Memory—the woman fainted early—the man talked first.
“Qiming has a small lab near the department store—turn ordinary people into ability users.” Jiang Ran continued. “Many subjects—plenty of rejects—another purge coming soon.”
“Good—I’ll scout first. No backup—message if trouble.”
Near the mall—strange spiritual-flame aura.
Not the lab direction the man gave—inside the mall!
No hesitation—rushed in.
Weekend—crowded. Following flame—feet flying—found her in the crowd.
High-school age on the face—no odd sign—trying hair clips in a boutique.
Girl to boy beside: “How is it? Pretty?”
Boy gaming—didn’t look up—“Pretty. Buy it.”
“You didn’t even look—eyes on your head?” Voice up. “You said you’d shop with me today—still gaming. Love gaming that much—stay with your game, don’t find me.”
“What’s your problem now?” Public embarrassment—boy heated. “I don’t get girl stuff—it’s all the same. Can’t wear it at school—what’s the point? Better to top up games.”
“Game game game—only games in your eyes—not me?” Snatched his phone. “Remember your promises? Which did you keep!”
Boy’s anger peaked—face lost—slapped her in public.
Crisp sound—hard hit.
No pity—grabbed phone back, disgusted: “Chu He, are you sick?”
Chu He held red cheek—blank—cold laugh and ran—flame dimming visible fast!
Bad: “Chase!”
Chu He fast—out of the mall—to the river.
Eyes hollow—staring at water—voice message on phone: “A-Cheng, do you really have me in your heart?”
No reply—another: “You chased me first—said I was kind, cheerful—I said yes. You changed—you’re not who you were.”
Tears: “Why—why did you become this? Why did I get power—and still can’t keep your heart!”
“Because he has no heart—not worth your grief.”
“Who!” Chu He spun.
Yi Ke looked at Bai Yanci puzzled—Bai Yanci never meddled—today spoke first.
“I see ability traces on you—attraction.” Bai Yanci laid her secret bare. “Any man would probably fall for your charm.”
“So you’re ability users too. Yes—that’s what I begged for.” Chu He laughed up at the sky. “Society taught me—sincerity trades for sincerity. I did—and only got hurt. How ridiculous.”
Chu He finally looked at Bai Yanci: “Sister—you’re so beautiful—you must have pursuers. I’m plain—even with outside help I can’t win his heart! Heaven—what did I do wrong—why treat me like this?”
“Sincerity is the rarest thing—and the most precious—meet by luck not by force.” Bai Yanci gentler, hand out to Chu He. “Chu He—remember—love others only after you love yourself.”