AWB Chapter 479 [Empire] Candy
Chapter 479 [Empire] Candy
This overly fulfilling life is like the wind, whistling by, taking away many things I once knew and leaving behind a fatigue I've never experienced before. Every day of training, every confrontation, seems to push me forward, allowing no pause. Especially when I no longer have time to think too much, the fatigue becomes even more obvious.
Sometimes, just after waking up in the morning, before my mind has fully cleared, my body has already begun mechanically operating in a measured pattern. Every training session, every competition, seems to gradually sap my energy and focus. Although the coolness of the transparent young vines and the power of the green seedlings allow me to barely maintain my physical strength, the mental strain is unnoticed and accumulating.
Especially during the synergy training with Qianmo, the further we progressed, the more I felt the gap between us widened. Although our coordination was improving, those subtle shifts and tiny deviations always became magnified at the most crucial moments. After each training session, I always felt like I hadn't given it my all, and I felt an inexplicable emptiness inside.
Yet, amidst this alternation of fulfillment and exhaustion, I still persevered. Because I knew that on this road, no matter how hard it was, stopping would mean being abandoned. And I didn't want to stop.
Sometimes, the night wind howled past, swaying the shadows of the trees outside the window and bringing a chill. I stood by the window, gazing at the dark starry sky, wondering if I could stop and rest for a moment, would I feel a sense of relief? But the thought barely crossed my mind before I retracted my gaze and looked down at the slime beside me. Its warm body still comforted me.
"Go on," I whispered to myself, as if giving myself an ultimatum.
However, I know in my heart that perhaps this feeling of fatigue is just a part of my life now.
Sometimes, I stop to look at the stars. Standing by my dormitory window, gazing out at the vast expanse of sky, the stars twinkle in the boundless darkness, as if silently telling distant stories. They are both familiar and unfamiliar, carrying countless dreams and histories. I am unconsciously drawn in, my eyes wandering to those faint yet steadfast points of light, my mind gradually emptying.
This starry sky, like myself, is sometimes clear, sometimes blurry. It's so far away, yet feels so close to my fingertips. The light of each star is so resilient, burning brightly in the night sky no matter how cold it is outside.
Sometimes I wonder if the starry sky is more than just a simple entity. It is the convergence of countless lives and experiences, the starting point and end point of all stories. They are part of the world I once knew, and part of this endless journey.
Under this starry sky, I may be like those distant stars, floating on the edge of the universe, lonely but determined. Each star is the reflection of a soul, and each ray of light may be the warmth of a past.
Immersed in these thoughts, I suddenly felt a silent comfort, as if all this was not completely unfamiliar, and that I could even find some connection with the past in the starlight.
A candy was handed to me and Qianmo's face appeared in my sight.
I froze for a moment, the candy dangling before my eyes, and then my gaze slowly shifted to him. His face was so close, his features clear and expressionless, as if it were a perfectly natural movement.
"Eat it, candy." His voice was calm, but with a hint of subtle concern.
I gently took the candy. The moment my fingers touched it, the subtle warmth made my heart skip a beat. I lowered my head and gently peeled off the candy's wrapper, suddenly feeling a bit overwhelmed. The candy in my hand suddenly became more than just candy. It seemed to hold some special meaning, like a tacit understanding.
I didn't put it in my mouth immediately, but looked at the color and shape of the candy. It was a candy wrapped in a transparent package, and it seemed to be emitting light from the inside, which was very tempting.
"Thank you." I said softly, my voice a little low.
Qianmo stood not too far away, not too close. He didn't rush to leave, but quietly waited for me. There seemed to be a subtle tension in the air, but I didn't feel uncomfortable. Instead, I felt a strange sense of security.
He didn't ask too many questions, but just stayed with me quietly, giving me time to digest this unspoken concern. I could even feel the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at me, but he didn't express it in words.
Perhaps, true concern doesn’t need to be expressed in words. Sometimes, it doesn’t even need to be explained.
I slowly put down the candy, looked up at Qianmo, and our eyes crossed in the air.
He smiled slightly, seemed relieved, turned and walked out.
I lowered my head and put the candy into my mouth. The sweet taste gradually spread in my mouth, just like this moment, warm and peaceful.
"You're still eating this?" I teased.
Qianmo paused for a moment, but without turning around, he replied calmly, "Occasionally, I still eat a little."
He didn't explain further, his tone remained calm, as if this was just a part of daily life and not worth saying anything more.
I couldn't help but chuckle. This answer made me feel a little cute.
"You are such a special person." I muttered unconsciously.
Although he didn't hear it, or didn't show any reaction, I knew that this implication seemed to have already been conveyed between us.
He continued to walk ahead, his steps firm and silent. Occasionally turning his head, his eyes seemed to be filled with a hint of gentleness and contemplation, but he remained silent.
I followed him, feeling vaguely that the tacit understanding at certain moments might be more real than any words.
Before he knew it, the lollipop was snatched away by the slime, and he jumped and ran away.
I was stunned for a moment, watching the pink slime run away with my lollipop in its mouth. I hurriedly chased it, but its small body and agile movements made it impossible for me to catch up.
"Hey! That's mine!" I shouted, unable to suppress my laughter.
The slime seemed to have heard what I said, jumping even more proudly, biting the lollipop with its mouth, as if playing hide-and-seek with me. It left a trail of small footprints on the snow, running fast and happily.
Qianmo stood aside, his eyes filled with a hint of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure, watching me chase the little creature. A rare smile crossed his face, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, as if he were enjoying this sudden "accident."
"You are really good-tempered." He said lightly, looking through the figures of me and Slime and into the distance.
"This guy is even more shameless than me." I replied breathlessly, turned around and glared at the slime. Although I said this, my eyes were full of helpless pampering.
"It seems that you have 'borrowed' my candy." I composed myself and deliberately emphasized my tone.
The slime seemed to understand what I said, stopped, and turned around to look at me. Its round body was shining with a playful light, as if it was provoking me in its own way.
I smiled helplessly: "You win, you are a little bully."
Qianmo also smiled slightly. It seemed that he had long been accustomed to this kind of "accident" happening. He whispered, "It's quite smart."
After this "warm-up", it doesn't seem so cold anymore.
I took a deep breath, and the air was filled with a refreshing coolness, but no longer biting. As I gradually adjusted to the pace of running, my body temperature began to rise and my heartbeat gradually became steady.
The slime was bouncing around not far away, occasionally stopping to look at us curiously, seemingly enjoying this moment of peace. The faint light it emitted made the cold night a little warmer.
Qianmo walked beside me, his steps steady and glancing at me from time to time. Although he wasn't as active as I was, each step was firm and powerful, as if even the icy and snowy conditions were no longer so unbearable.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a low voice, his voice still calm.
I nodded, "Almost there." Although exhausted, I felt a sense of relief. After each training session, the physical and mental fatigue seemed to be released, and this feeling was more fulfilling than any game or competition.
Qianmo's gaze once again turned to the distance, the dark blue starry sky. A few stars twinkled in the distance, like faint lights guiding the confused voyage.
"You know what?" he suddenly said, his voice tinged with emotion. "The starry sky here is very similar to what I've seen before. It's just that when I looked at the starry sky before, I didn't feel this kind of peace in my heart."
I raised an eyebrow, a little curious: "Oh?"
He smiled faintly, his eyes not lingering on me, as if lost in memories: "Perhaps, I used to be trying to escape something. Only now have I begun to understand the meaning of these stars."
I was stunned, an indescribable emotion rising in my heart. Qianmo's eyes were no longer simply calm, but seemed to hide something, like a past that he didn't want to touch.
"It seems that running away won't help you find the answer." I whispered, with a hint of empathy in my words.
He looked at me, didn't say anything, just nodded slightly, with a hint of complicated emotions in his eyes.
“Under the starry sky, no one will hide forever,” I added, without any strong emotion in my voice, just simple recognition.
"Maybe." He responded softly, turning his head to look forward.
I looked at the light computer on my wrist, which I had always turned off, and looked into the distance again.
The computer lay quietly on my wrist, hidden by my heavy coat, seemingly long forgotten. I glanced at it, then looked away. The starry sky before me remained vast, and a distant star twinkled faintly, like a silent call.
I ignored the laptop. For some reason, it didn't seem so important tonight. Perhaps it was because some things couldn't be forced, some connections destined to wait until the right time to reconnect. And right now, this starry sky and the gentle sound of the wind seemed to be the things that could best calm me down.
Qianmo didn't say anything beside me, just quietly looking at the starry sky with me. Occasionally, a breeze blew past us, bringing a slight chill, but it didn't make us feel uncomfortable. His eyes were still staring into the distance, as if he was thinking about something, or just enjoying this moment of tranquility.
I couldn't help but think of Nightingale. His silence was somewhat similar to Qianmo's, though the difference was that Nightingale's silence always had a certain alertness and sharpness, while Qianmo's silence seemed like a leisurely calm. Two completely different auras, as if each lived in his own world, his own way.
I sighed softly, looked at the computer again, and touched it with my fingertips, but I felt no urgency. It remained dark and silent, as if responding to my decision not to question it any further.
"The starry sky is very peaceful tonight." I spoke softly, my voice not loud, with a hint of emotion.
Qianmo turned his head and looked at me, nodding slightly: "Yes, sometimes tranquility is the most precious thing." There was not much emotional fluctuation in his eyes, but he seemed to be integrated with the starry sky.
I said nothing more and continued to gaze at the starry sky. Although there was nothing special in this silent night sky, I could feel a unique power in this calmness. Perhaps it was this seemingly ordinary scene that I needed most at this moment.
"Aren't you worried about that light computer?" Qianmo's voice broke the silence again.
I glanced at him and smiled slightly: "No need, anyway, no matter what time, I will never miss the most important thing."
He seemed silent for a moment, then nodded: "Sometimes, it doesn't matter if you miss it."
I looked at him, quietly.
He didn't look back at me immediately, simply lowering his head to gently rub the slime's soft flesh. The quiet atmosphere felt as if time had frozen in that moment, and even the air had become exceptionally cool. My gaze shifted from the small creature in his hands, returning to the boundless starry sky.
I think, no matter what Qianmo is thinking, he's not someone as sharp-eyed as Nightingale, someone who can always see through my thoughts. Perhaps this is what gives me the greatest peace of mind. Whether he understands me or not, he won't force me to explain or reveal things I don't want others to see. Spending time with him seems like a simple coexistence, and this kind of peace makes me feel so precious.
His eyes finally met mine, and I could feel the gentleness in them, like a continuation of the conversation, but without words.
"You're right, sometimes missing out doesn't mean anything."
The starry sky in the distance remains vast and boundless, dotted with twinkling stars. Each star is like the eye of another world, gazing down upon this vast land. Its vastness and tranquility seem to swallow up all worries, transporting me to a place free from distractions.
Qianmo stood beside me, seemingly gazing at the same starry sky, yet not lost in thought like I was. Perhaps his thoughts had already flown far away, and I was simply quietly accompanying him, sharing this peaceful moment.
The chill in the air gradually faded, and the silence of the night seemed to deepen. We all fell silent, our tacit understanding and silence becoming the best form of communication. The starry sky remained silent, yet it seemed to tell our story.