Kamen Rider: Damn! I'm surrounded by beauties

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the entire city of Xiangyang.

Gu Yi controlled the flying attacker and landed in a deserted place. Although he was in a low mood because of Ji Yanyu, he still remembered to keep his appointment with Lin Leqing, so he quickly composed himself and put on a smile that made it seem like everything was fine.

When Gu Yi stepped into Lin Leqing's home, the warm orange light and the aroma of food instantly enveloped him. This warm current, carrying the scent of home cooking, allowed his tense nerves, which had been on edge all day, to relax slightly.

The table was laden with dishes: steamed sea bass, braised pork ribs, braised chicken with chestnuts, and a steaming pot of lotus root and pork rib soup. Each dish was a carefully prepared home-style meal, yet it exuded an elegance that rivaled that of a high-end restaurant.

"Sit down, Gu Yi. You must be starving after a long day of running around."

Lin Leqing, wearing an apron, brought out the last dish from the kitchen, a bright and charming smile on her face.

At the dinner table, Lin Leqing kept piling food onto Gu Yi's plate, her enthusiasm almost making his bowl look like a small mountain.

"Sister Yueqing, that's enough, I can do it myself."

Gu Yi was finding it difficult to cope.

"Eat more, you've lost weight." Lin Leqing's eyes were full of heartache.

"I really... I really don't know how to thank you for what happened to Hao Hao. If it weren't for you, my son and I..."

As she spoke, her eyes became slightly red.

Gu Yi quickly put down his chopsticks and looked at her intently:

"Sister Yueqing, you're being too formal by saying that. We're friends, and I treat Hao Hao like my own brother. Isn't it natural for friends to help each other? Saying it's a life-saving favor is too much."

His tone was sincere, attempting to lightly brush aside this heavy emotion.

Upon hearing this, Lin Leqing put down her chopsticks. She gazed at Gu Yi, her alluring eyes shimmering with tears, as if holding a thousand unspoken words.

"friend?"

She repeated the word softly, drawing out the last syllable, with a hint of something unsettling.

"Are we really... just good friends?"

"Hao Hao, do you only... see him as a younger brother?"

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

Gu Yi was stunned; he hadn't expected Lin Leqing to suddenly bring things up so directly.

His mouth was slightly open, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

Seeing his somewhat bewildered expression, Lin Leqing smiled a bittersweet yet courageous smile.

She stood up from the dining table and walked step by step to Gu Yi's side. The crisp, firm sound of her high heels on the floor seemed to strike Gu Yi's heart with each step.

"I've always been someone who can't keep things to myself."

She stopped beside him, looking down at him, her voice trembling slightly, yet unusually clear.

"Gu Yi, I like you, you should know that."

"You saved Hao Hao this time... I... I'm even more certain now. I really can't keep these feelings hidden anymore."

She slowly crouched down, her gaze meeting that of Gu Yiping, who was sitting there. His astonished face was reflected in her beautiful eyes.

"You know what? I used to dream of fairytale romances, thinking that as long as I married someone who seemed perfect, I'd find happiness and security. And what happened?" She laughed self-deprecatingly.

"What I got in return was a failed marriage and a child that I have to do everything I can to protect."

"During that period, I really felt like the sky had fallen. Until I met you."

Her gaze became intense and focused, like a flame, threatening to ignite Gu Yi.

"You've shown me that there really are men in this world who are reliable, gentle, and can bring hope. You are that kind of man, Gu Yi."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Leqing suddenly stretched out her arms and hugged him tightly from the side.

Her body was soft and warm, carrying a faint fragrance that wafted through her clothes. Gu Yi's body stiffened instantly, his hands hanging in mid-air, unsure of where to put them.

"I was thinking of waiting until you've resolved those dangerous matters before we talk about it."

Her face was buried in his shoulder, her voice muffled, trembling with tears.

"But I can't wait any longer... I really can't wait any longer! I'm so scared, I'm scared that if I keep dragging this on, I'll really miss you..."

She tightened her arms around him, as if trying to meld herself into his body.

"Gu Yi...please, promise me, be with me, okay?"

The next second, before Gu Yi could react, Lin Leqing's knees buckled and she was about to kneel down in front of him!

"Sister Yueqing! What are you doing!"

Gu Yi was shocked and almost instinctively jumped up, grabbing her arms tightly with both hands to stop her from moving.

The arm beneath his palm was trembling slightly.

"Don't do this!"

Gu Yi's voice rose in alarm.

Lin Leqing looked up, tears finally overflowing and streaming down her cheeks. She wept, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful, her voice choked with sobs.

"You...you're disgusted with me? Disgusted that I've been married and have a child..."

"No!" Gu Yi blurted out without hesitation, his tone resolute.

"How could I dislike you! It's definitely not because of that!"

"Why then?"

Lin Leqing pressed for an answer, her eyes brimming with tears.

Looking at her tear-streaked face, Gu Yi felt a pang of pain in his heart, yet also a sense of powerlessness. How could he explain? Should he say that he might die at the hands of the Gurongi at any moment? Or should he say that a demon lurked within him, one that might devour his sanity?

He couldn't bring himself to say those words. He couldn't give a woman who longed for stability such a turbulent promise.

"Sister Yueqing,"

He carefully chose his words, his voice low and hoarse.

"I...I can't give you any responsible answer right now."

“The Gurongi are very strong, and I’m not 100% confident I can win. Besides… I’m also facing some trouble myself.”

He mentioned it vaguely, a shadow crossing his eyes.

“I understand your feelings, really. But... I can't just agree to that so easily before I can give you a stable future. That wouldn't be fair to you.”

Lin Leqing stared at him blankly, tears still streaming down her face, but her eyes gradually cleared. From Gu Yi's sincere yet conflicted eyes, she understood his concerns and sense of responsibility.

She sniffed, wiped away her tears haphazardly with the back of her hand, and forced a smile that looked even uglier than crying.

"I'm sorry... Gu Yi, I was too impulsive and made things difficult for you."

Gu Yi helped her stand up, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Silence stretched between them. After a long while, Lin Leqing spoke again, her voice as soft as a breeze.

"Then...do you love me?"

This question, like a sharp awl, pierced Gu Yi's chaotic heart without warning.

Love?

He didn't know. He had feelings for her, admired her maturity and resilience, felt sorry for her past experiences, and was also attracted by her charm. But... was this love?

He couldn't answer. His silence had already given Lin Leqing the answer.

A hint of obvious disappointment flashed in Lin Leqing's eyes, but she quickly concealed it and changed the subject: "Then... what place do I hold in your heart?"

"It's very important." Gu Yi said almost without hesitation; it was the truth.

"Very important..."

Lin Leqing murmured the word, then looked up, her gaze fixed intently on him.

"Is she the same as Zheng Ziyan, Xiao Lu, Shen Huixing, Li Yunsi, and Zhong Zhen...?"

This string of names struck Gu Yi's chest like a series of heavy punches.

Zheng Ziyan's fiery passion, Xiao Lu's gentle tenderness, Shen Huixing's willful yet devoted nature, Li Yunsi's soul resonance, Zhong Zhen's cold exterior but warm interior... Every face flashed through his mind, each occupying a unique place in his heart.

He couldn't deny it.

Under Lin Leqing's persistent gaze, Gu Yi nodded with difficulty, almost imperceptibly.

In that instant, the light in Lin Leqing's eyes dimmed completely. She seemed to have all her strength drained away, and her body swayed slightly.

"I understand."

She spoke softly, her voice heavy with exhaustion and hoarseness.

She turned around, her back to him, her shoulders swaying slightly.

"I...I'll probably be staying in Xiangyang for a while to take care of Hao Hao, and I don't know when I'll be able to go back to Tianjin." Her voice was ethereal, as if she were talking to herself.

"Gu Yi, if you... if you've thought it through and made up your mind... please come find me."

After she finished speaking, she slowly turned her head back. At that moment, the expression on her face was a mixture of sorrow, expectation, vulnerability, and a hint of feigned strength. Her expressive eyes were misty with tears, breathtakingly beautiful, and evoked endless pity in people.

Gu Yi felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"……it is good."

He heard his own voice respond dryly.

Dinner ended in an awkward and somber atmosphere.

When she left Lin Leqing's house, she stood at the door to see him off. The streetlights cast long shadows of the two of them.

Gu Yi took a few steps, then looked back. She was still standing there, like a lonely sculpture. He walked a long way, then looked back again. That slender figure was still in the same spot, appearing so small yet persistent in the night.

Only when she could no longer see him did Lin Leqing feel as if all her spirit had been drained. She turned around, dejected, and slowly walked back to the room that was lit but seemed empty.

……

Late at night, in a forest outside Xiangyang City.

Gu Yi parked his car by the roadside and walked alone into the dark woods. The evening breeze was cool, brushing against his cheeks, but it couldn't dispel the restlessness and turmoil in his heart.

In his mind, it was like a revolving movie playing.

Zheng Ziyan, Lin Leqing, Xiao Lu, Shen Huixing, Zhong Zhen, Li Yunsi... The faces of six women appeared one after another. Their smiles, their tears, their expectations were like a fine net, trapping him tightly.

He felt a fondness for each of them; each one was so unique and so wonderful. But actually having to make a choice felt like solving an unsolvable equation.

Go to hell!

Frustrated, Gu Yi punched the tree trunk next to him.

What's the point of thinking about this now!

He shook his head violently, trying to clear his mind of these chaotic thoughts. Before making any decisions, he had to deal with all the Grongi!

That is the most important and urgent thing right now!

To defeat Zero, one must master the power of the Ultimate Form.

To master the ultimate, you must first completely master the amazing omnipotence!

Thinking of this, Gu Yi's eyes became firm and sharp.

He took a deep breath, crossed his arms in front of him, and the Yaguru belt appeared out of thin air around his waist.

"Transform!"

With a low shout, he struck his signature pose.

The spirit stone at the center of the belt emitted a dazzling light, and red armor instantly covered his entire body. Kamen Rider Kuuga All-Powerful Form, here he comes!

But Gu Yi didn't stop. He concentrated his mind, mobilized the power within his body, and tried to touch the even more powerful dark energy hidden deep within the spirit stone.

“Ah ...

He let out a roar, and his belt suddenly erupted with countless black lightning bolts! These ominous arcs of electricity coiled around his body like venomous snakes, emitting terrifying crackling sounds.

The omnipotent form's red body was gradually peeled away by the black lightning, replaced by an unfathomable darkness. The horns on the helmet became even larger and more ferocious. Sharp spikes emerged on the breastplate.

Amazing All-Powerful Form!

An unprecedentedly powerful force surged through his limbs and bones, but along with it came a mad, savage desire to kill, flooding his brain like a tidal wave.

A seductive voice roared wildly in his mind: "Kill! Slaughter! Destroy everything! This is the true meaning of power!"

"Shut up!"

Gu Yi gritted his teeth, using his willpower to resist this corrosive force.

"I'm not fighting to kill! I'm fighting to protect everyone's smiles!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a face appeared in his mind without warning.

It was a delicate yet pale face, belonging to Ji Yanyu during her high school years.

She stood before him, her eyes devoid of anger or resentment, only filled with a deathly, heartbreaking despair.

Gu Yi was stunned, and his body stiffened.

[To protect everyone's smiles?]

Ji Yanyu's voice echoed in his mind, ethereal and dreamlike, yet like a cold knife piercing his heart.

Then why...didn't you protect my smile back then?

"boom--!"

These words, like a thunderclap, exploded in Gu Yi's mind.

At this moment, the line of defense he had held firm was torn open with a huge rift.

That insane killing intent and negative thoughts instantly found a breakthrough, surging in like a flood bursting its banks, threatening to completely devour his reason!

"Uhhhhhhhh-!"

Gu Yi let out a painful roar, his black body trembling violently. He felt as if his brain was being torn apart, his consciousness being slowly devoured and assimilated by that dark force.

No! We can't let ourselves be controlled!

In the last moment before his reason was about to vanish, Gu Yi, with his last shred of clarity, used all his strength to bite his tongue hard!

A sharp, intense pain shot through my body instantly, followed by a metallic, metallic taste of blood that filled my mouth.

The pain jolted him awake, allowing him to temporarily regain some control of his body.

"Disable...transformation!"

He roared with his last ounce of strength.

The black armor vanished instantly, turning into countless specks of light. Gu Yi crashed heavily to the ground, his entire body drenched in cold sweat as if he had been pulled from water.

He lay on the cold earth, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently, as if he were about to suffocate at any moment.

My body is completely drained...

An unprecedented sense of exhaustion swept over him, not only physically but also mentally. Those few seconds of confrontation had been more tiring than any battle he had fought to the death with any Gurongi.

He lay on the ground, not wanting to move a single finger. Ji Yanyu's disappointed gaze kept replaying in his mind.

regret.

Endless regret clung to his heart like a poisonous vine, causing him unbearable pain.

If only... if only we could go back to the past...

If he could go back to that time, he would never be a coward again! He would stand by her side, shielding her from all malice and protecting her fragile and precious smile...

He will... help her...

Consciousness gradually blurred in boundless exhaustion, and the body felt as if it had fallen into a bottomless quagmire.

In the hazy state of complete unconsciousness, he seemed to hear a voice.

Is this... your wish?

"Yes……"

With his last ounce of strength, Gu Yi subconsciously uttered a single word.

Then, darkness completely engulfed him.

He fell into a deep sleep.