I'm a little panicked when I cross the collapse

The day passed quickly, and night quietly fell.

At this moment, the sun was setting, its afterglow illuminating the earth. The lively and adorable little girl, Ling, exhausted from playing all day, nestled in Lu Qiong's warm and comforting embrace and fell into a deep sleep.

Looking at Himiko, she was also sitting quietly side by side with Lu Qiong on a comfortable lounge chair, her lightly made-up profile almost entirely resting on Lu Qiong's broad and sturdy shoulders.

The two remained silent, like statues, their eyes fixed intently on the setting sun slowly sinking in the distant sky, watching as the moon gradually revealed its outline until it became bright, flawless, and radiant.

The autumn wind is chilly, and a chill is coming, as if it will blow everything in the world away and wither.

Even the temperature in the air seemed to drop sharply with the autumn wind.

The little girl, fast asleep, perhaps sensed a slight chill and involuntarily snuggled closer to Lu Qiong, trying to gain more warmth and protection.

Lu Qiong, who had witnessed this scene, smiled slightly, revealing a doting and gentle expression.

He carefully reached out and gently stroked the girl's delicate, smooth back, while subtly using his ability—the Stigmata—which he hadn't used in a long time, continuously sending out strands of warm, spring-like Honkai energy to ensure the girl could sleep peacefully without being disturbed by the cold.

Himiko broke the silence first, "Lu Qiong, look! There are so many stars in the sky!"

"Yes! It's been a very, very long time since I've had the chance to quietly appreciate such a beautiful night view."

("Kiana, what are you all doing right now?")

"Lu Qiong, is something on your mind?" As if sensing the man's unusual behavior, Himiko suddenly sat up straight and asked.

Lu Qiong paused slightly, remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head to look at Himiko, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. However, he did not directly answer Himiko's question, but instead asked thoughtfully, "Himiko, tell me, if a person clearly knows the fate of everyone in their world, but even if they exert all their strength and exhaust everything, they still cannot do anything, not even make the slightest change, then do you think it is still necessary for them to continue?"

Upon hearing this, Himiko frowned and fell into deep thought. After a while, she sighed softly and said, "This... I can't answer that. Judging from your description, since everyone is already destined for their own fate, what is the point of such a world? Perhaps it is simply a worthless constraint."

Lu Qiong raised an eyebrow, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and asked, "Oh? So, that person should indeed choose to give up?"

"Of course not!" Himiko shook her head violently, her gaze fixed firmly on Lu Qiong.

"If he truly is the only one who knows everything, then the responsibility he bears will be immense. Because only he has the opportunity to break this seemingly unshakeable shackle of fate. If even he himself easily gives up hope, then this world will probably truly head down the path of destruction."

(Let's try to skip the daily routines and start working on the main story!)

Seeing Himiko suddenly become so serious, Lu Qiong chuckled, "Alright, what you said does make a lot of sense."

Lu Qiong, holding Ling in his arms, slowly stood up. "Let's go, it's about time we went back."

..............

Lu Qiong looked at his palm in deep thought. "Change? I have the power to change everything, all I need is a trigger, but... why do I still have a bad feeling?"

"Where are we going now?" Himiko parted her lips slightly, pursing her bright red lipstick. Usually, she always presented herself as a mature and powerful woman, but at this moment she seemed a little coy and affected.

"Where to? Of course, the first thing is to safely take the little girl in my arms home," Lu Qiong replied without hesitation.

"So... what happens after we get home?" Himiko seemed unsatisfied with the answer and asked softly, her face flushed.

"And then... well, of course everyone goes back to their own homes and finds their own..."

Just as Lu Qiong was about to continue speaking, he was abruptly interrupted by Himiko's reaction:

"Holy crap! ⊙?⊙! Himiko, why are you acting so strange today? And... why is your face so red?" He looked at the woman in front of him with suspicion, wondering to himself.

Himiko coughed lightly, trying to hide her inner turmoil, while smoothing a few stray strands of hair from her forehead. Her voice became even gentler and more melodious: "Ahem! Um... do you think I look pretty today?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Qiong was stunned and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

After a long while, he stammered, "Uh...it looks pretty good, what's wrong with it?" His words were full of doubt and confusion.

However, Himiko did not answer his question directly. Instead, she sighed thoughtfully and muttered to herself, "Hmm, perhaps we should hurry up and take Rin home... There are some things I just want to talk to you about alone..."

"Okay...okay then." Lu Qiong didn't hear the rest of the sentence.

Looking down at Ling, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms, Lu Qiong felt completely bewildered.

"Himiko must have caught a fever from the wind, because her words are always so confusing..."

While Lu Qiong's thoughts were outrageous, Himiko's were even more outrageous: "Won't it scare him if I suddenly say those things later? Isn't it too abrupt to say them now? What if he doesn't agree?........."

On her way to Sakura Residence, Himiko had already mentally simulated the possible future scenarios hundreds of times, and she was now full of confidence.

That's why, after Lu Qiong carried Sakura into the house, Himiko kept staring at the watch on Hao Wan's wrist.

After 15 seconds,

Why is Lu Qiong so slow?

After 30 seconds,

Why hasn't Lu Qiong come out yet?

One minute later,

"They've been inside for so long... I have to go in and check."

Five minutes passed.

When Himiko faintly heard some extremely light footsteps, she quickly began to tidy her appearance.

When Lu Qiong finally opened the door and came out,

Himiko's expression changed, and she looked extremely displeased. "Why did it take you so long to get in? What were you dawdling about?"

"What do you mean it took so long? I was only inside for a few minutes."

"How long does it take to settle a sleeping child? Less than a minute, right?" Himiko said matter-of-factly.

Lu Qiong: "........."

"are you joking?"

"What if I move too much and wake up the alarm? Am I just supposed to just leave her on the bed and ignore her?"

"What are you thinking? Based on your current behavior, I suggest that if you get married in the future, you should not have a baby for the time being. I really can't imagine whether you will be able to become a qualified mother in the future."

After being repeatedly belittled by Lu Qiong, Himiko finally said weakly, "I just didn't know, I'll definitely study these things properly in the future..."

"But you have to give me a chance first!"

Lu Qiong: "? What opportunity?"

Of course, it's giving me the opportunity to have children!

"Ahem, Lu Qiong, I... I might, I might like you a little, so... of course you're the one giving me a chance."

"what?"

Lu Qiong's mouth gaped open in shock, forming an "O" shape.

"I love you, Lu Qiong. Let's have a child as cute as Ling!"

Himiko thought Lu Qiong hadn't heard her, so she spoke loudly again.

"Furthermore, everything I said came from the bottom of my heart!"

Upon confirming that Himiko wasn't joking, Lu Qiong's expression instantly turned serious. "Himiko, do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I know!"

"Sorry, I refuse!"

Lu Qiong said righteously.

Lu Qiong rejected her without hesitation, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, instantly cooling down Himiko's enthusiasm and expectations.

She stared wide-eyed at the man before her, who had once fought alongside her and weathered countless storms together. A sharp pain shot through her heart, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

"Why...why is this happening?"

Himiko's voice trembled involuntarily, tinged with despair and resentment. Tears streamed down her cheeks like broken beads, leaving streaks on her once snow-white skin.

Himiko, who has always been strong and independent and never easily shows weakness, is now like a wounded child, revealing her most tender and vulnerable side without any defense.

All of this was simply because of Lu Qiong's cruel and heartless words—"There is no future between us."

Before he could finish speaking, a crisp, loud sound rang out. It turned out that Himiko, enraged and losing her temper, had suddenly raised her hand and slapped Lu Qiong hard across the face.

That slap used all her strength.

"Lu Qiong! If you want to reject me, why bother making up such a clumsy and ridiculous excuse!"

"No future? We haven't even tried, how do you know there's no future?"

Himiko trembled violently, her body shaking uncontrollably, her chest heaving like a turbulent sea.

Those beautiful, captivating eyes were now filled with endless rage and deep pain, burning fiercely like ignited flames, fixed intently on the man before her—Lu Qiong.

"Right now... I only want to ask you one question!" Himiko's voice trembled noticeably, as if each word was squeezed out from between her teeth with all her might. "After spending so much time together, have you... ever liked me?"

Faced with Himiko's questioning, Lu Qiong suddenly fell silent. His originally handsome face now appeared unusually solemn and conflicted, as if he was struggling with something deep inside.

Even if it's just a tiny bit...

Seeing that Lu Qiong was slow to answer her, Himiko felt as if a thousand steel needles were piercing her heart at the same time, and tears kept welling up in her eyes, but she forced herself not to let them fall.

However, what happened next left Himiko utterly devastated and heartbroken. Lu Qiong remained silent, which undoubtedly dealt Himiko the final blow, plunging her into an abyss.

"Haven't you ever had even the most basic desires for me? Even just the occasional thought of wanting to sleep with me would be enough...."

Himiko could no longer suppress the overwhelming sadness in her heart and finally burst into tears.

The cries were so mournful and desolate, like the wailing of an owl, that they broke one's heart.

But then, Himiko suddenly seemed to go mad, letting out a burst of hysterical laughter: "Hahahaha........."

The laughter echoed in the air, lingering for a long time, sounding so jarring and terrifying.

"So...I'm really this pathetic? Hahaha..."

Himiko laughed wildly as she staggered around, her steps unsteady as if she might fall to the ground at any moment.

Nevertheless, she resolutely walked into the distance without looking back, leaving behind only an extremely lonely, miserable, and desolate figure.

Watching Himiko's figure recede into the distance, Lu Qiong clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, but he felt no pain at all.

After a moment, he slowly loosened his fist, sighing inwardly, "Sigh... I couldn't help it in the end."

Finally, as if he had made up his mind, Lu Qiong gritted his teeth and mustered his courage to say, "Yes... Actually, my feelings for you are not just limited to friendship. I have experienced all kinds of emotions, whether it's liking or desire. It's just that there are too many insurmountable obstacles and difficulties between us, so..."

As he spoke, Lu Qiong's voice grew softer and softer, as if even he himself didn't quite believe what he was about to say.

However, to Lu Qiong's utter surprise, before he could finish speaking, Himiko, who had already walked far away, suddenly stopped and quickly turned back. Himiko at this moment was completely different from before—her face was full of smiles, and her eyes revealed a hint of barely perceptible cunning and smugness; and her heart, once shattered by countless hurts, was now perfectly intact!

Immediately afterward, Himiko shouted without hesitation, "Since you have it, what are you waiting for? Come home with me right now!"

After saying that, she walked straight toward Lu Qiong, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Lu Qiong: "Ber? Are you trying to trick me into thinking I'm Japanese?"