Floating life reflects two lotuses

The laboratory lights came back on, their blinding white light casting a shadow over the mess of equipment. The smell of burning still lingered in the air. The alarm gradually subsided, and a chilling silence returned.

Chu Wanlian leaned against the corner of the wall, panting heavily.

Her hands were still trembling slightly, and her eyes stared blankly at the destroyed control panel, as if she had not yet recovered from the shock.

"Chu Wanlian." Li Chenyao's voice carried a hint of heaviness as it steadily reached her ears.

She didn't look up, but turned her body slightly to the side, her gaze still fixed on the rune afterimages on the ground. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Li Chenyao walked over, his gaze fixed on her slender yet upright back. He crouched down, trying to meet her gaze, his voice low and gentle: "Jinlian, look at me."

Chu Wanlian closed her eyes briefly, then slowly raised her head. Her eyes were red-rimmed, filled with weariness, and her voice was hoarse and restrained: "Li Chenyao, did you see that person?"

Li Chenyao didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached out and gently took her trembling hand, feeling the coldness of her palm. He slowly said, "I saw it. But you've done your best."

"Trying my best?" Chu Wanlian sneered, a forced smile playing on her lips, her eyes filled with pain. "I watched him collapse, watched his soul dissipate. I couldn't do anything... I couldn't do anything at all!"

Her voice gradually rose, becoming hoarse with a hint of collapse, tears streaming down her cheeks as she finally could no longer suppress the pain in her heart.

Looking at her, Li Chenyao's heart sank slightly. He didn't try to comfort her with words, but instead reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Cry," Li Chenyao whispered in her ear, like a warm current flowing gently. "You don't have to be so strong."

Chu Wanlian's stiff body relaxed instantly, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She rested her head on Li Chenyao's shoulder, her hands tightly gripping his sleeve as if she were grasping at her last straw.

"Li Chenyao, I'm really... so scared." She choked back tears, her voice revealing an unprecedented vulnerability. "I'm afraid the next... the next person will be me. I'm afraid I'll fail, afraid all my efforts will be in vain..."

"No." Li Chenyao gently patted her back, his tone firm. "You won't fail, because you're not alone."

Chu Wanlian's body trembled slightly as she looked up at him, tears still clinging to her face. Li Chenyao looked down at her, his eyes deep and tender, and gently wiped away her tears with his fingers: "With me here, you won't be alone."

The air was silent for a moment. Chu Wanlian stared at him, a soft spot in her heart seemed to be touched.

"Why... do you always trust me so much?" Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Li Chenyao's gaze never left him, a slight smile playing on his lips as he said calmly, "Because you are someone I can trust. You possess a power that others lack. And I..." He paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, "...don't want to see you bear everything alone anymore."

Chu Wanlian froze, her heart tightening slightly. She avoided his gaze, her voice low and menacing: "But all of this is too dangerous, Li Chenyao. You could have chosen to stay out of it."

"Stay out of it?" Li Chenyao chuckled softly, his gaze gentle yet firm. "I never intended to."

After he finished speaking, he stood up and pulled her up from the ground, his movements gentle yet irresistible. He didn't let go of her hand; instead, he held it tightly, as if conveying some kind of strength.

"Let's go," Li Chenyao said in a low voice. "We can't stay here any longer. You need to rest."

Chu Wanlian hesitated for a moment, but in the end she did not struggle, letting him hold her hand and walk out of the laboratory step by step.

The night breeze carried a slight chill. Chu Wanlian sat on the balcony of her apartment, hugging her knees, gazing blankly at the city lights. Li Chenyao walked over, holding a cup of hot tea, and placed it in front of her.

"Drink something hot to warm your stomach," he said.

Chu Wanlian turned to look at him, took the teacup, blew on it gently, and said softly, "Thank you."

Li Chenyao pulled up a chair and sat down beside her, quietly keeping her company. A night breeze blew by, carrying a rare tranquility.

“Li Chenyao,” Chu Wanlian suddenly spoke, her voice calm but serious, “Do you know? Sometimes I really feel… I can’t take it anymore.”

Li Chenyao turned to look at her, a hint of barely perceptible tenderness in his eyes: "Then why continue?"

“Because if I give up, no one can stop it.” Chu Wanlian looked up into the distance, her gaze resolute. “I cannot give up.”