Boonie Bears: Another World Fantasy

Chapter 48 Lilac (XilaN)

In just one day, the temperature in Bear Ridge plummeted to 15 degrees Celsius, and it is likely to get even colder. Such frigid weather in August is highly unusual and far below the average for previous years.

"Huh? Editor-in-Chief Wu, I've already scrapped that proposal." Zhao Lin listened to the commotion coming from the editorial office, silently praying that Editor-in-Chief Wu wouldn't take the discarded proposal too seriously. Otherwise, she might as well just hang up the phone, but a voice deep inside told her she couldn't do that. So, she could only brace herself and face the impending storm of reprimands from Editor-in-Chief Wu.

"How many times have I told you to stop following up on those messy, baseless reports!" The editor-in-chief, Wu, roared furiously on the other end of the phone.

"Look at the garbage you've sent to your email inbox! Flying snow demons? And deer people? Please get your facts straight. You're a legitimate professional journalist, not some lowly editor at some third-rate magazine!" Zhao Lin could almost see him pacing back and forth in anger at his desk.

Just then, Zhao Lin inadvertently glimpsed Sharp doing rehabilitation exercises through the glass partition of the ward. He helplessly spread his hands, as if asking, "Are you alright? Are you okay?"

Zhao Lin then focused on calming her boss down.

“I have no intention of reporting these, editor-in-chief. These stories are just unformed phantoms.”

"Really?" He still sounded unconvinced. "Or is there some truth behind it that you have to hide?"

“I have my own reasons, editor-in-chief.” She knew she was walking on thin ice, so she didn’t comment.

"People shouldn't be too idle, understand?" the editor-in-chief said seriously. "If you really feel bored and have nothing to do during the holidays, you can always go back to your post early and help out at the newspaper."

Hearing this, she thought to herself, "Pshaw, I'm not that stupid!" But on the surface, she still politely replied, "Okay, I understand." Actually, she just wanted to end the topic as soon as possible.

However, the editor-in-chief then dropped a bombshell: "Let me add one more thing, assuming that what you've seen is real and that you've made it public without reservation..." At that moment, Editor-in-Chief Wu's tone sounded like the instinctive reaction of someone experiencing extreme fear.

Finally, he asked in a chilling tone, "So, can you imagine what this means to people outside?"

At that moment, Zhao Lin suddenly realized the deeper meaning behind his words. Perhaps Sharp was right. This complex and chaotic world was not yet fully prepared to welcome Naya's arrival.

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Lin's face turned extremely pale. She stared blankly at the snow-white walls of the ward, her eyes empty and lifeless, as if she had lost all vitality.

Sharp, who was standing nearby, noticed the change in Zhao Lin's expression. He raised an eyebrow slightly and said with a hint of regret, "It seems your boss isn't too happy with what you're doing." After saying that, he patted Zhao Lin on the shoulder to express his sympathy for her.

Hearing this, Zhao Lin didn't react much, but sighed deeply and muttered to herself, "If you were in my position and had experienced these things, you might truly understand how I feel, Uncle." Then, as if she had finally found someone to confide in, she continued, "Our kind of work is thankless. We not only have to spend a lot of time and energy, but we also have to endure all kinds of pressure and criticism, which makes us feel bored and annoyed."

“At least in my eyes, you’re quite outstanding. Not only do you have a stable job, but you also have high professional ethics and, most importantly, a strong sense of responsibility.” Sharp said, twisting his waist as he felt the control returning to his body.

"Unlike me, I've been struggling in this place for so long, and I've inexplicably encountered this series of events, almost losing my life in the process," he sighed with lingering fear.

At this moment, Zhao Lin suddenly asked curiously, "By the way, uncle, what kind of work do you do?" Her eyes revealed a hint of concern and doubt.

"Um, actually, I'm just a blogger who likes to wander around in the wild..." Sharp said absentmindedly. In fact, he knew better than anyone else that he was glad he hadn't told her the truth earlier—if it weren't for Naya's righteous help, he probably would have already lost his life in that strange and unpredictable fantasy forest.

"Really?!" Hearing Sharp say that, Zhao Lin's eyes lit up, filled with anticipation and excitement. "Then, after you recover, can you take me with you?"

Seeing Zhao Lin's longing expression, Sharp couldn't help but chuckle, thinking how easily she could be fooled. Silly girl, she believes everything she's told!

Before he could even think of a reply, Zhao Lin eagerly continued, "When I was little, I loved going to the forest. I thought the air was fresh and there were lots of cute animals there." As she spoke, her gaze swept across the town's houses and streets, landing directly on the lush, verdant forest in the distance.

"It's not possible now. We're working overtime all the time, running around everywhere. Forget about forests, we can't even see a decent-sized park."

Sharp was well aware of the difficulties involved, after all, he himself had faced his own troublesome work problems in real life.

“Hmm… Zhao Lin—” After careful consideration, he swallowed hard and mustered up the courage to ask her the question that had been lingering in his mind since he transmigrated: “If someone from another world suddenly appeared beside you and told you that you were actually just fictional characters created by others, existing only on the screen, how would you feel?”

At that moment, Zhao Lin's face showed a hint of astonishment. She stared at Sharp with wide eyes for a while before she came to her senses. Then, she smiled slightly and said, "Haha, Uncle, your imagination is really unique."

Zhao Lin found the topic both absurd and interesting, but at the same time, she seemed to be pondering some deeper meaning.

"I might break down..." These words seemed to weigh heavily on every single one, making it impossible to ignore the heavy emotions they contained. She hugged herself tightly, leaning against the cold wall, her eyes darting around.

However, her next words carried an almost naive optimism: "But I still think it's cool, and I even want to meet the person who created me. Don't you think it's the same as the Western concept of God creating man?" The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, as if she wanted to use a smile to cover up the unease deep in her heart, but that trace of bitterness lingered.

Looking at the contradictory woman before him, Sharp's doubts deepened. He clearly saw the deep pessimism hidden beneath her optimistic surface.

At the same time, he became even more certain of his answer—that he must not reveal the truth about being from another world to anyone here until the very last moment.

"Meow--"

The meow was followed by a surprised "Eh?"

A clear, melodious bell rang throughout the room. Just then, a petite white figure slipped into the ward like a ghost.

Sharp looked closely and immediately recognized the cat as the little white kitten who had been so close to Naya. A small, delicate bell jingled around its neck as it moved. The white kitten nimbly leaped onto the table, then began licking its paws with its pink tongue, as if gesturing something. Its clear, glass-like eyes were fixed intently on Sharp, unmoving.

"What is this..." Sharp was clearly baffled by the white cat's series of strange actions. He stared at it blankly, a look of confusion on his face.

Seeing Sharp's lack of reaction, the white cat seemed somewhat displeased. It frowned slightly and sighed softly, as if blaming Sharp for his slowness. Then, it actually straightened up like a human, put its two front paws on its hips, and looked at Sharp with a slightly disdainful look, as if to say, "Look out the window! Idiot!"

Before Sharp could even see who the other person was, Zhao Lin had already shouted out.

Outside the bright, clean window of the ward, a graceful figure draped in a long black cloak stood silently—Naya, one hand gently covering her mouth, seemingly trying to conceal her laughter, yet unable to hide the joyful notes overflowing from deep within her throat; her other hand casually rested on her waist, making her appear both playful and enigmatic. The brilliant, warm sunlight poured down like scattered gold, perfectly illuminating Naya's beautiful, refined face and exquisite figure, as if bathing her in a soft golden glow, captivating all who beheld her.

Sharp lowered his head and laughed along.

His heart was moved by Naya.

"The lush lilacs..."

"Your voice lingered in my ears."

"Your radiant smile supports my trembling legs as I move forward."

"At this moment, on the horizon where we met, you smiled."

"This courage is a gift you gave me."

"Walk the path you once walked..."

"I will move forward with my original aspirations unchanged..."

"The lush lilacs."

"I will take you to present him with a bouquet of flowers."

"Scrap shrapnel intertwines amidst an endless sea of flowers; we have not forgotten our vows to each other..."