The subway station remained as bustling and noisy as ever.

The mixed-heritage young man who had first approached Bai Youwei stood to the side of the road, watching her and Shen Mo’s group walk away into the distance. He gave a bored press of his lips and called back to the others: “Let’s go too.”

One of his companions said: “What’s the deal with that Shen Mo anyway? Guy’s got all the luck — knocked us off the rankings, dominated the newcomer board, and now a pretty girl comes walking straight to him…”

“Yeah, great luck.” He gave a light, offhand smile. “Though in the Combat Zone, luck doesn’t count for much. What really matters is staying alive long enough.”

……

Bai Youwei followed Shen Mo back to where he lived — a three-story luxury villa, far beyond what she had expected.

After all, she’d spent her entire time in the Life Zone living in a run-down welfare home.

They were both newcomers — so why was Shen Mo’s situation this good?

The villa’s front courtyard was paved with red tiles, green plants grew along the base of the walls, and everything was kept very clean.

Two doll-type servants — one male, one female — stood at the entrance. The moment they saw Shen Mo’s group come in, they bowed in unison and greeted them warmly: “The hot water is ready. What would you like for dinner this evening?”

The red-haired woman jumped in first: “I’m going to bathe first, I’m dying from all the sweat. You all can sort out dinner — I don’t care what we have.”

“There’s never anything good anyway, just the same few set meals rotating over and over.” The short-ponytail man stretched his arms lazily. “I’m going to bathe too~”

The one remaining — a quiet, built man — didn’t linger either. He waved a hand and said: “I’m going to sleep. Call me when dinner’s ready.”

That left just Shen Mo and Bai Youwei…

Shen Mo couldn’t quite decide what attitude to take with Bai Youwei. Saying he didn’t know her — when she leaned close all soft and sweet, there genuinely was a sense of familiarity. But saying he did know her — she was a person who’d appeared out of nowhere in his blank memory, and if he just treated her as his wife from the start…

He truly couldn’t recall what it was like to have a wife.

Bai Youwei kept her eyes on him, watching his every subtle expression.

Shen Mo gave a quiet cough and said: “The servants are included with the villa. They cook, do laundry, and clean. You can make requests of them as well — most everyday needs can be met. There’s still one empty room that can be set up for you, or you could… share a room with me.”

“Of course I’ll share with you,” Bai Youwei replied immediately. “We’re husband and wife. How could we be apart? You used to not be able to sleep at night without holding me — you’ve changed! Sniff sniff…”

Shen Mo: “……”

Bai Youwei didn’t dare push too far. She sniffled for a bit, then stopped, wrapped her arms around his waist, and said understandingly: “But… you can’t be blamed for this. If anything, blame this world! It’s nothing but a stumbling block in the way of our love.”

Shen Mo couldn’t help asking: “Why do you still remember what came before? I’ve asked many people here, and everyone has no memory of their past.”

“……” Bai Youwei was quiet for a moment, then spoke with a touch of wistfulness: “That’s naturally because the depth of my love for you carries its own weight.”

Shen Mo: “……”

He was starting to have doubts about Bai Youwei’s story…

Bai Youwei seemed to sense this. She blinked and swayed their linked arms: “Husband, take me to see your room~”

She pressed so close, held on so tight, clinging like a piece of soft candy — and Shen Mo found, to his surprise, that he didn’t mind it in the least. Still, he said with mild seriousness: “Walk properly.”

Bai Youwei wasn’t afraid of him at all. She’d worked this hard to find him — she could spend three days and three nights doing nothing but being affectionate with him without repeating herself.

She stood on her tiptoes, hooked her arm around Shen Mo’s neck, hanging most of her weight on him, and spoke in a sweet, cloying tone: “Husband~ I’ve missed you so much, my legs have gone completely soft and I really can’t walk…”

Shen Mo: “……”

Whether or not her legs had actually gone soft, he didn’t know — but he did know that if she kept clinging to him like this, he would make certain she couldn’t walk.

—