Forget the troubles of the past year, ignore the hardships of the year to come—within this limited time, embrace the ultimate pursuits of life: reunion, fulfillment, abundance, and joy, even if it is merely a fleeting and beautiful illusion... This is where ordinary people find happiness.
As he gazed at the bustling crowd beneath the pedestrian bridge, Xu Mo suddenly felt a strange sense of detachment from the world.
There was a time when he had been just like these people—rushing about in society, weighed down by countless trivial matters. Every day, he cursed the struggles of life, yet found himself savoring its moments of beauty in hopeful anticipation.
But ever since he chose the Apocalyptic Shard, that simple and ordinary happiness had forever slipped beyond his reach.
"Enjoying life"—these four words were a privilege reserved only for Apocalyptic Shard Wielders who could keep themselves alive under any circumstances.
Life is fair. To gain something, one must lose something in return. The more one gains, the more one loses... Deep down, everyone understands this truth, but human greed makes them focus only on what they gain while selectively ignoring what they are bound to lose.
He had chosen to obtain power beyond ordinary people, but at the cost of losing peace and safety in his life...
Was that choice truly the right one?
"Hey! Xu Mo!"
"Huh...? Lin Yijing? Uh?"
A crisp voice jolted Xu Mo from his thoughts. He instinctively turned around to respond, but when he saw the person in front of him, his expression instantly became indescribably odd.
"Tang... Guo? Why is it you?"
Since their last meeting, this little rascal, Tang Guo, had been sending him messages every now and then, despite not seeing each other. While they weren't exactly close, they could at least be considered acquaintances.
"What's with that face? Are you disappointed to see me?"
Tang Guo slightly furrowed her delicate brows, pouting as she scrutinized Xu Mo's face from different angles. Suddenly, her eyes lit up in realization.
"Are you waiting for someone? A girl, perhaps?"
What the heck? Do I have it written on my face or something? Why does everyone seem to know?
"So you are waiting for a girl..." Tang Guo murmured in surprise, as if she had just been testing him. Then, as if recalling something, she added, "Is it the one from your wallet? You two finally started dating?"
At the sudden mention of Xu Bilin, Xu Mo's expression involuntarily darkened. He replied lightly, "No... Besides, she's not my girlfriend."
Tang Guo carefully observed the subtle changes in Xu Mo's expression. As if understanding something, she pouted but tactfully refrained from asking further.
Just as an awkward silence was about to settle between them, a gentle voice suddenly spoke from beside him.
"Xu Mo, I'm sorry for being late. Have you been waiting long?"
Today, Lin Yijing wore a pure white long coat. Her silky, satin-like hair flowed freely over her shoulders, without any restraints. Her face had just a touch of light makeup, but her overall look remained as refreshingly pure as ever—like a lily blooming in the cold wind.
There was no denying it—even if Lin Yijing's features were blurred, the natural purity and elegance she exuded would still be impossible to ignore. Even the ever-picky Tang Guo was momentarily stunned by her appearance.
"You've got good taste! This girl is not bad at all—almost on my level!"
Tang Guo nudged Xu Mo's arm with her elbow, grinning mischievously.
Lin Yijing had already noticed Tang Guo when she arrived at the pedestrian bridge. At first, she thought the strikingly beautiful young girl was just asking for directions, so she didn't pay much attention. But seeing how she whispered to Xu Mo, she was slightly surprised.
"Xu Mo, this is...?"
Since it was supposed to be a meeting between just the two of them, having a third person suddenly appear did seem a bit rude. Worried that Lin Yijing might misunderstand, Xu Mo was about to explain that he had just run into Tang Guo by chance.
But before he could say anything, the little troublemaker suddenly grabbed onto his arm, pressing herself close in an intimate manner. With a sweet smile, she declared—
"I'm one of Xu Mo's girlfriends. My name is Tang Guo!"
Xu Mo nearly coughed up blood on the spot.
What the hell is this girl up to now? And why the hell did she have to add "one of"?!
"Hehe... Nice to meet you. I'm Lin Yijing, Xu Mo's classmate. Though we're not in the same class."
Lin Yijing greeted her with a smile that carried a hint of subtlety, but her gaze remained fixed on Xu Mo—like she was staring at some shady old man preying on underage girls.
"Lin Yijing, actually—"
Xu Mo had no intention of letting this misunderstanding fester. He was just about to explain when Tang Guo suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Then, with an utterly shocking statement, she turned to Lin Yijing and asked—
"Do you like our dear Xu Mo?"
"Eh?!"
Lin Yijing never expected Tang Guo to suddenly throw such a bombshell at her, and on such a sensitive topic no less. Her subtle smile instantly froze, and her cheeks turned crimson. Flustered, she stammered—
"N-no, you've got it wrong! Xu Mo and I are really just classmates! I didn't ask him out today for any other reason..."
Xu Mo had always seen Lin Yijing as someone composed, almost otherworldly—like a fairy untouched by the mundane world. But now, thanks to Tang Guo's words, she was blushing furiously, completely at a loss.
This little brat really is a genius at messing with people!
And somehow, Lin Yijing's flustered expression carried an undeniable charm that left Xu Mo momentarily dazed. He even forgot to pull away Tang Guo's hand covering his mouth.
"It's fine if you like him. I'm a very generous person—I'll allow you to be Xu Mo's second girlfriend."
Tang Guo patted her flat chest with a magnanimous air.
So that's why she said "one of"! She set up this trap from the start!
Xu Mo wasn't about to let her continue wreaking havoc. Who knew what else this little devil had up her sleeve? He hastily pried her off and turned to Lin Yijing with an apologetic expression.
"Sorry! Don't listen to her nonsense. She's just like a little sister to me—"
"Without any blood relation!" Tang Guo quickly added from behind.
"You shut up! Do you want to make this even messier?!"
Xu Mo shot her a murderous glare, waving his fist in warning. But all he got in return was a cheeky, defiant face.
Lin Yijing had finally regained her composure by now. She could tell that Tang Guo was just fooling around, so she wasn't too bothered. Smiling lightly, she said—
"It's alright. Your sister is quite adorable. And very pretty as well... Shall we go?"
Only then did Xu Mo realize that almost everyone on the pedestrian bridge was staring at the three of them.
Well, no surprise there. Both Lin Yijing and Tang Guo were stunning beauties—seeing them together was already eye-catching. Add to that a seemingly absurd love-triangle dispute, and it was bound to spark all kinds of wild imaginations.
"Uh... Yeah. Let's go."
Scratching his head in embarrassment, Xu Mo turned to Tang Guo.
"So... Shouldn't you be heading home?"
"Are you guys going on a date?"
Tang Guo's expression was pure and innocent—but even a fool could tell she was faking it.
"Uhh... no. Xu Mo helped me out yesterday, and I just wanted to treat him to a meal as thanks."
Lin Yijing quickly clarified, seemingly worried about any misunderstandings.
"Then it's settled!"
Tang Guo shrugged indifferently.
"If it's not a date, having me tag along won't be a problem, right? Or... are you trying to get rid of me because you have other plans with this big sister?"
Damn! That excuse was flawless!
With no way to refute, Xu Mo had no choice but to bring her along.
Mission accomplished, Tang Guo beamed at Lin Yijing, flashing a dazzling grin.
"Alright, let's go!"
Grabbing both Xu Mo and Lin Yijing, she happily skipped away, humming a cheerful tune as the three of them disappeared from the pedestrian bridge under the bemused gazes of countless onlookers.