The first wish seemed to come from a researcher... Xiaosheng.
"Among the wishes submitted to Moon Tree House, this researcher appears to have developed the desire to disappear from the world…"
"And the reason is that the only companion who once supported him was hurt because of his own stubbornness and foolishness. According to his own account, he doesn't even dare to apologize."
"Analysis conclusion... this wish shows strong tendencies of self-denial and self-destruction. Dangerous. Recommendation, provide care and timely psychological intervention."
The little robot's voice sounded at just the right moment, and the mood among them immediately sank.
While Rover and the others were lost in thought, the Doctor slowly stepped forward to the edge of the cliff. She leaned down and looked below, feeling the wind rising from the valley.
"But something about this doesn't add up." As their attention shifted to her, she slowly turned back. "If his wish really is to 'disappear from the world,' then why bother making a wish at all? To put it bluntly, wouldn't jumping off the cliff do the job?"
As she spoke, she pointed to the cliff beside her. "At this height, there's no chance of surviving the fall. And yet, that researcher didn't do it."
Rover frowned slightly. The Doctor's words were blunt, but they made sense.
"Perhaps…"
Xiangli Yao stroked his chin and looked thoughtfully at the petite black-haired girl. When it came to noticing details, this Doctor was honestly a bit frightening. In just a few breaths, she had already guessed the researcher's true wish…
He believed he would have reached the key point soon as well, but in the end, he had still been a step slower.
"He just wants someone to see his wish," the Doctor continued, picking up where Xiangli Yao left off. She had already formed a rough idea of the researcher's motives. "In reality, he's seeking help from others... to help him deal with a problem he can't solve on his own."
"So." She turned to Xiangli Yao. "Do you know this researcher named Xiaosheng?"
Xiangli Yao thought for a moment, then shook his head helplessly. "There doesn't seem to be any researcher by that name in the institute. It's probably a pseudonym."
"Damn it, this is driving me crazy!" Suddenly, a familiar voice cut into their conversation. "If he wants help, why not just say who he is? How twisted does someone have to be to act like this!?"
Jue: '???'
The one who spoke was, of course, Zane... called over by Xiangli Yao. Not long ago, the message Xiangli Yao sent had gone straight to him, just as he'd been assigned a task by Changli.
Zane wasn't asleep either... summoned to Taoyuan Township to work.
"You're here." Rover's eyes softened slightly. Only when she looked at him did a faint hint of a smile appear in her otherwise cool, calm gaze.
"Mm."
After replying to her, Zane immediately turned and shot Xiangli Yao a vicious look. He strode over, hooked an arm around Xiangli Yao's neck, and dragged him a few steps away.
His teeth ground audibly, as if he wanted to bite the man to death, as he asked in a low voice only the two of them could hear, "You dragged her into this too?"
Xiangli Yao thought for a moment and quickly understood why Zane was so angry. He smiled and nodded. "Mm."
Seeing that indifferent, shameless expression, Zane's teeth itched with irritation. His grip around Xiangli Yao's neck tightened.
"You know how troublesome handling wishes is, and you still pulled her into Moon Tree House?!"
"The drifter asked to join on her own," Xiangli Yao said innocently, then flashed him a teasing smile. "Be honest with me... are you just reluctant to see her work so hard? I heard you just got back from the Black Shores. A lot must've happened, right?
"Tsk tsk. Nothing's even started yet, and you're already taking her side?
"And you're calling someone else twisted? Aren't you even more twisted than that researcher?"
"You... " Zane's face flushed. He turned his head slightly, sneaking a glance to make sure Rover wasn't paying attention. Only then did he relax a little. Caught out, his tone softened.
"I don't care. We came back to Jinzhou this time so she could properly relax. You need to come up with something."
Hearing that, Xiangli Yao narrowed his eyes and suddenly gave a sly smile.
"I do have a good idea."
"Spit it out!"
"You do the work yourself."
"…"
'Right, so that's what you were waiting for, huh!?'
Maybe this scheming bastard had planned it from the moment he first saw Rover.
Along with Master Changli... they'd been setting him up from the start.
Zane turned his head again. Under the bright moonlight, Rover stood bathed in silver glow, holding the little robot as she flipped through the wishes.
Her brows were slightly lowered, her eyes beneath them like sunlight soaked in clear dew, and a faint vermilion at the corners gave her a soft, alluring warmth.
He pulled his gaze back and clenched his teeth, then nodded.
"Fine. Just make sure you prepare proper compensation for her and the Doctor."
He wasn't one to drag things out. Since they'd decided to organize the Chasing Moon Festival, they might as well make it spectacular.
"More importantly, let's go take a look at the first anomalous wish."
"'Let's'?" Xiangli Yao's gaze drifted between Zane, Rover, and the Doctor before he chuckled. "I won't interrupt your date."
"A date my ass! What kind of date involves working for someone else!?"
Faced with Zane's explosive reaction once again, Xiangli Yao merely smiled lightly and waved as he left.
After all, every extra second he stayed increased his chances of getting beaten by ten percent.
Before leaving, Xiangli Yao glanced around absentmindedly. Then, as if he saw something, his handsome face froze for a moment. He raised a brow, smiling faintly... but to Zane, that smile carried a clear hint of schadenfreude.
Seeing that expression, Zane suddenly felt like Louis XVI... completely clueless. "What are you laughing at?"
Xiangli Yao, standing across from him, seemed to recall something, his cheek twitching slightly. At that moment, Zane had his back to Rover and the others, unaware of what was happening.
But that only made it more interesting, didn't it?
"Nothing. Take care of yourself."
With that, Xiangli Yao hurried off. But with Zane's eyesight, he could clearly see him run a dozen meters away before crouching in some bushes, peeking back in this direction. In the moonlight, he could even make out that sly grin on his face.
Setting aside Xiangli Yao's strange behavior, Zane was genuinely curious what could make that research-obsessed man drop everything just to watch the drama unfold.
Turning around with that thought, a faint scent of ink and books suddenly slipped into his nose.
He didn't think much of it and continued turning.
But the next second, a pair of gentle, watery almond-shaped eyes met his.
"S-sorry, Brother Zane… I didn't expect you to turn around so suddenly…"
Looking at the girl before him, soft and sweet like a freshly baked bun, Zane showed a hint of surprise.
"Zhezhi? What are you doing here?"
The moment he spoke, another gaze... tinged with scrutiny... fell on him, making his legs go weak. He nearly dropped to his knees in front of Zhezhi.
Then he glanced toward Xiangli Yao, who was hiding in the bushes not far away. Somehow, the man had already gotten his hands on a piece of watermelon from who-knows-where.
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