198: Chapter 198 Understanding You

At the end of the snowfield, that face—which looked like both Su Jie and Su Mei—gradually blurred within the white snow and wind.

That voice, which sounded exactly like Li Taiping's, still echoed in his ears.

"She is no longer herself."

The next second.

Darkness pressed down, and Li Taiping opened his eyes, his head feeling heavy.

He stared at the ceiling for two seconds before realizing he was lying in bed, with someone sitting by his side.

Su Mei.

She was draped in an outer robe, her hair a bit messy, with faint traces of fatigue under her eyes. She held a wet towel in her hand, as if she had just wiped his forehead.

"Hmm?"

Su Mei was startled for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

"You're awake?"

Li Taiping opened his mouth, but no sound came out; his throat was incredibly dry.

Su Mei immediately picked up a water cup from nearby, supported the back of his neck, and brought the water to his lips.

Li Taiping took two sips, his brow furrowing slightly.

"How long was I asleep?"

"One day."

Su Mei set the water cup down.

She spoke calmly, but her fingertips tightened slightly against the wall of the cup.

"The black tide remnant key must have triggered an illusion of the Former Dynasty World, and you fell into it."

Li Taiping sat up.

The black tide remnant key by the bed was sealed inside a transparent crystal box. The outer layer of the box was plastered with six runic locks, and an isolation plate was pressed beneath it.

Clearly, Su Mei had not been idle.

Li Taiping glanced at the crystal box.

"Did it move?"

"It moved three times."

Su Mei said, "The first time was half an hour after you lost consciousness; it tried to tear open space again."

"The second time, a line of text appeared on the surface of the crystal box."

"The third time, it called out your name."

Li Taiping's gaze froze.

"Called me?"

"Yes."

Su Mei looked up at him.

"Using your voice."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Li Taiping laughed.

"It certainly knows how to play."

Su Mei, however, just reached out to press down on his shoulder, staring into his eyes.

"What did you see?"

Li Taiping was silent for a moment.

"A snowfield."

"And a woman."

Su Mei's fingers paused slightly.

"Su Jie?"

"Looked like her."

Li Taiping looked at Su Mei. "And also like you."

Su Mei did not avoid his gaze, only giving a soft hum of acknowledgment.

"And then?"

"A future version of myself told me not to go in."

Li Taiping said, "He said, she is no longer herself."

Su Mei's brow tightened bit by bit.

Li Taiping raised a hand to rub his temples; the sound of the wind and snow still lingered in his mind.

That wasn't an ordinary illusion; it was too real—so real that he could still feel the cold of the snow even now.

Su Mei suddenly leaned down.

Just as Li Taiping was about to speak, she had already kissed him.

It was very forceful.

Unlike her usual seductive light kisses, this was more like she was confirming that something was still there.

Li Taiping was stunned for a moment.

Then, Su Mei wrapped her arms around his head and pulled him directly into her embrace.

Soft, warm, and with a faint milky fragrance.

Li Taiping took a deep breath.

Well, he was awake now, definitely.

Su Mei stroked the back of his head with one hand and gently patted his back with the other.

"Don't be afraid."

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

"The illusions are all fake."

"It's okay, don't be sad."

Li Taiping: "..."

He had been fine, but being coddled by her like this made it feel as if he had actually suffered some great grievance.

Li Taiping tried to lift his head.

Su Mei didn't let him.

She held him even tighter.

"Don't force yourself."

"While you were unconscious, your brow was furrowed the whole time."

"Your hands were clenched, too."

"I know you don't like others seeing this side of you."

"But it's only me here."

Li Taiping didn't speak.

The only sound in the room was the ticking of the wall clock.

Tick.

Tock.

After a moment, he said in a low voice, "Su Mei."

"Hmm?"

"If you keep pressing down like this, I might really never wake up."

Su Mei's movements paused, and she looked down at him.

Li Taiping looked back at her.

The two of them locked eyes.

One second.

Two seconds.

Su Mei suddenly laughed.

She let go of him and tapped his forehead with her fingertip.

"Still in the mood to joke around; looks like there's no big problem."

Li Taiping leaned against the headboard.

"There wasn't one to begin with."

"Stubborn," Su Mei said, picking up a recording tablet nearby. "During the day you were unconscious, the fleet's repairs reached seventy percent completion."

"The Floating Power Core has already been installed into the Many Children, Many Blessings."

"Two Gravity Suppression Turrets have been built; the third is just missing a few materials."

"The black tide pollution crystals have been sealed."

"All those infected with Tide Mark have been cleansed of pollution."

Li Taiping nodded.

"Well done."

Su Mei's eyes crinkled into a smile.

"There is one more thing."