"I know. I've always known. Little Li has always been working so hard for the people around him. Even if no one sees it, even if no one understands, Little Li still hasn't given up."
Raiden Mei's voice was very soft, muffled by the fabric of Li Wu's clothes. Every word was indistinct.
"If trying so hard is too exhausting, then just give up."
"If holding on is too painful, then just leave."
"I forgive you."
"Tonight... just let Mei prepare one last dinner for you. That is my only request."
Every word was feather-light, carrying no physical weight, yet they struck Li Wu's mind like heavy blows, leaving him reeling.
There was no tug-of-war, no pleading for him to stay, no emotional blackmail or guilt-tripping using responsibility.
She simply... let go.
Or rather, for his sake, she chose to release that taut string called "expectation."
No reasons given, no questions asked.
The sunlight slowly shifted across their embracing figures, stretching their shadows long across the empty floor.
Their only audience was a few bags of snacks sitting on a desk.
The noise outside the window grew increasingly distant. For a moment, this scene felt like it had become eternal.
On this day, beneath a sun that wasn't particularly bright, Raiden Mei took the initiative to end their twisted, co-dependent relationship.
By the time Li Wu snapped back to reality, Raiden Mei had already left the classroom.
He was the only one left standing in the empty room.
The textbooks and stationery piled on the desks, the English formulas left un-erased on the blackboard, the motivational quotes hanging on the walls... All these products of student life became clearer and clearer, so clear that he began to acknowledge them, accept them, and think about them.
The black card was still in his hand, but his life seemed to have undergone a paradigm shift—
From a transmigrator whose goal was to save the Valkyries, back to an ordinary high school student troubled by his studies.
Everything had changed, yet nothing had changed.
For the rest of the day, whether during the lunch break or the afternoon classes, the three of them actively avoided each other's gazes. Even the occasional stolen glances completely disappeared.
Kiana immersed herself in her books.
A few girls took the initiative to show goodwill toward Raiden Mei. Mei responded with the dignified poise of the heiress she used to be, chatting with them pleasantly. She seemed to have reverted to the refined lady she was before Raiden Ryoma went to prison.
Li Wu went back to slumping over his desk, browsing meaningless information on his phone. During this time, many nobles tried to strike up a conversation with him, but he ignored them all.
The short afternoon felt as if an entire century had passed. It was incredibly long.
"I'm going home with Little Li now! I had a great time chatting today. Make sure you recommend some nice clothes and makeup to me tomorrow!"
Raiden Mei waved goodbye to her classmates and returned to Li Wu's right side.
Facing the familiar, hazy twilight, this time, she didn't cling to Li Wu's arm. She simply walked slowly and quietly beside him. The two stopped at the bus stop, standing in silence, watching the cars come and go on the road...
Several times, Raiden Mei glanced at him. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed the words back down every time, returning her gaze to the street.
Waiting.
They just waited in silence, waiting for the bus to arrive and take them on the final leg of their journey together.
The sun, which had hung high in the sky, hid itself away. The brilliant, glorious sunset was obscured by thick, dark clouds. The air suddenly felt heavy, and the faint patter of raindrops began to fall.
They returned home.
The journey was quiet. They sat very close to each other, but neither spoke a word.
Even after arriving at the apartment, it was the same. Li Wu threw his backpack onto the sofa, retreated into his bedroom, collapsed onto the bed, and pulled the blanket over his head.
Whenever he quieted down, Arga's words would echo in his mind—
"It's tragic, but death is true release."
The final destiny of a Herrscher: either become a test subject stripped of human rights, tortured in a lab until every drop of value is drained before dying; or fight to the bitter end, only to be slain, leaving behind a legacy of infamy that curses even their family and friends.
Just as Arga had said, even her biological father, Raiden Ryoma, had planned to kill Raiden Mei when he realized the news of her becoming a Herrscher could no longer be hidden.
As an outsider, an ordinary person... how could he possibly protect Raiden Mei, let alone all the other future Herrscher hosts?
The more he thought about it, the heavier the weight of "giving up" became in Li Wu's mind.
Just as his head was filled to bursting with immense pressure, a knock came at the door. It was very light. It knocked exactly three times.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Li Wu didn't answer.
The door wasn't locked. If Raiden Mei wanted to, she could turn the handle and walk right in at any time.
Seeing that there was no response from inside, Raiden Mei placed her hand on the doorknob. Two seconds later, she gave a wry smile and pulled her hand back.
"Little Li, we're out of salt. Could you go buy some? I still have some prep work to do in the kitchen, so I can't step away. When you have a moment, go buy a bag of salt! I'm making soup for you tonight."
"Oh, and remember to take an umbrella when you go out! The weather forecast said there's going to be a heavy rainstorm tonight. Be safe!"
With that, her footsteps gradually faded away.
Raiden Mei returned to the kitchen to continue preparing this farewell dinner.
"..."
"Okay."
Li Wu's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz. No one but him could hear this agreement; he was just talking to himself.
Throwing off the blanket, Li Wu left the bedroom. He quickened his pace as he passed the kitchen and hurriedly left the apartment.
The supermarket wasn't too far from the apartment, but it wasn't exactly close either. It took about a ten-minute walk.
He quickly found the bag of salt on the supermarket shelf. A square, white plastic bag sitting among a dazzling array of condiments—utterly, unsurprisingly ordinary.
For a split second, Li Wu hallucinated that the bag of salt was himself.
"..."
"I should head back."
Despite saying that, Li Wu didn't leave immediately. Instead, he wandered around the supermarket a bit longer, strolling through the snack and beverage aisles, but he didn't buy anything else.
Escapism.
Li Wu knew very well that he was running away.
Just like in his original world, before every monthly exam, while most of the students in his class were desperately cramming, memorizing the key points the teacher had highlighted, he would find a quiet corner and secretly play on his phone.
If my hard work won't reach the expected outcome anyway, I might as well give up from the start. At least that way, I can play in peace.
As for the future...
Things like the college entrance exams in two years, university life, entering the workforce.
Li Wu had never thought about them.
The future?
His teacher had once called him into the office, staring at him with that standard "disappointed in your wasted potential" look, spitting out phrases like "lack of ambition" and "short-sighted." He hadn't been angry. Perhaps the teacher was right. After all, he truly wasn't like the other students in the advanced classes who had their entire university paths meticulously planned out.
What will I do for the college entrance exam in two years? What will I do after graduating from university in six years? Where will I go?
These concepts were too massive, too abstract. They were like the thick fog he occasionally saw outside his window when he woke up in the morning—if he stared at it too long, his eyes would just sting, and he still wouldn't be able to see clearly.