After helping Xiao carry Indarias back to her room, Bonanus led her little brother out and into the living room.
It was already late, and Yanfei had gone to bed early after finishing her legal work. Only Xiao and Bonanus remained in the living room.
Seeing that Xiao didn't seem ready to leave, Bonanus grew puzzled.
She could clearly feel that this swaying man had something he wanted to ask her.
"There is something." Xiao rubbed his head. It felt heavy and ached.
Seeing this, Bonanus guided him to sit on the sofa. But the moment he sat down, he pulled her into a tight embrace, refusing to let go.
His chin rested on her left shoulder. His arms wrapped firmly around her waist.
Caught off guard, Bonanus was confused. What's wrong with her little brother? Was it because he was drunk?
She gently patted his hair. Even if she didn't understand, she still offered comfort.
"Did something sad come to mind?" Bonanus said softly.
Xiao shook his head slightly. His body trembled as he spoke, his voice cracking.
"Please don't leave, okay?"
Hearing that, and the tears in his voice, Bonanus froze. It was the first time she had ever seen the strong Xiao break down like this.
And those words—"Don't leave." She knew exactly what he meant.
Not long after bringing Indarias back, she had already started thinking about returning the body to the original Bonanus and letting her own soul leave.
She didn't have a specific plan yet, but she would find one. Just like before, she hated this false reunion.
And Xiao had seen through her intentions. That caught her off guard.
"I'm not planning to leave." Bonanus patted his back softly.
"Liar..." Xiao clenched his jaw. He wasn't mistaken. Earlier at Wanmin Restaurant, her conflicted expression had hinted at leaving.
Hearing that, Bonanus cupped his face with both hands and forced the drunken man to meet her eyes.
Seeing his tear-streaked cheeks and trembling lips, her heart ached.
A complicated feeling stirred within her. Behind Xiao's cold, serious exterior lay a fragile, vulnerable heart.
And now, under the influence of alcohol, he could no longer hide his true feelings.
"I love you. I want to be with you. Please, don't leave."
"I really can't lose you. Please don't leave me, okay?" Xiao's voice cracked. He was terrified of losing Bonanus one day, of losing the caring sister who had always been there for him.
If that ever happened, he really would want to die.
Bonanus fell silent. She had never realized how deep Xiao's feelings for her ran.
Though she was clueless about matters of the heart, after all these years together, she could still sense his feelings. She had just been lying to herself, refusing to believe it.
But Xiao loved Bonanus—the original one. Not her.
"Be good. In the future, you and 'her' will truly be together."
Bonanus put on a smile again—not one of joy, but of struggle.
With that, she silently called out to the system.
[System, I need a favor.] Bonanus thought.
[System online. How can I help?] The mechanical voice echoed in her ear.
What should have taken seconds felt like hours to her.
[Can you make Xiao forget what we just talked about?] Bonanus asked.
[System response: Yes. By intensifying the drunken state and stimulating Xiao's central nervous system, he will forget part of today's memories, leaving them blank.]
[I see. That sounds like medical jargon. Go ahead.] Bonanus nodded.
[The system will deduct a small amount of karmic debt. Proceeding...]
The moment the system finished, Xiao felt even worse than before. His eyelids grew heavy. His head throbbed and spun.
He mumbled strange words under his breath, repeating them over and over. Soon, his limbs went weak, and he fell asleep.
Bonanus gently laid him flat on the sofa and covered him with a blanket. Leaning down, she placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
Looking at his handsome, slightly flushed face, she didn't hesitate. She turned and walked out into the courtyard.
Under the cold night breeze, Bonanus clenched her fists and sat quietly on the stone bench, silent for a long time.
She probably wouldn't sleep tonight. After everything that just happened, her head was spinning. What was she supposed to do?
If only the system had given her a new body from the start—one that didn't belong to this world.
Then she could pursue Xiao openly.
But that would be difficult. An ordinary person trying to get close to a revered adeptus—it was nearly impossible.
[System, can I ask you something?] Bonanus thought.
[System online again. Go ahead.]
[If I leave this body and let the original soul return, can you do that?] Bonanus took a deep breath.
[Yes. Are you sure? If you do that, your current body will have no vessel. You'll have to enter the system's data space.]
[And since your original body is already gone, I may need time to find you a new vessel. You might end up in another world.] The system replied flatly.
[No. I don't want to use someone else's body again.] Bonanus shook her head silently.
[Then either create a new body that never existed in this world, or let me be reborn. Just don't use anyone else's body. I don't like it.] Bonanus said.
[Understood. Is now the time?] The system asked in its usual mechanical tone.
[It'll happen eventually. But not now.]
With that, Bonanus ended the conversation. She rested her head on her arm and fell into thought.
There were still people to save. The Traveler hadn't arrived in Liyue yet. Until then, she would let herself be a little selfish.
Perhaps, among countless worlds, she was just one in a million drifting souls.
Or maybe she was just an anomaly—an outsider disrupting the natural flow of this world.
She knew that one day, a "god" would take notice of her actions. And when that day came, she might be destroyed.
But she had no regrets. When that time came, she would leave with a smile.
How wonderful. She would give Xiao the happiness he deserved. In the future, the great Irminsul might make people forget her.
But at least the Traveler would remember that she had once been here.