Apocalypse Forecast

"Where am I?"

She looked around, astonished at the familiar faces. "Where am I? Where did I run off to again?"

Seeing that confused face, everyone from Xuan Niao down to the Sublimators of the Social Security Bureau couldn't help but cover their embarrassed faces, their heads aching.

A pigeon, appearing from who knows where, landed on her shoulder and cooed twice before she finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Current Circumstances? That's good, that's good."

"I knew something was off the further I walked; I couldn't find anyone." As she spoke, she proudly puffed out her chest. "Who says I got lost? I haven't gone too far, have I!"

Yes, even today, the Teenage Girl known as White Emperor's Son was still hopelessly lost.

"AH!!!!"

Just as the awkward silence settled, an astonished shout suddenly pierced the air.

The Teenage Girl turned around blankly and saw the altar she had smashed, and Huai Shi sitting on the ground, frightened by the thing that had fallen from the sky.

He stared blankly at White Emperor's Son before him, comparing her to the character illustration displayed on his phone, incredulous. "You, you, you, you..."

"Eh?"

White Emperor's Son looked bewildered. "What's wrong with me?"

Before she finished speaking, she felt the person rush forward and grab her hand tightly, his face flushing red, his eyes shining as if lit from within. "—You're the only Card I want!"

"Eh?"

Zhu Qingyu was stunned for a moment, not understanding what was happening.

"Warm? It's actually real? Oh my God!"

Huai Shi held her hand, almost moved to tears. Who said paper characters weren't three-dimensional?

"Miss, did you come from the 2D world just to see me?" Huai Shi asked excitedly. "Are you free tonight? Can we have dinner together?"

"I, uh...that's not... I'm that popular?"

Zhu Qingyu looked at him, astonished, suspecting he had mistaken her for someone else.

But looking at those eyes full of zeal and anticipation, the fanatical and joyful expression, and the hands holding her fingers... For some reason, her mind seemed to cross wires. It was as though, in the midst of her chaotic thoughts, an abstract mango icon slowly rose, bringing with it a shocking speculation.

She opened her mouth in astonishment.

—Dear Father in Hell... I think I've just been confessed to.

For the first time in fifteen years.

To feel such a terrifying impact!

She suddenly felt dizzy and just stared at the young man in front of her, at a loss for what to do with her hands.

"Um, sorry, I...uh...I'm only fifteen... I'm still young..."

Her tongue suddenly stumbled over her words. "Besides, I don't even know your name yet, and you... Things like this... We should get to know each other better first, right? I-I mean...that's not what I..."

Seeing that her explanation was only making things more unclear, she almost gave up. Closing her eyes, she yelled, "Anyway, that kind of thing should wait until after I'm eighteen!"

"...Ah?"

Huai Shi was taken aback, not understanding what she was saying.

He quickly noticed the stares of the Sublimators in the distance; their expressions were stunned, incredulous, dark, and cold—a killing intent that felt like thorns pressing into his back.

Finally realizing what he had said, he broke out in a cold sweat, dumbstruck. The smile gradually faded from his face, and he felt as if he had just performed an entire set of radio exercises on the brink of death.

Don't panic, Huai Shi, don't panic! Stay calm! Think! Think hard about a way to turn this situation around!

In that instant, Huai Shi's thoughts raced, and he finally found the sole path to survival among the many that led to the crematorium.

"COUGH, COUGH. 'Actually... I'm a fan of yours.'"

He forced a smile, trying hard to present himself as a friendly older brother. "Could you sign something for me?"

"Ah? Oh, sure!"

Zhu Qingyu also snapped back to reality, her face flushing as she looked down. After waiting for what felt like ages, she asked in a low voice, "Could you loosen your grip a little?"

"Ah, sure!"

Huai Shi awkwardly let go, offering a sheepish smile to the other rescuers who had arrived. However, behind his back, the fingers that had just held White Emperor's Son couldn't resist rubbing together again and again.

The touch felt so nice.

He wept internally.

After receiving the pen from Huai Shi, White Emperor's Son searched her pockets but couldn't find any paper. Huai Shi then suggested, "Why not sign on my clothes?"

"No, no need, just wait…"

Perhaps imagining some strange scenario, the Teenage Girl's face grew redder. She hurriedly declined, looking around. She quickly jumped into the Abyss and came back just as swiftly, holding a palm-sized Transparent Crystal Stone. She scribbled her name on it and then, with her head down, handed it over.

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

Huai Shi quickly reached out, and upon taking it, accidentally touched her fingers. She withdrew as if electrocuted, then turned around, saying, "You're welcome... I... I should go now."

She had just taken a step when her legs buckled slightly, causing her to stumble. Quickly, with her head down and avoiding everyone else's gaze, she ran into the Paradise of Bliss through the gate that was not yet closed, as if fleeing.

In the silence, only Huai Shi stood on the edge of the platform, dumbfounded, watching the Abyss disappear quickly as the Mirror World shattered. Then, he looked down at the signed Crystal Stone in his hand.

"What a pity."

He murmured softly, "I should have asked for her WeChat."

SNAP!

An old palm landed on his shoulder, making him shudder. As he stiffly turned around, he saw Xuan Niao standing behind him, his expression dark.