Ito Tomono lowered her head, her gaze falling to the ground, unable to meet Mingsheng's eyes again.
But Mingsheng did not let Ito Tomono off the hook. He looked down at her bowed head and continued.
"So, what you're implying is that if you knew Ziongzong and I were not the same person, you wouldn't betray Ziongzong?"
Mingsheng mercilessly used the word "betrayal." In the instant she heard that word, Ito Tomono's figure even wavered, almost falling.
Mingsheng did not sympathize with the helpless girl. He only thought that as a fictional personality he had created, Ziongzong had already gained recognition as a person.
- It's just a personality I created on a whim.
With complicated emotions, Mingsheng looked at Ito Tomono one last time. This girl acted with unknown motivations, doing things that were not suitable for her age, and now bearing the pain and pressure that she shouldn't have to bear.
- Why bother, for a fictional personality.
Then, he turned and left.
"Alright, I understand. Goodbye."
Mingsheng's departure.
"Wait! You haven't answered my question yet!"
Seeing Mingsheng about to leave, Ito Tomono hurriedly caught up, but after catching up, she felt guilty and didn't know what to do.
Below the rooftop, the chorus in the music classroom continued, and a little further down, the members of the track team chanted in unison. In a slightly more distant place, the boys from the baseball team occasionally let out a resolute shout.
Such sounds were what teenagers of this age should have, not the painful negotiations with unfamiliar people over life and death issues.
Mingsheng looked at Ito Tomono's flickering eyes and wanted to give her some advice, but he quickly changed his mind. Advice like that was most likely doing good with bad intentions, and it might even be labeled as showing off. It was better not to say anything.
"To do or not to do, that is my freedom. Goodbye."
Mingsheng said this and left the rooftop.
This time, Ito Tomono didn't have the courage to chase after him again.
Step by step, she descended the stairs, and her emotions settled along with each step.
When asked, "Would you die for someone else's survival?", no one can be happy.
It's like saying, your existence is not as meaningful as others'.
People ultimately live in the recognition of others.
To be cognized is to exist.
- My existence is not as valuable as a fictional personality's.
Mingsheng left the school expressionless.
During this time, living in the warm moments in the Uesugi family, Mingsheng's once melting heart returned to its original state.
- I'm not a saint like "Ziongzong."
Not loving others, not being loved by others, acting recklessly, Mingsheng.
As winter turned into spring, the beginning of February in Kyoto, greenness returned, and the air gradually became warmer. The buds of plum blossoms and rhododendrons were about to burst open. On the walls of houses, bright red hawthorn fruits could be seen sticking out, reflecting the sunlight and looking beautiful.
In such a picturesque scene, Mingsheng walked on the narrow path, but his eyes couldn't capture any of the greenery.
With the completion of the Bihanye Research, the intensification of internal conflicts within the Wailanshan family, and the beginning of turmoil in the environment, he still couldn't see any signposts to his destination.
As Mingsheng aimlessly walked, he reviewed Ziongzong's memories and noticed something.
The person who had some connection with Ziongzong, the Yasha nurse in the hospital, seemed to be more than just a tomboy.
In her every move, Mingsheng noticed the figure of a friend.
To confirm his speculation, Mingsheng immediately headed to the hospital where Ziongzong had visited several times.
As soon as he entered the hospital, he went straight to the front desk and asked, "How many head nurses are currently serving here?".
The nurse at the reception had never heard such a question before and thought he was going to complain, so she was a little scared and shrank back.
Just as Chong Mingde was getting impatient and considering using some means, a huge shadow loomed over the two of them.
"Sir, you do not seem to be an ill patient. May I ask what's the matter?"
The deep woman's voice was a bit hoarse and, in Japan where gentle and sweet soprano voices were important for women, it was very rare and identifiable.
Chong Mingde looked up and saw a towering figure next to him, standing at least 1.85 meters tall, with strong muscles and a broad back. His eyes were wide and bright, like bronze bells.
And this figure was actually wearing a nurse uniform.
"So, you must be the head nurse."
"What can I do for you?"
The head nurse showed no signs of being moved, looking down at Chong Mingde.
"Can we talk alone, somewhere private?"
"Sorry, I am currently working. I cannot accompany you." The head nurse spoke each word clearly, without any intention of compromise.
Chong Mingde was not discouraged, instead he smiled cunningly, appearing calm.
"Is that so? Then I'll wait here until you finish your shift."
As Chong Mingde finished speaking, a vein on the head nurse's temple twitched, and he caught this detail keenly.
"Suit yourself, but please do not disturb other guests and patients."
With that, the night demon head nurse returned to her post, and Chong Mingde sat leisurely on the chair, waiting for the head nurse to finish work.
He already had the upper hand.
