Bai Yanliang pondered over the meaning in Feng Xiuxue’s words, not noticing that Qi Nian had already come to his side.
"Are you... close with that big star?"
When Bai Yanliang turned his head, what he saw was Qi Nian looking as if she had mustered up her courage.
He shook his head, then nodded, and said, "Frenemy."
Hearing his answer, Qi Nian was somewhat stunned. She had imagined many answers, even considered that Bai Yanliang might say Feng Xiuxue was his girlfriend, but not this one.
Frenemy? What kind of relationship is that...
"Do you have something to discuss with me?" Bai Yanliang glanced at the sky; it was already getting late.
Only then did Qi Nian remember. She glanced back at Tang Guo and whispered, "Didn’t you ask me how I fainted? Actually... I was knocked out..."
Qi Nian’s eyes widened; what does ’oh’ mean!
"It’s Xu Zhifei, right?" Bai Yanliang suddenly said.
"How did you know..." Qi Nian suddenly covered her mouth, looking at Bai Yanliang, "Don’t tell me you also know about her eating ghosts?"
"Hmm?" Bai Yanliang thought he misheard, staring at Qi Nian, "Eating ghosts?"
It seems he didn’t know about this...
Qi Nian inexplicably exhaled in relief; if he already knew what she wanted to say, it would seem like she came to him just for a chat.
"Yes! Actually, earlier this morning, she and I were trapped by a ghost in that office..."
With Qi Nian’s explanation, Bai Yanliang learned the whole story.
Xu Zhifei... can actually eat ghosts?
Moreover, according to Qi Nian’s description, if she doesn’t eat enough fierce ghosts, Xu Zhifei’s appearance will rapidly age, almost like... a witch in a horror story.
Speaking of which, Xu Zhifei does have quite a frightening image, beautiful yet lifeless, just being stared at by her sends chills down the spine.
"Have you told anyone else about this?" Bai Yanliang asked.
"No..." Qi Nian looked somewhat conflicted, "Maybe she is some kind of monster, but she hasn’t harmed me, and... she even helped me. I think..."
Qi Nian looked earnestly at Bai Yanliang: "Let’s not reveal her secret, okay? She hasn’t hurt anyone..."
Looking at Qi Nian’s somewhat pleading eyes, Bai Yanliang suddenly felt that the differences between people are truly vast.
Moreover, people are constantly changing, even Bai Yanliang himself feels his own transformation.
He still remembers that Qi Nian entered ’Fog Gathering’ at the same time as him; back then, she was screaming, disoriented, with quite a capricious personality.
"Alright, don’t worry." Bai Yanliang did not bother explaining that he had no intention of exposing Xu Zhifei’s secret from the start.
Because he also knew another secret of Xu Zhifei’s, which is her ability to have precognition dreams.
Compared to Song Que’s eyes that can see in the dark, her innate ability is even more incredible.
To be frank, Bai Yanliang doesn’t believe the future will necessarily unfold as in Xu Zhifei’s dreams.
In his view, whether it’s prophecy or divination, they’re merely based on existing clues, combined with logical reasoning and detailed calculations, to roughly determine a few outcomes of the situation.
The future is uncertain.
Bai Yanliang has always believed this.
But if Xu Zhifei’s dreams were to come true... it would imply the future is predetermined.
Is it even necessary to strive for a predetermined future?
At this thought, Bai Yanliang couldn’t help but think of Bai Yanren.
When he was ten, he asked Yanren a similar question, which is... does destiny truly exist?
Bai Yanliang remembers that back then, Yanren seemed a bit taken aback by his question.
Clearly, he didn’t expect his younger brother to be pondering such questions at that age.
At that time, he bent down to touch Bai Yanliang’s head and said, "It does exist, just like you and me. Among billions of living beings, why did it happen that you became my little brother? That’s destiny."
"Then... do you believe in fate, brother?" asked the ten-year-old Bai Yanliang, looking up at Bai Yanren.
Bai Yanren smiled, pinched Bai Yanliang’s cheek: "Yes, I do."
Remembering Yanren’s expression now, Bai Yanliang realizes he seemed to have thought of something terrifying at that moment.
But he quickly collected himself, smiling warmly as he said, "But I don’t resign myself to fate."
Returning to his thoughts, Bai Yanliang looked at the seemingly relieved Qi Nian in front of him and said, "Let’s head back, watch out for your safety."
Qi Nian opened her mouth, intending to speak. She could sense that many things weighed on Bai Yanliang’s mind, but he never spoke of them.
He refused to talk to anyone about them...
"Bai Yanliang," Qi Nian looked intently into Bai Yanliang’s eyes.
"What’s the matter?" Bai Yanliang’s voice remained as calm as ever.
"Are we... friends?" Qi Nian’s expression was complex, but she ultimately managed to utter these words.
"Of course." Bai Yanliang’s demeanor softened considerably; though he still showed little expression, he looked far better than when forcing a smile.
Of course... from the moment you refused to let go of my hand, we were.
Bai Yanliang said silently in his heart.
"If... if only," Qi Nian looked at him hesitantly, "you encounter some difficulty, you can tell me. Even if I might not be able to help, it helps to talk about things..."
Surprised, Bai Yanliang looked at her, wondering if his troubles had become so apparent recently.
Yet, before Bai Yanliang could reply, Qi Nian’s face had turned red on her own.
Suddenly, she turned around, muttering softly: "I... I’m not insisting you talk to me. If you want to, I’ll listen; if not, it’s fine..."
"Besides, I’m not always free..."
Thinking of something, Qi Nian’s face reddened even more. She waved her hand hurriedly: "...I’ll be off, call me if you need..."
Bai Yanliang watched her retreating figure in surprise, then smiled and called out: "Qi Nian."
"What’s up?" Qi Nian replied, embarrassed, showing only half her profile. The setting sun’s afterglow mingled with shadows from the trees, casting a blush akin to the autumn sunset on her face, stunningly beautiful.
Qi Nian said nothing, but she turned her head with newfound courage to look at Bai Yanliang before quickly leaving the yard. Discover more novels at NovelHub(.)net
Tang Guo, looking unsatisfied, curiously asked: "Master, who is your lady?"
Bai Yanliang knocked on her head lightly: "Police officers shouldn’t be so nosy."
Tang Guo rubbed her head with a hurt look, "Hmph, men are all the same, fickle..."
Bai Yanliang chuckled, ignoring her words.
The word was as unfamiliar to him as stars in the sky.
Seemingly within reach, yet separated by millions of light years...