SEC Chapter 77 What is my mission?
Chapter 77 What is my mission?
The kindergarten director's mother-in-law died.
She died on the day she had longed for most, the day she had looked forward to countless days and nights.
It was raining heavily that day, and the road was very slippery. The driver who caused the accident fled the scene, and the surveillance cameras at this remote and backward alleyway did not leave any evidence.
Shen Xi, pale-faced and dressed in white mourning clothes, stood in front of the mourning hall, carefully wiping one of the few photos left by the headmistress. In the photo, her mother-in-law was smiling happily.
There weren't many people coming and going at the orphanage, and only Shen Xi and a few of the children who stayed behind mourned the old woman.
The children knelt behind him, their eyes red from crying.
Only Shen Xi, who was in front, didn't shed a single tear, seemingly out of place in the somber atmosphere. She looked at her mother-in-law's portrait, her expression dazed, and slowly knelt on the ground, her mind blank as she listened to the cries of her younger siblings.
How can human life be so fragile?
She doesn't understand.
All she knew was that it was so close, so very close!
If only she were a little faster, just a little faster... her mother-in-law would have seen her acceptance letter by then.
Shen Xi knelt beside the brazier, watching the yellow paper crackling and burning inside, sparks flickering and illuminating her lifeless eyes.
She suddenly stood up, picked up a wet cardboard box, violently tore it open, and threw it into the brazier without hesitation.
The children were crying so hard that no one paid any attention.
Shen Xi knelt on the ground, silently watching the last corner of the paper slowly being swallowed by the fire snake, her voice trembling slightly.
"I've received the notification letter, take a look."
When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; once the ashes are scattered, nothing remains.
That evening, Shen Xi sent her younger siblings back home and knelt in the mourning hall, burning paper money with her eyes downcast.
A sudden gust of wind blew up during the night.
Hello, Shen Xi.
Shen Xi didn't turn around, and continued burning paper money calmly. There was a local saying that if an elderly person died with resentment, they would return at night.
But the person who hears the voice cannot answer.
【Huh? Can't you hear me?】
It was the voice of a little baby.
Shen Xi's numb and stiff head turned a beat slowly, and she finally realized that something was wrong.
Surely her mother-in-law can't turn back the clock, right?
Shen Xi turned her head indifferently and looked in the direction of the sound. It was pitch black outside, with nothing but swaying tree shadows.
【Oh dear, you can't see me. Let me introduce myself. I am the storyline, or what's known as the world's rules! You mortals who hear my voice must kneel and kowtow three times and bow nine times to me, understand?】
Shen Xi remained silent, continuing to burn her paper. After a while, she rubbed her numb head, pondering what would happen next.
[Hey, how can you be so arrogant, you mere mortal? You're ignoring me! I'm someone who holds the power of life and death over you!]
As the sound rang out, gusts of wind swept through, causing Shen Xi's clothes to flutter and nearly extinguishing the candles in the mourning hall.
Shen Xi paused, holding the yellow paper. Looking at the photo hanging in front of her, she believed it. She thought that no matter what it was, if he could really control the life and death of everyone in this world and bring her grandmother back to life, she would kneel on the ground and kowtow ten thousand times.
Hopefully, this is a lifeline.
I also hope... that miracles really do happen in this world.
Her throat was a little dry. "You say you can control life and death, so can you save my grandmother?"
The little dumpling's voice was filled with surprise, its tone rising, and it sounded urgent.
Yes, yes.
It paused for a moment, then realized, "Wait a minute, I'm the one in the main storyline, why am I being so attentive to her? Shouldn't she be the one trying to please me?"
It rolled in the air, stroked its non-existent whiskers, and spoke in a pretentious tone, but... its voice was still very soft.
I can help you, but there are rules in our line of work. You need to offer me something of equal value in exchange.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xi's eyes, which had been as still as dead water, suddenly stirred with emotion. She immediately looked up, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes.
"What can I give you in exchange? I can give you anything you want."
In fact, Shen Xi has always been very cautious and vigilant since she was a child, maintaining a distance from people. As a result, she has almost no friends and usually prefers to go to and from get out of class alone.
But her mother-in-law was different. Her mother-in-law was an indispensable part of her life, and she couldn't accept her leaving. It felt like she had been suddenly abandoned.
"I have a small world that has collapsed and needs someone to mend it. I've been observing you for a long time and found that your personality is perfectly suited for that role. If you agree to help me, I can help you save your mother-in-law."
Its story world collapsed, causing its story energy to be insufficient. It instantly reverted to its initial state. It barely managed to absorb the energy of this world to patch it up, and was only able to leave footprints in this world and communicate with the human in front of it.
Shen Xi calmed down. Her legs, which had been kneeling for so long, ached all the way to the bones. She supported herself with her hands, moved her legs, and stood up. Her tone was cold. "Tell me your demands."
The little dumpling took a look and thought, "Hey, this looks promising! This person didn't mistake me for a scammer!"
Afraid that Shen Xi might change her mind at any moment, it immediately spoke up, "[Listen to me, it's like this, my little world was destroyed by outsiders, I lost the energy to grow, reverted to a lower state, and was driven out of the world. I'm in such a sorry state, waaaaah, I'm so miserable, please help me, waaaah.]"
The little dumpling cried and hiccuped, becoming more and more upset as it spoke.
If you can complete the storyline in that world, you can replenish my energy. Then, with my energy strengthened, I can make an exchange with the storyline of this world to save your grandmother.
[Oh, I forgot to mention, the storyline of this world involves my alter ego brother. I can talk to him first and have this world pause for a while. Once you complete your mission, you can come back and continue living your life.]
Please promise me, please promise me.
The childish voice, with its seductive quality, reached Shen Xi's ears.
Shen Xi spoke, her voice light and weary, "I'm not helping you, I'm making a deal with you. Also, I have some questions: will I be able to come back after the mission is completed?"
The little dumpling was very happy, its voice filled with excitement.
【Of course you can come back, don't worry, I've got your back. But be careful of that outsider. I hadn't even figured out who he was when I was banished to another world. Now that world has lost me, its all-powerful plotline, and it's become chaotic. So, to prevent you from being misled, I won't provide you with any information for reference.】
A glint of light flashed in Shen Xi's eyes as she looked at the candles dripping tears on the altar. She looked away and asked one last question.
"What is my mission?"