Irreversible - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: An Adorable Angel (Part 4)

After a night of good dreams, Gu Xizhou woke up the next morning to 0820’s nagging in her ear: “Su Zhiyi fainted yesterday; it was probably because she didn’t eat breakfast.”

“When you go to the cafeteria today, remember to grab an extra red bean bun for her.”

In the early morning, a row of students stood before the sinks brushing their teeth and washing their faces. Gu Xizhou gargled with cold water for a long while before spitting it out. She turned on the tap, splashed her face with cold water, and washed herself expressionlessly, offering no response to 0820.

0820 became anxious: “Did you hear me or not?”

Gu Xizhou detected a strange flicker in the urgent tone. “You seem very concerned about Su Zhiyi’s affairs.”

“Are you a person or a ghost?”

A day without Su Nanfeng in sight was a refreshing day. Having resolved the biggest hidden threat in her life for the time being, Gu Xizhou finally began to seriously address the voice in her head. After their brief “contract,” the other party could occupy her body; even though she had relied on that power once last night, Gu Xizhou felt a lingering fear upon second thought.

People often regret decisions made at night once the sun comes up. Right now, the young Gu Xizhou was feeling quite annoyed—why had she impulsively agreed to a contract with this entity? She hadn’t even figured out 0820’s true origin, and now the situation felt even more troublesome. After all, she wasn’t some purely naive child; anyone who suddenly has an extra voice in their head would suspect they were ill.

Given that the entity could possess her and briefly seize control of her body, Gu Xizhou had two theories.

A non-scientific theory: 0820 was a ghost or a spirit attached to her because she could do something for it. At the same time, 0820 knew parts of her future trajectory.

A scientific theory: After years of being tormented by Su Nanfeng, she had finally developed a mental illness—specifically, schizophrenia. 0820 was her alternate consciousness, one with a high learning capacity and combat skills—perhaps something like savant syndrome.

But that wouldn’t explain why she had those dreams or why she knew so much about Su Zhiyi and Su Nanfeng.

She was a high-alert, intelligent child; 0820 knew this full well. However, 0820 couldn’t exactly blurt out: “You are my virtual avatar, and the world you live in is a brain-in-a-vat simulation.”

That said, facing Gu Xizhou’s new round of questioning, 0820 found a suitable excuse: “I told you, I’m here to help you.”

“Helping you achieve a happy and fulfilling life is what our system is supposed to do. Only when you are happy can this world function in a positive direction.”

Gu Xizhou finished washing her face, dressed, and headed downstairs, arguing as she walked: “I’ve read ‘system’ novels too. They all involve doing tasks. Why are you different?”

“Because I am a support type. Think of it like a mother raising a child, understand?”

Gu Xizhou didn’t buy the explanation. She simply asked, “Then when will you leave?”

“When your happiness value reaches one hundred percent,” 0820 dismissed her casually, thinking to herself that this virtual entity was far too intelligent—it hardly felt like a bunch of data.

Gu Xizhou furrowed her brows. “How do I see my happiness value?”

“That’s not something you can see; only I can,” 0820 fabricated. She added soothingly, “What are you afraid of? Haven’t I been helping you all along? After being together for half a month, hasn’t a bit of trust formed?”

No, 0820 thought, I’ll have to get Lin Shi to mess with the data and throw together some reward mechanism to fool 1122 later.

Gu Xizhou thought about the entity’s behavior; while nothing seemed explicitly wrong, she remained suspicious. She followed the crowd into the cafeteria, still skeptical: “Are you really not a ghost trying to seize my body?”

0820 laughed. “If I could really seize your body, would I need to do so much to help you?”

“Who knows? Maybe seizing a body requires steps.”

Since she couldn’t get a real answer and couldn’t expel the entity, Gu Xizhou couldn’t “burn the bridge” just yet. She simply resolved that no matter what happened next, she wouldn’t agree to any further requests from the entity. In ghost stories, it always starts with one request, then another, until you lose yourself and your soul to some grand promise.

There is no savior, no gods or emperors; to create her own happiness, she had to rely on herself!

0820 sensed the young Gu Xizhou’s thoughts and felt both annoyed and amused. “Fine, fine. Rely on yourself then. Just don’t ask me to fight for you next time.”

Her younger self was so annoying—so suspicious and cautious. No wonder she later felt the whole world was out to get her and couldn’t accept Su Zhiyi.

Serves you right for not having a wife, Gu Xizhou! 0820 thought. Perhaps because her rut was approaching, 0820 was exceptionally irritable.

Even though Gu Xizhou eventually did bring a red bean bun for Su Zhiyi, 0820 remained unsatisfied and spent the entire morning grumbling at her.

At the end of the afternoon training, the instructor announced: “Indoor training ends today. Tonight is for rest. Tomorrow morning, all students will follow the instructors into the mountains for field training.”

The students cheered and jumped for joy.

Among the excited crowd, Gu Xizhou turned to look at Su Zhiyi in the formation behind her. Seeing Su Zhiyi’s eyes crinkle with a gentle smile as she watched her classmates, a thought flashed through Gu Xizhou’s mind: There will definitely be many mosquitoes in the mountains. I wonder if she can handle it.

0820 said snappishly, “Stop worrying about others and worry about yourself. You gave away all your mosquito repellent; let’s see what you do then.”

Gu Xizhou tightened her lips and didn’t respond.

The most anticipated event of every military training camp was undoubtedly the camping trip. Instructors would lead the students on a hike into the mountains to set up camp and learn outdoor survival skills.

As soon as she returned to the dorm, Gu Xizhou heard the Alphas discussing excitedly: “Besides setting up camp and cooking over a fire, we also get to go to the range for target practice!”

“I thought shooting was done at the military base? Why go outdoors?”

“Eh, outdoors is different from indoors.”

Gu Xizhou listened with half an ear, not paying much mind. Unfortunately, the heavens weren’t cooperative. After nightfall, a sea breeze suddenly made landfall, howling outside the windows. Within moments, a torrential downpour began, the thick rain reflecting silver light in the dark night, enveloping the peninsula base.

After showering, the students leaned against the windows, sighing as they watched the heavy rain and mist. “With rain this heavy, I bet tomorrow’s trip is off.”

Others countered, “Not necessarily. If this batch of instructors is brave enough, they might still take us.”

The students lamented, but they couldn’t stop the rain. When they woke up the next day, the playground was still soaked from the night’s storm, with puddles everywhere. Seeing this, the instructors postponed the camping trip by two days, continuing regular training at the base.

The students groaned in disappointment.

After a night of rain and cold winds, followed by training on a damp playground, a Beta girl in Gu Xizhou’s class with a weaker constitution caught a cold and was sent to the infirmary that evening. During the night patrol, the instructors reminded everyone to tuck themselves in and not catch a chill.

Perhaps the sea breeze was too cold, making the windows creak and rattle, as Gu Xizhou didn’t sleep well at all. She dreamed all night—strange, fragmented things. At one point, she dreamed she was lying in a glass tank, submerged in green liquid. Then, she was walking out of the tank, shivering in a towel.

Most were just flashes—like her being terrified of the cold, huddling under a blanket, curling into a ball in a closet, clutching a pile of clothes and wailing.

Consequently, when she woke up the next morning, Gu Xizhou realized she had been crying in her sleep; her face was covered in tears. Her head felt heavy and dim, her body weak, and she felt like she was being placed in an oven—burning hot. While brushing her teeth at the sink, she could barely stand, leaning limply against the wall.

Beside her, Yan Qing looked at her flushed cheeks with concern. “Xizhou, are you not feeling well?”

Gu Xizhou’s body felt incredibly heavy. She lifted her heavy eyelids to look at Yan Qing, her eyes red. “A little.”

“Your face is so red.” Yan Qing reached out and touched Gu Xizhou’s forehead. It was scorching. “Gosh, your head is burning. You have a fever.”

Gu Xizhou was dazed. After she finished washing up, Yan Qing grabbed her hand and led her downstairs. “Come on, I’m taking you to the infirmary.”

As they reached the stairs, they happened to run into Su Zhiyi, who was walking down with her classmates. Seeing Yan Qing pulling Gu Xizhou in a hurry, Su Zhiyi asked urgently, “Gu Xizhou, what’s wrong?”

Gu Xizhou turned her head blankly. When she saw Su Zhiyi’s face, her eyes instantly reddened, and she felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to cry.

Yan Qing explained, “Xizhou has a fever. I’m taking her to the infirmary.” Yan Qing tugged Gu Xizhou away; Su Zhiyi wanted to say something more, but they had already hurried off.

Soon, Gu Xizhou was in the infirmary. The Omega female doctor on duty took her temperature. Throughout the process, Gu Xizhou was sluggish, her eyes red as if she would burst into tears at any moment. When the thermometer came out at 39.5°C, even the doctor was startled. “That’s a very high fever.”

“Get her to lie down. We need to cool her down immediately.”

In her delirium, Gu Xizhou was placed on a bed. A cool fever-reducing patch was placed on her forehead. Amid the burning pain consuming her body, the sensation on her forehead was the only thing that was cool. Gu Xizhou lay in bed, clutching the patch, curling her body in pain and letting out small, animal-like whimpers.

The doctor brought out cold water and medicine, sighing at the sight of the curled-up child. “This fever is really severe.”

Yan Qing was also worried. “Yeah, how did it happen so suddenly?”

“Never mind. Help her up to take some fever medicine first.”

Yan Qing followed the instructions and fed Gu Xizhou the medicine. Only then did she leave the infirmary to return to the playground for training.

The medicine had a strong sedative effect. Gu Xizhou, who had been in great distress, soon stopped struggling under the influence of the drugs and fell into a deep sleep.

She seemed to enter a dream where she was walking barefoot in a parched desert. Under the scorching flames, following the will of a deity, she walked toward an oasis. She knew where the water was; it was an instinct carved into her bones, just as migratory birds know to fly toward their destined lands.

But she couldn’t find it.

“Water… water…”

On the narrow single bed, Gu Xizhou clutched the blanket, burying her face in it and murmuring incoherent words.

The doctor sitting at the computer heard her, brought a glass of water over, and sighed. “Kids these days really suffer…” She patted Gu Xizhou’s shoulder. “Hey kid, come drink some water.”

Gu Xizhou looked up dizzily. The moment she saw the doctor’s face, the doctor froze. “Why are you crying like this?”

The girl with exquisite features lay huddled on the bed, looking up with bloodshot eyes, her face drenched in tears. The doctor instinctively reached out to wipe them, but the moment she touched her, the rabbit-like girl pushed her away and cried out in distress, “Not this!”

No, this wasn’t her source of water. She had to find it. She had to go find her destined place.

Gu Xizhou’s eyes were blinded by tears. She pushed the doctor aside and stumbled out the door. The doctor was stunned for a second before chasing after her. “Hey! Kid! Where are you running? You’re sick!”

But Gu Xizhou seemed to have lost her mind, running barefoot and heedless of anything. The doctor followed behind, watching her swift, rabbit-like silhouette, wondering where she got the strength. How could she run like that while so ill?

Gu Xizhou was like a moth in the darkness, flying straight toward the light—straight toward the playground.

At that moment, dozens of students were formed into squads, practicing march drills on the damp playground. Seeing someone run onto the field, many turned their heads in surprise, murmuring in astonishment.

Soon, the students of Class 17 saw the familiar figure and were collectively shocked. Yan Qing was particularly stunned: “Gu Xizhou? Why is she here?”

In front of Yan Qing, Su Zhiyi also saw her, her expression one of utter amazement.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she saw Gu Xizhou charge into the crowd. Amidst screams and the shouts of the instructors, Gu Xizhou crashed accurately into her.

Su Zhiyi was caught in a full embrace, stumbling back a step. In her startled gaze, she instinctively looked down to see a pair of bloodshot eyes.

“Waaaaah… waaaaah…”

She saw the petite girl drop to her knees on the ground, hugging her legs tightly, eyes wet and crying out with deep grievance: “Waaaaah… Zhiyi… I want a hug…”

Su Zhiyi was completely frozen. She opened her arms helplessly, staring down at the girl by her legs, her mind turning into a complete blur.

What on earth is happening?!