NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 90 - Be able to do something
Not long after, approximately twenty minutes after Bai Yu had arrived at the cake shop:
“Excuse me, do you know if a girl with blue hair, who works here, is present?”
A pink-haired girl with a single ponytail approached the counter, finding Liu Meng.
“You’re looking for someone? Hmm, let me think…”
After pondering for a moment, Liu Meng responded:
“A blue-haired girl… Yes, there is someone here who matches your description. Do you know her?”
“Yes! Her name is Bai Yu. She’s a friend of mine… I have something important to discuss with her.”
“Alright, let me call her out for you.”
With a smile, Liu Meng nodded and turned to the back to call Bai Yu, who was organizing items.
When informed by Liu Meng, Bai Yu was initially startled. Then, her expression shifted to one of complex self-reproach. However, she quickly composed herself and walked out.
As Bai Yu’s figure disappeared out the door, Liu Meng, feigning indifference, returned to the counter and resumed her work—while discreetly eavesdropping on their conversation.
“The pink-haired girl must be the other magical girl named WuYue.”
“Judging by her demeanor, she’s not much different from Bai Yu, though perhaps less severe.”
Both WuYue and Bai Yu radiated emotions of “regret,” which Liu Meng could easily sense.
It seemed her guess was correct—the incident involving YouYu transforming into a Negative Beast had taken a toll on them.
Though “toll” might be an overstatement, as a more dire emotional response could have led to their descent into witches.
“…Bai Yu, can we step outside and talk, if that’s alright?”
WuYue glanced around, her eyes carrying a mix of emotions. After noticing that there were hardly any customers left, she spoke to Bai Yu.
“It’s inconvenient to discuss things here, but I really need to tell you something important!”
“This…”
After a moment of hesitation, Bai Yu turned toward Liu Meng.
Noticing Bai Yu’s gaze, Liu Meng smiled and nodded slightly, signaling her approval.
“Alright then.”
Relieved, Bai Yu sighed and followed WuYue outside.
The moment they left, Liu Meng clasped the yellow gem around her neck.
In the next instant, the gem emitted a faint light, enhancing Liu Meng’s hearing through the flow of mana.
Channeling her focus on the two outside, Liu Meng casually picked up her phone, pretending to be engrossed in work.
Even though she could eavesdrop directly, she preferred to disguise her actions to avoid suspicion—though their current strength made it unlikely they’d notice her surveillance.
“Now then, let’s see what I can learn.”
Once she understood their stance on YouYu and the events that transpired, she would decide how to handle him going forward.
…
“So, WuYue, what exactly do you want to talk about?”
“This.”
Pointing to the faintly glowing pink gem around her neck, WuYue forced a smile.
“YouYu might still be alive.”
“…”
“But… the glow from this gem isn’t as bright as before.”
“Do you really think—”
“I know.”
Interrupting Bai Yu’s words, WuYue took a deep breath and continued:
“That’s why I’m saying it’s only a possibility.”
“Ouja’s devastating strike… I’m fully aware that if I had faced it head-on, I wouldn’t have withstood it. I would’ve fallen.”
“If YouYu hadn’t rushed out then and shielded us—”
“I might not even be standing here right now.”
Pausing briefly, WuYue looked away, her expression evasive. Then she added:
“Back then… whether it was when YouYu first turned into a Negative Beast and I had no choice but to kill him, or when he appeared a second time to shield us, I’ve always regretted it.”
“I keep thinking, if I’d been stronger, maybe I could’ve saved him.”
“But… reality doesn’t work like that.”
“…”
“Still, we have a sliver of hope.”
Exhaling deeply, WuYue’s gaze turned resolute. She looked directly at Bai Yu and said:
“As long as this gem hasn’t gone completely dark, it means there’s still a chance!”
“Even though I find it hard to believe that YouYu could’ve survived Ouja’s attack—”
“But what if a miracle happened?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’m saying—Bai Yu, I want to ask you to help me track down YouYu’s whereabouts!”
“Whether he’s alive or dead—”
“I want to know the truth, the final outcome!”
“That way… maybe I can finally put my heart at ease.”
“After all, he once said he didn’t want to burden me with his problems.”
“And I want to honor his words.”
“…”
“Alright.”
After a long silence, Bai Yu nodded heavily, agreeing to WuYue’s request.
Chasing after a fleeting hope—a faint miracle—despite the reality before them.
It would have been easier to convince WuYue to “face reality.”
But perhaps preserving this self-deceiving illusion was better.
At least this way, they wouldn’t fall into utter despair because of the harsh truth.
“…”
“Although I didn’t hear much, I think I’ve got the gist of it now,” Liu Meng thought as she watched Bai Yu re-enter the shop.
YouYu had been transformed into a Negative Beast by some Evil Cadres and ended up fighting WuYue. He was killed, but not entirely.
Then, during a second encounter, he reappeared to shield them from an attack by someone called Ouja. Ultimately, he was either struck away or subjected to other circumstances, resulting in his amnesia and “disappearance.”
These two traumatic events had driven WuYue and Bai Yu into a state of emotional turmoil. To them, YouYu was as good as dead.
But to cope, they clung to a fabricated “lie” and chose to live on.
Although their ultimate fate couldn’t be considered good,
compared to completely perishing… perhaps merely living out their lives burdened with this guilt could be seen as a form of fortune.
“Hmm… so this is how you’ve treated them,” Liu Meng thought, recalling the sight of YouYu drenched in rain in the alley last night.
“You protected them, but also inadvertently hurt them. Even if it’s not your fault—”
“But no matter how you look at it…”
“It’s still so tragic.”
Liu Meng had made up her mind.
Although she had no intention of interfering as a “magical girl” anymore, within her abilities—
She might be able to do something for him.