Chapter 207
Chapter 207
Chapter 207
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 207 – Lan Qi Will Never Easily Crash
The living room, a little past two in the afternoon, fell into silence.
The dazzling autumn sunlight streamed through the curtains, golden beams swimming like fish across the dark wood floor.
And yet—
On this Friday afternoon, the so-called nap hour, no one here felt sleepy.
Lan Qi had just barely avoided the crematorium a moment ago.
If the Great Poet had wanted to, with just a few provoking words toward Talia, Lan Qi could’ve skipped the hospital and gone straight into the coffin.
But fortunately, the Great Poet was in a good mood today. She decided to save Private Lan Qi.
“Forget it. If I keep fussing with you, it’ll just look like I’m the petty one.”
The Great Poet sighed softly as she saw Talia still clutching onto Lan Qi, her words carrying a trace of helplessness.
Then she dismissed her own summon, dissolving back into one orange and one purple card, vanishing from Lan Qi and Talia’s sight.
Out of sight, out of mind. She’d said her piece—best not to keep herself in front of Talia any longer.
“……”
Huperion was speechless.
She really wanted to tell the Great Poet: If you’re going to imitate humans, don’t copy Lan Qi…
And now, by the wall—
With the Great Poet’s form gone, the living room grew even quieter.
“Lan Qi…”
As Talia continued to pin her gaze on him, clearly waiting to see how he’d defend or explain himself—
Lan Qi didn’t bother with any long explanation.
He simply smiled, closed his eyes.
As though saying: Do as you please. Kill me, torture me, whatever you want—so long as you don’t misunderstand me, it’s enough.
Almost like he was betting she’d soften.
Time seemed to start ticking forward again.
Talia was thrown off balance.
She was certain: Lan Qi wasn’t afraid at all. In fact, he seemed calm, almost accepting. Not like he was playing some cheap thrill game with her.
She mulled over the Great Poet’s words. According to her—
Lan Qi had always been indifferent toward her, always drawing a clear line between her and Talia.
Besides, if Lan Qi had ever truly been tempted by the Poet, he’d long since have been destroyed by the backlash of that dangerous magic card.
Which meant—it was impossible for him to harbor any real thoughts about the Poet…
“……”
Golden eyes softened, emotions complicated but easing.
Maybe she had wrongly blamed Lan Qi.
He had always been loyal to her.
Maybe… she should treat him a little more gently.
Though she still didn’t know how to be gentle.
Talia released him at last, turning her face aside.
“Phew…”
Huperion, who had been watching the whole quarrel, let out a long sigh of relief.
Though Talia still wore her usual silence, it was clear the storm had passed.
And that made sense. With Lan Qi’s ability, it was hard to imagine him actually walking himself into a true “Shura Field,” unless he really went all out seeking death.
But at the same time, if he did crash… Huperion dared not imagine just how catastrophic it would be.
Still… she thought about it carefully. That day probably won’t come.
Probably…
Lan Qi played life with nothing less than the confidence of an artist—and the guts of a gambler.
“I’ll take Boss Cat back. Tonight, I’ll come by the school to pick up Huperion.”
Talia scooped up the little black cat from the floor, then turned back to Lan Qi and Huperion.
Boss Cat, after a whole afternoon of melon-eating, was still in shock.
He couldn’t understand—why isn’t this kid afraid of the Shura Field?
“Okay, thank you, Miss Talia.”
Huperion thanked her, seeing Talia and Boss Cat to the door.
Only after they left did both she and Lan Qi slump down onto the living room couch in relief.
It was Huperion’s first time visiting Lan Qi’s dorm, but she found it strangely comfortable.
Like they’d always been natural around each other.
No restraints, no awkwardness.
Almost like coming home.
Maybe because they already spent so much time together—and they’d often been like this back at Talia’s place too.
“…Why does it feel like she’s your mom?”
Lan Qi scratched his head, puzzled.
Clearly, Talia and Huperion had only known each other for a few days, yet their bond had already become visibly close—almost like she was looking after Huperion.
Though Talia’s age definitely qualified her to be Huperion’s mother, still, he felt a little bad for her—being hundreds of years old, taking care of a kid, and even less likely to find a husband now.
“Don’t say that… Miss Talia is still very young. She’s more like a sister, not a mother…”
Huperion denied it, though her voice trailed smaller and smaller.
Because truthfully, she had often imagined Talia’s warmth as that of a mother’s love.
But just thinking that way already felt shameful, self-deprecating.
“True, I can’t imagine her as some gentle, domestic housewife anyway, hahaha.”
Lan Qi couldn’t see the words gentle, kind, maternal having anything to do with Talia.
At that moment, the door to the dorm opened again.
Lan Qi’s laugh froze, posture stiffening upright.
Talia stood silently for a moment, first looking at Lan Qi, then at Huperion.
“Huperion, will you eat dinner with him, or come home to eat?”
She held Boss Cat in her arms as she asked.
“I’ll come home.”
Huperion thought for a moment, then answered.
The days she could live at Talia’s weren’t unlimited. Eventually, she wouldn’t dare impose any longer.
So for these two weeks, she wanted to treasure every moment of living with her.
“Then I’ll pick you up at five.”
Talia nodded, closing the door behind her.
“……”
Lan Qi sank into silence, as though contemplating the origin of the universe.
Could it be that Talia’s just reached the age where maternal instincts awaken naturally?
No, that wasn’t right. Even demon mothers weren’t supposed to be that gentle…
At the same time, Huperion was quietly watching Lan Qi.
She’d realized something.
Maybe Lan Qi’s constant complaints about Talia being harsh weren’t entirely her fault.
Maybe it was this guy—who always, unconsciously, said things with a tone of mockery.
Like he was always holding impolite thoughts inside, but trying hard not to say them out loud!
“Lan Qi… please, don’t tease Miss Talia anymore, okay? I’m worried you’ll get yourself into trouble…”
Huperion’s palms clenched nervously as she looked at him across the sofa.
She didn’t know if Lan Qi was just sincere and blunt, or if he secretly found his life too peaceful and was deliberately seeking thrills through Talia.
“How could I ever tease my teacher? Besides, I spend all day doing good deeds—kindness upon kindness! Surely the Goddess of Fate will bless me.”
Lan Qi smiled brightly, reclining against the couch as he turned toward Huperion.
“……”
Huperion was at a loss for words.
She could only pray silently to the Goddess.
She’d tried her best to stop him.
She could only hope that if, one day, some enormous disaster really struck Lan Qi… she wouldn’t be dragged into it.