Mobius trailed behind quietly.
She was confident in her tracking abilities—after all, she was a serpent by nature. Stealth and shadow were her passive talents.
Ye Feng first went to the martial arts hall, a place Mobius knew well. Ye Feng was an instructor there, teaching disciples every morning. Around noon, a brawny man who bore a striking resemblance to Hua would take over his duties. That way, Ye Feng could return home by noon every day to prepare lunch for Mobius.
So why did he say he'd be back late today? The key must be what he did in the afternoon.
Ye Feng's route changed slightly today. He headed to a church.
The white structure nestled in a corner of the maple forest, bathed in golden afternoon sunlight, radiated a peaceful serenity.
"What is he doing here? And why does this church feel so out of place in this world?"
Mobius moved like a snake, blending into the shadows, but she stopped short at the heavy doors. Her current frail body wasn't strong enough to push them open. Even if she could, it would alert the people inside. She didn't want Ye Feng to discover she was following him.
"It's been five hours. What's he doing in there?"
The sun began its descent, painting the forest in soft hues of orange. Outside, Mobius grew increasingly impatient, pacing back and forth. Her weak body couldn't handle much; half a day without food, and she already felt faint with hunger.
She thought about peeking through the arched windows, but her short stature left her unable to reach. Climbing up seemed undignified. Frustration welled up in her chest, and she realized something odd about her emotions.
"Why do I even care? What he does inside has nothing to do with me."
Still, she rationalized, as her "father," wasn't it irresponsible to leave his delicate and weak daughter alone at home all day?
As she thought this, her hands were already gripping the window ledge, preparing to climb.
"Mobius?"
A familiar voice startled her. Mobius froze mid-motion, then lost her footing and fell with a yelp.
Mobius clung begrudgingly to Ye Feng's back as he carried her.
If he hadn't suddenly appeared, she wouldn't have sprained her ankle. Yet, seeing his genuine concern and guilt over her injury left Mobius oddly silent.
"If you wanted to know where I was going, you could've just asked me directly. Don't do dangerous things like that," he said in his infuriatingly gentle tone.
"Don't flatter yourself. I was just... out exploring and happened to pass by," she retorted, turning her head away.
"Is that so? Have you eaten yet? What would you like for dinner?"
"Don't ask me. I'm not hungry."
"Then I'll make cream puffs. They'll be ready in twelve minutes."
Twelve minutes?
Twelve…
She couldn't shake the feeling that he was implying something else.
Yet, the warmth of his broad back gave her a rare sense of security, one she couldn't put into words.
"Damn it…" Mobius muttered internally. This kindness wasn't meant for her but for "another world's me." She couldn't fully accept such affection, and the thought of it made her restless.
Her mind swirled with conflicting emotions until exhaustion overtook her. Lying against Ye Feng's back, she slowly closed her eyes.
The fiery red clouds lit up the sky, and under the glow of the setting sun, their shadows stretched long and far.
The next day, Mobius decided to relive her nine-year-old self's experience and run away from home. She couldn't stay here any longer.
The proud Mobius from the Elysian Realm looked down even on her "original self," believing she was the true and "only" Mobius. How could she tolerate Ye Feng's affection for "another world's her"? It was humiliating.
Yet, before she could leave the house, Ye Feng blocked her path.
"What are you angry about?" he asked calmly.
Mobius stared at him, her gaze wavering, but her pride made her hold his gaze stubbornly. She decided not to pretend anymore.
"I'm not the 'Mobius' you know. I came here from another world, and my consciousness has taken over this body."
"?"
Seeing Ye Feng's puzzled expression, Mobius hesitated but pressed on.
"Simply put, the previous Mobius is gone. I'm a new Mobius, a different personality. Does that make sense?"
Ye Feng shook his head. "I think you're the one who doesn't understand, Mobius. There's no 'previous Mobius.' From the very beginning, it's always been you. The moment you woke up, this world began to exist."
"??" Mobius's mind spun with confusion.
"What… do you mean?"
"This world exists because of you. Does that make sense?"
"The world… exists because of me?"
At that moment, countless thoughts flooded Mobius's mind. But one stood out sharply: I'm not a substitute. His kindness was always meant for me!
That night, under a sky full of stars, Mobius sat by the window, resting her pale chin on her hand as she gazed at the heavens.
She was just a memory fragment. She knew that clearly. That was why she wanted to leave the Elysian Realm and become the "only" Mobius.
But now, that obsession didn't seem so pressing.
The "fatherly love" her original self never experienced was something she was living through now. Wasn't this proof that she had surpassed her original self?
In this alone, her original self lagged far behind.
But now that her obsession was gone… what was next?
Should she continue pursuing the concept of [Infinity]?
Her original self had given up on it, so why should she carry on?
Then what else could she do?
"Are you lost, Mobius?"
Like a specter emerging from the air, Aponia appeared silently.
Mobius squinted her eyes. "Aponia."
"There's no need to be troubled. In this place, 'confusion' is a necessary step."
"Confusion? Don't make me laugh. I've merely ascended to a higher level and am searching for a more ultimate meaning."
Aponia gazed at Mobius calmly, her expression tinged with complexity and, strangely, a hint of envy.
"Didn't you notice?"
"Notice what?"
"You're becoming more and more like a little girl."
"What?"
Aponia's gaze softened. "Innocent, adorable, carefree, and a little temperamental—just like an ordinary little girl."
"…Shut up! That's nonsense."
"It's okay. Isn't this also a form of 'true self'? If Elysia were here, she'd definitely—"
"I told you to shut up, Aponia! I'll tear that mouth of yours apart!"
Mobius growled lowly.
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