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…Disappointing.

Even if Yu Qingyu didn't have high expectations after the delicious meal he had at the mall, it would still be disappointing.

'520, did Chen Rumin ever cook?' He asked the system immediately after taking the first bite.

[According to the data I have, Chen Rumin couldn't cook at all. Why?]

'I was thinking I could make the meals instead of Liu Wei…'

[Is it bad?]

'It's not that bad, just…' Yu Qingyu sighed. 'Nevermind.'

The food wasn't all that terrible, just rather flavorless, and plain. It was some sort of stew, with just meat pieces and potatoes, completely unseasoned. The meat, which probably came from monsters, was hard and chewy. The sauce was too watery, and the potatoes seemed to have no flavor at all. It could have used having a few more ingredients in. It was edible and filling, just not enjoyable.

[You can cook if you want.] After a moment of silence, 520 came forward with a suggestion. [Even though Chen Rumin has never done that, I'm sure Liu Wei wouldn't…]

'Stop.' Yu Qingyu interrupted the system with a frown. 'Can you please stop reminding me how much Liu Wei trusts Chen Rumin? I get it already.'

[Alright.]

"Is everything alright?"

Liu Wei spoke up at the same time as the system. As a result, Yu Qingyu didn't quite get what he was saying.

"Huh?" Yu Qingyu lifted his sight from his plate. "I'm sorry?"

Liu Wei was sitting across the table from him, looking at him with concern. "I asked if everything's alright. You look a bit out of it."

"Oh…" Yu Qingyu tried to act calm, despite panicking internally. "Yeah… I'm just feeling a bit tired, that's all. Maybe I haven't slept enough last night."

"You sure?" Liu Wei observed him carefully. "Get some rest then. We still have a month, and we're almost ready anyway, so there's no need to rush. Don't overwork yourself." His deep voice was calm and gentle.

"Mn." Yu Qingyu lowered his head, unable to look Liu Wei straight in the eyes out of the guilt he felt. He quickly finished the food, and excused himself, going back to his room.

There, he threw himself on the bed, completely forgetting that it was hard as a rock. But it didn't even bother him much this time. He had other things on his mind.

'520… You said that Liu Wei is a villain, right? But he doesn't seem like such a bad person. At least to Chen Rumin, he acts so kind and compassionate…'

[He wants to destroy Chuxi City. Isn't that something only a villain would do?]

'Yeah… But why?' Yu Qingyu simply couldn't understand.

[For revenge.]

Yu Qingyu frowned. 'Revenge? Care to elaborate?'

[Of course. Liu Wei was born in a smaller settlement. Around 15 years ago, when he was 7, its defensive system got damaged by a storm, and monsters broke in, ravaging the town. A group of survivors managed to escape, including Liu Wei, his parents, and his younger brother. However, as they were traveling to Chuxi City, they got attacked by monsters again. Some of the members of the group used the rest as a decoy, leaving them behind to die as they fled alone. Liu Wei is the only one who miraculously survived, despite being wounded severely.]

'…And?' Yu Qingyu covered his eyes and bit his lip, trying to stop the incoming sadness.

[A few of those people are now part of the city council in Chuxi.]

Yu Qingyu sighed. 'Alright… I can understand him wanting to kill them… But why does he have to destroy the whole city?'

[Oh, that is because of what happened when Liu Wei finally managed to reach it, after recovering from his injuries.]

Yu Qingyu groaned. There was still more to the story?

520 paused for a moment, but not hearing any word from Yu Qingyu, it continued with the explanations.

[After getting wounded by the monsters, Liu Wei contracted the disease. When he arrived in Chuxi City, he was already recovered, however, the scars remained. He was only a kid, he didn't even think that he might need to hide them. And so, he was quickly discovered. As soon as the people saw the scars, they attempted to kill him and burn his body. Fortunately, Liu Wei developed his powers after the illness, so he was able to escape.]

Yu Qingyu listened to the system in silence. It was just too much. Why did his past have to be this tragic?

He took a deep breath, calming himself down.

Liu Wei's anger and desire for revenge was understandable… But still, not justifiable.

As bad as he felt for Liu Wei, Yu Qingyu couldn't agree with his approach. Moreover, he could understand the people from the city as well. Their actions weren't made with malicious intent. They were just afraid of the deadly virus. It was normal that they would prioritize their own lives over a random kid they didn't even know.

There was no point trying to explain it to Liu Wei though. He probably was aware of it by now. He just was unwilling to forgive.

Seeing Yu Qingyu's emotional state, 520 went silent. It didn't have its own feelings, but was programmed to interpret human behavior, both of its host and the people he interacted with. However, it wasn't taught how to provide emotional support effectively, so all it could do is give Yu Qingyu some space.

Which was fine with him. Yu Qingyu didn't feel like talking right now. Quite the opposite, he regretted having the conversation with the system. He probably would have been better off not learning anything about Liu Wei.

And so, he lay on the bed in silence, until finally falling asleep. It was still early, but he needed to get a good rest. He was planning to work on his mission seriously starting tomorrow, so that he can leave this world soon and forget it all.

If he played it right, maybe he could be gone within a week.