Chapter 623

“Shut up, all of you!!”

“Bang!”

A muffled thud rang out!

Fang Qi had finally reached the end of his patience and slammed his palm down on the table!

The teacups on the coffee table bounced in their saucers, giving off a series of crisp clinks!

He glared at the three women in front of him!

His chest heaved, and his temples throbbed violently!

Was this ever going to end?!

One of them had come demanding that he hand over his authority, another was shouting in his ear that he absolutely mustn’t give it back…

And the third was standing off to the side, understanding nothing and still threatening him!

The three of them together were noisier than three hundred ducks!

The mess in his head was already big enough, and now they were all pulling at it from different directions with their endless chatter!

Beside him, Liguang immediately shuddered, her slender shoulders shrinking slightly.

She was terrified whenever her master got angry, so she placed both hands obediently on her knees and lowered her head, not daring to say a word.

Lin Xiaoyou also hunched her neck and pursed her lips…

“…Hmph!”

With a snort, she dropped back into the single-seat sofa!

She crossed her two little pale legs and began muttering under her breath!

He couldn’t make out what she was grumbling about, but judging from the way she rolled her eyes now and then, she was probably cursing someone!

And Gu Xi—

She had clearly been startled as well.

Fang Qi saw it perfectly. The instant his palm struck the table, the hands resting on her knees clenched into fists with a sharp snap!

Her shoulders tensed, and her entire body leaned back slightly!

Her expression even flashed with panic for a moment, and her light-brown eyes contracted abruptly!

Although she quickly forced herself to calm down, straightening her back, lifting her chin slightly, and returning to her usual cool, decisive demeanor…

Fang Qi had seen that moment of panic as clearly as day!

Hmm?

He blinked and looked at her.

“These are my conditions.”

The police beauty picked up her teacup, her tone as calm as ever. Nothing seemed out of place.

“If you agree to return the authority, I’ll help you restore Liguang’s memories.”

As she spoke, she took a sip of tea.

Her movements appeared composed, but the hand holding the teacup—

was trembling!

Even when the cup touched her lips, it shook ever so slightly.

The movement was so subtle that no one would notice without looking closely. Clearly, she was forcing herself to keep it under control!

…Huh?

Fang Qi was momentarily taken aback.

…What did that mean?

Why did it feel like the police beauty was… a little afraid of him?

His gaze made Gu Xi’s lashes tremble again!

She seemed to realize that he had seen through her. The moment their eyes met—

she suddenly raised her hand!

“Slap!”

She slammed it down on the table!

The force was barely any weaker than Fang Qi’s earlier strike, and tea splashed straight out of the cups on the coffee table!

“Fang Qi!”

She glared at him, her tone sharp and agitated. A thin flush of anger even rose across her cheeks!

“Do you really need to hesitate over something like this?!”

“You really don’t want Liguang’s memories back, do you?!”

But that appearance of hers…

She was clearly lashing out in embarrassment, deliberately trying to cover something up!

…Oh?

Seeing her reaction, Fang Qi blinked again.

Instead, it made him even more certain of his suspicions.

This so-called rival of his was actually…

a little afraid of him?

Why?

What kind of relationship had he shared with her before he lost his memory?

…Forget it.

This wasn’t the time to think about that!

Fang Qi rubbed his brow hard, suppressing those chaotic thoughts, then looked back at Gu Xi.

“You have to give me more information, at least!”

He couldn’t help protesting.

Did he really look that stupid and impulsive?

Did she think he would hand over some mysterious “authority” just because she casually claimed she could restore Liguang’s memories?

He had experienced life and death countless times!

He had suffered countless losses, died countless times, and risen to his feet again and again!

How could he possibly hand over something Liguang had fought desperately to obtain for him just because of a single sentence?!

Gu Xi’s eyes flickered slightly. She pursed her lips, picked up her teacup, and took another sip…

She actually fell silent for the time being!

Beside them, Lin Xiaoyou pursed her lips and looked at him, her almond-shaped eyes blinking rapidly at him!

The message was obvious enough—

Senior, whatever you do, don’t agree!!

Fang Qi tightened his grip on Liguang’s slightly cold hand.

Her hand had been faintly cold ever since the beginning.

Although Liguang sat quietly with her head lowered, her fingers would squeeze his from time to time.

Fang Qi pressed his lips tightly together as well.

He stared at the silent Gu Xi.

She said she would “help restore” Liguang’s memories?

What did that mean? Was she not capable of restoring them directly?

Then could she actually restore them or not?

Forget whether she could guarantee that Liguang’s memories would return. Even if she truly could guarantee it…

he would still have to think it over!

He didn’t know what that authority was, either.

But… that was something Liguang had fought for with her life in the previous cycle and the cycle before that!

That mysterious voice, the existence that had whispered in his ear, “Is this your choice?”—the culprit behind Liguang’s amnesia…

All of it was closely connected to this authority!

What if he returned the authority and the other side became powerful again…

What if that caused Liguang to lose her memories again?

Wouldn’t restoring them then have been completely pointless?!

He would never allow any threat capable of harming his own crazy girl to exist!

He stared at Gu Xi, his tone turning heavy.

“In any case, you need to explain everything to me first. You—!”

“Why are you still listening to her explanation?!”

Lin Xiaoyou suddenly sprang up from the sofa!

Her little pale legs kicked off the floor, sending her whole body bouncing upright!

She rushed over to Fang Qi in a few steps, spread her arms wide, and planted herself between the two of them, looking just like a mother hen protecting her chick!

“Senior, absolutely not! Don’t forget what I told you in the last ‘dream’!”

“I may have gotten dumber, but my memory hasn’t deteriorated!”

She glared at Gu Xi and spoke through clenched teeth:

“These people are plotting something against Liguang!”

“They’re going to make Liguang disappear—they’re going to make Sister Xiaoqing disappear!”

Fang Qi’s pupils instantly contracted!

That was right. He remembered now—the Fang Qi who hadn’t lost his memory, that plan from long ago, the one that required Liguang to be sacrificed…

“Their ultimate goal is to make every existence carrying the authority become the new world’s…!”

Lin Xiaoyou’s voice suddenly cut off.

…Huh?

Fang Qi’s heart jolted, and he looked at her.

What was going on?

The round-faced girl tilted her head, her mouth still slightly open…

But the anger in her almond-shaped eyes vanished completely in an instant.

She blinked again, and her expression gradually became blank.

“…Huh?”

She lowered her head to look at herself, then looked up at Liguang. After that, she turned to Gu Xi, and finally…

her gaze landed on Fang Qi.

“Huh?”

She blinked again, her brows knitting together in confusion.

“…Senior?”

She slowly widened her eyes, her small, round face filled with bewilderment.

“Why… why am I at your house?”

Fang Qi: “…”

What?

He stared at Lin Xiaoyou’s completely sincere, utterly confused face, and his entire mind froze for a second.

You…

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed—

Gu Xi’s lips had curved upward ever so slightly.

It was an almost imperceptible arc, flashing past in the middle of her motion as she lifted her teacup.

She raised the cup to her lips, blocking most of her face, but her light-brown eyes peeked out from above the rim…

They narrowed slightly as she looked at Lin Xiaoyou.

Fang Qi’s breath caught in his throat!

Wait…

Gu Xi, could it actually be you…?!

“Wow! Senior!”

The ditzy Lin Xiaoyou snapped out of her daze and stared at the silver-haired girl in his arms!

“You’re actually hugging Liguang!”

Her almond-shaped eyes widened. The expression on her round little face shifted from blank confusion to surprise, and then from surprise to…

A certain mischievous teasing!

The corners of her lips curled upward. She clasped her hands behind her back, tilted her head, and gave Fang Qi a sly grin.

“Senior, I bet hugging an AI companion feels pretty good, huh?”

Fang Qi: “…”

Wait. Don’t tell me you’re about to…?!

She blinked repeatedly, her tone full of that infuriatingly cheeky, carefree teasing.

“But…”

She raised her chin slightly, her ponytail swaying as she planted her hands on her hips.

“I think hugging a real person is still better!”

“For example…”

She winked nonstop at Fang Qi, her eyelashes fluttering at lightning speed!

The implication couldn’t have been more obvious!

For example, I could let you hug me too, Senior!

Fang Qi: “…”

No.

Was “asking for trouble” really your passive skill?!

He hurriedly tightened his arms around Liguang.

The soft, warm body in his arms instantly tensed!

She slowly turned her head toward Lin Xiaoyou. A crimson glow suddenly illuminated Lin Xiaoyou’s face!

“Whoa!”

The ditzy young lady jumped in fright on the spot!

She sprang backward, nearly kicking off her slippers. Her almond-shaped eyes were opened as wide as they could go, and she pointed at Liguang, her round little face full of astonishment.

“Senior, Liguang’s eyes just lit up!”

Fang Qi: “I…”

What?!

Miss Genius had turned into a ditzy airhead right before his eyes?!

And moreover…

He lowered his head slightly again.

Liguang was in a rather peculiar state.

Her body was tense, yet she was still leaning softly against him.

Her red eye continued to flicker faintly, but… her amber eye was filled with confusion, and her cheeks were flushed.

She was jealous, yet utterly bewildered by the situation.

Fang Qi was holding her tightly in front of two “guests,” leaving her both embarrassed and at a loss—

And so, his wife had crashed.

She stood frozen in his arms, completely motionless. Both of her mismatched eyes had lost their focus…

Cute.

Her crashing was a good thing! At least she wouldn’t make the situation even more chaotic!

But the next second—

Gu Xi suddenly stood up.

Her light-brown eyes swept over Lin Xiaoyou, who was still standing there with a bewildered expression. Then…

She took a dark leather case from her pocket. Flipping it open, she revealed the identification card inside.

“Hello, Miss Lin.”

Gu Xi’s voice suddenly became calm, taking on an official tone.

“This is my identification.”

She held it up in front of Lin Xiaoyou. In the photograph, she was wearing a police uniform, looking valiant and composed, with her badge number clearly visible.

“I’m here to ask Mr. Fang a few questions.”

She paused briefly, her tone neither harsh nor gentle.

“Could you step outside for a moment?”

…Huh?

Fang Qi stared at her in shock.

Wow. This woman really fought dirty.

And hadn’t she said she was here in a personal capacity?!

Why did she even bring her badge?!

Lin Xiaoyou stared blankly at the identification for a couple of seconds. She blinked her almond-shaped eyes, and then—

“Oh… You’re a police officer!”

She suddenly looked up at Gu Xi, then turned toward Fang Qi. Her expression instantly shifted from confusion to panic!

“You’re a detective too?!”

She became visibly nervous, clutching the hem of her clothes as her gaze darted back and forth between Gu Xi and Fang Qi.

“Senior, what did you do? Is it serious?”

“Officer Gu, I… I can testify for him! Senior is definitely a good person! He doesn’t even step on ants! He—”

“No, it’s nothing serious.”

Gu Xi waved a hand, her tone calm but carrying an unquestionable certainty.

“It has little to do with Mr. Fang. I’m only here to collect evidence.”

“Oh… Oh, okay!”

Only then did Lin Xiaoyou relax. Her shoulders visibly slumped, and she patted her chest as most of the tension faded from her round little face.

“That’s good, that’s good…!”

Gu Xi put her identification away, then made a standard “please leave” gesture.

“Miss Lin, could you step outside now?”

Lin Xiaoyou instinctively glanced at Fang Qi.

Fang Qi was sitting on the sofa with Liguang in his arms. When he saw the questioning look in Lin Xiaoyou’s almond-shaped eyes, his lips moved slightly, but he said nothing.

What could he say?

Gu Xi was determined to send Lin Xiaoyou away.

In her current ditzy state, Lin Xiaoyou had no chance of resisting a police officer’s “lawful request.”

And besides…

There was no need to keep the ditzy Lin Xiaoyou here. That would only make the situation even more chaotic.

He looked at his bewildered junior from the company with mixed feelings.

Miss Genius, this time…

Just go get some proper rest.

Seeing that Fang Qi did not object, Lin Xiaoyou was blank for a moment before immediately turning to Gu Xi and nodding.

“Okay, I’ll cooperate, I’ll cooperate! Just don’t blame Senior for anything!”

She turned back toward Fang Qi, concern showing in her almond-shaped eyes.

“Then I’ll be going now, Senior. I’ll come find you again later!”

She ran to the door. As she opened it, she continued muttering to herself.

“Strange… How did I even get here?”

“I’ve really been so forgetful lately. I hope I’m not getting dementia, but I’m still young…”

Bang!

The door closed, shutting out the sound.

Fang Qi stared blankly at the closed security door.

He was still in a daze, unable to fully process what had just happened.

Miss Genius had really turned into a ditzy airhead.

And she had simply left.

He took a deep breath, pulled his gaze away from the door, and lowered his head to look at Liguang, who was still frozen in his arms.

The silver-haired girl remained stiff, quietly leaning against his chest. Her red eye flickered faintly, while her amber eye remained confused.

Still crashed.

Then he raised his head and looked at Gu Xi again.

She had already sat back down on the sofa. After putting away her identification, she looked at Fang Qi…

Her light-brown eyes had finally turned solemn, her gaze extraordinarily serious.

“Fang Qi.”

She spoke softly, but every word was pronounced with absolute clarity.

“Now, no one is going to interrupt us.”

Liguang leaned a little closer into Fang Qi’s arms, remaining silent.

But Fang Qi noticed that the mismatched eyes hidden behind her silver hair were still fixed on Gu Xi without blinking!

Watching this woman who bore a faint resemblance to her master’s “soul”—a woman toward whom she had developed the slightest trace of fondness.

Gu Xi noticed that gaze as well, but merely pressed her lips into a smile at Liguang.

Then she looked straight at Fang Qi, her expression once again becoming solemn.

“That lunatic Lin Xiaoyou was here just now, so I couldn’t say anything.”

“But now…”

Fang Qi could see that the look in those light-brown eyes was so serious it was almost pleading.

“I’ll tell you… everything I’m allowed to tell you.”