Chapter 221: Contentment

Yu Nian’an closed the door and led Qi Xia to the couch, helping him sit down slowly.

But Qi Xia seemed entranced, staring at Yu Nian’an without blinking.

“Xia, what’s wrong with you?” Yu Nian’an grasped Qi Xia’s hands. “If something’s bothering you, tell me. Don’t make me worry.”

“I’m fine,” Qi Xia shook his head. “I’ve never felt better in my entire life.”

“You’re always like this.” Yu Nian’an sighed and sat beside him on the small single-seat sofa, just big enough for the two of them to snuggle. “You bottle everything up, and that’s not healthy. So tell me, what happened?”

“I… I had a terrible, terrible nightmare,” Qi Xia murmured, his eyes dim.

“A terrible nightmare?” Yu Nian’an reached out to gently stroke his face, concerned. “Did you dream of monsters? Or a serial killer?”

“Those wouldn’t be nightmares to me,” Qi Xia shook his head. “An, I dreamed… I lost you.”

“Pfft.” Yu Nian’an chuckled. “Lost me? Why didn’t you come looking for me?”

“I did,” Qi Xia pressed a hand to his forehead, his heart aching. “I couldn’t find you… I descended into hell, endured countless tragedies, but I didn’t know where to search…”

“Alright, alright…” Yu Nian’an hugged him, sensing he was utterly exhausted. “Stop overthinking. I’m right here, not going anywhere.”

Qi Xia closed his eyes, nestling into her embrace, feeling as though his entire world had returned.

By some miracle, he had truly reclaimed Yu Nian’an from the “Endgame.”

With her by his side, he could defy even an omnipotent god.

“Xia, are you hungry?” Yu Nian’an asked.

“I…”

Though he hadn’t eaten properly in days, the mere sight of her made everything feel right—food was the last thing on his mind.

“I’ll cook something for you.” Yu Nian’an patted his head like he was a child. “Wait here for me.”

She stood, took the apron hanging on the wall, and stepped into the kitchen.

The moment she left his sight, panic gripped Qi Xia, and he hurried after her.

Yu Nian’an was there, right in the kitchen, exactly where she should be—now washing vegetables.

“What’s wrong…?” she asked. “Afraid I’ll poison you?”

“N-No…” Qi Xia shook his head. “I just… I thought I might be hallucinating. I was afraid you weren’t real.”

Yu Nian’an frowned, then set down the vegetables.

She marched over, puffed her cheeks in mock anger, and pinched his arm.

It hurt—but Qi Xia smiled.

“Stupid Xia, did that hurt?!” she huffed.

“Yes,” he nodded.

“If I were a hallucination, could I pinch you that hard?” She turned away, pouting. “If you’re not helping, stop distracting me! Go wait outside!”

But Qi Xia refused to leave.

He just wanted to stay close to her.

Seeing his stubbornness, Yu Nian’an sighed. “Fine. Guess what I’m making for you. If you get it right, you can stay.”

Qi Xia’s mind was too full of her to think about food—so he blurted out randomly, “Bean sprouts and braised eggplant.”

Yu Nian’an froze mid-wash, then turned back in disbelief. “I’m washing green onions right now! How did you guess bean sprouts and eggplant?”

“Uh…” Qi Xia smiled helplessly. “Guess we’re just in sync.”

……

Yu Nian’an brought out the two dishes, and Qi Xia devoured them ravenously.

Whether it was because he’d eaten too many canned rations in the “Endgame” or because her cooking was simply that good, he swore he’d never tasted anything more delicious.

She didn’t use vinegar in the bean sprouts—instead, she added chili and scallions.

She skipped dark soy sauce in the braised eggplant, opting for a few spoonfuls of sugar.

Those small tweaks had completely won over his stomach.

It felt like they were made for each other. Even though it was her first time making these dishes, they perfectly matched his tastes.

After the meal, Qi Xia’s unease slowly returned.

No matter how blissful this life was, the “earthquake countdown” still loomed.

At noon tomorrow, the world-shattering quake would strike, destroying everything he held dear.

Where could he escape to leave the “Endgame” behind?

The thought summoned the bizarre, nightmarish scenes of that place back into his mind.

What had happened to the massacre at “Paradise Port”?

Had Qiao Jiajin, Li Xiangling, and the others survived, as he’d hoped?

Yes—at least until the tenth day.

Right now, they were likely in their own timelines… fulfilling their final wishes.

“Knock knock.” A playful voice called beside him.

Qi Xia blinked, then turned to see Yu Nian’an grinning mischievously. Smiling back, he asked, “Who’s at the door?”

“Oh, so Qi Xia *is* home!” She huffed. “Finished eating but didn’t wash the dishes—I thought he’d vanished!”

“My bad.”

Qi Xia smiled, content.

If his life could stay like this forever, he’d be satisfied.

From this moment on, he decided—the instant he entered the “Endgame,” he’d end himself immediately.

The “Three Thousand Six Hundred Paths,” the “Escape,” the “Extremists,” “Paradise Port”—

To hell with all of it.

He was willing to relive this day for eternity.

This was enough for him.

After washing the dishes, Qi Xia glanced toward the bedroom—then froze.

He walked over, pushed the door open slowly, and stood there, stunned.

There was no bed.

Only a desk and a chair.

His eyes widened as a dull pain throbbed in his head.

What the hell? Where’s the bed?!

Yu Nian’an lived here—but had nowhere to sleep.

Panicked, he turned around to see her wiping the table in the living room.

She hadn’t vanished—but the bed had.

A creeping sense of wrongness settled in his chest.

“Oh, right!” Yu Nian’an walked over, sheepishly scratching her head. “Xia, I messed up. Don’t laugh at me, okay?”

“Wh-What happened?”

“Remember that bed I ordered online a while ago?” she said. “The delivery was supposed to arrive today, so this morning, I had the old one taken away by a junk collector… But then the courier said there was a delay—it won’t come until tomorrow. So… we’ll have to sleep on the floor tonight. Heh…”

Hearing this, Qi Xia exhaled in relief.

“Oh… Is that all?!” His smile returned, tension melting away. “It’s fine, An… If that’s all it is… It’s fine…”