Main Story Chapter 12-21: Savage Game (蛮荒游戏) | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Before reading this chapter, please read the previous chapter here.

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It's now the sixth day after the incident.

The matter where I was blocked by the media in front of our company's entrance has made its way to the headlines of the media, and Sariel's unfriendly expressions are naturally not something that could escape from the reporters' "creativity expressions".

You: It's still released...

The slightly cooled down public opinion is suddenly heated again. In order to not have my mood affected, I've chosen to not read the news anymore.

I opened our office's door in worries, only to see Mao Ge and Hao Shuai hugging each other and dancing in excitement.

Mao Ge: Well what did I say again? Karma strikes!

Hao Shuai: That's just too evil, how dare she pretend to be other's mom!

You: What are you two talking about?

Mao Ge: Hurry and look at the news, hurry!

I quickly opened my phone.

It's a news article regarding Tian Zhen.

According to the police investigations, the "Tian Zhen's Mother's Cry of Plea Incident" is something planned by a PR company in order to gain attention.

Moreover, this company has also hired popular influencers as well as netizens to continuously spread false information.

The person in charge of the company, the actress that plays the "mother" as well as related influencers are all detained.

You: !!!

Every media are reporting its related incident, and the public discussions are heated.

I'm even suspecting that I'm dreaming!

The crisis that trapped us for so long is solved in an instant, it feels like there were supports from the gods, and it's too unbelievable!

In the newest interview, Evan has also announced that the grand show for Pristine will be conducted in two weeks, and the media in the industry along with guests from various industries are also invited.

At our weekly meeting, I am sitting right in the meeting room. Although my expression has already calmed down, but my heart is still immersed in the joys of having the injustice being undone.

Sariel: There's one last thing. Pristine will have its new product release show as scheduled. We are now running out of time, and we needed more designers to join us.

I didn't expect him to mention about recruiting designers at the last stage. I'm a little shocked, but Mao Ge who's beside me has already raised an arm.

Sariel raised an arm, and paused his words temporarily.

Sariel: What I'm about to tell are the things that those who wish to join should understand clearly. If the show is successful, the overall situation for Pristine will improve. If the show fails, the results will be unimaginable. It could possibly be a disbandment of the design group, and leave an unsightly mark on resumes of related members.

It's a very harsh truth, but Sariel spoke with no hesitations or fear.

Mao Ge: Understood, director, I'm joining!

Li Manman: I'm joining too!

Gao Cheng: I wanted to join too...

Gao Cheng raised his arm as he buries his face, but his hand has been trembling in the air. Chen Che, who's sitting by his side, has already raised his arm high.

Jiang Lai: ... Then I'll join too.

Mao Ge: Would your mentor* release you?

*Jiang Lai's mentor is Bob, known to be extremely against Sariel.

Jiang Lai: Who cares, if I say I'm doing it then I'm going to do it.

Mao Ge asks Jiang Lai quietly, but only to be thrown with a somewhat angry glare.

It's not because Hao Shuai spilled about Mao Ge not liking Jiang Lai, right?

There are an increasing amount of people raising their arms, and the meeting room is gradually becoming livelier.

Even though the crisis was just solved earlier, even though we're burnt out with the tasks on hand, even though the path before us is still misty, where nobody can predict the end result--

But I realized, that the moment earlier is the moment where everyone showed their happiest smiles.

It's the scene that we'd still let out a heartfelt smile despite reminiscing it in many years later.

I then turned towards Sariel. He's just staring at everything that are happening before his eyes, and allowing everyone to have their heated discussion.

Sariel has really changed greatly. But regardless how he becomes, he's always the brightest Polaris in the skies that leads the way for everyone.

Busy days always pass by so quickly. It's now the 15th day since the incident, and it's lesser than a week from the show.

The entire design group is working on the finishing tasks through pulling all nighters.

I knocked on Sariel's office door at midnight. It's a rare sight that he isn't there, and there are two portions of unopened vegetable salad on his desk.

It's his lunch and dinner today, and he didn't eat them at all.

I think, there's no way for me to bring myself to ask him things like "don't you at least have time to take even a bite?", because he really doesn't have any, he's seizing every second out there.

Everyone are working hard for Pristine, but for him, he's using all of his might.

After leaving him a note, I returned to my office.

Time quietly slips away under the tapping sounds of the sewing machines.

Mao Ge: Y/N, what time is it, how did I ended up falling asleep?

You: 5.30AM, I've ordered takeout for breakfast, it's on the table.

Mao Ge: Leave the task on your hand to me, it's your turn to sleep now.

You: Remember to wake me up after 30 minutes okay?

Mao Ge: No problem.

After a stretch, Mao Ge squatted on the floor and examined the dress he sewn last night carefully.

Outside the windows, the dawn is already slightly visible.

Mao Ge: ... Director?

Sariel stood at the slightly closed entrance, and gestured a 'shh'.

Mao Ge immediately nodded. Seeing Sariel looking a little pale, he quickly took the lunchbox and handed it to him.

Mao Ge: Director, this is the breakfast Y/N bought, but it's already cold... Shall I heat it for you?

Sariel shook his head, took the lunchbox, and his gaze fell on the girl.

The winter morning is so cold that it brings shivers, but the air conditioner is not switched on in the room, and she even kicked the blanket off to the side.

Sariel placed the lunchbox down, and walked towards the girl.

She's sleeping while facing inwards, slightly curling herself up, and still muttering something.

Suddenly, he recalled that he glanced downstairs from afar to find a familiar figure. It's Lao Zhong. He's lifting his head and looking upstairs, attempting to search for something.

However, after seeing him, he escaped in panic. He walked in a homolateral manner, locked, snow-white beard under the winds.

Sariel quickly ran downstairs, with cold air filling his lungs, with bits of sickening smell of blood.

Sariel: Lao Zhong-- Lao Zhong, is that you--

There were passerby stopping to glance at him, then continued their paths.

Everyone are walking in their own paths, only Sariel was the one standing there like a lost soul, unbudging,  like a plant almost wilting.

It's that instant that he recalled something that happened very, very long ago.

He was seriously ill back then. Lao Zhong visited him with teary eyes, scolding him for not informing him while preparing to stay and take care of him.

But he didn't want to owe him any favor. So he asked him to head out to purchase a bowl of porridge that requires one to queue for an extremely long time, and by the time he's back, he has already left the building.

He chose to be alone back then, so it's of no wonder for Lao Zhong to be unwilling to see him.

Sariel lied down slowly.

He did not use all his might to hug her, but instead used all his might to suppress himself. His limbs are all tightly tensed, as he holds the girl into his embrace.

The girl's sleeping posture is now more relaxed, shoulder blade close to his chest, ankle leaning against his calf.

Suddenly, he felt a sense of relief that is difficult to be named, filling this entire body of his. He saw the long lost days of the past moving, and surrounded him.

His mind is completely empty. It's his first time not recalling his past, but instead recalling that night where they both apologized to each other.

Sariel thought, so this is what attachment is like. In the remaining days that aren't much left, she is his everlasting future.

The bruise knocked by the reporter earlier still remained on her arm, exuding faint green-purplish colors.

Sariel placed his palm over it, until they are completely disappeared*.

*Sariel's Talent includes healing.

A whisper is heard by his ear.

You: Sariel...

Sariel: Mm.

Sariel turned his head towards the morning scenery outside the window. Uncertain of the reason, a phrase entered his mind.

Stray birds of summer come to my window to sing and fly away.*

*Reference to Stray Birds by Rabindranath Tagore.

The winds brushed, leaves flutters as it rustles, what a pity, it's now winter.

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