Xoxo paused for a beat, as if gathering its scattered circuits. Its usually chipper tone lowered, almost reverent:
[Bai Meimei's last wish… is very simple, yet incredibly complex.]
[She wants a family. Someone to share her joys and sorrows with. Someone who'll worry about her. Someone who'll remember her. Host… she doesn't want to be forgotten.]
The system's voice turned almost sorrowful toward the end.
Though it was irrelevant, Meimei couldn't help but tease it.
"Why do you sound sad, System?"
[Host, just call me Xoxo… And don't you think Bai Meimei is kind of pitiful?]
Realizing what it had blurted, Xoxo flustered—cursing itself internally. It knew about her past and shouldn't have said that.
[Host, your IV drip bottle is empty,]
it quickly added, hoping to divert her attention.
Meimei glanced at the IV and rang the bell. A nurse arrived shortly after.
"Oh! You're awake. How are you feeling?"
Seeing her awake, the nurse calmly removed the IV needle from the back of her hand.
"I'm fine," Meimei replied with a soft smile. "When can I be discharged?"
The nurse paused, pleasantly surprised by the gentle tone. It felt like good fortune to have such a kind patient on her shift.
"The doctor said you can go home after this drip finishes."
With a few more stolen glances at that serene smile, the nurse left, thinking:
What a warm smile. It makes people feel at ease.
Left alone again, Meimei sank into thought. After fully receiving the original Bai Meimei's memories, one thing was painfully clear—
No one had come to visit her. Not once.
Only Shen Yichen showed up, and that too just to send her to the hospital.
She rubbed her temples. The headache was dull but persistent, and she knew she had to discharge herself.
"Sys… Xoxo, how do I pay the bill?" she corrected herself midway.
[Host, your phone and purse is on the side desk!]
Xoxo's tone was bright and excited—clearly pleased to be useful.
Then it asked, almost pleading:
[Host, can I call you Meimei?]
Meimei hummed a soft "Mm," while slowly swinging her legs off the bed.
[Meimei~ ♡]
She winced. Her head throbbed, and her wrist ached sharply from the wound.
The original Bai Meimei really thought this through… The cut is so deep.
But Xoxo, too caught up in its enthusiasm, didn't notice her pain.
[Host, do we have to butter up to the Bai family?]
Meimei shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Though touched by its use of "we," she answered calmly and matter-of-factly:
"There's no need. The Bai couple raised the original Meimei for sixteen years. Yet barely six months after their biological daughter returned, they took her side without hesitation."
She stood up, brushing her hospital gown in place.
"There are many ways to have a family. The Luo family still hasn't interacted with Bai Meimei yet. Why force connections with people who already chose to let go?"
There was a pause—then:
[That's right, Meimei~! You're so intelligent! I just knew I made the right choice—✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧]
After stepping out of the hospital, the sharp afternoon sunlight fell directly on her face. Meimei squinted, momentarily dizzy as the brightness hit her unadjusted eyes.
Just then, her stomach let out a loud growl.
She instinctively placed a hand over it, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Looking around, she was relieved to see no one had noticed.
[Meimei, you should eat. This body hasn't had anything since yesterday afternoon.]
Xoxo's voice chimed in, gentle but concerned.
For a second, Meimei had almost forgotten about the little system's presence.
[If you want, I can scan the area for restaurants that serve your favorite food!]
It offered proudly, clearly hoping to be of use.
The system didn't notice the growing redness creeping up its host's cheeks.
Meimei tugged her hoodie slightly, trying to hide her expression.
[Meimei ~ look to your left, the shop with the flower pot by the door.]
Xoxo's voice softened, almost smug.
[They serve light meals, good for your stomach!]
There was a brief pause, like it was waiting for praise.
[The book "Ways to Take Care of Host" it read diligently finally came in handy!]
Meimei chuckled softly under her breath, the corners of her lips curving up as she glanced toward the little café.
"Can you even eat? You're the one sounding excited," she teased.
The place looked cozy — sunlight spilled lazily through wide glass windows, and just as Xoxo said, a flower pot swayed gently at the door in the afternoon breeze.
She took a slow step forward.
"…Let's go."
The inside of the café matched its exterior — simple, yet cozy.
There were quite a few customers, but the space wasn't noisy; soft murmurs and the clinking of cutlery filled the warm air.
A waiter approached her shortly, showing her to a seat and handing her a menu.
Meimei ordered a few light dishes and some mildly sweet desserts. The waiter jotted it down and left with a polite nod.
"Xoxo, you never answered my question—can you eat?" she asked in her mind while casually glancing around.
There seemed to be other patients here too, probably from the hospital across the street. So that's why the menu includes so many gentle dishes, she thought.
> [Host, I can eat. But it's not necessary for me to function. So don't waste your money on me.]
Xoxo tried to sound serious, but he was practically drooling over the memory of the menu. Still, the trainer's voice in his circuits echoed sternly—"No unnecessary resource consumption!"
Meimei smiled faintly. "It's not my money anyway," she said aloud, amused.
More than anything, she was curious: How would a system eat? And… what would it even look like?