Realizing this, the group's spirits noticeably lifted.
From the scenes they'd witnessed earlier, they had noticed that Bai Heng also carried his own secrets. And as viewers, one question had been lingering in their minds:
What was Bai Heng's true motive for getting close to Firefly?
Exactly!
Though Firefly in the footage remained unaware, thanks to their god's-eye view, the audience could clearly see that from their very first encounter, Bai Heng had used underhanded tricks to establish a connection with her.
They had even discussed among themselves in the livestream chat why he might have done so.
Some speculated that Bai Heng was actually a bounty hunter who had seen through Firefly's identity as Sam the Stellaron Hunter—a high-value target—and was cozying up to her to eventually capture her and claim the reward. All this emotional manipulation was just setting the stage for the day he'd finally reveal his true colors.
Others guessed that Bai Heng was after the Glamoth's Iron Calvary armor activation device in Firefly's possession, and that his real goal was to take her mech for a spin.
But if we're being brutally honest, there was one theory that topped them all:
—He was totally into her.
Ahem. Of course, these were all just guesses from the audience. So far, there wasn't a single clue to confirm whether any of these speculations held water.
That was exactly why, when Firefly spoke those words, the viewers felt so tense.
It was like watching that detective kid who's always around when people die—when that iconic BGM kicks in and the little guy shoots his sleep dart, you can't help but feel a thrill run down your spine.
In the simulation, the scene continued to unfold.
[Though her words caught you off guard, you didn't hesitate for a second and nodded in agreement.]
[Following the girl's lead, you arrived at the edge of the Golden Hour—a part of the dreamscape normally closed off to all guests.]
[Along the way, you caught a glimpse of another side of Firefly.]
[Nothing like the fragile girl you were used to, she showed decisive judgment and impressive skill. Whether it was the Bloodhound Family or the haunting members of the Reverie Troupe wandering the dream, she deftly led you past them all.]
[Finally, you reached your destination: the deepest part of the dream's edge.]
[It was an open rooftop—Firefly's secret hideout, and the closest one could get to the dream's sky. Far from the noise of the world, away from the arguments of the dreamweavers, and utterly free from any disturbance.]
[A gentle breeze brushed through the girl's hair, the fading glow of sunset casting a soft light on her face. Here, she began to share her secrets with you.]
[Her destroyed homeland, her status as a stowaway… and she also told you why she had come to Penacony.]
[The Watchmaker's Legacy.]
[Something no one had ever truly laid eyes on, yet it held the power to cure the illness that plagued her—Entropy Loss Syndrome.]
[Those afflicted with this disease undergo an irreversible, gradual physical disintegration. They can still run, jump, and talk to others, but slowly, bit by bit, they fade away—in a way that's nearly imperceptible to anyone else.]
[In reality, she was confined to a medical pod she could never leave. Only in Penacony could she live like anyone else—running, leaping, cheering, laughing.]
[Firefly thanked you for hiring her as your guide. These past weeks had been the most fulfilling and happiest days she'd ever known.]
Her words were soft—so soft that such heavy truths seemed to slip from her lips with ease. Yet they landed with immense weight, leaving everyone in the livestream solemn and still.
As each sentence left the girl's mouth, the atmosphere in the chat grew increasingly somber.
--+--
Kiana: 「Firefly's past… is that heavy?」
Lumine: 「Her home was destroyed, and because of Entropy Loss Syndrome, she's stuck in a medical pod… Thank goodness this is just a parallel world, or this would be way too cruel.」
Silver Wolf: 「Yeah, well, @Firefly here is the same in this world too, you know~」
Lumine: 「.....」
March 7th: 「......」
Furina: 「....」
Lumine: 「Goddammit, I'm the worst!」
Sparkle: 「Someone's not sleeping tonight~」
Firefly: 「It's… not that bad, really. Besides, I'm doing much better now.」
Silver Wolf: 「Doing better? Since when? Pretty sure we haven't gotten our hands on the Watchmaker's Legacy yet.」
Firefly: 「I'm not sure either… But at some point, I started feeling my body slowly recovering.」
Stelle: 「Well, that's great news! *clap clap clap*~」
--+--
Although the conversation had briefly drifted toward Firefly's past, everyone's attention soon returned to the live footage.
Now, with Firefly having bared her soul, the screen presented Bai Heng with a choice.
[Though there are some things Firefly can't fully share with you right now, she has already revealed almost everything about herself. What will you do next?]
[A: Her past is too heavy. Out of courtesy, you offer words of comfort.]
[B: "Everything will be alright!" You try to encourage her enthusiastically, but words are often the weakest form of expression—the effect may be minimal.]
[C: A warm embrace is the greatest comfort. You pull the girl into your arms, hoping to soothe the wounds she's carried. (Note: Because affinity has reached 80, this action will not trigger any negative consequences.)]
[D: You have your own idea, different from the options above. (Note: Choosing this option allows free action, but the outcome cannot be predicted. Choose carefully!)]
--+--
Looking over the system's choices, Bai Heng rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
No need to overthink it—options A and B were both too weak. Just as option B said:
Words really were the least effective way to offer comfort.
The only reliable choice was clearly C.
A delicate beauty shows you her scars—what better chance to pull her into an embrace?
Not only could it help heal her wounds, but you'd also get to feel her warmth.
Most importantly, with affinity high enough, there'd be no downside!
Why would anyone not choose this?
Absolutely—no reason at all!
"I choose D."
With a completely straight face, Bai Heng selected D, his expression unreadable.
Sure, a chance to hug a beautiful girl was rare, but sorry…
What I, Bai Heng, love most is saying NO to people who think they have it all figured out!
Of course, that wasn't the only reason he chose D. He had his own considerations.
Option C might seem like the best choice on the surface, but it could interfere with his own plans.
An affinity of 80 was in a rather ambiguous range.
A hug now might net him 5, maybe even 10 points of affinity.
But what if he saved this opportunity for when Firefly's affection was even higher? Wouldn't the returns be greater then?
Bai Heng thought the idea had merit, which was why he didn't go with C.
There was also another point…
Sorry, Firefly, your past may be tragic, but my pain…
Is even greater than yours!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.