IBO -Chapter 58 Why Can’t You See Me?

This novel contains sensitive and taboo content like R*pe, Mu**er etc. Read only if you are comfortable.

Song Yiran’s tone was extremely gentle, but Xiao Zhong’er instinctively sensed that Song Yiran was very dangerous at this moment. He immediately chickened out. “Alright, then… I’ll just keep suspecting Boss.”

“So what should we do next? Pretend we don’t know anything? Or go straight to Boss and ask her?”

Xiao Zhong’er was really distressed. What a mess this was! He just wanted to accompany Song Yiran and properly complete their missions—how did it end up involving so many things behind the scenes?

Song Yiran picked up a meatball and stuffed it into Xiao Zhong’er’s mouth.

“At a time like this, shouldn’t we be thinking of countermeasures?!” Xiao Zhong’er said so, but he still obediently chewed the meatball.

Mm, the meatballs Song Yiran made were still as delicious as ever—even overnight, they were still good!

Propping his chin up with one hand, Song Yiran smiled as he looked at Xiao Zhong’er. “Is it tasty?”

“Tasty!” Xiao Zhong’er nodded, then quickly shook his head. “No, that’s not the point right now! This isn’t the time to be talking about whether the meatballs taste good! What are we supposed to do?”

“What else can we do? We don’t even know how many people are involved behind this. And for now, everything is just speculation on our part. The best thing to do is to lie low and see what the one behind the scenes—no, what the system behind the scenes—wants us to do next.”

Song Yiran soothingly patted Xiao Zhong’er on the head, then fed him another meatball.

What exactly does the system behind the scenes want to do?

If all it wanted was for him and Xiao Zhong’er to complete the missions, then why bother erasing their memories?

Moreover, judging from the memories he and Xiao Zhong’er shared, every time the timeline collapsed, the system headquarters determined that he had completed the mission. So the focus clearly wasn’t the child-rearing mission.

Then what exactly does 111 want him and Xiao Zhong’er to do?

Could it be that the so-called child-rearing mission was never the real goal to begin with—that it was merely a cover? Is that why the timeline kept collapsing over and over again?

Is the system behind the scenes trying to get him and Xiao Zhong’er to stop the timeline from collapsing?

But if that were the case, there would be no need to erase their memories. Wouldn’t it be more convenient if they retained them?

Song Yiran propped his chin up as he pondered, idly poking the bottom of the bowl of meatballs with his chopsticks. Things were becoming interesting.

The best-case scenario was that only 111 was involved in all of this—then dealing with it would be much simpler.

The worst-case scenario was—

That the entire History Department was plotting this together.

If it really was the worst case, then no matter what, he and Xiao Zhong’er wouldn’t be able to escape.

But why target him and Xiao Zhong’er in the first place? Could it be that there was something special about the two of them?

As Song Yiran considered all the possibilities in his mind, his thoughts were soon interrupted by Xiao Zhong’er’s slightly trembling voice.

“Song Yiran… headquarters has issued an order, requiring you and me to return to the History Department together to report for duty…”

“What do we do? Boss must have realized that we know! This is definitely a trap—a Hongmen Banquet! What should we do? What should we do?!”

“This time it’s a compulsory order. We have to go—otherwise we’ll be immediately forcibly repatriated to the System World.”

Xiao Zhong’er spun helplessly in midair, going around in circles. What were the two of them supposed to do? If they went this time, would they even be able to come back?

A way—he had to think of a way! Was there still any way left?

Xiao Zhong’er was so anxious that sweat beaded all over his head. If something really went wrong, his family would definitely protect him. At worst, his memories would be wiped and he’d be sent back to the factory for reconstruction—he’d still be able to live just fine in the System World.

But what about Song Yiran? Who would protect Song Yiran? Song Yiran wasn’t even a system entity to begin with—he was human.

If the boss sent Song Yiran back to his original world, Song Yiran would die without a doubt.

Xiao Zhong’er made a painful decision: he was going to send Song Yiran away.

He took out a treasured item he had kept hidden—an item he had obtained through unspeakable channels.

With this item, one could travel to any time and space. Most importantly, it wasn’t under departmental control; the relevant authorities couldn’t trace the item’s coordinates.

This was something he had originally prepared for Song Yiran…

Back then, Song Yiran’s insistence on redoing the mission had been extremely dangerous. If the timeline collapsed again, Song Yiran would have no chance of revival—his soul would completely dissipate.

This item was the final insurance he had prepared for Song Yiran. If the timeline still collapsed this time, he would use it to send Song Yiran to another time and space.

It didn’t matter which one—as long as Song Yiran could live.

Even if… even if he would never be able to see Song Yiran again.

“Song Yiran, run.”

Xiao Zhong’er let out a sigh. They were destined to part in the end. He took out the item and looked at Song Yiran with reluctance.

“I’ll use this item to send you to another time and space. It’s a special item—the boss won’t be able to track your coordinates.”

Song Yiran shook his head and stopped Xiao Zhong’er’s eager little short hands. “Wait. No need. Let’s go to headquarters together.”

Xiao Zhong’er finally snapped. He yelled without restraint, “Song Yiran! What on earth are you thinking?! I really don’t understand you! It feels like I’ve never truly understood you at all! This is clearly a trap—a Hongmen Banquet! Why are you going? Can’t you just listen to me this once?!”

Xiao Zhong’er was about to be driven mad by Song Yiran. He flew onto Song Yiran’s hair and frantically scratched at it with his tiny hands.

He roared angrily, “What are you thinking?! You humans always value your lives above everything else, don’t you? Go? Go where? What if you die? What if you’re sent back to your original world? You’ll die! You really will die…”

As he shouted, he began to cry. He leaned sorrowfully against Song Yiran’s braid, sobbing as he used the braid to wipe his tears.

“Waaah… Song Yiran, I don’t want you to die… please don’t go, okay… Can’t you listen to me just once? You never listen to me… I really don’t understand you. I don’t understand you, I don’t understand you! Didn’t you say we’re partners? Didn’t you say I’m your family? Then listen to me this time, okay? Run. Don’t go…”

Xiao Zhong’er wailed, leaning against Song Yiran’s braid, crying so hard that the braid was soaked through.

Song Yiran sighed. He gently lifted Xiao Zhong’er off his braid, then held him in his arms and softly patted his back to comfort him.

Song Yiran explained, “If I run now, what about the kids? If I leave, who will take care of them? And I want to know the truth behind all of this. I have a feeling—this truth is extremely important.”

Xiao Zhong’er automatically filtered out the latter half of Song Yiran’s words. His tone was full of resentment. “The kids, the kids, the kids—your head is full of kids!

Have these brats put some kind of spell on you?

You even gave up your chance at revival just to raise these kids! And even now you’re still thinking about them!

When we’re the ones with the closest relationship! We’re the ones who met first! I’ve known you far longer than these kids!!!

Why do you only think about those kids and not about me?!

Song Yiran, I hate you! I’m not talking to you anymore!

You always make systems this sad… Is it that, in your heart, those kids will always come before me? We’ve been through thick and thin together for so long…

But it seems like your eyes can only see those little kids…

Why can’t you see me? I don’t understand… why can’t you see me?

When you gave up your chance at revival and decided to raise those kids all over again, did you ever think about me?”

No matter when, the first ones Song Yiran thought of were always those little kids. Fine—at first it was to complete the mission; that was understandable. But later?

Song Yiran had actually given up his chance at revival of his own free will, just to raise those kids again.

And what about him?

He was forever just the little follower trailing behind Song Yiran, while Song Yiran’s gaze was always fixed on those kids.

And him?

He had accompanied Song Yiran for so long, yet Song Yiran seemed to never see him.

“Do you know how you got this chance to redo the mission? It was me!

It was me who bribed my superior to exchange for this opportunity for you! Can those kids help you the way I can?

Who has been by your side all this time?

We’ve clearly experienced so much together, so why does it feel like your eyes can only see those kids?

Then what about me? Why can’t you ever see me?

Didn’t you say we’re friends? Didn’t you say I’m your family?

But in your heart, my place will never compare to those kids…

Song Yiran, what am I to you, really?

Even now, you’re still worrying about what will happen to those kids if they lose your care. Have these kids really put some kind of spell on you?

Song Yiran—what am I to you, exactly?!”

Xiao Zhong’er tearfully accused Song Yiran, as if he were pouring out all the grievances he had buried in his heart at once.

“What’s so good about these kids anyway? Why do you care about them so much?

Why won’t you care about me, even a little? I hate you! I hate those kids! Why do you have to care about them?

Once the mission’s done, revival is enough—why bother with those kids at all?

Wasn’t revival your goal from the very beginning? Why give up your wish for those kids?

Why do you never take your own life seriously?

I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I’m not talking to you anymore… I’ll never talk to you again… You always make me this sad…”

At some point, Song Yiran’s gaze had begun to linger longer and longer on those kids.

He always worried about whether they ate well, slept well, played well. His whole tender, fatherly heart was devoted to those children.

But clearly, he and Song Yiran were the ones who met first. Whether in Song Yiran’s hardest times or his most glorious moments, he had always stayed by Song Yiran’s side.

They had spent so much time together, yet Song Yiran devoted himself entirely to those kids.

Had Song Yiran never cared about him? Of course he had. But that care was far less than the care he gave those kids.

If Song Yiran’s care for him was worth 100 points, then his care for those kids was worth 200.

Xiao Zhong’er kept accusing Song Yiran, tears pouring down in large drops, soaking a wide patch of Song Yiran’s clothes.

He said he hated Song Yiran, yet his body was honest—nestled in Song Yiran’s arms, unwilling to pull away.