Chapter 11: Farewell Is the Best Reunion

Time flew by, and it was already evening.

Having finished work and dinner, Wuming lay on the sofa watching today’s match.

“Not banning the Mammoth again—this time they’re getting stomped for sure.”

“Year after year, not even making it to the finals, and they still don’t learn.”

Wuming shook his head and sighed while watching the TV live stream, while his freebie wife, Serena, was helping him clear game activities to earn some gacha stones.

This was really leisurely~

This was the life without interruptions.

Wuming sighed in his heart; having someone help with dailies meant he didn’t have to hustle and could do what he wanted.

Plus, watching others play games was way more fun than playing himself—pointing and commenting was the best.

“Hey, Wuming.”

“Ask you something.”

Serena turned off the game and looked at Wuming, with a very serious expression.

“Why the serious face?” Wuming looked at her puzzled. “What do you want to ask?”

“It’s just…” Serena’s attitude suddenly became hesitant. 

“If I were to leave you… would you try to keep me?”

Serena felt an inexplicable anticipation in her heart when she asked this, to see if Wuming would try to keep her.

If he did… then she’d just stay, but if he said no…

“Well…”

Hearing this question, Wuming thought for quite a while, and after a bit, he gave Serena an answer.

“Wait until you finish the activities for me before leaving.”

“Huh—?” Serena stared at him in disbelief, her face scrunched up. 

“What kind of answer is that?!”

“That’s the answer.”

Wuming still didn’t give a substantial response, leaving Serena a bit confused.

But…

From Wuming’s meaning, he probably wanted her to leave; finishing activities didn’t take much time—it could be done in one evening, so that must be it…

That’s how Serena interpreted Wuming’s words.

This strengthened Serena’s resolve to leave tonight for revenge, but she was thinking about when to go.

While Wuming was asleep, or…

“I’m going to shower first, Serena.”

Wuming stood up and looked at Serena, who was still hesitating. “After I’m done, let’s play games together.”

“…Yeah.”

With that, Wuming returned to his room, grabbed his pajamas, and entered the bathroom.

“…”

Listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom, Serena also got up from the sofa.

The peaceful days are over…

Yes, she chose to leave now, a silent farewell.

Serena placed Wuming’s phone on the table, then walked to the fridge and opened it.

Looking at the many blood bags still there, Serena felt a hidden guilt in her heart.

He bought so many for me, yet…

No way to carry them…

She had thought about taking a few blood bags with her when leaving, but realizing she had nothing to carry things in, she could only give up the idea.

Serena silently closed the fridge and walked to the door.

In this final farewell, Serena turned back once more to look at this place she called “home.”

The first place that made Serena feel safe.

“…”

***

About ten minutes passed.

Wuming came out of the bathroom.

“I say, Serena, go easy on my shampoo— I just bought it a few days ago, and now it’s almost gone.”

Fresh out, Wuming wiped his hair with a towel while complaining about Serena using too much shampoo, still unaware that Serena had left.

“Really…”

Seeing no response from Serena, Wuming grumbled as he walked to the sofa, planning to give her a good lecture, thinking she was just playing on her phone there and ignoring him.

But when he approached the sofa, he didn’t see Serena’s figure waiting to play games with him.

And his phone was placed on the table.

…Strange?

Where is she?

Until then, Wuming hadn’t thought that Serena had left; he wondered if she was in the room.

“Serena?”

Wuming stepped forward and opened the door, but saw the room still dark; when he turned on the light, he didn’t see any sign of Serena.

“…”

Wuming’s heart inexplicably started to feel anxious.

Where would Serena go this late at night…

Then Wuming hurried to the door, opened it, and went down to the first floor to look around.

The entire first floor was empty too, and the door was open, with the shutter half-raised, just enough for Serena’s height.

“…”

She left… right?

That must be it…

Only then did Wuming basically confirm that Serena had probably left, departed from here, left his life.

Back to being alone…

He went to the door, closed the shutter again, slowly closed the door and locked it.

Then turned off the first-floor lights and returned to the second floor.

“…”

Wuming sat back on the sofa, staring blankly at the TV live stream.

Originally, he had wanted her to leave soon, but when she really did, his heart inexplicably felt mixed and lost, like he had lost something important.

Serena leaving should be a good thing; he should be happy, but why…

Did his heart feel so empty…

Looking at this house he had lived in for so long, Wuming felt like something was missing; it seemed to lack that lively atmosphere.

No one to play games with anymore, no one to talk to.

He had always lived like this…

So why did Serena’s departure make him feel melancholic… lonely…

Meow—

Wuyi came over at this time, jumped onto the spot where Serena had been, and lay down to rest, its eyes always on Wuming.

As if it wanted to say something to him.

“…”

Wuming reached out expressionlessly to pet it; the TV was still broadcasting today’s match—a very important one where they even pulled back the score difference—but Wuming had no interest in watching anymore.

His mind kept flashing scenes of when Serena was here: that legendary gacha king, that freebie wife who played games with him.

“【If I leave… would you try to keep me?】”

Serena’s words repeated in his mind, as if reminding him of what he said.

So… that’s what she meant…

Coming over to disturb his peaceful life, saying something like that before leaving; all he wanted was a peaceful life…

Was she trying to make him feel guilty…

Well, she really did it…

Wuming scooped up Wuyi in one go, placed it on his lap, and stroked its fur.

Wuyi used to shed a lot, but under Serena’s grooming these past days, Wuyi showed no signs of heavy shedding.

This was all thanks to Serena…

“Serena…”

Unknowingly, Wuming said her name out loud, as if a bit reluctant to let her go.

Meow—!

Annoyed by the petting, Wuyi jumped off Wuming’s lap and sat on the floor grooming its fur.

“…”

“Sigh…”

By now, Wuming had completely lost interest in the match, so he turned off the TV and the house lights, planning to go back to his room to sleep and stop thinking about these things.

If she left, so be it; it’s none of my business.

He had helped as much as he could anyway.

Leaving was for the best; saved him from getting into trouble.

Wuming kept telling himself there was no need to keep Serena; she was just a very special passerby.

Her life or death had nothing to do with him…

She won’t come back, right…

This time, no matter what he heard, he wouldn’t open the door.

Thinking this, Wuming returned to his room and closed the door.

***

On the other side.

Serena wandered the city streets.

“Darling, I want to buy this~”

“Full now, let’s go watch a movie together.”

“Got all the stuff, darling~ Tonight, let’s battle to the death!”

“…”

Having resolved to leave, Serena looked at the couples walking arm in arm on the street, feeling an inexplicable sourness in her heart.

Couples… husbands and wives…

She really wanted to be like them, with someone always by her side, buying lots of good food, watching movies, and strolling together.

Not like now, walking alone on the street, with no one to rely on; even with a human sense of taste, no one to buy food for her.

This wish probably couldn’t be realized.

Unfamiliar city, unfamiliar people, and a fate of being hunted by her own kind—this was her life, right…

Or being captured and taken back, enduring endless torturous experiments, and probably still ending up dead…

“…”

So painful…

Being tortured… so painful…

No one remembering her… so painful…

And no one would act as a hero for her…

Serena’s heart repeated this over and over.

Honestly, she really wanted to cry, but her strong personality wouldn’t allow her to cry out; she couldn’t let others mock her as a crybaby.

But she really wanted to cry her heart out, to vent all the injustices she faced, the long-accumulated resentment needing an outlet.

Psychologist…

Serena thought of Wuming’s profession again; a psychologist might help “treat” her mental illness.

But she had already left him, left his life.

She had told herself not to think about Wuming anymore…

Why… couldn’t she escape him everywhere…

Serena silently clenched her clothes.

Clearly… she had always walked alone before… never thinking someone would keep or pity her, so why this time…

Serena let go of her clothes, her hand unintentionally touching the ring from the pact with Wuming.

It was just a few days, but unknowingly, Serena’s heart had leaned toward Wuming without her realizing.

Only after leaving did she feel it.

From the time he saved and treated her…

Could she already not leave Wuming?!

Though she didn’t want to admit it, Serena thought so; otherwise, she wouldn’t have left for his safety, not wanting to drag Wuming into her troubles.

Thinking this, Serena shook her head like a rattle.

No— stop thinking about this!

Wuming doesn’t like her at all! Why keep thinking about him!

He’s just… a passerby!

Yes! A passerby!

Serena kept brainwashing herself, trying to forget Wuming this way.

She… had a more important goal!

Finish her own matters first!

Thinking this, Serena headed to a blood clan gathering spot.