After dealing with company documents, Chu Jin massaged his temples and forced himself to focus on the books and notebooks on his desk—the very ones Luo An had noticed earlier, some related to soul separation and others to soul summoning.
Luo An, uncharacteristically quiet, hovered by Chu Jin’s side, watching him pore over books all afternoon.
Chu Jin had a dedicated notebook that was already half-filled when Luo An spotted it.
Though Chu Jin had always excelled academically, the gap between economics and folklore studies was vast. Moreover, he chose to focus on folk beliefs, sometimes spending half an hour researching a single custom.
Chu Jin didn’t seem to mind the trouble.
Luo An, however, began to feel drowsy.
Souls didn’t actually need rest, but Luo An insisted on maintaining his human sleep schedule. It gave him a semblance of being alive.
—Luo An wasn’t sure if he could be considered alive anymore.
“Hey,” Luo An prodded Chu Jin’s back as evening fell, knowing full well Chu Jin couldn’t hear or feel him. “Why aren’t you going to eat?”
The words felt awkward on Luo An’s tongue. After years of quarreling with Chu Jin and hurling countless insults, expressing concern felt strange.
Unsurprisingly, Chu Jin remained oblivious, engrossed in his reading.
“Knock, knock, knock—” Just as Luo An was anxiously circling Chu Jin, someone rapped on the office door.
“Who is it?” Chu Jin discreetly put away the books on his desk.
“Jin-ge, it’s me,” came “Luo An’s” voice from outside.
The hovering Luo An instantly perked up his ears. The intruder’s voice was laced with concern, giving Luo An goosebumps. “Jin-ge, Uncle Chu said that our families are having dinner together tonight.”
“Uncle Chu messaged you, but there’s been no reply.”
“Jin-ge, is everything alright?”
Chu Jin frowned, checked his phone, and indeed saw a message from his father sent half an hour ago.
“Jin-ge, may I come in?” the person outside continued.
Chu Jin’s brow furrowed, about to refuse, when the intruder opened the door himself.
“Get out!” Chu Jin was visibly displeased.
“Jin-ge.” The intruder’s eyes welled up, appearing pitiful, yet his steps toward Chu Jin didn’t falter. His gaze swept the office.
Luo An hadn’t paid much attention to the intruder’s arrival, but suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
“Host, upon energy depletion, the system will enter hibernation and cannot be awakened for a while. Do you wish to use the remaining energy for memory interference?”
It had been four years. If the intruder couldn’t ensure everyone in this world forgot the original Luo An when the five-year limit was up, he himself would vanish.
Realizing this, the intruder’s voice grew impatient. “What else? You can’t detect if people in this world have forgotten the original, can you?”
“Fortunately, everyone else’s attitude is fine. Only this Chu Jin, no matter what I do, remains as cold as stone.”
“Also, did you see the title of that book?”
Luo An followed the intruder’s gaze, spotting the book Chu Jin had just put away. Half of it was visible, clearly showing the title—”Records of Soul Summoning.”
Luo An’s heart tightened as he heard the intruder continue addressing the system. “Soul summoning? Hah.”
“I’ll make him forget even the original’s name.”
“Confirmation received,” the system’s voice remained emotionless, “Energy accumulating…”
The exchange between the system and the intruder, though seemingly long, occurred in an instant.
Just as Chu Jin turned, a sharp pain pierced his temple. Then, his vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground.
Author’s Note:
Oh no, something’s happened! (；′⌒`)
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