Chapter Forty-Four: The Little Pill

Chapter Forty-Four: The Blue Pill

Watching the silent Chen Xiao, Phoenix gathered her hair, her face wearing a gentle smile as she softly asked, "Is it because of your parents that you harbor some resistance toward espers and organizations of espers?"

Chen Xiao looked up in surprise at Phoenix. "You know about my past as well?"

"I do," Phoenix nodded. "In this world, there is little I cannot find out if I set my mind to it. Besides..." She paused, her voice becoming tender, "I am quite curious about you."

Chen Xiao fell silent, but his hands clenched involuntarily.

Was it because of his parents?

Perhaps it was.

His parents’ work, their deaths, their final words—all of it was entwined with these 'abilities.' But why did all of this have to happen to him? Why to his family?

If this was for all of humanity’s evolution, then let all humanity bear it together! Why did his family have to suffer the consequences?

Even though Black Three and Thunder Fox had told him the research institute was destroyed, that his parents’ deaths had been avenged...

But still...

If there had been no abilities, no so-called responsibility for the evolution of mankind, his parents would not have died, would not have poured all their energy into their work, leaving him to grow up alone and lonely.

If only...

Chen Xiao’s body trembled slightly. Suddenly, a gentle hand rested softly on his shoulder, slender and delicate fingers carrying a calming magic.

Then Phoenix’s soft voice sounded beside his ear: "Don’t dwell on what’s past, just do what you must. What’s done cannot be undone or changed. In this life, there are many things beyond our control. But we can always choose to strive. Since what happened has already happened, there’s no use in sorrow. Rather than lament the past, gather your heart and face the future with a smile."

Her fingertips slid gently to Chen Xiao’s cheek, the touch so soft it made his heart quiver.

Phoenix's delicate voice lingered by his ear: "You, I, all of us—our blood, our lives—are inherently different from most others in this world. This is our fate. Since destiny has chosen us, there’s no escaping it. Don’t wallow in pity or question whether it’s fair. Because fairness never truly existed in this world—not before, and not in the future."

Chen Xiao didn’t know if it was just his imagination, but it seemed Phoenix’s mood dimmed as she spoke those words. Yet soon she brightened, as if brushing away a shadow, her smile radiant. "Remember, you’re the first boy to ever give me a beef burger for my birthday. I have high hopes for you."

They gazed at each other quietly for a moment. Phoenix’s eyes were as clear as water, utterly pure. After a while, she broke into a lovely smile, then reached behind her with her other hand, forming a small fist before opening her palm slowly in front of Chen Xiao.

There, nestled in her delicate palm, lay two capsules—one red, one blue.

"Look, this is my gift for you," Phoenix smiled warmly. "It wouldn’t be right otherwise. The other day, you gave me a burger, so I must return the gesture. Otherwise, I'd be indebted, and neither my meals nor my sleep would be peaceful."

Chen Xiao noticed that when Phoenix smiled, her petite nose crinkled slightly, making her look even more lively and adorable.

"What are these? They aren’t poison, are they?" Her smile was infectious, and Chen Xiao couldn’t help but laugh too.

"They are a choice," Phoenix looked into Chen Xiao’s eyes. "I know your abilities haven’t awakened yet—you’re still unstable. If you take the red pill, it will cause the mutation in your body to go dormant. You’ll become an ordinary person again—at least, for the next hundred years, nothing will change. Of course... that’s if you live that long." She paused, then continued dreamily, "The blue pill... can awaken your abilities."

Perhaps his thoughts were too complicated. For such a breathtaking beauty to tell him, "the blue pill can awaken your abilities," it was hard not to let his mind wander.

"After taking it, your powers will manifest quickly and stabilize. You won’t have to worry about them coming and going anymore."

Chen Xiao’s laughter faded. He looked seriously at Phoenix, then at the two pills in her palm.

A choice...

Under Phoenix’s watchful gaze, Chen Xiao pondered for several minutes.

At last, he reached out, his hand steady, his expression calm.

"As you said, destiny chose me—I can’t run. There’s no fairness in this world…" Chen Xiao gently took the blue pill and placed it in his mouth.

Phoenix watched him, her eyes shining with encouragement and delight.

The pill melted instantly on his tongue, with a faint sweetness—was that chocolate?

Chen Xiao was still surprised when Phoenix’s face began to blur before his eyes; his vision was unfocused.

Soon everything doubled, his eyelids grew heavy, and in the end, his body slumped backward. His consciousness faded, but as he drifted away, Phoenix’s face came close, and he heard her gentle laughter:

"I’m sorry, Chen Xiao, I lied to you. Both pills were simply fast-acting sleeping aids—nothing like what I said. I just wanted to use this method to let you make your choice. See? You picked blue, so your heart has already decided. No need to hesitate anymore."

Finally, Phoenix smiled at him. "Have a good sleep. When dawn comes, everything will be a new beginning."

...

...

When Chen Xiao awoke, the sunlight was glaring. He reflexively raised his hand to shield his eyes, only then realizing he was lying in a car, leaning against the passenger seat.

"Awake?" came a warm, deep voice from beside him.

Chen Xiao turned and saw Uncle Tian’s broad, smiling face. The man handed him a bottle of mineral water.

"Uh... how did I end up here?" Chen Xiao thought for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, "What about her—Phoenix?"

Uncle Tian’s eyes seemed to twitch, but he was still smiling. "She left. I’ve been following you by car, but unlike her, I can't fly. I arrived a bit late and saw you lying on the ground."

Chen Xiao accepted the water, rubbed his face, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip. "Thank you."

Seeing Chen Xiao’s expression, Uncle Tian’s smile deepened. "Looks like you’ve untangled something in your heart?"

"...I suppose you could say that." Chen Xiao opened the car door and stepped out. They were on the outskirts of the city; the high tower of the prison was visible in the distance.

Judging by the sun, it was already the next morning. The car was parked by the roadside, and the surroundings were pleasant.

Chen Xiao rinsed his mouth and washed his face with the water, facing the morning light...

It seemed he hadn’t felt so light-hearted in a long time.

Uncle Tian got out too, standing by the car door, saying nothing as he watched Chen Xiao.

At last, after a while, Chen Xiao smiled.

"Uncle Tian, what exactly does it mean to be your agent? What kind of work does that involve?"

(There will be another chapter tonight~)