The next morning, Lin Xiao woke up with heavy bags under his eyes.
He had spent most of the night painstakingly crafting memories for Zhang Wei, finding the task more difficult than he had anticipated.
He realized he didn't know enough about Zhang Wei's life to accurately recreate ten years of memories.
Wanting to gather more information, Lin Xiao decided to go to school and talk to Wang Lei and Li Na.
He hoped they could provide more details about Zhang Wei, helping him make the memories more accurate.
Upon arriving at school, Lin Xiao quickly scanned the classroom. His heart sank when he noticed that both Wang Lei and Zhang Wei were absent.
Zhang Wei's absence was expected, given his condition, but Wang Lei's absence surprised him.
During the break, Lin Xiao approached Li Na, who was sitting alone, looking distressed.
"Hey, Li Na," Lin Xiao greeted her with a friendly smile. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Li Na looked up, her eyes puffy from crying. "Sure, Lin Xiao. What's up?"
Lin Xiao tried to appear casual. "I was just thinking about Zhang Wei. I heard he is in coma for some reason, and I realized I didn't know him as well as I should. Can you tell me more about him?"
Li Na's face softened at the mention of Zhang Wei. "Of course. Zhang Wei is... well, he's always been so kind and thoughtful. I remember one time in middle school, I lost my favorite bracelet. I was so upset, but Zhang Wei stayed after school with me, searching every corner until we found it. He said he couldn't stand to see me sad."
She smiled through her tears, reminiscing. "And then there was the time he organized a surprise birthday party for Wang Lei. We all pitched in, but Zhang Wei did most of the work. He even baked the cake himself. It was a disaster, really the cake was lopsided and the icing was too sweet, but Wang Lei loved it because Zhang Wei put so much effort into it."
Lin Xiao listened intently, absorbing every detail.
These stories painted a picture of Zhang Wei as a caring and selfless friend, traits that would be important to remember as he continued to build Zhang Wei's fabricated memories.
Li Na's voice wavered as she continued. "Zhang Wei... he's always been there for me. We've been friends since we were kids. I was going to confess to him in a few days, you know? I love him, Lin Xiao. I've loved him for so long. But now... with him in a coma, I don't know if I'll ever get the chance."
She broke down, tears streaming down her face. Lin Xiao felt a pang of guilt and sadness.
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure he'll wake up, Li Na. And when he does, he'll need all of us there for him. Maybe he already woke up."
Li Na nodded, wiping her tears. "Thank you, Lin Xiao. I didn't like you at first but it means a lot to me that you care about him too."
Lin Xiao was taken aback by how easily Li Na opened up to him. Reflecting on it, he realized that his increased charisma might be making him more likable and approachable.
Suddenly, Lin Xiao realized the immense power he had over Zhang Wei's memories.
The realization was both exhilarating and sobering. He could shape Zhang Wei's personality and preferences to a significant extent. He could make Zhang Wei whatever he wanted him to be.
He even entertained a wild thought: he could make Zhang Wei sexually attracted to rocks if he wanted to.
But he quickly dismissed such notions, reaffirming his commitment to use his power responsibly.
.....
Returning home, Lin Xiao decided to incorporate Li Na's love into Zhang Wei's fabricated memories, ensuring that the 'bond' they shared remained intact.
He sat on his bed, closing his eyes and focusing on the details Li Na had shared.
He envisioned scenes of Zhang Wei and Li Na's interactions, their moments of friendship with Wang Lei, and budding love, and began the delicate process of creating these memories.
After hours of meticulous effort, Lin Xiao finally completed the memory-making. Now all he had to do was instill these memories into Zhang Wei.
Suddenly the front door of the house was knocked.
Lin Xiao was startled by the sudden knock on the front door. His cats, who had been lounging on the windowsill, quickly alerted him, "It's the military girl from yesterday." Lin Xiao's heart raced as he hurried to prepare himself mentally for the encounter.
Li Jing entered the house, making the same excuse about a routine check due to a terrorist threat.
She quickly made her way upstairs, her steps purposeful and loud. She found Lin Xiao in his room, where he was trying to remain calm despite the pounding of his heart.
"Good morning, Lin Xiao," she greeted him with a steely smile. "Please, sit down."
Lin Xiao obeyed, his mind racing as he tried to anticipate her questions.
"Let's get straight to the point," Li Jing began, her tone direct. "Do you have superpowers?"
Lin Xiao shook his head vigorously, feigning confusion. "Superpowers? How can anyone in the world have superpowers? That's just something from comics and movies."
Li Jing leaned forward, her eyes piercing. "Then tell me, what were you doing at Zhang Wei's hospital yesterday?"
Lin Xiao's stomach dropped. He struggled to maintain his composure. "I wasn't at the hospital," he stammered, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Li Jing's expression hardened. "The receptionist saw you, Lin Xiao. We have camera footage of you entering and leaving the hospital. You need to stop lying, Lin Xiao."
Sweat began to bead on Lin Xiao's forehead. He realized there was no way out of this without revealing something.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to tell her part of the truth, hoping it would suffice.
"Okay," Lin Xiao admitted, "I have a power, but it's not what you think. I have the ability to manipulate memories."
Li Jing's eyes widened slightly. "Memory manipulation? Explain."
"I can alter or implant memories in someone's mind," Lin Xiao explained, trying to keep his voice steady.
Li Jing's expression remained stern as she asked, "Why did you use your powers on Zhang Wei and put him in a coma?"
Lin Xiao felt a lump form in his throat, but he forced himself to speak and told some truth. "I... I didn't mean to. I suddenly got this power and accidentally used it on Zhang Wei. I went to the hospital yesterday to try to fix what I did."
Li Jing narrowed her eyes, evaluating his sincerity.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she asked, "Do you think us superhumans should use our powers on normal humans without permission?"
Lin Xiao was taken aback by the question.
Despite his anxiety because of Li Jing's intimidating presence, something inside him compelled him to answer honestly. "Yes," he said, his voice firm. "Sometimes, we need to use our powers to protect or help others, even if it means doing it without their permission."
Lin Xiao thought to himself, "Oh no, why would I say that," Lin Xiao was crying inside.
For a moment, silence filled the room. Then, to his surprise, Li Jing burst into laughter. "Okay, okay," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "I see where you're coming from."
Lin Xiao blinked, confused by her reaction. "What do you mean?"
Li Jing's demeanor softened as she leaned forward. "I want to take you as my student. You are the first memory manipulator I have met who is just like me."
Lin Xiao's eyes widened in shock. "Like you?"
"Yes," Li Jing said, nodding. "You have potential, Lin Xiao. Let me tell you, as superhumans, sometimes we have to make hard decisions for the greater good. Some other superhumans don't think that,"
"We are so compatible, you have the same power and ideology as me," Li Jing added, her tone sincere. "Moreover, if you become my student, I will make sure nothing happens to you for this crime and I will even make you a member of the Supernatural Association."
Lin Xiao's mind raced. The Supernatural Association? he remembers it from the system. Becoming a member could offer him protection and resources he could only dream of and make him learn more about the supernatural world.
"You'll help me with Zhang Wei?" Lin Xiao asked, his voice hesitant but hopeful.
Li Jing nodded. "Yes, we will. Together, we can ensure his recovery and you can learn to control your powers better. But you need to trust me and follow my guidance."
Lin Xiao took a deep breath, considering her offer. Joining Li Jing could mean safety, training, and a way to right his wrongs. He couldn't do this alone. "Okay," he said finally. "I'll be your student."
A satisfied smile spread across Li Jing's face. "Excellent. Welcome aboard, Lin Xiao."
She stood up and said, "Meet me at the military base tomorrow. I'll handle everything else. And remember, this student-teacher thing stays between us,"
As Li Jing walked away, Lin Xiao stared absentmindedly at her retreating hourglass figure.
He wasn't really looking at her, but rather at the mission completed notification that had popped up in his vision:
[Hidden Mission Completed - Join Supernatural Association - Reward: +2 Charisma, 50 Exp, New Feature Unlocked - Map]
The mission suddenly appeared while he was talking with Li Jing, catching him off guard.
It was this sudden mission that had ultimately swayed his decision to agree to her proposition.
He also couldn't ignore the rewards and the potential advantages that came with joining the Supernatural Association.