"Who are you?"
Yu Yachen took a step back.
"I'm Ling. Tell me what you did."
Ling's tone was light, curious.
Meanwhile, a system prompt popped up:
[System Notice: Ling favorability +5. Current: 5/100 (Where did this cute little sister come from?)]
Important plot character?
Yu Yachen pointed at Kira.
"As you can see, that man is a killer."
Five seconds passed.
Time resumed.
"Oh? I see." Ling rubbed her chin. "Then you—why did everyone just stop moving?"
She glanced around the now-normal store and, since it was crowded, suggested:
"Is it convenient? Want to step outside and talk?"
"Sure."
Yu Yachen nodded and walked out with her.
At the same time, Killer Queen surfaced behind Yu Yachen, wary, guarding her.
"Yu Yachen," Killer Queen said quietly, "I'm scared of her."
"…Why?"
"She's strong. I can't even tell how strong. If we fight her, we'll be instantly killed."
Yu Yachen already knew Ling was dangerous from the time-stop thing—but hearing her Stand say it out loud made it worse.
Ling's gaze drifted.
"What's that?"
"…You can see it?"
"No. I can't see it. I can only feel something floating in the air."
Yu Yachen dismissed Killer Queen.
"A pity—put away?" Ling teased. "So, was it you who stopped time? It was only about five seconds, but I've never seen anything so mystical."
"You don't seem like a colossus. Not an infected either. What kind of art is it?"
Before Yu Yachen could answer, Ling stepped in close, backing her into a wall.
"And you," Yu Yachen shot back, "why can you move in stopped time?"
Ling raised a brow. "Not talking? Fine. Everyone has secrets."
"My authority is called 'Xiaoyao' (Unfettered). It's… a bit complex. But you can think of it like this—nothing in this world can trap me."
"I wasn't sure before."
"But now I know. Even frozen time can't bind me."
Yu Yachen's thoughts snapped to the system.
System—what is she?
[Host, you'll run into her later when you go for the arrow in the hands of the Yan Grand Tutor. Ling is a fragment of a colossus. She holds a portion of a very powerful colossus' authority.]
A colossus…?
Yu Yachen hadn't played Arknights, but she'd heard the myths in Yan. She never thought they were real.
Ling leaned in, delighted.
"Interesting, right?"
She lifted one finger, almost touching Yu Yachen's lips.
"What do you want?"
A bead of sweat slid down Yu Yachen's temple.
"Nothing. I just wanted to meet you." Ling smiled. "I haven't even asked your name."
"I'm Yu Yachen."
The instant she said it, Ling suddenly leaned closer—nose brushing Yu Yachen's neck, close enough to touch skin.
A waft of alcohol-sweet aroma rolled over her.
Ling held her arm and sniffed like a cat.
Warm breath traced Yu Yachen's collarbone—itchy, intimate.
"What are you doing?"
Yu Yachen frowned and pushed Ling's face away.
"You smell special," Ling mused. "Very nice. Like her. And—" her eyes dropped briefly, "you're much bigger."
"…What are you even saying?"
"I have a younger sister. My little six is called Shu." Ling's smile was soft. "You look like her. She's an idiot, though. You look smarter."
"So you dragged me out here just to say that?"
"Mhm. Introductions." Ling held out her hand. "I'm Ling."
Yu Yachen sighed and shook it.
"And you smell so good—let me smell again~"
Ling leaned in again—
"Back off!"
Yu Yachen shoved her shoulder.
Ling laughed. "Just teasing. You're so easy to fluster."
"Here—take this."
She produced a small black wine cup, palm-sized, exquisitely made with gold patterns, and handed it over.
"What is it?"
"A token. If you want to see me, hold it and you can send me a dream."
"And if you run into trouble… maybe I'll help."
Ling lifted a hand, trying to ruffle Yu Yachen's hair, but got pushed away again.
Unbothered, she turned and waved as she walked off.
"Fate brings people together. Maybe we'll meet again. Bye-bye, little Yu'er~"
"…"
Yu Yachen weighed the cup in her hand. For a moment she considered throwing it away—then pocketed it.
Ling was important.
She hurried to the alley mouth to look after her—
—but Ling was already gone.
Yu Yachen glanced at the affection panel.
Ling's favorability was still stuck at 5.
Normally, anyone would be captivated by her looks—she'd get 20 or 30 on first meeting.
But Ling… didn't budge.
And she'd touched and sniffed her that casually, too.
Yu Yachen's eyes narrowed.
When I get stronger… I'm absolutely teasing you back.
....
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