Watching Lin Yueru approach Alex sighed inwardly. Since his intervention many people had achieved relatively happy endings. But Lin Yueru had remained in Mount Shushan for the past six months.
Alex of course understood her intentions. Unfortunately Alex questioned his own feelings. He realized that his feelings for her were more admiration and pity than romantic love.
But sometimes that is just the way it is. Even if you do not like someone they might still like you.
"Well some things are better left unsaid." He glanced at his palm. The computer image was almost completely drawn and it was time for him to leave.
"Mister Alex are you sitting here practicing again?" Lin Yueru as if expected approached while carrying a lunch box filled with fruit and pastries. She sat down next to Alex.
"Miss Lin you have arrived just in time" Alex said while looking at Lin Yueru sitting beside him. "I was just about to say goodbye."
"You are leaving? Where are you going?" Lin Yueru's expression changed slightly upon hearing Alex's words. She looked at him seriously.
"Going back to where I came from"
Alex replied and then paused. "If I said I was not originally from this world but came from another would you believe me?"
"From another world?" Naturally there was no concept of dimensional travel in the realm of The Legend of Sword and Fairy. So upon hearing Alex's words Lin Yueru simply looked at him in surprise. She was clearly wondering what this other world meant.
After a moment's hesitation Lin Yueru asked in surprise "Could it be? Are you from the immortal realm? Are you an immortal from the immortal realm?"
"No my world is a hellish one where humanity has fallen and there are billions of cannibalistic zombies. In my world family, friendship and love have become invaluable because the world is filled with deceit and betrayal."
Alex shook his head while thinking of the real apocalypse world. With a sense of helplessness he briefly described the apocalypse to Lin Yueru.
Each time he traveled through dimensions he would stay in other worlds for over half a year but only for half a month back in the real world. After five such trips Alex felt that traveling to other worlds had become the main theme of his life. Returning to the real world was merely a spice of life.
If possible Alex truly did not want to return to that hellish world of the apocalypse. But alas his ability to travel back and forth was beyond his control.
"If it is a hellish world then why bother going back? Would it not be better to stay?" After hearing Alex's description Lin Yueru could imagine what Alex's world was like. She tried to persuade him to stay.
From another world? Initially Lin Yueru did not believe his absurd claims. But then she thought about the strange things Alex had been displaying. Especially the many food items, clothing and daily necessities he had conjured through his magic which seemed completely unlike anything in this world. She concluded that Alex's origins made sense and it all fit together.
"I would love to stay but it is a shame I cannot help myself" Alex sighed while shaking his head.
Lin Yueru lowered her head silent for a moment. Something sparkled in her eyes. Then she stared intently at Alex again with her voice choking as she spoke "So when will you come back?"
"I do not know. Maybe there is a chance to come back someday or maybe I will not" Alex shook his head.
This was the truth. Even now Alex himself had not fully understood the ability to travel through dimensions. He was not sure if he could ever return to the realm of The Legend of Sword and Fairy.
Lin Yueru remained silent for a long time with her heart in turmoil.
Alex was leaving and after this he might never return. This tore through her inner conflict.
On the one hand Lin Yueru wanted to leave with him. But the thought of leaving this world and never returning meant abandoning her father and all her friends and family. It meant completely severing all ties with everything she knew. Such a decision was difficult for anyone to make.
On the other hand even if Lin Yueru was willing to follow Alex she was not sure if he truly wanted to take her with him.
"Alex" Lin Yueru said after a long silence. She seemed to have made up her mind. She looked at Alex intently while addressing him by his name instead of using formal titles.
"I just want to ask you one question. Have you ever felt any romantic affection for me these days?"
Lin Yueru's words sent a slight shiver through Alex's heart. Honestly this was the second time as a man that he had been confronted with a sudden confession of love from a woman.
He could not help but recall an innocent girl in the real world before the apocalypse...
A slight pang of bitterness washed over him. After a moment's silence Alex replied "I am sorry. I just admire you. Admiration between friends does not involve romantic feelings. You are clearly exceptional. Your family background, martial arts skills and straightforward kind personality are all remarkable. But as you yourself said feelings are not something you can decide."
Alex's words reminded Lin Yueru of what she had said earlier.
Cousin Liu Jinyuan was indeed perfect with his family background, ability and gentle manners. Unfortunately she just did not like him...
"I understand. I understand..."
Lin Yueru dropped the food box and turned to run away. Her voice was choked with sobs. As she ran one could almost see a few glistening tears dancing in the air.
"Alas a short pain is better than a long one. Love is so inexplicable. No matter how much you do sometimes people just do not like you and all your efforts are in vain. Lin Yueru treated me like this and Jinyuan treated her like this..." Watching Lin Yueru running away Alex shook his head secretly while feeling somewhat guilty.
There are thirty million words in the world but the word "love" is the most hurtful.
While traveling through the myriad worlds Alex truly did not dare to indulge in romantic relationships. For in all these worlds he was merely a passing visitor destined to depart. Since there was no happy ending Alex naturally did not want to hurt anyone or himself.
Even if he could bring his loved one back with him upon his return how could he bear to let his beloved accompany him back to that hellish world of the apocalypse? Or even abandon all their friends and family to descend with him into hell?
Buzz!
At that moment the computer image on his palm suddenly shattered. It transformed into tiny specks of starlight like a whirlpool pulling him away.
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