"Wende! I got an A on my physical fitness test today! Wende! You... Who are you?"
Wendy pushed open the door to the infirmary, shouting excitedly. But when she opened her eyes, she found that Wende wasn't there, looking at her with his usual smile. Instead, there was a young female doctor in a white coat, staring in surprise at the suddenly intruding Wendy.
"I'm the new school doctor... Are you looking for Senior Wende? He has already resigned. However, he left a letter for me to give to you."
The female doctor took a letter out of her drawer, her expression a little complicated as she looked at Wendy.
"A letter... from Wende?"
Wendy hesitantly accepted the letter from the doctor. Seeing the doctor's complex expression, she suddenly realized how childish she had just acted. She quickly apologized to the doctor and fled the infirmary as if running for her life.
"Sigh, what a lovely father and daughter..."
The newly transferred doctor shook her head at the doorway, feeling emotional. In her mind, she had assumed Wendy and Wende were family.
"Huff... huff..."
After running for only a short while, Wendy felt her calves begin to ache. Wende's warnings unconsciously surfaced in her mind, so she stopped.
She was now deep in a small forest. Although it hadn't snowed yet, the fallen leaves had accumulated to a certain depth, covering the entire forest floor. Stepping on them produced a "crunch, crunch" sound that was quite stress-relieving.
Wendy sat down on a pile of fallen leaves and looked up at the sky. It was already noon, but the sunlight today wasn't particularly harsh. Shaded by the overcast clouds, it was even a little gloomy.
Taking out the letter Wende had written for her, Wendy suppressed the unease in her heart, unfolded the paper, and began to read.
"Wendy, when you get this note, did you suddenly realize I was gone? Haha, don't be nervous, we won't be separated..."
---o---
In the pitch-black apartment, a single dim desk lamp flickered in the night. Wende sat before it, diligently writing the letter he would leave for Wendy.
"Remember? I told you before, my main job is an employee at miHoYo, and my part-time job is being a rehabilitation therapist... Now, my vacation is over. I have to go back to work..."
---o---
"Wende? Why are you staring at the wall? Shouldn't we be heading up?"
March 7th waved a small hand in front of the somewhat dazed Wende, her face full of confusion.
"Oh... I think I just remembered something... March, stay behind me and Stelle. Protect yourself."
Looking at the puzzled little March before him, Wende reached out and gently stroked the hair he hadn't touched in forty days.
"Hey, of course I'll protect myself! But Wende, you have to protect yourself too! Don't get hurt, okay!"
March said to Wende with a serious expression.
"...Haha, okay. Let's go then."
Wende turned his head, his gaze fixed on the reservoir exit not far away. He walked to the very front of the group, clearing a path for the others.
---o---
"You are the bravest, gentlest child I have ever met, and also my very first patient. It has been my honor to be your rehabilitation therapist."
"In these forty days, our relationship has been more like family than patient and doctor. Of course, that's how I see it, at least. I witnessed the entire process of you getting up from the wheelchair, to walking, and finally to running. Honestly, I am so incredibly proud of you."
---o---
"Stelle! Watch your flank!"
Wende shouted at Stelle, who was fighting off the approaching enemies, the Yang Sword in his hand continuously breaking through their defenses.
Outside the reservoir tunnel was the Legendary Tower. However, they couldn't enter it directly from here; they had to break in from the outside.
And just outside the main entrance of the Legendary Tower, a figure in a hoodie was quietly waiting for their arrival.
---o---
"These forty days... they were truly so short, but I was very happy. I hope you were too."
Wendy's eyes were brimming with tears. Of course she was happy. To her, these forty days had been as beautiful as a dream...
"Don't be sad because I've left. I just went to work. When I get a vacation, I'll naturally come to see you. Or... maybe I'll find a chance to take you to see my workplace? I think you'd like it there. But promise me you won't go looking for me everywhere, okay?"
"I promise you..."
"You will promise, right?"
"Yes... I'll promise you!"
Wendy wiped her tear-streaked face with her sleeve, her voice trembling as she responded to the letter.
"That's great. Do you remember what was bothering you before? Why don't you take out your phone and have a look?"
"Bothering me? My phone?"
Wendy looked at the words in the letter, confused, but she obediently took out her phone. She turned on the screen, and the first thing she saw was the Honkai: Star Rail game app.
At that moment, as if she had suddenly remembered something, Wendy quickly tapped into the game. She anxiously watched the start-up animation of the Express warping through space, and then entered the game.
Her team now consisted of only two people: Wende, and the 5-star Wende she had never managed to pull...
"Wuu..."
Wendy fought back her tears, carefully examining the 5-star Wende's model before opening the character screen.
A 5-star Wende with his signature Light Cone, both at full Eidolon and full Superimposition... Even the 4-star Wende was the same, E6S5. This was the small gift Wende had left for her.
"How is it? I had to ask my boss for a favor to get that for you. Keep playing the game, okay! Maybe one day when the main story gets stuck on a chapter, that will be the signal that I'm about to go on vacation. I'll come see you then, or..."
"I could have you board the Express, let you taste the juice Pom-Pom makes, take you on a tour of the Xianzhou?"
"Well, we'll talk about it when the time comes. But, I will definitely come find you. So, please stay strong, just like you've always been, okay? Wendy?"
"No..."
Wiping the tears from her face, Wendy whimpered pitifully.
Wende had only gone to work... but when would he come back? And... a life without Wende...
"miHoYo... right. I'll become a miHoYo employee too. That way, I can go to work with Wende! Then he won't be able to use work as an excuse to leave me behind all alone!"
"Yes, that's right! Wendy! You have to be strong. You have to become as amazing as Wende! Then you can get a job at miHoYo with him! When that time comes, whether it's at work or after work, we can..."
Wendy silently hugged the letter to her chest, and a small smile gradually spread across her lips.
"We can be together..."