"Jules, you look awful. Are you sick?"
Because the light was dim on her end, Julia's mother didn't notice her pale face and dark circles when the call first connected. But after putting on her glasses, her mother's face, initially full of smiles, instantly filled with worry.
"I'm fine."
Julia shook her head, subtly turning aside to wipe the tears from her eyes.
She looked at her mother's face on the screen, a face she hadn't seen in a long time, and her voice trembled slightly.
"Mom, I was wrong before… Can you forgive me?"
"Oh my goodness, Jules…"
Hearing her short apology, the mother on the screen immediately got teary-eyed.
"Of course, I forgive you. I'm your mother, you silly girl."
The phone screen shook slightly as her mother turned away, seemingly to secretly wipe her own tears.
The mother and daughter silently wept together. The trivial arguments they'd had melted away into meaningless dust, completely washed clean.
"Hey, honey, it looks like you're at the airport? Are you coming back?"
The mother on the screen composed herself, picked up the phone again, and seemed to notice the departure board behind Julia, asking in surprise.
"Yes…"
Julia nodded. She was about to say that maybe she needed to reschedule this flight for tomorrow, but then her peripheral vision was suddenly caught by a figure.
Her whole body trembled, and she snapped her head up.
The queue in front of her was long gone, leaving only the empty boarding gate. A young man with a shoulder bag was running quickly, rushing to the gate, scanning his ticket, and entering the station.
Julia shot up from the ground, then ignored her mother's surprise on the phone screen and rushed forward.
"Wait! Chuck!!!"
But perhaps because he was nearly late, the man's movements were much faster than Julia had imagined. The moment she shouted Chuck's name, the familiar figure had already passed through the boarding gate, accelerated through the jetway, and was jogging toward the airplane door…
The next moment, an announcement sounded overhead.
"Attention passengers for Flight XXX to Toronto, your plane is about to take off. The boarding gate is closing soon. Please board immediately."
"…"
Julia stood frozen in place, watching the increasingly distant figure, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Start over?
It was only at this moment that Julia realized that her return to this moment was not about saving the passengers on the plane, or even saving the Gu mother and daughter, or saving Chuck—things that were beyond her capability anyway.
She was not a hero in a Hollywood blockbuster; she was just an ordinary young woman.
So, she was only facing a very simple choice.
If you were reborn before the flight took off, would you still board this doomed plane just to meet him?
"Honey? What's going on?"
Her mother's worried voice came through the phone. Julia regained her senses.
She slowly lowered her head, looked at her mother, and showed a tired smile.
"Nothing, Mom."
"Why are you so distracted? I bet you haven't been eating or sleeping well out there, have you?"
Her mother's tone was tender. Then she seemed to think of something, smiling as she said, "Aunt Jeannette dropped off some of your favorite chocolate brownies yesterday. I haven't even touched them! Come home soon. I'll go grocery shopping in town tomorrow. I need to fatten you up by five pounds before school starts."
Julia couldn't help but laugh at her mother's words.
But as she laughed, she tightly bit her lip.
She held up the phone with both hands, using all her strength to keep from bursting into tears. She looked at her mother on the screen and slowly spoke.
"Mom, there's something else I want to tell you. I… I met him."
"Oh?"
Her mother on the other side of the screen suddenly became alert. She adjusted her glasses, and her blue eyes, identical to Julia's, were filled with surprise.
"You mean…"
"Yes."
Julia nodded before her mother could finish.
"That's wonderful, honey. Honestly, we were starting to think you didn't like boys."
Her mother sighed, then looked at Julia and asked curiously.
"What kind of person is he?"
Hearing this, despite the tears in her eyes, Julia couldn't help but blush, a smile gracing her lips.
"He's strong, very sexy, and responsible. He treats me well, and… he's also amazing in bed."
"Wow…"
Her mother raised an eyebrow, then clapped her hands with a smile. But for some reason, she quickly took off her glasses, also unable to control her own tears, and said with a slight choke.
"That's great, honey… I really am happy for you."
"So, Mom…"
As Julia said this, she finally couldn't hold back her tears, which streamed down her cheeks.
"You don't have to worry about me anymore."
Hearing this, her mother across the screen was momentarily stunned.
Then she gave a helpless smile.
"You're such a strange child when you talk."
"…"
"Watch the time, grab something to eat before you get on the plane, and call me when you land, okay?"
With that, her mother let out a long yawn.
"I have to go to sleep now; it's still night here. See you tomorrow, honey."
"See you tomorrow, Mom."
Beep.
With a cold, indifferent ending tone, the video call froze on a blurred frame.
Julia put down her phone, her face completely soaked with tears.
We'll see each other again someday…
She wiped away her tears, slowly stood up, and looked toward the boarding gate ahead.
Her gaze became increasingly determined and resolute.
She took out the boarding pass she had prepared earlier from her pocket. Julia took one step after another, walking resolutely toward the doomed flight.
She traversed the long jetway, and finally, greeted by the flight attendant, Julia was the last to step through the cabin door.
Thud.
The dull sound of the airplane door closing behind her signified that she had completely cut off her retreat.
But Julia merely glanced back, feeling no fear in her heart.
She cared about nothing now but Chuck.
The foreign bombshell, who had entered the cabin with nothing but her phone and no luggage, quickly left the flight attendant behind and frantically searched between the seats.
Where is he?
Where on earth is he?
Julia's heart tightened as if in a spasm. Her greatest fear now was boarding this doomed plane only to fail to meet him.
"Chuck?"
"Chuck! Are you here?"
Julia walked through the aisles, calling out Chuck's name in her slightly clumsy Chinese.
The surrounding passengers cast curious glances at her. Many who had seen her in the departure hall quickly began whispering to their companions.
Julia clearly saw all of this, but she didn't care.
Even if she was treated like a lunatic, she had to find him.
Finally, after passing through an unknown number of rows…
Clap.
A warm, strong hand suddenly gently gripped her wrist.
That familiar, deep voice sounded right behind Julia.
"Are you looking for me?"
Tears almost burst from Julia's eyes. She turned around with all her strength.
The moment she looked into those eyes, Julia felt the taut string throughout her body instantly snap. A sense of relief washed over her like a tide.
During those days and nights stranded on the deserted island, in moments of despair, it was always those calm and determined eyes that gave her warmth and hope.
But just as she was about to call out Chuck's name, she realized, to her astonishment, that she couldn't make a sound!
Her heart trembled. She subconsciously tried to lift her hand to check her throat, but found that she couldn't move her body either.
Not only that, but Chuck, everyone around her, and even the images on the cabin screens seemed to be paused.
Just before her heart could seize up from fear—
Smash—
The scene before her, and the whole world, instantly shattered into nothingness.
Finally, in the void, a dazzling, bright yellow Lycoris flower slowly bloomed.
In the darkness, Chuck opened his eyes.
What greeted him was a bright yellow glow, and a series of light panels.
[Congratulations! Your companion: Julia, has passed the Lycoris Trial. You have received the Trial Reward: Lycoris Flower (Yellow) ×1]
[Hint: Only companions with a Trust Value of 100 points can trigger the Lycoris Trial during the next full moon night. Attention! Do not disclose any information about the Trial to companions who have not undergone it, or the Trial qualification will be permanently revoked!]
[Congratulations! Your companion: Julia's Trust Level has increased by 100 points! Current Trust Level: 200 (Undying Devotion)]
[Congratulations! Your companion: Julia's Trust Level has exceeded the maximum value! Hidden Reward triggered — Workstation Exclusive Buff greatly enhanced!]
[Workstation Exclusive Buff — Botany Master (Julia Maxwell)]
[Host (Chuck) Buff Effect: Can perceive all plants of value to you within a range of 10 meters (→15 meters)]
[Companion (Julia Maxwell) Buff Effect: Plants personally grown or transplanted will have their growth rate increased by 10 times (→20 times)]
The Lycoris Trial, huh?
Chuck looked at the Yellow Lycoris Flower slowly floating above the Workstation and shook his head with a wry smile.
He hadn't expected to wonder about the Yellow Lycoris Flower right before sleeping and get an answer immediately…
But this so-called "Trial" truly caught him off guard.
Yes, he had also been in that Trial just now.
However, throughout the process, he was mostly just an observer, watching Julia's reactions from a god-like perspective. He couldn't offer any help and, in the end, merely played the role of his past self—the one who didn't know Julia—as required by the light panel at the trial's conclusion.
Honestly, when Chuck saw Julia hang up the phone with her mother and resolutely step onto that plane, even he, who hadn't cried in many years, felt a lump in his throat.
Even with the depth of their relationship now, he couldn't have imagined that Julia would actually make such a choice.
If their positions were reversed, could he have made such a determined choice for Julia?
Chuck hoped he could.
But at the same time, it made him realize that Julia's love for him was probably far deeper than his love for her.
Turning his head slightly, Chuck looked at the small golden head nestled closely against his chest, felt the soft body wrapped around him, and slowly stroked her soft hair.
She just let out a cute little hum from her nose, then snuggled even closer.
Chuck let out a long breath, feeling a renewed sense of pressure in his heart.
He must ensure she has a stable and happy future.
Even on this dangerous deserted island, he had to achieve this, no matter what hardship or cost.
Otherwise, how could he be worthy of her unwavering love?
With this thought, Chuck slowly closed his eyes.
He didn't notice that Julia, who was lying in his arms, slowly opened her eyes in the darkness, which were filled with complex emotions.
There was sadness, and yearning.
But more than anything, there was relief.
Thank goodness, it was only a nightmare.
Morning.
Chuck woke up mid-sleep, tried to fall back asleep but couldn't, so he simply rested with his eyes closed until daylight.
The Yellow Lycoris Flower had been placed in the Alchemy Table and was ready to be crafted into the Yellow Potion and consumed. Besides that, the series of prompts triggered last night had given Chuck many surprises.
First was the massive enhancement to Julia's exclusive buff. Both of their two-way buffs were significantly strengthened, especially Julia's, which reached an exaggerated level of increasing the growth rate of planted crops by twenty times!
Twenty times—this meant that crops that typically required eight or nine months of growing season might mature in just two weeks!
To be honest, it was a little outrageous.
All of this was due to the sudden "Lycoris Trial."
Chuck slowly frowned.
Honestly, even though he had accepted the unusual nature of this deserted island, the ability to create dreams that were virtually indistinguishable from reality still sent a shiver down his spine.
And now it seemed that his Workstation cheat was also closely linked to this deserted island.
However, since this Lycoris Trial was not for Chuck but targeted his companions whose Trust Level reached 100 points.
Then, the next full moon, logically, would be in about a month.
So, maybe it would be the Gu mother and daughter's turn to face the Trial next?
Chuck couldn't help but scratch his chin.
Honestly, he was quite curious about what choices Gu Yitong and Gu Mòmo would make then.
Fortunately, the Trial seemed to have no failure penalty.
As for the reward, besides the enhancement of the exclusive buff, it was this Yellow Lycoris Flower.
Gently pushing away Julia, who was pressed against him, and Gu Mòmo, who was hugging his arm, Chuck slowly got out of the wooden bed.
Then he reached for a bright yellow potion from the Alchemy Table.
The light panel prompt appeared simultaneously.
[Potion (Yellow) ×1, Synthesis complete!]
[Hint: The Potion refined from the Yellow Lycoris Flower contains the Power of Procreation. Consuming this Potion will comprehensively enhance your reproductive capacity!]
Enhance reproductive capacity…
Chuck felt a peculiar feeling as he looked at the prompt, instinctively glancing back behind him.
It was still early. Julia and the Gu mother and daughter were still sleeping soundly on the wooden bed.
Previously, whether it was the Red or Blue Potion, the effects were immediate upon consumption.
Wouldn't that mean…
Looking at the Yellow Potion in his hand, Chuck hesitated for a moment, deciding to wait until they woke up.
After all, if the effect was what he imagined, he really couldn't guarantee he'd be able to control himself this early in the morning…