Chapter 868: Love

“Knowledge scope?” I chuckled dumbly. “This has nothing to do with ‘knowledge,’ right?”

“Yan Zhichun… I’ve told you I’ve been alone since childhood. If there were someone who could become my entire focus, I wouldn’t have to say this.”

This was a rather rare situation, I thought. I wanted to ask directly, but I was afraid it might come across as offensive. After thinking it over, I realized Bai Yang wasn’t an ordinary person, so asking straight out should be fine.

“So, you don’t even have family?” I asked.

“Yes.” Bai Yang nodded. “My family all passed away when I was a child. Since junior high, the people in this world connected to me… have been just myself.”

I suddenly understood where the “divinity” in Bai Yang came from. He seemed to think that the people in this place were closer to family than those in the real world.

Even a group of strangers would be forced together because of the Mian Shi Fang Jian, and for Bai Yang, this kind of relationship made the people in the room feel like some sort of ambiguously connected family.

He seemed to lack a self, yet also be deeply trapped in his own self.

“Ge Yang… Among all the people you know in this world, isn’t there even one you want to go back and see again?”

After hearing this, Bai Yang narrowed his eyes and thought for a long time before finally uttering two words:

“No.”

Hearing those two words, I felt regretful… Perhaps Bai Yang’s situation was similar to mine.

But I was isolated by others, while he might have isolated himself.

If that were true, what reason did Bai Yang have to leave?

He had no family and no attachments. He had the mindset of a strong person and wonderful spiritual values. I even thought that Zhong Yan Zhi Di would allow him to fully utilize his talents.

But if he truly wanted to leave, I could only say:

“Then I have no way to help.”

“No… There has to be a way.” Bai Yang frowned. “If we have an idea, we can try it. You’ve given me a perspective I’ve never considered before.”

“Is that so…”

“Yan Zhichun, can a person really carry that permanent drive just because they want to see another person?”

“I just think it’s worth trying.” I sighed. “Since you can’t leave for yourself, then you have to do it for someone else.”

“But why…?” Bai Yang looked at me in confusion. “Why would the other person be so important?”

“The reason is ‘love,’ I suppose.” I replied. “It’s something that surpasses everything in the world. It exists above logic, reason, and convention.”

Upon hearing my words, Bai Yang slowly lowered his head, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

It seemed that even the most powerful person had things they were never good at.

“Ge Yang… In your life, have you never met someone like that?” I continued. “In a certain moment with her, you suddenly think—‘If I could spend the rest of my life with her, that wouldn’t be so bad.’”

Hearing this, Bai Yang’s eyes became even more vacant. I might have truly touched on his blind spot.

Regrettably, for someone as intelligent as Bai Yang, he always felt a huge difference when facing others.

The average person’s IQ is about one hundred, while a Border Collie’s is around seventy. With a thirty-point difference, we can clearly sense the gap between humans and Border Collies.

If Bai Yang’s IQ reached one hundred thirty… Wouldn’t he see ordinary people the way we see a clever dog?

Yes, in that case, I wouldn’t know how to fall in love with a dog either—we couldn’t empathize with each other at a fundamental level.

“Tell me about it…” Bai Yang said. “Have you ever had that thought? Falling in love with someone… or wanting to spend the rest of your life with another person… something like that.”

Naturally, I felt a bit ashamed after hearing that, and I slowly moved my left hand behind me, using my body to cover the tattoo on it.

If there were someone to accompany me, why would I have gotten these three letters tattooed?

“How interesting, I noticed that tattoo the first time you appeared. Hiding it now won’t help, will it?” Bai Yang asked bluntly.

“I…”

I knew that in Bai Yang’s eyes, I was just a clever dog.

“What do those three letters mean?” he asked again.

I swallowed hard, feeling like “You’re Not Alone” was my last shred of dignity. Once it was torn away, I’d have nothing left.

“They’re… my surname,” I said.

Bai Yang looked at me with a helpless expression and then said, “Are you trying to tell me that the letters tattooed on your fingers aren’t ‘YNA,’ but ‘YAN’?”

When people defend themselves subconsciously, lies just slip out, even when facing someone like Bai Yang.

Interestingly, once you tell the first lie, it’s like Pandora’s box—you can never stop.

“Yes… yes. Because I’m a student… I don’t have much money.” I said. “I went to a cheap tattoo artist, and they messed it up.”

Bai Yang clearly saw through my lie, but perhaps to save me some face, he didn’t call me out right away. He just sighed lightly and said, “So, tattooing your name on your fingers… is that a trend?”

“Maybe. I’ve seen girls do it like that before,” I replied. “Fancy script for surnames, or initials for names.”

I felt like Bai Yang was really interested in this topic… I wasn’t sure if it was his curiosity or thirst for knowledge.

“So, what do two people in love do together?” Bai Yang asked again. “Spending the rest of your life with another person—wouldn’t that get boring?”

“True love is ultimately mundane, I suppose.”

I hadn’t really experienced love myself, so I just shared my own understanding with Bai Yang. Even if it was a bit off from what normal people think, it was the best I could do.

“How is it mundane?” Bai Yang asked me.

“Maybe, after you nap, she wakes you up, and when you leave the bedroom, you find she’s already prepared two of your favorite dishes.” I thought for a moment and added, “You don’t have some epic love story, but you’re each other’s only reliance in the world. You sit together and talk, talking about so many things. After meals, you sit on the rooftop, watching the sunset and chatting about memories.”

The atmosphere grew quiet for over ten seconds, as if Bai Yang were processing what I said.

“So, love… is two people spending time together doing a lot of meaningless things?” Bai Yang asked gravely.

“Yes.” I nodded. “Love is doing things that are meaningless but make each other happy and create memories that last forever.”

“I see…” Bai Yang sighed, his expression troubled.

“So, have you thought of anyone?” I said. “In your life, is there really no such person?”

“I’ll think of one soon.” Bai Yang replied. “Could you bring me a mirror tomorrow?”