They swallowed their broken teeth and watched helplessly as the country that could only be beneath their feet took flight.
In just a few short years, the situation had reversed.
Under China's efforts and sarcastic remarks, Japan had gradually fallen out of favor.
Country M knew very well that Japan had done nothing wrong.
But weakness was its own sin.
And now, China could bring them sufficient benefits.
Without its protector, coupled with its economy lagging far behind other countries due to years of war, Japan found it extremely difficult to find a new patron.
Slowly, it became the once-weak China, forced to survive in the cracks.
China possessed many excellent qualities, such as unity.
While not absolute, they were, for the most part, quite united.
Japan, on the other hand, had too many internal factions and lacked external stimulation. The Emperor's status was higher than that of ordinary people, but only to a limited extent.
He did not have absolute control over the various factions, so he could only watch helplessly as they began to fight amongst themselves before the external threats were resolved.
—
All of this was no longer relevant to Xing Yuan.
She was lost in the world of science, intentionally or unintentionally avoiding Meng Fanyue.
Xing Yuan didn't know what was happening to her. If it was possible that she had neglected her before due to being too busy, then now, every time she saw Meng Fanyue, a sense of guilt and shame would surge within her.
Although she didn't know the source, Xing Yuan vaguely realized that this was related to her forgotten past.
And her past was awakening, awakening in this body that fit her so perfectly.
After countless times of deliberately avoiding Meng Fanyue, Xing Yuan was finally caught by her in a surprise turn.
Meng Fanyue, panting, held her knees, her eyes welling up with tears. She said angrily, "What are you hiding from?"
Xing Yuan pursed her lips, but another questioning voice suddenly echoed in her mind, "Why are you doing this?"
Xing Yuan covered her head, her brows furrowed, her face filled with annoyance.
She instinctively replied, "If I'm hiding, do I need a reason?"
Even from the beginning, Xing Yuan had never spoken such harsh words. Meng Fanyue's eyes were filled with disbelief, her fingertips trembling slightly.
"Heh~ You're tired of me, aren't you?" Were all the promises made back then false?
"No," Xing Yuan pursed her lips, her expression helpless.
"I'm sorry, I've been in a bad mood these past few days. I've encountered a research problem," Xing Yuan made excuses for herself.
Meng Fanyue stared at her for a moment, then finally said nothing, seemingly believing her words. However, inevitably, a crack had formed in her heart.
She knew that Xing Yuan never shared her worries with her, nor did she ever vent these emotions on her.
Meng Fanyue said softly, "Sister~ The war is over, will we... still be together?"
Xing Yuan smiled gently, guilt and shame preventing her from refusing her. "Yes, the war is over. From now on, wherever you want to go, I can accompany you."
"Okay, thank you," Meng Fanyue said in a low voice, placing her hand in Xing Yuan's palm, their fingers intertwined.
Xing Yuan looked down at their clasped hands, complex emotions flashing in her eyes. They were so close, yet she felt they were worlds apart.
So far that she was afraid, or perhaps she genuinely believed that Xing Yuan would not like her.
Xing Yuan gave a self-deprecating smile, recited a calming mantra to suppress these emotions, and when she looked up again, she had regained her initial composure.
She smiled, a gentle smile, "Where do you want to go, Yueyue?"
Meng Fanyue was momentarily dazed. It was the same person, but the emotions were different. However, she didn't think much of it and said earnestly, "I want to go home and see."
"A while ago, my mother wrote to me. They are still alive. I want to go back and see them."
Xing Yuan nodded in agreement. "You should go back and see them. But can you wait a few days?"
Her memories of her family were already blurred, but she remembered that warm feeling, the sense of security that came from being with family, where nothing else mattered.
If she left, Xing Yuan had no intention of returning.
She was, after all, just a passerby in this world. In fact, each world was related yet unrelated, like countless parallel universes.
She could help it escape poverty, but she couldn't help it forever. It was better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.
The disciples she had taught were already capable of handling things independently, so it was time for her, the teacher, to step down.
A few days later, Xing Yuan found a jeep and took Meng Fanyue to Meng's mother's new residence.
Meng's mother was a woman with a very gentle demeanor, very much like the sister in Xing Yuan's earliest memories of this world.
In the past, she had always called her that, but now Xing Yuan suddenly felt that she shouldn't have called her that, at least not from the beginning.
Because she should have been given another title, such as: wife.
Just thinking about it filled Xing Yuan's heart with boundless tenderness.
Meng's mother saw her daughter after many years and rushed forward to embrace her emotionally.
Meng Fanyue's father had died in the war. If Meng's mother hadn't been protected by someone, she would have likely met the same fate as her husband. But she never expected to see her daughter again.
Meng Fanyue's eyes turned sore. She blinked hard, unable to stop the tears from falling. "I'm sorry~"
Meng's mother patted her back, her eyes also reddening. "There's nothing to be sorry for. Mom knows you've done good things. Mom supports you."
Mother and daughter cried together. Xing Yuan blinked in confusion, unsure of what to do until they calmed down.
"Xiao Yue! Is this your friend?" Meng's mother looked Xing Yuan up and down.
She was quite good-looking. Seeing that she had traveled so far with her daughter, their relationship must be very good. Perhaps they were comrades who had fought together in the past.
Meng's mother smiled kindly. "As it happens, dinner is ready. Come in and eat together!"
Meng Fanyue's cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced at Xing Yuan and saw her looking flustered, and she let out a chuckle.
Meng's mother and Xing Yuan both gave her a puzzled look.
For some reason, Meng Fanyue suddenly found her courage. She tightly grasped Xing Yuan's hand, their fingers intertwined. Her still-reddened eyes were filled with determination. "Let me introduce you. This is the person I love."
Meng's mother's mouth fell open. She looked left and right, but couldn't see anything that made the two of them a good match.
Countless worries flooded Meng's mother's heart. She immediately put on a cold face. "Xiao Yue, don't be silly. This joke isn't funny at all."
"I'm not. I want to spend my life with her and hope to receive mother's blessing," Meng Fanyue said, unwavering and still firm.