Superhumans of the Dome City
Chapter 204 - 204 9 Dolls

204: Chapter 9: Dolls 204: Chapter 9: Dolls Leaving behind the directive “Don’t indulge in self-destructive behavior,” the young lady walked away like a butterfly flitting from a flower.

Gongsun Ce remained seated on the sofa for quite some time, still feeling the lingering warmth and softness in his hands.

He felt an inexplicable sense of frustration in his heart.

Qin Qianbai thought he was wallowing in self-pity, but was living life with a negative attitude necessarily wrong?

He didn’t speak with subjective malice or displeasure; everything he said came from his true feelings.

Knowing that his thoughts would seem strange in the eyes of others, he rarely spoke openly about them.

Unlike physical actions, thoughts in one’s mind did not interfere with others, so everyone had the freedom to view themselves as they wished.

He had always believed this, but today, Qin Qianbai seemed to have been saddened by his words…

That must be why she hugged him, comforting a self that had never been hurt.

Self-indulgence…

Self-contempt, self-disgust…

Was this how Gongsun Ce appeared in her eyes?

Then…

He didn’t want to think any deeper.

Such complex rumination felt as meaningless as discarded intelligence reports.

It was just the occasional negative thought; Gongsun Ce had always been an optimistic person.

He fought for ideals, dreams, and everyone’s lives as a superpower user.

It was now almost five o’clock, and Gongsun Ce decided to first keep his promise and buy a gift for Qiluo, then grab something to eat before continuing his training in the Impermanence Skill.

To: Qiluo

[Rabbits, kitties, and rocket punches, which one do you like more?]

To: Gongsun Ce

[I like all of them except for the last one~]

What a pity.

Gongsun Ce put the rocket punch plush toy aside, silently sighing to himself.

He had thought Qiluo would understand the romance of robots, but she, too, was a woman chained by conventional views.

The young man with gray hair stood in front of a toy store shelf, selecting a gift for his friend from an array of fuzzy toys.

Plenty of guys bought plushies for others; he was confident the clerks wouldn’t misunderstand him.

He believed his choice was proper and judicious, for after all, a plush toy was a gift no girl would dislike…

even Kardesia wouldn’t refuse a cute little toy.

Not to mention the likes of Dust Explosion or Hunter; even the Dawn Knight wouldn’t speak ill of a bunny plush.

Probably only venomous women like Shiyu Ling or Dust Explosion would disdain such small toys.

Thinking this, his hand reached for a pink teddy bear at the edge of the shelf…

“Ah?” “Oh.”

Coincidentally, another hand was reaching for the bear.

Judging from the slender fingers and the long nails, it was clearly a woman’s hand.

Competing with a woman for a toy was not a man’s behavior.

Gongsun Ce courteously withdrew his hand, instinctively saying, “Please go ahead, miss…”

He was mid-sentence when he looked up and took in the appearance of the hand’s owner.

The woman vying for the toy was a slim, blue-haired woman who looked exactly like someone he had fought a bloody battle with last month, except that her black Hunter outfit had vanished, replaced by a set of long-sleeved sportswear more suitable for movement.

“…”

“…”

Their eyes met, a flood of emotions welling up inside.

Both were pondering what kind of opening remarks to use to assert their presence, belittle the other, and simultaneously shed their own “plush toy aficionado” identity.

Gongsun Ce was sharp-tongued and spoke first, saying solemnly, “Don’t be like that, Miss Alice.

I don’t even know where to begin making fun of you.”

“Mockery?!” Shiyu Ling said angrily, “Am I doing something laughable?!”

Gongsun Ce honestly said, “Actually, no.

At first, I thought about making a joke about age but then realized that you’re also within the age range that likes plush toys, so there’s nothing weird about it.

It’s just my habit to tease you, sorry.

What I really want to mock is something else…”

“Ahaha, you just love joking with your big sister, huh?”

Miss Alice chuckled dryly as she pulled out a short arrow.

“—If you dare make fun of my sportswear, we can start a fight right now.”

How did you guess my next joke?

You’re quite self-aware, Miss Alice.

Gongsun Ce focused on the Hunter’s sports jacket and plain-color pants, thinking this attire highlighted her unique aura of pity.

He had no intention of starting a battle with a Manifestation Mage in a toy store and reluctantly gave up.

“Have it your way,” Gongsun Ce spread his hands, “Your taste in clothing is good, very fitting for you.”

Shiyu Ling sneered, “Are you that concerned about my clothes, young man?”

It’s hard not to notice what made you go from a woman who seemed somewhat heroic in appearance to your current style that blatantly reveals your true nature.

Ordinarily, he could have debated with Shiyu Ling for half an hour, confident he could frustrate her to no end.

But his recent conversation with the young lady was resonating in his mind, diminishing his inclination to tease.

“To say I’m not concerned would be a lie,” Gongsun Ce said wearily, shaking his head, “We can call it even for the past grievances.

Surely we aren’t still at a point where we face off at every encounter.

I’ll just buy another gift instead, and you go ahead and enjoy your day off with your plush toy.”

He promptly turned around and left, leaving Shiyu Ling staring with wide eyes in surprise.

“Hey…

that’s unusual, that attitude.

Were you dumped by that Empire girl?”

“Mr.

Gongsun, I’ve never even been in love, so what’s this about being dumped?”

He abandoned his initial choice of the pink teddy bear, picking out a gray kitty plush toy instead.

Thinking that Qiluo had two kitty hair clips, she must quite like cats, and this gift wouldn’t go wrong.

Shiyu Ling indeed took the pink teddy bear.

The two of them lined up at the cashier to pay, not speaking another word to each other, like strangers who just happened to meet in the store, never having had the slightest connection.

They left the store, heading in different directions.

As Shiyu Ling stepped forward, unexpectedly, she heard the young man’s question from behind.

“Miss Alice…

do you think I’m a negative person?”

Shiyu Ling rolled her eyes and replied in a dragged tone.

“Funny, Gongsun Ce.

Have you become so alienated by that sharp tongue of yours that you’re looking for a confidante in me?”

“How could that be, Mr.

Gongsun has plenty of friends still.

I was just on a whim, wanting to hear your opinion…”

The gray-haired young man adjusted his glasses.

“I think we’re quite compatible.”

Shiyu Ling took the toy and walked over slowly.

“Funny coincidence, I think so too.

You know why?”

She walked up behind the gray-haired young man, rested one hand on his shoulder, and turned her face to look at him from the side.

“We all live with masks on,” Shiyu Ling’s eyes curved with a smile, looking delightfully charming, “Hiding our true selves beneath false facades, using insincere chitchat to fend off others’ probes.

On the surface we laugh and talk cheerfully, but deep down we mock and despise each other.

We understand this way of survival all too well, don’t we?”

A chilly voice poured into his ears, like a venomous snake hissing by his side.

“After wearing a mask for so long, the facade becomes another self.

In the end, you even lose track of which side is the real you…

But that’s just a delusion for those caught up in the game, the bystanders see everything clearly.

Just like you, Gongsun Ce.

Are you a passive person?

No, no, how could you think that…”

Her tone was as sweet as honey, but her words were as vile as poison.

“Merely passive?

That’s far too modest, you’re someone who has mastered the art of negativity!

Gongsun Ce, you’re even having a heart-to-heart with me now, chitchatting with the woman who took your life away just a month ago.

Unbearable, just what kind of regard do you hold for your own life that you can be so indifferent?”

Gongsun Ce’s body stiffened involuntarily, and the sharp Hunter didn’t miss that.

Her smile widened, her piercing words stabbing into the young man’s soul like needles.

“You’re just becoming aware of this now?

That’s why I like your character, it’s so interesting, just as despicable as mine…

Hahaha, hahahaha!”

Gongsun Ce nonchalantly swatted away the woman’s hand.

“Spouting ‘likes’ left and right, can I take that as the confession of your twisted personality?

Unfortunately for you, Mr.

Gongsun, I’m not fond of the narcissistic evil woman you are now.

I much prefer the regrettable Miss Alice.”

“Same here,” Shiyu Ling whispered in his ear, “I prefer the naive justice-seeking young man over a suicide volunteer.”

……Cut.

“Thank you for your unkind remarks, Miss Alice.

I assure you I’ll forget them within 5 seconds.”

“Don’t mention it, Gongsun Ce.

I’m delighted that my words can bring you discomfort and pain.

Big sister here welcomes you to come and have another heart-to-heart anytime…” Shiyu Ling stepped back joyfully, “Let me hurt you once again.”

Gongsun Ce pushed up his glasses, adopting the tone of a child.

“Thank you, the middle-aged, unmarried, regrettable sportswear lady!”

Shiyu Ling’s expression changed, and she replied through gritted teeth.

“You’re welcome, childish…”

“Many thanks to you, the middle-aged, unmarried, regrettable sportswear lady,” he turned around, speaking with great enthusiasm, “You’ve truly been a great help, so how about I treat you to a dinner, the middle-aged, unmarried, regrettable sportswear lady?

I would also like to inquire about the latest fashion trends; I think your outfit is incredibly stylish, perfectly enhancing your unique aura.

I can’t think of a second person who could wear sportswear quite like you…”

“—I’ll kill you!”

Gongsun Ce, using his superpower to accelerate, evaded the arrow aimed straight at his forehead.

He laughed out loud three times, leaped into the air, and flew away from the vexed blue-haired woman on the ground.

·

Nighttime.

Cangshou District, Yan Qi’s residence.

Gongsun Ce pushed the door open and entered the villa, unsurprisingly seeing Yan Qi slurping noodles at the dining table.

“You live in such a big house and eat this?”

Yan Qi slurped a couple of mouthfuls, his speech unclear as he responded.

“People need to eat to live, only machines run on money.

Who would fancy delicacies every single day?

Try having shark fin, abalone, and bird’s nest for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day?”

“Don’t tempt me, I’m quite curious to try that,” Gongsun Ce settled down at the dining table, “Got any here?

Serve me up some shark fin stir-fried with sea cucumber.”

“Get lost.”

He snapped and then tapped the table to ask,

“Yan Qi, do you think I’m passive?”

The man in black answered without a second thought: “What’s it to you?”

Sometimes he really wondered if this man could say anything other than a few useful catchphrases.

“Is your logic still intact?

How does this have nothing to do with me?”

Yan Qi scoffed: “If I call you a dumb ass, does that make you one?

If I say you’re passive, does that mean you’ll go off and kill yourself?

If I say you’re an ambitious and thoughtful role model, does that mean you’re going to work for Fatty Liu?

There’s a multitude of meaningless things in this world, and the opinions of others rank as one of the foremost!”

He had forgotten about that.

Yan Qi, this stubborn and eccentric man, would never care about the opinions of others.

He would just do what he believed to be right with utter disregard for anyone else, loudly mocking others’ stupidity and ignorance.

Gongsun Ce looked at the ceiling and said, “Well, you all have your meanings.”

“Meaning my ass.”

“?”

Yan Qi put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“What is meaning?

Does the Earth have meaning?

Does the universe have meaning?

Meaning is a man-made thing, there if you say it is, gone if you say it’s not!

It’s nothing but a fleeting wave generated by the fickle mind, and anyone who sees it as the so-called value of life is nothing but a moronic pig or dog.”

He found himself without the urge to argue, only saying softly,

“…

There is constancy in the world, but no constancy in the heart.”

“You still remember the fundamentals, good, you haven’t learned them in vain.

Get ready to continue training, I’m short on time, and you must enter the dream state before the end of the month.”

The painter went off to prepare in the living room.

Gongsun Ce watched his retreating figure and asked, “And after entering the dream, then what?”

“You can delve into the psyche, transcend ordinary understanding.

Touch upon the truth, comprehend your nature.”

Yan Qi belched and picked his teeth as he mused,

“Dive into the sea of the Impermanence mind, ignite the Spirit Light of truth.

From then on, your heart shines brightly, and you behold the true self within!”

(The end of the Second Volume’s interlude)