My girlfriend is from the future!

The loudspeaker above their heads played a loop of reminders to prevent being photographed without their consent and to be careful with their belongings, but these were always drowned out by the huge sound waves at the venue. Their ears were filled with shouts of people playing a certain anime mobile game and the energetic beats of the dance area. However, as they walked, the noise gradually subsided, and the two of them moved away from the main stage and various booths of the venue to a corner of the hall.

This is a "fan booth" and "interactive activity area" spontaneously applied for by various university clubs and enthusiasts. Compared to the bustling central area, this place appears much simpler, with a few long tables pieced together, a few hand-painted KT boards, and some clubs even just laying a cloth on the floor to start setting up their stalls. It is much simpler than the stall where He Tianran bought badges earlier.

But those who frequently attend comic conventions know that this is the most hardcore and also the most humane part of the entire event.

Jiang Xixi led him through rows of stalls, finally stopping at a corner that was extremely secluded but decorated with a great "atmosphere".

This is an interactive booth jointly organized by a university's psychology club and anime club, and its name is incredibly cheesy and childish—

"Pre-Reincarnation Consultation Office"

Behind the booth were two simple tents with a few old sofas and a tarot card table inside. A banner next to them read: "Immersive Character Profiling" and "Supreme Hypnosis (for two people only)".

Although the vendors were just a few students dressed in black robes and wearing masks, a large crowd had gathered around them, either out of curiosity or to join in the fun, and they were all queuing up to experience it.

These days, comic conventions are incredibly diverse. Along the way, He Tianran saw several booths offering consultations by students of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as on-site haircuts and makeup services. Places like comic conventions are frequented by young people with positive attitudes and high enthusiasm, making them perfect for practicing their skills.

"Is this the place?" He Tianran looked at the somewhat rough set and his lips twitched.

"Didn't you say you 'woke up' in a mental health clinic? Why don't you try again?"

Jiang Xixi ignored the other party's disdain and went up to consult the stall owner. He Tianran, who was standing there, shook his head helplessly, thinking that hypnosis was something that could not be tried out casually. If the other party did not know hypnosis and just wrote it down for fun, that would be fine. What was most dangerous was that the other party actually knew a little about hypnosis, but not much. They were just a half-baked person. If something really went wrong, who would they complain to?

Sure enough, the girl spoke briefly with the stall owners, who then shook their heads. He Tianran walked behind the girl and overheard one of the students, looking troubled, say:

"We are all psychology students. We are mostly learning the theory of hypnosis. On site, we mainly play around with astrology and tarot and provide some psychological counseling and profiling."

"So what does this 'Supreme Hypnosis' mean?"

Jiang Xixi pointed to the event name on the roll-up banner, and the vendors exchanged smiles.

"If you're talking about this... that's perfect, you can take a look."

Most of the people queuing in front of the booths were waiting outside the tents for psychological profiling. For this kind of event with a limited number of participants, there were very few people queuing outside, but a lot of people were watching...

The reason is that two male and female cosplayers are currently hypnotizing someone inside the tent, and the wooden table inside is decorated with hypnosis props often seen in movies and TV shows, such as crystal balls, pendants, and stopwatches.

"In short, this event is a game of truth or dare, and the so-called hypnosis is just an occasion we provide for players to experience a sense of ritual. At the beginning, the hypnotist and the hypnotized person will be decided by rock-paper-scissors or privately. During the event, the hypnotized person will unconditionally obey the hypnotist's requests..."

As the stall owner explained, the blond male cosplayer inside the tent was shaking a pendant and hypnotizing someone, while the female cosplayer dressed as a maid cooperated by closing her eyes and entering a hypnotic state.

“We have a rule that anyone entering the tent must follow the rules of hypnosis.”

No sooner had the stall owner finished speaking than the blond-haired cosplayer gave the order:
"Hehehe, lift your skirt up a bit, let me see your absolute territory~"

"Oh--"

The male spectators standing outside the tent all wore lewd grins on their faces, each one both excited and nervous.

The female cosplayer's face seemed to twitch slightly, but she still followed instructions and lifted her black skirt up, revealing the black stockings underneath. This was a very delicate area, revealing the smoothness of her inner thighs while also leaving much to the imagination about the area a few inches higher.

The onlookers didn't dare to breathe, as if they themselves were the ones being hypnotized.

Everything was fine up to this point, but the blond guy clearly overestimated the limitations of the rules and individual will. After a moment of hesitation, he actually made a request:
"A little higher, perhaps..."

Sure enough, after that sound, the female cosplayer couldn't hold back anymore. She opened her eyes, glared at him angrily, and with a flick of her wrist, slapped him across the face.

The blond-haired man stood there stunned after being hit, while the maid, her face flushed, strode out of the tent. The others tactfully made way for her, watching her flee without looking back...

"My favorability rating isn't high enough~"

"This is terrible. Does anyone really think that just because someone else cosplays Liulichuan, they can control him? This is the episode that best fits the character's personality."

"I remember the ending of that book was something like pure love?"

"Don't make me laugh~"

The surroundings were filled with laughter and chatter. The blond-haired man walked out, rubbing his face, looking dejected. The stall owner smiled and said:
"Because you failed to follow the rules of hypnosis, your deposit is non-refundable."

"understood."

Having lost face like that, the male cosplayer was no longer thinking about the deposit. He also lowered his head and chased after his companion in the direction he had left.

The stall owner turned around and explained to Jiang Xixi and He Tianran:
"This game is limited to two people and is free to play, but a deposit of 200 yuan is required. After you enter the tent, the hypnotized person must play the game according to the hypnotist's requirements. As for the money, you can ask us for a refund when you leave the comic convention."

This stall owner is quite savvy. He knows that a simple truth or dare game can work anywhere, but he provides a free venue, sets a scenario, and only charges a deposit, with the condition that people follow the rules. He uses counterintuitive and human weaknesses to do business. No wonder he's a psychology student.

"So, you two, want to give it a try?"

Faced with the stall owner's question, He Tianran subconsciously glanced around. There were already many onlookers but few people queuing up. After what had just happened, even those who really wanted to play were now hesitant to go.

"I think..."

"Where to sweep?"

Before He Tianran could even utter the words "Forget it," Jiang Xixi had already pulled out her phone.

"Here, two hundred." The stall owner pointed to the QR code on the corner of the table, a hint of mischievous amusement in his eyes. "It seems this 'Frilian' lady is quite confident that she can control her hero."

"drop--"

The crisp sound of a successful payment cut off He Tianran's last escape route.

"Are you going to decide for yourselves who will hypnotize whom, or are you going to play rock-paper-scissors?"

"Whoever pays for it is responsible for the hypnosis!"

Jiang Xixi took the lead and decided on her right to hypnotize, since today was a special day for her. He Tianran sighed and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd who seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold, reluctantly crawled into the tent.

"Could you pull the curtain down?"

Having learned from past mistakes, He Tianran asked a specific question.

"Okay, but you must show a corner of your face so that we can confirm that you... are just 'hypnotizing'."

This kind of game is inherently private, so it's understandable that the customers requested it. The problem is that the previous groups of customers didn't bring it up themselves, so the stall owner didn't need to remind them. After all, being watched by onlookers can also serve as a good way to attract customers.

He Tianran did as instructed, lowering the tent curtain and deliberately rolling up a corner so that people outside could only see their feet. As the onlookers found the fun diminished, some of them gradually scattered like birds and beasts.

The space inside the tent was not large, even somewhat cramped. Once the heavy curtains were drawn, most of the noise outside was immediately shut out, leaving only muffled bass sounds.

A dim lamp hung from the top of the tent, and an electronic candle on the table flickered with a simulated flame. A strange smell, a mixture of floral water and the tent fabric itself, filled the air.

To be honest, this environment feels incredibly cheap.

But when Jiang Xixi sat down opposite him, and when only their breathing could be heard in the small space, He Tianran suddenly felt that this cheap arrangement actually created a strange sense of privacy.

"Sit down."

Jiang Xixi pointed to the chair opposite her; it was clear that she was also a little nervous.

He Tianran obediently sat down, placing his hands on his knees, like a primary school student waiting to be punished:

"Um... Xixi, we're civilized people, I have to show my face to others, let's not play that kind of game with that blond guy from before..."

"Shhh."

Jiang Xixi extended a finger and placed it against her lips.

She glanced at the hypnotic props laid out on the table, but ultimately chose nothing to aid her. Instead, she softly asked:

"Brother Tianran, do you believe me?"

"Of course I believe you.

For the "boy," the first day he "awakened" was when Jiang Xixi took him in. At that time, he was filled with unfamiliarity and fear of this world. It was this girl who gave him his first cup of hot water, played his first game with him, and listened to his "time travel" stories that sounded like crazy ramblings to outsiders.

"Then... close your eyes now. There are some things I might not be able to say even if you look at me."

"……oh."

Jiang Xixi deliberately lowered her voice. As the person hypnotizing him, she didn't dare to look He Tianran in the eye. This somewhat subtle atmosphere made the "boy" pause for a moment. Then he felt his heart race and his face flush. He blankly said "Oh" and then closed his eyes.

Is she about to confess her feelings?
It's like the kind of final confession you often see in movies and TV dramas before parting ways...

Just as the "young man" was lost in thought, Jiang Xixi's voice was as gentle as a net, softly enveloping him.

"Brother Tianran, do you remember the first time we met?"

"I……"

How should he answer this question?

This used to be my house, but now it's your rental apartment doorway?
Or……

"It was in a shopping mall not far from our neighborhood. On the third floor of that mall, in the northeast corner, there was a guitar shop. The owner's surname was Park, and he was in his thirties. Like you, he was a homebody. He was my guitar teacher, and you often went to his shop to play, but not to play the guitar. More often than not, you just wanted to find a gaming buddy. He would also often use your guitar skills to attract customers. That's where we met."

Jiang Xixi didn't follow the traditional hypnosis process; instead, she started chatting.

"I remember, I remember!"

The girl mentioned someone they both knew, and the "boy's" voice sounded excited.

"Back then, when I learned that you were NL, the fingerstyle guitar master I admired, I looked at you with eyes of worship. But later, as we gradually got to know each other, I saw a more authentic you, a boy who could stay up all night playing games with me in an internet cafe, and laugh like a fool after winning. I remember the first time you saw me cosplay, you looked exactly like you today. At that moment, you weren't some rich second-generation heir with hundreds of millions in assets; you were just a die-hard otaku who saw his beloved anime character come to life..."

Jiang Xixi chuckled softly, but there was a slight tremor hidden in her laughter.

"After getting into university, we ate instant noodles together in internet cafes, played games together, complained about new anime series together, and went to anime conventions together. At the time, you joked that these were things you wouldn't dare to do with Sister Cao, feeling that it would be unfair to her and leave her with the impression that you were irresponsible and immature..."

but……

but……

But shouldn't these things be done with the person you like?

He Tianran had his eyes closed, but he could sense the overwhelming sadness just from the other person's tone.

"Later, I confessed my feelings to you, but you still rejected me. At that time, I thought it must be because I wasn't strong enough or good enough. If there was another chance in the future... I would try my best again... I just never expected that such a chance would actually come..."

Seeing you again, it feels like we're still those children who've always been hiding inside adult bodies, unwilling to grow up, and haven't changed at all..."

The air inside the tent seemed to be getting thinner, and the temperature was rising.

He Tianran's heart suddenly tightened—

Is she going to say something?

In this small space with only two people, in this game called "hypnosis" but actually "truth or dare"

What would she say? "I like you"? "Please don't let me go"? Or "Actually, I've been waiting for you to ask me to stay"?
Should I reject her? Let her leave heartbroken at her last comic convention? Or should I accept her?
The "young man's" thoughts always tend to wander to romantic comedy plots. He thought of the ambiguous interactions at Jiang Xixi's house, and the sparkling look in her eyes when she looked at him. What should he do if she really said "I still like you" here?
Guilt, panic, and helplessness surged through him like a tide, making it nearly impossible for He Tianran to maintain his composure in the hypnotic chair. However, Jiang Xixi's next words were like a gentle breeze, dispelling all his chaotic thoughts.

"Brother Tianran, you must be scared, right? Scared that I might say something that would put you in a difficult position, or... scared that I might force you to stay?"

He Tianran smiled bitterly to himself, realizing he had been seen through.

"But the hypnosis I want to give you is not about the constraints of 'love'..."

Brother Natural, do you know?

Before I decided to wear this costume, I hesitated for a long time because the character of Frilian represents a long life and endless farewells. She has seen many people go and is always losing, learning, and realizing things in hindsight...

Jiang Xixi's voice was choked with emotion, but more than that, it was filled with relief.

"Now, I'm leaving too. In my belated realization, I'm taking off this strange outfit and returning to my studies and chosen career. I'm going to confront this tedious and complex adult world of interpersonal relationships. I'm going to become an 'adult,' but the adult world has no 'magic.' For people like us, it really feels like a funeral, doesn't it?"

He Tianran's fingers curled slightly. His mind was in chaos. Reason told him that he should handle things properly like a "writer," but emotion made him want to run away in this moment.

"So, at this final moment, I want to complete one last 'childish' spell between us..."

The "boy" with his eyes closed felt the other person slowly approaching. Jiang Xixi's breath gently brushed against his cheek, carrying a faint scent of mint candy.

"Brother Natural..."

She called his name, her voice filled with a desperate courage.

He Tianran closed his eyes tightly, frantically drafting a response in his mind, trying to think of the gentlest way to respond to those words...

however……

A pair of warm hands gently cupped his cheeks.

There was no ambiguous caressing; those hands simply held his face firmly and forcefully, forcing him to lift his head.

"Open your eyes and look at me."

He Tianran opened his eyes with trembling hands, only to be met with a sea of ​​green eyes.

Jiang Xixi showed no shyness or expectation; her eyes held only a resolute determination that shocked He Tianran.

Just like the real Frilian looking at her hero.

My hypnotic command is—

She took a deep breath, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from her soul:
"Don't kill the boy inside you in order to grow up."

He Tianran's breath hitched.

"You think you're running away, you think that mature and calm 'writer' is the right path, and you can only hide in a corner, no one likes you, no one cares about you, you feel that you're only causing trouble for reality, only indulging in fantasy, so you want to disappear, you want to completely return your body to that 'adult'..."

But, Brother Tianran, it is because of you that everything the 'writer' experienced in his story becomes so understandable; it is because of you that He Tianran, who navigates the world of fame and fortune, did not become a despicable, calculating businessman; it is because of you that He Tianran has everything he has and loves now…

You are their 'heart'...

Jiang Xixi's voice trembled, tinged with tears, yet it possessed immense power, each word striking deep into the soul of the "young man."

"You are not superfluous, you are not a burden."

You are the last piece of pure land for that 'adult' in this cruel world, the only hometown he can return to when he is tired.

Therefore, my hypnosis is that when you wake up, you will not forget today, and you will not forget this passion.

You don't have to always be in control, but please don't disappear either. You should live on in his body forever as a kind of courage, a fundamental quality.

When you feel pain, when you feel that reality is suffocating you, this hypnosis will take effect. It will tell you that you are still the chosen child with the 'Badge of Courage', and that you still have the right to dream.

This is... my last magic.

A few seconds later, outside the tent, someone clapped first, followed by shouts of "So inspiring!" and "Tears welling up!" Although most people had no idea what these two were up to...

But in He Tianran's open eyes, there was no confusion as one might expect; instead, there was an unprecedented clarity.

He saw Jiang Xixi standing right in front of him, tears streaming down her face, but a bright smile on her lips.

The boy felt a burning sensation in his eyes, and something slipped from the corner of his eye and seeped into his black mask.

He originally thought this was a ceremony about "farewell," a way for Jiang Xixi to sever ties with the past and with him...

He thought he would hear a "goodbye" or a regretful "I liked you."

But he was wrong.

This seemingly delicate girl, who always cooperated with his performance, gave him the most precious gift with this last chance...

She didn't ask for love, she just...

It gave the boy a reason to "live".

He Tianran slowly stood up. He didn't wipe away his tears, but looked at Jiang Xixi seriously and solemnly, at this girl who was about to embark on the battlefield of adulthood.

"...I received your magic."

The voice of "young man" He Tianran was a little hoarse, but it conveyed a sincere emotion.

He removed the camera and mask from his neck, revealing a handsome face streaked with tears. He faced the girl before him, and also the inevitable future that was about to arrive.

He stretched out his right hand, fingers spread, making the extremely cringeworthy summoning gesture that Jiang Xixi had made to him at home.

This time, however, he no longer felt ashamed, no longer thought it was childish, but rather felt a genuine sense of solemnity:

"This contract serves as proof..."

He shouted loudly, his voice carrying through the tent, without caring whether those around him paid attention:
"No matter how reality crumbles, no matter how time passes, 'the youth' and his allies will never betray this passion!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Seeing his expression, Jiang Xixi finally broke into a smile through her tears. Wiping away her tears, she reached out and gave him a high five in the air. The boy and girl exclaimed in unison:

"Banishment——!! this——!! world——!!"

……

……

It was already dusk when I came out of the convention center.

The setting sun painted the sky north of the river a magnificent purplish-red, casting long, long shadows of the two people.

Jiang Xixi had changed back into her everyday clothes. She carefully folded the Furilian robe and packed it into her suitcase. She looked a little tired, but her eyes were bright, as if she had unloaded a heavy burden.

He Tianran walked beside her, the "Courage" badge on his chest gleaming in the sunset.

"This is for you."

He took out another badge symbolizing "hope" and handed it to Jiang Xixi.

"Hey, thanks, I'll...keep it safe..."

Jiang Xixi took it and, like He Tianran, happily wore it around her neck. Just as she was about to speak, she saw the man's mature and rational gaze and for a moment she didn't know what to say...

The two of them walked to the intersection...

“I can take the bus... directly home.”

"Yes, I'm going in the opposite direction, so taking the subway will be faster."

Jiang Xixi stopped and looked at He Tianran, who was standing next to her.

"that……"

She bit her lip, as if she wanted to say something more, but in the end, she only gave a polite smile.

"That 'boy,' is he still alive?"

He Tianran touched his chest, feeling his beating heart.

He could sense that the writer's rationality was slowly returning, and those thoughts about work, schedules, and the company's IPO were once again taking over his mind.

However, deep within He Tianran's heart, a small, burning flame was quietly igniting.

It no longer frantically tries to break free of its cage, nor does it fearfully try to extinguish itself.

It was there, warm and steadfast, becoming a part of this vast soul.

He Tianran smiled, a smile that contained both the gentleness of a "writer" and the innocence of a "young man".

"He's here."

He spoke softly, as if making a promise.

"Moreover, 'he' will always be with me, and neither of us will ever abandon the other again."

A light flashed in Jiang Xixi's eyes. She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and gently hugged He Tianran.

This is an embrace that has nothing to do with romance, but only with understanding.

Goodbye, Brother Tianran.

Goodbye, Xixi.

Jiang Xixi let go of the suitcase, dragged it, and turned to walk into the depths of the sunset. She didn't look back, but simply raised her right hand high, making a big "V" sign.

He Tianran stood there, watching the small figure gradually disappear into the golden afterglow until it was no longer visible.

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, about to light it, but then paused, glancing down at the badge of courage on his chest…

"Heh... If I wore this to the company, Yao Qingtao would probably laugh me to death."

Despite his complaints, He Tianran didn't take it off.

He put away his cigarette, took out his phone, and saw several unread work messages on the screen, as well as an inquiry from Cao Aiqing about the design drawings, and Wen Liang's sharing of the daily life on set.

The real world remained busy, but He Tianran, who had become more and more complete, simply tugged at the collar of his hoodie, then smiled and turned away...

He resolutely stepped into the winds of reality. (End of Chapter)