Absolutely legitimate Star Iron, I've awakened the Underworld System?

　The system can only assist the host in completing tasks; the host's personality development and moral choices are entirely up to the host.

　The system's response remained cold and indifferent, yet it also highlighted a harsh reality—

　The system is just a tool; the one who truly holds the steering wheel is always Bai Qiong himself.

　Just as Bai Qiong was immersed in self-reflection and anxieties about the future, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the carriage.

　"White Sky! White Sky!"

　On March 7th, a tearful voice shattered the tranquility of the night.

　Bai Qiong turned her head and saw March 7th wearing cartoon pajamas, barefoot, rushing towards her with teary eyes like a frightened little rabbit.

　Her usually meticulously styled pink hair was now somewhat disheveled, and there were obvious tear stains on her face, clearly indicating that she had just been crying.

　"Little March? Why is she crying again?"

　Bai Qiong quickly got up, went to greet him, and asked with concern.

　From now on, will March 7th's character be changed from an idiot to a crybaby?

　This is another example of the system's doing!

　If you insist on adding some kind of "degradation value," you'll make Xiao Sanyue's character somewhat out of character. Be careful, or the readers won't be able to accept it and will come and scold you!

　That damned system...

　Just as Bai Qiong finished complaining in his mind, new subtitles appeared in front of him.

　[Host, do you know what you're saying? This wasn't something you concocted, and now you're trying to pin the blame on me?]

　……

　Bai Qiong ignored the guy because he felt that Xiao Sanyue was more important.

　March 7th threw herself into Bai Qiong's arms, hugging him tightly. Her body was still trembling slightly, and she said in a voice filled with sobs, "Bai Qiong... I had a nightmare... Waaah..."

　"Having a nightmare?"

　Bai Qiong gently patted March 7's back and softly comforted him, "Don't be afraid, dreams are just dreams, everything will be alright when you wake up."

　"It's not fake... Waaah... In my dream... In my dream you didn't want me anymore... You were with another woman... and you were mean to me..."

　March 7th choked up as she spoke, tears streaming down her face, soaking Bai Qiong's clothes.

　Bai Qiong's heart softened; he could sense March 7's fear and unease.

　This usually lively, cheerful, and seemingly silly girl actually harbors a deep-seated vulnerability and sensitivity.

　Perhaps she wasn't originally like this, but under the influence of the system's corruption value, it seems that everyone's personality has changed slightly.

　He gently stroked March 7's hair and said tenderly, "Silly girl, dreams are always the opposite of reality. How could I not want you? No matter what happens, I will never leave you, believe me."

　March 7th looked up at Bai Qiong with teary eyes, sobbing as she asked, "Really? You really won't leave me?"

　"of course it's true."

　Bai Qiong nodded earnestly, her eyes firm yet gentle. "I swear, I will never leave you."

　With Bai Qiong's assurance, San Yueqi's emotions seemed to calm down a bit, but he still held Bai Qiong tightly and refused to let go, as if he was afraid that he would disappear in the next second.

　Her face flushed, and she asked in a voice barely audible, "Bai Qiong... I... can I sleep with you?"

　Bai Qiong was slightly taken aback. Looking at the tearful and pitiful San Yueqi in his arms, a feeling of pity welled up in his heart.

　He gently lifted March 7th up in his arms and carried her towards her room.

　"Hey? Hey! Bai Qiong! What are you doing?!"

　March 7th gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around Bai Qiong's neck, her cheeks instantly turning bright red, like ripe apples. She struggled violently, protesting softly, "Put me down! What if others see us!"

　Bai Qiong carried San Yueqi and walked steadily toward her room. A slight smile played on his lips as he said, "What are you afraid of? There's no rule against dating on the train. Besides, we're not in any shameful relationship."

　"But……"

　March 7th was still somewhat hesitant, her voice growing softer and softer as she said shyly, "But...but what happened that night..."

　"That evening?"

　Bai Qiong raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion as she asked, "That night? Didn't nothing happen between us that night?"

　"You! How dare you say that!"

　March 7th was so angry that she punched Bai Qiong, her cheeks turning so red they almost bled. "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you... if it weren't for you, if you hadn't seen me drunk... I... I wouldn't have..."

　"Okay, okay, it's all my fault, it's all my fault."

　Bai Qiong smiled as she admitted her mistake, her tone gentle and indulgent, "So, you're just too shy, afraid that people will find out what happened that night and you'll lose face? I thought it was okay at the time, but you kept crying and making a fuss, and I couldn't explain it to you properly. We didn't really have any inappropriate behavior while drunk, so what's there to be afraid of?"

　Bai Qiong's words made San Yueqi even more shy, so she buried her head in Bai Qiong's arms and stopped talking. She just hugged him tightly, feeling his warm embrace and heartbeat.

　Bai Qiong carried San Yueqi into her room, gently placed her on the bed, and then sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at her tenderly.

　March 7th raised her head and looked cautiously at Bai Qiong, her eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and unease.

　"Are you still scared?" Bai Qiong asked softly.

　March 7th shook her head, then nodded, and whispered, "It seems...it seems a little better...but...it's still a bit..."

　"Don't be afraid, I'm here with you."

　Bai Qiong reached out and gently grasped March 7's hand, the warmth of his palm conveying a sense of reassurance.

　March 7th grasped Bai Qiong's hand tightly, as if he had grabbed a lifeline.

　She looked at Bai Qiong with eyes full of dependence and infatuation.

　"Wait a minute! When I carried you in, the door seemed to be a little ajar. I'll go close it. You wait for me patiently..."

　Bai Qiong patted San Yueqi's little head and said to her.

　"Then hurry up!"

　March 7th pouted unhappily, wishing she could stay away from Bai Qiong for even a moment longer.

　"Okay! It'll be quick!"

　Bai Qiong got up and walked to the door. Just as he was about to close the door, a slight sound caught his attention.

　He peeked out and saw Himeko leaning against the door frame of the carriage aisle, arms crossed, looking at him with a half-smile.

　Himeko stood there for an unknown amount of time and overheard countless conversations, but judging from the meaningful smile on her face, she had clearly seen everything.

　Bai Qiong smiled awkwardly, put his index finger to his lips, gestured for Himeko to be quiet, and then closed the door.

　She gently shook her head, a helpless smile playing on her lips, and sighed, "These two children..."

　Then, she turned and left silently, leaving Bai Qiong and San Yueqi behind.

　……

　In the room, only the soft breathing of the two remained.

　The Milky Way outside the window was still dazzling, and the starlight sprinkled on the floor, creating a dappled pattern of light and shadow.

　It's like a young girl waking up in winter to find her dream shattered.

　Volume One, Awakening from a Winter Dream, The End.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Letter from an Unknown Woman

　The phone vibrated and buzzed, like some restless insect chirping in his ear, forcibly pulling Bai Qiong out of his sleep.

　He groggily opened his eyes, his gaze gradually focusing on the familiar furnishings in March 7th's room.

　A soft mattress, pink curtains, and that warm touch beside me—

　March 7th was curled up beside him, breathing evenly and softly.

　Ever since that time he carried March 7 into her room and slept with her, Bai Qiong has often sneaked into this place from the storeroom in the middle of the night.

　After all, compared to that cold, hard cardboard box in the storage room, this place not only has a soft, large bed, but also a gentle, warm atmosphere...

　No matter how you look at it, it's more comfortable here.

　The corruption value for March 7th is also steadily increasing, and has now reached 64%.

　Although the increase is not as dramatic as that crazy night with Toppa, it is more of a steady, long-term trend.

　Bai Qiong used to be very reluctant to increase her character's corruption points, but now...

　Although Xiao Sanyue always strongly condemns such things verbally, her actions tell a different story.

　Bai Qiong felt that this did not violate his principles.

　"Well……"

　A soft murmur came from beside me.

　She rolled over and rubbed her head against his chest like a lazy kitten.

　Bai Qiong's lips curled up slightly as he looked down at the peacefully sleeping San Yueqi in his arms, gently brushing away the stray hairs from her forehead before picking up his phone from the bedside table.

　An unfamiliar number was displayed on the screen. Bai Qiong frowned, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.

　He pressed the answer button, lowered his voice, and tried not to wake March 7, who was still fast asleep.

　"Hey?"

　A languid female voice came from the other end of the phone, tinged with amusement: "Hi, A-Qiong, did you sleep well?... Oh, perhaps I should call you Bai Qiong now?"

　Bai Qiong suddenly opened her eyes wide, her sleepiness instantly vanishing.

　He immediately recognized it as Kavka's voice.

　Could this plot be related to that mission we were working on, "Letter from an Unknown Woman"...?

　Bai Qiong's fingers unconsciously tightened around her phone, her knuckles turning slightly white.

　He glanced warily at the doorway, and only after confirming that no one was eavesdropping did he lower his voice and ask, "Kafka? How did you get my phone number?"

　Kaffa chuckled softly, her voice still gentle, yet carrying a hint of undeniable authority: "Does it matter? I just want... to ask you for help. You won't refuse, will you?"

　Bai Qiong's brows furrowed even more, her tone tinged with doubt: "You say you're Kaffa, so you are? Maybe this is some kind of sound processor calling me, since I don't have Kaffa's phone number."

　There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Kafka's soft laughter, tinged with a hint of helplessness: "Looks like you still don't believe me, Shiraoka."