We moved to Golden Courtyard

Nia... isn't this a bit too soft?

419. My existence is a new cage for Aponia.

Before long, the first guest of the day arrived outside the tree hollow.

Xu Qi didn't intend to speak; he wanted to see how Aponia usually handled things. After all… psychological counseling! Pretty cool, right?

The door opened, and a woman who looked to be around forty years old entered. Xu Qi glanced at her and noticed a worried expression on her face, as if she had encountered some troubles.

The woman seemed to be here for the first time; she looked slightly nervous, clasped her hands together, and whispered.

"Holy Maiden...can you help me?"

After the woman finished speaking, Aponia did not reply. Seeing this, Xu Qi continued to sit quietly.

Time passed slowly, and in the empty room outside the tree hollow, only the woman's breathing seemed to echo, as if... she was the only one there.

It doesn't look like a confession room, nor a counseling room; it's more like... a confession room.

Gradually, the woman grew bolder, and she began to ramble on as if she were talking to herself: "Holy Maiden, I know my request may be unreasonable, but I just..."

I want a place where I can talk.

My son used to have excellent grades, but I don't know what happened! After the new school year started, he seemed like a different person. His placement test scores were very poor, and his teachers often complained that he didn't pay attention in class.

He's in his final year of junior high! If he doesn't get into a top high school, he won't get into a top university, and if he doesn't get into a top university, he won't find a good job! Then his whole life will be ruined!

Inside the tree hollow, Aponia blinked, then turned around and pressed herself against Xu Qi. However, because they were so close, her soft body was pressing against Xu Qi's arms and chest, causing them to deform slightly.

Xu Qi's body stiffened instantly. He turned his head shakily and said in a low voice, his mouth dry.

"Sister Nia?"

Aponia leaned close to Xu Qi's ear and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Actually, I've always wanted to ask this: why do you think fate can be decided so simply?"

"Forehead?"

"As this mother said, she believes that an exam can determine the fate of a 15-year-old child, but... why? She can't understand it, and even finds it absurd."

Xu Qi chuckled. He looked out the window at the mother outside the tree hole. She was still talking about her child's recent situation, worrying that if he failed the high school entrance exam, his life would be over.

"Perhaps it's because... their lives were also predetermined in this way, moving forward along that established path without needing to have any thoughts."

Perhaps they once had their own ideals and principles, but ultimately gave them all up.

Aponia looked at Xu Qi's profile and asked.

"So what do you think? What do you think determines one's destiny?"

"It's myself."

Xu Qi said calmly.

"How you choose to live your life is your own decision."

A remarkably strong sense of conviction...

The woman outside was still talking, but Aponia was already annoyed. Through the tree hole, she whispered something.

What your child will become in the future does not depend on you, me, or a single exam. Go back and ask your child what he thinks.

If he intends to spend his life with that girl, what kind of effort will he have to put in? As an elder, you need to make him understand not only the present situation but also the future.

Even if it's not something you can arrange or control.

Once the words were spoken, the precepts were established.

The woman stood there blankly, bowed deeply towards the tree hollow, and left.

Xu Qi was stunned and asked, "So her son is in a relationship?"

"Yes, I saw something about her son in her fate."

Xu Qi chuckled, about to speak, when he saw Aponia staring at him with a serious expression.

"Um... Sister Nia?"

“If you weren’t here today, I might have just gone along with her wishes and said some meaningless things, but just now, I felt that what you said made a lot of sense, so I changed my mind.”

"and then?"

"Now, her fate has become uncertain."

"Forehead?"

"Xu Qi, do you know how much effort I once put into changing someone's destiny?"

Xu Qi honestly shook his head.

"No matter how much I interfere, the predetermined outcome will not change; it's just a matter of sooner or later. I have fought against fate countless times, but I have always been the loser..."

Aponia laughed with a self-deprecating smile.

"I am like that canary locked in a cage by fate. No matter how I resist, all I can see is what she wants me to see."

Aponia's eyes were filled with a complex expression.

She gently took Xu Qi's hands in hers and said to him, "You are the one who changes destiny. Everything related to you is becoming hazy and blurry."

Xu Qi... You may never understand how important you are to me, and today I not only want to verify whether you can continue to influence me.

I also wanted to tell you—you are the one who opened the cage for me, Xu Qi.

Xu Qi remained silent.

How could he not feel the emotions hidden beneath those words?

The one who brought freedom to Aponia was like the one who gave her a new life...

And as intelligent as Aponia was, she naturally knew that the reason Xu Qi had hesitated to take the next step with her was that he didn't know how to handle a love that had come out of nowhere.

But this love did not come without reason.

What the Aponia crowdfunding group (456127940) has always been doing is telling Xu Qi...

Tell him—you deserve Aponia's love.

But Xu Qi still felt... there was an inexplicable unease about him.

He lowered his head, not daring to look Nia in the eyes, and simply said...

"So, Sister Nia... after challenging fate so many times, are you planning to give up?"

“I did not give up, I have won, and I have seen that victory in you…”

“If that’s the case, Sister Nia…” Xu Qi bit her lip tightly, and finally said these cruel words, “I would rather I had never appeared in your life.”

Aponia, who had always been so calm, suddenly turned pale...

She had never behaved so out of control before.

Her trembling eyes and arms betrayed just how helpless she was.

"Xu Qi..."

"Because it's so unfair to you."

"?"

"Sister Nia, the one who has always known other people's fates, wanted to change their fates, and constantly challenged fates is you... not me..."

Xu Qi suddenly choked up.

"If my purpose in life is to help Sister Nia, then I'm willing. But if my purpose in life is to make Sister Nia bow her head, to make her accept her fate!"

It's about making Nia accept that she can't defy fate, and only someone else can break free from that cage! I...I can't accept this!

420. Aponia, soft and fluffy

Inside the tree hollow, Xu Qi, just like any of Aponia's usual patients or believers, was pouring out his heart to Aponia.

The only difference might be that... he could be close to Aponia's body and hold her soft, boneless little hand, while others could only stand outside the tree hole.

Aponia gazed at Xu Qi. She had been on the verge of despair, but little by little... little by little... little by little, she began to change as Xu Qi spoke.

She listened quietly to Xu Qi's story, and when he finally said, "I can't accept this!" at that moment, Aponia's heart felt as if it were being pounded by drums.

Jumping really hard...

Why would you have such a thought?

"I... I can't explain it. I just feel that it's really unfair to you, Nia, to simply attribute all the credit to me like this!"

Actually, I wanted to talk about something earlier in the car.

Sister Nia, you are here to listen and guide each believer to the path of their destiny. To them, you are like a god of destiny.

Those who come to pray all feel that you have changed them and given them a new life, but in reality... it is still themselves who truly help them.

Aponia's eyes suddenly lit up!

“Sister Nia, don’t you think this is very similar to us? You always feel that my existence broke the cage that bound you by fate, but I think that it was also Sister Nia’s choice that made me who I am today.”

Sister Nia, your destiny... you changed it yourself.

……

Xu Qi finished speaking, and the tree hole fell into an unusual silence.

Aponia maintained her grip on Xu Qi's hands, and the nun suddenly lowered her head, their foreheads touching, as if they were having a spiritual exchange.

"But if I think like that, maybe... I won't like you as much, Xu Qi."

Xu Qi's heart clenched.

But he pursed his lips and still spoke.

“Sister Nia, it’s not a matter of what you think, but… that’s just how I feel. Sister Nia may not know, but you are my hero…”

Aponia blinked, looking puzzled.

"Have you forgotten, Nia? When I was little, I was on that runaway 956 bus. You helped me seal away that painful memory."

Aponia remembered that Xu Qi had specifically mentioned the incident to her after the 956 incident ended.

"The moment I awakened as a Newtype, I heard Romy's words and remembered them all... Sister Nia, if it weren't for you, I might have developed a very serious mental illness."

Aponia's mouth was half open.

When Xu Qi mentioned this matter, she didn't take it to heart.

But at this moment, hazy memories gradually surfaced in my mind.

She remembered the boy whose eyes were lifeless back then.

"I experienced such profound despair and witnessed Romy's sacrifice to save everyone. For me at that time... such memories were undoubtedly unbearable."

"so……"

"So, Nia, you are my hero, and you gave me a new life. If you feel that it is I who changed your destiny, then I am even more certain!"

Sister Nia... the person who changed your destiny was yourself.

……

"But Xu Qi, then I won't like you as much anymore. Can you accept that?"

Xu Qi's gaze suddenly hardened.

He slowly raised his head, and Aponia did the same. Their eyes met, and the nun felt the burning passion in Xu Qi's eyes.

The original tranquility could no longer be maintained. Even Aponia couldn't help but feel a ripple in her heart, which eventually spread to her trembling eyes.

"Then I'll make Nia fall in love with me again! I'll take Nia on dates, give her gifts, and shower her with all the best care in the world!..."

He was interrupted halfway through his sentence by Aponia reaching out to stop him.

The nun lowered her eyes, and where Xu Qi couldn't see, a bright red, like rouge, covered her neck and earlobes.

Her weak and powerless tone sounded like she was pleading with Xu Qi...

"No...don't say anymore..."

"Sister Nia?"