Chapter Eighteen: Home Again!

Inside the TPC Experimental Research Laboratory, under the watchful eyes of over a dozen cameras, more than thirty researchers, and seven or eight testing machines, Shaji stepped up to the circular device. The pendant around her neck gave a soft chime as she blew on it, and Xie Jing could sense a force emanating from her, linking her to the machine. It was as if the perfect key had found its lock, and the machine began to vibrate.

Everyone present instinctively stepped back, eyeing the machine warily, except for Xie Jing, who remained where he was.

The outer shell of the device unfurled petal by petal, like a lotus in bloom. A dazzling beam of light shot skyward, piercing straight through the roof and erupting from the top of the Far East base, thrusting into the cosmos.

Witnessing this astonishing sight, Juejing nudged Daigu, asking tentatively, “Hey, you don’t think this is going to cause any trouble, do you?”

Daigu scratched his head, uncertain himself, but deep down, he trusted Xie Jing.

“There shouldn’t be any problem. And even if there is, I’ll handle it!”

Reassured by Daigu’s confidence, Juejing relaxed and continued to observe the machine.

The brilliance gradually faded, and Shaji’s face turned a little pale.

“It’s done. I’ve made contact with Machina. It’ll be descending to Earth soon to take me home.”

She turned to Xie Jing and bowed deeply.

“Thank you. If not for your help, I truly wouldn’t have known what to do.”

Xie Jing stepped forward and helped her up, smiling. “It’s too soon for thanks. When you’re home and I visit you next time, just treat me to a good meal.”

“I promise!” For the first time, a genuine, heartfelt smile blossomed on Shaji’s face.

Daigu shrugged and shot a glance at Juejing. “A girl with a smile that beautiful could never be a villain.”

“Whoa! Daigu, did you just—” Juejing exaggeratedly widened his eyes, pointed at Daigu, then turned to Rina. “Rina, I have to tell you—mmph…”

Before he could finish, Daigu clamped a hand over his mouth.

Beep, beep, beep.

The communicator chimed. Ye Run appeared on the screen, his voice tense. “We’ve got a situation—an unidentified flying object is approaching Earth at high speed!”

“That’s Machina!” Shaji exclaimed with excitement, grabbing Xie Jing’s hand. “It’s almost here—I need to meet it!”

“Alright!” Xie Jing smiled, then looked over at Jujian Hui, who had been silent all along.

She pondered for a moment and then nodded.

Half an hour later, Xie Jing drove Shaji straight to Tokyo Bay.

That was where Machina would land.

When they arrived at Tokyo Bay, the TPC had already evacuated the public, leaving only a few personnel behind to monitor the unfolding events.

In the sky, the friction of Machina’s descent through the atmosphere was already visible as a streak of fire—a massive, silver, oval craft hurtled straight toward the ground. Just before landing, a powerful jet of air burst from below, cushioning its descent until it settled firmly on the earth.

Shaji’s smile was tinged with loss—perhaps she had grown attached to life on Earth, and though she had always awaited this moment, her heart was not as elated as she had imagined.

She turned to Xie Jing, the man who had helped her so much the very first time they met.

“I still don’t know your name.”

“Ah…” Xie Jing realized he had never told her. “Just call me… Xie Jing.”

“You’re not from here, are you?”

“Half and half.”

As he gazed at the slowly transforming Machina, a hint of nostalgia flickered in Xie Jing’s eyes.

“I’m also someone far from home.”

Shaji tilted her head at him. “I don’t understand…”

“It’s fine. Just call me Xie Jing. If I ever visit your world and you hear that name, don’t be stingy.”

A charming smile lit up Shaji’s face as she replied confidently, “Of course!”

“Alright, one last favor.” Xie Jing pointed at the colossal Machina, now taking on a monstrous form. “Ask it for me—does it know where Autopes is?”

Shaji hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”

She didn’t know what Xie Jing wanted, but it was such a small thing, she was happy to oblige.

Music wafted from Shaji’s pendant. Machina’s massive frame bowed slightly, and though they were separated by dozens of meters, the two communicated across the air.

After several seconds, Shaji stopped playing and shook her head at Xie Jing.

“Sorry, it doesn’t know where Autopes is. It only knows that the universe has been restless lately, and even the warriors of the Land of Light are searching for Autopes’ whereabouts.”

Xie Jing wasn’t too surprised by the answer. He had helped Shaji partly to ask about Autopes, but more than that, he had been moved when he saw the longing for home in her eyes.

It wasn’t a romantic feeling, but rather the resonance between two lonely souls far from their homelands. In Shaji, for a fleeting moment, he saw himself.

“I’m leaving now.” Shaji looked at Xie Jing, a sweet smile playing on her lips.

Xie Jing waved to her as a brilliant light suddenly radiated from her body, and she floated effortlessly up into the air, landing in the palm of Machina’s hand.

Her voice rang softly in Xie Jing’s ear.

“I will never forget you, Mr. Xie Jing!”

“I won’t forget you either!” Xie Jing waved with all his might.

There was no rampage from Machina as in the original story, no destruction in a desperate search for Shaji. In the control room, Daigu watched as Machina reverted to its oval form. A jet erupted from its rear, and the whole craft soared upward, climbing faster and faster until it became a speck on the horizon.

Whoosh—

Xie Jing let out a long breath, his spirits high as he clasped his hands behind his back and strolled toward the car.

Seated in the driver’s seat, however, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness. He quickly shook it off.

That girl waited hundreds of years on Earth—Xie Jing, can’t you wait a few days?

There will be a way! There’s always a way!

He slowly closed his eyes, letting his mind go blank. All he wanted was a moment of peace and rest.

The phone rang.

He picked up. Kamiji Asahi’s clear voice came through.

“I’d like to have sashimi tonight!”

“Alright! I’ll come get you right away!” Xie Jing’s eyes snapped open. He sat up, turned the key, and pressed the accelerator.

In this world, there would always be someone willing to stay by your side—just as in his original world, there were always those who wouldn’t abandon you at your lowest.

As he drove, Xie Jing wondered what would become of Kamiji Asahi after he left—whether she could go with him, whether he should bring her back to his world, and how he could ever explain who he really was.

How could he tell her that the Fujii Yuta she loved had died long ago, and that the one who’d been holding her, kissing her, and holding her hand these days was just a stranger she’d never met?

She’d probably go mad if she found out.

Forget it. Let things stay as they are for now.

In this world, with even a trace of warmth left, Xie Jing couldn’t bear to leave her behind.