Chapter 143: The Third Color of the Clover

"I'm sorry, Miaomiao. We couldn't bring Zhuang Xiaoyuan back. And furthermore..."

The white building situated in the northwest of the Central Metropolis was humanity's largest scientific research institute. Chu Yan stood at the entrance of the institute's armed experimentation zone, a look of shame on his face as he watched a petite, expressionless girl with short hair walk out from inside.

"I know. She'll be fine."

Without the slightest change in her expression, the girl named Chu Miaomiao walked past Chu Yan as if no one were there, heading toward the institute's gates. Today's weapon experiments had already concluded. Although the researchers had manufactured new weapons based on online design data, the girl did not believe these so-called new weapons could inflict much damage on the demons.

"But when we went to look for her, nothing was left there. Even the God-Blessed-grade Guardian Captain said that even he couldn't withstand an explosion of that magnitude." Hearing Chu Miaomiao's words, Chu Yan thought she was deceiving herself. He hurried to catch up with her and explained.

"I said, she will definitely be fine."

Her tone grew heavier, yet Chu Miaomiao's face still didn't display the slightest ripple of emotion. Although they had spent several years together, Chu Yan had truly never seen any changing expression on his cousin's face. Had their aunt not mentioned that Chu Miaomiao was completely healthy, Chu Yan might have suspected his cousin suffered from facial nerve damage.

Just as Chu Miaomiao finished speaking, a red beam of light suddenly shot in from outside, heading straight toward her. Faced with the sudden "attack," Chu Miaomiao very naturally raised her right hand to block the path of the light.

"Careful!"

Before Chu Yan's warning could fully leave his mouth, Chu Miaomiao had already grabbed the red light in her palm. Raising her head to glance at Chu Yan, who was worried for her safety, she said nothing and lowered her gaze to look at her right palm. A red, heart-shaped crystal lay quietly in her hand. The next second, Chu Miaomiao fell into a daze, her eyes losing their luster.

***

Slowly reviving from the darkness, Zhuang Xiaoyuan only felt wave after wave of piercing cold corroding her body. Her limbs were somewhat numb and stiff, just as if she were standing outside in the bitter winter wearing thin clothes for a long time, freezing in the gale.

Opening her eyes, Zhuang Xiaoyuan saw a gloomy alley. The cold alley wind howled past, carrying flakes of snow. She was sitting quietly in the corner of the alley, wearing thin clothes covered in patches.

"Brr, it's so freezing. Where is this..."

Surveying her surroundings, the architectural style near the alley looked like European buildings from several decades ago. Aside from that, only the small basket filled with matches beside her gave her an inexplicable sense of déjà vu. No, there was one more strange thing. Looking down, a crystal in the shape of a spade had somehow been strung together and hung around her neck.

As for the divine power within her body, just like the previous trial, it remained entirely imperceptible. Moreover, this time there wasn't even the parchment task prompt that had appeared previously. No matter how Zhuang Xiaoyuan tested it, she was sitting all alone in the alley by herself. Not a single quest was issued to her, leaving her somewhat at a loss.

Feeling her body growing increasingly stiff, Zhuang Xiaoyuan knew she could not delay any longer and had to find a warm place to rest. Picking up the small basket beside her by reflex, she braved the cold wind and stepped out of the alley, one step at a time.

Emerging from the alley, looking at the snow-covered streets, Zhuang Xiaoyuan felt lost and had no idea where to go. On both sides of the alley were ordinary residences. Through the windows, a family of four—a man, a woman, and children—could be seen sitting around a table, enjoying a lavish dinner with blissful expressions. Standing beside their table was a small, pointed tree. A Christmas tree?

Seeing the happy expressions of the family inside the house, Zhuang Xiaoyuan felt a fierce pang of hunger in her stomach. However, that family provided her with a clue regarding the time: the Christmas tree and the roasted turkey on the table told Zhuang Xiaoyuan one undeniable fact—today was likely Christmas Day.

"Old-style European architecture, Christmas, matches, completely alone, cold and hungry. Could it be... am I the little match girl?!"

Piecing together all the clues gathered in such a short time led Zhuang Xiaoyuan to a somewhat unbelievable conclusion.

Looking down to examine the small basket filled with matches, Zhuang Xiaoyuan, with a mixture of doubt and belief, took out a box of matches. *Click.* As the match was struck and lit, a table of luxurious delicacies appeared before Zhuang Xiaoyuan: soaring dragon dumplings, roasted duck, strawberry cake, steak rice bowls, and all kinds of Chinese and Western delicacies could be seen on the table.

"I really have become the little match girl. According to the script, the little match girl ends up frozen to death in the end."

Feeling the bitter cold of the heavens and earth, Zhuang Xiaoyuan felt her future was pitch black. No, she had to think of a way.

Noticing the pedestrians hurrying past on the street, she looked down at the matches in her small basket. After hesitating, Zhuang Xiaoyuan ultimately did not call out to sell the matches. According to the original script for the little match girl, not a single match was sold. Furthermore, looking at the hurried expressions on the faces of the passing pedestrians, Zhuang Xiaoyuan did not think stopping them was a wise choice.

Choosing a direction at random, Zhuang Xiaoyuan leaned against the roadside and walked along the main avenue. Although she was now cold and hungry, she persisted in walking while scanning her surroundings, searching for a chance to be rescued.

Noticing a grocery store that still had its door open, with an elderly gentleman sitting behind the counter, Zhuang Xiaoyuan's eyes lit up. She walked straight inside, greeted by a wave of warmth that seemed to completely isolate her from the chill of the weather.

"Grandpa, are you hiring anyone here?"

Generally speaking, older people held more patience and sympathy for children. Zhuang Xiaoyuan widened her eyes as she looked at the old gentleman.

"We aren't hiring, and at your age, you wouldn't be able to do any heavy work anyway."

The old man raised his eyes to glance at Zhuang Xiaoyuan. Although he didn't drive her out because of her tattered clothes, he didn't overflow with sympathy to hand out any charity either.

"Then would you like to buy some matches? The matches I have here are the absolute best; they light up the moment you strike them."

Although she had anticipated this, Zhuang Xiaoyuan couldn't help feeling a pang of disappointment in her heart. However, that disappointed emotion flashed by and vanished. Regaining her spirits, she lifted the small basket in her hand and pitched her wares.

"Oh, matches? Do they work? You've been outside in this weather for quite a while, haven't they gotten damp?"

Uncertain whether he intended to buy, the old man's gaze shifted to the matches in Zhuang Xiaoyuan's hands, though his face revealed no expression of whether he wanted them or not.

"They'll definitely be fine. Look."

Unsure of the old gentleman's intentions, Zhuang Xiaoyuan demonstrated by striking a match. As the match flared to life, gold coins rained down from the sky, piling up on the floor. The hallucination appeared once again.

"Get out! Get out of here right now, you witch!"

Unexpectedly, the moment the hallucination appeared, the old man's expression changed drastically. Roaring in anger, he pulled the alarm bell beside his counter.