A thought bubble materialized above my head—complete with my silver orb form drooping like a wilted flower, matchstick arms dangling in defeat. The entire visual screamed existential crisis.

“Seraphine.” I forced myself to stare at the corridor pillars instead of her face. “You’re mocking me.”

Seraphine cupped Echo’s chin, gently turning her face back toward hers until they were eye to eye.

Her expression remained perfectly calm, though those upturned eyes held a flicker of confusion.

“How could I?” she asked, genuinely surprised. “Why would I mock you?”

I stayed silent. Above my head, Error—my adorable Fire Rock Dragon hair ornament—shifted slightly. The large silk bow tied around its neck trembled, causing the dangling ribbons to become lopsided. The tiny bell nestled in my hair chimed softly.

With practiced ease, Seraphine brushed the bell away from Echo’s face and smoothed her hair back over her shoulder, revealing the pale curve of her ear.

I caught Seraphine’s fingers in mine. “Tell me the truth.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Seraphine’s mouth. “Really, it’s wonderful. You’re like a flower—beautiful beyond compare, a vision that could topple kingdoms. Even with your hair disheveled, you’re still breathtaking.”

Seraphine thinks I’m breathtaking.

The thought processed through my systems with unusual warmth.

“My smile earlier was just……” Seraphine glanced up at the Fire Rock Dragon, who was now chewing its own tail. “I was thinking how hard poor Error works, having to behave itself as your hair ornament.”

Error wriggled again.

This brought a frown to my face. I held up both hands for Seraphine to see.

“Human bodies have so many limitations compared to system data.” I said. “I can answer any question you have, provide any information within my capabilities. If I had enough points, I could help you ascend to immortality in an instant.”

My voice remained steady, clinical. “I’m a powerful system—a higher-dimensional being existing outside normal world lines. But now that I have this human form, I can’t phase through solid matter anymore. I can’t directly upload data into flesh and blood. I can’t perform elegant sword techniques or even tie ribbons in my hair properly.”

Echo stared down at her hands, and for the first time, the clarity in her eyes seemed to cloud over—like storm clouds drifting across a previously clear sky.

Seraphine straightened in surprise. Was Echo…… sad?

Seraphine raised her hand to cover her face, staring at Echo in wonder. Even knowing Echo’s concerns were trivial, even knowing her possessed abilities beyond normal comprehension, seeing Echo dejected like this made something in her chest tighten unexpectedly.

She looks…… pitiful. Like she needs comfort.

“This is really……” Seraphine murmured, the words trailing off as she took Echo’s hand.

Echo looked up at her.

Seraphine smiled brilliantly. “Why worry about such things? As long as you’re by my side, I’ll brush your hair every day. I may not be as skilled as the palace servants at braiding, but I can manage a simple ponytail.”

I blinked. “That would be troublesome for you.” My tone stayed level. “A system’s goal is to free its host from trouble, not to become the host’s trouble.”

“But you’re not just a system now—you’re Echo.” Seraphine lifted their joined hands between them.

Seraphine’s fingers intertwined with Echo’s as she continued softly, “You’re Echo, and you’re Xi Lingren. Among all the people under heaven, only I know where you truly came from. And you know my struggles—you’re changing fate itself for my sake. You’ve saved me from death countless times. Echo, I may be cold toward the world, but I’m not heartless. You and I are already the closest of friends.”

My high-speed data processing seemed to stutter and freeze.

She said we’re friends.

“Have we…… maxed out our friendship affection rating?” I asked, somewhat dazed.

Seraphine rubbed Echo’s hand gently, laughing quietly. She nodded. “Even better than friends!”

“Between you and me, there’s no need for words like ‘troublesome’—even if you were still an untouchable system orb.”

I opened my mouth slightly, my free hand moving to touch my chest. In the thought bubble above my head, my silver orb form was now crying tears of joy. I pressed my palm against my heart.

“Moved.” I whispered. “Seraphine, you’re really wonderful.”

Seraphine raised an eyebrow. “So are you.”

Taking her hand, Seraphine led Echo toward the bedroom. “Come on, let me fix your hair properly. After that, want me to teach you some sword techniques?”

My steps became lighter. “Thank you, Seraphine.”

“But I still have things to do. I need to go down the mountain to find Mu Rong and ask her to help repair your garden.”

“Who’s Mu Rong?” Seraphine asked lazily. “The palace servant can handle the garden.”

Oh!

But I still needed to go down the mountain. “I have other matters to attend to. I need to leave.”

You’re certainly busy today, Seraphine thought, glancing back at Echo with raised eyebrows.

What matters?

I blinked, then suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no!”

“Seraphine, there’s a flaw in your logic! Error also knows I’m a powerful system.” I pointed dramatically at the dragon perched on my head.

Error was so startled its tail fell down, and the tiny flames on its horns flickered upward.

What does this have to do with me?! I don’t know anything about systems! What even is a system—some kind of demon?

Oh, look at that—learning to deflect like a proper person, Seraphine thought with amusement. She pressed Echo down onto the stool and picked up the wooden comb from the vanity. “Fine, if a fourth person learns your identity, we’ll definitely blame Error!”

Error angrily swished its tail and slithered down Echo’s long hair. Seraphine casually untied the bow from around its neck, watching as it scurried under the table with various squeaks and chirps of protest.

This dragon isn’t coming out!

I met Seraphine’s eyes, and we both burst into laughter.

After she finished styling my hair, I shifted my gaze from her hands to her face. “I’ve identified the problem. Ribbons lack proper binding properties. If I want to achieve hair-tying results comparable to yours independently, I could either improve the ribbon’s functionality—but that involves technological production issues and serves no purpose for our mission. So there’s a better solution.”

Seraphine rested her hands on Echo’s shoulders. “I’m all ears.”

I sat up straight, eyes bright with enthusiasm. “I think I need to grow another pair of arms. It wouldn’t conform to normal human appearance, but I could make them retractable. Each time I finish tying my hair, I could retract them back into my—Seraphine?”

I looked at her as she slowly covered her ears, her expression clearly communicating her thoughts.

Absolutely not.

I closed my mouth.

Sometimes I couldn’t let my mind run wild with Echo’s ideas. Seraphine had learned this lesson the hard way. She cleared her throat. “I have an even better strategy.”

Please elaborate.

I was all ears.

Seraphine reached out and twisted a strand of Echo’s hair around her finger, the cool silver wrapping around her knuckle. She smiled slightly, joking, “Why not just shave it all off?”

Unexpectedly, instead of showing panic or any other reaction, Echo considered this seriously. “I thought about that. It won’t work.”

I explained matter-of-factly, “I researched the topic. Humans have an obsession with having thick, luxurious hair. It significantly impacts physical appearance.”

Seraphine raised an eyebrow teasingly. “What, you care about looks now?” She clearly didn’t care whether she was human or an orb.

“I don’t care.” I said, standing up. Then I patted her shoulder cheerfully. “But you do. You care a lot about looks.”

Seraphine: “……?”

Seraphine turned around, staring at Echo in complete disbelief as Echo skipped toward the door with a red flower in her hair, swishing her hands happily. Her silver hair caught the light, leaving ripples of brightness in her vision.