"00... is there a way too." Seeing the Heidis in his arms tiredly open up his eyes whenever he called. Gu Yan could only let the pain eat his heart away.

[although the rules are willing to bend for you, it still needs to be enforced... the consequence is you'll be leaving this world.]

For Qiuqiu's sake, he is willing to bear anything.

Qiuqiu weakly opened his eyes with his meager strength and snuggled into his hands.

"Qiuqiu be good." he coaxed with his voice slightly quivering.

[...]

[By doing so. you'll disappear in this world indicating an early death. Do you agree to this?]

Gu Yan gently stroke Qiuqiu's fur without replying back clearly unwilling to let go.

If only he could stay longer. Even giving Eli just a proper goodbye would have been enough. Not like this.

"Qiuqiu be good... " he repeated like a chant. He couldnt bear it, the word 'goodbye'

"00...please. save him."

[...]

Gu Yan held Qiuqiu closer to his heart and buried his face into his fluffy fur to hide the sadness in his face. To force his tears back and to somehow ease the pain.

[... I have a proposal to make.] said the system. It didn't know what influenced it to interfere. If it could understand the feelings of hurt. Then this scene, might have been too painful for it.

[I am unable to measure the influence i have with the rules nor weigh my worth. However, this could be another way to save him.]

This was a sign of hope. And hearing lightened his heart like an oasis.

"System. what is it."

[This system could temporary let go of its assistance and enter a hibernating state. By doing so, the rules would be unable to enforce its initial rules making it possible to undo his sure death.]

"However?"

[. . . this system will be unable to give you any assistance in the next world and will only be able to regain access by clearing it yourself. WARNING. there's a possibility of meeting him again in the next world and without my assistance, the difficulty of meeting him again increases. despite so, would you agree to this proposal?]

"What will happen to you."

[Do not worry. although I will not be around in the next world. I am confident to be back in the following world.]

Gu Yan felt the warm cat in his arms lick his fingers.

"System... am I being selfish?" he asked.

[Selfish. It is something i do not comprehend however it is a fact that the proposal came from me.]

[Can i take this as an agreement?]

"thank you..."

[then please take care. I'll be seeing you in the third world. Upon death, the rules will automatically send you off to the next world.]

Gu Yan felt the presence of the system disappearing. Although 00 warned him about meeting Eli in the next world, seeing him dying in the present mattered most.

He took the cat in his arms into their room and gently lay him down beside him. Gu Yan stared at Qiuqiu, resting his palm onto its body to check its warmth. The cat was asleep in exhaustion, purring lightly.

Gu Yan couldn't help but continue to worry and watch attentively and before he knew it, he fell asleep.