After Shangguan Wen took everyone away, the empty room instantly fell silent, leaving only Bai Xi and He Mu.
Bai Xi did not step forward to question him directly. Instead, she swept her gaze over the room, her fingers tracing the desk lamp before landing on the thin quilt on the bed.
Seeing this, He Mu took a step forward, positioning himself in front of Bai Xi and blocking her line of sight. "Whatever the Eldest Miss wishes to know, He will tell you everything without reservation."
Bai Xi raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
He Mu didn't elaborate, offering only one word: "Yes."
Bai Xi stood directly before him, facing him, their noses only ten centimeters apart. "Then tell me now, who are you really!"
He Mu looked up, meeting her gaze. In that moment, they could see each other's reflection in their eyes, so close yet feeling worlds apart. "I am He Mu..."
Bai Xi interrupted softly, "I'm not asking about a month ago, but now."
He Mu sighed gently and said, "Xi'er..."
His voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a hint of clarity that ultimately vanished.
Bai Xi's pupils widened slightly, and she stared at the man before her with disbelief. "You admit it?"
He Mu sighed softly. "I never intended to hide it from you, but... I didn't know how to say it. How did you recognize me, Xi'er?"
Bai Xi's gaze was serious. "Actually, the first time I saw you, I felt your demeanor was similar to Han Mo's. Later, you repeatedly helped those around me, ordering my favorite dishes but not eating them yourself. And your medical skills, your knowledge of poisons... I could tell that it was something no ordinary doctor could achieve."
He Mu remained silent, listening quietly as she spoke.
Bai Xi looked at him, taking a deep breath. "Also, when I returned this time, I met Chen Yi. Chen Yi said you had become somewhat different a month ago, and a month ago was precisely our wedding day."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, recalling the scene of Han Mo gouging out his heart for her. The more profound the memory, the clearer it became in her mind. The closer the time, the more she understood. It was the last scene of his memory, an unforgettable one, so she saw it exceptionally clearly, to the point that her heart ached immensely.
He Mu's gentle eyes held a trace of heartache. "Xi'er, please don't cry, it pains me..."
He took another step forward, reaching out as if to stroke Bai Xi's long hair, just as he had in the past.
Unfortunately, this time Bai Xi did not react as usual. She drew the dagger from her waist and plunged it fiercely into He Mu's leg. Her eyes were filled with anger and a scarlet glint. "Han Mo, I told you, if you dared to leave, I would break your legs."
The intense pain struck, but He Mu only furrowed his brow slightly, not moving an inch. His low voice, tinged with hoarseness, followed by a slight upturn of his lips and gentle eyes. "If it will relieve your anger, Xi'er, then do as you please."
He reached out and pulled the dagger from his leg. In an instant, bright red blood flowed down his leg, instantly dyeing his off-white trousers, making it strikingly visible.
Bai Xi watched the scene unfold and couldn't help but frown, taking a step back. "A feigned injury won't work on me!"
He Mu, dragging his bleeding leg, took a step towards Bai Xi. "Then tell me, Xi'er, how can I earn your forgiveness?"
Bai Xi took another step back, maintaining a not-too-close, not-too-far distance from He Mu. Her eyes remained fixed on his injured leg. After a pause, she said, "Stop the bleeding first, then we'll talk."
He Mu smiled indulgently. "Alright."
He walked to the bedside and rolled up his pant leg. At this moment, blood was still gushing out, looking particularly gruesome. It was evident that Bai Xi had shown no mercy when she stabbed him. He Mu took out some healing medicine, gently poured it onto the wound, and then covered it with a thick gauze, wrapping and pressing it. "I've bandaged it. Now can you tell me what I need to do so you're not angry anymore?"
Bai Xi hesitated for a second before sitting opposite him. "It's still a long way from me not being angry! Tell me, why have you become like this?"
He Mu chuckled. "Actually, before I gouged out my heart for you, I had already used a forbidden technique. I learned about it when I revived you. However... the success rate of this matter was less than fifty percent, so... I didn't dare to gamble, nor did I dare to let you know."
Bai Xi, her eyes red, looked at the man before her and said word by word, "You scoundrel."
He Mu smiled. "Yes, I am a scoundrel. Please don't be sad anymore, okay? Otherwise, my heart will ache too."
Bai Xi took a deep breath. "Sweet talk."
He Mu smiled and remained silent.
Bai Xi moved a little closer, glaring at him. "Speak, since you've confirmed your success and met me, why didn't you confess?"
He Mu gently shook his head. "Actually, this forbidden technique doesn't fix a fixed location for rebirth. With this body I now have, I didn't dare to acknowledge you. I only wanted to stay by your side."
Bai Xi looked at the unfamiliar face before her and fell silent for a moment. "In your eyes, am I a woman who only cares about looks?"
He Mu shook his head gently. "No, it's just that I feel inferior, I feel unworthy of you."
Bai Xi hesitated for a moment. "What about the real He Mu?"
He Mu sighed. "On our wedding night, he was likely in the laboratory operating on some medication. Probably due to mishandling, he was poisoned by a leak from the lab. It was precisely because our deaths coincided that I had the opportunity for a borrowed soul."
Bai Xi's brow furrowed, and she did not continue the topic.
He Mu looked up, his eyes full of tenderness. "Xi'er, can you not be angry anymore?"
Hearing this, Bai Xi instantly bristled. "Heh, since you feel inferior, feel unworthy of me, and think it's enough to just watch from afar. Then I'm disturbing you. Rest assured, I'm leaving now. From now on, you walk your single-plank bridge, and I'll walk my sunny road, hum!"
With that, she stood up and turned to leave.
He Mu, however, reached out and grabbed Bai Xi, pulling her into his embrace. His voice was deep yet filled with magnetism. "Xi'er, please forgive me?"
Bai Xi's movements were too fast for ordinary people to even see clearly. In the instant before she fell into his arms, her eyelashes flickered upwards, and she pressed down hard on the leg he had just stabbed, grinding out through clenched teeth, "Humph, forgive you? You wish! Just feel the pain!"
With that, she rushed out of the room, unconcerned about how the person behind her felt or what actions he might take, slamming the door shut.
Outside the room, her eyes became clear once more. She looked up at the bright sun overhead and let out a smile with an inscrutable meaning.