Seeing her son so excited he was on the verge of collapse, the old lady remained as calm as a Kapibal.
“Xiaoxu, Mom isn’t confused. I know I can’t get that money back, and I didn’t even think about asking for it again. I invited this Mr. Shu you mentioned to come here because I want to ask him for a favor, and I also want you to… trust me one last time.”
Her gentle voice, seemingly possessing the same magic as Nangong Wenya, calmed Cheng Xu's agitated emotions slightly.
His eyes were red as he looked up at his mother.
"Mom...please tell me."
“I would like to ask Mr. Shu,” the old lady turned to Shu Bai, her tone solemn, “to help me confirm something.”
Shu Bai nodded slightly: "Please speak."
“I want to confirm whether there was any possibility of sexual assault between my late husband and me. We were together for decades and had a son, Xiao Xu. But even after he passed away, my world remained black and white.”
The old lady spoke slowly, a hint of expectation in her eyes that she herself might not have fully realized.
"I know it sounds silly. The person has been gone for so many years, why are you still dwelling on this? But I just want to give myself an answer."
If... if there had been even the slightest possibility of 'destiny' between us, but we just missed each other due to some twist of fate... then my life wouldn't have been such a predictable, predictable drama.
Cheng Xu was stunned. He opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.
He never imagined that his mother harbored such a deep-seated obsession.
Shu Bai remained silent.
This request goes beyond the scope of ordinary "purity" or "authenticity".
It involves tracing the essence of past emotional connections.
More importantly, one of them is already dead.
Not only is it extremely difficult and strenuous, but the results may also not be what one hopes for.
After becoming the head of the family, the first commission he accepted on his own resulted in him winning the hidden prize.
This feels like a beginner's lesson on making dumplings, only to be suddenly asked to steam buns as part of the graduation exam.
Li Yuheng, who had been lazily circling Shu Bai's spirit body, suddenly stopped and leaned against Shu Bai's back, resting his chin lightly on Shu Bai's other shoulder where he wasn't wearing an earring.
"Tsk, this job is not easy. Tracing the remaining emotional imprints of the deceased is like finding a needle in a haystack, and you also have to distinguish whether the needle has ever been stained with even a trace of 'destined color'... It's very troublesome."
He turned his head slightly, his smugness almost overflowing: "But... you're lucky, I'm here. Ordinary color purifiers can't do it, but for me, the guardian deity, it's not difficult to glimpse a trace of past emotions and discern whether it contains the 'original color' bestowed by the Heavenly Dao."
Shu Bai felt an inhuman chill on the side of his neck, and his body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he did not flinch. His gaze remained calm as he looked at the old lady.
Seeing that Shu Bai didn't react, Li Yuheng leaned closer: "What? You're begging me. If you beg me, I'll help you see if this old lady and her deceased husband ever had even the slightest bit of 'preordained' fate?"
Shu Bai listened to Li Yuheng's smug and seductive whispers, his face remaining calm and expressionless, but his heart stirred.
He remembered that his family's records indicated that, in addition to words, there was a more secretive way to communicate with the guardian spirit.
It seems to be called...
However, that opening line was really hard to say.
Shu Bai tried praying silently in her heart, as if speaking into a special megaphone: "Is it enough that I only ask of you?"
Li Yuheng, who was pressing his neck against Shu Bai's and feeling his body temperature, suddenly stopped, sat up slightly in surprise, and the red phantom swayed.
That's right. If you sincerely ask me for help, I will help you.
Wait, Shu Bai actually knows how to pray to him telepathically?
It seems that Shu Huaijin and Wen Rui taught them.
But why have I never prayed before?!
Having received confirmation, Shu Bai no longer hesitated and sincerely said, "Please, Guardian Angel, lend me your strength."
Li Yuheng: 【...Heh.】
【What's wrong? 】
【hehe. 】
[…Guardian, you surely know that whether you are a human or a god, you cannot be without words—]
"I want to possess you," Li Yuheng interrupted.
【no problem. 】
…
Shu Bai crossed his legs and finally spoke slowly: "We can try. But Madam, you must understand that the result may not be what you expect. Moreover, this process requires you to completely let go of your memories and emotional defenses, which may be somewhat uncomfortable."
The old lady nodded without hesitation: "I understand. Whatever the outcome, I will accept it. Thank you, Mr. Shu."
Cheng Xu hurriedly said, "Mr. Shu, what can I do for you? Please help my mother!"
"This is none of your business. Just keep quiet."
Shu Bai waved to Cheng Xu, put down his crossed legs, and took out several magical artifacts from a simple, antique-looking bag he carried with him.
A uniquely shaped bronze lamp, several thin lines of different colors, and a piece of warm, white jade.
"Madam, please relax and look at the flame of this lamp."
Shu Bai placed the copper lamp on the coffee table, flicked it with his fingertips, and the wick lit up.
The old lady did as she was told, her gaze gradually drawn to the firelight.
Shu Bai then picked up the few thin threads, her fingers flying nimbly, and gently tied one end of the thread to the old lady's wrist, while wrapping the other end around the white jade stone.
When all preparations were complete, "Shubai" gathered a tiny glimmer of light at her fingertips and gently touched the white jade stone.
“Tracing back!”
With a low shout, the jade suddenly emitted a hazy glow.
The light flowed slowly toward the old lady along the colored lines.
The old lady trembled slightly, closed her eyes, and frowned gently, as if she were lost in some deep memory.
The flame of the copper lamp began to flicker slightly, casting ever-changing patterns of light and shadow on the wall.
Shu Bai raised an eyebrow.
The information fed back by the jade was chaotic and faint, and fragments of the old lady's memories flashed by like faded old photographs.
It contains dependence on her husband, affection, habits, and even dissatisfaction and arguments...
But what it lacks is that "color resonance" that comes from the recognition of world rules.
The outcome seems clear.
Just then, "Shu Bai" suddenly narrowed his eyes.
He moved closer, bringing his face close to the colored lines, carefully sensing them.
The jade's luster suddenly began to fluctuate violently, and the colored lines began to tremble uneasily.
The old lady's expression was no longer simply one of reminiscence, but rather one of pain, struggle, and even a hint of regret.
“Mr. Shu…” the old lady suddenly murmured, her voice choked with sobs.
“I…I think I remember…that day…it was raining…before he left, he wanted to bring me chestnut cake from that newly opened pastry shop in the south of the city…I said…I said no thanks, it’s too sweet…”
Her tears fell silently.
"Why didn't I say something nice back then...? I clearly... wanted to eat it..."
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