Seize the distant time
The phone screen lights up, displaying information from the time sequence.
"What are you doing?"
Looking at those three words, Yunxi could almost picture him with a tense expression, trying to appear calm but unable to resist sending the message. A smile curved her lips as she replied:
"Do your homework. What about you?"
Almost the instant the message was sent, the message "The other party is typing..." appeared above the chat box. He probably kept his phone glued to it, like guarding a fragile miracle.
"Same."
Two words that are concise and to the point.
Looking at the screen, Yunxi could sense his hesitation. After thinking for a moment, she didn't press him further, but instead sent him a picture of the math problem he was working on.
"This question is a bit difficult, do you know how to do it?"
She chose the most natural way to involve him, one that would put the least pressure on him.
This time, Shixu's response was astonishingly fast. Instead of giving a direct answer, he sent a clear voice message, explaining the problem-solving process and methods in a logical and organized manner. His voice, coming through the receiver, was less cold and more focused and patient than when they were face-to-face. He had heard her ask this question in the third cycle of reincarnation, and the answer was already ingrained in his mind. What he enjoyed was being able to explain it to her personally this time.
After listening, Yunxi quickly solved the problem following his line of thought. She replied:
"Understood, thank you teacher~"
It was followed by a cute rabbit emoji.
Looking at that meme next door, Shi Xu's ears started to burn again. He pursed his lips and tapped his fingers on the screen:
"Okay. You can ask me anything you don't understand in the future." This was not just polite talk, but a solemn promise, a signal that he was opening up the limited "value" he possessed to her.
"Okay, then I'll have to trouble you from now on, Teacher Shi." Yunxi readily agreed.
The conversation has temporarily come to an end. But an invisible, warm bond seems to have been quietly established through these few simple messages and a math problem.
(Shixu's inner monologue: She's getting closer to me. In such a way... that leaves me defenseless, and makes me even more afraid of losing her.)
The following days seemed to establish a dangerous yet fascinating pattern.
Every morning, Shi Xu would wait for her with breakfast prepared by Aunt Li. During the day at school, he would shield her from unnecessary trouble in his own unique way. After school, the two would walk home together, sometimes holding hands, but most of the time walking side by side in a peaceful atmosphere. In the evening, they would chat briefly on their phones, sometimes asking questions, sometimes simply saying "goodnight."
The aura emanating from Shi Xu seemed to soften day by day. Although in front of outsiders he remained the aloof and unapproachable academic genius, before Yunxi, that icy shell was melting at a visible speed. This melting brought him warmth, but also made him feel as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss—he was becoming less like the cold, protective machine honed through reincarnation.
He even started to actively seek out topics to talk about.
For example, on his way home from school on Friday, he suddenly said, "Tomorrow is Saturday, and there's a new science exhibition at the city library. I heard... it's pretty good." He had carefully selected the information about this exhibition; it was safe, quiet, and outside of all the tragic timelines he knew.
He said this while looking straight ahead, trying to sound casual.
Yunxi's heart skipped a beat, and she turned to look at him: "Do you want to go see it?"
Shi Xu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but his voice remained steady: "If you have time."
(Cloud Gap's inner monologue: He's inviting me... on a date?)
A sweet feeling welled up in her heart. She nodded, her voice filled with laughter: "Okay, I'm free."
His taut jawline relaxed almost imperceptibly. "Okay, then see you at the entrance of the complex at nine o'clock tomorrow morning." A completely new agreement, not part of the established script. He was like a gardener trying to cultivate a garden in a minefield, each step filled with reverence and fear.
"good."
With the agreement reached, the atmosphere between the two became even more ambiguous.
On Saturday morning, Yunxi specially chose a refreshing dress. When she went downstairs, Shixu was already waiting at the entrance of the community. He was wearing a light blue shirt today, which made his skin look even whiter, and he was so handsome that it was hard to look away.
Seeing a gap in the clouds, his gaze lingered on her for a few seconds before quickly shifting away, his ears slightly red. "Let's go." Each new appearance of hers felt like a refresh of his barren memory bank, so beautiful it seemed unreal.
On their way to the library, the two sat side by side in the back of the bus. The window was open, and the summer breeze blew in, ruffling their hair.
Looking out the window at the rapidly receding street scene, Yunxi felt as clear-headed as the sky. She could sense the tension in the person beside her; his posture was even more upright than usual, his hands neatly placed on his knees.
She suddenly had a mischievous idea and pretended that because of the swaying of the bus, her body leaned slightly towards him and her arm gently touched his.
Shi Xu's body froze instantly, too afraid to move. This touch was not part of his rehearsal.
Yunxi chuckled inwardly and was about to sit up straight when she felt a warmth on the back of her hand.
Shi Xu's hand, with a hint of probing and a do-or-die determination, gently covered the back of her hand, and then took her hand in his palm.
His palms were still slightly sweaty, but the temperature was surprisingly soothing.
Yunxi didn't break free, letting him hold her, and even adjusted her position to make it more comfortable for him to hold her.
Shi Xu quietly breathed a sigh of relief, his tense body finally relaxing. He turned his head to look out the window, and an uncontrollable, gentle smile curved his lips upward. This simple moment of intertwined fingers was more valuable than the sum of his previous fifty-odd reincarnations.
Sunlight streamed through the car window, falling warmly and brightly on their clasped hands.
(Shixu's inner monologue: If this is the road to the end, then the hands I'm clenching tightly right now are my only and most powerful form of resistance against fate.)
(Yunxi's inner monologue: His hand seems warmer than when we hold each other.)
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