The fragility of the gods
The lingering warmth of the weekend, like a soft glow, enveloped the new week.
On Monday morning, as Yunxi descended the stairs, Shixu was still waiting in the same old spot. But unlike before, when he saw her, a faint smile naturally curved his lips. Though still brief, it was no longer a fleeting illusion. This had almost exhausted all the courage he had accumulated in the previous fifty-two reincarnations to get used to and respond to this warmth.
"Good morning." He handed her breakfast, his fingertips touching hers, lingering for half a second longer than usual. That half second was a small victory for him against his predetermined fate.
"Good morning." Yunxi accepted it, a sweet feeling welling up in her heart. She could feel that after the layer of ice melted, what flowed beneath was a gentle yet firm warmth.
On the way to school, he remained quiet, but he would offer more detailed responses when she brought up certain topics. He would even silently stop and wait for her when she was distracted by a kitten that suddenly darted out from the roadside. These seemingly ordinary reactions were the "optimal solutions" he had corrected based on past "mistakes"—in one of his past lives, he had made her miss this kitten because he had rushed her, and he had remembered the fleeting regret in her eyes for a long time.
This change is subtle yet cannot be ignored, like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, permeating every inch of the space between the two.
However, beneath the calm surface, undercurrents never cease to surge. Time knows better than anyone that the noose of fate is slowly tightening, and Si Yi is merely a conspicuous puppet manipulated by it.
During their lunch break, Yunxi and Lu Fanxing were buying water at the convenience store when they bumped into Siyi. She seemed to have been waiting there on purpose.
"Junior Sister Yunxi," Si Yi said with an impeccable elegant smile, but her sharp gaze swept over the bottled water in Yunxi's hand, "Are you getting along quite well with Shixu?"
"It's alright," Yunxi replied calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.
Si Yi chuckled softly, her words carrying a hidden meaning: "That's good. However, some circles aren't so easy to blend into. Shi Xu may seem cold, but he's actually the most sentimental and nostalgic. After all, there's what happened to his mother in the past..."
Her words trailed off abruptly, as if they had been casually mentioned, but her shrewd eyes remained fixed on Yunxi, not missing a single subtle change in her face. "His mother's past"—these words were like poisoned icicles, precisely piercing the weakest point of the defenses that time had built with lies and cycles.
Yunxi's heart sank, but she maintained her composure. She knew that any hint of panic or curiosity at this moment would fall into Siyi's trap.
"Senior seems to know a lot about the Shixu family's affairs." Yunxi's tone was calm, even carrying a just-right hint of doubt. "However, if Shixu feels the need to tell me these things, he will do so himself. There's no need for Senior to go to the trouble of relaying them."
Si Yi's smile faded slightly. She hadn't expected Yun Xi to react this way—not taking the bait, not pressing for answers, but instead deftly deflecting the question back, subtly hinting at the intimacy and trust between her and Shi Xu.
"It seems my junior is very confident." Si Yi's tone turned slightly cold.
"I just believe in him." Yunxi looked at her, her eyes clear and firm. "Thank you for your concern, senior. We'll be going now."
She pulled the still somewhat bewildered Lu Fanxing along and calmly walked past Si Yi.
After taking a few steps, Lu Fanxing patted her chest and whispered, "My god, Yunxi, you were so cool just now! Siyi was so embarrassed!"
Yunxi, however, was not so relaxed. Siyi's words were like a thorn, piercing her heart. "His mother's past"—behind this, there were clearly more complex secrets she was unaware of. What she touched was the root of all the logic behind Shixu's actions, that forbidden zone that he would never allow anyone, including himself, to easily tread upon.
She suddenly realized that what was locked within the fortress of time might not only be the grief of losing her mother, but something far heavier. That something might be the real reason why he had always felt like he was walking on thin ice, as if facing an abyss.
After school, she walked home with Shi Xu. Looking at his soft profile, Yun Xi wanted to swallow back Si Yi's words several times, but then she felt that hiding it might not be the best choice.
As they walked along the quiet, tree-lined path, Yunxi stopped.
"Time sequence".
"Hmm?" He turned to look at her.
"Today... I met Senior Sister Si Yi." Yun Xi chose to be honest.
Shi Xu's gaze instantly turned cold, and his aura became distant again: "She's causing you trouble?" What was bound to happen, finally happened. Faster than he expected. The gears of fate, indeed, will not stop turning because of a moment of tenderness.
“No.” Yunxi shook her head, carefully choosing her words. “She just… mentioned your mother. Talking about ‘those things from the past.’”
Shi Xu's body visibly stiffened. The color drained from his face at a visible speed, and a flicker of near panic flashed in his eyes, which he quickly suppressed, but Yunxi, who was watching him intently, still caught it. That "past" was the bridge connecting his mother's death and his father's shadow, the prologue to each cycle of tragedy, the truth he had tried so hard to keep her out!
He abruptly turned his face away, his voice hoarse: "What else did she... say?"
“No, that’s all.” Yunxi walked up to him and looked intently at his taut jawline. “I didn’t ask. I felt that you should tell me those things, rather than hearing them from someone else.”
Shi Xu abruptly turned, looking at her with a complex expression—shock, struggle, and a hint of relief. She didn't press for answers. Unlike in previous cycles, she hadn't stepped into that minefield out of curiosity or unease. This in itself was a huge, positive variable.
He remained silent for a long time, so long that Yunxi thought he wouldn't speak, before he finally said in a low, hoarse voice, "...I'm sorry."
Why apologize?
“I’ve dragged you into these…unavoidable, complicated things that I brought upon you.” His voice was heavy with weariness and self-reproach. He wasn’t apologizing for the trouble itself, but for the selfish love that had pulled her closer despite knowing it was a dead end.
“Shixu,” Yunxi reached out and gently tugged at his sleeve, her voice gentle yet firm, “I’m not a porcelain doll. I know what I’ll face if I get close to you. I said I wouldn’t leave, and I didn’t just say that casually.”
Her eyes were like the most tranquil harbor, embracing all his anxieties and storms.
Looking into her eyes, the anger and panic that had surged in his chest because of Si Yi's mention of her strangely began to subside little by little. Her steadfastness was his most powerful weapon against the predetermined script.
He grabbed her wrist with his other hand, his grip quite strong, as if only in this way could he confirm her presence.
“Those things… are a bit complicated.” He spoke with difficulty, his eyes filled with pain. “They’re related to… my father. And also to… why I have to protect you.” He gave a vague but crucial clue. This was the first time he had actively linked the keywords “father” and “protection” to her unknown crisis.
"Give me some time, okay? I will... tell you everything." This wasn't shirking responsibility; rather, he was gathering the courage to face the truth for that final confession.
Yunxi saw sincerity in his eyes. She nodded: "Okay, I'll wait for you."
She didn't need him to reopen all her wounds right now; she just needed to know that he was willing to open that door for her.
That's enough.
Shi Xu looked at her, then suddenly pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. This embrace was different from before; it carried a sense of relief and dependence, as if he had survived a disaster. He had dodged a dangerous juncture that could have led to an early collapse.
“Cloud Gap,” he whispered in her ear, his voice muffled, “thank you.”
Thank you for your trust.
Thank you for your understanding.
Thank you for not pressing the issue. This gave him more time to plan and prepare.
Yunxi hugged him back and gently patted his back.
The setting sun gilded the two embracing figures, their shadows on the ground merging into one.
The stone Si Yi threw did not cause the expected ripples, but instead brought the two hearts closer together.
But they all understood that the peace was only temporary. The "past" that was mentioned, like lurking beasts, would one day break free of their cages. And for Shi Xu, that day would be the moment he had to confront his father and the cold truth hidden behind fifty cycles of reincarnation.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
