Side Story: Hua Qiangu Has a Friend, Scholar Hua

Hua Qiangu only hesitated for a moment before pursing her lips and speaking softly:

"I'm actually a monster. The villagers said that when I was born, I brought death upon my mother..."

Her tone was low, yet her voice was exceptionally crisp and pleasant, like a mountain spring flowing over creek stones, tinkling and chiming like an unfurling melody that drew people in without them realizing it.

From her account,

Ji Shu had already confirmed that this Hua Qiangu was the descendant of Nuwa from the world of Hua Qiangu.

The moment she had been born, every flower in the village had withered.

Her blood could easily cause flowers, grass, and trees to wilt and rot.

She had been born without tears. No matter how sorrowful she was, she could not cry.

Her father was a scholar who had always taught Hua Qiangu to be kind and courteous. That was why Hua Qiangu had bloomed with the brightest flower amid hardship.

Even after being scorned by the entire village for years,

she still believed her father's words made sense.

"My father once told me something himself. He said, 'Xiaogu, don't blame them. They're only afraid, only panicked. They act this way because they worry about themselves and their families being hurt.'

"I think Father was right.

"This is all my fault.

"If I hadn't been born a monster, they wouldn't be afraid of me."

By the end,

Hua Qiangu's eyes had reddened. She sniffled, wanting to cry, yet unable to shed a single tear.

She raised her head to look at Ji Shu, speaking with both anticipation and fear in her voice:

"Big Brother, y-you... you won't despise me too, will you? You won't be afraid of me?"

Why would I despise you or fear you?

Ji Shu smiled, his