Built on Lies!

Beneath her thick eyelashes, what first appeared was a hazy, chaotic feeling, as if she had just been Sheer Force pulled back from an endless Abyss of darkness.

The light seemed too bright, so the gap closed slightly again.

However, after a moment, the eyelids lifted upwards again with greater effort and determination.

This time, even more light was able to shine through.

It is no longer the empty, lifeless silence behind a facade, nor the heavy guilt felt while acting.

In the depths of those gradually opening eyes, ripples spread out like a stone thrown into a cold pool, dispelling the stagnant stillness.

The mirror clearly reflected two exquisitely beautiful faces, so close together, streaked with tears and brimming with terror and ecstasy— Qian Renxue's golden eyes, Bibi Dong's swollen cheeks, her purple eyes filled with brokenness and hope.

That look in his eyes was as if he had finally seen the light at the exit after traversing a long and painful dark tunnel, carrying a hint of weariness from surviving a catastrophe, and a settled, indescribable sense of relief and... gentleness.

Lin Xia's lips twitched very slightly; the corners of her chapped lips seemed to want to curve into a faint arc, but her weakness made it seem powerless.

However, Lin Xia's gaze, clear and gentle, carrying a warmth that instantly brought tears to Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong's eyes again, lingered on their faces for a moment, deeply, deeply...

It was as if it were a silent confirmation.

It's you... it really is you... by my side...

The next second, a hoarse voice, like the grinding of sand, yet incredibly clear, like heavenly music, weakly and laboriously, yet filled with a strange power, rang out in the deathly silent room:

"Ah... I think I... heard... Sister Xue'er... crying... for... me... and... Teacher's... tears... are... too hot..."

The voice was intermittent and barely audible, but the familiar teasing tone and the faint warmth of relief after surviving a catastrophe were like a ray of warm sunshine, instantly tearing apart all the solidified despair!

It's him! It really is him! He's back!

"Xiao Xia --!!!"

Qian Renxue could no longer contain herself; an overwhelming joy burst from her throat, turning into a scream tinged with sobs!

She rushed forward without hesitation, tightly hugging Lin Xia's uninjured right arm, burying her face in his neck, and tears streamed down her face. This time, they were pure tears of joy from having something lost and then regained!

"... It's good that you're back..."

Bibi Dong's voice was also choked with emotion, carrying an unprecedented tenderness and lingering fear, as if she had just let go of all her burdens.

Unlike Qian Renxue, she didn't rush forward excitedly. Instead, she gently and tenderly placed her forehead against Lin Xia's, closing her eyes and feeling the faint yet real warmth and vitality emanating from beneath his skin.

Two streams of hot tears slid down her nose and dripped onto Lin Xia's cheeks, mingling with Qian Renxue's tears.

She carefully wrapped her arm around Lin Xia's shoulder, avoiding his wound, and gently embraced him as if she had been guarding a treasure for thousands of years, as if she had used all her tenderness and strength.

Lin Xia felt the distinct yet equally intense and sincere emotions emanating from both sides of her. Her left arm was tightly embraced by Qian Renxue, her forehead felt the warmth and tears of Bibi Dong, and her right shoulder was gently protected by Bibi Dong...

A bittersweet feeling, mixed with warmth, welled up in his eyes.

Lin Xia pretended to raise the fingers of his still-functioning right hand, as if he had exhausted all his strength, and first gently placed them on Qian Renxue's trembling back, who was crying beside his neck, and clumsily and soothingly patted them twice.

Then, those blood-stained fingers, with incredible difficulty and a cautious, tentative approach, moved upwards little by little, finally gently... covering the back of Bibi Dong's cold yet steady and strong hand that was wrapped around his shoulder...

This tiny movement seemed to have exhausted all his strength.

He closed his eyes, but a weak yet incredibly real, settled, peaceful smile finally appeared on his lips.

It's over. This heart-wrenching, self-inflicted injury is over...

Lin Xia's weak, teasing remark was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, stirring up even more turbulent tears in Qian Renxue's eyes, yet also bringing an indescribable sense of peace.

She looked up abruptly, her golden eyes sparkling like stars, and with an unwavering determination, she cried out urgently, almost shouting:

"Xiao Xia! You heard that! You heard that, didn't you? We won't force you anymore! I agree! I really can accept it! As long as we're together, as long as you're alive, I don't care about anything else! To hell with worldly rules and gossip!"

Her words came out quickly and urgently, as if she were pouring out all the pent-up grievances, struggles, and determination she had been holding back for years.

"All I want is for you to be safe, as long as you still have me in your heart... and your mother..."

She finally managed to utter the title that carried a completely new meaning, a blush rising on her cheeks, but her eyes remained unusually firm.

Bibi Dong's body trembled slightly on Lin Xia's forehead.

She slowly opened her eyes, her purple eyes churning with incredibly complex emotions—fear, relief, emptiness after the immense shame had faded, and a weary tenderness that felt like the dust had settled.

She took a deep breath, her breath damp with tears, her voice hoarse yet exceptionally clear, each word like a farewell to the past and a promise to the future.

"Xiao Xia..."

She called softly, with an unprecedented tenderness, even a hint of a barely Frisk sob.

"I'm sorry... It's us... It's my fault. I didn't realize my feelings sooner, I didn't control my emotions, and I didn't give you enough security... You... You went to such a dangerous place alone to untangle this knot... It was my fault. I made you suffer so much unnecessary pain and despair..."

She raised her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly, and gently wiped away the tears that stained Lin Xia's face—tears that belonged to her and Qian Renxue.

"It will never happen again. I will never let you... risk your life like this for us, mother and daughter..."

As she spoke the last few words, her voice choked up again, and she pressed her lips tightly together.

Lin Xia felt the love coming from both sides, completely different yet equally intense and burning— Qian Renxue's courageous declaration that defied worldly conventions, Bibi Dong's deep repentance and promise that set aside all dignity.

He was enveloped in immense happiness, almost to the point of drowning in it.

However, the shadow that had grown in his heart because of the deception now Wrap him like vines, making his chest feel suffocated.

The guilt he felt was far more unbearable than the pain of his collapsed chest and abdomen.

He took advantage of their love, their fear, and their tears.

This meticulously planned "near-death" return, while achieving its purpose of dispelling the shadow of Rakshasa and mending the rift between mother and daughter, was also built on lies.

Silence spread through the warm air, carrying a heavy, stagnant feeling.