Past

A few days later, Bai Qi appeared here once again, sitting face-to-face with Chi Li at a small round table.

Over the past few days, whenever Chi Li closed his eyes and let his mind drift, those painful, oppressive scenes—detached from reality yet as real as if he had lived through them—would rise before him.

Fragmented dreams dragged him into heavy, viscous darkness, while an invisible force crushed his chest.

If this was Bai Qi's trap, then Bai Qi had succeeded.

Ever since meeting Bai Qi, Chi Li had begun having bizarre dreams. Dreams unlike any he had ever had before, with lingering, powerful aftereffects. Their sense of reality made him tremble as if standing in an icy pool.

Eagerly, helplessly, he wanted to know what those memories looked like in their entirety.

Bai Qi looked into Chi Li's eyes. "Relax."

Chi Li's deep, dark eyes stared back at Bai Qi.

"You're on guard against me," Bai Qi said bluntly.

Chi Li neither confirmed nor denied it.

Bai Qi repeated what he had said before. "This won't do any harm to your body. The main issue is whether your mind can withstand the effects of the negative emotions in those memories."

"I won't hurt you," Bai Qi said.

Chi Li raised a brow slightly.

Bai Qi smiled and said with certainty, "I'm only helping you recover some memories. That's all."

At first glance, Bai Qi's smile always carried an air of sincerity and gentleness. Yet after spending time with him, one could not help weighing how much sincerity it truly held.

Chi Li had also repeatedly guessed at Bai Qi's intentions—what Bai Qi wanted from him.

Over the past few days, chaotic thoughts had replayed in Chi Li's mind. Centered around several people—Si Jinyan, Bai Qi, Yao Di...—they gradually outlined