The Doll had a young face and a small frame, reaching only as high as Xianyu's waist.
He could not shed tears, only let out broken sobs.
The moment Marty heard his name, he nodded eagerly.
Xianyu stood rigid, then slowly bent down and picked up the Doll before him.
The Doll was too fragile.
Xianyu did not even know how much pressure he could use to hold Marty.
He could only proceed with utmost care, wrapping one arm around the Doll's fragile shoulders and gently supporting his back with the other.
He patted his back gently, as though soothing a crying child.
Marty nestled his head into Xianyu's shoulder.
This was the first time since uploading his consciousness that he had appeared before others as a Doll.
Marty could not fully control this Doll body.
He trembled uncontrollably as he choked out, "I didn't do what you did..."
Xianyu's hands paused.
He didn't do what I did?
What did he mean?
Xianyu's thoughts moved sluggishly, his mind grinding to a halt, as though he could not understand what Marty was saying.
He replayed those words over and over in his head.
Before Xianyu could make sense of them, Marty continued:
"I know, if it were you..."
"If it were you, you wouldn't want us to go. You couldn't bear to let us leave..."
This time, Xianyu understood.
He slowly lowered his head and stared at the crown of the Doll's head.
So that was it.
So...
The subordinate I valued most...
The child I worried about most...
Had seen everything.
Had witnessed my death.
Marty had seen what, to him, was the cruelest sight of all.
Xianyu gradually lost control of the strength in his hands.
He clutched Marty tightly, like a drowning man desperately trying to hold on