Setting aside that Lockhart-esque remark, the Diary's answer was strange too:
"Who is Tom?"
Who is Tom? Don't you know who you are?
Pretending to have amnesia? Zhang Xiao held his pen, thought for a moment, then continued writing:
"Do you know what you are?"
The writing gradually faded, and a new line slowly appeared:
"I am a Horcrux."
Zhang Xiao frowned. Something was wrong. The fact that the Diary was a Horcrux was supposed to be a closely guarded secret of Tom's.
He had kept it hidden precisely because he didn't want anyone to discover the secret of his immortality.
He hadn't even told the fiercely loyal Bellatrix.
And now he had simply blurted it out. Had Tom really become an idiot?
After a few more attempts, Zhang Xiao put down his pen, his eyebrows arching high.
Interesting!
After chatting for a while, Zhang Xiao felt as though he were dealing with an AI, one without the ability to think.
It could only answer questions instinctively.
Zhang Xiao also frequently asked questions that required logical reasoning. For example, Xiaoming's father had three sons. The eldest was called Damao, and the second was called Ermao.
What was the third son called?
Tom: "I am terribly sorry. Your question is far too profound. Before your wisdom, as boundless as the heavens, I can only bow my head and listen to your teachings."
Translated, that meant, "I don't understand."
His way of speaking was particularly reminiscent of Lockhart's fan mail. So what exactly had Tom been through?
Even after becoming an idiot, he still instinctively spoke in that pompous manner.
If Tom wasn't acting, this really was interesting.
Who did it? Dumbledore? Zhang Xiao pinched his chin. It probably wasn't Dumbledore. What was hidden inside was a fragment of Voldemort's soul.
Tampering