A Letter to Baizhi

An unassuming coffee shop in the Ragunna City.

Selina sat by the window on the second floor, two cups of coffee already on the table, with Baizhi sitting opposite her.

She picked up her coffee, took a sip, and looked over the rim of the cup at Selina: "You said you had something to give me, something related to Ling Yin's injury?"

Selina picked up the cloth bag at her feet, opened it, and put it on the table.

When Baizhi saw the thing, her eyes lit up for a moment. She put down her coffee cup, picked up a can, unscrewed the cap, brought it close to her nose to smell it, and then looked at the veins of the leaves against the light.

"Bloodleaf Viburnum, how did you get it?"

"This..." Selina was about to speak when footsteps came from the top of the stairs.

Kexi slightly lifted her hood, plopped down next to Selina, and grinned at Baizhi: "Miss Baizhi, we meet again."

Baizhi paused for a moment, then placed the jar on the table, staring at the half of Kexi's face that was visible, her emotions remaining calm. "Wanted criminal."

"Cough cough."

Kexi's smile froze for a moment, "Hey, Miss Baizhi, don't call me that, it's hurtful."

"Do I have feelings for you?" Baizhi raised an eyebrow.

"That, should, probably, maybe..."

I think so.

He leaned closer to the table and lowered his voice, "Miss Baizhi, I was framed. The person who hurt Jinhsi wasn't me. It was Christopher from the Fractsidus who created a fake to look like me and kill Jinhsi. Everything I'm saying is true. Do you believe me?"

Baizhi remained silent.

He simply picked up his coffee and took another sip, his expression unchanged, making it impossible to tell whether he believed it or not.

"I know you don't believe me," Kexi pushed the two jars of Bloodleaf Viburnum in front of her, "but I need your help. Jinhsi is awake, and only she can prove my innocence. She's seen that fake; she'll definitely be able to tell the difference. Just let me see her once, even if it's only for five minutes, and I—"

"Kexi," Baizhi interrupted him, "The Magistrate Jin is very weak, Sanhua is guarding her every step of the way, Changli Li lives next door to her. You want me to take you to see her, but what am I supposed to explain to them? These two jars of medicine?"

"Unless you can provide sufficient evidence to convince me, I will have no choice but to arrest you."

Kexi opened her mouth.

Baizhi looked at him. "Then how do you expect me to believe you?"

Kexi remained silent for two seconds.

He leaned back, his expression becoming more serious.

"Baizhi, if I really stabbed Jinhsi, I'd be running away as fast as I can. Why would I come back and risk looking for you? I could just find a place to hide and wait for things to calm down, wouldn't I?"

"I came back because I'm innocent. I'm more innocent than anyone else. If anything happens to Jinhsi, I'll be responsible for this forever, and I'll never be able to clear my name. So more than anyone else, I hope Jinhsi gets better soon."

Baizhi looked at him, her gaze unwavering.

"And another thing," Kexi added, "Ask Selina, these are medicines I stole from the vault. I almost got surrounded and killed by Echo. What was I after? Just for fun? If you don't believe me, check the news; it should have been published by now."

Baizhi glanced at Selina.

Selina nodded. "What he said is true. I went with him."

Baizhi withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and remained silent for a long time.

It seems they are considering it.

"I'll accept the medicine," she finally said. "I'll try to arrange a meeting between you and the Prime Minister, but if you dare to lie to me..."

"I would never lie to you, I swear."

Kexi raised its four claws and pointed them straight to the sky.

Baizhi didn't know whether she believed it or not.

She put the medicine bottle into her bag, then took out a letter and placed it on the table.

Kexi recognized the envelope at a glance: the material, the pattern on the sealing wax, and the location of the crease.

He now gets goosebumps just from seeing it.

"You wrote this letter, didn't you?" Baizhi asked.

Kexi stared at the letter, took a deep breath, and thought, "What's meant to happen will happen."

"Yes."

Baizhi nodded, her expression remaining unchanged. Suddenly, she asked, "Did Sanhua and Jinhsi receive them too?"

"Emmmmmmmmmmmmm"

"Answer me!" Baizhi suddenly shouted, startling Kexi.

He stammered.

"I... I received it."

Baizhi suddenly raised her hands, and Kexi was even prepared to be hit by her.

To his surprise, she simply placed her hands together on the table, looking at him calmly. "Then do you remember what you wrote in the letter you gave me?"

Kexi opened his mouth, subconsciously wanting to speak, but when the words were on the tip of his tongue, he hesitated, his mind racing.

He wrote so many letters: to Jinhsi, to Changli, to Cantarella, to Yangyang Suisui, to Augusta, to Yuno, to Lupa, to Lynae, to Sigrika, to Mornye, to Juno, to Chun, to Phoebe, to Lupa, to Shou'anren, to Chisa, to Cioccolata, to Aemeath, to Suoming, to Shorekeeper, to Qiuyuan, to Phrolova, to Chisaki Cartethyia, to Suoming, to Baizhi Lorera... Yinlin Baizhi Danika...

Haha, I can't remember.

Sweat began to pour from his forehead.

"Um... I've written a lot of letters..."

Kexi's voice grew weaker and weaker, "Um, could you give me a hint, like the first few words?"

Baizhi just stared at him intently.

Kexi felt increasingly guilty.

Finally, she gently shook her head, a faint smile curving her lips, making it impossible to tell whether she was happy, sad, or something else. "Never mind. I won't ask if I can't remember."

Kexi breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a little guilty.

He was about to open his mouth, wanting to say something to salvage the situation.

Baizhi suddenly stood up and strode towards him.

Kexi was so frightened that she frantically raised her hands to cover her face, her voice trembling, "What... what are you going to do! Don't... don't hit my face..."

But who knew?

She walked up to him, bent down, opened her arms, and gave him a tight hug.

Kexi froze, unsure of what to do with her hands.

Baizhi had a faint medicinal scent mixed with the aroma of coffee, which didn't match her calm and capable demeanor at all.

He could clearly feel Baizhi's chin resting on his shoulder; she was hugging him very tightly.

"Thank you," Baizhi's voice came from beside him.

Kexi was stunned for several seconds before she reacted, and replied dryly, "N-no... you're welcome."

Baizhi released him, took a step back, and her expression remained unchanged, as if the hug had never happened.

She picked up her bag from the table. "Tomorrow afternoon, wait for my message. I'll try to get Sanhua away for ten minutes. You only have ten minutes."

"That's enough, that's enough." Kexi nodded quickly.

Baizhi didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

Kexi raised her hand and scratched the back of her head, feeling that something was off.

Selina sat motionless beside her, as if petrified, or something else entirely.

She wore a calm expression, but the hand gripping the coffee cup was white and clenched so tightly it looked like it might break at any moment.

Baizhi hugged the young master.

Baizhi.

Why does Baizhi, who is so cold and has absolutely no connection with the young master, have the right to hug him?

What right does she have to put her hand on the young master's back?

Why should she bury her face in the young master's shoulder?

Selina's gaze fell on the hand that Baizhi had just touched.

If those hands were her own.

If it were her, Selina, who was burying her face in the young master's shoulder.

Baizhi's hand.

Baizhi's wrist.

Baizhi's arm.

Those hands should be cut off.

If you cut it off, you won't be able to touch the young master.

Yes, cut it!

No.

no.

That won't do.

The young master needs her, and she also needs to help him see Jinhsi.

Then we'll wait until afterward to make the cut.

Once the young master's name has been cleared and everything is settled, she'll find an opportunity to take Baizhi away, to a secluded place, and then...

No.

no.

Selina clenched her fists, then relaxed them.

If you treat Baizhi like that, the young master will be unhappy.

If the young master finds out, he will hate her.

If the young master dislikes her, she can no longer stay by his side.

What's the point of living if I can't stay by the young master's side?

She placed the coffee cup back on the table; a faint crack was already visible on it.

She took a deep breath, suppressing all the chaotic thoughts in her mind, pressing them down firmly.

She stood up, pretending nothing was wrong, and walked to Kexi's side, her tone unchanged. "Young Master, I'll arrange things for tomorrow. I'll scout out the route, time, and rendezvous points beforehand."

Upon hearing her speak, Kexi nodded instinctively. "Okay. I trust you to handle things."

He was thinking about something.

That is--

What did he write to Baizhi?

What is it?

How could I not remember?