Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

Three days have passed since Qi Zhimu finished looking back at the past in the simulated universe.

System time 18:45, Azure Star, Black Tower home.

Hei Ta met Yu Qingtu and the Black Swan's gaze and spread his hands.

I think the conclusion should remain unchanged.

"...I second that." Black Swan nodded.

"That's all we can do. The rest is neither our concern nor our responsibility," Yu Qingtu said.

Heita casually sat down opposite the two, picked up a slice of fruit from the table, and put it in his mouth.

The conclusion she mentioned was actually Qi Zhimu's attitude towards Ruan Mei.

No one knows Qi Zhimu's true thoughts after regaining everything from the past.

He neither mentioned it in front of others nor when they were alone.

It's like looking back on those hundred-odd years of life; apart from restoring Yu Qingtu to his correct identity, nothing else has changed.

As for his feelings for Yu Qingtu, that hug and gentle address could be considered a partial response.

The relationship is not close enough to be considered a Black Tower or a Black Swan; it's on the edge of a delicate boundary.

However, Yu Qingtu was already satisfied.

Now, when Qi Zhimu is with her, he doesn't feel the same restraint and distance that a junior would have when facing a senior.

She was casual yet approachable, though still a little reserved when interacting with older people, but that was perfectly normal.

In a large number of research samples on relationships between older women and younger men, the way they usually interact is like this.

Right now, they are only separated by a thin veil.

There must be events to prove that she can think this way.

Last night, when we were mixing drinks for everyone, Qi Zhimu was helping out and didn't object to the social distance of standing shoulder to shoulder with her.

Qi Zhimu did not avoid the occasional, unintentional physical contact, such as when receiving a glass of wine or when handing over cleaned bartending ingredients, nor did he show any discomfort or embarrassment.

Therefore, Yu Qingtu believes that as long as the right opportunity arises, the relationship will progress naturally.

She lived for far too long, experiencing locust plagues across the world, border wars, and the Second Prosperity Era.

Furthermore, they witnessed the beginning and end of two imperial wars.

Hundreds of Amber Ages have passed like that; problems that can be solved by the passage of time are not problems at all.

In terms of self-control, even Qi Zhimu in his second life was far inferior to her.

She can wait; there's no need to rush.

As for the so-called competition mentioned by Black Tower, she shares the same idea as Black Swan.

There's no need to argue; what we need to do is, within acceptable limits, accommodate and tolerate Qi Zhimu.

"What exactly did you say to Ruan Mei that made her willing to leave?" Hei Ta asked Yu Qingtu.

"Criticize her for being stubborn."

Yu Qingtu briefly recounted what had happened some time ago to the two people present.

Just as he finished speaking, Qi Zhimu came out of the kitchen.

For a moment, the three women simultaneously fell silent.

Seeing the subtle changes in his facial expressions, it was clear that he had heard everything Yu Qingtu had said.

"She...self-harmed...?"

Qi Zhimu stared blankly, then slowly and softly uttered three words.

The image of Ruan Mei covered in blood flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but purse his lower lip.

"Yes, just as you heard." Now that she had been heard, Yu Qingtu had no intention of hiding it and confessed frankly.

"...What happened after you arrived at the space station?"

"The time I'm talking about now is one, but I imagine it's not the only time."

At this point, Yu Qingtu glanced at the Black Tower and continued:

"If she sees Black Tower interacting intimately with you, and if she feels uncomfortable to a certain extent, she might do the same."

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhimu and Heita simultaneously recalled certain moments from a while ago.

The most obvious example is when Nguyen Mai took a bath at the Black Tower's house.

I was wondering why I took a shower when I was having a perfectly good dinner and then left halfway through.

Looking back now... it goes without saying what Ruan Mei did.

"Tch, I won't feel guilty at all."

Black Tower hummed softly, crossed his legs, and leaned back.

"Zhi Mu has repaid all the favors she did for him and obediently listened to her and forgot about her, so they are even."

"If Yu Qingtu hadn't suffered because of this and become her shadow, I wouldn't have wanted Zhi Mu to look back on that past and suffer in vain."

"Can't stand me being intimate with my own man? What's it to me? You got what you deserved for your own foul mouth."

"And also, Zhimu, now that things have come to this, I'll ask you directly: do you hate Ruan Mei now, and what are your thoughts on her?"

The black swan seemed hesitant to speak.

To ask so bluntly... well... that fits the style of the Genius Club #83 in my memory.

Yu Qingtu had no choice.

Isn't this a rhetorical question you already know the answer to?

Everyone knows Qi Zhimu, and Hei Ta himself knows the answer, so why are they still holding onto unrealistic expectations?

Could it be that she wants Qi Zhimu to say something against his will?

Once the words are out, it's hard to take them back. Should we go along with it and make him cut ties with Ruan Mei...?

After observing Heita's face for a moment, Yu Qingtu confirmed that she had this intention.

However, the probability of it happening...

Yu Qingtu felt that at this moment, he understood Qi Zhimu better.

In front of the three women, Qi Zhimu took out Ruan Mei's gift: an elegant and refined zhongruan (a type of Chinese lute).

It turns out that she overheard him saying that the instrument was given to Yu Qingtu.

Having had her identity taken away, and even the only thing she had left, was taken away, it's no wonder that Ruan Mei's eyes were like a stagnant pool at that time.

After staring at Zhongruan for a long moment, Qi Zhimu raised his eyes, glanced at the three women, and finally met Heita's eyes.

"I don't hate."

A hint of regret flashed across Black Tower's face.

...Just as I expected...

However, upon hearing Qi Zhimu's additional information, the regret on her face gradually faded.

"But I don't know how to get along with... her right now."

How could I possibly truly hate her...?

Without the initial rescue, there would be no story to follow.

If there's anything to hate, it's only that I felt a sliver of survival instinct back then.

Otherwise, Ruan Mei would not have saved him, nor would she have needed to.

The effort, accommodation, and guidance that Ruan Mei put in during his youth far exceeded what his savior had done.

The reason he was forced to leave the field was because he took it upon himself to delete that data.

Objectively, his actions were for Ruan Meihao's sake; he didn't want to watch his teacher fall into an abyss from which there was no turning back.

From Ruan Mei's perspective, however, it was indeed he who truly overstepped the bounds.

How can we argue who is right and who is wrong when we have different perspectives on things?

As for deceiving him, he will take responsibility for that matter...

He was unaware that he had created a wondrous object, let alone its effects.

Ruan Mei got drunk, her rationality suppressed by her emotions, and released her true feelings for him.

Essentially... she didn't break her promise, nor was she a liar.

She has always been responsible for him, eradicating the virus, and taking him on as a student, teaching him everything she knows...

Everything has a cause and effect. To only look at the result without discussing the cause is no different from forgetting one's roots.

Such people are like the typical drowning rescuers who, due to their struggles, injure or even kill their rescuers, and afterwards, they'll say something like, "I didn't ask you to save me"—inhuman species.

He's not that depraved.