Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 137: Petals of Violet Chrysanthemum — VIII

Li Xinyuan knew Hu Lijing’s past, hence his reaction, though evident, was not as visceral as Bai Huiqi’s.

"I understand," in a low voice, the surgeon nodded slowly. After a moment of silence, he turned his gaze towards the white-haired fox. "What of you, Huiqi? Will you refuse as well?"

Bai Huiqi snapped out of his daze. Eyes wide, he bit his lips. "I... I have no such reason as Mister Hu Lijing’s." He said slowly. "Though I, too, am a fox spirit, my nature is not divine." He paused, eyes fleeting through the room before settling down. "I believe myself cursed, however."

Beside him, Hu Lijing stiffened visibly. His jaw tensed, fists clenching. "Why is that?"

"I..." Scarcely did Bai Huiqi dare look at him. "I was born alone in this world. With no family, nor clan to call my own, I only brought pain wherever I went."

His words caused Hu Lijing’s fists to tremble. Whether due to his understanding of the pain or bitter fury, only he knew for sure.

Bai Huiqi — in this life — may have suffered the consequences, but Hu Lijing had lived that war embroiled era. He had ended that war torn age.

He knew the pain. And he partially blamed it on the white-haired fox spirit.

For a brief moment, Li Xinyuan’s face softened at the tremor in the four-tailed fox’s voice. Casting aside his simmering bitterness, he spoke with intent to provide comfort. "There is no such thing as born misfortune, Huiqi." He shook his head slightly, "for all that it is worth, should you be as unfortunate, we too would have been harmed. And yet, neither I nor Lijing have faced devastation yet."

That made Bai Huiqi pause in consideration. Briefly, his hesitation seemed to ebb before he was inevitably reminded of the present situation. "I... What happens should my marrow bring the child harm, pain?"

Li Xinyuan’s gaze lowered, golden irises hid under the delicate curtain of his long lashes whilst his lips pursed together. "Why must you be a pessimist? Think, what if receiving your marrow restores the child’s health?"

Bai Huiqi fell silent, unable to conjure a substantial reply. For the entirety of his wretched existence, he had never once dared to foster the thought of having a positive influence on anyone’s life, at all. Now, however, the thought of bringing hope to a faultless child’s life brought him joy.

"My very essence is the snow," still hesitant, Bai Huiqibit his lips. "If my marrow enters her fragile, unprepared body, she may as well meet her mortal end in agony."

"You need not worry for that matter," Li Xinyuan patiently reassured the male. "I, together with the Demonic Physician as well as my aunt, shall make certain Young Miss Cheon’s body is sufficiently prepared for the reception. All you are required to do is agree to become the donor."

Bai Huiqi folded his hands on his lap, eyes lowered and thoughts unknown to the world. "I need time to think, will you allow that?" ƒгeewёbnovel.com

This made it ninety-percent certain that Bai Huiqi would not refuse. Thus, quite easily, Li Xinyuan nodded. "You may have a day or two to think. As this is a grave matter, though I would have liked you to have some more time. Unfortunately, Young Miss Cheon has no luxury of time."

Bai Huiqi shook his head slowly. "No," he whispered, "two days are plenty."

"Very well." Li Xinyuan sighed and put his worries to rest. "You may leave... Both of you." He added as an afterthought.

At that, Hu Lijing merely rolled his eyes and sauntered out of Li Xinyuan’s office and towards Cheon Yerin’s room for her cleansing treatment. Li Xinyuan caught the eye roll and huffed, silently watching Bai Huiqi take his leave absent-mindedly.

Now, it all came down to the white-haired fox’s decision.

...

Lost in his mind, Bai Huiqi spent the next few hours wandering around the compound in daze. A slew of thoughts stormed in his mind. Fear of bringing irreversible harm to Cheon Yerin brewed with his desire for liberation from his qualms. It was an undesirable amalgam of complex nature.

And even after hours of consideration, he still found it hard to come to any conclusion of his own.

"Young Master Bai." It was a familiar voice, calling from behind him. Deep, a bit tentative, and mellow. "Could I steal a moment of your time?"

Bai Huiqi spun on his heels, his robes moved with him, and hair too. He knew who it was. Slowly, he raised his head, eyes following the voice.

"I’m far too old to be a ’Young Master’," he replied, lips pursed. "May We help you with something, Heavenly Demon Cheon?"

The black and white robed man strolled towards him, hands behind his back, neck bent to meet Bai Huiqi’s eyes.

"... Doctor Li has spoken to Us," slowly, he began. "He delved unto Us his solution, as well as his concerns regarding the risks."

"... Yes, to me as well."

"Thus, We could not help but wonder." Cheon WuHui looked away from Bai Huiqi, and at the rustling leaves of the tall tree a few feet away. "If you have come to a decision. We pray for one that shall benefit Our daughter."

Despite not being in the Heavenly Demon’s line of sight, the white-haired fox spirit could not bring himself to look at him.

"I am still considering it."

"... Very well. It is solely your decision after all." Cheon WuHui nodded quite easily.

That made Bai Huiqi’s eyes snap up to gaze at the handsome, sinister countenance yes, but a handsome visage indeed.

He did not know why, but he had expected a much stronger reaction. Perhaps attempts at persuasion. Perhaps coercion.

Certainly, he had not expected such easy acceptance.

"Is that so?" He couldn’t help but ask, reconfirm. "Will you not..." He trailed off, unsure of the question.

Cheon WuHui turned his head, a wry smile grazing his lips. His eyebrows, strong, defined, raised ever so slightly. "Try and persuade you?"

"Yes." Bai Huiqi whispered. For some reason, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the man’s compelling ones.

Cheon WuHui shook his head. "What good would that bring?" He canted his head to the side. "Should We coerce you, it may rebound to harm Our daughter in future."

"I fear." In a soft voice, Bai Huiqi confessed. Beside himself, he hugged himself. "What if rather than health, it brings harm to Young Miss Cheon?"

Cheon WuHui stood beside him, hand still folded behind himself. He looked away from the tree he was gazing at to look at the side of Bai Huiqi’s face.

With an uncharacteristic smile dancing on his lips, he hummed softly, the sound rumbling in his chest. "In that situation, will it not be inevitably beyond your control? Why must you blame yourself for such an outcome"

Bai Huiqi stiffened again, an overwhelming deluge of emotions threatened to drown him the longer he considered those words. "..."