I was raised in the simulator, and I’m really not a bad woman in Ark!

But looking at Tao's cute and slightly charming face, and feeling the softness and warmth in front of him.

Xi couldn't help but recall the tingling electric shock-like feeling coming from his tail when he was taking a bath in the wooden tub.

The feeling was very strange. She didn't feel anything when she touched her tail or even used it to draw.

But Tao was only helping her clean her tail, but she couldn't control herself...

...Oh, I can’t think about it anymore, it’s too embarrassing!

The tail that had been washed clean behind him was shaking unconsciously by the bed. Xi felt that something was wrong with herself, but she didn't know what was wrong.

The thoughts in my mind gradually became confused as I looked into Tao's eyes.

Xi couldn't help but start to daydream, and her face turned slightly red as she accidentally recalled the scene of them taking a bath together before.

However, compared to Xi who was daydreaming, Tao's mind was much simpler or more serious.

She was thinking about how to comfort Xi and tell her not to be afraid of Sui, and she was also thinking about what kind of assurance she should make to make Xi feel at ease.

Unlike the seemingly cheerful Nian who is accompanying and guiding Xi, Tao must be cautious if he wants to guide Xi.

Otherwise, it would be easy to touch Xi's minefield, causing this great painter to become angry and unwilling to communicate with others.

It's like a little hedgehog transformed from a watermelon.

However...Tao also believed that after breaking Xi's hard "shell", he would be able to touch the little hedgehog's soft belly.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if you can’t.

After all, what Tao wanted to see from the beginning to the end was just for Xi to walk out of those shadows and show a smile from the heart.

So I thought about it and made up my mind.

Tao also began his own actions to help Xi get rid of the shadow...

Chapter 48: Tao's Tenderness, Xi's Heartache

She stretched out her slender, white and soft little hands and gently held Xi's face under the soft moonlight.

Tao looked at Xi in front of him seriously, and said in a serious tone on his slightly immature face:

"It's late, Sister Xi, you should go to bed."

"Eh? Sleeping... Logically speaking, as the younger sister, shouldn't you sleep first?" Xi was stunned for a moment when her random thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Tao's voice. Then, not wanting to answer the question, she directly used her seniority to lecture Tao.

At the same time, he stretched out a hand to take away Tao's little hand that was on his face.

It’s not that Xi hates close contact with Tao, but the places where Tao touched her felt strangely hot, which made Xi feel a little uncomfortable.

But obviously, Tao would definitely not give up this rare opportunity to have a heart-to-heart talk with Xi.

Therefore, even if Xi wanted to take her hand away from the other person's cheek, Tao would not let her do so.

After all, Nian had told her that doing so would be more conducive to conveying one's thoughts and attitudes when having heart-to-heart talks with important people.

And because it had been successfully tested on Nian, Second Sister, Jie, and Ling (actually it was because everyone was shy).

Tao, who already trusted his brothers and sisters very much, believed Nian's words even more.

Therefore, Tao would not give Xi a chance to escape. She must make Sister Xi walk out of the shadow brought by Sui tonight. Otherwise, it would be a pity for a painter like Xi to be trapped in the painting he created because of Sui.

If Xi doesn't like going out, Tao won't force her to do anything. Instead, he will try his best to stay by Xi's side and take care of Xi's life.

Avoid the situation where your reluctant traveler gets moldy and rots one day in the future, or becomes an antique that is out of touch with the times.

However, Tao, who had been with Xi for a long time, knew that Xi's true nature was not as free and indifferent as it appeared on the surface.

In fact, Xi was not unwilling to go out and experience everything in Dayan.

But she was more afraid of her own consciousness disappearing than any other fragments, and worried that she would become a part of the years again. That was why she trapped herself in the world she had painted, refusing contact with the outside world and closing her heart.

Xi showed a reluctance to go out.

It was just that she was afraid that the beauty of the world she had experienced would disappear, so she escaped.

For Xi, compared to being more afraid of the awakening of the 20-year-old after witnessing the beauty, she might as well not get involved in those things from the beginning, so that she won't feel reluctant but powerless to resist when the time comes.

Therefore, as for Xi who isolated herself with such an attitude, Tao said that he would never tolerate his sister to continue to be so depressed and autistic!

So the silver-haired girl, who had made up her mind, spoke to her sister with a serious face:

"Stop running away, Sister Xi."

"So many years have passed, and the 'year' who has been wandering in dreams is actually no different from being dead. It is impossible for him to wake up suddenly. Sister Xi should understand this."

Tao bypassed Xi's clumsy attempt to change the subject and went straight to the point, laying out Xi's long-standing nightmare on the table.

She wanted to directly negate Xi's inner fear and let Xi no longer be troubled by the shadow left by 'years'.

But this simple sentence is obviously impossible.

After hearing Tao's words, Xi's eyes became noticeably dim for a moment.

The somewhat shy feeling that was originally brought about by the warmth and softness brought about by Tao's sudden turning around was instantly replaced by a suppressed emotion.

Even though Xi was well aware that her worries were largely groundless, the fear in her heart had never disappeared in the slightest.

This was also closely related to her authority, which made her worry that she was just a random stroke in the "painting" that could be easily erased and lose all traces of herself in this world.

But knowing it is one thing, but having others mention the shadow in your heart is another.

Xi has actually always been very contradictory.

She is timid, yet has her own pride; she is closed off, yet eager to create new things and see new scenery in her paintings.

Therefore, even if you know that what Tao said is the truth.

But Xi didn't want to admit this, or at least she didn't want to admit her cowardice and weakness in front of Tao...

"I know all this, but what do you mean by this?"

"Of course I know that the old guy can't wake up suddenly. I have never avoided anything, just like those paintings that don't close, and I never take them to heart."

Xi's tone was a little hurried, as if he was talking to Tao, or to himself. He looked like a stubborn child who was eager to explain to his parents that he was not afraid of thunder.

However, he didn't realize that the more he explained, the less confident he seemed.

"But those 'scrolls' that don't suit your eyes, Sister Xi, you never would, or dare not, hang them in front of yourself to show them to yourself, right?"

Tao tilted his head slightly and asked back in a soft tone.

She noticed Xi's mood change and she had no intention of forcing Xi further. Instead, she used Xi's words to push the issue back to the other party.

At the same time, in order to avoid Xi, he chose to escape in his heart.

Tao, who was already very close to Xi, moved even closer to Xi, almost putting his face against Xi's.

The gilded eyes stared at Xi's orange eye that was not covered by the bangs, and looked at Xi with comfort and undisguised concern. Those eyes as clear as clear water had faint ripples, as if wanting Xi to tell him everything in his heart.

And Xi was silent.

Seeing this, Tao was not anxious. He just gently withdrew one hand, then gently held the hand that Xi stretched out, placed it on the side of his cheek, and smiled gently at Xi.

At this moment, each of us put a hand on the side of the other's cheek, as if hugging each other under the moonlight.

To be honest, Tao actually believed that his sister would be able to escape from the "cage" that trapped her one day.

But compared to watching Xi being tortured in this "cage", she would rather help Xi break out of this "cage" that bound her in advance.

Perhaps as the youngest sister, she has no obligation to do so. After all, this is also part of the growth of the "fragments".

But as the former eldest sister, even though Tao is no longer worthy of the position she once held in terms of both intelligence and strength, she still wants to fulfill her responsibilities as the former eldest sister.

——To help, to protect, to care for each of your "brothers and sisters".

And at this moment, you are the fragment that Tao cares about and wants to help.

It was naturally impossible for Xi not to see Tao's determination and thoughts tonight.

She felt the warm breath on her cheek as Tao breathed lightly, and looked at the golden eyes in front of her that showed concern, determination, and a hint of nervousness.

And the hand that Tao placed on her face, feeling the softness and warmth transmitted from Tao's cheek.

Xi suddenly felt that his mood was extremely complicated and his face was embarrassed.

If other fragments that she didn't like said such words, Xi would be dissatisfied or even angry. But if the fragments that she liked said such words, Xi would just ignore it and deal with it superficially.

But only when facing Tao, facing this sister who still wanted to comfort him even though she had been hurt by him before, Xi could not be perfunctory, nor did she have the right to be dissatisfied or angry.

Especially now, when Tao has done so much for her.

Xi could no longer remain silent or pretend to be stupid.

So she opened her mouth, wanting to say something that was hidden.

But when Xi looked at the light golden eyes so close to her, she felt that hiding it was meaningless.

After a long silence, Suo Yuxi finally sighed deeply and slowly told everything that had been pent up in his heart.

"Oh, forget it. Even if it's really as you said, what can I do?"

“Perhaps, compared to the people in this mortal world, we seem to be omnipotent, like gods.

But compared to Him who has truly drawn everything in this world, what are we? "

"Hundreds of years have been wasted, and it's all just a dream.

I am not afraid that this will be the case, but even if I am afraid it will be the case.

To be honest, I don't really care when the old man will wake up. Life and death are impermanent, the world is eternal, and my writing is eternal too. What should I worry about?"

"Long days will eventually come to an end. Long dreams will eventually fade away. In the final analysis, we are just barely surviving. What's the point of pursuing too much?"

"In the end, I am just... no longer interested in this dream from which I don't know when I will wake up."

It was as if he was pouring out all the bitterness in his heart, revealing everything in his heart.

At this moment, Xi had lost all her usual arrogance and indifference. She was like a powerless girl. She tiredly closed her orange eyes and said these words as if she was tired.

It seems as if this long life is really just a dream, a painting, which uses the illusory ink to outline a girl who is tired because she has seen through everything.

It seems that Xi is worrying about nothing and asking for trouble, but in fact, isn't this the deepest worry of every fragment?

But at this moment, the sunset was reflected in his eyes.

Even if it is a dream that has lost its interest, it still has its value...

……

Chapter 49: A lifetime is never a heavy feeling

Tao looked at Xi, who suddenly confided many things in his heart, and fell into a brief silence.

But she did not agree with her sister's ideas.

For Tao, even if this is an empty and illusory 'dream' that he finally wakes up from one day, what does it matter?

As long as the person in front of me exists, as long as everyone exists.

Even if it is a dream, it is meaningful to Tao.

But on the other hand, it was not difficult for her to understand her sister's feelings.

After all, in the past few hundred years, almost all the fragments have been affected in one way or another because of the anger and resentment left by the years.

But compared to Xi, most of the fragments have walked out of the shadow of the past and found the meaning of their existence in this world.

And Xi, seemingly free and easy on the surface, takes an indifferent attitude towards the 24-year-old Su Xing.

But deep in her heart, she was undoubtedly most afraid of the awakening of the year-old, and most afraid that everything she had would be shattered into pieces.

Seeing Xi hugging herself with her eyes closed, completely tired, Tao felt a pang of heartache in her heart. She regretted coming so late.

Maybe she shouldn't have accepted Linghe Nian's invitation, but should have come to see Xi first.

Although Xi's problem does not seem that serious on the surface, in fact, it has already been terminally ill.