Yu Xie left.

Bai Zhu sat by the window.

Outside, the buildings of Court of Fontaine stood tall.

"Should we agree to Yu Xie's request?" ChangSheng crawled from Bai Zhu's shoulder to his hand, also gazing out at the view.

Bai Zhu remained silent, not responding immediately.

"Bai Zhu?" Seeing that Bai Zhu didn't react, ChangSheng called his name again.

"Do you think Yu Xie has the temperament to sign the contract?" After a long pause, Bai Zhu finally spoke.

"Actually, from the first time I saw him, I knew he had the temperament and qualifications for it." ChangSheng hesitated, "But I just feel that if we let him do this, he might end up being even more extreme than you."

"Is that so?" Bai Zhu suddenly smiled.

"Although we're not very familiar with him, I am willing to trust him. But I don't want to see him harm himself because of this secret method. What do you think?"

"I'm thinking about what I would do if I were him." Bai Zhu said, "For mortals, there are always things in life more important than one's own life."

"So, can I take that to mean you've already agreed to him?" ChangSheng asked.

"Seeing that pure look in his eyes, haven't you been moved a little?"

"So, are we just going to watch a young man shorten his life?"

"Signing the contract is ultimately up to you. ChangSheng, if you trust him, perhaps you should give him a chance. Otherwise, he might never forgive himself for the rest of his life."

.....

Yu Xie walked through the streets, and before he knew it, he found himself back at the square outside Palais Mermonia.

He hadn't planned to go in, but still, he stepped into this building he knew so well.

Passing by the door of Furina's office, his steps unconsciously stopped.

After hesitating for a moment, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Who's there?"

"It's me."

As soon as Yu Xie's voice fell, the atmosphere inside the office seemed to suddenly become tense.

"Y-Yu Xie, it's you. Come in..."

Yu Xie pushed the door open and entered.

Furina was sitting on the sofa, with a delicate cake sitting untouched on the coffee table in front of her.

"Come, sit."

Yu Xie didn't say much and walked over to the sofa, sitting down.

"You came at the right time. This cake was specially ordered by me a while ago, and it just arrived today." Furina smiled proudly, her lips curling up. "You're in for a treat today."

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"But... I don't seem to have much of an appetite," Yu Xie said casually.

"Hmm?" Furina was taken aback. She wanted to say something, but stopped herself when she noticed the unusual look in his eyes.

Even Furina could tell that there was something on his mind.

"Yu Xie, is something bothering you?"

"…You noticed?" Yu Xie smiled lightly.

"Can you tell me about it?"

"…"

"It seems you don't want to talk about it." Furina smiled and sighed lightly, "That's okay. Everyone has their own secrets. If you don't want to talk, that's fine. In that case, have a slice of cake."

Furina cut a slice of cake and placed it on a plate, handing it to Yu Xie.

"When you're feeling down, eating something sweet can help improve your mood."

"Is this your personal experience?" Yu Xie took the cake from her and held it in his hand.

"Well... I guess so."

Looking at Furina, Yu Xie fell silent again.

For no reason at all, he suddenly wanted to share her pain, to give this girl who played the role of a Archon a moment of relief, even if it was brief.

But in the end, he controlled his impulse and did not say the words he should not say.

He simply reached out and placed his hand gently on Furina's head, whispering:

"You've worked hard all this time, Furina."

"Eh?" Furina froze for a moment. Although she didn't quite understand why Yu Xie suddenly said that, strangely enough... her eyes started to water.

The emotions that had been suppressed deep inside her seemed about to burst forth, and Furina struggled to hold them back.

In the end, the tears didn't fall, but they swirled in her eyes.

She reached up and wiped away the tear at the corner of her eye.

"Haha... looks like my Hydro element has suddenly become too full."

Seeing Furina like this, Yu Xie's heart ached even more.

"Furina, if... I'm saying if... if one day, you are no longer the Hydro Archon, what would you want to do?"

"I..."

The question left Furina unsure of how to answer.

She had, of course, thought about this before, but gradually, she became afraid to think too much about it.

She didn't know how much longer she would have to play the role of the Hydro Archon, so she dared not imagine her future. She feared that doing so might shake her resolve, might make it impossible for her to continue hiding everything from others.

If one day she was no longer the Hydro Archon, and became just the ordinary Furina again, would she be happy?

"Stop joking. I am the Hydro Archon, how could there ever be a day when I'm not?" Furina smiled, but her smile was not bright; it carried a trace of bitterness.

"No matter what others say, I will always believe that you are a competent Archon," Yu Xie said seriously, looking into Furina's eyes.

"What's with you today? Why are you suddenly saying all these emotional things? Are you going for an emotional route now?" Furina turned her head and cut herself a slice of cake. "I don't think this kind of route suits you."

Yu Xie smiled gently but didn't say anything further.

By the time he left Palais Mermonia, it was already evening.

Yu Xie returned to the room at Bai Zhu's inn.

"Are you really sure about this?" Bai Zhu stood in front of Yu Xie.

"Yes." Yu Xie nodded affirmatively.

"Since that's the case, I won't ask further."

"Thank you, Doctor Bai."

"No need to thank me. If anyone should be thanked, it's Changsheng." Bai Zhu turned his head to look at Changsheng.

Changsheng seemed to look away with a somewhat proud attitude.

"Don't thank me either. I can't help you bear the cost of using the secret method."

"Thank you, Changsheng." Yu Xie still sincerely thanked him.

"Alright, extend your hand," Bai Zhu said, raising his hand into the air.

Yu Xie didn't hesitate, raising his hand to meet Bai Zhu's, the two hands almost touching.

Changsheng, who had been coiled on Bai Zhu's shoulder, began to move.

Through Bai Zhu's hand, Changsheng slowly crawled over to Yu Xie's hand and then up to his shoulder and neck.

The contract began to be silently signed.

It was different from what Yu Xie had imagined—the process of signing the contract felt as if nothing had happened.

But in that instant, Yu Xie felt as though a light flashed through his mind. Soon after, his pupils gradually transformed into serpent-like vertical slits.

This was the mark of the contract's completion.

"Ahem..." Suddenly, Bai Zhu couldn't control a few coughs.

"Doctor Bai!" Yu Xie said, his voice full of concern.

"I'm fine." Bai Zhu sat down in the chair and waved his hand. "For all these years, I've been helping you regulate your breath. You've gotten used to it, right? But now that I'm pulling away, your breath is a little out of balance. Just rest for a moment, and when I come back, everything will be fine."

Changsheng, who was already coiled around Yu Xie's shoulder and neck, spoke to Bai Zhu.

"Doctor Bai, you should rest well. I'll quickly bring Changsheng back." Yu Xie looked at Bai Zhu, his eyes full of resolve.