Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 101: Crimson Spider Lily — VI

Li Xinyuan merely shook his head as an answer to Hu Lijing’s words. His lips were pursed into a tight line when he raised his head to meet Hu Lijing’s gaze with his own, deep, dark and molten gold swirling in his irises.

"I would’ve understood." He said simply. "Trust me, I would have."

Hu Lijing smiled slightly as he shuffled to turn his body to face the gurgling stream, his eyes following the water now that he felt calmer than he had been in hours. "Truly?" He murmured in a low voice. "How so, if I may ask, Xinyuan?"

That was the problem, was it not? Li Xinyuan had no way of answering that without immediately outing himself as a transmigrator, a man who neither belonged to this time nor this world.

He stood up, knees slightly aching as he trudged to Hu Lijing’s side and sat down on his left, knees folded under himself as he glanced at the nine-tailed fox.

He would do it. To put Hu Lijing at ease, to give him a sense of camaraderie, Li Xinyuan would do it, gladly even. He was a doctor and to him, the well-being of his patients was the top priority. And he had no particular qualms about trusting Hu Lijing with his secret when the latter had trusted him with his own.

But... Was it worth it? No, was it okay? Would Hu Lijing believe him? Would he think Li Xinyuan was a delusional lunatic?

Li Xinyuan’s eyes widened ever so slightly at his own train of thought. Damn it, he was getting sidetracked again, was he not?

Shaking his head for a fraction of a second, the surgeon pursed his lips together again. No, Hu Lijing wouldn’t think that. If anything he would probably take the revelation in strides and believe him without any second thoughts.

And if he didn’t, at worst he would think of Li Xinyuan’s words as a story from his own world of make believe.

So...

Taking a deep breath, Li Xinyuan opened his mouth, lips parting slightly as he turned his head to look at the side of the nine-tailed fox spirit’s face.

Here goes nothing. The secret he’d been living with all alone for sixteen years would no longer stay with him alone.

"Do you really want to know?" He asked, the light tone of his voice betrayed nothing of his inner thoughts.

At his words, Hu Lijing blinked as a delayed reaction. Taking his eyes off the running water of the stream, he turned to look at Li Xinyuan, his amber eyes filling with confusion.

"Hm?"

The surgeon snorted slightly, suppressing a soft laugh as he shook his head. "Do you really wish to know why I would understand your turmoil, Lijing?" He explained and asked, all at once. "I will tell you, though I have some conditions."

"What sort of conditions?" Hu Lijing’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the surgeon with suspicion leaking into his features.

Li Xinyuan saw his expression and raised his hands. "Don’t look at me like that, Lijing." He waved defensively. "It is nothing too extreme, you know I would not ask of you something that you cannot possibly offer."

"So then, what is it?"

"Simply put, I wish for you to promise me that once I’m done telling you everything I have to say, you will not think of me as a maniac or a lunatic. I am of a perfectly sound mind."

"That." Hu Lijing said dryly, his voice still coming out somewhat scratchy. "Does not seem suspicious. At all."

Li Xinyuan turned to look in front of himself, rolling his eyes towards heaven as he let out a quiet sigh that was a mix of relief and exasperation. There it was, the sarcasm.

More than an annoyance, it was a relief to hear Hu Lijing say that. He couldn’t help but smile.

"Shush and listen," he put his forefinger on his own lips in a ’quiet’ gesture. "I will not be repeating myself."

Hu Lijing shifted, pressing his hands behind himself as he leaned back, facing the deep blue and black night sky that was littered with a plethora of twinkling stars as he hummed. "Well, then please start, the night is still young."

Li Xinyuan nodded, rested his fingers on his chin as he looked at the water thoughtfully. "How do I say this? I seem to be able to remember my precious life ever since I was a child." He paused. "It was a strange world, people travelled not on horses nor swords, but in iron carriages—" he cringed internally "—they called cars. Tall establishment, they seemed to be able to touch the sky, people flew in large iron birds called airplanes or whatever."

Wow, if this was not the most awkward thing Li Xinyuan had to ever go through. He obviously could not afford to spill his guts to Hu Lijing. Who knew what sort of effects or side-effects the complete truth would have on the storyline or the world itself.

Li Xinyuan very much fancied not being eliminated by the consciousness of the world. So, he concealed the complete truth and said only those parts he deemed necessary to get this point through.

It should work. Or so he hoped.

Hu Lijing made a noise that was a mix of surprise, amazement and consideration.

"This seems to outrageous even for you to pull out of thin air, I think I should believe that you’re living your second life."

Tension left Li Xinyuan’s body as he nodded in relief, gratitude filling his chest with warmth. Thank gods that Hu Lijing was understanding enough. Otherwise, he didn’t know how he would deal with the aftermath of his disbelief.

"I surmise it was a world from the future, whenever it may be?" The nine-tailed fox turned to him, curiosity in his eyes as he smiled, the lingering shadows of depression and mourning dissipating from his person.

"Yes," Li Xinyuan nodded firmly. "Even I was amazed when I got these memories."

"That’s only natural." Hu Lijing nodded as he shifted slightly. "Tell me more, Xinyuan, where do you fall in this futuristic and fantastical equation of your previous life?"