In essence, exploring from an idealistic perspective, what he reincarnated was his original soul essence.
If based on materialism and science, his reincarnation might have relied on his existence anchor factors within the universe.
There is a ready-made case: during the period known as the Twilight Era, before the Amber Era began, a peculiar creature once existed.
If they could leave behind anchor factors unique to themselves before perishing, they could reshape themselves and return once more.
Later, this kind of creature disappeared into the long river of history, rumored to have been swallowed by the Aeon of Permanence.
The truth cannot be verified; only remnant historical records prove they truly existed.
However, Ruan Mei made a single oversight: she forgot that people can suffer from PTSD.
Asta didn't think that much. Even as the eldest daughter of a titan of capital, she had never eaten pastries made by a genius, so she couldn't wait to taste them.
Qi Zhimu was different. After exchanging a look with Stelle, he looked at Ruan Mei, hesitating to speak.
Last time, Stelle had eaten a pastry into which Ruan Mei had added an anti-truth serum.
That feeling of having words but being unable to speak them remained vivid in their memories even now.
Sensing their suspicious gazes, Ruan Mei's eyes dimmed slightly, and her voice carried obvious apology.
"Rest assured, I didn't add that kind of thing..."
It's just... I'm sorry, A'Mu, Teacher is going to lie to you once more.
But this time, Teacher is doing this because I don't want to run away. Even if you hold a grudge against me, that is a price Teacher must bear.
"What?" Asta asked subconsciously.
"...Flavors that Stelle and... Lord Zhimu dislike," Ruan Mei answered tactfully.
Since she put it that way, Stelle and Qi Zhimu hesitated for a moment before picking up the pastries to taste them one after another.
With just one bite, Stelle's eyes lit up; it was much better than the 'spiked' pastry from last time.
Both girls squinted their eyes, clearly enjoying the flavor quite a bit.
Ruan Mei didn't care about the two of them; she only cared about Qi Zhimu's feedback.
However, his reaction was very flat, with almost no emotional ripples visible.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Ms. Ruan Mei. The pastry is delicious. The Lotus Root Starch Osmanthus Sugar Cake has a rich scent of osmanthus and lotus, and the texture is springy. It's clearly a work of heart."
After eating a piece of Lotus Root Starch Osmanthus Sugar Cake, Qi Zhimu merely gave a polite nod.
"I don't have much refinement when it comes to food and can't give a precise evaluation. I hope you'll forgive me."
"It's good as long as it suits your tastes," Ruan Mei felt a sense of loss.
She wasn't disappointed because the medicinal effect hadn't manifested or because Qi Zhimu failed to remember the past, but because of Qi Zhimu's persistent attitude of distance.
Even Stelle, whom she had schemed against, had a much softened attitude now, clearly not intending to hold onto old grudges.
In this kind of dining atmosphere where it's easy to break the ice, one can generally feel the relationship drawing closer.
Only Qi Zhimu seemed to be separated by an invisible, transparent barrier.
She couldn't see his true emotions and couldn't tell if he was keeping her at arm's length because of the incident with Stelle, or for some other reason.
Ruan Mei had pondered every possibility.
She even wondered if her reputation was too cold and aloof.
But she had lived in seclusion for many years and had never caused any notoriety like Dr. Primitive; her reputation shouldn't be an obstacle.
"Ms. Ruan Mei, I have a question that might offend you. Can I ask?" Curiosity flashed across Stelle's face.
Rather, as someone who lost her memory and mocked herself as a child less than a month old, she was curious about many things.
"Please speak," Ruan Mei said softly.
"When you mention your student, your expression looks very sorrowful, a bit like... uh..."
Stelle stopped halfway, looking hesitant.
"Feel free to be direct, Stelle."
"Well, it's a bit like a new friend I made on Jarilo-VI. After she witnessed her mother's death with her own eyes, her face had roughly this expression."
"Plus you said you lost him because of an experiment. I was wondering, could it be that your student also died right in front of you...?"
Hearing her question, Asta couldn't help but feel embarrassed; no wonder she said it might be offensive.
If that were really the case, wouldn't it be tearing open Ruan Mei's scars?
For a grand genius in the field of life sciences to be unable to save her own student—what a great irony that would be.
They thought Ruan Mei would avoid the subject, but they didn't expect her to actually admit it indirectly.
"...He didn't die in front of me. Rather, until the very moment he died, I was still immersed in my own experimental research, completely unaware of it..."
Ruan Mei lowered her eyes.
"I was an incompetent teacher. I am to blame for his departure. I didn't even learn of his death until six hundred years later."
Ah, this...
These words left the two girls looking at each other. The past was so heavy it was hard to comment on, leaving them unsure of how to respond for a moment.
Ruan Mei didn't care about their opinions; she only cared about Qi Zhimu.
Seeing him still quietly tasting the snacks, the throbbing pain in her heart became more frequent.
On the anniversary of A'Mu's death a thousand years ago, in front of the tombstone amidst the snowy scenery, Yu Qingtu had said something to her.
"What makes a heart completely die is never harm or abuse, but abandonment and indifference."
Ruan Mei did not deny it, nor could she.
When she hurt A'Mu back then, she actually had enough time to make amends.
As long as she gave a single apology, as long as she gave him the most long-lasting companionship and tenderness to compensate, she could have pulled him back from the edge of the shadows and prevented him from stepping into IX - Nihility.
Once one falls into Nihility, it is a journey of self-annihilation from which there is no turning back for a lifetime.
Unless one can resist the erosion of Nihility, walking deeper and further.
But such people are simply too few...
Now, Ruan Mei personally felt the lethality of Yu Qingtu's words.
A'Mu, who had now forgotten everything, simply didn't care about any of this.
Without care, there is no hate, let alone love.
To him, the Ruan Mei before his eyes was just a genius who didn't belong to the same world.
She would rather A'Mu hate her or scold her a few times than this current state of being 'familiar strangers'.
She had abandoned her student, which was equivalent to forcing her student to abandon her too; in fact, that was exactly what happened.
If there was no contact after a hundred years, she had told A'Mu to forget her. In the end, he didn't just forget her, he forgot everyone.
While observing Qi Zhimu at the Space Station these past few days, Ruan Mei had already seen that he had not only a sachet at his waist but also a shattered jade pendant.
Although the specific original shape of the pieced-together broken jade couldn't be seen clearly, since Black Swan's sachet was there, the origin of the jade pendant was obvious.
Jingliu had one of the same style, the difference being that hers was perfectly intact.
Ruan Mei didn't know why Qi Zhimu only had these two items on him.
Considering Yu Qingtu, Snow Garment, and Hanya were all the same as her, she didn't think too much about it for the time being.
At this time, a robot delivered all the main courses the three had ordered.
Sensing the low atmosphere, Asta took the initiative to harmonize the mood. Coupled with the occasional witty remarks from Stelle, the latter half of the meal wasn't a total frost.
Qi Zhimu had traveled far and wide and seen much; he could chime in on any topic.
Only Ruan Mei was slightly awkward. Having spent years soaking in the lab, her social skills were poor, so she could only sit to the side, acting as a quiet and pleasing-to-the-eye graceful beauty.
Asta worried she was being left out, not knowing that the latter didn't care at all.
Ruan Mei carefully hid the infatuation in her eyes, her legs unconsciously rubbing together silently.
To be able to hear A'Mu's voice constantly now... I'm so happy...
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