Chapter 173

There was a slight tremor in his voice, a sadness born from the past—a reluctance to confront it, a refusal to acknowledge it.

After witnessing Krisha’s first objection, Xu Xi saw her express her first dislike in the real world. The cause of her aversion was unusual and difficult for ordinary people to comprehend: gray hair.

“It’s okay, Krisha. It’s just some snow,” Xu Xi said gently, his warm and steady hand softly rubbing the top of her head to calm her uneasy heart.

His voice was as soft as his touch, carrying a soothing warmth. He understood that the wounds of the soul could only be healed with care, like stitching thin threads together slowly and patiently.

In the second simulation, Xu Xi had died in front of Krisha, leaving a deep psychological scar that lingered even now. That void, though partially filled since their reunion, still haunted her. The earlier reaction was proof of the lingering fear that surfaced when she saw even a hint of that past.

“Don’t worry. I’m here. Always…” Xu Xi ran his hand through her soft, gray-silver hair. With each gentle caress, Krisha’s tense expression gradually relaxed, and the emptiness in her gaze returned to the familiar calmness Xu Xi knew.

“I’m sorry, master …” Krisha lowered her head, her face almost buried in her chest. Her dim eyes reflected guilt, as though she felt she had caused trouble for Xu Xi.

To Xu Xi, such “trouble” was trivial, barely worth mentioning. But to Krisha, being a burden or causing even the slightest inconvenience to him was an unforgivable mistake.

“There’s no need to apologize, Krisha. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Xu Xi said softly. The wind and snow had stopped, leaving the world quiet except for his reassuring voice.

“But I…”

“You’ve done so well, haven’t you? You’re always thinking about me and working so hard.”

His warm and kind words swept away the cold of winter and melted the unease in Krisha’s heart.

“Let’s go home.” Xu Xi held Krisha’s delicate, trembling hand, wrapping it tenderly in his own as he led her home.

Without the influence of Krisha’s supreme powers, it didn’t take long before snow began to fall again.

This time, Krisha was prepared. She created an invisible space barrier above their heads, preventing the snowflakes from touching them.

Around them, passersby muttered in surprise.

“This snow is strange.”

“Yeah, it stops and starts suddenly—worse than trying to understand a woman’s heart.”

“Let’s hurry before it gets heavier again.”

The voices grew urgent as people quickened their pace, rushing toward their destinations. Some even began running through the snow.

In contrast, Xu Xi and Krisha walked slowly and steadily, leaving faint footprints in their wake.

“Yanshan City in winter is quite interesting,” Xu Xi remarked as he observed the street.

Winter gave the city a unique charm. The sky and earth were blanketed in white, and the silver-coated world was lit with scattered sparks of light. Warm streetlights illuminated the cold streets, while the whistle of snow plows echoed through the silence. The bustling crowds added the final touch to the season’s liveliness—a noise only people could create.

“What’s wrong, Krisha?” Xu Xi asked, noticing that she had stopped suddenly.

They had turned a corner and were still some distance from their courtyard. Following Krisha’s gaze, Xu Xi saw she was looking at a small hat shop on the street.

The shop appeared quiet and deserted in the cold winter, with few customers entering. Yet, the hats displayed at the entrance were novel and intriguing.

Xu Xi noticed that the shop had a mix of traditional hats and quirky designs catering to younger generations. Some were bizarre and playful, while others had extraordinary, cool designs. There were even hats modeled after characters from games and anime.

Krisha’s eyes lingered on the unusual “chuuni hats,” filled with curiosity and confusion, before settling on a triangular hat.

“A Western fantasy-style witch hat?” Xu Xi recognized it immediately.

He quickly realized why it had caught Krisha’s attention. As a witch herself, Krisha must have been instinctively drawn to the hat, even though the witches they symbolized were entirely different.

“Krisha, would you like to try it on?” Xu Xi asked with a smile.

Snowflakes swirled chaotically in the wind, creating a noisy backdrop. Krisha hesitated, first nodding, then shaking her head.

“Master, I don’t need it,” she said softly. She was simply curious and didn’t want to waste time on something unnecessary.

“Try it. You might like it,” Xu Xi encouraged. “Not many things pique your interest, Krisha.”

He gently took her hand and led her into the shop.

Inside, amidst the shopkeeper’s enthusiastic introduction, Xu Xi picked up the triangular witch hat. He inspected it carefully before looking at Krisha.

“Krisha, would you like to try it?”

“…Okay,” Krisha replied, her interest evident as her eyes followed the hat wherever Xu Xi moved.

“Krisha, lower your head,” Xu Xi said.

Krisha obediently lowered her head, her movements sweet and endearing. Xu Xi gently placed the large witch hat on her head.

The hat was oversized compared to an ordinary one. Its triangular design and wide brim gave it a heavier, more dramatic appearance. Yet, it suited Krisha perfectly, complementing her gray-silver hair.

“…Master?” Krisha’s soft voice broke the silence of the snowy world.

She stood there in a black and white dress, her delicate face framed by the light black witch hat. Snowflakes danced around her as she looked up, unsure of how she appeared. A faint worry flickered in her eyes—she cared about Xu Xi’s opinion.

“Krisha, could you turn around?” Xu Xi asked.

He thought she looked stunning from the front, but he wanted to see how the hat suited her from other angles.

“…Yes, Master,” Krisha nodded.

Finding her dress too long to move freely, she lifted it slightly with one hand and held the brim of the hat with the other. In the swirling snow, she spun around gracefully, revealing her full appearance to Xu Xi.