When it came to the past, all Gu Xingyi could feel was pain.
There was nothing he could change.

And he couldn’t deny it either—because everything that had happened, had truly happened.
The pain Xia Xiyao once endured was likely even worse than he knew.

In this moment, perhaps, it was at least a kind of justice for her.

Gu Xingyi sat there in a daze. Ever since his transmigration, this was the first time he felt completely powerless.

His phone rang again and again beside him, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at it.
He didn’t know who was calling, and more importantly, he didn’t know what he could possibly say.

For the first time, Gu Xingyi chose to run away.

He pulled the blanket over his head, as if hiding would make the pain disappear.

But the pain wasn’t from being cursed at.

What hurt was the flood of memories that returned.

What hurt was seeing again the suffering Xia Xiyao and Nainai had gone through.

What hurt was knowing that no matter how many times he started over, he could never undo what this body had done before.

It was then that Gu Xingyi finally realized—

He had never truly forgiven himself.

Ever since he crossed into this life, he had been making up for everything, every day, trying to redeem himself for what had been done to the mother and daughter.
But that didn’t change the past.

And now, with the ugly scar ripped open, he understood:

What he couldn’t get past… was himself.

He curled up under the blanket like an ostrich, shrinking into this small space.

—

Meanwhile, at the artist apartment…

Xia Xiyao sat on the couch, face filled with anxiety, calling Gu Xingyi over and over.

Ever since she saw the post, she’d been incredibly worried.
Because no one knew the current Gu Xingyi better than she did.

She had watched his change, watched him slowly atone, and she understood all of it.

This sudden storm didn't stir much in her—after all, the past was the past, never to return.
She was sure of that.

But she knew Gu Xingyi.
He would never be able to forgive himself.

Yun-jie and Tao Lele sat nearby, faces full of concern.

The moment they saw the post, they too were furious.
Tao Lele even wanted to storm over to the hotel and confront Gu Xingyi—“Was all that true? Did you really hit Xiyao-jie?”

But seeing Xia Xiyao so worried, so anxious, they didn’t know what to do anymore.

Even if those things had been true, she was still desperate for his safety. The pain written all over her face overflowed…
And seeing that hurt them too.

But no matter how many times she called, there was no answer.
It was as if Gu Xingyi had vanished.

Xia Xiyao’s heart clenched painfully.

Little Nainai looked up from her arms, staring at her worried face.
She reached out her two little hands and wrapped them around Xia Xiyao’s.

“Mama, are you calling Papa?”

Seeing how understanding her daughter was, Xia Xiyao gripped her phone tightly and nodded.

“Then why don’t you go find Papa?”

Xiao Nainai looked at her, puzzled.

Of course Xia Xiyao wanted to go.
But she was afraid… afraid that seeing her would make things even worse for him.

But when she met Xiao Nainai’s gaze, she could no longer sit still.
She stood up in a panic and stumbled toward the door.

She had to find him.

“Xiyao-jie!”

“Lele, let her go.”

Tao Lele moved to stop her, alarmed—she had never seen Xia Xiyao so flustered.
But Yun-jie shook her head and stopped her.

The two of them stood there, worried, watching the doorway.

Xia Xiyao’s figure had already disappeared.

—

She quickly arrived at the hotel.

After getting out of the car, she jogged all the way to Gu Xingyi’s room.
By the time she reached the door, she was out of breath.

She took a moment to steady herself, then bit her lip and knocked gently.

There was no response.

Xia Xiyao didn’t hesitate—she kept knocking.

Today, she was going to knock until he came out.

Gu Xingyi heard the knocking through the covers.

He didn’t want to move. Right now, he felt like a walking corpse.

But the knocking didn’t stop. Over and over, like it would never end.

Eventually, Gu Xingyi got up, dragging his heavy body to the door.

And when he opened it, the first thing he saw—

Was Xia Xiyao’s tear-reddened face.

Just yesterday, being with her had felt so joyful.
But now, just a day later, he couldn’t even bring himself to meet her eyes.

He looked away, frozen in place, unsure what to do.

She must have seen the post too.
Was she remembering the past?

“Move. I’m coming in.”

Xia Xiyao bit her lip, pushed his arm aside, and marched into the room.

Gu Xingyi remained silent, shutting the door like a prisoner heading for execution, and followed behind her.

“You… what are you thinking?”

His voice was hoarse, his heart full of dread.

Now that the truth was out… would she leave him?

Divorce him?

If she did, the whole world would support her.

She would never have to endure anything ever again.

“Gu Xingyi!”

Just one look at his eyes, and Xia Xiyao knew what he was thinking.

Furious, she grabbed him and yanked him onto the bed, then bit his arm—hard.

“……”

She bit down for real!

It hurt like hell.

Gu Xingyi jolted back to clarity. His first instinct was to pull away—
But then he stopped himself.

Let her vent, he thought. Maybe it’ll make her feel better.

Finally, Xia Xiyao let go.
She looked up and saw that he was still being gentle with her… and couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.

“Are you stupid?!”

She shouted, then pulled up his sleeve.

His arm now bore a deep, red bite mark, with blood welling along the edges.

“There! Now we’re even!”

Her voice was choked with emotion as she threw herself into his arms.

“I'm also a domestic abuser! We're even! So you’re not allowed to feel bad anymore!”

Feeling her warm, trembling body in his embrace, Gu Xingyi froze.
After a long pause, he gently touched her head in disbelief.

It was real.

She said… they were even.

From the day he transmigrated, he’d always walked on eggshells around her—because of guilt.

Even if that “past” Gu Xingyi wasn’t him, could he really deny responsibility?

He had inherited this body.

And so, in his heart, he couldn’t forgive himself.

No matter how much he gave to Xia Xiyao and Nainai, it never felt like enough.

Because he hated who he had been.

But now…

Someone had told him they were even.

It felt like salvation.

Tears streamed down his face.

He hadn’t just been redeeming them.

He’d been trying to redeem himself.

The two of them sobbed like fools, clinging to each other.

“From now on… you’re not allowed to do that again! Nainai and I will worry about you!”

Xia Xiyao’s muffled voice came from within his arms.

Gu Xingyi nodded, his voice still raspy.

“I won’t. Honestly… no one but you two could ever shake my path.”

“Hmph! You’re all talk.”

Xia Xiyao looked up. Her flushed face and tear-stained eyes made her look soft and radiant.

Then, as if something had just occurred to her, she suddenly lit up with excitement.

“Oh right! I… I think I finally found that melody!”