He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 806 He Yuzhu Entrusts Xiao Li

Xiao Li was setting out freshly brewed tea on the table when she heard this. She shook her head and paused in her actions. "No, the yard has been quiet the whole time. Apart from the occasional bird landing on the wall, I haven't seen a single unfamiliar figure. What's wrong, Yu Zhu? Is something the matter?"

He Yuzhu walked up to her, his expression more serious than usual, even his voice was deeper: "Xiao Li, I have something to tell you." He paused, looking at her with a deep gaze, his expression solemn and unquestionable, "But remember, no matter what you hear, you must not mention it to anyone, including Elder Qingyi and the others. You must not utter a single word, understand?"

Seeing his solemn expression, with an unyielding seriousness between his brows, Xiao Li quickly abandoned her joking thoughts and nodded earnestly, her eyes filled with complete trust: "Yu Zhu, please speak freely. I know what's important, and I will keep my mouth shut and never tell anyone." She could clearly sense that what he was about to say was definitely not trivial, otherwise he wouldn't be so solemn.

He Yuzhu knew perfectly well what was going on. He had quite a few trustworthy people around him now—Ma Xiuxiu's gentleness and thoughtfulness, the children's dependence and closeness—but this matter was far too incomprehensible, involving far-reaching implications and secrets that even he himself couldn't fathom. Even if Xiuxiu and the others sincerely wanted to help him, they probably wouldn't have the ability to handle the complex entanglements behind it all. His gaze swept around the room, finally settling on the little fox dozing with its fluffy tail curled up to the side. The furry little creature was gently swaying its ears with each breath. He Yuzhu hesitated for a long time, then finally took a deep breath and spoke: "Little Fox, I might… have a split personality."

Startled awake by the call, the little fox blinked its round, amber eyes groggily, its fluffy triangular ears twitching. Clearly not understanding the unfamiliar term, it tilted its head to the side and asked in a childish voice, "Yuzhu, what is dual personality? Is it like that two-headed snake in the mountains, with one body supporting two heads, each talking its own thing?"

He Yuzhu then remembered that Xiao Li was a demon who grew up in the mountains and forests, so she was naturally unfamiliar with these psychological terms from the human world. He patiently explained in the simplest terms, "That's roughly the idea, but not exactly the same. It's like there are two 'me's' living in one body. Sometimes it's me, going to work during the day, coming home for meals, and remembering everything that happens clearly. But sometimes it becomes another 'me,' and I can't remember anything about what that 'me' did or said when I wake up. A few nights ago, I went out and met someone, and there were things that got involved with the evil wolf. Actually, my mind was blank. It was probably the other 'me' who made the decisions for me at that time."

Little Tanuki's eyes widened in surprise, round like two water-soaked black grapes. She instinctively covered her mouth with her little paws, her voice trembling with fear: "Is it that scary? Will the other 'you' be... will it be very fierce? Will it be like that black bear in the back mountain whose heart has been corrupted by demonic energy, wanting to bite anyone it sees?"

He Yuzhu smiled wryly, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the hem of his clothes: "I don't know if he's fierce or not, but I need to find out what he's doing in the shadows. So, for the next while, you have to do me a favor and keep a close eye on me—if I suddenly do anything strange, like talking to thin air or spouting nonsensical nonsense, just quietly write it down and tell me when I'm sober."

Little Tanuki was stumped. She frowned and her tail drooped. "How am I supposed to know which one is the real you? Sometimes at night, it looks exactly like you, and you even talk in the same tone. I can't just go up to you and ask, 'Are you Yuzhu?'"

This question hit the nail on the head. He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, then didn't speak. He simply raised his right hand slowly, made a very thin circle with his thumb and forefinger, as if he were pinching an invisible grain of rice, and then quickly pulled it back, the movement as subtle as a breeze.

Xiao Li's eyes lit up instantly; she understood immediately—this was the secret signal they had agreed upon in the mountains when they were children. Back then, she always loved chasing butterflies, and He Yuzhu, afraid she would get lost, set this hand gesture as a "safety signal." She wanted to readily reply, "I remember," but He Yuzhu gently shook his head, his eyes signaling her "don't say it," lest someone else overhear.

Neither of them noticed that deep within He Yuzhu's consciousness, Long Shishen was watching everything with great interest, a mocking smile playing on his lips, though his eyes held a hint of disdain. He hadn't expected this clone to have some cleverness, coming up with such a clumsy method. But how could he not know? He shared He Yuzhu's senses; he could see every move the other made, even the slightest shift in his gaze. If it were truly his turn to "come out" and take charge, this signal would be just for show; what could He Yuzhu do to him? It would only add a bit of amusement.

Little Tanuki nodded obediently, swallowing back the words that were about to come out, and instead patted its chest with its paw: "Alright, I know what to do. I'll go rest in the wicker basket next to me for a while. Call me if you need anything, and I'll wake up as soon as you call."

He Yuzhu nodded, but his heart remained heavy, as if weighed down by a waterlogged stone. His greatest fear was that if the so-called "other personality" truly went out of control, would it harm his family? Xiuxiu was gentle, the children innocent and naive—how could they withstand such a storm? He knew he was different from others; after all, Tan An's soul still slumbered within him, a power both unfamiliar and formidable. But was that mysterious personality a latent part of He Yuzhu's being, or something else entirely? If it was the former, perhaps it would be easier to handle; he could simply find a way to erase that soul. But if it was the latter… it involved deeper secrets, and he dared not think about it further; the more he thought, the heavier his heart became.

Glancing inside, He Yuzhu saw Ma Xiuxiu sleeping soundly, her brow relaxed, her breathing even like a spring breeze. He tiptoed, not wanting to disturb her. He found a bamboo chair, sat down, leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes to rest. After a long day of work, his nerves had been constantly on edge. Now that he was finally relaxing, he felt utterly exhausted, his eyelids heavy as if glued shut.

As the days went by, He Yuzhu's life seemed to return to normal. He went to work on time, came home on time, and no longer experienced memory loss. His words and actions were no different from usual, and even Xiao Li had almost forgotten the "secret code agreement".