Rules of the Unusual: I am the Final Boss

The live stream was forcibly blocked by Shi Mo.

When Bai Xu woke up, it was already broad daylight.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the heavy curtains, cutting a blinding strip of light across the floor. Dust motes danced slowly within the strip of light.

He blinked, his consciousness slowly returning.

A dull ache shot through his knee, reminding him of what had happened last night. He looked down and saw that his pants were rolled up above his knee, and the wound had been carefully bandaged, the white bandage neatly wrapped and just the right tightness.

Then he remembered Shi Mo.

He remembered the way Shi Mo applied the medicine to him, the way Shi Mo said "I forgive you", and the feeling of Shi Mo rubbing his hair.

A warm feeling welled up inside me, but it was quickly followed by a wave of fear and guilt.

He propped himself up on the bed and looked around the room.

Shi Mo was not there.

The room was quiet, with only the sound of his breathing. The blanket on the sofa was neatly folded, as if no one had ever used it. The ashtray on the coffee table was clean, without any cigarette butts.

Bai Xu's heart sank.

He threw off the covers and got out of bed. His feet touched the floor, and a sharp pain shot through his knee wound. He took a breath, endured the pain, stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.

The corridor was quiet.

He walked downstairs carefully, taking each step with care to avoid putting too much weight on his injured knee. When he reached the top of the stairs, he heard voices coming from below.

That was Shi Mo's voice.

"...Ignore them, just follow the rules."

His tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Then came Casper's voice: "Yes, Master. As for the Seventh Sequence..."

"It's none of our business," Shi Mo interrupted him.

Bai Xu stopped on the stairs.

He leaned on the railing and looked down.

In the hall, Shi Mo sat on the throne, while Casper stood below, head bowed, reporting something. Augustus was also there, standing beside him, holding an account book.

Shi Mo was holding a cup of coffee, sipping it slowly. He was wearing a simple black shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing a section of his forearm. His hair was tied up, and his face was expressionless.

It looks no different from usual.

But Bai Xu felt that something was wrong.

He continued walking down.

The footsteps startled the people in the hall.

Casper and Augustus both turned to look at Bai Xu at the same time, and were stunned for a moment before quickly lowering their heads.

Shi Mo also looked over.

His gaze fell on Bai Xu, he looked at him for two seconds, and then the corners of his mouth curved upwards, revealing a smile.

"Awake?" he asked, his voice natural. "Good morning."

Standing at the top of the stairs, Bai Xu looked at the smile on Shi Mo's face, and the unease in his heart dissipated slightly.

He walked over to the throne, looked up at Shi Mo, and said, "Good morning."

Shi Mo nodded, took a sip of coffee, and then said to Casper and Augustus, "You two go down first."

The two felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly withdrew.

Only the two of them remained in the hall.

Bai Xu looked at Shi Mo, opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

Shi Mo put down his coffee cup, stepped down from the throne, and walked to Bai Xu.

"Does your knee still hurt?" he asked.

Bai Xu shook his head: "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"That's good," Shi Mo said. "Have you had breakfast?"

"not yet......"

"Casper has prepared breakfast in the dining room," Shi Mo said, turning and walking towards the dining room. "Let's go."

Bai Xu followed behind him.

The two entered the restaurant.

The long table was laden with food, both Chinese and Western, all steaming hot. Shi Mo pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing to the chair opposite him: "Sit."

Bai Xu sat down.

Shi Mo picked up his chopsticks, took a small steamed bun, and placed it on the plate in front of Bai Xu: "Try it, it's from the Chinese chef that Castab specially hired."

Bai Xu looked at the steamed buns on the plate, then looked up at Shi Mo.

Shi Mo was drinking porridge with his head down, his movements natural and his expression calm.

everything is fine.

That's almost too good... too good.

Bai Xu picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a xiaolongbao (soup dumpling), and took a bite. The soup scalded his tongue, and he gasped for breath.

Shi Mo looked up at him: "Hot?"

"Mm." Bai Xu nodded.

Shi Mo handed him a glass of water: "Eat slowly."

Bai Xu took the water, drank a sip, and looked at Shi Mo.

Shi Mo continued to drink his porridge, occasionally picking up some vegetables with elegant movements and a calm expression.

But Bai Xu's heart sank deeper and deeper.

He finally realized what was wrong.

The way Shi Mo looked at him.

His gaze was calm and natural, but... devoid of warmth.

It wasn't the playful, languid, and occasionally even mischievous look from before, but rather a... pure calm. Like looking at someone you know, but nothing more.

There was no intimacy, no special connection, not even the slight helpless smile from yesterday.

It's just peace.

Bai Xu's hands began to tremble.

He put down his chopsticks and looked at Shi Mo: "Shi Mo."

Shi Mo looked up at him: "Hmm?"

"You..." Bai Xu's voice trembled slightly, "Are you still angry?"

Shi Mo blinked, as if he didn't understand: "Angry? Angry about what?"

"About yesterday..." Bai Xu's voice trailed off, "About what I said..."

Shi Mo smiled.

"Oh, that," he said. "Didn't I already tell you I forgave you?"

He picked up a fried egg and placed it on Bai Xu's plate: "Stop thinking about it, eat."

Bai Xu stared at him, at the smile on his face, at his calm eyes.

That last bit of hope in my heart was completely shattered.

He reached out, wanting to touch Shi Mo's face.

"Shi Mo, you..."

Before their fingers even touched, Shi Mo raised her hand and slapped his hand away.

The movements were quick, light, but resolute.

Bai Xu's hand froze in mid-air.

Shi Mo looked at him, her smile fading slightly, but not completely disappearing: "What's wrong?"

Bai Xu slowly withdrew his hand, clenched it tightly, and dug his nails into his palm.

He looked at Shi Mo, his eyes gradually reddening.

"You..." His voice trembled violently, "You haven't forgiven me at all, have you?"

Shi Mo put down her chopsticks, leaned back in her chair, and looked at him.

Looked for a long time.

Then he spoke, his voice flat: "I forgive you."

"You're lying!" Bai Xu's voice suddenly rose. "The way you look at me...it's different now! You...you're treating me like a stranger!"

Shi Mo didn't speak.

He just looked at Bai Xu, at Bai Xu's bloodshot eyes, at Bai Xu's trembling hands, at the desperate expression on Bai Xu's face.

Looked for a long time.

Then he stood up, walked to Bai Xu's side, bent down, and whispered in his ear:

"Bai Xu, when I say I forgive you, I mean I forgive you."

He paused, then added, "But some things can't be undone."