Baizhi

Yangyang and Chixia escort you into a large, bright facility. This must be the Department of Scientific Development they were talking about. Your head is still reeling from the amnesia, and every new face feels like a key to a vault you can’t open.

As the three of you enter a consultation room, your eyes are immediately drawn to the woman standing there. It is Baizhi. She is taller than you expected, with an air of calm confidence. Her white coat, sharp eyes, and the two glowing, feline-like creatures hovering around her give her an aura of focused intellect. There is a magnetic quality about her presence—You find yourself pausing for a beat longer than necessary.

Yangyang gestures toward you.

Yangyang: "Dr. Baizhi, this is the one. We found him near the Crownless’s domain. Well, he has lost his memory."

Baizhi turns, and her gaze is direct, analytical. She approaches, and you feel a slight flush under her scrutiny, a flicker of an unfamiliar attraction mixed with the usual anxiety of being examined.

Baizhi: "Hmm...amnesia. Now, if you'll permit me, I’d like to run a preliminary scan."

Baizhi holds a small, glowing device toward you.

Baizhi: "This won't hurt. It's simply to analyze your Resonance, or lack thereof, and confirm the lack of Tacet Discord influence."

You nod, trusting her professional demeanor.

You: "Go ahead. I need answers as much as you do."

The device hums, and Baizhi studies the readouts, her brow furrowed slightly in concentration. The silence in the room is broken only by the soft vrrr of the scanner and the occasional chirrup from the floating creatures—You'tan and something else, you presume.

Baizhi: "Hmm. Just like the conclusion You'tan reached earlier, your physical functions seem to be normal, completely unaffected by the Crownless. What's strange is that there's not even the slightest excess fluctuation in your frequency energy. I am not seeing the Crownless' data in your Terminal."

She lowers the device and looks back at you, her expression a mix of surprise and deep curiosity. Her gaze is intense, and for a moment, you feel like she's looking right into the blank space where your past should be.

You: "Is that unusual?"

Baizhi: "It is, profoundly so. Anyone who has interacted with a Crownless at such close range should exhibit some form of corruption, a residual Tacet Discord signal... but with you, there is nothing. It’s as if your very being is incompatible with the Tacet Discord’s influence. Fascinating."

She takes a step back, folding her arms. The analysis is over, but the questions in her eyes are just beginning.

Baizhi: "It seems your amnesia is more than just a convenient plot device. It's tied to an unknown phenomenon. But for now, that's all I can confirm. You are stable, and you are not a threat."

Chixia: (Relief in her voice) "See? Told you so!"

Yangyang: (Gravely) "Still, we must proceed with caution until we understand the cause."

Baizhi inclines her head toward Yangyang and Chixia, acknowledging their concerns before turning her full attention back to you.

Baizhi: "I will have to conduct more thorough research. For now, Rover, you are a patient, a mystery, and a subject of great interest. My name is Baizhi, and I am the resident researcher here in charge of all things related to the Lament. Welcome to Huanglong. We have much to discuss."

Her words feel less like a welcome and more like a challenge. The truth of your past is a complex experiment, and you can tell Baizhi is the type of scientist who won't rest until she has solved every variable. And honestly, standing here, feeling the pull of her sharp intellect, you are ready to be her next great study.

The consultation in the Department of Scientific Development has finally ended. Baizhi is meticulous, her questions sharp and focused on your unique Resonance signature. As she packs up her equipment, her small companions, You'tan and its counterpart, hover lazily by her side. You watch her, feeling that strange, compelling pull of attraction. She is not just a brilliant researcher; she is stunningly poised.

You know you need to spend more time with her, away from the sterile environment of the lab, but you can't just blurt out an invitation. You need an excuse that appeals to her scientific mind and her familiarity with the city.

Baizhi looks up, meeting your eyes with her usual analytical intensity.

Baizhi: "That concludes our session for the day, Rover. Your data is truly unprecedented. I have much to synthesize."

You: "Dr. Baizhi, wait. I… I appreciate your help, but frankly, my head is spinning from all the technical terms. I’m starting to think my amnesia is a defense mechanism against frequency analysis."

You try to sound casual, but the words feel thick in your throat. This is your chance.

Baizhi allows a small, brief smile to play on her lips. It's beautiful.

Baizhi: "Hardly. But I understand the sentiment. The world of Huanglong can be overwhelming to a newcomer."

You:"Exactly. And that's why I need your help. You know this city, Jinzhou, better than anyone. I still feel so disoriented, walking around alone. The best way for me to 'recover my data' is to process new stimuli, right?"

You try to inject as much earnest charm as you can.

You: "Could you show me around? Not as a doctor, but as... a guide? I want to see the city from the perspective of someone who loves it. Maybe tonight? Away from all the official business."

Her analytical gaze softens, becoming thoughtful.

Baizhi: "You want a tour? As a... cognitive reorientation exercise?"

You: "Precisely. Consider it field research. A study in the effects of local culture on amnesiac subjects. We can discuss your theories while we walk. It’s a purely scientific endeavor, I promise."

She takes a moment, perhaps running probability calculations in her mind. Then, she sighs, a breath of air that seems to acknowledge the unspoken request underneath the professional one.

Baizhi: "Very well. A walk through Jinzhou's older district might be beneficial. It's often quietest after sunset. I know a place by the Starfall Lake. Meet me at the Grand Staircase in thirty minutes."

The Grand Staircase is deserted when you arrive, but you see her waiting near the top, already looking elegant in an indigo-blue qipao, the moonlight catching the silver embroidery. The lab coat is gone, and the change is striking.

Both of you walk side-by-side toward the Starfall Lake, and as the city lights dim, the conversation begins to flow, leaving the Tacet Discord and Resonator statistics behind.

Baizhi: "The people of Jinzhou value serenity and progress. We rebuild after every Lament, stronger than before. It’s a testament to the human spirit."

You: "That's incredible resilience. But does all that progress ever make you miss the simple things? Like the craftsmanship of the past?"

You gesture toward the intricate carvings on a wooden bridge both of you are crossing,

She stops by a railing overlooking the shimmering water of the lake. The soft light of floating paper lanterns drifts across the surface, casting a magical glow on her features.

Baizhi: "I believe in balance. We should always look forward, but never forget the foundations upon which we stand. I find beauty in both the clean lines of a new theory and the quiet dedication of an old craftsperson."

Her answer is thoughtful, yet perfectly balanced. You realize she doesn't just study the world—she appreciates its complexity. Your attraction deepens, moving from physical to a genuine admiration of her intellect and perspective.

You: "You're right. You have a way of seeing things so clearly. It’s… refreshing."

You lean in slightly, lowering your voice.

You: "It’s not just your mind, though. You're very captivating when you talk about things you care about."

Baizhi looks startled, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. Her gaze meets yours, holding it tightly. This is the first time she has reacted to you as a person, not a patient.

Baizhi: (Her voice is a soft murmur) "I... thank you, Rover. I suppose I should say that you are also quite different from most people I consult with. Your lack of a past seems to have given you a remarkable openness. I find myself… looking forward to what you'll say next."

You: "You're a brilliant researcher, Baizhi. But I think you're much more than that. I think you're also a very kind person who cares deeply about this city and its people."

Baizhi: "I simply care about the truth."

Baizhi corrects softly, though the sternness is absent.

You: "I’m sure you do. And I want to get to know the 'truth' about you, outside of the lab."

You reach out, letting your hand rest lightly near hers on the railing.

You: "This, being here with you, talking like this... it’s the most real I’ve felt since I woke up."

The sudden intimacy of your words causes her to draw a soft breath. She looks down, then back up at your eyes. The beauty of the night, the shared vulnerability, the palpable feeling of attraction and hope—everything seems to fade, leaving only the both of you, suspended in this beautiful, intimate moment under the Jinzhou lanterns.

​Baizhi: "Perhaps the best way to uncover the past is not through analysis, but by creating a future."Baizhi muses, her eyes fixed on the distant lights of the city. She then looks at you, her brilliant eyes softened by the moonlight.

This night has quickly turned into the most truthful conversation you have had yet.