The matters concerning the Ming family remained an insoluble puzzle for Xiao Shu after much contemplation; perhaps the only person in this world who could offer him answers, besides Li Taiming, was currently nonexistent. If only he had accompanied Xiaoyu and Li Taiming back then, the truth might have been uncovered by now. Yet, life offers no rehearsals; the notion of starting over can never materialize. No matter how contrary reality seems to one's wishes, one must accept their fate when the time comes.

Watching Sister Xiaoyu change Old He's dressing, meticulously unwinding the layers of old bandage, carefully sprinkling anti-inflammatory powder into the already sunken eye sockets, and then rewrapping his head with fresh gauze layer by layer, a wave of guilt surged through Xiao Shu. He moved instinctively toward Old He, offering to assist Sister Xiaoyu.

Old He felt his hands busy moving over his head and chuckled heartily, "So you know how to do this too? I thought delicate work like bandaging wounds was something only women could manage."

Hearing not a trace of resentment in Old He's words, Xiao Shu's guilt deepened. While gently wrapping the bandage around his head, he whispered, "I'm sorry!"

"What?" Old He was utterly confused by the sudden apology, repeating, "What kind of apology is that? You owe me nothing."

Although Old He held no trace of animosity towards Xiao Shu, his words seemed to pass through one ear and out the other for Xiao Shu, who acted as if he hadn't heard anything, relentlessly repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably, dripping onto Old He's broad palm.

"Sigh," Old He sighed, "Don't take on the faults of others; it will exhaust you."

"I know, but…" As he spoke, Xiao Shu was already sobbing uncontrollably, "All of this started because of me. If I hadn't insisted on going to the Sea of the Dead to find Xing'er back then, we wouldn't have encountered the Killer Spiders on the way. If we had never provoked them, Xing'er's eyes wouldn't be blind, Xiaoyu wouldn't be like this now, and everyone would still be living like ordinary people, doing ordinary things—studying, working, marrying, having children… But seeing everything before me now, this ruined city, and especially you, my life-saver, the grief just wells up relentlessly…"

"It's alright," Old He fumbled until he found Xiao Shu's hand, gripping it tightly in his own. "I've lived half a life; I've experienced what I was meant to experience. This minor setback means nothing to me. Besides, I have Xiaohui here to care for me; with her, nothing else matters. I only traded my eyes for this life, which is far better than those companions who died unjustly."

Hearing this, Xiao Shu became even more heartbroken. He dropped to his knees before Old He, burying his face in his hands, whimpering ceaselessly. After crying for a long time, he finally spoke with a tone of entreaty, "Don't hate my brother, okay? Don't hate him… I don't want… Yingzi and Xing'er… to be without husbands and fathers!"

At this, Old He sighed, helping Xiao Shu's face up, gently rubbing away the tears. "My eyes went to Xiaoyu; there's no need for revenge against him. If it were for those deceased colleagues, the most important thing for me to do is to keep silent. Only then can we and they coexist peacefully, and no one else will die. However, he has his own destiny, one that neither you nor I can control. I can sense his future will be bleak. That's why I've always maintained my silence, focusing solely on being myself, allowing hatred to vanish from my heart."