Chapter 176
Xue Yinzhou has truly felt her goodness, so how could he not feel it? Shen Tang from before and now absolutely cannot be the same person.
But he still wants to be sure, to hear her personally admit it.
Shen Tang’s mind is jolted, and she clenches her fingers.
She avoids Xue Yinzhou’s probing gaze, lowers her head, and looks at the air behind him, as if she hasn’t clearly heard his light muttering.
The first rule of the system is that the identity of the traveler cannot be exposed, nor can the system’s existence!
But Shen Tang also knows that her disposition differs greatly from the original host’s. She intentionally disguised it early on, but one cannot always disguise, and sooner or later there will be a day of exposure.
Xue Yinzhou is the one who spent the most time with the original host; today he directly and frankly brought this up, surely having an answer in his heart already.
His tone of inquiry is affirming.
He can see it too; to continue hiding is merely self-deception.
Neither of them spoke.
Xue Yinzhou didn’t press further.
Everyone has secrets they can’t share; her origins are so mysterious—what if this causes her to quietly leave after the truth is revealed?
Maintaining the status quo is already a blessing.
He raises his hand and brushes across her faintly trembling eyelid, his voice very light, “I understand p>
“Those two times, sorry p>
For some reason, Shen Tang’s nose feels a little sore, and complex emotions stir within her.
She takes a deep breath, moves his hand away, and raises her head to look at the man, his dark silver-purple eyes, moving her lips to ask, “Is that really what you think p>
“Yes p>
“Thinking about it, it’s not entirely your fault. The first time, you pushed me off the cliff because I threatened you with a chip. Later, in the Spiritual Illusion Realm, I learned about your childhood experiences and could imagine what you went through in the Imperial Palace. Your resentment toward me is understandable p>
Looking into his eyes, Shen Tang smiles relieved, “Anyway, I’m fine, and you saved me. So let’s just call it even; let the past be the past p>
Xue Yinzhou’s brows furrow slightly, a flicker of compassion in his eyes, “But you’re not her; you shouldn’t have to bear those burdens p>
In recent months, she has borne so much malice and insult, and Xue Yinzhou has witnessed it all.
Previously, he thought she brought it upon herself. Now, knowing it’s an innocent person enduring these curses, he can only imagine how wronged she must have felt. In moments unknown to them, she might have shed tears silently.
Thinking back on his own misdeeds, Xue Yinzhou felt even more ashamed.
Fortunately, Shen Tang had accepted him again, giving him the chance to make amends.
Shen Tang did not know Xue Yinzhou’s thoughts, observing his changing complexion, she bit her lip nervously trying to probe, “I have truly let go, but can you let go completely p>
Xue Yinzhou looked at her puzzled.
Shen Tang’s fingers land on the front lapels of his shirt.
She saw clearly that time, Xue Yinzhou’s chest and back were covered with many fine light scars.
There were whip marks, knife marks, and many scars from instruments of torture she couldn’t even comprehend.
It’s foreseeable how much inhumane torment he had suffered.
His body bore the marks left from the original host’s abuse.
Years of relentless torture—can one truly say they’ve let go?
Shen Tang asks herself, if she were in his shoes, even if someone else’s consciousness replaced hers, wouldn’t she recall being tormented by that familiar face every day?
The body might have developed a repulsion, which isn’t something that can change overnight.
Shen Tang sighs, “No matter what, the person who abused you was ’me’, can you really let this go forever p>
“Seeing the scars on your body every night, wouldn’t you be reminded of the past… Hmm p>
The answer she received was a deep kiss.
Xue Yinzhou grasped her chin, lowered his head, and kissed her slightly parted, luscious lips.
The man’s thin lips were cool and moist, now carrying a fiery warmth, lingering on her lips. Compared to the usual cold intensity, at this moment, it was overly gentle, like a silent declaration.
Xue Yinzhou did not linger too long; he only used actions to show her his mindset.
Allowing her to truly feel his thoughts.
When the tense body in his embrace slowly relaxed.
Xue Yinzhou released her, placed her hand on his chest, and with a “rip,” tore open his shirt!
Shen Tang’s eyes widened in shock; what a dramatic scene!
Xue Yinzhou’s shirt was torn to pieces, his sculpted, long and muscular upper body half-naked before her.
Broad shoulders, with veins faintly visible on his arms, a full chest, clearly defined eight-pack abs, and a lean waist full of power, making her face turn red as she swallowed hard.
Xue Yinzhou seemed not to notice her flushed face, his phoenix eyes clear and obscure, placing her hand on the cold, white skin of his chest,
and murmured, “Take a closer look p>
Only upon hearing his voice did Shen Tang regain some rationality.
Her gaze landed on his chest, really big and really white, oh no… what was he showing her?
The body was indeed visually appealing, perfect beyond reproach, she could gaze at it for a hundred years and not tire.
However, Xue Yinzhou had become so overtly wild she couldn’t quite handle it.
Seeing Shen Tang utterly enchanted, failing to notice the problem, Xue Yinzhou’s brow twitched slightly.
More than the original female, this lustful nature was probably more pronounced.
He had to speak up himself, “After shedding, the scars are gone p>
“So you needn’t care about them p>
He watched her face, eyes flickering like a serene cold pond rippled by waves, “As you said, let the past be the past, we can start anew p>
Only now did Shen Tang notice his chest was smooth like jade, and all those fine scars were gone, perfect as if crafted from flawless jade.
Shed skin has such benefits p>
The system chuckled, [Host satisfied now? The snake has shed its skin and personally expressed indifference, should the host rebind Xue Yinzhou as the strategy target p>
Shen Tang nodded, “Rebind p>
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for rebinding Xue Yinzhou as a strategy target p>
[Updating Xue Yinzhou’s affinity for the host p>
The next moment, the system emitted an excited shriek,
[Xue Yinzhou’s affinity is now at the love stage p>
[Host has done well; this was your method of luring by retreating! No wonder humans say ’all’s fair in love and war,’ who knew unbinding for so long would instead boost the affinity of the hardest target snake beast to love! This is currently the only love affinity! Without unbinding early, you two might not have sparked anything now. Host, amazing.] The system was thrilled.
Shen Tang was shocked, never expecting Xue Yinzhou’s affinity to reach love, though hearing the dog system’s words made her twitch; she hadn’t planned that far ahead.
At the time, she was solely focused on preserving her life, not having spare thoughts for intricate strategies.
[Congratulations to the host for successfully boosting Xue Yinzhou’s affinity to love; compensation rewards now being distributed p>
[Ding! Xue Yinzhou’s affinity reached fondness, reward: High-intensity quick-setting concrete formula p>
[Ding! Xue Yinzhou’s affinity reached liking, reward: One Resource Gift Package p>
[Ding! Xue Yinzhou’s affinity reached love, congratulations to the host for obtaining [City Wall Planning Blueprint], can choose any subordinate city to use, generating exclusive blueprint design! [Greatly Expanding Farmlands], agricultural yield increased by 50%! [The People’s Will], passive buff, public sentiment growth increased by 10%! Rewards have been automatically sent to the system backpack; please verify p>
This cascade of surprises nearly knocked Shen Tang out.
Xue Yinzhou saw her dazedly holding the clothes, unsure of what she was thinking.
He swallowed hard and proactively suggested, “Why not try them on, see if they fit p>