After Xia Qingtian left, Gu Yaoyang immediately went to investigate what had happened in the capital.
Learning that Miao Sang had not stayed in the capital to be protected by the Miao family this time, and that Uncle Miao Er seemed to still be searching for the family heirloom, the white jade dice, Gu Yaoyang leaned back in his chair and sighed.
A slip of the mind.
He had forgotten that with Xia Qingtian as a variable in this life, everything might no longer be on its original track.
Now, what should he do?
How could he mend the trust between them?
Did he really have to tell Xia Qingtian his secret?
What would she think?
Would she believe him?
Gu Yaoyang was uncertain, his gaze growing increasingly solemn.
"I'm so stupid..." muttering to herself, Xia Qingtian walked back, annoyed. She should have realized earlier that Gu Yaoyang had issues.
Although she couldn't be sure what the exact problem was, she had a vague outline in her mind.
"Don't play dead at a time like this!" Xia Qingtian said as if to herself. "You always pop out suddenly to give missions, but when I need you, you pretend to be dead! And you call yourself the Chosen Son system! Useless system! You only freeload!"
[Ahem, the system is always on standby. Host can directly awaken the system if you have any questions.] The Chosen Son system, hearing Xia Qingtian's voice and knowing she was truly angry, decided to drop its pretense. [If necessary, Host can use points to exchange items in the Chosen Son Mall or participate in lucky draws.]
"You're not playing dead anymore?" Xia Qingtian scoffed. "I don't need those props now. I want you to tell me what's going on with Gu Yaoyang!"
Xia Qingtian even suspected that Gu Yaoyang might have been reborn, just like her.
The system naturally knew of Xia Qingtian's suspicion, but it couldn't explain anything about Gu Yaoyang. It only knew that every time Xia Qingtian got close to Gu Yaoyang, it felt comfortable and had a familiar feeling.
That's why it had tried to steer Xia Qingtian towards Gu Yaoyang in the choices it offered.
It also wanted to know what was going on. Clearly, although it had recovered from its weakened state, it wasn't yet strong enough to probe the destiny of someone who wasn't the host.
[Please, Host, actively complete missions. When the Host successfully completes missions, the system will gain more permissions and be able to answer the Host's questions better.]
The system was currently of no help.
Hearing the system's reply, Xia Qingtian felt that this damn system was just brushing her off.
But if the system wouldn't say anything, she couldn't pry it open. It was intangible, something she couldn't see or touch.
Taking a deep breath, Xia Qingtian knew she couldn't rely too much on the system.
It was one thing to effectively utilize all available resources, and quite another to become overly dependent or even resentful.
With that thought, Xia Qingtian took another deep breath and muttered, "I'm sorry... I lost my temper."
Hearing Xia Qingtian's apology, the system seemed to pause. After a moment, it replied in its usual electronic voice.
[The Chosen Son system is honored to serve the Host.]
Having calmed her inner turmoil, Xia Qingtian drove straight back to the Xia residence. She then disguised herself as if nothing had happened and chatted and laughed with her family. Only that evening did she quietly write Gu Yaoyang into her diary, adding a sentence: "If I trust you again, I'll be a pig!"
That night, Xia Qingtian had a nightmare she hadn't had in a long time. But this nightmare wasn't about being persecuted by Song Junhan in her previous life. Instead, it was about a fire, and she was watching from Gu Yaoyang's perspective as a blaze rapidly spread through a room.
The door was locked, the exit couldn't be found, and the suffocating sensation made him unable to escape.
After struggling all night, Xia Qingtian woke up just as dawn was breaking, covered in sweat.
"Hoo..." She propped herself up and sat up, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She felt that last night's nightmare had been exceptionally real and terrifying.
After a shower, Xia Qingtian went downstairs to prepare for her morning exercise and breakfast. She saw Erya pushing a very cool black heavy motorcycle out of the garage.
"Yo~" Erya greeted Xia Qingtian with a rather stylish salute. "Check out my ride, what do you think?"
"Not bad!" Xia Qingtian's eyes lit up when she saw it. "Did you buy it?"
"Yes, it's the first car Shang Xia bought for me. It's part of the betrothal gifts for our future marriage," Erya said, one hand on the bike, the other akimbo with pride. "Heh, I have a good eye for men, don't I?"
"Yes, very good." Hearing Erya's words, Xia Qingtian subconsciously thought of Gu Yaoyang, then shook her head, dismissing the image from her mind.
She and Gu Yaoyang weren't in that kind of relationship.
They weren't before, they weren't now, and they certainly wouldn't be in the future!
At most, it was a mutually beneficial relationship. After completing this project, their interactions would only decrease.
Xia Qingtian had also realized that she didn't need to be angry with Gu Yaoyang. Everyone had things they didn't want others to know.
She also had secrets she couldn't tell. Why should she demand absolute honesty from Gu Yaoyang?
In the end, she had been a bit too extreme.
In any case, keeping a distance was better for both of them.
Although, she couldn't help but feel a dull ache in her heart.
"I've familiarized myself with the route last night. If you leave early today, I'll reluctantly give you a ride on my 'Black Cyclone'." Erya said proudly.
"Maybe not..." Xia Qingtian didn't want the wind to mess up her hair. It was safer to take a car.
"Ah?" Erya's cute face visibly fell. "Just try it! It's really cool, everyone who tries it says so! Give it a try!"
Seeing Erya like this, Xia Qingtian could only nod. "Alright, I'll try riding it once."
"Hmph hmph~ Since you're begging me, I'll reluctantly agree!" Erya's expression changed rapidly, and she became haughty again. "Two hundred per ride!"
"Then I'll pass." Xia Qingtian turned to leave.
"I'm just kidding!" Erya quickly stopped Xia Qingtian. "Don't go! It's really cool, I won't charge you, I was just joking!"
Erya acted cute and playful, and in the end, Xia Qingtian got on Erya's heavy motorcycle.
In less than ten minutes, Xia Qingtian regretted it.
Was Erya street racing? This was way too fast!
And what about being familiar with the route?
They had passed Yueqian Avenue three times already!
Finally, after nearly twenty minutes of riding, they arrived at Z University. Xia Qingtian felt like her early start had been pointless.
"Hehe." Erya said sheepishly, "I don't know why, but these roads look different at night than they do during the day."
Xia Qingtian was too tired to argue with Erya. She just adjusted her attire. "I'm going to class first. You should go to work too."
"Okay, see you at noon." Erya, very unskillfully, winked with a twitch of her eye.
Seeing this, Xia Qingtian could only sigh and walk towards the classroom.
Forget it, Erya's unreliability wasn't a new development. Compared to incidents like causing her to be poisoned or drunk, being late was a minor issue.
Upon arriving at the professional class classroom, Xia Qingtian found everyone sitting up straight. In the front of the classroom, the lecturing professor, the advisor, and an unfamiliar old professor had stern expressions.
The atmosphere was heavy.