Reborn, I Became a Male God - Chapter 39

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“Then what do you think of the explanation ‘as if old friends at first sight’?”

That’s even more ridiculous! Though the idea of fate sounds absurd, there are still quite a few people who believe in it. Love at first sight, in this materialistic society, seems more like a beautiful aspiration—but still, many people yearn for it. Besides, she’s always been confident in her looks. But ‘as if old friends at first sight’… anyone with a reasonably functioning brain wouldn’t believe that, right?

Tan Yunshu instinctively wanted to scoff at those words, but when she met the boy’s smiling eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to speak. What a pair of beautiful eyes—deep and dazzling, as if filled with stardust. For a brief encounter with a stranger, he looked at her with a gentle and affectionate gaze that wasn’t at all off-putting.

They clearly were just strangers meeting once, and yet there really was a feeling of ‘as if old friends at first sight.’

“You’re here.” Tan Yunshu finally said just those few words.

The boy nodded and naturally sat down beside her, then called over the waiter to order. As familiar dish names flowed one by one from his mouth, Tan Yunshu was utterly astonished, her eyes widening slightly.

Every single dish matched her tastes! Every one of them—even the doneness of the steak was exactly how she liked it!

This feeling was truly hard to describe…

After the meal, Tan Yunshu felt dazed. She had never imagined there would be someone like this, who seemed to know all her preferences, and even their conversation revolved entirely around topics she found interesting. Many of his views and opinions were also just like hers.

She could tell from his tone and attitude that he spoke naturally, not in a way that tried too hard to please.

She never believed in fate, but at this very moment, she couldn’t help but think of the four words Xinyao had said—meant to be.

“Go take a shower and get a good night’s rest. I’ll take you to the airport tomorrow. As for the Tan family, don’t worry. I’ve already taken care of it—they won’t bother you again for a while.” The boy’s gentle voice sounded in her ear.

Tan Yunshu snapped out of her thoughts and found they had already arrived at her room door. The boy had his hands in his pockets, leaning slightly against the wall, eyes smiling as he looked at her.

She suddenly thought of the fantasies she had as a teenage girl. A sunny afternoon, a gentle breeze blowing, a gentle and handsome boy in a white shirt leaning against a wall of red bricks, turning his head with a smile at the sound of approaching footsteps—the sunlight, the red bricks, and everything else around became the perfect backdrop.

Though she was no longer that young girl, and this wasn’t some tranquil campus, in this moment, the boy before her perfectly matched that imagined figure.

Her long-dormant girlish heart suddenly came alive again.

Tan Yunshu felt certain her face was red.

“Good night!” She blurted out, turned around, swiped her card to enter the room, and closed the door all in one smooth motion. Then she leaned against the door and took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she seemed to faintly hear the boy’s soft laughter.

She had a very good dream that night.

Early the next morning, Tan Yunshu got up, packed a few things, and went downstairs to check out. It was still too early, so she didn’t bother Yang Xinyao. 

As for Jing Ling, her feelings toward him were a bit complicated, so she didn’t say goodbye either.

She was used to doing things alone.

Dragging her small suitcase out of the hotel, she found that even though spring had technically arrived, the northern weather was still a bit cold. The morning wind carried a chill, making her shrink back and pull her coat tighter as she continued walking toward the roadside.

She had fallen asleep groggily last night and forgotten to ask the hotel to call her a car, so she had to hail one herself. Fortunately, it was early Sunday morning, so not many people were out. But just as she reached the roadside and hadn’t even raised her hand, a silver sedan stopped in front of her.

The window rolled down, and the boy was sitting in the passenger seat, smiling at her. “I’ll take you,” he said, opening the door and getting out. He took her suitcase and put it in the trunk, then opened the car door for her. Throughout the whole process, his eyes were full of warmth, the corners of his lips lifted in a faint smile, and with his good looks, it made it impossible to refuse.

Tan Yunshu, lacking resolve, got into the car.

The door closed gently. The boy returned to the passenger seat. The driver started the engine, and the car moved steadily down the road.

“I was originally going to drive you myself, but unfortunately, I don’t have a license yet. I’ll go get one after I come back.”

Tan Yunshu keenly caught the key word. “Come back? Where are you going?” She realized right after asking that she probably shouldn’t have, and was just about to make up for it when the boy said, “Going on a trip. But I can’t bring back the local specialties, so I’ll get you something else you like instead.”

For a moment, Tan Yunshu didn’t know what to say. To refuse felt a little heartless, so she just nodded in the end. “Then thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” the boy said softly.

There’s no need for thanks between you and me.

I have wandered the long river of time, crossed countless branching streams, and finally lost my way in an unknown world. I thought I would finish out my life like that, but then I met you. The fragments buried deep in memory resurfaced once more. Even if they were all unpleasant, I am still full of gratitude.

My past has long been buried in time, while your future is just beginning. This time, there are no stacked barriers, no thorns to tread through. Those ugly, malicious faces will no longer disturb your life. All evil and darkness will stay far away from you from now on.

Pumpkin carriages and glass slippers—the midnight bell has lost its magic.

This time, you will be a true princess, loved and cherished beyond compare.

After sending Tan Yunshu off on the flight back to the capital, Jing Ling returned to the hotel. It was only a little past ten. He called Yang Xinyao, who had just woken up—her voice still drowsy. They arranged to have breakfast together. He booked a private room and waited for about forty minutes before Yang Xinyao arrived.

“Hey, where’s your Yunshu?” Not seeing Tan Yunshu upon entering, she looked around and then asked Jing Ling.

“Check your texts.”

“Oh.” Yang Xinyao pulled out her phone and saw a message from Tan Yunshu. In short, she had left first and said Yang Xinyao could visit her in the capital if she had time.

“You were all over her last night, but she left by herself this morning—must sting, huh!” Yang Xinyao said gleefully.

Jing Ling calmly replied, “I saw her off at the airport.”

Yang Xinyao: “…” Ugh, so annoying! Even if it’s destiny, aren’t you two moving too fast?! Let me just kick over this bowl of dog food!

She huffed and sat down, took the menu, and ordered the most expensive dishes—though she only picked a few. The dishes came out quickly, and soon the two began to eat.

While eating, they chatted.

“You agreed to help the Jiang family with that thing?” Yang Xinyao asked.

Jing Ling wasn’t surprised she knew. After all, the Yang family was one of the five, and skilled in divination. He nodded. “Yeah.”

Yang Xinyao paused mid-bite and studied him closely. “Did they tell you what happened twenty years ago? The Li family’s abilities were indeed strange, but do you know what you’ll be facing? When they first came to us, Grandpa read their fortune himself—extremely inauspicious. Sure enough, later on, Dad said several people died in that mission, and they gained very little.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Jing Ling said sincerely. “I know everything—the Li family massacre, the criminal haven of Heduo District. I also know what I’m being sent to do this time.”

“If you know all that, why still agree?”

“Xinyao, people like them don’t ask lightly. But once they do, they won’t give you a chance to refuse. The best you can do is negotiate.”

“Is that how the Tan family matter got resolved?” Yang Xinyao asked, surprised.

Jing Ling nodded. “An equal exchange. If they want me to do something, they have to solve my problems in return.”

“…I was caught off guard by another mouthful of dog food!” Yang Xinyao was exasperated. “Fate really is something else. I think I believe in true love again!”

Jing Ling chuckled and joked, “Miss Yang, I’m heading out tomorrow. Want to do a reading for me?”

Yang Xinyao snorted. “I’m not one of those street frauds. My readings are expensive!” Though she said that, she still put down her chopsticks. Jing Ling’s fate was unlike others—tools were useless. She could only rely on her own eyes to read it.

“This journey will be full of unforeseen twists and turns, dangers lurking every step of the way… But in the limited future I can see, you’ll still be safe. In short, be careful!”

“I will.”