Could He Also Have Returned from Rebirth? The Scenes Yue Mingkong Experienced
Could He Also Have Returned from Rebirth? The Scenes Yue Mingkong Experienced
Yue Mingkong was no ordinary person. Countless thoughts flashed rapidly through her mind, yet her expression quickly returned to normal.
Her flawlessly beautiful face revealed nothing out of the ordinary.
“Changge, why would you say something like that? If anyone’s breaking off the engagement, wouldn’t it be you breaking it off with me? You’ve always hated me anyway.”
She tilted her head, looking at Gu Changge with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
It was a playful, adorable gesture, one that lent her a different kind of charm.
After all, she was supposed to be the Empress who ruled over a Celestial Dynasty, carrying the cold, aloof imperial majesty of one who looked down upon all creation.
Who could have imagined she would show such an expression?
Gu Changge didn’t seem surprised at all. His smile was natural and casual as he said, “That was just something I said offhandedly. Mingkong, why take it so seriously?”
“I thought you hated me even more now.”
Yue Mingkong lowered her head, her voice somewhat downcast.
She was doing her utmost to maintain the way she used to act in front of Gu Changge.
In the past, whenever she was by Gu Changge’s side, she always behaved this way, hoping to win his affection.
But all she ever received was Gu Changge’s cold indifference.
Still, to keep him from noticing how different she was from before, Yue Mingkong deliberately changed nothing.
She kept the same manner she had when dealing with Gu Changge in the past.
Humble, cautious, loving him so lowly she was practically dust beneath his feet...
And at this moment, she already felt that Gu Changge was very likely just like her—someone who had also returned from the future through rebirth.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said such things to probe her.
So Yue Mingkong grew even more careful, because she knew exactly how terrifying the methods of this future husband of hers were.
Before she had any certainty, she absolutely could not let him discover she had returned from rebirth. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.
In her previous life, he had already killed her once.
This time, his methods were surely even more numerous.
At this thought, another wave of sorrow washed through Yue Mingkong’s heart, but she quickly reined in her emotions and steeled herself.
She felt she had to be even more careful from now on.
After all, everything she had done over the past half year was completely different from her previous life.
Gu Changge was so clever—he had very likely already noticed something was off, which was why he asked her that question.
And his current gentle demeanor was, in all likelihood, an act put on to deceive her.
As for his goal... it was certainly to probe her.
Otherwise, how could she explain his behavior being so utterly different from her previous life?
“Mingkong, I’ve noticed you seem to have changed quite a bit lately.”
Just then, Yue Mingkong’s heart jolted. She saw Gu Changge looking at her with a somewhat meaningful gaze, his expression carrying something she couldn’t quite read.
It made her nervous.
Had he really seen through something? Her return from rebirth was her greatest secret—one that could never be exposed.
“Changge, what are you talking about? What change could I possibly have? If anything, it’s you—you never used to be this gentle with me. What’s gotten into you lately?”
At his words, a perfectly measured confusion appeared in Yue Mingkong’s phoenix eyes as she stared at Gu Changge, as if trying to see straight through him.
This was the moment where acting skills were put to the test.
She absolutely could not let him spot any flaw.
Yue Mingkong’s heart was tense.
She realized that even though she was the Crown Heir of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty, with power that reached the heavens, holding the lives and deaths of countless beings in her grasp—before Gu Changge, she still had no confidence whatsoever.
In every respect, she was suppressed by him.
“In the past, I truly was... truly too much toward you...”
“But from now on, I won’t treat you that way anymore.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge seemed to agree with her words, sighing slightly, his face showing a trace of guilt and self-reproach.
“Changge... Changge, are you telling the truth?”
This scene left Yue Mingkong stunned. Hearing these words, her beautiful eyes widened slightly, and even her voice trembled faintly.
Since he had returned from rebirth, for him to say such things to her now—could it be he truly felt guilty toward her?
She couldn’t quite believe it. Such words of remorse coming from the mouth of the hard-hearted, cold and ruthless Gu Changge.
It suddenly left her torn... If it was true, should she forgive him?
No. She couldn’t let him off that easily.
In her previous life, he hurt her so deeply, and in the end, he heartlessly killed her.
How could she be so weak, letting her composure be thrown into chaos by just a few words from him?
Gu Changge was simply her nemesis!
No!
All wrong!
He was definitely still probing her right now!
Realizing this, Yue Mingkong suddenly snapped back to her senses, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Gu Changge’s methods and schemes were as unfathomable and unpredictable as ever.
If she showed even the slightest abnormality now, he would definitely notice.
Immediately, Yue Mingkong raised her head, her eyes filled with joy, putting on an incomparably moved expression as she said, “Changge, is what you said true? You won’t be cold to me like before? That’s wonderful. I always knew I’d move your heart sooner or later.”
“When have I ever lied to you? Of course it’s true.”
A faint smile remained on Gu Changge’s face as he spoke, gently pulling Yue Mingkong into his embrace and stroking her hair.
He felt her body stiffen.
But he paid it no mind, a strange look in his expression.
Things seemed to be roughly as he had guessed.
Soon, Yue Mingkong also closed her eyes, leaning into Gu Changge’s embrace.
She never imagined that what she had desperately longed for in her previous life would come true so quickly in this one.
Even though she knew this was very likely an act Gu Changge was deliberately putting on, she still wished it could stay like this forever, that time could stop at this moment.
“Mingkong, is there nothing you want to tell me?” Gu Changge’s voice sounded just then.
“...”
Yue Mingkong fell silent and shook her head.
At a time like this, she could reveal even less abnormality.
Gu Changge smiled and said nothing more.
By now, he had more or less figured out Yue Mingkong’s origins.
Just now, although she had tried her utmost to hide it, trying to put on the same appearance as before in front of him—
Things like temperament and majesty simply could not be concealed.
On top of that, there were a few small slips. For instance, when he had asked why she was different from before, that moment of clearly startled panic on her face.
As it happened, Gu Changge’s Primordial Spirit was extremely powerful, and he had captured that moment perfectly.
Still too green, in the end.
Trying to out-act him.
However, Gu Changge was still somewhat unclear on one thing.
His fiancée had been reborn from the future into the present—so why had she become his enemy? Why did she stand in opposition to him?
Had he abandoned her, or betrayed her? Or something else?
Gu Changge was a bit puzzled. He didn’t think he was quite that deranged.
Moreover, he had no idea what Yue Mingkong had actually experienced, and if he asked her, she certainly wouldn’t tell him.
After all, it concerned her greatest secret.
Besides, since she had returned from the future, she presumably knew his methods well, so she had long been on guard against him and wouldn’t easily trust him.
She might even know about him being the Successor of Demonic Arts.
However, Gu Changge could never have guessed that in the future Yue Mingkong had experienced, it was his Demonic Energy that had been in control of his body.
So as for how to deal with Yue Mingkong now, he couldn’t make up his mind either. He’d simply pretend not to know she had returned from rebirth, and see if he could fish anything out of her.
Coming back from rebirth—what a cheat that was.
Especially in a place like the Beyond, it was practically the same as foreknowledge. What could possibly be hidden from her?
Defeating a crowd of siblings in the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty and seizing the position of Crown Heir would naturally be effortless.
“Changge, how much longer are you going to hold me?”
Just then, Yue Mingkong had calmed down. Her voice sounded somewhat shy, but inwardly she was more annoyed.
She felt that Gu Changge had been toying with her all along, wanting to see her make a fool of herself.
And she was already certain that Gu Changge was absolutely the same as her—returned from the future through rebirth.
An embrace that didn’t come from genuine feelings wasn’t worth clinging to.
“For as long as I want, naturally.”
Gu Changge smiled. Now that he knew her origins, he felt considerably more at ease.
Moreover, he could tell that everything he was doing now was something Yue Mingkong had never expected—otherwise she wouldn’t have reacted with such astonishment.
Which meant the things she had experienced in the future were different from the present.
Yue Mingkong hadn’t expected Gu Changge to say that either. She had originally intended to gently break free, but she let him have his way.
Though he was her enemy, he was also her future husband.
Still, she had to keep up a shy and delighted expression on her face as she said softly, “Changge, why are you being so good to me now?”
She also wanted to know how long Gu Changge planned to keep up the act.
“What do you mean, so good to you?”
Being a little gentle with her counts as being that good? Then how exactly did I treat you in my past life? Hitting you and yelling at you?
Thinking this inwardly, Gu Changge paused slightly.
But figuring this was probably Yue Mingkong probing him, he couldn’t help showing a faint smile. “You’re my future wife. Isn’t it only right that I treat you well?”
Hearing these words, Yue Mingkong suddenly froze. Her eyes reddened slightly, and a wave of sorrow washed through her heart.
Future wife?
In her previous life, had he ever truly regarded her as his future wife? He had merely treated her as a tool to be used—and the disposable kind at that.
He had even heartlessly killed her on their wedding night.
“Mingkong, what’s wrong? Your expression seems a bit off.”
Gu Changge said with some surprise. Everything had been fine—why had her eyes suddenly reddened?
Had those words struck a sore spot?
For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
This was getting tricky.
“I suddenly feel unwell. Forgive me, Mingkong must take her leave first...”
As Yue Mingkong spoke, she abruptly broke free and departed on an Arcane Bridge.
At this point, she knew she could no longer keep it hidden. Gu Changge had surely already learned her secret.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said such things to humiliate her.
And next, he would surely try every means possible to deal with her.
Watching Yue Mingkong depart swiftly, Gu Changge said nothing more. The smile vanished from his face, leaving only calm.
Just then, the System’s notification sounded.
<*Ding!* Fortuity’s Daughter Yue Mingkong triggered: The Empress Returned from Rebirth—Love Like Dust, Hatred to the Bone event.>
“Issuing System missions as follows.”
“Mission One: Slay the Fortuity’s Daughter. Reward: 5,000 Fortuity Points, 25,000 Fatums, additional rewards to be calculated separately.”
“Mission Two: Subdue the Fortuity’s Daughter. Reward: 5,000 Fortuity Points, 25,000 Fatums, additional rewards to be calculated separately.”
“What’s the difference between these?” Gu Changge asked.
<Depending on the mission chosen, different System assistance can be obtained, and the additional rewards differ as well,> the System replied.
“I choose Mission Two.” Gu Changge didn’t deliberate long before speaking directly.
Choosing the first was simply unrealistic.
<*Ding!* Master has chosen Mission Two. Receiving System assistance: the scenes of the future Yue Mingkong experienced.>
As the System’s notification fell,
Gu Changge’s vision blurred, and scenes soon surfaced before him.
It was inside a magnificent palace, red candles flickering, moonlight dappling the shadows.
A woman sat quietly upon the red wedding bed, wearing a phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes, adorned with pearls and jade, shy and timid.
This was the wedding night?
Gu Changge saw himself walk in, and unease rose in his heart.
He lifted the red bridal veil.
“Husband...”
The woman looked up, tenderness filling her brows and eyes—and then, sudden shock and disbelief.
Pu!
In an instant, blood-red light blurred the entire scene.