Wen Yan looked at the youth who seemed to be irritable and impatient. Although Ji Ling said ‘I know’ with his mouth, Wen Yan knew very clearly in his heart, that the youth didn’t really want his help doing anything. He looked helplessly at the boy, as regret and anguish rushed up from the bottom of his heart.
This was because the youth was also like this last life. Although he seemed arrogant and domineering, saying hurtful words from time to time, he never abused him like a servant. Ji Ling had even helped him… and never asked for anything in return.
As a high-ranking aristocrat, he was willing to help my lowly self, expecting nothing in return.
That night was the only time the youth had him do anything for him. When he’d seen the news that Ning Yu and Jing Sui were to be married, Ji Ling looked at him with a pale and lifeless face, as if his heart had died, and ordered him to help him kill Ning Yu.
And what did he do?
That was the youth’s only request of him, and he betrayed him mercilessly, leaving him charged with unforgivable crimes. In the end, Ji Ling was despairingly exiled from Empire Star personally by his most beloved person.
Because he was selfish, despicable, and full of insatiable greed, he pulled the youth on high down to the dirt in order to satisfy his dirty desires. He used such methods to try and make the youth his own.
Wen Yan remembered this, and painful remorse stirred in his chest like a sharp sword.
It wasn’t until the youth’s death that he finally realized how incredibly wrong he was.
The youth’s real nobility lay not in his high noble status, but in his clean and pure heart. That was something forever unattainable to him. He could never really own this person using such despicable methods.
Even if the youth one day descended down to a more humanly level, he only deserved to crawl at his feet and kiss his toes.
Wen Yan's eyes glistened, his heart throbbing with pain. His lips quivered, and he looked down with lidded eyes, saying in a hoarse voice: "I understand... Please let me know if you need me at any time…
all right? "
This life, I pledge my loyalty to you. Your every wish is my command.
I swear to never betray you.
………………
Ji Ling sent away the big boss, Wen Yan, with much difficulty. Only then could he afford to reflect on Brandon’s actions that evening. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong...
The word "rebirth" suddenly appeared in Ji Ling's mind again.
If Brandon was reborn, then it’d be very possible for him to act that way. After all, Marshal Brandon’s character was different from Carlos and the others. He was a man of principle. In other words, he set a very clear line between his grudges and debts.
Under the direction of the system, he’d braved much danger to save Brandon last life to progress the plot. In order to act arrogantly, he then purposely asked Brandon to repay him to incite Brandon's disgust and dislike.
Ji Ling was very clear on how hatefully he'd acted that time. For someone with the nickname, ‘Imperial War God,’ being saved by this kind of trash and being forced to repay his ‘kindness’ was probably something more disgusting than eating flies... But Ji Ling had saved his life after all, brandon had to reluctantly agree at the end.
If by chance Brandon was reborn, then he must be extremely angry seeing what he’s been doing, but at the same time, powerless to do anything except try and endure, because he owed his life to him. Thinking of it like this, that complicated and distorted expression earlier would make complete sense, and seem very logical even!
If...Brandon’s change in behavior really was because of rebirth, then what about Wen Yan and Carlos?
Ji Ling was suddenly alarmed.
That idea is too terrible, I need to stop it now!!!
Ji Ling suddenly sat up on his bed: [System, are you sure they haven’t been reborn? 】
The system was silent for a moment, and said slowly: [I'm not certain. 】
Ji Ling: [? ? ? 】
Ji Ling said angrily: [That’s not what you said last time. Before, you promised that this book didn’t contain the element of rebirth! 】
System Explanation: [This book indeed does not contain the element of rebirth, but your failure last time led to the world's collapse and that may have impacted the characters of this world for the time being. However, we have no way of knowing. According to my calculations, the probability of rebirth is so small it is negligible, but it is not completely impossible. At least, according to Murphy's law...]
Ji Ling: [Shut up. 】
The system thought for a moment and decided not to dispute with its irrational host for the time being. It ended the conversation with professional rhetoric: "In times of uncertain crisis, I ask that the host please exert his innate wisdom and courage, and give his best efforts to complete the mission.” 】
Ji Ling looked deadened for a long time, only returning two words back to the system, ‘ha ha.’
He fell heavily back onto the bed. He was angered speechless. He really wanted to drag that trashy system out to beat up, but he knew it wasn’t possible…so he decided to start a cold war with the system!
Cold war! We must go to cold war!
………………
Ji Ling’s sleep was in and out. The next day, he woke up with thick black eye bags.
As usual, he went to read news on the starwide net, and finally understood why he’d met Ning Yu at that auction last night. It really was quite a coincidence.
Ning Yu had been there on a mission assigned to him. The army’s Investigation Command under Brandon had already caught wind of a major underground organization, implicating many young nobles. Just last night, this organization involved in human trafficking, smuggling of genetic evolution agents and many other crimes had all been uprooted.
The report made no mention of him, which made Ji Ling breathe a sigh of relief.
Anyway, despite the fact that Empire Star was so big, they’d still met. That’s the chain of fate for you.
He continued to look through the news. and then finally flipped to the gossip news that he wanted to see. Some of Ning Yu's fanatical fans had taken pictures of him leaving and entering Marshal Brandon's residence.
Ji Ling was almost moved to tears. This was the only piece of good news he’d gotten since he’d started his second run! Ning Yu had gone to live at Brandon's house because of the actions he himself had taken!
According to the plot, Ning Yu and Brandon’s feelings would grow closer everyday, and Brandon would fall more and more in love with Ning Yu. Because of that, Ning Yu would have the opportunity to meet and develop his feelings with Jing Sui again.
The plot was finally brought back on track. His efforts were not in vain!
This was like a strong tonic, re-invigorating Ji Ling again.
Actually, Ji Ling was originally a very tenacious and resilient person. He often encountered difficulties and setbacks, and would feel dejected like any other person, but he didn’t give up easily. He’d always stand back up and continue working hard.
In order to go home, this kind of setback was nothing to him!
Ji Ling stayed at home, and began pondering how to proceed with the next plot point.
Now that he thought about it, he was injured after capturing Ning Yu last life, and should’ve been at home nursing his wounds right about this time. Now that nothing had happened to him, he felt that just eating and drinking at home was pretty good too.
Although there were some twists and turns since not everything went smoothly, if he thought about it from another perspective, getting one less beating was pretty nice.
On this particular day, Ji Ling had stayed home. On the one hand, he was wondering what he should do for the next plot point, on the other hand, he was just idly spending his time. Suddenly, Hardy, the family servant, came with a beautiful invitation in hand. He respectfully said to Ji Ling, “Young Master, this is for you from His Excellency Carlos."
Ji Ling grabbed it to take a look, confused. It turned out Carlos was inviting him to stay at his house.
This kind of interaction was actually very normal between aristocrats. The original used to go to his friends' houses as well, but it was very abnormal when the other person was Carlos... As a powerful grand duke, shouldn’t you have all kinds of important things to attend to everyday? Do you have nothing to do? What’s the point of inviting a junior like me over? What, are you going to accompany me to eat and drink and be merry or go pick up chicks together, huh?!
This is a conspiracy. He must be scheming!
System: [I advise you not to accept his invitation. 】
Ji Ling firmly refused to talk with this garbage system. They were still at cold war! What use do you have besides spouting crap?
He rubbed his fingers over the exquisite gold lettering on the invitation card, his expressions fluctuating back and forth.
If he asked his heart, then he was extremely reluctant to approach Carlos.
But things had already come to this... just avoiding him all the time wasn’t going to do any good. Since Carlos had invited him, he must be plotting something. If that was the case, then... wasn't this also a good opportunity to investigate him? Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
Ji Ling took a deep breath with a firm look in his eyes.
The system emphasized: [You should think it over carefully. 】
Ji Ling folded up the invitation, lifted his eyelashes, and said slowly to Hardy, "Reply to Uncle Carlos for me. Tell him I accept his invitation."