ARC 1 - The Way to become an Empress Part 52

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So that's how it was.

I didn't think the story went that way.

The plot line I received didn't mention any background story like that.

I see. That's why.

Now I understand how things went this way.

When Ji Zhen Tian finished his narrative, to be honest, I didn't know how to react.

I understand, yes. But I can't say I sympathize.

He wanted to make Li Zhen Zhen suffer the same thing as him.

Humans... really are grudging beings, no?

For some reason, though I understand why, I can't feel the need to.

Perhaps, because it didn't happen to me.

What I replied to Ji Zhen Tian was a simple, whispered "I see."

Silence reigned once again.

I... wanted to absorb all the information I just acquired.

I didn't even ask anything more.

Though I am curious how Li Ming ended up in such a sorry state, to be honest, I couldn't care less.

Li Ming and I did have something together, but for some reason, I only view him as a means to complete my task.

The other person... I did feel sympathy for Xi Jiu, but that's it. Now, I don't care. Maybe just a little. He got injured for me. He protected me. Yet, why do I only feel thankful, on a surface level? Why do I care, only at a surface level?

Also about the other people in this world... Ming Yi Fei, my maids, everyone else... I didn't want them to get involved, I cared about them. At least, I thought I did. But now that I think about it, I realized that I don't care that much at all about what happens afterwards.

How did I end up like this?

The system then responded.

"With the completion of host's tasks, shielding function has been unlocked."

".....I thought I wouldn't be shielded. That's what the system told me before." I half-asked the system.

"Answering host, shielding gradually increases as the number of worlds host completes also increases."

Is that so. Then, by the end of it all... Wouldn't I become some lifeless robot? Will I even manage to recover the real me?

The system didn't respond to that.

I don't know what to think of the people here anymore. Rather, I'm not thinking about them anymore.

However...

Although I feel that way, not caring about everyone else in this world, only someone was different.

For some reason, I couldn't help but ask things about him, couldn't help but want to know more.

Ji Zhen Tian.

Why?

Why do I... care about him?

Why does he feel... really familiar?

With all those questions in mind, I looked at him once again.

Our eyes met.

No words were spoken.

He brought his hand to my face, caressing it.

He slowly leaned in.

A soft, gentle kiss.

He closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

I did the same.

Our kiss lasted for awhile.

But it never turned passionate, just plain... loving? Comforting? I... don't know how to describe it.

I'm... feeling weird again.

I thought I'm being shielded right now?

...Why doesn't it work well with him?

Ji Zhen Tian... who exactly are you?

When our lips separated, both of us opened our eyes at the same time.

Once again, our eyes met.

He placed his forehead against mine, hands caressing my face again.

"Aren't you tired right now? You... need time to process things, right? With all those that happened today, you need to rest. You should... go back for now. I'll come back for you some other time." He said.

Ji Zhen Tian then let go of me.

"Then I'll go now. Zhen Tian also probably needs time by yourself." I said, my voice soft and fleeting, probably due to the kiss just now.

"I'll send you out."