Getting to Know You Again

Di Yao’s face was flushed, her eyes glistening with tears. Her master had not perished. At the moment this wish was fulfilled, a tidal wave of joy submerged her, causing her to miss the subtle way Lin Shao had shrunk back.

After a long while, she managed to suppress the surge of emotion. Wiping the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, she leaned forward, her voice trembling as she asked the question she burned to understand:

“Why… why did you choose to reincarnate?”

Lin Shao answered with a hint of hesitation: “Because… because I died.”

He felt ridiculous saying it—as if only an idiot would say it and only an idiot would believe it—but the woman named Wang Yao nodded seriously and continued:

“Then, what caused your death?”

‘I died in a car accident. Are you going to ask what a car is next, or what an accident is…?’ Sensing that she might keep digging until she hit bedrock, Lin Shao wasn’t keen on answering. His original purpose for mentioning “resurrection” wasn’t to satisfy a curiosity gap.

“Miss Wang, I told you about my resurrection not so you could interview me,” Lin Shao said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his posture turning slightly more assertive. “I wanted to tell you that I have attained a new life. I am not the same person as the ‘me’ from before. Do you understand what I mean?”

Di Yao blinked in surprise and instinctively asked:

“Not the same person… meaning you’ve abandoned your status, your identity, and everything you once possessed?”

‘Status and identity?’

‘Could this body have belonged to some wealthy, powerful young master?’

‘Then why did he freeze to death on the side of the road?’

Since he had no memories of the body’s original owner, Lin Shao was completely unfamiliar with the status Di Yao mentioned. However, he didn’t care. Even if this body had belonged to a young master of some great clan, that young master was dead. The slate was wiped clean.

He looked at Di Yao and smiled. “You’re right. I’ve discarded everything from the past; those things have nothing to do with me anymore. The current me is a brand-new person, with new goals, a new mission, and new motivation.”

As he spoke, he glanced toward the second floor. Helping Mu Li cure her eyes was exactly what he wanted most right now.

Di Yao lowered her head, shaken by his words. That was the status and identity of an Immortal—the Savior who rescued the Great Thousand World in its darkest hour, a being revered by every living soul. Such a pinnacle of power, such a grand identity, and he had discarded it as if it were nothing more than dust.

As the Sovereign of Great Shang and the Eternal Empress, she understood the intoxication of power. The feeling of the whole world submitting to you was a flavor that, once tasted, could never be forgotten.

And that was merely the throne of a mortal empire. If she found it hard to let go, then what about the position Master held, which was infinitely more noble? If it were her, she would surely be obsessed.

Yet Master could cast it aside without a single lingering thought!

After becoming the Eternal Empress, Di Yao had thought she was finally closing the gap between them. Now, she realized the distance remained immeasurable.

“I suppose I’ll never catch up to you in this lifetime,” she laughed self-deprecatingly, though she quickly recovered. It wasn’t shameful to be unable to catch Master—after all, no one in the world could!

“You said you’ve abandoned everything from the past.” Di Yao bit her lower lip, looking quite pitiful. “Then… what about us?”

Lin Shao fell into thought. The complicated interpersonal relationships of the original owner were indeed a headache. He had thought he was just a lone beggar, but he never expected to be linked to such a peerless beauty. He didn’t like being dragged into other people’s grudges and debts, so he spoke plainly:

“Since I’ve drawn a line between myself and the past, I truly want to start over. Regarding all of you… if possible, I hope we can go back to being strangers.”

Realizing this sounded a bit like a “scumbag” speech, and seeing her look incredibly hurt, he quickly added:

“I don’t mean ‘strangers’ in a cold way. I mean we should start getting to know each other from scratch. If I—the person I was—ever did anything to wrong you, I’m willing to make amends or seek redemption within reason.”

‘I hope the original owner didn’t do anything too horrific. If he did something that gets me executed, I’ll flip through every corner of hell to find his soul and give him a thrashing!’

Di Yao fell silent for a long time before suddenly asking:

“Was your previous life… very exhausting?”

Lin Shao didn’t know if she was asking about him or the original owner. Since he didn’t know if the original owner’s life was hard, he answered from his own perspective:

“It was pretty exhausting.”

Years after graduating university without finding a suitable job, never daring to dream of a house or a car, no girlfriend, parents gone early, and spending most of the year struggling alone for reasons he didn’t even understand…

It really was exhausting.

“I see… so we all ignored your feelings.” Di Yao felt a wave of self-reproach. She and her sisters had only ever seen Master’s radiant glory, ignoring the pressure he bore. In the days before his sudden “fall,” he had already begun acting strangely—silent for days and exceptionally cold.

She had always believed Master’s death was caused by outsiders; lately, she had especially suspected the woman calling herself the “System.” But she had ignored Master’s own thoughts. Perhaps Master simply wanted to use death to find liberation and freedom.

“Starting over… it sounds like a beautiful thing.” She offered a small smile and extended her hand toward him. “Then let us get to know each other again. Let’s start over.”

Lin Shao was a bit confused, but as long as she wasn’t here to demand money, he was happy to cooperate.

Di Yao’s hand was soft, as smooth as jade. Lin Shao didn’t get obsessed or hold on too long; he gave a polite shake and pulled back. He felt her attitude had softened significantly, though it was still a bit… strange. He decided to ask:

“Did you come here on your own, or did your sister send you?”

“Sister?” Di Yao tilted her head, confused by the mention of a sister.

“The one I met in Liuli Hall yesterday.”

‘Wasn’t that just me?’ she thought. Why would Master say she was her own sister? Suddenly, her eyes flashed with realization.

Although Master said they would “start over,” she honestly didn’t know how. Her past memories and her current status made her feel restricted and stiff. By calling the version of her at the auction his “sister,” Master was effectively compartmentalizing the sixteen-year-old version of her.

Master had abandoned his past to become the current Lin Shao; she, too, could create a brand-new identity. She could use this fresh persona to get to know “Lin Shao” and live alongside him anew.

‘As expected of Master… his ways of playing are still so fresh and unique.’

Di Yao smiled brightly. “Please wait for me a moment.” With that, she turned and ran out of the shop.

When she re-entered, she had transformed back into her sixteen-year-old self, dressed in pure white, looking exactly as she had when they first spoke.

“Mas—cough. Boss Lin Shao, let’s get to know each other again. My name is Di… well, if I’m drawing a line with the past, I should use a new name, right? Hmm… I’ve got it.”

Di Yao took a deep breath, her eyes filled with light as she looked at Lin Shao. She smiled:

“Hello. Let’s start over. My name is Di Yao’er. Please take good care of me from now on.”