Chapter 30: And Just Like That, My Cover Was Blown

"Young Master, how long have you been running the Quanwei Pavilion?" Fang Ning rolled over, staring intently at Si Yuheng.

Si Yuheng opened his eyes; in the darkness, they shone as bright as clear springs.

"You don't know how long the Quanwei Pavilion has been in Shichuan Town?" he countered calmly.

"I don't go to town often, so how would I know? Tell me, Young Master, is doing business difficult?"

"I imagine it isn't easy. I only came to Shichuan Town to recover from an illness; others handle the business. But you, on the other hand—I heard you taught those local thugs at the town entrance a lesson the other day. How did you manage that?"

*Damn it.*

He was turning the tables and prying for information.

"I was just more ruthless than them."

"But I heard you injured them. Have you studied martial arts?"

*I was careless. I walked right into his trap.*

"Fang Ning, who exactly are you?"

Si Yuheng suddenly flipped over, his sharp, intimidating gaze pinning Fang Ning down.

Fang Ning sensed the killing intent.

*Holy crap, is this guy actually planning to kill me?*

"I know you aren't Fang Ning."

"I stand by my name; I am exactly who I am: Fang Ning."

"No one changes their personality so drastically after nearly drowning, to the point of becoming a different person entirely—and even mastering martial arts," Si Yuheng said in a low voice, his tone heavy with pressure. "So, who are you?"

"Why are you guessing blindly?" Fang Ning replied with a calm face.

*If I just refuse to admit it, what can he do?*

Si Yuheng chuckled. "I have proof. Do you want to see it?"

"What proof?"

Si Yuheng reached out to tear at Fang Ning’s clothes.

Fang Ning: "..."

*Damn, does he know the original owner was a woman?*

Fang Ning certainly couldn't let him rip her clothes off, so she struck out at him.

The killing intent on Si Yuheng intensified. "You really aren't Fang Ning!"

"And you really are a reincarnate!" Fang Ning exposed his secret in return.

Si Yuheng was startled, a look of fatal determination surfacing in his eyes.

"Wait, let's talk this over." Realizing she was no match for Si Yuheng, Fang Ning chose to compromise. "Yuheng, perhaps we could cooperate."

"Cooperate? What exactly are you?"

Fang Ning chose to stop resisting as Si Yuheng held her wrists pinned down.

"To put it simply, I’m not from this world."

"Do you really think I’d believe you?"

***

"Big brother, if I were truly your enemy, I would have finished you off long ago instead of having my father save you. Let go!"

Si Yuheng, half-doubting, released her.

Fang Ning massaged her wrists, complaining, "You really have a heavy hand, brother."

"Cut the nonsense."

"My name is Fang Ning, and I come from a world thousands of years in the future. The original Fang Ning is indeed dead, and I took over his body."

"Evidence?"

"The fact that I know martial arts isn't enough? Besides, you saw it yourself—is the style I used something people in this world would know?"

She had used combat techniques, summarized and refined by people of the future through countless battles.

Si Yuheng had indeed been surprised by her form earlier; it was clean, efficient, and had a military air, yet it was far more practical than any boxing style used in the army.

"Tell me about you. Have you lived two lives?"

"How did you know?"

"From the moment we first met, you were testing me. Did you really think I wouldn't be suspicious?"

At this point, a flash of insight struck Fang Ning. She looked Si Yuheng up and down. "Don't tell me... you're my beautiful, moving fiancée?"

That was it. Yuheng must be Si Xingyun!

They were similar in height, and while their voices differed slightly, the timbre was somewhat the same. Moreover, when Si Xingyun came to see her, she always wore a bamboo hat, refusing to show her true face.

"Xingyun, it’s you, isn't it?"

Si Yuheng could neither deny nor admit it.

She never imagined that in forcing Fang Ning to reveal his identity, she had accidentally exposed her own secret as a woman. This Fang Ning was certainly no ordinary person.

"Young Master, are you sick?" Fang Ning asked sincerely. "You're a man—why would you get engaged to another man?"

"Because Fang Ning had to die," Si Yuheng said softly.

"Brother, if you need revenge, I might be able to help."

"Help me? No one in this world can help me. Fang Ning, if the identity of Xingyun is leaked, you will surely die."

"No, no, let's talk this out. If you're willing, I wouldn't mind marrying you, but as for the dowry..." Fang Ning rubbed her fingers together and let out a dry, awkward laugh.

Si Yuheng: "Are your eyes only filled with money?"

"You've seen how poor my family is. If your dowry isn't substantial, you'll only suffer along with me, and I'd feel terrible about that."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven."

"Are you insane?" Si Yuheng asked earnestly. "You're a man—why would you want to marry a man?"

Fang Ning: "..."

*Screw you!*

"Who are you, really?"

"Do you really not know who I am?"

***

In a flash, a cold dagger was pressed against Fang Ning's throat.

"Tell me, who... am... I?"

*This lunatic. Killing people at the drop of a hat.*

"You wouldn't happen to be some kind of Crown Prince, would you?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Fang Ning felt Si Yuheng's expression shift slightly.

*Holy crap, no way. I guessed right?*

"Look, Your Highness the Crown Prince, let's talk this over. Whatever you need, just say the word, and I will serve you with complete loyalty until my dying day."

Si Yuheng withdrew the dagger.

"You guessed wrong. I am no Crown Prince, merely the son of a minor marquis."

*Really? I don't believe it.*

"Young Master, you and I have no grudges, so there's no need for us to be at each other's throats, right? Isn't my father currently treating your poison? Don't worry, my father never takes on a task he can't handle."

"Are your father and mother also... your kind?"

"Yes, they are my own parents."

Since she couldn't hide it anymore, and she knew the story of this world, it was better to latch onto a powerful figure. Fang Ning was a pragmatist.

She didn't think that just because she was an agent, she was invincible or above everyone else.

"Then how did you get here?"

"An earthquake—or, as you call it, a 'ground tremor.' The three of us died, and to our surprise, we woke up in this world. Since we're alive, we might as well live properly. My parents are here, and having died once, I really want to live a good life."

"I will believe you for now."

"My father is a doctor, my mother is a cook. They truly don't have any hidden agendas. Your Highness, please be kind and let them live in peace. If you need any help, just tell me. We can have a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"And what do you want?"

"I want to take the imperial examinations."

"To enter officialdom?"

"Yes. Only by entering the government can I fulfill my ambitions. Your Highness, you still haven't told me your name."

"Yuheng. Xingyun is my courtesy name."

"The surname Si? Isn't that the imperial surname?"

"There are many people in this world surnamed Si. Not everyone is a member of the royal family."

"I don't think you're telling the truth."

"Whether you believe me or not is up to you; I'm not going to force you."

"Then, Your Highness, you must be well-versed in poetry and books, right? If you teach me how to study, I'll teach you some things that don't exist in this world. How about this trade?"