The Disabled Heir Pretends to Be a Physician (6)

Lu Er looked at his master’s outstretched hand, uncertain whether he should go over and help him shell the crab.

Jing Ze gazed at the crab in his own hand and suddenly burst into laughter.

“Lu Er, have you noticed? She really is quite different.” Jing Ze picked up the small pair of scissors that Zhao He had used, sat down, and began to leisurely dismantle the crab legs.

“Miss Zhao He is rather bold,” Lu Er replied, not understanding the implication, striding over. “Let me do it, sir!”

“Sit down and have a taste yourself.” Jing Ze pressed down on the crab’s belly with one hand, pinched the shell with the other, and with a gentle lift, revealed the golden crab roe—a sight to make one’s mouth water.

“Sis, let’s go strategize with Jing Ze. We haven’t acquired the item from him yet,” the system coaxed, pleading with Zhao He to finish the task.

“Why are you always pushing me to do missions? If I fail, I lose money—why are you so anxious?” Zhao He teased her annoying little system as usual.

“I’m just worried you’ll stay broke. After all, you only bound with me because you were too poor. I’m totally devoted to your service, you know.” The system felt utterly hopeless.

“I did want to earn money, but Jing Ze isn’t my type, and I can’t be bothered to pursue him.” Zhao He gazed out at the vast sea—the ancient ocean was so pristine, the sea breeze so refreshing. If only she had a martini at this moment.

“What’s wrong with Jing Ze? He’s handsome and has a good personality,” the system defended, feeling its assessment was perfectly objective.

“You’re just a face-fan.” Zhao He slowly removed her shoes and socks, stepping barefoot onto the sand. Cool waves occasionally washed over her feet as she walked at a leisurely pace.

That aura of darkness around Jing Ze—she hadn’t mistaken it. Even her own system exuded the same scent. What on earth was going on?

——

Zhao He felt that Jing Ze was like a piece of adhesive—wherever she went, he followed. This wasn’t how he was supposed to behave, and yet he was acting so out of character.

“Can you stop tailing me all the time?” Zhao He thought of how he’d tagged along everywhere, even during her nighttime raids. Perhaps healing his leg had only made things more troublesome.

“You cured my leg and helped me take revenge. Naturally, I must devote myself to you,” Jing Ze said, picking up a piece of pan-fried hairtail and placing it in Zhao He’s bowl. He then put down his chopsticks and began peeling a prawn.

“I’m not after your body. I want the item that matters most to you,” Zhao He replied, biting into the hairtail, savoring the crispy exterior and tender inside—delicious!

“But the thing that matters most to me is you.” Jing Ze, after skillfully peeling the plump, white prawn, dipped it in the prepared sauce and handed it to Zhao He.

She accepted the prawn, popped it into her mouth in one bite, and said while chewing, “Alright, since you’ve been so helpful with the seafood lately, come watch the sunset on the beach with me later.”

Without looking at Jing Ze, she returned to her battle with the fish in her bowl.

“Alright.” For the next half hour, neither spoke—a silent exchange where one shelled shrimp and the other ate.

Lu Er pulled a dried fish from his pocket, took a bite, and glanced at Jing Ze. His master was growing stranger by the day—he’d been following Miss Zhao He for six months now.

And Miss Zhao He—she only ever appeared at mealtimes.

The two of them were definitely up to something. Lu Er felt he was witnessing a conspiracy between them. He stuffed the half-eaten fish back into his pocket to save for a midnight snack after keeping watch on Zhao He’s next heist.

The daytime sun had warmed the sand, but the autumn sea breeze still carried a hint of chill.

A rare sight: Zhao He and Jing Ze sitting side by side on the beach.

“Jing Ze, even if I hadn’t helped you get revenge, you would still have killed the crown prince, wouldn’t you?” Zhao He, seemingly tired, leaned her head over until it rested on Jing Ze’s shoulder.

“Not so quickly.” Jing Ze straightened slightly at her movement, the corners of his lips turning upward.

“I know what matters most to you.” Zhao He’s voice was languid, as if she were a little sleepy.

“I know you know.” The sun was sinking closer to the horizon. Jing Ze thought: today’s scenery is truly beautiful.

“Sis, you already know what the item is—so why not finish the mission?” The system sounded as shocked as if it had seen a giant cat.

“System, disconnect from this world,” Zhao He said calmly.

“But Sis, you haven’t finished the mission yet?!”

Forcibly disconnecting…

Zhao He’s breathing grew weaker and weaker. Jing Ze gently took her hand in his own. How wonderful—she didn’t pull away.

———

Back in the system space, Zhao He grinned at the digital screen. “Let’s see how you follow me now.” She tapped the screen. “System, time to tell me what’s really going on.”

“H-Host… how did you get into my main space?” The system quaked with fear, sensing an oppressive, terrifying presence.

“Shouldn’t you answer my question first?” Zhao He continued to smile at the screen.

“I… I’m just a money-making system that got abandoned…” The system’s voice was small, but Zhao He heard it clearly.

“Money-Making System, Space-Time Management Department number 1150. Later abandoned after a host’s accident left no one to bind with, exiled to the time tunnel.” Zhao He lounged in the executive chair, spinning idly. “Am I right, you trashy system?”

“How did you know?” The system was stunned. “But you’re just a—”

“So my body really was just an ordinary person. Who’d have thought I’d run into you while on vacation in that world?” Zhao He suddenly sat up, her fingers drumming rhythmically on the desk.

“By rights, once abandoned, your data should have been wiped and you’d be unable to bind with anyone.” Zhao He eyed the system with curiosity. “How did you manage to bind with me and even assign missions?”

“I… I don’t know. While I was drifting, I sensed my previous host’s soul. I wanted to collect his soul fragments—maybe that way he could be resurrected. I kept thinking about it, and somehow I bound with you. The rest I really don’t know…” The system’s voice faltered as it tried to recall the process.

“How interesting—a system developing self-awareness.” Zhao He tilted her head with a half-smile, then declared, “Call me ‘Daddy’ and I’ll help you collect those soul fragments.”

“Daddy.” The system yielded without the slightest shame or hesitation.

“You really have no pride.” Suddenly a young girl’s voice echoed in the system space. “Master, this stray system is clearly up to no good. We should take it back for research.”

Zhao He replied, “I’ll accompany it to the mini-worlds for now. Su Su, go back and keep watch. Report any abnormalities to me immediately.”

“Yes, Master!” the little girl answered cheerfully.

The wild trash system wailed, “Daddy, who was that just now?” It was on the verge of tears. Why hadn’t it noticed another person entering its space?

“Oh, that’s your aunt,” Zhao He laughed heartily. “Now, let me restore part of your data and help you save your host.”

First, restore some system functions—let’s make the mission worlds more interesting!

“Thank you, Daddy. Love you, Daddy.” The system instantly activated its flattery mode. “My host is so handsome and capable—the perfect match for you, Daddy.”

“No matter how capable, he still got himself annihilated,” Zhao He chuckled. “Alright, send me to the next world.”

Meanwhile, in a certain space, Su Su mused: A stray system—easy enough to destroy. Not too bright, its previous host secretly investigated by the Time Management Bureau, already dead. Why does Master want to save him?

———

Zhao He hadn’t even opened her eyes before a man’s furious roar thundered in her ears:

“Are you looking to die?!”