MTLNOVEL Chapter 112 - The System is Back
“It’s not just that you didn’t notice my feelings.” Jiang Zi’s tone carried a hint of grievance as she pinched Tang Yuan’s nose. “You don’t even remember me.”
Tang Yuan tried to defend herself. “I didn’t do it on purpose! The fading of memories is a protection mechanism for mission executors.”
“Alright, I can’t blame you then.” Jiang Zi accepted her explanation, but quickly returned to the earlier topic. “Back to our university relationship… you don’t remember us dating, do you?”
Hearing Jiang Zi’s question, Tang Yuan guiltily lowered her head, wrapping her arms around her knees. She mumbled, “Maybe it’s because I’m not the original Tang Yuan, which caused the memory loss.”
Jiang Zi lifted her chin, making her meet her gaze. “Funny, I don’t have any memories of that either.”
Tang Yuan froze for a moment before her mind quickly pieced things together.
Her brows furrowed. “Our memories were tampered with?”
The memory chain she inherited after merging with this body had been seamless—no blank gaps. The only possibility was that someone had altered them.
Jiang Zi, having heard every thought running through Tang Yuan’s mind, curved her lips into a smile and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Dear, have you ever considered that… you are the original Tang Yuan?”
“Huh?” Tang Yuan tilted her head, eyes full of confusion. “Why would you think that?”
Jiang Zi cleared her throat, avoiding the question. She stood up to pour a glass of water, leaving Tang Yuan with a tall, graceful silhouette.
Seeing her avoid eye contact and stay silent, Tang Yuan sensed something was off. She stood up and followed her, asking, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Tang Yuan reached out to poke her arm.
“I’m telling you, you know— I came to this world when I was choking you in the pool during the filming of Qin Yan Tales. You’re so smart, you must’ve figured that out already, right?”
“‘Came’ isn’t the right word. It should be ‘returned.'” Jiang Zi set down the glass, her fox-like eyes glinting with thought as she glanced at Tang Yuan. “You mentioned before that this world’s Tang Yuan awakened her consciousness and went to work at the Book Transmigration Bureau.”
“That’s right.” Tang Yuan’s tone remained steady, even lighthearted. She smiled, eyes curving. “When did you hear me say that?”
Jiang Zi instantly knew she was doomed. If she admitted she’d been hearing Tang Yuan’s inner thoughts all along, there was no way she’d smooth things over without a gift.
So she chose to dodge. Gazing at the ceiling, she muttered, “Maybe you said it in your sleep? I don’t remember.”
Tang Yuan was so amused she actually laughed. Could someone be more obvious about lying?
Jiang Zi held out for three seconds before sneaking a glance at Tang Yuan—arms crossed, eyes half-lidded, still red from crying earlier.
Jiang Zi circled behind her, placing her hands on Tang Yuan’s shoulders and gently guiding her toward the bathroom. “There are still some things I haven’t figured out. We’ll talk about it tomorrow when we get home, dear. It’s late—take a shower and go to sleep, okay?”
At the bathroom door, she added, “I’ll get your pajamas.”
Tang Yuan could tell she was hiding something but decided to let it go for now. Hmph, still thinking about showering together? Dream on.
While Jiang Zi went to find the pajamas, Tang Yuan slipped inside and locked the door behind her in one swift motion.
It was indeed late, but neither of them felt sleepy.
After their showers, they lay in bed with the lights off, staring into the darkness for a long time.
When Tang Yuan opened her eyes, she saw the faint glow of Jiang Zi’s phone screen.
Her mind was a mess, replaying Jiang Zi’s words about her being the original Tang Yuan.
Her memories and emotions had fused seamlessly with this body—something she never questioned before. Only now did she realize her memories had likely been altered.
The system had gone off to upgrade, with no set return date. But it had been bound to her from the start—it must know something.
Those years she spent as someone’s white moonlight, with Jiang Zi always present… that couldn’t be mere fate or coincidence.
Jiang Zi wasn’t a staff member at the Book Transmigration Bureau—could ten worlds really be explained by fate alone?
When she opened her eyes again, Jiang Zi had put her phone away and was lying on her side, watching her.
Jiang Zi shifted, wrapping an arm around Tang Yuan’s waist. “Can’t sleep?”
Tang Yuan blinked. “My mind’s a mess.”
She snuggled closer. “Sis… when did you remember your two past lives?”
“Not long ago. I didn’t awaken any memories in the previous worlds… but my instincts told me—if you’re there, then so am I.”
Tang Yuan chuckled softly, the tension in her heart easing. She hugged Jiang Zi back, burying herself in her arms. “Alright, I’ll tell you some funny stories about my time as the white moonlight.”
Jiang Zi hummed noncommittally, clearly not thrilled.
“You don’t want to hear?”
“If I don’t remember, I’ll get jealous.”
Listening to stories about Tang Yuan and someone else—she couldn’t relate.
“Alright then, I won’t tell.”
Jiang Zi brushed Tang Yuan’s hair behind her ear, voice muffled. “No… tell me. I want to hear.”
Tang Yuan, knowing her little temper too well, launched into an exaggerated retelling—complete with embellishments. She couldn’t stop herself from giggling in the dark.
Most of the stories were made up. Her life had been short—where would she have found time for tender moments with the heroine? She’d barely paid attention to the heroine, convinced she was the male lead’s white moonlight.
Now she was just making things up, relying on Jiang Zi’s missing memories to talk nonsense.
The night passed with Tang Yuan’s one-sided monologue. By morning, neither of them had slept.
After a quick breakfast, they caught a flight home, napping for two hours on the plane before crashing for several more hours once they landed.
When Tang Yuan finally woke up, groggy and disoriented, she fumbled for her phone to check the time—8 PM.
【Host, you’re finally awake.】
Her bleary eyes stared at the screen, still processing.
【I’ve been back from my two-week upgrade and you’re not answering me?】
The familiar voice echoed in her mind. She sat up, scanning the room for Jiang Zi before replying.
“Why are you back? Didn’t you say your return date was uncertain?”
【Host, please refrain from spreading falsehoods—I never said that.】
Tang Yuan couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Whatever. I have more important questions.”
【I also have crucial information for you as well. Due to this world’s rules being corrected, key characters’ fates have deviated from their original trajectory. This small world has now become independent—no longer under the influence of world consciousness.】