In that instant, Xu Qingqing wanted to ask many things. How much did Xie Lianqing know? What exactly was the deal with the System? How did he suddenly become so familiar with it...
But she swallowed these questions, opened her palm to reveal the shattered jade bead, and said softly, "It's broken."
She remembered this jade bead. Back when she was sick, Xie Lianqing had personally gone to a Taoist temple in another province to get it for her.
Xie Lianqing had rushed back then, not daring to delay for a moment, and hung the bead around her neck, wishing for her health and safety. And now, this bead was shattered.
In her pale palm lay the broken green jade. Xie Lianqing glanced down at it and said quietly, "I'll give you another one later."
Xu Qingqing withdrew her hand and asked, somewhat awkwardly, "Do you want to make up with me? Aren't you angry anymore?"
She knew Xie Lianqing's mood probably wasn't great after she left from the airport back then. Later, when he stopped looking for her, he was likely very angry too.
Xie Lianqing let out a shallow sigh and said helplessly, "You don't know how long I spent searching for you. How could I bear to be angry with you?"
If they hadn't experienced life and death separation, perhaps he would still be upset about such things. But now, just seeing Xu Qingqing standing alive and well before him was enough to satisfy him.
Although Xu Qingqing didn't ask, Xie Lianqing quickly told her everything about their previous life, including Bai Youlan, the System, and the struggle with the World Consciousness.
As for how he meticulously plotted revenge for her after her death in the previous life, he glossed over it simply, only saying he found the System, reversed time, and that was how they met again.
For Xie Lianqing, those memories were absolutely not beautiful, filled with pain and despair. Most importantly, Xu Qingqing was alive and well now; she only needed to live happily and didn't need to understand the pain and twists of his past.
Xu Qingqing also didn't realize the price Xie Lianqing paid to reverse time. She naively thought that as the male lead of this story, he could easily accomplish all this with the help of the World Consciousness after detecting Bai Youlan's anomalies.
She asked curiously, "You just said the System has no time to mind what I say now. Does that mean my inability to reveal the truth to others is all because of the System?"
Xie Lianqing explained calmly, "Yes. Bai Youlan and the System are from another world, supported by other forces. To prevent detection by the World Consciousness, the System set up a barrier. Whenever someone tries to speak the truth related to them, strange phenomena and warnings occur."
Xu Qingqing frowned, not understanding. "But didn't the World Consciousness already know?"
Xie Lianqing and the World Consciousness reversed time; surely the latter didn't lose its memory too. If it was deliberately ignoring things, that would be too much.
After regaining his memories today, Xie Lianqing came to find Xu Qingqing first thing. Besides missing her and wanting to see her soon, there was one most important thing he needed to tell her immediately.
He said, "What I need to tell you is precisely this. Reversing time comes at a cost. The World Consciousness has now fallen into a deep slumber and, though willing, lacks the strength to deal with it."
The System and Bai Youlan initially carefully avoided the gaze of the World Consciousness precisely because they hadn't yet realized this. If they found out, they would likely become even more rampant.
Xie Lianqing looked at Xu Qingqing and said, "I need to go to another province. You should go abroad for a while to avoid them."
Because of Bai Youlan, the System cannot manipulate places too far away. What he was about to do next was dangerous, and he didn't want Xu Qingqing to stay here under the System's threat.
If Xie Lianqing wasn't mistaken, the Taoist priest who gave him the bead was likely one of the incarnations of the World Consciousness. Probably his suicide in the previous life had left too great a shadow on the other party. In this life, although the World Consciousness was healing, it still separated an incarnation to give him help and hints.
So, Xie Lianqing planned to go to that Taoist temple in another province to find that priest, contact the World Consciousness through him, and then deal with the System and the forces behind it.
After hearing this, Xu Qingqing frowned slightly but felt hesitant. Xie Lianqing said the System was now on the verge of collapse and, desperate to complete its mission, was very likely to target her.
But Xu Qingqing was worried that if she left now, the System might instead target the people around her.
Like Xie Lianqing, the Xu family, Zhou Chenyu, Le Jiaojiao, and others.
Xie Lianqing, being the original male lead and bearing the title of Son of Fortune, was less of a concern. But her grandparents were just ordinary people. Faced with the System's schemes, they had no means of defense or response.
Xu Qingqing feared the unknown danger but was unwilling to put her family and friends in peril because of herself, leaving her deeply conflicted.
Fortunately, after hearing her concerns, Xie Lianqing quickly explained, "The System currently has little energy left. To complete its mission, it should only want to quickly extract the fortune value from you and won't waste energy on other unrelated people."
Reassured by Xie Lianqing's guarantee, Xu Qingqing relaxed. Back when she observed Bai Youlan through videos, the System hadn't discovered her, proving Xie Lianqing's words were valid.
She understood now was not the time for hesitation and immediately prepared to go home, pack her things, and get ready to leave. University A was about to start the new semester; she still needed to notify friends, prepare paperwork, etc...
Xie Lianqing accompanied Xu Qingqing into the Xu residence and instructed, "Focus on preparing for the Parsons School opening. Don't return to the country without my notification."
Hearing about school, Xu Qingqing recalled her second dream. Although she had guessed most of the truth, she still wanted to confirm it with Xie Lianqing to ensure she wasn't missing any important information.
Xu Qingqing certainly didn't want to be the fool in TV dramas who hides crucial clues!
After hearing Xu Qingqing describe the dream's content, Xie Lianqing frowned and said, "It was the System."
He had only transmitted information about the future to Xu Qingqing once, which was during her first dream of the future.
As for the content of the dream, Xie Lianqing guessed it was a scenario fabricated by the System to deceive Xu Qingqing for its mission.
Xu Qingqing was originally the world's female lead, possessing sufficient fortune. Without the System's deliberate interference, her life should have been smooth sailing. An incident like encountering a campus assailant would never have happened to her.
Learning that the scene of her death in the dream was not the real future, Xu Qingqing could now go to school with peace of mind.
Time was urgent. Xie Lianqing still needed to hurry to find that secluded Taoist priest and contact the World Consciousness to locate the System. After accompanying Xu Qingqing into the Xu house, he softly urged her to set off as soon as possible, then hastily bid farewell and left.
Outside, the sky was growing dark, the sunset slowly sinking. Several hours had passed since Xu Qingqing received Xu Changshan's phone call, to her and her assistant rushing to the Xu family home.
Grandfather Xu and Grandmother Xu happened to be out at the moment. Standing in the empty house, Xu Qingqing took a deep breath.
Too many things had happened in just one day. Xie Lianqing's words still echoed in her ears. Remembering the system's strange text when she left Xu Changshan's home, she immediately pushed aside her emotions and had her assistant apply for a flight route so she could leave by plane as soon as possible.
She herself went upstairs to pack her luggage.
...
By the time Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu learned about this, it was already evening.
At the dinner table, Xu Qingqing casually mentioned that there was an unexpected issue with her school application documents, requiring her personal presence to resolve it urgently. Therefore, she would likely leave in a few days.
She didn't mention the system or that this world was a novel, worried that her grandparents wouldn't be able to accept it, so she simply made up a reason to gloss over it.
Unexpectedly, Grandpa and Grandma Xu didn't pay much mind to this matter. After all, they were used to their granddaughter going on trips; she would be back after some time anyway.
It was another matter that truly concerned them.
Grandma Xu leaned in, speaking mysteriously, "I heard you and Xiao Xie made up?"
They weren't home today, but the butler and assistants had seen it! Xu Qingqing and Xie Lianqing talked for a long time outside, and even hugged and kissed!
Grandma Xu and Grandpa Xu had long hoped for Xu Qingqing and Xie Lianqing to reconcile. Hearing this news, they were both delighted.
After all, they could see clearly that the young couple still had feelings for each other. And given Xie Lianqing's character, he would absolutely never treat their granddaughter poorly in the future. In the elders' eyes, this was a wonderful match! It would be such a shame for their granddaughter to miss out.
Xu Qingqing was still immersed in the sorrow of soon parting from her family. While she usually went out to play and could return anytime, this departure was different. With the system unresolved, she probably wouldn't be able to come home.
Hearing her grandparents' gossipy inquiry, her shoulders slumped, and she said weakly, "So that's all you care about. I'm telling you I'm going abroad, and you don't even mind."
Was she still their precious granddaughter or not!
Hearing her granddaughter's dissatisfied question, Grandma Xu laughed and said, "Why has this child suddenly become so attached to home? You travel abroad so many times a year. This is just going to the school to sort out some documents; you'll be back in a few days."
Because of the breakup, Xu Qingqing had gone on a trip for a month not long ago. In the eyes of the Xu elders, this was no longer a big deal.
Xu Qingqing immediately understood what her grandparents were thinking. Pouting, she said helplessly, "After I leave this time, I'll probably have to stay abroad until school starts, and maybe I won't come back for the next few years."
The smile on Grandma Xu's face instantly froze.
Grandpa Xu, who had been pretending to read the newspaper nearby, also frowned and spoke up, "Why won't you come back? What about A University? You haven't even started the semester yet. Even though there are no classes, aren't you going to graduate from school?"
Xu Qingqing stammered, "I might come back for the thesis defense, but if the teacher says it can be done online, then I won't come back."
Grandma Xu didn't quite agree, "No need to be in such a hurry. It would be nice if you stayed home a bit longer. Did you take your grandpa's recent nagging about your studies to heart? Is that why you're thinking this way?"
She knew Xu Qingqing planned to study abroad for a few years, but before the actual parting, she hadn't felt this sadness. Now, hearing the child announce she was leaving soon, Grandma Xu suddenly found it hard to accept.
Xu Qingqing shook her head, "It's the school advisor who contacted me, saying I need to go early. I also plan to get familiar with life there as soon as possible."
In the end, Grandma Xu and Grandpa Xu agreed with Xu Qingqing's decision, though they both seemed somewhat downcast.
Aunt Xu had moved to her own place after becoming an adult. Now, only the two of them and Xu Qingqing were at home. Once their granddaughter left, they didn't know how empty the house would feel.
Xu Qingqing heard her grandfather comforting her grandmother, saying, "Why be sad? If you miss our granddaughter, we can just move there to accompany her! We bought that ranch last time; it'll be a good chance to go out and have some fun..."
Approving the flight route and preparing the private jet would take some time. Xu Qingqing also needed to contact her academic advisor to request leave and explain the situation. Grandpa and Grandma Xu busied themselves packing things for her.
Knowing that Xu Qingqing wouldn't be back for a long time after this trip, Grandma Xu wanted to pack everything for her.
Xu Qingqing also felt quite sad but couldn't say she wasn't going.
That night, Xu Qingqing had worried the system might use the same dream-invasion tactic as last time. Unexpectedly, she slept very soundly.
Early the next morning, after getting up, Xu Qingqing heard bustling downstairs. Probably her grandparents were again searching for something they insisted she must take.
She went downstairs in her pajamas for breakfast. Glancing around the house, she saw people busy in the garden.
Xu Qingqing didn't know how long it would be before she returned after this departure. She decided to go out for a look and get some fresh air. Due to the system's threats in recent days, she hadn't planned to go out, intending to only move around the house.
Just as Xu Qingqing stepped out the door, she suddenly felt a piercing chill. She instinctively stopped. The next second, a flowerpot the size of a head crashed down right in front of her.
With a loud thud, the heavy flowerpot shattered on the ground.
If Xu Qingqing hadn't stopped just then, if she had taken just one more step forward, it would have hit her directly.
She stood rooted to the spot, her whole body turning cold.
In that instant, she quickly thought of Xie Lianqing's reason for hurriedly leaving and his warnings to her. Had the system already detected something and was now making a move against her?
The maid from upstairs rushed down in a panic. The butler and Grandpa and Grandma Xu also came running out. Everyone gasped upon seeing the scene.
"What happened?! How could anyone be so careless?!" Grandma Xu, usually so kind, was already anxious about Xu Qingqing's impending departure. Now, witnessing her granddaughter nearly lose her life, she couldn't help but fly into a rage.
The maid had worked for the Xu family for many years and had never made such a mistake. She was also terrified, her face pale. If Miss Xu had taken one more step forward, she would have had a death on her hands!
Faced with Grandma Xu's questioning, she turned pale, her voice stuttering, "I didn't touch it. I clearly put it inside. I don't know why it suddenly fell. Maybe it was the wind."
"I'm so sorry, Miss Xu, I'm so sorry..." The maid hurriedly apologized. Grandma Xu and Grandpa Xu both looked livid.
Xu Qingqing finally snapped back to reality. She felt cold and couldn't help wrapping one arm around herself. She said to the maid, "It's not your fault. Please go back to work."
Xu Qingqing gave Grandpa and Grandma Xu a meaningful look and said, "Grandpa, Grandma, I have something to tell you."
Xu Qingqing finally decided to tell Grandpa and Grandma Xu everything.
Initially, she hadn't wanted to tell them because she was afraid they would worry and live in fear after learning the truth. Besides, she simply thought that if she acted quickly enough, the system wouldn't have time to strike.
But now that the system had brazenly invaded her home, Xu Qingqing had no choice but to tell her grandparents, so they could also be on guard.
Although Xie Lianqing had already analyzed it, Xu Qingqing still couldn't imagine what would have happened if it weren't her, but her grandparents who had the accident today.
During the short walk upstairs, Xu Qingqing remained immersed in the recent crisis. Her heart raced the entire way as she pondered how to tell her grandparents the truth.
After entering the study, Xu Qingqing thought for a moment and was just about to speak when Grandpa Xu, who was right behind her, suddenly yanked her back with force.
At the same moment, a large section of the bookshelf in front of Xu Qingqing crashed down with a tremendous roar.
Xu Qingqing was frozen in shock. She hadn't expected the System to have gone this mad. This bookshelf was custom-made and nailed to the wall decades ago; it was unbelievable that it would fail today.
If her grandfather hadn't pulled her back, being hit by it would have meant serious injury at best, or even death. And if she were injured and bedridden, leaving City A would become even more impossible!
"What happened? What happened?!" Grandma Xu, who was last to enter, rushed forward in a few quick steps.
She grabbed Xu Qingqing and asked urgently, "Are you alright, dear? It's all your grandfather's fault! I told him back then to replace this bookshelf, but he insisted it was fine and couldn't bear to part with it…"
Grandma Xu was clearly badly shaken by the series of near-accidents involving Xu Qingqing. While she couldn't help but blame Grandpa Xu verbally, her heart suddenly raced as she recalled Xu Qingqing's month-long serious illness after the nightmare, wondering if her granddaughter had attracted some malevolent force again!
Grandpa Xu's sharp gaze was also fixed on the fallen bookshelf on the floor, his brow furrowed deeply, perhaps sharing the same thought as his wife.
Seeing the grave expressions on her grandparents' faces, Xu Qingqing had no time to dwell on her own fear. She took a deep breath, deciding not to delay any longer, and said, "It's not Grandpa's or Aunt Zhang's fault… This has nothing to do with them…"
...
Xu Qingqing finally finished explaining everything. From her first dream foreseeing the future, to the existence of Bai Youlan and the System, and Bai Youlan's conspiracy…
Upon learning the truth, Chairman Xu and his wife were stunned. They looked at each other, remaining silent for a long time.
Xu Qingqing felt nervous, worried that her grandparents might think she had gone mad. After all, it was difficult for ordinary people to quickly accept the idea that they were living in a fictional world.
Unexpectedly, after a long contemplation, Grandpa Xu's first question was, "Qingqing, when did you find out about all this? Why didn't you tell us at the beginning? Were you afraid we wouldn't believe you?"
Grandma Xu's heart ached too, saying, "You're usually such a delicate child. Weren't you scared this time?"
If that System and Bai Youlan's conspiracy were truly so terrifying, then Xu Qingqing facing them alone was far too dangerous.
As elders, they prided themselves on providing shelter for their child, yet they hadn't realized she had been in such prolonged danger, forced to confront and handle it by herself. They didn't know how frightened she must have been during that time, and they hadn't been able to help at all.
Both Grandpa and Grandma Xu felt a deep sense of failure for not having detected any abnormality in their granddaughter.
Xu Qingqing clenched her hands and said softly, "In my junior year of college, when you were traveling. I couldn't say anything before because the System was monitoring, but now I can."
She tried to comfort her family, saying, "It's okay. It's over now, and I wasn't harmed."
Having been titans of the business world for decades, Chairman Xu and his wife didn't find the idea of living in a novel particularly unacceptable. Although they were distressed, they couldn't let their granddaughter worry about them any further.
Grandma Xu contacted Aunt Xu, asking her to return home as soon as possible. Later, while chatting with Xu Qingqing, she even said with an open mind, "In the eyes of people from other worlds, we might be characters in a novel, but couldn't it also be a parallel reality?"
After all, they were living, breathing people with beating hearts and flesh and blood, and their world felt real.
Relieved by her grandparents' open-mindedness, Xu Qingqing relaxed a little.
Just then, Grandpa Xu hesitated for a moment before asking, "From what you said, in the book, Changshan he…"
As parents, Chairman Xu and his wife still held a sliver of hope for their son. After all, according to Xu Qingqing, without the System and Bai Youlan, Xu Qingqing's family should have been perfect, and her mother would still be alive.
So, could Xu Changshan's current monstrous transformation be because of the System? Xu Qingqing also mentioned that Bai Youlan possessed many supernatural tools that could invade dreams and alter people's minds.
Xu Qingqing's expression changed slightly. "Xie Lianqing said he also cheated in the book, but he would hide it from my mom. Why he changed so drastically in this lifetime… I don't know either…"
In this lifetime, Xu Changshan had fallen utterly and completely in love with Bai Yaxiu, calling her the true love of his life and stubbornly insisting on divorcing Lin Jiangxue.
Chairman Xu and his wife looked disappointed, their expressions unreadable.
So, Xu Changshan would still cheat, but he wouldn't descend to the later, more deranged extremes.
Chairman Xu and his wife had personally witnessed the youthful, childhood sweetheart love between Xu Changshan and Lin Jiangxue, and had always found it hard to believe Xu Changshan could be so heartless as to abandon his wife and daughter.
Thinking of Lin Jiangxue, who died with unresolved bitterness, and the changes across these two lifetimes, Chairman Xu and his wife were momentarily at a loss, unsure how to judge whether it was for better or worse.
Xu Qingqing also didn't know how to face this. She hated Xu Changshan and could not forgive his actions, yet she couldn't know her mother's true thoughts.
In the ending of the previous lifetime, at least her mother was alive and well, possessing the power of choice, unlike in this lifetime where she was betrayed, abandoned, and ultimately died resentfully…
Xu Qingqing inexplicably recalled a childhood memory of seeing Xu Changshan and Lin Jiangxue, both in tears, and felt a pang of hesitation.
For a moment, the mood in the room was somber.
The heavy silence in the study was broken by Chairman Xu. He let out a long sigh and declared decisively, "Since Lianqing has already told you, Qingqing, don't hesitate. You must leave now."
Xu Qingqing had already encountered two accidents in the Xu family home today alone. What about later?
The longer she stayed, the more frantic that System would become, and the more unsafe Xu Qingqing would be.
Grandma Xu had initially wanted Xu Qingqing to see Aunt Xu before leaving, but after hearing her husband's analysis, she changed her mind.
She urged Xu Qingqing, "Leave now, dear. Don't worry about packing if your luggage isn't ready. Buy what you need when you get there, and we'll send the essentials to you."
They had originally planned to accompany Xu Qingqing abroad, but now they decided not to go. Since Xu Qingqing said the unknown System was currently extremely volatile, if they all left, leaving only Aunt Xu behind, Chairman Xu and his wife would be even more worried about their daughter.
So, they decided to send Xu Qingqing away and stay behind to be with their daughter. That way, no matter what happened, at least Xu Qingqing would be safe.
Xu Qingqing didn't yet realize her grandparents had considered things to this extent. She also tried to pull herself together and immediately stood up with her grandparents, walking out of the room.
She knew she was in danger now, so she disagreed with her grandparents seeing her off at the airport. However, no matter how much she refused, they remained firm.
Half an hour later, Grandpa Xu said, "Let's go."
To prevent any accidents, they cautiously checked the brakes before getting into the car. Sure enough, the first car they chose had faulty brakes.
The group looked grim. They proceeded to inspect several more cars in succession, only getting in after confirming everything was in order.
Once inside the car, everyone was a bit tense because of the earlier brake issue. Grandma Xu sat beside Xu Qingqing, holding her hand tightly.
Halfway through the journey, a car suddenly swerved out of control and charged towards them. Fortunately, their driver was prepared and reacted swiftly, avoiding the other vehicle and preventing an accident.
The journey to the airport was nerve-wracking for everyone. It wasn't until Xu Qingqing finally arrived at the airport that they could relax a little. To avoid further complications, Xu Qingqing left on a private jet.
After the plane departed from City A, Xu Qingqing indeed encountered no more strange incidents. Yet she knew this matter was far from over; it was just that Xie Lianging and her family had taken on the pressure for her.
Xie Lianging had also learned about her recent mishaps. He comforted her in a gentle tone, but after hanging up, his expression turned grave as he prepared to accelerate his plans.
A few days later, Xie Lianging called Xu Qingqing. His first words were, "Bai Youlan's body couldn't withstand the backlash. The system has escaped."
They didn't know where the system had fled to and could only search slowly. Fortunately, Xu Qingqing was safe abroad.
As for Bai Youlan, after bleeding and fainting during the live stream, she had become comatose, a vegetative state. Medical examinations could find nothing wrong, ultimately attributing it to a fit of rage. Without Bai Youlan, the factory projects the Lin family had collaborated on with her could no longer proceed, including the currently most profitable 'Spring Water' series.
Losing the cash cow that was 'Spring Water,' the Lin family's capital recovery slowed even further. They had originally been counting on 'Spring Water' to generate stable profits and gradually recoup their lost funds. Now, they were suddenly at an impasse.
While Grandpa Lin and others considered the interests at stake, Grandma Lin, after learning what Xu Qingqing had revealed during the live stream, threw several fits at home, refusing to allow Bai Yaxiu and her daughter into the Lin family.
The Lin family seized the opportunity and acted outraged upon learning the truth, wanting to call off the engagement with the Xu family. However, the male lead, Lin Donghan, would rather forfeit his status as heir than agree to this decision.
...
Upon learning of this, Xu Qingqing didn't feel like kicking them while they were down. She and Xie Lianging sighed over it, never expecting her cousin to have genuine feelings for Bai Youlan after all...
This episode was inconsequential to Xu Qingqing's life. Afterwards, she began to ponder the system that had originally been attached to Bai Youlan. Now that Bai Youlan was in a vegetative state, she wondered where the system could have escaped to.
As time passed, this struggle gradually came to an end. The fleeing system was engulfed by the world's consciousness, and the channel for external intruders was sealed.
Under the siege by the Xu and Xie families, the Lin family's assets shrank to a meager remnant, completely falling from the ranks of City A's elite. Lin Donghan had long been stripped of his position as the Lin family heir, and his affairs with Bai Youlan no longer attracted public attention.
On the day the system was engulfed by the world's consciousness, Xu Qingqing dreamed of the true second half of the book.
She saw everything Xie Lianging had done for her in her previous life. She saw him relentlessly pursuing the culprit, avenging her, and finally, in despair, taking his own life, gently leaving memory clues for her...
Xu Qingqing's soul stood to the side, watching it all, then slowly knelt down. She placed her hands on her knees, quietly watching Xie Lianging as he slowly collapsed to the ground.
She tilted her head, looking at Xie Lianging, waved her hand in front of his eyes, and said softly, "Xie Lianging, I've come to see you. Wake up."
But this was merely a dream traversing time and space. Xie Lianging could not see his beloved beside him, nor could he hear her call.
All he possessed was endless pain, seeking release in despair.
As his life faded, Xie Lianging slowly closed his eyes. In the final moment before consciousness vanished, he faintly saw a teardrop fall from the air.
