Shen Ying raised an eyebrow at his words. "What did you say?"
Lien replied, "Nothing. What I’m about to say might sound unbelievable to you, but I’ll prove every word of it is true."
"So no matter what you hear next, don’t be shocked, got it?"
Shen Ying said, "Go ahead."
Lien declared, "You’re not that bastard’s wife."
His emerald-green eyes locked onto her, ready to comfort her the moment she showed signs of shock or breakdown.
Of course, the most likely scenario was that she wouldn’t believe him at all.
Instead, he only saw her nod calmly. "Oh, that? I kinda figured as much. Didn’t expect it to be true, though."
Lien froze. She figured it out?
Then fury surged in his chest. "You knew and still played house with him?"
"Wait, no—screw playing house! You gave him my damn toys!"
Shen Ying noticed he brought it up again, but this time, it wasn’t a slip of the tongue. He was fully aware and genuinely believed those things she bought should’ve been his.
She feigned helplessness. "Officer Lien, didn’t we just discuss this? If you keep ‘misspeaking,’ I’ll be in a tough spot. My husband might misunderstand."
Lien snapped, "Misunderstand my ass! You know he’s a fraud!"
"Who cares what he thinks? Don’t tell me you’ve actually grown attached after just one day?"
As soon as he said it, the words felt oddly familiar.
Then it hit him—wasn’t this the same taunt Niu Xi and Lu Yu always threw at him?
Those idiots had mocked him for getting emotionally attached after sleeping with her.
Lien’s face flushed red, fueling his rage even further.
Shen Ying, however, replied lazily, "Then what else was I supposed to do? I can’t remember who I am or trace my origins."
"Alone and helpless, with a gentle, wealthy ‘husband’ showing up out of nowhere—what choice did I have? Might as well make do."
Lien scoffed. "Cut the act! Since when are you scared of being ‘helpless’ or broke? I told you, I know you better than you think."
So it really was like that, Shen Ying mused. This guy seemed to have some real insight into her.
Maybe he’d even witnessed her darker side, which was why he saw right through her pretense.
Having sized him up, she steered the conversation while his anger distracted him. "After all this talk, Officer Lien, what exactly is your relationship with me?"
Lien snorted, trying to muster a lovesick expression, but his irritation ruined the mood.
The lies he’d prepared no longer fit the atmosphere, but he forced them out anyway.
"I’m your lover."
"That bastard stole you from me and used some twisted tech to erase both our memories. He’s so sick he even placed us in the same neighborhood."
"Just so we’d face each other as strangers, feeding his sick satisfaction."
"Because back then, you only had eyes for me. He couldn’t stand it—drove him mad with jealousy."
Shen Ying’s eyes sparkled. "That’s… intense."
Lien frowned. "What?"
Realizing her excitement might be misplaced, she toned it down.
"But without proof, how can I just take your word for it?"
Lien smirked. "We’ve been intimate countless times. There’s not a single part of you I don’t know."
He leaned closer, seizing the rare chance to take the initiative. "Maybe I can help jog your memory?"
Before entering this world, he’d heard from Lu Yu about how the Crown Prince idiot had been tricked in the simulation space.
Even with lost memories, the remnants of his intense emotions for her led him to mistake her for his beloved—and got him swindled out of his body.
Now, even though Shen Ying’s memories were blocked, given their history, she wouldn’t feel unfamiliar.
Shen Ying stared at him in disbelief. "Officer Lien, do you think I’m an idiot?"
"What kind of cheap seduction plot is this? You spin a story, and I’m supposed to throw morality out the window to ‘verify’ it with you?"
This sharp-tongued, hot-tempered officer was unexpectedly thrilling.
Every bit of this could fuel an entire film’s worth of material.
Lien’s expression screamed, Cut the crap—since when do you turn down an offer like this?
Unable to resist his persistence, Shen Ying finally gave in and tested his claims.
Sure enough, as they touched, fragments of memories flashed through her mind—vivid, wild, and exhilarating.
She even glimpsed versions of Lien as a cat and a leopard, the sensitive tail and barbed tongue leaving the deepest impressions.
If these were truly her memories, losing them would’ve been a crime.
While Shen Ying marveled at the rediscovery, Lien felt cheated.
Entering this world, he’d known her memories would be blocked. This was a golden opportunity!
He’d been the luckiest, starting closest to her.
He’d expected to finally control her, take whatever he wanted—so why was this happening?
Why was his body betraying him, already conditioned to obey her commands?
Lien was furious at his own unplanned loss of control. But once the upper hand was lost, there was no reclaiming it.
By the time he stumbled out of the shaking car, he was questioning his own competence.
Was he really the fierce, ruthless space pirate? Since when did he follow orders?
Shen Ying stepped out after him, patting his shoulder. "Cheer up. At least it’s not our car—would’ve been bad if we dirtied it."
"And yet you still went wild. Tsk tsk."
Lien jerked his head up, glaring at her with bloodshot eyes.
The more he looked, the angrier he got. Finally, he grabbed her wrist. "You’re coming with me."
Without another word, he commandeered the car and sped out of the mall parking lot.
As they passed where the police car had been parked earlier, another vehicle brushed past them.
Shen Ying recognized it—her "husband’s" usual ride to work.
Seemed he’d gotten the news about her being in the exploded car.
She wondered what expression he was wearing now.
The car raced out of the city, heading into the distance. Lien stopped once to refuel.
Shen Ying noted his sharp anti-surveillance instincts—no camera caught his face.
He even distracted the gas station clerk with a staged commotion, ensuring no clear memory of him.
After tossing some water and snacks into the car, Lien took off again.
Shen Ying asked, "Where are you taking me?"
Lien replied, "Anywhere. We could just keep driving forever if we wanted."
She sighed. "Yesterday, I was living it up in a mansion. Now I’m on the run?"
Lien gritted his teeth. "I’m saving you, got it?"
"You really think the Emperor—that idiot—has good intentions? The moment he gains the upper hand over you and moves past that mental hurdle, he’ll dispose of you."
Shen Ying: "Rather than a pathetic, destitute end, I’d rather enjoy myself in luxury before dying."
Lien cursed inwardly—this woman truly was a corrupt official who’d embezzled billions through political schemes, clinging to extravagance even in the face of death.
Irritated, he snapped, "Don’t worry about it. I’ve got money—I won’t let you suffer."
As if afraid Shen Ying wouldn’t believe him, he added, "Tell me what you want."
"Wherever you choose, I can build you a lavish palace where you can indulge in wine pools and meat forests to your heart’s content."
Shen Ying smirked. "Does this 'meat' refer to Officer Lien?"
Lien’s face flushed instantly, a thrill running through him. If he seized the opportunity first, he could hide her away somewhere and have his fun.
As for Niu Xi and Lu Yu, who’d called him over only to be abandoned?
Who cared if they dropped dead? Did he even know them?
But fate had a way of mocking such thoughts.
Just as Lien was fantasizing, a figure suddenly appeared in front of his car. He couldn’t brake in time and slammed straight into them.
At that speed, any ordinary person would’ve been sent flying.
Yet the figure stood firm as a boulder, even crumpling the car’s front hood upon impact.
When Shen Ying nearly lurched forward from the inertia, two gentle but unyielding forces held her steady.
Lien looked up at the person in front of the car and exploded, "Are you trying to die?"
Shen Ying followed his gaze and saw the milk delivery guy grinning at Lien. "Where exactly were you planning to take her?"
