Chapter Seventy-Five: True Countenance

“Host, please don’t say any more…” Even the system couldn’t stand these words!

Chu Bing clenched her teeth in frustration; what else could she say but this? It was still better than admitting that beneath her own face lay another one.

Li Mohan’s dark eyes fixed on Chu Bing, staring so intensely she felt her skin crawl. Only then did he look away, speaking in a calm tone, “It’s late. You should return and rest early.”

In fact… dawn was fast approaching.

Feeling guilty, Chu Bing didn’t argue. She hurried off at once, her retreating figure resembling someone fleeing in panic.

Li Mohan watched her leave, his gaze deep and inscrutable. Hongxiu, what exactly are you hiding from me?

Chu Bing escaped from Li Mohan’s room and rushed into her own, shutting the door behind her. She slid down against the wall, covering her face and groaning in agony.

How utterly humiliating!

The system sneered coldly in her mind, “Congratulations, Host, you actually know what it means to be embarrassed!”

“Shut up!” Chu Bing snapped. “We’re in this together now! If my identity is exposed and something goes wrong, you won’t be able to complete your mission either!”

The system fell into an odd silence.

A sudden flash of insight crossed Chu Bing’s mind. The system had always threatened her with exploding on the spot if she failed the mission, but in reality, it had never done her any real harm! Even the electric shocks merely left her hands and feet numb for a short time.

Moreover, Li Haoran had been missing for quite a while, and she’d stayed hidden in the Li household. By all rights, the system should have punished her long ago!

Yet it had only ever made empty threats.

Perhaps… the system didn’t have as much control over her as it claimed?

She let this thought pass quickly through her mind, careful not to let the system catch on, and continued to banter with it as if nothing had changed. “If you’re so powerful, why don’t you give me a little help? Just tell me where Li Haoran is and be done with it!”

The system went silent, refusing to engage with a host who only wanted easy answers.

Early the next morning, the chickens in the yard were already crowing, but Chu Bing had slept so late the night before that she was still lounging in bed, unwilling to get up.

Li Mohan finished his martial arts practice and walked into the courtyard, glancing instinctively at Chu Bing’s room.

No movement at all.

He hesitated, then walked toward her door.

The hen in its cage clucked restlessly. Li Mohan glanced at it, his fingers twitching. With a subtle burst of inner force, he sealed the hen’s throat.

The hen collapsed on the spot.

Li Mohan pushed open the door.

Chu Bing lay on the bed, her breathing steady.

She was still sleeping.

Li Mohan hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind him.

He approached the bed, looming over the woman with closed eyes.

Her face was fair and delicate, her curled lashes charming.

Li Mohan’s fingers stirred.

He slowly bent down, suddenly pressing his hand to Chu Bing’s face. Was this face real, or a disguise?

Last night, he’d questioned his own eyes, haunted by the image of the crack on Chu Bing’s face.

He’d once heard of a rare secret art—face-changing technique. It was legendary among martial artists, but few had ever seen it firsthand.

If his guess was correct, Chu Bing’s face wore a mask forged by this very art.

He pressed a little harder. With a soft crack, the mask on Chu Bing’s face surfaced like plaster.

Li Mohan lifted the mask, slowly revealing a completely different face beneath.

His eyes narrowed. This face… he knew it.

It was the girl who had saved him at the temple!

Hongxiu was Chu Bing!

She had deceived him! Why?

Emotions flickered in Li Mohan’s gaze, then slowly settled into calm.

He covered her face with the mask once more, turned away, and left the room without a sound.

The house grew quiet again, as if nothing had happened.

Chu Bing awoke close to noon.

Sunlight streamed through the window, filling the room with brightness.

She leapt out of bed in a panic. “Oh no! Old Zhang will be after me for sure!”

“That’s all you’re worried about?” the system muttered in exasperation.

Chu Bing ignored it, hastily dressed and opened her door, spotting the sluggish hen in the coop.

“Huh? Did the medicine I gave it yesterday finally take effect? It looks like it’s about to die,” she wondered aloud, waggling her fingers at the bird. The hen ignored her.

The system couldn’t stand her cluelessness and was about to tell her what had happened while she slept when Old Zhao walked in from outside.

He spotted Chu Bing and immediately sneered, “Some people are born to be maids, yet they act like young ladies, sleeping until noon!”

Chu Bing scratched her nose.

“Uncle Zhao, I stayed up late last night and overslept today!”

“Hmph!” Uncle Zhao glared at Chu Bing, snorted derisively, and shuffled off, making it clear he wanted nothing to do with her.

Chu Bing grinned behind his back and turned toward the small kitchen.

Today, the kitchen had delivered fresh black-bone chicken! Chu Bing’s eyes lit up; she knew exactly what to cook.

The aroma quickly filled the kitchen. Old Zhao caught a whiff and muttered to himself, “Cooking is about the only thing she’s good at.”

Chu Bing had no idea what he was grumbling about. Carrying the soup out, she saw Old Zhao standing guard at Li Mohan’s door as usual. She smiled brightly, “Uncle Zhao, would you like to try some?”

For once, Old Zhao didn’t stop her but followed her into Li Mohan’s room.

Li Mohan was reading. He glanced up as the two entered, unfazed.

Chu Bing set the soup on the table, smiling ingratiatingly. “Young Master, I made you black-bone chicken soup with astragalus and goji berries. Please have a taste.”

Li Mohan put down his book and walked over.

He glanced at the soup, then asked, seemingly offhand, “Why do you make me soup every day?”

Was there some special meaning behind these soups?

Seeing his solemn expression, Chu Bing was reminded of last night, when she had pinned him down and saw the look in his eyes.

A mischievous smile curled her lips. “Because… soup is very nourishing!”

Her gaze swept boldly over Li Mohan’s abdomen.

Li Mohan froze, not quite understanding. Old Zhao immediately pointed at Chu Bing and scolded, “You—you shameless girl!”

“How can a young woman say such outrageous things!”

He trembled with anger, and Chu Bing feared he might faint from lack of breath.

She blinked innocently. “Uncle Zhao, what’s wrong? All the soups I make are for health. Nothing wrong with that!”

Old Zhao’s face changed. He opened his mouth but couldn’t bring himself to utter anything indecent.

Li Mohan cast him a cool glance. “Uncle Zhao, there are guests at the manor today. Please go see to them.”