Chapter 498 The Grand Finale

That thought from the system, like a thunderclap, exploded in Jiang Huan's heart, stirring up a monstrous wave.

Although it is unknown how He Ling woke up the system or what price she paid to get it to agree to save people.

But Jiang Huan knew very well that she no longer had time to get to the bottom of things.

She felt her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.

She subconsciously looked at Huo Lin, who was still unconscious on the bed. His handsome face was now filled with vulnerability.

Honesty means that she will no longer be the Jiang Huan who perfectly matches his vision and with whom he has a deep understanding.

Instead, it is an existence shrouded in secrets, and may even be considered an outcast.

How would he view her, this visitor from outer space?

Will you feel fear? Will you feel disgust?

Do you still feel that everything over the years has been built on a lie?

A tremendous fear gripped her, even more so than when she faced his unconscious state.

But when her fingertips touched his wrist and she felt the faint pulse that seemed about to go out at any moment, all her hesitation was instantly shattered by her determination.

To hell with the secrets. What's the point of keeping all this if we lose him?

Even if he can't accept it after he wakes up, that's something that happens after he wakes up.

Moreover, she trusted Huo Lin and her lover.

Jiang Huan took a deep breath, as if she wanted to inhale all her courage into her lungs.

She took Huo Lin's hand, leaned down, and gently rested her forehead on the back of his hand, speaking softly with a desperate determination.

"Huo Lin, you may not hear what I'm about to say, but every single word is true."

She felt her voice trembling slightly, but forced herself to continue speaking.

"If I told you I'm an alien who can read minds, would you jump out of bed in fright?"

"But even if you really jump up, I still have to keep going. Actually, my world and your world aren't that different. It's just that the technology is more advanced and life is more convenient. The people are still the same people. They feel pain and laughter, hate and love, experience birth, aging, sickness and death, and the seasons change. If I have the chance, I'd like to take you there to see it... Oh, by the way, there's a food street downstairs from my house. I guarantee you could wander around there for three days and three nights without getting out."

"Aren't you curious how I knew you were a foodie?" As if she had thought of something, Jiang Huan chuckled, and a tear unexpectedly fell onto Huo Lin's cheek. "I don't know if you remember, but you asked me before why I understood you so well, like I could read your mind. It's a bit disgusting, but you guessed right."

“I can hear every word in your heart, whether it’s cursing or crying out for food. It is because of this ability that I can know the whole you, the sincere and lovely you hidden beneath your anger and awkwardness.”

“It was my soul from another world that intruded into your destiny. If this calamity was caused by me, then it is my responsibility to end it. No matter how you view me when you wake up, I will accept it.”

Jiang Huan revealed the secret she had kept hidden deep in her heart. With each word she spoke, she felt the invisible bond between them being pulled a little tighter.

Just as the last word vanished into thin air, Huo Lin's fingers, which were being held tightly by her, twitched slightly.

Jiang Huan shuddered, raised her head, and looked at him through teary eyes.

Immediately afterwards, Huo Lin's thick, long eyelashes began to tremble violently, like a butterfly struggling to break free from its cocoon.

A moment later, the tightly closed eyelids slowly and laboriously opened a crack.

Huo Lin's gaze was initially unfocused and blank, but when he focused and saw Jiang Huan, who was standing close by with red and swollen eyes from crying, his eyes instantly sharpened and filled with worry.

"Why... are you crying?"

He spoke, his voice hoarse and dry, and reached out gently, tenderly, to wipe away her tears.

But the overwhelming joy was like a tsunami, and Jiang Huan's tears welled up in her eyes again in an instant.

She rushed to him, hugging him tightly, crying and laughing incoherently: "You're awake! You're finally awake! You fainted, and we couldn't wake you up no matter what we did, even the imperial physicians couldn't find the cause... You scared me to death, Huo Lin, you scared me to death..."

Huo Lin was slightly taken aback by her words, but he still patted her back gently, saying, "I'm fine now, it's alright."

After hugging for a while, Jiang Huan reluctantly got up.

Although Huo Lin had already woken up, she still wanted to repeat what she had just said very carefully.

“Huo Lin,” she mustered her courage to look him in the eye, “I said something while you were unconscious, did you… hear it?”

She spoke softer and softer, almost afraid to look at his reaction.

The expected shock and doubt did not materialize. Huo Lin remained silent, quietly watching her, his eyes as deep as an ancient well.

The deathly silence made Jiang Huan's heart sink little by little.

Did he hear it, but was he unable to accept it, or even not know how to respond?

Just as she was almost overwhelmed by the silence and her tears were welling up again, Huo Lin suddenly laughed.

The laughter was hoarse, yet it broke the silence.

Jiang Huan looked up in surprise and saw Huo Lin with a slight smile on his lips and helplessness in his eyes.

He raised his other free hand and pulled her into his arms, tightening his grip as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

"So you already knew how much I love you."

It wasn't a question, but a statement made with a smile.

Looking at Huo Lin's completely unsurprised expression, Jiang Huan asked with suspicion, "You...did you already know?"

Huo Lin looked at her, both surprised and bewildered, like a frightened rabbit, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

He raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, his movements tender: "At first I thought you were special, but then I slowly guessed it. I was just unsure how much you could hear, but it turns out it was all."

Jiang Huan opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time.

So, the secret she's carefully guarded for years was known to everyone? Was she just putting on a one-woman show all by herself?

A mix of shame and annoyance at being tricked, along with belated embarrassment, made her cheeks flush bright red.

"Then why don't you call me out on it?" She was so angry that she wanted to punch him, but she was mindful that he had just woken up, so she angrily lowered her fist halfway up.

Huo Lin grasped her fist in his palm, his smile deepening with pleasure.

“Now, we’re even,” he said softly, his breath brushing against her ear. “I know your secrets, and you’ve heard enough of my innermost thoughts. From now on, neither of us can hide anything from the other.”

"Contract fulfilled. Target's vital signs stabilized. Capabilities being recovered..."

The system process proceeded swiftly, carrying a sense of relief as it prepared to strip Jiang Huan of her abilities and then part ways with satisfaction.

Just as Jiang Huan was about to make a pinky promise with him, vowing never to change her mind, she heard the system notification and narrowed her eyes.

Huh? You're already leaving?

This system, although sometimes the items you exchange are ridiculously expensive and the way it talks can be infuriating, can actually be very useful in crucial moments.

For example, this time, although the cost was high, it really saved lives.

Moreover, the knowledge and resources it possesses have immeasurable value for the future development of the world.

It would be such a waste to just let it go like that.

A bold idea, like a flash of lightning in the darkness, suddenly illuminated her thoughts.

Her mind isn't something you can just come and go as you please.

The system that was executing the extraction procedure seemed to have also sensed Jiang Huan's intentions.

"Warning! Abnormal mental activity detected. Departing from program for acceleration!"

"Buzz... Encountered an unknown barrier, ability recovery interrupted, core module unable to detach."

"...Zzzzz...beep—"