IW: Chapter 263 - Kaisha: My man, even if it's Liang Bing, I won't let her touch him!
"It's okay, I forgive you."
"Thank you."
Liang Bing's voice was remarkably soft, her posture holding a polite, almost fragile earnestness. Standing there in her simple research tunic, she was a far cry from the chaotic, leather-clad demon queen Morgana she was destined to become in another life. She was, quite frankly, incredibly cute.
Bai Ye knew exactly how the original timeline went. It was Karl—with his obsessive, morbid fascination with void theories and death—who had slowly dragged Liang Bing down into the abyss, twisting her untamed brilliance into a monstrous, war-mongering obsession. But now? Bai Ye had no intention of letting that pale, hollow-eyed academic get anywhere near her.
"It's fine, Liang Bing. You still have a lot to learn," Bai Ye said, his voice dropping into a gentler, more genuine tone. "But I am curious... I heard you were exiled to the outer frontier because you made a mistake. Is that true?"
As he spoke, Bai Ye instinctively raised his hand, intending to offer a reassuring pat on her head. But the moment his palm hovered in the air, he caught himself and smoothly lowered his arm back to his side. Their relationship simply hadn't progressed to that level of casual familiarity yet. It had been a pure, subconscious reflex.
Realizing the micro-gesture was a bit too forward, he quickly brushed it off.
Hexi, standing just a few paces away, didn't miss the aborted movement, though she kept her expression perfectly blank and said nothing. Liang Bing, however, didn't even notice the spatial awkwardness of his hand—she was far too busy spiraling into a quiet panic of her own. Her chest tightened with a sudden, icy wave of unease. Does he think I'm unfit for this? Does he think my past makes me too unstable for high-level research?
It was highly ironic. Just ten minutes ago, she had been internally screaming, utterly annoyed by Bai Ye's constant, smug lecturing in her ear.
Yet, deep down, she had fallen completely in love with this laboratory. Liang Bing had always possessed a bottomless, burning curiosity about the fundamental laws of the cosmos, and having a cutting-edge facility where she could actually build, test, and explore her wildest theories was a dream come true. She had already begun to devote her entire soul to the work.
If Bai Ye decided to cast her out because of the black mark on her record, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
She desperately wanted to explain herself. She opened her mouth, but the words immediately snagged in her throat, refusing to form. The exile was a hard, historical fact. How could she possibly sugarcoat it? No matter how she spun the tale, how could she ever wash away a stain of that magnitude in front of someone who demanded absolute, scientific perfection?
Seeing her wide, anxious eyes and the way her shoulders had suddenly tensed, Bai Ye chuckled softly, his expression completely relaxing.
"Relax, I'm not scolding you," he said, gesturing for her to take a breath. "Actually, I've discussed the details of your exile with Hofman. Personally? I don't think what you did was a mistake at all. Your nature is inherently free, Liang Bing. And that is exactly what I want to tell you: you do not need to suppress your true self while you are in this laboratory.
All these days, yes, I've been testing and tempering your patience—but my only goal was to ensure you keep that fiery energy out of the delicate kinetic calculations.
Actual experiments require absolute, uncompromising rigor. But your personal life, your personality, and your day-to-day interactions? Those don't need to be shackled by rigid protocols. Since the day you walked through those doors, you became one of us. You don't need to walk on eggshells around here, and you certainly don't need to worry about arbitrary court rules. We don't do those here."
Bai Ye chuckled playfully. Although Liang Bing had been complaining to him these past few days, there were few problems in her daily life.
He could tell that Liang Bing might be like this because of certain things, perhaps related to her exile.
She made a mistake that led to her exile, and during her exile, her mother died, yet she never returned to see her even once.
This matter also left a Shadow in Liang Bing's heart, to the extent that she now dared not make any mistakes.
However, this kind of suppression itself was unreasonable and would only lead to a greater outburst in the future.
So, in Bai Ye's opinion, instead of letting it continue, it would be better to let Liang Bing regain her nature now, at least not to suppress herself.
After he finished speaking, his gaze fell on Liang Bing. Seeing her incredulous expression, he then asked, "What? Did you think I would still lecture you about this?"
Liang Bing probably really didn't expect Bai Ye to say that.
She had originally thought Bai Ye was bringing up this matter to admonish her, but he was actually just telling her not to suppress herself anymore.
After returning, Liang Bing had been suppressing her emotions. She had been forced to leave originally because she made a mistake.
In everyone's eyes, she had done something wrong.
Because of this, she also missed her mother's funeral and never saw her mother before she died. This matter had always been a thorn in Liang Bing's heart.
But when someone suddenly told her that it wasn't her fault and that she didn't need to suppress herself, the taut string in Liang Bing's heart seemed to suddenly loosen at that moment.
"Thank you."
Liang Bing looked at Bai Ye very seriously, a hint of tears flashing in her eyes. Even though she tried her best to hide them, Bai Ye still saw them.
This little girl was indeed just as he thought.
Bai Ye chuckled inwardly.
He had noticed before that Liang Bing seemed very suppressed, no wonder she would become like that later. Her current cheerful appearance couldn't help but remind Bai Ye of that phrase, 'Are you not truly happy?'
"No need to thank me. Once you're here, you're my person. If my person isn't in a good mood, of course I'll offer some guidance."
"You're quite considerate, aren't you?"
He Xi teased.
It seemed she had also had some troubles before, and Bai Ye was just like this then.
Speaking of which, although this guy was full of tricks, as a friend, he was truly beyond words.
At least he had never let her suffer a loss. If it weren't for Bai Ye, perhaps she wouldn't be doing so well now.
"It's alright. For women, just comfort them. For men, they should just be self-reliant."
Double standards.
Bai Ye would not comfort a man.
Men can be self-reliant.
"Hua Ye probably won't know until he dies that you actually have seven emotions and six desires, right?"
He Xi had actually figured it out.
Bai Ye wasn't without seven emotions and six desires; he was just somewhat repulsed by those who were
sent
to him.
What he yearned for was a suitable relationship he encountered himself, not a body that was simply handed over.
"I heard Hua Ye sent you many beautiful angels, including He Xi?"
Liang Bing leaned in, a bit gossipy, and asked.
After experiencing a series of heart-wrenching storms, Liang Bing was no longer as tense.
Although it was still impossible for her to completely let go, at least she wasn't the type who barely spoke anymore.
"Let me clarify, I wasn't sent."
He Xi cleared her throat, feeling that she absolutely had to explain this matter.
Although at the banquet, Bai Ye had stood up to block Su Ma Li for her, and later Hua Ye had deliberately said he would give He Xi to Bai Ye to stabilize Bai Ye and ensure he continued his research.
But to directly say she was sent, she felt like a commodity, something that could be arbitrarily controlled by others.
"I'm sorry." Liang Bing apologized, then rephrased: "It's just, Hua Ye let you choose so many beauties, were you really not tempted at all?"
Liang Bing was actually genuinely curious.
So many beauties!
Many of their male angels back then were swayed by Hua Ye's extreme hedonism.
Here, one could live like a lord. Hua Ye had given Bai Ye the right to choose freely. Was he really not tempted?
"Oh right, were you truly not tempted, or were you tempted but just disliked Hua Ye, which is why you refused?"
Women, you know.
Even female angels, gossip is their nature. Plus, as one of the parties involved, He Xi naturally also wanted to know if there was ever a moment when Bai Ye was tempted by her.
How to put it…
I can not like you, but you cannot have no good feelings for me. I am so beautiful; if you have no good feelings for me in your heart, that is an insult to me.
This is probably the thought of the vast majority of beautiful women: I'm so good-looking, there's no way someone truly isn't tempted by me, even just a little bit.
Of course, this was just a bit of He Xi's self-infatuation; she wouldn't voice these words, and normally wouldn't even think so much.
It's just that Bai Ye was a tiny bit special to her.
"I disliked Hua Ye."
"Is that so?"
He Xi said with a light chuckle, but there was indeed some disappointment in her heart.
She had thought there would be a little bit of temptation?
Not saying it meant there was none.
"However, if his honey trap at that time used He Xi, Liang Bing, and Kaisha, I think I would be tempted for a while."
The Three Kings, you know.
He had already transmigrated to Super God Academy, and it was this timeline. If he were a normal person, how could he not be tempted by the Three Kings?
Three girls with distinct personalities and styles.
"Oh, I didn't realize that."
He Xi looked at Bai Ye with a smile, this guy really had ideas.
"You idiot!"
Liang Bing's eyes widened, her hands tightly clasped, the shyness of a young girl fully displayed on her.
Being unexpectedly pointed out by Bai Ye, Liang Bing felt an indescribable sensation.
She didn't actually like Bai Ye. How long had they known each other?
Her feelings for Bai Ye were more of admiration, like a young girl's admiration for a hero. Especially Bai Ye's gentleness when he comforted her just now, it made Liang Bing feel an even greater fondness for Bai Ye in her heart.
Everyone else thought she was wrong, only Bai Ye thought she was right.
"I was just saying, I don't want people to think I like men. I'm also a normal person; isn't it normal to like beautiful women?"
Bai Ye said this largely to avoid rumors spreading later that he might become an old queer.
He had to state that he liked women!
"So you chose three at once? Liang Bing, do you agree?"
"I don't agree!" With that, Liang Bing grabbed her things and ran.
She had just been gossiping, but as she gossiped, it landed on herself. For a moment, Liang Bing wanted to escape from here.
"Aren't you going to chase her?"
He Xi pointed to the door. Just let her run off like that?
Speaking of which, did this guy really like that little girl?
He Xi rarely saw Bai Ye being so gentle. Although he was normal with her, he seemed to be a bit gentler with Liang Bing than with herself.
"No need. Going over now would only make both of us awkward."
Bai Ye shook his head. He just wanted to prove that he liked women.
Did he like He Xi, Kaisha, and Liang Bing?
Perhaps now it was just because of memories from his previous life. Their actual interactions weren't deep. To say he liked them at this point would just be lust at first sight.
cough… It seems that's not impossible?
The era he transmigrated to wasn't when the plot began; there were still tens of thousands of years until the plot started.
"Whatever you say."
He Xi didn't say much either. If Bai Ye wasn't willing to go, was she going to force him?
After leaving the laboratory.
Liang Bing still felt a bit dizzy. It wasn't until she arrived in the Royal Hall and heard Kaisha's voice that Liang Bing's mind cleared a bit: "Liang Bing?"
"Uh, Sister…"
Liang Bing snapped back to reality, looking at Kaisha with a complicated expression.
"What's wrong?"
Kaisha, who was sitting on the throne, looked at Liang Bing, then rose and walked towards her, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Shouldn't she be in the laboratory?
Why would she appear here at this time…
"Sister, today Bai Ye said…"
Liang Bing poured out everything Bai Ye had said earlier to Kaisha. After she finished, Liang Bing added, "Sister, I don't want to do the surveillance work anymore. He treats me as a friend, and I don't want to do something like that!"
Although Kaisha hadn't told her this.
But Liang Bing was so intelligent, how could she not know what her sister intended by arranging for her to enter this laboratory?
After today, she decided not to do it anymore.
And by telling Kaisha this information now, she considered her task completely fulfilled.
At the same time, she also made this matter clear to Kaisha, to prevent Kaisha from wanting her to gather intelligence in the future.
She didn't want to betray her friend; Liang Bing was agonizing internally while saying these things.
Although these were all insignificant words.
"You mean that guy is interested in me?"
Kaisha was a little surprised. She had originally thought Bai Ye was without desires.
She didn't expect that, according to Liang Bing, Bai Ye was not only interested in her, but also in He Xi and Liang Bing.
Did he intentionally say it to Liang Bing to have her come back and tell her, or did Bai Ye truly have such thoughts in his heart?!
"Anyway, that's what he said. Whether he's interested or not, I don't know."
Liang Bing recalled Bai Ye's expression when he said that.
Was he sincere or was he faking it?
If he was sincere, then how could they continue to stay in the laboratory and research together?
If the two of them really stayed together, Liang Bing would feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"I told you long ago, Kaisha, abandon the previous plan. You and he should try to get to know each other. Maybe if you two get together, there won't be so many problems!"
Hoffman also spoke at this time.
He didn't want to see the two of them at war in the days to come.
Perhaps they needed to have a good talk. If Bai Ye was truly interested in Kaisha, wouldn't it be the best outcome for them to be together?
"What do you think?"
Kaisha didn't immediately agree, but instead shifted the conversation to Liang Bing.
If that were the case, she also wanted to see what Liang Bing would do.
"I think it might be better not to monitor. No one likes to be monitored. Besides, if Sister, you can be with him, then it is indeed better than now."
Liang Bing glanced at Kaisha and told her what she thought in her heart.
She felt this was the best solution right now.
"Is that so…"
Kaisha's eyes flickered, and no one knew what she was thinking.
She had originally thought Bai Ye was a saint, but now it seemed he wasn't.
Only…
Could the two of them really get along?
Kaisha knew very well that her inherent assertiveness would absolutely not allow other women to share a man with her.
If she truly chose Bai Ye, then she would absolutely not allow Bai Ye to have any relationship with other women, even Liang Bing…
So, was this really a good choice?
If the person Bai Ye mentioned earlier was only herself, or only He Xi or Liang Bing, then that would have been a good choice.
"Forget it, let's talk about the scholars' problem first!"
Kaisha shook her head, temporarily suppressing her extra thoughts.
She felt it was too early to talk about these things now.