Chapter 130: System Error
’Gemi...’
[LISTENING...]
Xie Rong’s gaze remained fixed upon the woman walking leisurely through the bustling market. Although he deliberately kept several paces between them, his eyes never once left her figure.
’Her favorability truly hasn’t changed? I expected it to decrease after yesterday.’
For the first time, there was no immediate reply.
Xie Rong’s brows furrowed ever so slightly.
’Gemi?’
Several breaths passed before a familiar blue screen finally appeared before his right eyes.
[CURRENT FAVORABILITY...]
[ANALYZING...]
[ERROR.]
Xie Rong’s footsteps unconsciously came to a halt.
’Error?’ The word had barely left his lips when Gemi’s usually emotionless voice rang out.
[WAIT, HOST.]
This was the first time since Gemi appeared, there was the faintest trace of uncertainty in Gemi’s mechanical voice.
[THIS RESULT... IS ABNORMAL.]
Xie Rong narrowed his eyes. ’What happened?’
The blue screen flickered. One number appeared then disappeared.
30
46
38
52
The numbers continued fluctuating as though the system itself could no longer determine the correct value.
[RECALCULATING...]
[RECALCULATING...]
Even Gemi fell silent. Several moments passed before it finally spoke again.
[HOST.]
[THIS SYSTEM HAS NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A PHENOMENON BEFORE.]
Xie Rong’s expression gradually became solemn.
’Explain.’
Another pause.
[TARGET FAVORABILITY IS INCREASING...]
Xie Rong’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
"Increasing?" The word escaped his lips before he could stop it, drawing several curious glances from nearby pedestrians.
Realizing his lapse, he gave a slight nod toward them. "My apologies."
Without another word, he stepped away from the crowded street and into a quieter corner beneath the shade of a willow tree.
Only then did he raise his eyes once more. The translucent blue screen before him flickered violently.
[HOWEVER...]
[THE TARGET IS CONSCIOUSLY SUPPRESSING HER EMOTIONAL RESPONSE.]
[THE TARGET IS ATTEMPTING TO DENY HER TRUE FEELINGS.]
[EMOTIONAL DATA AND CONSCIOUS RESPONSE ARE IN CONFLICT.]
[THIS SYSTEM IS UNABLE TO COMPLETE AN ACCURATE CALCULATION.]
For the first time... The blue interface remained suspended without disappearing.
As though Gemi itself had fallen into thought. Several moments later, another line slowly emerged.
[RECOMMENDATION: ]
[WAIT.]
Xie Rong frowned. "Wait?"
The screen remained silent for a brief moment before a final line appeared.
[THE TARGET REQUIRES TIME TO RECONCILE HER CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS WITH HER SUBCONSCIOUS EMOTIONAL RESPONSE.]
Xie Rong stared at those words for a long while. His gaze instinctively drifted back toward the bustling street.
Not far ahead, Wang Gege had already stopped before a small pastry stall. She stood there listening attentively as Qing’er chatted cheerfully with the elderly vendor, and from time to time, the corners of her lips curved into a faint smile.
She looked... Peaceful.
There was not the slightest trace of the emotional turmoil Gemi had just described.
Xie Rong lowered his eyes once more.
"So even she..." He murmured so softly that only he could hear, "doesn’t understand her own heart."
A brief silence followed before another line slowly materialized across the translucent screen.
[AGREED.]
Xie Rong’s brows lifted almost immediately before another sentence appeared.
[HOST IS ADVISED TO UNDERSTAND HIS OWN HEART AS WELL.]
His lips pressed into a thin line. He stared at the glowing words for several moments before a thought slowly surfaced.
’Are you suggesting... that I have already fallen in love with her?’
Ridiculous.
The answer came almost immediately. He had merely fulfilled his duty as her husband. He had protected her because it was the right thing to do. He had investigated her past because she was his responsibility.
He had followed her today...
His thoughts came to an abrupt halt.
The translucent screen remained motionless. A few moments later, another line quietly appeared.
[THIS SYSTEM IS INCAPABLE OF FORMING PERSONAL OPINIONS.]
[THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS BASED SOLELY ON OBSERVATIONAL ANALYSIS.]
Xie Rong’s brows furrowed.
"Absurd."
Whether he was refuting Gemi’s conclusion or convincing himself, even he did not dwell on the answer.
Instead, he lifted his head and quietly looked toward the bustling market once more, intending to dismiss the matter altogether.
His gaze instinctively drifted toward the pastry stall where Shen Taotao had been standing only moments ago.
She was gone.
His brows immediately furrowed. Almost instinctively, his eyes swept across the bustling marketplace.
The pastry stall, the neighboring tea shop, the silk merchant across the street but still there was no sign of her.
His gaze shifted again, now looking for Qing’er. Unfortunately, she was not there either.
The lively market was filled with merchants calling out to passing customers, children weaving through the crowd, and nobles strolling leisurely between the rows of shops.
Yet among the countless figures... Neither Shen Taotao nor Qing’er could be found.
Xie Rong’s expression gradually turned solemn.
Without realizing it, he had already taken quick steps forward.
His eyes continued searching through the sea of people, refusing to overlook even the smallest corner.
"Mo Yan."
The moment his voice fell, a black figure appeared soundlessly behind him. "Young Master."
"Where is Madam?" Xie Rong asked, his eyes never ceasing their search through the crowd.
Mo Yan remained silent for only a brief moment before replying, "Just now, Young Madam entered the silk shop across the street with Qing’er."
Following the direction Mo Yan indicated, Xie Rong’s gaze finally settled upon the two-story establishment standing among the bustling row of merchants. Several noble ladies were entering and leaving the shop one after another, while bolts of brightly colored silk hung near the entrance to attract customers.
Only after confirming Wang Gege’s whereabouts did the tension in his expression ease ever so slightly.
"I see."
Xie Rong’s gaze lingered upon the entrance of the silk shop for a brief moment before he calmly turned away. "Continue watching from a distance."
"This subordinate understands." Mo Yan was about to withdraw when he suddenly added, "Just now, Young Madam sampled one of the pastries the shopkeeper offered. She seemed rather pleased before asking Qing’er to purchase two more."
Xie Rong’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. "I saw that."
Mo Yan paused. Only then did he realize, that piece of information had been entirely unnecessary.
Silence lingered between the two men.
Xie Rong slowly shifted his gaze toward him. "You seem rather interested in matters unrelated to Madam."
Mo Yan’s expression stiffened almost imperceptibly. "This subordinate merely thought Young Master should know."
"Mm." Xie Rong held his gaze for another brief moment before speaking again. "Or perhaps... you were paying attention to someone else."
Mo Yan’s usually composed expression cracked. "Young Master misunderstands."
"Do I?" Xie Rong tilted his head a bit.
"This subordinate was only carrying out Young Master’s orders."
Xie Rong remained silent. Then, almost absentmindedly, he added, "Qing’er seems diligent."
Mo Yan blinked.
"Ah—indeed." The answer came a fraction slower than usual.
That tiny delay was enough.
The corners of Xie Rong’s lips curved upward ever so slightly. "Go."
Mo Yan immediately cupped his fists. "This subordinate shall take his leave."
As the black figure disappeared into the crowd, Xie Rong quietly shifted his attention back toward the entrance of the silk shop.
The bustling market remained as lively as ever.
Merchants called out to passing customers, children darted between the rows of stalls, and the aroma of freshly steamed buns drifted through the morning air.
Xie Rong’s gaze never strayed far from the entrance of the silk shop.
Time passed quietly but as he was about to look elsewhere, a startled cry suddenly came from within the silk shop.
"Ah!"
Moments later, several bolts of silk tumbled from the wooden display one after another, scattering across the polished floor.
"Be careful!"
"Quickly, pick them up!"
The once orderly shop instantly descended into chaos.
Xie Rong’s brows were knitted together.
Almost at the same moment, Mo Yan’s figure appeared once more behind him.
"Young Master." Mo Yan’s expression was unusually grave. "Young Madam encountered someone inside."
Xie Rong’s eyes narrowed. "Who?"
Mo Yan hesitated for only a brief moment.
"The Eldest Miss of the Shen family."