Simultaneous time travel: But our system is out of sync!

Chapter 111 Reconciliation

The Rose House was filled with a heavy yet subtly warm atmosphere.

Jasmine's sobs were intermittent, her shoulders trembling slightly with each sob.

The glistening tears rolled down, seemingly carrying a scorching heat, dripping onto the frozen heart of Lady Rose, hardened by betrayal.

Lady Rose lowered her eyes and gazed at the woman before her, whom she had once regarded as a close relative, yet who had deeply wounded her.

That resentment was like an icicle under the eaves in winter, sharp and cold. However, Jasmine's unreserved repentance at this moment, and the torrent of tears soaked in regret, were like the early spring sunshine, silently and continuously warming and melting away that barrier.

Time seemed to thicken in Jasmine's tears. Madame Rose could clearly feel the change within herself, a slow but firm loosening.

Finally, she sighed softly, a sigh containing a multitude of complex and indescribable emotions—lingering pain, budding understanding, and a deep longing for their past sisterly bond. She slowly extended her arms, no longer out of condescending pity, but with an almost instinctive tenderness, a desire to soothe the wounded, and gently embraced the weeping Jasmine. Her movements carried a hint of hesitation followed by determination; her hands rested on Jasmine's thin shoulders and back, again and again, just like countless nights in the past when they had nestled together, licking each other's wounds.

"Jasmine..." Lady Rose's voice was low and gentle, carrying a comforting power, "Don't cry, be good... it's all over now."

Jasmine's body jolted in her arms, her sobs seeming to catch in her throat, leaving only suppressed, broken whimpers. She clutched Lady Rose's dress tightly, as if it were her only lifeline.

"It's not entirely your fault."

Mrs. Rose continued, each word seemingly forged through countless trials of the heart, imbued with sincere reflection, "It was me... I was sometimes too self-centered, like a dictator, never truly considering your feelings."

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the fabric of Jasmine's shoulder, her gaze unfocused as she stared into the void. "I only thought about shoving what I thought was good, what I thought was suitable, onto you, like a self-righteous almsgiver. But I never asked you, Jasmine, if you were willing to accept it? What did you truly want in your heart?"

Her voice was filled with deep apology: "I was too stubborn, too presumptuous. I share part of the mistake. Don't worry," Mrs. Rose tightened her arms slightly, her tone becoming serious, "I know I was wrong, I really do."

She paused, and as her eyes darted around, a barely perceptible blush crept up to her ears. Her gaze, involuntarily carrying a hint of reproach and shyness, quickly swept over Lin Bei, who sat casually to the side.

The scene of last night's "lesson" that made her blush and her heart race flashed back into her mind with uncanny clarity, making her feel as if her cheeks were on fire.

"And I even got a good 'lecture' from someone."

Lady Rose almost bit her lip, adding in a voice barely above a whisper, the word "lesson" uttered softly and lightly, carrying an indescribable air of ambiguity.

This casual glance and these words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred ripples in Lin Bei's heart.

He straightened up slightly, his body, which had been lazily leaning back in the chair, and a knowing yet slightly roguish smile appeared on his lips.

Meeting Lady Rose's shy and timid gaze, he not only did not look away, but instead glanced back at her openly, his eyes full of amusement.

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the sobs in the room, carrying an undeniable certainty:

"Yes, that's right, I did teach her a lesson."

Lin Bei's tone was relaxed, as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary, but the slight raising of his eyebrows revealed his good mood. "She has also deeply realized her mistake and personally promised to change in the future."

He paused deliberately, his gaze lingering on Madam Rose's face, which had instantly turned bright red, before slowly and deliberately continuing, with obvious implications, "If she dares not to change in the future..." He emphasized the word "teach her a lesson," drawing out the last syllable, his eyes revealing an undisguised mischievousness and a dangerous undertone, "I wouldn't mind giving her a 'good' and thorough 'lesson'."

How could Lady Rose not understand this blatant and profound emphasis? The word "deep" seemed to carry an electric current, instantly coursing through her body.

She felt her legs go weak, and an indescribable heat surged from her feet to the top of her head. Her entire face and neck turned as red as a ripe shrimp, burning hot as if it were about to steam. She was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear into the ground. Instinctively, she buried her face deeper into Jasmine's shoulder, trying to avoid those two scorching gazes.

All of this was observed by Jasmine.

She was once the most beautiful courtesan in the land, having seen countless men and women, and her greatest skill was understanding people's hearts, especially the unspoken feelings between men and women. Madame Rose's sudden weakness in the knees, her cheeks flushed crimson, and the shy yet sweet glint in her eyes… all of this was like a beacon, clearly revealing what had happened!

Jasmine's crying stopped completely. She raised her head slightly, her gaze shifting uncertainly between Madam Rose's shameful profile and Lin Bei's handsome face, which was filled with pride and satisfaction.

That gaze, filled with incredulous inquiry, finally settled heavily on Lady Rose. At that moment, Jasmine's eyes were incredibly complex, as if a palette had been overturned, a turbulent tapestry of intense emotions churning and intertwining within them:

Regret—regret that I ultimately couldn't possess this affection exclusively, regret that time cannot be turned back.

Unwilling—unwilling to give up like this, unwilling to let go of the treasure that I have guarded for so many years be taken away by others.

Disappointment—a tremendous sense of loss overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out.

Guilt—for her past betrayal and for the harm she had caused Rose, that guilt gnawed at her heart once again.

It faded into obscurity—as if the most important brilliance in one's life had suddenly dimmed.

However, amidst this chaotic emotional wasteland, there is more of a sense of relief after the dust has settled, and a bittersweet blessing tinged with sincerity.

Lady Rose, a very special person to Jasmine.

She was once her savior, pulling her out of the mud and giving her dignity and protection; she was also the object of her jealousy, jealous of her innate brilliance and how easily she could obtain everything she wanted; she was her sister, with whom she shared the most private girlish thoughts; at the same time, she was also the object of her deepest, secret, and passionate love, which transcended worldly norms.

It was this overly heavy and twisted complex emotion that, like vines, entwined her heart, leading her, driven by jealousy and possessiveness, step by step, to stray from Lady Rose and make choices she would later deeply regret.

Ironically, it was precisely this extremely complex emotion—a mixture of unbreakable love, dependence, and guilt—that made it impossible for her to let go of Lady Rose. So much so that when fate brought Lady Rose before her again, she almost without hesitation, instinctively choosing to switch sides and return to Lady Rose's side, even at the cost of betraying the one she would later serve.

Jasmine once stubbornly believed that she hated Madame Rose. She hated that Madame Rose's brilliance overshadowed her, hated her "charity," and hated her "lack of understanding."

But when she finally faced Lady Rose again, when her cold hatred collided with her still warm embrace and sincere tears, she realized with a start that what resided deeper and more stubbornly in her heart than hatred was love. A love mixed with too many impurities, yet still indelible.

Just as the young man named Lin Bei pointed out incisively: her hatred was nothing more than the venomous vines of resentment that grew from unfulfilled desires.

Her love, however, was deeply rooted in the genuine care and protection that Lady Rose had once given her.

The reason she so viciously belittled Lady Rose was not only because she had a twisted desire to use pain to wake her up and help her escape danger, but also because she morbidly wanted to possess that genuine affection exclusively! Like a miserly hoarder, she was unwilling to see Lady Rose squander that precious affection carelessly, even "foolishly," on someone unworthy, ultimately ending up battered and bruised, hurting both herself and others.

However, reality is always full of dramatic twists. From just a few simple words exchanged between Madame Rose and Lin Beifang, and the unspoken understanding and affection flowing in their eyes, Jasmine instantly understood—her rose no longer belonged to her alone.

That thorny rose she had once wanted to cherish alone had been plucked away by the young, powerful, and aggressive Lin Bei in front of her with an undeniable air.

Lin Bei stole the rose.

This should have been the fuse that ignited the flames of jealousy in her heart. But strangely, at this moment, Jasmine, looking at the two embracing (although Lady Rose was burying her head in shyness), could no longer muster even a trace of hatred or jealousy.

A profound weariness and a clear-headed realization overwhelmed the negative emotions. She sadly realized that she herself had played a part in pushing things to this point, with Rose falling into someone else's arms.

If it weren't for her betrayal, Rose might not have fallen into such a desperate situation, and she wouldn't have developed such a deep bond with Lin Bei.

Moreover, to be fair, Lin Bei... is indeed an impeccable choice. Young, handsome, and with unfathomable strength, he is more than capable of becoming Rose's strongest support.

Judging from the details of his treatment of Lady Rose—the respect, the protection, and even the domineering yet indulgent manner—it's clear that he didn't treat her as a plaything. Apart from being significantly younger than Lady Rose, he fulfilled almost every woman's fantasy of the "perfect partner."

"I was here first... but I was here first..."

This thought, like a sharp thorn, instantly pierced the deepest part of Jasmine's heart, bringing a sharp pain and an indescribable sorrow. Those years spent together, those tender moments of mutual support, that tacit understanding only they shared… could they really be replaced by someone else?

This resentment and grievance almost burst out.

But in the end, Jasmine simply took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the almost overflowing bitterness and the resentful words back into the darkest corner of her heart.

She could not, and had no right to, ruin this happiness of Rose's regained glory. She simply gazed deeply, almost greedily, at Lady Rose's blushing profile with her eyes, which were weathered by time but now brimming with complex emotions, as if trying to etch her image into the depths of her soul, like examining a rare treasure that was about to be lost forever.

Time flowed in silence, the air thick with unspoken emotional tension. So long, so long that Madame Rose almost thought Jasmine would remain silent forever, that Jasmine finally moved. She strained to lift the corners of her mouth, attempting a smile of blessing, though it looked somewhat stiff, tinged with lingering bitterness. Her lips moved slightly, as if gathering all the courage needed to utter those few simple words.

"Rose..." Jasmine's voice was hoarse from crying, but she tried her best to keep it steady. "Congratulations."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Lin Bei before returning to Rose's face. The moment she uttered the word "Congratulations," a surge of reluctance welled up within her, threatening to overwhelm her. She forcefully suppressed her turbulent emotions, trying to make her voice sound lighter, even adding a touch of her usual teasing tone in an attempt to lighten the overly heavy atmosphere.

"It seems... you've finally found your Mr. Right."

Two sentences, with very few words.

But for Jasmine, every word weighed a ton, each syllable felt like a piece of flesh being ripped from her heart. The reluctance to part, like vines, tightened around her, almost suffocating her.

So, almost with a self-destructive willpower, she mustered her spirits again, deliberately widening her smile, with a hint of deliberate exaggeration, trying to use a more direct (or rather, more "heartbreaking") joke to mask the turmoil in her heart:

"But... I really didn't expect this, Rose!"

She deliberately dragged out her words, a mischievous glint in her eyes, staring intently at Madam Rose, "You actually... you're playing the 'old cow eating young grass' game? Tsk tsk tsk..."

This teasing remark was like igniting a powder keg. Lady Rose's already flushed cheeks instantly turned even darker, as if they were about to bleed!

She abruptly raised her head, glaring at Jasmine with a mixture of shame and indignation, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She raised her hand and lightly punched Jasmine's shoulder, the force not great, but full of anger and embarrassment.

"Pah! You're the one who's an old cow eating young grass!"

Lady Rose's voice rose a few decibels in her rebuttal, tinged with embarrassment and annoyance, and carried a hint of coquettishness.

"Where am I old? I'm only twenty-six! In the prime of my life! The best age for a woman! How could I be an 'old cow'? Your mouth is still so annoying!"

Seeing Mrs. Rose's reaction, which resembled that of a ruffled kitten, Jasmine's bitterness strangely subsided, replaced by a familiar urge to tease her.

She deliberately looked Mrs. Rose up and down, her gaze lingering on her face, which appeared even more radiant with embarrassment and anger, even faintly glowing with the unique radiance of love. A pang of sorrow gripped her heart, but her tone remained even more mocking:

"Oh, only twenty-six?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "talented," saying, "Yes, yes, you look incredibly radiant thanks to 'someone's' care. You're glowing, and you really don't look like you're twenty-six. People would believe you're in your early twenties."

Jasmine abruptly changed the subject, glancing at Lin Bei, who was watching the scene with great interest, before returning her gaze to Madam Rose, her tone even more sarcastic:

"However, my eyes, Jasmine, are honed in the world of pleasure; they're incredibly sharp! Just by looking at him, I can tell that Brother Lin Bei is definitely not that old! At most... twenty years old? Hmm?"

She paused deliberately, watching Mrs. Rose's increasingly embarrassed expression, before slowly concluding, "Isn't this what you call an old cow eating young grass? And this young grass... it's incredibly tender!"

Jasmine's rapid-fire teasing hit Rose's sore spot with every word.

Lady Rose felt like she was about to evaporate! Her face was burning hot enough to fry an egg, and she was so ashamed she wanted to bury her head in her collar. She dared not look at Lin Bei, much less at Jasmine's mischievous gaze. Her voice was muffled, filled with deep embarrassment, as she tried to defend herself, but her words lacked conviction.

"Lin Bei... Lin Bei is indeed... not very old..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, almost as if she were talking to herself.

"I...I didn't actually ask specifically...but...he looks...about sixteen...seventeen...eighteen, right?"

As she recited those numbers, she felt guilty, and her voice became increasingly unconfident.

"The two of us... at most... are only eight to ten years apart... so... it can't be... considered... an old... cow... eating... young grass... right?"

In the end, even Lady Rose herself found these words unconvincing.

The phrase "an old cow eating young grass" was uttered haltingly, barely audible. In the end, she was completely defeated, abandoning her futile attempts to defend herself. Like a frightened little bird, she buried her burning cheeks deep into Jasmine's neck, revealing only her bright red ears, silently declaring her "surrender."

Seeing Mrs. Rose's unprecedentedly shy and girlish demeanor, Jasmine felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly. The intense sorrow surged up again, almost suffocating her.

She and Lady Rose had been inseparable for many years, but she had never seen her show such shyness, dependence, and... happiness. This emotion was unique to Lin Bei, something that Jasmine had never been able to evoke.

However, beneath this surging wave of sorrow, another emotion is stubbornly growing—a sense of relief.

A bittersweet, yet genuine sense of relief. After all, for women like them, who have struggled to survive in the mud and darkness, burdened by their unbearable pasts, to find a man in this vast sea of ​​people who is truly worthy of their lifelong commitment, capable of protecting them, and genuinely respecting and loving them—what an extraordinary and fortunate thing it is!

Jasmine, as one of her closest confidantes, should offer her blessings to Lady Rose for this good fortune.

Just as Lady Rose and Jasmine, these "sisters" who had gone through many twists and turns and finally rekindled their friendship, were immersed in this complex emotional exchange mixed with tears, guilt, shame, relief and blessings, in the corner of the room, a long-neglected presence—the demon Mikako—finally broke through the critical point with her long-suppressed, instinctive violence and irritability!

As a demon who sees humans as ants and food, Mikako is filled with contempt and disgust for such inferior beings.

If it weren't for the unfathomable aura emanating from Lin Bei's humans, which instinctively instilled fear in her, she would have long since been unable to suppress her bloodlust and torn these noisy and annoying humans in front of her to pieces!

Time ticked by, and the "sisterly affection" between Madame Rose and Jasmine, filled with tears, embraces, and whispers, seemed both hypocritical and tedious to her.

Humanity's cheap emotions only made her feel nauseous and increasingly irritable. Like a wild beast forcibly tethered, she stood anxiously in place, with an invisible ghostly aura surging uneasily around her.

Suddenly, a thought struck Mikako's chaotic mind like lightning!

She felt she had been played! She had been thoroughly mocked by these ants she considered insignificant, people she could crush at any moment!

The reason couldn't be simpler: if this human named Lin Bei really possessed terrifying strength that would frighten her, why did he just sit lazily in that chair the whole time?

Why hasn't he launched a single probing attack after all this time? He hasn't even spared a threatening glance? He just sits there casually, as if watching a farce that has nothing to do with him!

This is so abnormal! This is definitely not the attitude a strong person should have when facing prey (in her view, all humans are prey)!

The only explanation is that he's putting on an act! He's all bark and no bite! All his composure and inscrutable nature are carefully crafted illusions! He's just stalling for time!

Just like how they used that little girl to delay Lin Bei earlier, waiting for nightfall so that she, as a demon, could unleash her full power without restraint, now Lin Bei is delaying her in return, with only one purpose—he's waiting for dawn!

When the first rays of dawn pierce the darkness, all evil spirits will be powerfully suppressed by the laws of heaven and earth! Sunlight is their ultimate nemesis, which they cannot resist; touching it will reduce them to ashes! This is exactly what Lin Bei is planning!

However, if Lin Bei knew what Mikako was thinking...

They would just think that Mikako had her head caught in a door.

With his current strength, why would he need to deliberately scheme against Mikako?

Needless to say, they were just stalling for time, waiting for dawn.

The reason he hadn't paid any attention to Mikako for the time being was simply because he saw that Jasmine still had a chance to turn over a new leaf and be saved.

Therefore, time and space were deliberately set aside for Lady Rose and Jasmine.

If that's not the reason.

With Lin Bei's current strength, he would have crushed Meijiazi long ago.