Chapter 117: I Like You

The atmosphere inside the carriage grew eerily tense.

Chu Bing waited a long time, but there was no response from Li Mohan.

She sighed silently, bit her lip, and suddenly shouted loudly, “Young Master, I like you!”

Though she appeared calm, her heart pounded like a drum, her nerves nearly suffocating her.

The system in her mind yelled angrily, “You promised me you wouldn’t fall for anyone unrelated to the mission! Do you think I’m easy to fool...?”

“Shut up!” Chu Bing snapped fiercely.

Since she dared to confess to Li Mohan, she was prepared to defy the system.

Yet, deep down, Chu Bing sensed the system wouldn’t truly harm her.

After all, it had invested considerable effort in her. If it killed her now and replaced her with someone else to continue the mission, it would waste a lot of time. More importantly, no one else might be able to get close to Li Haoran as easily as she could.

Chu Bing was gambling that the system wouldn’t strike her down.

Enraged and humiliated, the system immediately delivered an electric shock to Chu Bing.

Her entire body tingled and trembled uncontrollably, but she endured the pain fiercely, refusing to cry out so Li Mohan wouldn’t suspect anything.

Clenching her teeth, she thought, “Go ahead. As long as you don’t kill me, I won’t give up on Li Mohan!”

“Host! You’re forcing me!” the system growled.

From the system’s voice, Chu Bing detected a murderous intent. She closed her eyes tightly and resolutely said, “I have nothing now but this life. If you want me dead, so be it. But think carefully—keeping me alive means the mission can continue...”

After a moment, the system relented.

“I’ll give you one last chance. If you fail this time, I won’t tolerate you any longer!” With that, the system fell silent.

Chu Bing’s tension eased instantly. She exhaled sharply, nearly collapsing.

“What’s wrong with you?” Li Mohan looked at her with a strange expression.

His mind was still reeling after her confession—he felt as if struck by lightning, emotions in turmoil, trying to figure out how to explain things to her. Suddenly, he saw Chu Bing looking pale and exhausted, sweat beading on her forehead. If he hadn’t caught her, she might have collapsed.

Chu Bing waved him off, eyes shining intensely, locking onto him. “Li Mohan, tell me—do you have even the slightest feeling for me?”

She had risked her life for this confession. Chu Bing wouldn’t allow the man before her to show even a hint of hesitation.

Even if it ended in failure, she demanded a clear answer from Li Mohan.

Li Mohan was silent for a moment, his gaze complicated. “I do have feelings for you, but I don’t trust you.”

“What do you mean?” Chu Bing was stunned, looking at him in confusion.

How could he not trust her?

Li Mohan’s fingers twitched slightly, showing signs of unease. “Your arrival was far too coincidental. And the origin of your skills can’t be satisfactorily explained. I have to suspect you’re a spy placed here by another faction. But even so, I admit I do have feelings for you.”

Even Old Zhao could see this, so of course Li Mohan could as well.

Although Chu Bing never harmed him, her mysterious background was a serious flaw.

“I sent people to investigate you, but they couldn’t find your master. I once suspected there was another true identity behind your face, but I found no evidence.”

“Now, can you tell me who you really are?”

Li Mohan’s eyes fixed firmly on Chu Bing. According to his information, the real Chu Bing was an ordinary woman from a modest household, too fragile to survive in this world.

Yet this woman before him was strong, skilled to an extraordinary degree, unfathomable—and such a person would never willingly marry a mediocre county magistrate.

This Chu Bing was not the same as before.

Chu Bing felt as if struck by lightning. She hadn’t expected to leave so many flaws, or to be discovered by Li Mohan! She instinctively stepped back, panic flooding her expression.

Would Li Mohan burn her alive like a witch?

Seeing her reaction, disappointment flickered in Li Mohan’s eyes. He shook his head and said, “But even so, despite your schemes, I have fallen for you.”

He sighed and turned his gaze out the window, unwilling to look at her. “Until you can explain these things clearly, let’s stay apart for a while.”

“...And don’t speak of liking each other anymore.”

Chu Bing felt her heart gripped tightly by invisible hands, pain so sharp it was hard to breathe.

She stared blankly at the man before her, eyes filled with disappointment. “All this time, haven’t you seen who I really am?”

If she had any ill intentions toward Li Mohan, she would have had countless opportunities to act on them!

But she never did.

Could that not prove her sincerity?

Li Mohan shook his head, refusing to continue the conversation.

Chu Bing’s eyes reddened. She turned away and fled the carriage in near-disarray.

Old Zhao, startled by her sudden exit, called out, “Why aren’t you sitting inside?”

Without looking back, Chu Bing’s voice was hoarse. “I need some fresh air.”

Old Zhao noticed the redness at the corners of her eyes. Whatever thoughts crossed his mind, he sighed and didn’t ask further, simply continuing their journey.

The carriage sped forward relentlessly, making no stops for Chu Bing.

She gazed at the endless fields ahead, struggling to suppress the hurt swelling inside her.

She truly liked Li Mohan!

The system sneered, “You treasure him, but he doesn’t believe you at all!”

“None of your business!”

“I don’t care about you. If it weren’t for the mission, I would have killed you long ago! Wasting so many resources on you!” The system recalled how Chu Bing was willing to risk her life to confess. It clicked its tongue mockingly, “Honestly, you did have a purpose being with him. So why are you upset?”

“Shut up!” Chu Bing scowled. “My affairs don’t concern you!”

“Fine! I won’t interfere, but if you don’t complete the mission, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

The system fell silent.

Frustrated, Chu Bing rubbed her face. Today was a major loss! Not only had she failed to confess successfully, making future encounters with Li Mohan awkward, but she had also offended her strongest ally—the system.

“Ah!” She couldn’t help but cup her hands around her mouth and shout loudly.

Old Zhao was startled and turned his head toward her.

Chu Bing muttered, “I just needed to vent.”

Inside the carriage, Li Mohan heard the sound and the corner of his lips curled slightly.