Chapter 811: Chapter 652: He Is Only a Substitute (Part 2)
Here are Xun Fu’s memories.
No, to be more precise, they are the memories of her true name—Shen Tang.
What the crystal preserved were the bits and pieces of her mutual understanding and love with a Black Panther Beastman.
That Black Panther Beastman looked exactly like Jin.
Perhaps everyone believed they were the same person, even Jin had a moment of bewilderment looking at those images.
But deep down, he knew these unfamiliar memories didn’t belong to him, he was not that Black Panther.
Jin felt like an outsider intruding, standing from afar, blankly watching the scenes of joy between the female and the Black Panther Beastman, either playing or cuddling, so happy, yet so glaring.
He was like a despicable voyeur.
Suddenly, his heart ached with a suffocating sourness, as if it were gripped tightly by a hand, nearly unable to beat, even breathing became difficult.
Seeing the part where the two confirmed their relationship, Jin could no longer watch and directly severed the memory.
His whole body went limp, stumbling two steps, barely supporting himself against the wall with one hand.
His eyes were bloodshot, chest heaving intensely, his hand uncontrollably beastifying, the sharp claws deeply embedded into the wall, just to barely stand.
In that moment, it all became clear to him.
All the questions he couldn’t understand before gradually became clear now.
Within the Memory Crystal, the Black Panther Beastman who looked exactly like him was Shen Tang’s partner, the one she truly loved.
She loved Xiao Jin.
Not Shou Jin.
No wonder Yue Lin said those words, looking at him with ridicule, yet also pity.
No wonder she was like a gift from heaven, suddenly bursting into his world, treating him so well, sacrificing herself to save him again and again, staying by his side without regret, always looking at him with love and acceptance, as if even the hardest glacier could melt.
It turns out, from the beginning, she had always loved that Black Panther Beast Husband.
It was only because he looked exactly like that Beast Husband that he received this fleeting and false love.
At this moment, Jin only felt a massive sense of absurdity hitting him, his heart aching terribly. He raised his hand to clutch his chest, fingertips almost digging into his flesh!
So that’s the truth.
Haha...
Looking back, he only felt foolish and naive.
No wonder she was called Xun Fu.
Xun Fu...
Seeking Husband.
She originally came from another continent, enduring countless hardships to get here—for the sole purpose of finding her Beast Husband.
All this time, did she ever truly love him for real? Even a sliver?
Probably not.
The love she gave him all originated from another person.
Jin’s smile was bitter and self-mocking. He was her substitute.
No wonder she asked him to call her "Tangtang," no wonder she would lose control and cry when looking at his face during moments of passion. He thought she was moved by his love; turns out she was looking through his eyes at another male, the one she truly loved.
Tonight’s night, desolate, cold.
Cold to the bone.
...
Shen Tang was unaware of what happened last night; the fatigue of the past days left her unable to hold on, and she went to bed early.
Initially, she wanted to spend more time with Jin, but her current disguised identity was in place; in name, Jin was her brother, and sharing a room was inappropriate, so Yue Lin arranged two rooms for them.
In the morning, Shen Tang washed briefly, had breakfast, and went to check on Jin.
The man lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, as if he hadn’t slept all night, not even reacting when she came in. Clearly, his state was fine upon waking last night, yet now he looked pale, a cold, heavy aura emanating from him.
Shen Tang went over, worriedly asking, "Ah Jin, are you feeling unwell?"
The man seemed not to hear, remaining motionless.
She called again, "Ah Jin? Are you alright?"
Only then did he seem to come to his senses, turning his head to look at her mildly, his voice low and indifferent, "You’re here."
The imagined scene of an enthusiastic embrace did not occur. On the contrary, the man this morning was indescribably strange, indescribably cold.
The way he looked at her was so unfamiliar, like looking at an unrelated person, making Shen Tang’s heart skip a beat, lightly furrowing her brow, filled with a bad premonition.
Her voice grew more concerned, "Ah Jin? You look so pale, are you feeling unwell? Is the wound not fully healed? If you’re uncomfortable, tell me, don’t hide it... Let me check again."
As she spoke, she hurried forward, trying to grab his hand, but the man swatted it away.
"Don’t touch me."
"Ah Jin...?!" Shen Tang grew increasingly uneasy, anxious and bewildered, "What’s wrong with you?"
The man looked at her, his gaze still cold and calm, like a still water with no wave, the pain within perfectly concealed.
