Chapter 27: Reborn Master Writer 19

"No." Qi Rao suddenly looked at Mu Yin with a firm gaze, leaving the latter somewhat puzzled.

"Uh, well, I still need to go shopping, I'll be leaving first." Although Mu Yin had lived for so long, she had only experienced one marriage and two relationships. Still, she could easily read the look in the other person's eyes—it was obvious that he was interested in her. However, whether due to her long life or something else, Mu Yin's feelings had grown increasingly distant and indifferent. Sensing Qi Rao's romantic interest, her only instinct was to avoid it.

"Wait, I'll go with you. I happen to need some things at home, too." It wasn't that Qi Rao hadn't noticed Mu Yin's resistance, but he had no intention of giving up. When exactly had he fallen for her? Probably the moment she got into that car.

Mu Yin's appearance wasn't bad, and she possessed a unique temperament that made her stand out in a crowd. Naturally, Qi Rao had noticed her at first glance—after all, he was a man too. Back then, it was just a passing attraction, but later, upon discovering her intentions, he had paid special attention to her.

When he suspected her identity might be that of a female protagonist in a novel, he began researching female protagonists, gradually becoming captivated by her portrayal in the stories and developing a genuine interest in the person herself. As for that initial business meeting, he hadn't strictly needed to attend, but he wanted to see her for himself, to check if she was truly as she had written herself to be.

In truth, the novel only revealed one facet of her personality, yet it felt strikingly authentic. She didn't bother hiding her objectives; instead, she boldly laid all her goals out on the table and asked for their assistance in achieving them.

She didn't seem afraid of what they might do to her—perhaps due to sheer confidence in her own abilities, or because of the irresistible allure of the proposals she offered. Or perhaps he had simply fallen for her face. Either way, Qi Rao couldn't quite explain it anymore.

Since his heart had already been stirred, he had to take action. Even knowing he might just be a passing traveler in her life, at least he wouldn't regret it. With that thought, he said, "Let's go."

Watching the man act so overly familiar, Mu Yin felt a strong urge to slap him across the face, but she managed to suppress it. She wasn't that kind of violent person. Fine, if he wanted to follow, let him follow; the supermarket wasn't her private property.

This was an affluent neighborhood. Aside from this compound, several nearby residential areas housed people of similar social standing. Right outside the complex stood a large supermarket, stocked with goods far superior to ordinary stores, with prices to match. Naturally, the residents of these exclusive communities didn't shop for themselves; their housekeepers, butlers, or maids handled the chores. In a way, the store catered exclusively to this elite clientele.

Mu Yin didn't hire domestic help; she didn't want strangers entering her personal spatial realm, and she had grown more accustomed to solitude. Therefore, she always did her own grocery shopping. Moreover, since she didn't wear designer labels, no one here realized she was actually a property owner.

However, Qi Rao stood out starkly. With his striking good looks, superb physique, 1.9-meter height, aloof temperament, and unmistakably expensive attire, he looked every bit the young aristocratic heir. Following closely behind Mu Yin—who had no notable assets besides her looks—he drew a multitude of curious gazes.

With her exceptionally sharp hearing, Mu Yin could catch the speculations whispered by the wealthy housewives and matrons: overbearing CEO and his little maid, Cinderella and the domineering president... She couldn't help but feel a twitch of speechlessness and black lines running down her forehead. Was everyone's imagination really this wildly active these days?

She grabbed a shopping cart and entered the supermarket to pick out what she needed. Her focus was primarily on fresh ingredients, selecting only what she liked without paying any attention to the prices. Ever since she left her original world, she had never once had to worry about food.

Qi Rao followed Mu Yin the entire time, occasionally plucking ingredients he fancied and tossing them into her cart. "Hey, if you want to buy stuff, go grab your own cart. What's the deal with putting them in mine?" Mu Yin felt a headache coming on, her temples visibly throbbing.

"Going to get one now is too much trouble. Let's just keep them in yours for a moment," Qi Rao replied smoothly.

What could Mu Yin say? Throw his items out? She couldn't bring herself to do even that. Why did this man's character setting feel completely and utterly hopeless? Once she had finished picking out her items, they headed to the checkout, where the man beat her to the punch and paid the bill. On the way back, Mu Yin glanced at him and said, "I'll transfer the money to you."

"Sure, just transfer it via WeChat. I'll add you," Qi Rao said without hesitation, pulling out his phone.

Mu Yin was left utterly speechless. Was this a roundabout way of getting her WeChat contact? She felt tempted to just skip paying him back entirely, but that didn't feel right either. "Can't you just open your payment QR code directly?"

"Because I want to add your WeChat, of course." Qi Rao had figured Mu Yin out by now; she despised beating around the bush. Playing ambiguous games with her was far less effective than laying everything out in the open from the start. She might instinctively back away, but at least she wouldn't be able to pretend she didn't know.

"You're making things very troublesome for me. I have no intention of getting into a relationship," Mu Yin knew she couldn't dodge the issue any longer, so she stated her stance directly and bluntly.

"I know this world is just a temporary residence for you, but you're still going to spend a lifetime here—at least fifty years, right? Since that's the case, why not find a companion?" Qi Rao said with utmost seriousness. Of course he felt bitter knowing he wasn't her only one, but he also knew he couldn't accompany her forever, nor could he bear the thought of her remaining completely alone. Since those were the facts, he simply had to put them out of his mind.

"I think I'm doing just fine right now," Mu Yin felt that living alone was quite nice.

"Perhaps you could reconsider." Qi Rao didn't think Mu Yin was a strict, lifelong celibate by choice. Judging from her novels, she seemed to be a slow-warm type of person, yet she was still capable of being moved. He figured he might still have a chance.

Mu Yin sorted out her groceries and headed back. Once home, she placed everything into the kitchen and the refrigerator. After tidying up, she retreated to her room, sitting before her computer in a momentary trance as she replayed Qi Rao's words in her mind.

She had to stay in each world for a full lifetime. Was she really destined to grow old in solitude every single time? Mu Yin wasn't the kind of person obsessed with preserving her purity for a single man. After all, souls reincarnated; even if she found him again, would that reincarnated version—who had lost his memories and grown up in an entirely different environment—still be the person she once loved? What difference would it make compared to simply finding someone new?

Oh, right, the soul would theoretically be the same. But in reality, when a person reincarnated, their vital soul dissipated after death, and a new one formed upon rebirth. One could argue that even the soul wasn't the same anymore. So what meaning was there in chasing after the exact same soul?

Unless the other person was an agent like herself, navigating the multiverse. Unfortunately, according to that non-human entity she had encountered previously, the Main God Space had already fallen, and the fate of other agents remained unknown. Furthermore, even if they were both agents, there was no guarantee they could complete missions together. How could anyone guarantee another's loyalty under those circumstances?

Therefore, Mu Yin actually had no plans to tie herself to someone to complete missions together, nor did she harbor a lifelong aversion to romance. She simply hadn't encountered the person capable of stirring her heart yet.