My Destiny

7 . Same

While the system and Xue Lin were engaged in a fierce argument, a deep, innocent voice broke the tension.

“Wife, you’re awake?”

The delicate figure turned towards the source of the voice and was met with a sharp, intense gaze. The owner of that gaze had a face that was strikingly fierce, yet his expression was pure, completely at odds with his appearance.

"Yes... I’ve woken up."

Grab!

“I... I thought I’d never see you again, wife... Hic...” The slender figure froze as the taller one threw himself forward, wrapping him in a tight embrace that nearly squeezed the breath out of him.

“L-let go of me!” He tried to push the larger man away, but to no avail. Eventually, the strong arms loosened, allowing him to breathe more easily.

“What’s your name?” he asked, even though he already knew the answer. He didn’t want to raise suspicion.

“I... I don’t know. I don’t remember my name.” Yang Jin tilted his head adorably, his eyes reflecting innocent curiosity.

Swear to heaven! Just now, Xue Lin felt the energy of a puppy radiating from this tall man. Aww… little puppy!

“Then I’ll call you Ah-Yang.”

The tall man smiled happily. He finally had a name of his own.

“Are you tired? Have you been watching over me every day like this?” Xue Lin suddenly asked, catching Yang Jin off guard.

“I’m not tired. I’ve been waiting every day for you to open your eyes,” Yang Jin replied cheerfully, his bright smile freezing Xue Lin in place.

“Ahem, I’m hungry now.” Out of nowhere, Xue Lin changed the topic, masking his embarrassment.

{You’re blushing—just admit it! Your husband’s too clueless to notice anyway, like a six-year-old kid.}

‘Shut it, system.’ Xue Lin glared at the round orb that dared tease him.

“You’re hungry, wife? I’ll go get some wild fruits!” With that, the tall man hurriedly clattered down the hut’s stairs.

Once the coast was clear, the system reported to its host about his wicked stepmother.

{Host, I discovered something while infiltrating your old family estate. I’ve uncovered a secret about your stepmother’s past.}

“What is it?” Xue Lin raised an eyebrow, surprised that the system had unearthed something about his stepmother.

{Your mother didn’t die of illness—she was murdered.}

As soon as those words left the system, a rush of anger flooded Xue Lin’s chest, an overwhelming vengeance erupting from the depths of the original body’s soul. It took all his willpower to maintain control.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” he muttered, trying to steady himself. The original soul, still lingering within him, demanded justice. Curiously, though, it felt as if the soul was close by, not entirely gone.

{That’s because you two are the same soul.}

“What do you mean?”

{You and the original soul are like twins—two halves of the same being, but from different eras, dimensions, and worlds. The original soul hasn’t fully passed into the cycle of rebirth because the time isn’t right. However, their goodness earned them a higher realm afterlife. You can sense their presence now because this unresolved past has surfaced.}

The system’s lengthy explanation finally made sense to Xue Lin. He nodded, deciding firmly, “Revenge can wait. Right now, I don’t have enough power. I need to strengthen myself first.”

{That’s the best approach, host. Also, don’t forget, you still need to fulfill the system’s objectives.}

“Do your objectives really need me?” he asked in exasperation.

{Absolutely. The higher powers saw a dire shortage of medical professionals in this world and created me to fix that. I had to find someone suitable to carry out this mission—and that’s you.}

“And you just picked me?” Xue Lin sighed deeply. Instead of moving on to reincarnation, here he was, stuck in this strange world.

{You were the only recently deceased person at the time! It wasn’t like I had options.}

The round orb’s blunt reply made him want to crush it in his hand.

“But I don’t have a medical background. How am I supposed to become a doctor?” he asked, defeated. His expertise lay in business management, not medicine.

{You don’t need medical training. I’ll scan patients and diagnose their conditions. You’ll just follow my instructions. Plus, you’ll need to gather medicinal herbs to treat them. Oh, I’ve even set up a ready-made herb garden for you!}

The system displayed an image of an empty herbal garden.

“Herbs? That means I have to go into the forest?” Xue Lin shuddered. Physical exertion wasn’t his strong suit.

{You’ve got magic powers. Stop being a coward.}

He did his best to ignore the system’s mocking tone. Just as he wondered about Yang Jin’s absence, the man returned, carrying a basket of fruit.

“Pingguo (apples)?” Xue Lin asked, puzzled to see the basket full of vibrant red apples. “Where did you get these?”

{Your husband’s incredibly lucky. These apples are magical fruits from the Forbidden Forest!}

‘Magical fruits?’

{Yup! The red apples from the Forbidden Forest have mystical properties—they restore energy, boost magical power, and enhance physical strength. Most people don’t know about this because no one dares venture into the Forbidden Forest.}

The name Forbidden Forest sounded familiar. He recalled bits from the body’s memories but hadn’t expected ordinary apples to become prized treasures here.

{Your husband’s a jackpot—handsome, strong, and lucky. If I had a chance, I’d—}

‘Shut up, system.’

{Just saying! You two are a perfect match.}

‘Ugh!’