[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-456":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596579,846,"Chapter 456: Exchange","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-456",456,"\u003Cp>We are now live at the scene of the Autumn Water Pavilion's first-ever diving competition!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next up is the only contestant of this tournament—Little Li!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has chosen an extremely difficult dive: four and a half somersaults with two and a half twists. However, it’s clear he lacks major competition experience...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Li’s entry wasn’t exactly smooth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there were a post-match interview, he’d probably say it had nothing to do with his performance—the real reason was spotting a mermaid in the hot spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mermaid!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could keep their composure after seeing such an enchanting creature?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Li couldn’t hold back at all. In fact, he was so captivated by the underwater scenery that he didn’t resurface immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing, snapped out of her thoughts by the splashing, stepped forward and lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ice Block, you look... really pretty today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo, who usually remained unfazed even in the face of the Demon Summoning Sect’s deputy leader or a Palm Mystic expert, suddenly found himself blushing and at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Straightforward as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blame it on the hot spring—soaking wet clothes clung tightly to the body, accentuating the Southern Border-style attire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the rippling waters, Li Mo caught glimpses of black fabric against pale skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absolutely lethal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The downside of an insatiable curiosity is that the more obscured the view, the stronger the urge to uncover the truth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing subtly retracted her feet a little, pretending to glance elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been pondering how far she should take the \"sparring\" her system mentioned, especially since the images she’d glimpsed in Li Mo’s mind weren’t exactly... singular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could reach a conclusion, he’d dropped from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost reflexively, she muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s just bathwear... not that special.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why didn’t you change?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she asked, she regretted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, right. I’ll change now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Li had only managed to kick off his shoes mid-air earlier. True to form, he treated Ice Block like family and immediately began undoing his robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing spun around in a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Done?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned back, her expression as cool and detached as ever—though a keen observer might notice she’d momentarily... forgotten to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Li Mo hadn’t just changed clothes. He’d stripped off his upper garment entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why tie your clothes around your waist in a hot spring?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To conceal the untamed spirit of my rebellious soul.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing refused to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As everyone knew, Li Mo was a man of reason—but when reason failed, he was also versed in a bit of physics, and his physique was nothing to scoff at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, clad in her combat gear beneath the bathrobe, she stood just a palm’s width away from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body, chilled from a day in the frigid pool, had spent so long steeling itself—only for all that resolve to crumble in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mistbloom Everlasting Spring fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the sound of flowing water remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Ying Bing was the one to break the quiet:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was your trip to the Southern Border... smooth?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only one hiccup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you run into the Demon Summoning Sect?\" She’d already asked Qin Yuzhi once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Mo shook his head. \"Nah. Just too many mosquitoes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ice Block, seal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo could no longer hold back. This was all to suppress the other presence within Ying Bing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was part of the plan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"L-Let’s focus on cultivation first. Progress matters more...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tingling warmth surged in Ying Bing’s chest, but she forced herself to stay rational.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Observing the Moonlit Soul Intent was said to aid in achieving a state of serene detachment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo nodded and reached out, gripping her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They settled into the water together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But wouldn’t you know it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps echoed from the entrance of the Mistbloom Everlasting Spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yuzhi had overused her Dream Step technique today and was exhausted. Hearing Shang Wu rave about the hot spring’s comforts—and, more importantly, learning it was empty—she’d decided to unwind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent ripple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who’s there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yuzhi tensed, only to see Li Mo leaning against the pool’s edge, arms draped casually over the rocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Weren’t you heading back to your room?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can always come back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo mirrored Ying Bing’s deadpan expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft. I knew it. You came looking for Little Ice and struck out, didn’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yuzhi smirked, smug as if she’d cracked the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yep, you got me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo gave her a thumbs-up. Truly a master detective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as she moved closer, he stiffened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Taking a bath. I’m already here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s face paled as he sucked in a sharp breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s the big deal? It’s not like I’m underdressed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qin-jie, how about you come back tomorrow? Soak as long as you want. It’s awkward with me here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh, fine. Don’t flatter yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an eye-roll, she turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo: \"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, Qin Yuzhi wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As everyone knew, he’d been moments away from embracing a certain fragrant, soft Ice Block for dual cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment Qin Yuzhi appeared, Ying Bing had instinctively submerged—lest Qin Yuzhi witness the scene and invade their dreams again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As everyone also knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water had its... benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her cultivation and martial prowess, Ying Bing had a thousand ways to counter those benefits. Yet in her haste, she’d opted for the most primal method:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping something with her icy fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly a twist-and-pull maneuver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gurgle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing resurfaced, her face a crimson storm beneath her usual frosty demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she afraid the current might sweep her away? Or was it that awkward, prickling tension...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Made her curl inward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s eyes bulged, jaw slack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at Ying Bing, but all he saw was the flawless profile of the Frost Fairy—now holding her breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jiejie,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clarity in Ying Bing’s eyes flickered. The warmth in her palm burned unmistakably now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She yanked her hand behind her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, an abrupt chime rang in her ears:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Congratulations, Host. Sparring complete.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Unfortunately, no injuries, bloodshed, or fatalities occurred this round.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing’s mind spun with doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>",1035,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.270Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","38b9192359725b0c25cd6a39369fd0bd24394ad575d87f45406eaeb280d53db8","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-457","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-455",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]