Translator: phizzlepop
Editor: mantou
Ye Ming accompanied Lu Xiuwen until he was discharged from the hospital and the two returned home.
Lu Xiuwen was as gentle to Ye Ming as before, only, he never brought up any demands again. He did love him, but he exercised restraint, and gave Ye Ming absolute freedom and trust.
As long as this person was willing to stay by his side for even another day, he’d put his all into loving him, and respect him as an equal.
If he wanted to leave… then he’d just let him leave. As long as he could tell that he was doing well, then that was enough.
When Ye Ming returned home, he seemed a little emotional. Actually, that period of time that had made him feel hopeless and sad hadn’t been completely wiped away from his heart yet. But, he also told himself, why do you have to use your misgivings and those few times you were deceived to deny your happiness over the past decade and the kindness of this person who’d tried his very best?
Since he couldn’t bear to leave this person, why not open up his heart and trust him once again?
This was also to give himself one more chance, ah…
He knew in his heart that in order to obtain him, Lu Xiuwen may have done some things behind his back that were wrong. But, at least he didn’t regard him as anyone else’s substitute. The person he loved was him.
Because, if someone didn’t truly love the other, that person would’ve never disregarded his own safety like that without caring about anything else, ba.
That decade’s worth of care wasn’t something a complete liar could accomplish, ba… what if he really had misunderstood? What if there really was another reason?
Ye Ming let out a breath. He thought that since he’d already made a decision, then he had to be more rational and mature. He couldn’t always let Uncle feel that he was a simple-minded and impulsive child. If he couldn’t grow up, then even if he was deceived or despised, then it would serve him right, ba?
The two of them actually still had scars on their hearts, but neither of them showed it. They tried to be considerate to each other, making the atmosphere seem incredibly harmonious.
After dinner, Lu Xiuwen went back to his room first to rest. He’d just left the hospital and couldn’t exert himself too much.
But when Lu Xiuwen was about to rest, he looked at the empty space beside him in the bed, and his eyes dimmed slightly.
Ye Ming hadn’t come, but Lu Xiuwen didn’t plan to go outside to call Ye Ming over or coax him to come. He thought that Ye Ming might not be ready to completely reconcile with him yet.
Lu Xiuwen raised his hand to turn off the lights. As soon as he lay down, he heard the door being pushed open and the warm yellow light from the corridor shined in. Ye Ming stood at the doorway, wearing a large pair of pajamas. He yawned, “Uncle, why’re you sleeping so early?”
Lu Xiuwen looked at him. In the dark, his eyes seemed even darker, “You’re here.”
You know what it means to come here, right?
Ye Ming acted as though he was very naturally going back to his own room, and directly got under the blankets. Because it was a little cold, he shifted inwards a bit. The area around Lu Xiuwen was warm and seemed to dispel the chill. He actually really liked to cuddle with him. It let him indulge in affection, and he felt relieved he could rely on him.
Lu Xiuwen flipped over, reached out his long arms, and pulled Ye Ming into his embrace. The corners of his lips lifted, “Before, I was a little sleepy, but now I’m not.”
………………
When Ye Ming woke up the next day, he was still in Lu Xiuwen’s arms. His face turned red. Uncle had just been discharged from the hospital, yet his physical strength didn’t seem to have diminished much, ah.
He saw that Lu Xiuwen didn’t seem to be awake yet. He stretched out a fingertip and gently scratched Lu Xiuwen’s chin.
Suddenly, he was pressed down again.
The two had completely returned to their normal couple life. Ye Ming also didn’t care much about what other people thought of him anymore. He didn’t want to doubt Lu Xiuwen’s feelings for him because of other people pointing at them and spreading rumors. Their love was something between the two of them, and had nothing to do with other people. Since he decided to trust this person, then he wouldn’t be so easily agitated by others again.
Soon, the semester ended, and it was almost time to celebrate the new year.
Lu Xiuwen and Ye Ming only had a few relatives who they didn’t have much contact with, and didn’t have too good of a relationship with. Therefore, it could be said that they were each other’s closest relatives. In the past, they’d spend the new year together each year. Although it was a bit deserted and dull, it never felt lonely.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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One day, Lu Xiuwen suddenly told Ye Ming, “Later, let’s go to a place.”
Ye Ming didn’t bother asking at all. He was nestled in his office playing games. He waited for Lu Xiuwen to get off work before he got in the car and left with Lu Xiuwen. At first, he didn’t mind very much. It wasn’t until the car stopped at the gate of a cemetery that he showed a surprised and complicated look.
Lu Xiuwen’s expression was steady and solemn. He held Ye Ming’s hand and walked step by step to the front of the Gu couple’s grave.
He said, “Ya-jie, I didn’t dare to tell you before, but I’ve fallen in love with your son. He’s the only one I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“I don’t know if you’ll blame me, but I can promise you that I’ll always love him and protect him.”
Lu Xiuwen didn’t say much else. His intentions couldn’t be expressed through a few simple words. Moreover, words paled in comparison. Only time could prove everything.
He’d use the rest of his life to prove his love.
【Ding. Lu Xiuwen’s Blackening Value -1. Current Blackening Value: 0】
Ye Ming stood beside him silently, watching the man’s firm and steady profile. He lowered his gaze and didn’t say anything.
………………
On the way back, Ye Ming seemed a little absent-minded. He was playing games and died many times in a row.
【888: You’re distracted. 】
【Ye Ming: I’m about to die again, ying ying ying. I’m so scared ah…】
【888: It’s not like it’s your first time dying, what’s there to be afraid of.】
【Ye Ming: Ge, this is what you said ah, so you’ll definitely shield me from pain, right? Don’t play games when the time comes oh QAQ】
【888: …】
【Ye Ming: I believe you aren’t that type of cruel, heartless, and cold-blooded system. I can see that under your indifferent exterior is the mighty spirit of brotherhood. Please shield me! づ】
【888: …】Hurry up and go die!
Lu Xiuwen was faintly aware that Ye Ming’s mood seemed a bit downcast and assumed the reason was because he was thinking about his parents. He brainstormed ideas on how to coax Ye Ming.
In fact, he was prepared to propose to Ye Ming during the new year. There were some unpleasant rumors outside saying that Ye Ming was being raised by him for entertainment. In addition to the matter with Gu Xueya that year, some of the rumors circulating outside sounded especially nasty. Lu Xiuwen was very angry when he heard about them.
He wanted to marry Ye Ming openly under the sun and publicly proclaim their relationship to the entire world. Although the rumors being discussed in secret couldn’t all be eliminated, since there were always dark corners in people’s hearts, at least he wanted to let everyone understand that he truly loved this person. He wasn’t some plaything, wasn’t a substitute, and wasn’t something that could be discarded on a whim.
This was the only person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Recently they’d gotten along very well. Lu Xiuwen thought that Ye Ming would accept. This child had grown up a lot recently. He was sensible and considerate, which made Lu Xiuwen feel very gratified. He was confident that their relationship wouldn’t easily be shaken by gossip and rumors.
And he wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.
Ye Ming didn’t make any moves and lived a stable life as usual.
【888: This time, you’ve actually been pretty laid back. In a few days, you’re going to die, but I haven’t seen you make any preparations.】
【Ye Ming: There’s nothing much to prepare, ah. Living like an old married couple doesn’t give me much of a chance to do anything even if I wanted to. Besides, there’s no need to. Isn’t the system going to send me a complimentary accidental death package? The stingy main system is deathly determined to get money for everything else, but when it wants your life, it doesn’t want money, ah.】
【888: Well… it’s considered pretty good treatment for you already. At least it’s taking care of your body for free, ah.】
【Ye Ming: It does seem to be this way…】
【888: So, it’s not that stingy, ba.】888 would absolutely never tell Ye Ming that he thinks the main system is the most uptight, the most inflexible, the most stingy, the most heartless, and the most ruthless. However, in order to oppose Ye Ming, he managed to admit with great difficulty that the main system was still a little bit human.
【Ye Ming: Ah, this is actually my first time enjoying the accidental death treatment. Super curious! Anticipate-ing!】
In order to fake it until the end, he’d absolutely never tell 888 that spending each day waiting for an accidental death was actually a bit terrifying. He felt like he was living in a Grim Reaper-type horror movie.
Hu Lei was also a native here. His romantic relationship had developed extremely smoothly. During the new year, he even brought his girlfriend home to meet his parents. He’d also maintained a fairly good friendship with Ye Ming. A few of these good buddies had nothing to do, so they made plans to go out for dinner.
After Ye Ming had dinner with them that day, he cheerily waved them goodbye.
Because he had to cross the road to flag down a taxi to take home, Ye Ming just walked along the side of the road. Today, it was fairly windy, and he hadn’t reached the crosswalk yet when a huge gust of wind suddenly blew by, almost carrying him away with it. Before he could steady himself, he looked up and saw a gigantic billboard falling from the sky, smashing into him!
【Ye Ming: F*ck me, ahhhhhhhhhh】
………………
Lu Xiuwen was going to propose to Ye Ming today. In order to give Ye Ming a surprise, he made sure not to reveal any flaws in advance. As usual, he let Ye Ming go out with his classmates for a get-together.
The entire house was completely spruced up. Photos of the two of them were hung up on the wall, making it seem especially cozy.
Lu Xiuwen sat on the sofa and took out a couple’s ring from a velvet box. This was something he secretly asked someone to specially customize. The insides were engraved with both of their names. Lu Xiuwen rubbed the engraving on the inside of the ring with his finger, a tender look containing anticipation in his eyes.
He figured Ye Ming would be back soon. He usually handled matters steadily with moderation, but now he was actually a little nervous.
Only, he waited for a long time, but Ye Ming still hadn’t come back yet.
Lu Xiuwen was starting to get a little worried. But, he hadn’t been tracking Ye Ming anymore, so he wasn’t too sure of his whereabouts and had no choice but to call and ask. Unexpectedly, no one actually answered Ye Ming’s phone.
Lu Xiuwen suddenly stood up, his fingers squeezing the phone with so much strength they turned white, his lips pressed together tightly. Everything should be okay… he only didn’t pick up the phone. It was probably too noisy on the road, so he couldn’t hear it. This was very normal… he shouldn’t overthink it, how could there be so many accidents.
There couldn’t possibly be so many accidents.
But Lu Xiuwen still wasn’t reassured. He immediately called Hu Lei to ask about Ye Ming’s situation. To Lu Xiuwen’s surprise, Hu Lei said that he separated from Ye Ming two hours ago.
Lu Xiuwen hung up the phone, a trace of uneasiness in his eyes. No, he still wasn’t reassured. While he continued to call Ye Ming, he immediately instructed people to go find Ye Ming.
Just as he was becoming more and more unable to sit still, someone finally answered Ye Ming’s phone. There was an unfamiliar male voice, “Hello, you’ve been making a lot of calls to this phone. May I ask if you’re a family member?”
Lu Xiuwen’s voice slightly trembled, “Who are you?”
The other side said, “I’m a policeman. If you’re his relative, please come to XXX Hospital right now.”
………………
Lu Xiuwen didn’t wait for the driver to come, and personally drove a car and sped over. He’d probably have to pay for a lot of tickets he’d accumulated along the way, but he didn’t care at all. He staggered into the hospital, and walked to the morgue.
He saw the person he’d been waiting for, but had never arrived.
The youth lay quietly on the cold metal bed, his body covered with a white cloth. His rib cage seemed sunken in, and his forehead still had blood on it. His eyes were shut, and he wasn’t moving.
Lu Xiuwen walked over step by step, then reached out a hand and touched his cold face.
He felt that he might be having a nightmare.
In this nightmare, he was reborn… then, he used the wrong methods in an attempt to possess this person. He lost him, but the nightmare still wasn’t over yet. Like it was deliberately stringing him along, it allowed him to come back from death’s door to have this person again, and they were finally able to have an affectionate life together…
This dream full of twists and turns utterly exhausted him both physically and mentally. Just when he naively thought that this was a beautiful dream, there was a crashing sound…
And everything was shattered again.
But why hadn’t he woken up yet, why was he still stuck in this dream, unable to wake up?
“Xiao Ran, Xiao Ran…” Lu Xiuwen softly called out a few times.
But, no one answered him.
Lu Xiuwen used his sleeve to lightly wipe away the blood on the youth’s forehead. He gently tidied his hair, then finally lowered his head, and gave an incomparably affectionate kiss to the cold lips that would never radiate warmth ever again.
“Xiao Ran…”
I said before that I wanted to protect you for a lifetime. I wasn’t able to do it, ah. In the last life, I hadn’t been able to do it… in this life I also couldn’t.
Why wasn’t I the one who died. Why am I unable to keep you with me.
If fate meant for things to be like this, then why let me relive everything again. It would’ve been better to have just died like that, while you’d still been alive somewhere in this world.
It would’ve been better to just let me die like that, ah…
Lu Xiuwen’s gaze was sorrowful beyond compare. He took the couple’s ring out from the box and slowly put it on the youth’s finger.
This is what I prepared for you. But, I couldn’t give it to you in time.
I’m not sure if you like it or not.
………………
In the blink of an eye, more than ten years passed by.
Lu Xiuwen returned home. After so many years, the house had never taken anyone else in. It was just him by himself, making the house seem somewhat empty and lonely.
He was only in his forties, yet Lu Xiuwen already had white hair on his temples. He thought that it was too dark inside the house, so he turned on all of the lights. Then, he went up to Ye Ming’s room on the second floor.
Someone came to clean the room every week, so it was always clean and tidy. Just that, no matter how carefully he tried to preserve the room, it was impossible to hide the scent of an uninhabited room… Lu Xiuwen walked over, sat at the desk, and opened the drawer. Various gifts he’d once given Ye Ming were arranged inside it.
That gemstone necklace that’d been discarded had also been placed inside by him.
This house was full of traces once left by Ye Ming in the past. No matter where Lu Xiuwen went, he seemed to still be able to see that child, his former figure revealing a smile to him.
Later, he was a little tired and went back to his room to rest. He raised his hand and looked at the ring on his finger, his gaze momentarily falling into a trance.
Every day before he shut his eyes, he always thought about the exact same thing: if he opened his eyes, would he wake up and discover that all of this had just been a dream.
But he still hadn’t woken up. He thought that if this was actually a dream, then it really was too long.
Much too long.
The author has something to say: Recently my state hasn’t been too good. Tomorrow I’ll take a day off, and then start a new world.
En, I’m finally going to write about the last two worlds o(∩_∩)o~
The translator has something to say: Ye Ming-gege, nothing good in life is ever free, ah =ටᆼට=
😍
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Thank you for the chapter. 💖💖
This one sadly is one of the darker ends 😢
thanks for reading!
The very last sentence had me (ಥ﹏ಥ)
+1
My God. This author has desensitized me to other tear-jerking stories.😂
I only cry for this author now.
TFTC
thanks for reading!
the author-dada is really talented at using the tiniest details to really strike at the readers’ hearts. like bringing up the gemstone necklace again, and even LXW wondering if he was dreaming last ch vs this ch wondering if he was having a nightmare. there’s always very specific wording at multiple points in the arc and even the novel as a whole, so esp if you reread it in one go, the impact is… oof… (T⌓T)
Okay, a billboard crashing down was NOT what I was expecting lmao
I thought truck-sama was going to make his bold and dashing appearance ahaha 🙈
Thanks for the chapter! 😘
mn, I guess since truck-sama already made a special guest appearance a chapter ago, author-dada decided to have a bold and dashing… billboard-gege step up instead (。・ε・。)
Agreed 🤣 Little bit insensitive, but it was a little funny in a kinda slap stick way
Bet our little MC is gonna be pissed about it 🤣
Among all the arcs of sssg until now, this was the only one which actually made cry and feel so sad…
Wahhhh that was out of the park. I was not ready for the random billboard death 😂😭😭😭 welp onto the next world. I can’t believe the novel is reaching near its end. two more worlds….
thank you for the chapter!
thanks for reading!
judging by Ye Ming-gege’s reaction, i don’t suppose he was ready either (/ε＼*)
next world’s a ~fun~ one!
It really made me teared up wuwuwu
Thanks for the chapter <3
555 i know… the short little entry from LXW in his 40s… (ó㉨ò)
thanks for reading!
I keep worrying the next world will be the one from the prologue where he tried to shoot the capture target. I don’t know if he can ever get back from that.
Thanks for the chapter!
hehehe… we shall see on Friday ฅ•ω•ฅ
although, Ye Ming-gege has an answer for everything (um, except billboards) so he’d prolly still be able to make a most magnificent recovery from even that
thanks for reading!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh…..QAQ
Thanks for chapter as always 🥰🥰🥰
Thanks for reading! Σ>―(〃°ω°〃)♡→
WAH! I KNEW IT! EVERYTHING WAS GOING TOO SWEET! AUTHOR YOU SLY FOX! I LOVE IT! (❁´3`❁) ♡
Thanks for the chappie (∩˃ ᵕ ˂∩)♡
author-dada worked hard to give us a brief respite filled with fluff… and then um… smashed it away in one go (」°ロ°)」
thanks for reading!
Im crying so fucking hard 😄
Thanks for the chapter….. PHIZZLEPOPPER!!!!! 😉😉😉😊🙂😉😂😇🙂😊😂😇😂😇😂☺☺😍☺😂
this chapter gave me whiplash from all the emotions I felt… (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞
thanks for reading!!
I’ve grown numb, la. Pokerfaced at the ‘sad’ departure. dips cookie in tea Ah, billboard-gege, welcome to the club. Want some brownies?
hahaha, we’ve amassed quite the tea party over here. billboard-gege is the newest addition to join us along with truck-dada, gun-dada, nuclear weapon-dada, these veterans
You know, as much of a scum shou Ye Ming is and how comedic his train of thought is, at least I can simpathize with him, and not only the ‘character’ that he’s playing as. He’s not completely heartless and detached from the character, unlike president Xie, which makes it way sadder because you can tell he’s reluctant to hurt the gong after he promised to take care of him his whole life :”(
I think so too! I think that especially since it’s been acknowledged very subtly recently that Ye Ming-gege is determine to “fake it until the end”, he def has a habit of acting rlly nonchalant and saying rlly “unexpected” things, but there have been definite signs of him not saying anything excessive or “going too far” like when he remained silent in front of Gu Ran’s parents’ graves after LXW’s speech
this arc is quite special… because they had one time truly get together happily and in peace, and YM went ayae in that state… very different from prev arc(・∀・)
it is pretty different! I thought it was an interesting change to see him expressly note that he’d leave things be at one point if YQ was rlly unwilling to believe his “lies”… the zombie apocalypse also rlly ruined his… high-end life aspirations too
mm that ‘he (ML?) leave things be at one point’, I think in some arc ML did that? but I don’t remember exactly what arc since I read this novel on and off (bcs I’m waiting for completed arc hehe)
lol what to expect from zombie apocalypse… luxury life is def out of the picture 😂 can’t wait for next arc, not only abuse for gong but also for YM highfive 888
hehehe zombie apocalypse arcs are so fun!!! (⁎˃ᆺ˂)
tfw law & order is gone so the possibilities are endless~
ouch, my kokoro…(╥﹏╥)
thanks for the chapter~
i knoooooow (ó﹏ò｡)
thanks for reading!
Erm… The billboard was unexpected but I love how it went. When I saw Ye Ming’s reaction, I laughed out loud. I’m gonna wait for the next arc to finish before reading again. Thanks for translating this novel! ❤❤❤
I think Ye Ming-gege thought it was unexpected too, hahahaha
looking forward to seeing you again in looks down approximately, 12 chapters
thanks for reading!
I really do think that the billboard accident is quite funny
Ye Ming-gege’s reaction hahaha… i was surprised at first bc they kept talking about crosswalks and roads so you know, truck-kun was there in the back of my mind esp when the wind started up bc i was thinking oh no, blowing him into a truck? then… it blew… a huge billboard down instead
Right? Hahahaha, what are the odds of a billboard pulverizing you to death. It’s so unexpected it had been funny
;__; ye ming not wanting to die has me feeling complicated emotions, especially since he treats these worlds as if they’re a game he’s pretending not to care about:]
i actually like Ye Ming-gege lots! i actually think he’s a rather well fleshed-out complex character. my impression of him is that although he and 888 say whatever about him + his actions, i get the feeling that he’s mostly just putting up a front and acting rlly casual + “scummy” but it seems to me like sometimes he does things then afterwards tries to explain them away to 888 as him just screwing around
Agreed. He’s trying to brush it off like he’s not affected by any of it, and when he gets pulled out he finally can be done but I don’t think he’s as scummy as 888 thinks.
I always wonder what the item he was trying to buy was, hoping we find out!
Actual saying. …this novel is too much unfair for gongs. Being scummed then being heart-broken(ed) …..Geez. …All they did is have 100 black points!
i felt very sorry and bad for some of them by the end… some of them had good reasons for having such a high blackening value, but imo, what they did after getting such a high blackening also put a few of them in the wrong for me, at least. some of them didnt go too too far, but some of the others… hehehe…
But they got betrayal at first. ….but some gongs are really beyond theline.
it’s true, i think Ye Ming-gege started dumping some of them in ah, increasingly dramatic ways in the later worlds
As expected…AUTHOR IS MAKING ME CRY AGAIN WITH THIS ENDING.(TAT)QAQ
I started reading this arc because I was in the mood for some dog-blood, and boy was I… wrong. Jesus fucking Christ, I’m bawling my eyes out TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Bro actually in other arcs,atleast the MLs were ready for the deaths more or less but damn this is just so effin cruel.Damn! He was just waiting at home to propose him! And worse of all other MLs still had someone or some purpose to live on right but life for this ML is torture
Fuck…I thought I’d be used to the cruel endings by now. (╥_╥)
You know what the saddest is? They reconcile and had the longest moments of happiness together unlike the heavy angst from before arcs. (unless I am wrong since I’m just reading random chapters to reread lmao)