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Arc 8: Chapter 15

In the system space, Lin Yuan lay in an energy capsule, his complexion pale and bloodless. His whole body was bruised, and the shadow of death stuck to his body.

On the night of the car accident, the system prompt finally sounded after a year and three months.

   【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 19%.】

521 was completely confused: “Why did it only drop by 1%? Senior, you had a car accident and your husband didn’t react at all, does he even know?”

Unlike most people who are unconscious after being in so much pain, Lin Yuan was still fully conscious. Every part of his body hurt so much he didn’t have energy to pay attention to 521 at all.

The second day of the car accident, the system sounded again.

   【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 15%.】

Lin Yuan was distracted from his pain for a second and realized that Jin Ran probably knew. 

From then, the blackening value fluctuated greatly, sometimes rising to 99% and then dropping below 50%.

Lin Yuan guessed that Jin Ran’s blackening value was unstable because he was deceiving himself of the truth. But time would eventually destroy his self-deceiving lies. 

Three months after the car accident, the system began to beep wildly.

   【Di! Please note host, the villain’s blackening value has increased to 99%.】

   【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 83%.】

   【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 47%.】

   【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 12%.】

   【Di! Congrats host, the villain’s blackening value has decreased to 0% and the task is successfully cleared. Congratulations on completing the task!】

Lin Yuan’s eyes gradually turned red and his throat felt like it was blocked by something painful. He asked softly: “Is Jin Ran crying?”

521 wiped away Lin Yuan’s tears with its small wings and comforted him: “You’re the one crying. Senior, it’s okay, after a while, you can go back and see your husband.”

Lin Yuan’s tears fell down drop by drop like a waterfall. When he spoke again, his voice was almost broken: “But I hurt him for the mission…”

He hurt his favorite person with his own hands. 

521 scratched its chest: “But senior, if you didn’t do this, then you couldn’t save your husband. The mission would’ve failed and you would’ve disappeared from the world. Then your husband would still be hurt because of your disappearance and you won’t even have the chance to meet again. That would be a real farewell.”

Lin Yuan understood but he was still uncomfortable and guilty. He really didn’t want to hurt Jin Ran.

Seeing Lin Yuan cry like this, 521 thought that falling in love was so troublesome. Its Senior became a big crybaby after falling in love, but it still had to comfort him: “Sigh, don’t cry senior. How about this? One year and six months, you can go back to your husband half a year in advance.”

Lin Yuan’s cries quieted. He thought for a moment: “One year.”

521 waved its wings: “No, no! Must be one year and six months, you already agreed.”

⋅ ˚ ₊ ‧ ୨୧ ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅

After that day, Jin Ran never went to the police station again. 

He moved all of his things to Lin Yuan’s rooms and filled his broken life with these static things. 

But every time he lay on the bed, he would always think of that moment when Lin Yuan asked him if he liked him. 

He couldn’t help but think if he had been brave and honest and said that he did like him, Lin Yuan might’ve not left him. 

His cowardice killed the person he loved…

He didn’t deserve Lin Yuan at all…

Sometimes Jin Ran had the impulse to drive up the mountain and die like Lin Yuan. He thought that if he did it, he would be able to catch up with Lin Yuan’s ghost and not be left behind. 

Father Lin saw some worrisome signs and called Jin Ran to chat: “Lin’s company was going to be A’yuan’s. But now A’yuan is no longer with us, I’ll give you an offer. Come to the company to work, do it for A’yuan.”

These past months, Father Lin Yuan realized that Jin Ran’s love for Lin Yuan was real. Out of guilt for the hurt that his son had caused, he wanted to help Jin Ran recover from Lin Yuan’s death and focus on moving forward. 

Jin Ran wanted to refuse, but Father Lin convinced him: “The police still haven’t given up on searching for him, are you going to give up on A’yuan first? When A’yuan comes back, the company will be left to you anyways.”

Winter came again, and a year cruelly passed by. 

At the end of November, it suddenly snowed. Despite the snow, Jin Ran still drove up the mountain. 

For over six months, Jin Ran came to this mountain every week when he had time. The young man stood on the mountain road, where he could no longer see any tire marks, watching the white snow gradually cover the world.

He took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. The tobacco made everything numb.

There was no expression, no pain, no joy on his face. He was like a walking puppet, his eyes devoid of light.

After finishing half a box, he whispered: “Lin Yuan, I like you. I love you.”

Time only deepened Jin Ran’s love. He loved Lin Yuan more than he did a year ago. 

Coming down from the mountain, Jin Ran drove back to Lin’s villa. Father Lin had transferred ownership of the house to him two months ago. He accepted it because he and Lin Yuan had many memories in the house. 

Opening the door, Jin Ran took off his wet coat and stepped into slippers. 

In the living room, Lin Yuan’s white rabbit pajamas were laid on the sofa. 

Jin Ran fiddled with the rabbit’s ears and the corners of his lips curved upwards shallowly: “I’m back, Bunny.”

“What do you want to eat tonight? Let’s eat noodles with shredded meat. When you first made me a bowl of noodles, I was secretly happy for a long time.”

Jin Ran went into the kitchen and began to make noodles. He made two bowls of noodles, one of which had two thirds of the shredded meat. 

Lin Yuan once gave Jin Ran his love and doting, so Jin Ran wanted to give him it too. 

One table, two bowls, and one person eating.

Jin Ran talked about what happened as usual. Lin Yuan liked to listen and cling to him like this. 

After dinner, Jin Ran washed the dishes, took a shower, and went to the study to do work. 

At eleven o’clock, the young man lay on Lin Yuan’s bed, holding pajamas that had long lost the owner’s temperature and breath. 

In the darkness, he seemed to hear the sound of car ties screeching, bones breaking, and the weightlessness of falling through the air. He felt as if it was his own blood flowing out, his own body thudding on the ground. 

Jin Ran knew there was something wrong with him but he didn’t care. He was even happy that he had these sensations that made him closer to Lin Yuan. 

In May, the weather was humid and hot. Jin Ran had just drunk a lot of wine at a dinner. The waiter pouring him wine was restless and always made small movements to touch him.

Jin Ran said coldly: “If you move again, I’ll break your hand.”

When he felt like it was about time, Jin Ran said goodbye and left.

At the door of the club, Jin Ran took out a cigarette and flicked the lighter in his hand, but didn’t light it.

The streets were filled with cars and pedestrians. Chatter, laughter, engines, and honks created a cacophony in the air. Jin Ran stood outside for a bit and then took out his mobile phone, preparing to call a taxi. 

The moment he raised his eyes, Jin Ran saw a side profile. 

A familiar side profile, clean and beautiful, pale skin, and light hair that shone warmly under the streetlight.

The cigarette in Jin Ran’s mouth fell to the ground, his fingers stiffened, and his breath was caught in his throat. His eyes burned with crazy obsession. 

Lin Yuan.

It’s Lin Yuan…

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