Chapter 212 Epilogue - New World Arc (Part 9)
"So, what happened after that?"
After that, there should be a "after that".
Life is like this, one wave after another. Even a completely uneventful life can end with the moment your breath stops, your heart stops beating, and your pupils dilate—
No, no, no, even after that, there's no guarantee that we'll see the real ending.
It's like faking death.
If he doesn't wake up during the wake-up call and survives until the coffin is buried, what follows will be nothing short of hell on earth.
In this way, the fate of being wrapped in a straw mat might actually seem more humane—because at least that way, one wouldn't suffocate to death, and there would still be a glimmer of hope.
Even if you don't have one, dying while looking at the sky is a kind of romance, isn't it?
I forget who said it to me, but this irreverent tone is quite reminiscent of my unreliable master.
Yu Qingzhou thought to herself.
But what if he was thrown face down into a mass grave?
I vaguely remember asking that question back then.
Despite genuinely seeking guidance with humility, I was met with a strange expression that defies easy explanation.
You...
His shoulder was put on his arm, and he heard the boy's helpless sigh in his ear... or perhaps he was no longer a boy.
It's just because of that perpetually youthful baby face that he looked excessively childish even as a teenager, and even as an adult, he still gives people the illusion that he might have committed a crime by accident.
Anyone who didn't know better would think you and that guy were half-brothers.
The boy's eyes narrowed into a smile, revealing sharp, white canine teeth at the corners of his lips, adding a mysterious and cunning quality to his overly youthful and clean-looking face.
So, how can half-brothers be brothers...?
The words of complaint were still on my mind.
Following the other person's gaze, one could see a very refined and handsome young man with jet-black hair, amber eyes, and a flawless, fair face that reminded one of a cat.
The cat with jet-black fur and golden eyes is a black cat.
How was it? Not bad, right?
The boy whistled softly, acting like a playboy who had just seen a beautiful woman.
Yu Qingzhou shook her head: [It doesn't seem like it.]
No, they look very similar. Oh, the eye color is indeed different, but that kind of thing can be solved with a pair of colored contacts.
The boy continued his incessant chatter in his ear, the warm breath making Yu Qingzhou turn his head away. He casually pushed the boy away, uttering cold words devoid of any tenderness: "Don't even think about it."
After saying that, he turned and left.
A boy's exaggerated shout came from behind: "Ahhhhh, Little Loquat misunderstood me! I was just suggesting a hypothetical scenario. How could I possibly ask you to actually make that kind of thing? After all, black eye color is much more to my liking than those weird eye colors!"
The once quiet hall became noisy because of the other person's performance.
Everyone else turned to look, as if they were watching a bizarre circus performance, including Xuanmao.
Yu Qingzhou stopped, and the boy behind her couldn't brake in time, so she felt a strong push against her back.
Then came a muffled, low groan: "Waaah... my nose."
The boy covered his nose and pretended to sob for a while, then waved to Yu Qingzhou to indicate that he was fine.
[Really, it's just a minor injury, I won't die. It's just... it's just that if something really happens to me because of this later, Little Loquat, please don't blame yourself. After all, I love you. For Little Loquat, I would go through fire and water, even if it meant dying a thousand deaths—]
[Lin An.]
Yu Qingzhou finally spoke, but what she said was: "Don't call me that."
Ah... but isn't that cute?
The boy seemed too surprised to maintain his sorrowful expression: "Besides, it sounds more intimate, and um, it's quite unique."
The boy counted on his fingers, his expression serious, with a single tear forced out from the corner of his eye.
Yu Qingzhou's answer was simple and blunt: "But I don't like it."
The boy paused for a moment, then chuckled sheepishly, "I see, well, there's really nothing we can do about it..."
Yu Qingzhou looked at the other person: [You're fully recovered already?]
Upon hearing this, the boy was stunned again, then magically put on a mournful face once more, opened his mouth as if to howl, but was scared back by Yu Qingzhou's raised fist.
She shrank back and said, "Oh, just kidding, just kidding. Besides, with such a handsome face, would Xiao Yu really be able to hit him?"
To be honest, Lin An's face is not exactly handsome. His features are not strong enough and his face is rather youthful. He is barely cute. Overall, he is the kind of face that would be very pleasing to mothers, aunts and older sisters.
But I'm not joking.
Yu Qingzhou answered in this way.
The young man carefully looked into Yu Qingzhou's eyes and confirmed that the other party had shown a slight sense of frustration after being serious.
"You, you, isn't there a single face in this world that can soften your heart, which is as hard as iron?" the boy suddenly said, sounding somewhat serious.
Skin ages and decays, beauty deteriorates and decomposes; it's all just the unseen workings of hormones... just like motherly love.
For some reason, there was a subtle pause when he said the last sentence.
The past is something you can't simply forget, especially bad memories. Thinking of this, Yu Qingzhou couldn't help but feel inexplicably downcast.
Oh dear, it seems this has stirred up some unpleasant memories.
The boy murmured softly, then suddenly opened his arms generously: "If you're feeling down, you can lean on my shoulder."
[...]
[While she can't replace Xiaoyuyu's mother, she's perfectly capable of being her father!]
[...]
Come on, don't be shy, you can tell Daddy anything, Daddy will listen carefully and give you a loving hug~
【roll. 】
Although I said those things, I was actually touched inside.
As they playfully walked towards the other end of the corridor, they seemed to catch a glimpse of a cat with amber eyes, or rather, a cat-like youth, out of the corner of their eye.
Xuanmao was quietly watching from a corner not far away, or more precisely, watching a boy—or young man—who was laughing carefree.
"Someone is watching you." Yu Qingzhou gently nudged the boy, subtly reminding him.
Look at me, who is it? There's nothing there.
The boy turned his head and looked over there. The young man in the corner had already left, and it looked like a real cat.
[It's the one you mentioned as good before.]
Oh, him.
The boy rolled his eyes, thought for a moment, and then gave a dismissive look: "That guy's always been like this, just ignore him."
I remember you said he was nice before.
That was just now, it's all in the past.
Then they excitedly discussed what to eat for dinner.
As they were talking, they suddenly realized the person beside them hadn't said a word, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "What are you thinking about?"
I'm wondering when I'll become the past tense in your eyes.
Upon hearing this, the boy immediately became embarrassed, cupping his cheeks and shining his eyes as he said, "So, Little Yu Yu has finally decided to start a passionate and unrestrained romance with Daddy right now?"
Thank you, but thank you anyway.
Yu Qingzhou raised her hand in refusal: "I'm not that perverted."
Moreover, he silently added in his mind that he didn't have a penchant for being chased by the black cat.
I see.
The boy seemed quite accepting of this: "Being just friends is fine, and besides, what if you change your mind at the last minute—"
【impossible. 】
Okay, then that's impossible.
The boy nodded, then added, "Actually, given our relationship, even if things really fall apart, we can still be friends, right? After all, I've never been attracted to you because of your looks..."
Oh, really? That's incredibly exciting!
There was no hint of excitement in his tone.
Hearing this, the boy was slightly annoyed: [What a perfunctory guy.]
How about stir-fry for dinner?
Red bean bread.
How about red bean bread and stir-fry?
OK.
The aroma of red bean bread still lingered in her nose when Yu Qingzhou suddenly opened her eyes and saw the sleeping boy's face in the dim light.
It's not the one from the dream.
“…Ah Xiao?”
Yu Qingzhou called out softly.
There was no response.
He then reached out and gently lifted the boy's arms, which were coiled like a koala's, before carefully placing them aside.
Then she tiptoed out of bed.
As the door opened, moonlight streamed down like flowing water.
A hint of scarlet is faintly visible in the silvery white.
Yu Qingzhou ignored him and walked straight toward the figure in the moonlight.
When he was a few steps away, he stopped, and the man turned around at the same time. Without the ridiculous beard to cover it, his already young face even showed some signs of immaturity.
But that outfit was clearly the usual attire of people from a sect.
Seeing the young man hesitate, the man smiled, revealing his still-white canine teeth.
The latter looked at the young man with a smile and said, "Why the expression? Don't you even recognize your old friend?"
Yu Qingzhou pursed her lips, not answering immediately: "I'm thinking, what would be the most appropriate way to address you? Master, or Lin An?"
"Well..."
Lin An raised his hand and scratched his head, puzzled, "Aren't they all the same thing?"
Yu Qingzhou shook her head and calmly stated, "It's different. At least for me, it's different."
Their eyes met in the moonlight, and it was the former who first suppressed her smile and revealed a genuine expression of remorse.
"I'm so sorry I'm so late. It's not only a dereliction of duty as a comrade-in-arms, but also a huge failure as a friend. So if you have any grievances or—"
"If it's something meaningless, then forget it. Just tell me your purpose."
Lin An's emotional speech was interrupted, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly: "You really are as cold-hearted as ever."
She paused for a moment, then smiled happily again: "But that's exactly what I like about you. After all, being overly emotional can make people boring."
His cheerful and carefree remarks, coupled with his sense of entitlement, were not unlike those of a certain guy in Yu Qingzhou's memory.
However, memories from that distant time may contain inaccuracies.
"Let's get straight to the point."
Lin An coughed lightly, then suddenly put on a rare serious expression, looked into the young man's eyes and said earnestly, "Haven't you always wanted to go home? That's why I came here this time specifically to take you back."
Going home... what an incredibly tempting word.
Yu Qingzhou thought to himself, whether it was for him in the past or for him now.
However, the reason why something can generate such an overwhelming attraction is most likely due to its inherent unattainability.
so……
"I refuse."
"Hmm—Eh???"
Upon hearing this, Lin An's previously serious expression shattered instantly: "Why? I've waited so long for this day, I've finally got a chance to go back, why..."
Lin An muttered to himself, then suddenly seemed to realize something, his eyes widening abruptly: "You're not still holding a grudge against me for abandoning you, are you? I swear, that was a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding! If it weren't for that bastard surnamed He, I would absolutely—"
"no."
"Is it because of that half-demon who's all skin and no flesh? Or that male-female demon god? Or that seemingly honest but actually wicked pretty boy priest? Speak up, Xiao Yuyu, tell me you're still the E025 I knew back then!"
Lin An clung to the young man's leg, his face full of pleading, almost kneeling down to sing "Conquer" for him.
Yu Qingzhou's face darkened.
If someone happened to pass by at this moment and witnessed this bizarre scene of a master groveling before his disciple, they would probably think they were dreaming.
However, if they get closer and discover that one of the protagonists is Lin An, who has been considered insane for many years, they will probably disperse peacefully. After all, he is just a madman, and anything is possible.
“…No.” Yu Qingzhou squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, refraining from punching his former colleague, who was also his unreliable mentor.
"Not what?" Lin An pressed for details.
"It's not because I'm obsessed with beautiful women."
Upon hearing this, Yu Qingzhou felt the pressure on her legs ease.
Lin An patted his chest as if he had breathed a huge sigh of relief: "I knew it. If you were that shallow, we would have been together back then. It really wasn't because of looks..."
"...So, from beginning to end, this is actually the thing you care about most?"
"Of course—no!"
Lin An raised both hands and swore: "No matter what you say, nothing is as deep as our revolutionary friendship. If I were really that shallow, I wouldn't have come to find you. You have no idea how hard it was to get rid of that guy."
She paused, then continued, "So, Yu Qingzhou, why won't you come back with me?"
Lin An rarely called Yu Qingzhou by her full name.
At first, he called him E025, then he jokingly called him Little Loquat. After being stopped, he came up with a new nickname, which was incredibly annoying.
Yu Qingzhou simply let him be.
Actually, Lin An didn't need to do that.
Because their relationship is more like that of a regulator and the regulated than colleagues.
—It refers to the relationship between prisoners and guards.
Thinking of this, Yu Qingzhou couldn't help but look up at the full moon overhead.
He had felt for a long time that it looked like an eye.
Silently observing everything that was happening here.
"Actually, there's not much difference here, is there? The advantage is that it's big enough that when you're inside, you often forget that it was originally just a cage."
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