Bai Li knew very well that he was dreaming.

After all, Old Master Bai had died many years ago, so it was abnormal that he could still be beaten to a pulp in the training ground.

The evening sky was a lazy warm orange color. The grandfather and grandson found a corner in the training ground and sat down. Bai Li squeezed out the nutrient solution and complained to Old Master Bai that drinking this stuff every day made him feel dry. Old Master Bai slapped him on the back of his head with his iron palm.

"You've been dead for so many years," Bai Li said, "Why are you still beating me like this?!"

Old Master Bai laughed: "I can't die any more, you're also a grandson."

Bai Li thought about how this sounded like an insult, and his dissatisfaction with Old Master Bai reached a peak: "If I could choose for myself, even if I couldn't be reborn and jumped off the building to death, I wouldn't be your grandson!"

This caused him to be beaten again, still in the familiar training ground, Old Master Bai's familiar sleeve-rolling action, familiar tough guy education, beat Bai Li hard.

After the beating, he was still asleep, and the grandfather and grandson sat side by side watching the sunset.

After a long time, Bai Li whispered, "It would be nice if you lived two more years."

Old Master Bai didn't say anything, and after a while he said, "Do I want to die early?"

"That's right," Bai Li said, "I'm still useless."

This time, Old Master Bai was too lazy to even beat him.

"Hey," Old Master Bai said, looking at the warm sky, "Do you know why you are called Bai Li?"

Bai Li was annoyed: "Didn't you just look it up when you were flipping through ancient earth data? Such a crappy name."

"I've been flipping through it for a whole day, can you please respect my hard work?" Old Master Bai said, "The name is translated, but I gave it to you because I thought it was suitable."

Bai Li looked at him sideways.

"When I saw you, you're so tiny, I don't know why, but I felt that you're going to have a lot of unhappy days in your life," said Old Man Bai, gesturing with a length the size of a baby. "I hope you're strong and powerful, able to fight against the fools in the world. I hope you're strong and brave, and the pain you've experienced will eventually become your glory."

Bai Li couldn't figure out whether the Old Man Bai in his dream was a comfort he imagined or if there really was such a person.

He propped himself up on the ground, stretched out his legs, and said nothing.

"'Experience' is a trace left by time," said Old Man Bai, "I hope you've experienced everything and can still move forward."

Bai Li curled his lips: "You really think highly of me."

"You did a good job," said Old Man Bai.

The wind started to blow in the evening, but the weather was good, warm and comfortable.

Bai Li said again: "'Strong and brave', why don't you just name me Bai Jianqiang?"

"Ah, this," said Grandpa Bai, "one of my ancestors was named Bai Jianqiang."

Bai Li: "..." Oh.

Seeing Bai Li's dumbfounded expression, Grandpa Bai laughed and said: "Besides, being strong is so tiring. You can be strong when necessary, but forget about being strong all your life."

Even in a dream, the nutrient solution is not tasty. The grandfather and grandson didn't say anything else. Bai Li's head gradually lowered, and then lowered again, and finally buried in his knees.

"I miss you so much."

Grandpa Bai patted his back: "The rainy season is over, and everything will be fine in the future."

Then he stood up, stretched his waist, and touched Bai Li's head.

The iron palm pulled Bai Li's head like a ball.

Bai Li reached out his hand to tug at the corner of Mr. Bai's clothes, but his hand reached out and grabbed nothing.

After this empty grab, he opened his eyes.

Bai Li's last memory was being carried on the medical cart. His leg was so painful that he felt weak all over. Blood flowed all the way from the wound. Lu Zhao's hand covering it was useless. Finally, someone gave him an analgesic injection, and he lost consciousness when the medicine took effect. What

came into view was the ceiling of the hospital above his head, a dim room with no lights on, the sound of rain, and even the smell of disinfectant was exactly the same as in the nightmare, but Bai Li was not afraid.

He smelled the familiar smell of grass.

He didn't know how long he slept. This sleep was very long and comfortable, but he was a little stiff because he slept too much. Bai Li turned his face to the side, and Lu Zhao was lying beside him. His clothes had been changed, and the injury on his waist could not be seen.

Bai Li touched Lu Zhao's head.

With a light touch, Lu Zhao sat up suddenly, holding Bai Li's hand, and put his other hand on Bai Li's forehead to measure the temperature.

"Don't get excited," Bai Li said hoarsely, "You scared me. How is the injury on your waist?"

Lu Zhao's face was very bad, pale and tired, with bloodshot eyes. He shook his head to show that he was fine, and the sound of his mouth was like he hadn't drunk water for 800 years: "I'll call Lao Zheng."

There was a pager at the bedside, and Lao Zheng hurried over with a nurse soon.

After a few simple inquiries, Lao Zheng's expression was not very good, but he didn't say much, just let Bai Li rest first.

It was still raining outside the window, and the sky was dark and I couldn't tell the time.

"Is it bandaged?" Bai Li asked, "You just sit here? How long have you been sitting here?"

"It's bandaged." Lu Zhao held his hand all the time, "Not long."

Bai Li looked around. This was an independent ward, and he was the only one living there. His left leg was fixed by a machine. It was probably because he had an analgesic injection. Now he only felt a dull and slight pain.

"What time is it?" Bai Li asked again.

Lu Zhao paused, but still answered: "The afternoon of the 18th, 6:10."

The day Bai Li defeated Tang Kaiyuan was the 17th. He won the qualification for the finals, and the finals were supposed to be held on the morning of the 18th.

Bai Li was a little stunned.

"The match has been delayed," Lu Zhao said hurriedly, "It was the opponent who proposed it, and the details are still being discussed."

"Oh." Bai Li lay back on the pillow, his mind still a little sluggish after just waking up, and after a while he slowly said, "But I can't play in the match."

Lu Zhao held his hand and trembled slightly, he didn't know how to start.

"The institute has no substitute, the previous substitute is still in the hospital." Bai Li was very stable and didn't say anything else, "What did Situ say?"

"He is contacting for a substitute," Lu Zhao said with his head down, "Zhou Yue is also looking for someone, so you stay in the hospital."

Bai Li lay on the pillow and said "hmm".

The rain was very loud. The rain curtain outside the window blurred the outline of the empire. A damp smell seeped in from the half-open window.

Perhaps he was mentally prepared, or perhaps he had guessed deep in his heart that there would be such a day. Bai Li was very calm and did not even ask about the condition of his left leg at the first time.

After a while, he suddenly remembered that the 18th was also the date when Lu Zhao would go to the marginal satellite for support. He tilted his head and asked, "Xianhua, when are you leaving?"

Lu Zhao held his hand without answering.

"Leaving at night, right? What time?" Bai Li used force with his fingers, "Hmm?"

Lu Zhao lowered his head and could not see his expression clearly. From Bai Li's perspective, he could only see that his lips moved, but he did not make a sound.

In this silence, Bai Li tasted something wrong. They set off at night, but usually they would go to the legion to gather in advance. At this moment, Lu Zhao was still wearing casual clothes. He had a wound on his waist, but according to the regiment's custom, they would usually assign medical personnel to continue the treatment on the way to the destination, and then arrange the situation after arriving at the destination.

Bai Li realized that Lu Zhao did not obey the transfer order.

He sat up straight in shock: "Why didn't you go to the regiment?"

Bai Li pulled his hand back hard, but Lu Zhao clenched it tightly, but said nothing.

"Are you crazy? Do you still want to stay in the military?" Bai Li said angrily, "What did you promise me? Huh? Lu Zhao!"

The clasped hands were covered with a layer of sticky sweat, which also made it less resistance for Bai Li to twitch. Lu Zhao finally couldn't help it. He held Bai Li's hands with both hands, bent down and rested his forehead on his hands: "I don't want to stay in the military anymore, I don't want to stay in the military anymore."

Bai Li had never seen Lu Zhao like this. His hands could no longer twitch and he just sat there in a daze.

"Don't you respect any choice I make?" Lu Zhao's voice was trembling uncontrollably, but he tried hard not to seem so choked up, "I choose now, I choose you, I won't choose anyone else, I won't choose the military or the fucking Zerg, I'll stay here, Bai Li, I choose you."

Bai Li felt the back of his hand was wet. Whether it was in the original book or in reality, Bai Li had never thought that Lu Zhao would cry before.

The Eagle of the Empire has no weaknesses, it is strong and powerful, invincible.

It turns out that tears are also hot.

It's like burning holes in Bai Li's heart. Bai Li felt that his heart was aching terribly, and countless emotions poured in from those holes, making him about to explode.

I don't want this.

I don't want you to be like me, leaving the place you love so much, taking an abrupt turn in your life, and spending the next few decades in regret and sighing.

I want this again.

You don't want anything else but me.

This despicable and selfish feeling made Bai Li feel like a scumbag. He wanted to harden his heart and pull his hand back, asking Lu Zhao to pack up and return to the army immediately.

This man was very stubborn and single-minded. When Bai Li's words came to his lips, they became a sigh stuck in his throat.

"Hey," Bai Li rubbed Lu Zhao's cheek with his hand, "I'm not asking you to leave, don't be like this."

Lu Zhao shook his head.

"Why?" Bai Li said, "Competition? Legs? It's okay, really. Look, I didn't even cry."

This dry consolation had no effect. Lu Zhao's body tensed up when he said "legs".

Bai Li was at a loss for words.

He could still feel the warm tears falling from Lu Zhao's eyes on the back of his hand, but there was no sound. He couldn't hear the sobs. If he didn't know enough, he would hardly be able to tell the ups and downs of emotions from Lu Zhao's voice.

Bai Li had never seen anyone cry so calmly.

"Lu Zhao, Major General Lu," Bai Li used the back of his hand to feel across Lu Zhao's eye sockets, "make a sound."

The ward was silent. When Bai Li thought he would not speak again, Lu Zhao spoke: "If I had stopped him, you would not be like this." He

had already taken ninety-nine steps out of a hundred, so why was he stuck at this step?

Lu Zhao couldn't figure it out.

He had been thinking about this problem during the time he sat here. If he hadn't come to watch the game, Bai Li might have gone with the institute. If he hadn't helped Bai Li walk that road, this wouldn't have happened. If he had moved faster, if he had held back and not been affected by the pheromones, if he had stopped it, at least it wouldn't be Bai Li lying here.

After everyone left, he and Bai Li, who had a high fever and was sleeping, were the only ones left in the ward. Time became very unbearable.

Bai Li was still asleep, but the words he had said became clear in Lu Zhao's mind. He remembered what Bai Li had said to the beetle when he was susceptible.

Bai Li said that this leg might be hit again, it would become useless, and he would not be able to stand up. Lu Zhao thought he was afraid, but Bai Li said that he would know at that time that the feeling of "nothing can be changed" would be a torture.

Bai Li was like a prophet who had told Lu Zhao not to feel too uncomfortable when that day came.

When that day really came, Lu Zhao found that it was no longer a question of whether he felt uncomfortable or not.

Except for this ward, everything in the outside world disappeared. Lu Zhao could not feel what was uncomfortable. Every breath brought a heavy burden. He was overwhelmed by the huge and thick emotions.

Bai Li didn't expect Lu Zhao to say this. He didn't even think that Lu Zhao would make such an impossible assumption.

"Look up," Bai Li waved his hands, "Why am I so unwilling to listen to your nonsense?"

The harder he waved his hands, the lower Lu Zhao's head bowed.

Bai Li gave up the idea of ​​asking him to raise his head, lying on the pillow, turning over and pinching Lu Zhao's cheek.

"Scared," Bai Li said, "you call it 'fear'."

The layers of mist wrapped in Lu Zhao's heart were torn apart, and he finally realized what emotion was more devastating than discomfort.

This is called fear.

He was afraid to see Bai Li's face, afraid to see disappointment and frustration on Bai Li's face. Bai Li, who had walked ninety-nine steps, failed before the hundredth step.

He was afraid that Bai Li would ask him if he could still compete, afraid that Bai Li would be in great pain and he could do nothing about it.

Lu Zhao was afraid to see himself weak and incompetent in Bai Li's eyes.

Compared with his own regret and sadness, he felt more helpless and frightened that he could not share the injury and pain of his lover.

"I didn't expect it to be like this," Lu Zhao heard that his voice was relatively stable and he could still maintain that calm look, "Just go slowly."

"Yeah," Bai Li said, "Major General brother is the best."

Lu Zhao pulled the corner of his mouth silently.

Then he heard Bai Li say again: "I'm quite scared, why don't you hug me."

In Lu Zhao's life, Bai Li is the most gentle and soft person he has ever come into contact with.

The cunning gentleness, the softness that finds a way to find a gap, weaved into a huge net, covering Lu Zhao underneath, unable to turn over.

Lu Zhao knew that Bai Li was giving him a chance to seek comfort. On the one hand, he felt contempt for his own weakness, and on the other hand, he couldn't help but hug Bai Li's neck and bury his face in his neck.

Bai Li hugged Lu Zhao back and heard a suppressed, almost indistinguishable sob. He

also clumsily patted Lu Zhao's back. He was really scared.

No wonder, everything was going well in the last second, and suddenly it became like this.

Bai Li had experienced this kind of shock once, but Lu Zhao had never experienced it before.

Probably before this, Major General Lu had already begun to plan to work with Bai Li in the First Army.

"Go and rest for a while?" Bai Li whispered, "You look bad."

Lu Zhao shook his head.

Bai Li had no choice, but he actually felt an indescribable sense of security. Being hospitalized always makes people feel lonely, and it's different when someone is with you.

"Then lie here with me," Bai Li patted the empty space on the right side of the bed, "squeeze in."

This private ward was specially prepared for people like Bai Li. The bed was quite spacious, but it was not enough for two tall and strong adults to lie loosely. Lu Zhao leaned against Bai Li on his side, and the two of them squeezed on the bed.

After venting his emotions, Lu Zhao calmed down a lot. His eyes were still red, but his breathing had slowed down when he lay down.

Although they have been married for such a long time and they have always cuddled each other when sleeping in the same bed, this is the first time they have been so close to each other.

The pillows were flat, Bai Li's head was against Lu Zhao's, and Lu Zhao's arm was on him.

"Is the wound okay?" Bai Li lifted the hem of Lu Zhao's clothes.

The right side of his waist that was not touching the bed was simply wrapped with a bandage that was used urgently. Some red could be seen faintly. Bai Li touched it with a frown.

"It's a minor wound," Lu Zhao let him touch it, "it's not bleeding anymore. This is the blood when it was just bandaged."

Bai Li pulled his clothes up: "What about that lunatic?"

He no longer mentioned the little bastard.

"I don't know." Lu Zhao closed his eyes. "I didn't ask."

He really didn't ask. At that time, he was completely at a loss. He only cared about sending Bai Li, who was curled up in pain, to the medical vehicle.

From the time Bai Li was admitted to the military hospital to the time he fell asleep after receiving an analgesic injection, Lu Zhao's memory of this period was very confused. A lot of subsequent information about the outside world was also brought to him by Situ Jianghao, but he couldn't really listen. Bai Li didn't ask any more questions.

He was tired from sleeping so much. He was still energetic at the moment, staring at the rain curtain outside the window with his eyes closed.

Lu Zhao couldn't sleep either. He just closed his eyes and remained silent. He was even less talkative than before. The hand on Bai Li's abdomen pulled his clothes unconsciously.

It was a very childish action. Bai Li wanted to laugh in his heart, but also felt a little sour. People like Lu Zhao probably never acted like this even when they were children.

"Over at the Corps," Bai Li said in a slow voice, "Jiang Hao should be able to find a way. You can still go tomorrow."

Lu Zhao said nothing, silently refusing.

Two words popped up in Bai Li's mind: willful.

The rain was rustling. The wards on this floor were all high-end independent wards. Not many people were staying there. The corridor was quiet, and the only sound in the wards was each other's breathing.

"Actually, I always thought that there would be such a day." Bai Li looked at the blurry empire in the rain, and said calmly, "Except for the fact that the madman collapsed because of his own fault, I sometimes feel that I have not changed the plot."

Lu Zhao didn't know how to respond, so he could only say firmly, "No."

"I still ended up with a disabled left leg," Bai Li smiled, "In this process, you were also trapped by me as in the original track, and your future was mostly ruined."

Lu Zhao's hand that was clutching his clothes slowly clenched into a fist, and he whispered, "It's different." After a pause, "I do."

When he said the last three words, Bai Li was suddenly a little speechless.

He still hasn't gotten over the numbness until now, perhaps because he has experienced too many disappointments, this disappointment is not stronger.

Compared to when he was injured and retired from the military and was angry all day in the ward, he feels that he can accept everything now calmly.

At least the world consciousness has completely disappeared, Tang Kaiyuan is probably hopeless, the center of the world does not exist, and this world does not need world consciousness.

It will be fine in the future.

He will get used to it.

One leg doesn't matter, the disabled but strong-willed Master Bai, keep working hard.

It will be fine in the future, it will be fine.

Bai Li closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't want to continue to be trapped in this thought-provoking silence. He smiled and said, "I dreamed of the old man again."

The topic changed quickly, and Lu Zhao didn't say anything.

"He beat me up," Bai Li said, "and told me that there was an ancestor in our family named Bai Jianqiang."

Lu Zhao's fist did not loosen, but clenched a little tighter.

There was no reply, but Bai Li did not stop: "I have to go to the old house after I am discharged from the hospital. You should go too. There are a lot of things there. See if you can use anything and move it back. I don't want to live there. Every room has memories of me being beaten..."

"I guess I can't travel this year, but there are many places to visit on the main planet. I can go and have a look after I am discharged from the hospital."

"This rain should be the last one. It will be sunny tomorrow."

Bai Li was not sure what he was saying after talking about a lot of random things, but he couldn't stop.

As long as he spoke, his brain could take a short break, so he had to speak vigorously.

Lu Zhao's head moved, and finally he moved.

He raised his hand to cover Bai Li's mouth, then half sat up and tucked Bai Li's head into his arms.

Bai Li called out, "Flowers?"

"I'm sorry," Lu Zhao covered him up, "I'm too weak, so I asked you to comfort me."

Bai Li didn't respond.

"You're the one who's suffering the most," Lu Zhao said, "Cry for a while."

Warm darkness enveloped Bai Li, a quilt barrier.

In this barrier, people's skin will always be easily pierced, unable to hold back the tears in their hearts.

Bai Li's hands uncontrollably grabbed Lu Zhao's back, pressing him closer to her, burying her face in his arms, unable to stop her body from shaking.

"I have already prepared an application to be transferred to the affiliated corps." Lu Zhao's voice rang again, very softly. He still couldn't say soft words, thinking that the volume he used was low enough, it was gentle, "It's not a first-line corps, I can drive a mecha for you."

"There are very few things I can do, Bai Li. I can't do other things well, and I can't even block well," Lu Zhao rubbed Bai Li's arm with his hand, "but I can definitely drive a mecha."

Bai Li wanted to say that you are born stupid, applying now, but the competition will be over in 800 years.

But all the words squeezed into his throat, and what came out was a sob.

Why the hell is it like this?

He also wanted to live a smooth life. He wanted to live a life without any serious illness or disaster, an ordinary life, worrying about oil, salt, sauce and vinegar, falling asleep immediately after being tired from work during the day, having a dreamless night, waking up to kiss the person he likes before going to work.

He also wanted a life that was the center of attention. With the character of a proud son of heaven, he lived a carefree and wanton life with a slap-in-the-face script, crushing all kinds of scoundrels, and then had a happy love affair, got married naturally, and spent the rest of his life with the blessings of relatives and friends.

He didn't want to be called Bai Li.

Experiences are not necessarily good and pleasant.

Why should he be Bai Li.

The first sob was heard, and the subsequent crying could not be stopped. Lu Zhao felt like he was holding a ball of light with thousands of holes. He had no entity, but it would emit soft light and sobs that broke Lu Zhao's heart.

"It turns out that I really am..." Bai Li said hoarsely, "a supporting role."

It turns out that he is still disappointed.

No matter how hard he struggles, no matter how brilliant he is, in the end he will be a supporting role who can summarize the rest of his life in two or three sentences.

So he is not smooth sailing, he is not the center of attention, he has to work hard to get to where he is today.

Lu Zhao closed his eyes in unbearable pain, he was pierced through the heart by this sentence, and he couldn't breathe.

"The real world never needs a protagonist." Lu Zhao said, "Everyone is someone else's supporting role."

Bai Li's hand was very strong, and his back was scratched very painfully, but he hoped it would hurt more.

Pain can keep people awake and not cry with their heads in their hands.

At this moment, Lu Zhao didn't want to be Bai Li's float, nor did he want to be an unsinkable ship. He hoped that he was Bai Li's falcon. In addition to hunting, he would only stay on Bai Li's arm.

In that way, Bai Li would know one thing clearly, at least in this world, Lu Zhao would only choose him.

"I love you, Bai Li," Lu Zhao hugged Bai Li tightly with his body, "I love you, you are my protagonist."

An imperfect protagonist, a sensitive and pretentious little character, a flesh and blood body, with bumps and stumbles.

But Lu Zhao was willing to offer all the prey and stay on his arm for one more second.

The heavy rain in the empire poured down like the sky falling, washing away everything on the main star.

The rainy season is coming to an end.

Tomorrow will be a brand new day.