The scene of the aircraft collision was extremely tragic, exacerbated by nearby residents quickly reporting the incident. Before long, both medical teams and military personnel rushed to the scene.
At the site of the incident, two aircraft were parked by the roadside. One of them was severely deformed, and two zergs, their faces obscured by masks, lay in a pool of blood, suffering from gunshot wounds. Their breathing was becoming increasingly shallow.
Major Kane, who led the team to the scene, did not expect a shooting incident to occur in the main star’s territory. Upon witnessing the situation, his expression darkened, and he immediately ordered his subordinates to secure the area. At the same time, he scanned the surroundings and noticed Han Yan and Johnny standing not far from the scene.
“Gentlemen, may I inquire if the distress signal just now originated from your location?” he asked.
Johnny’s arm was injured, and he winced in pain. Seeing the military female asking questions, he quickly pointed to the wreckage of the aircraft.
“We were piloting our aircraft through here when two female zergs suddenly maliciously collided with us. They were armed with guns, and my older brother and I were almost injured by them. We barely managed to escape,” he explained.
Major Kane subconsciously turned to glance at the perpetrators being carried out on stretchers by paramedics. He expressed surprise, “But both of those female zergs are severely injured. Did you do that?”
The physiological gap between female and male zergs was too vast, making it implausible for Han Yan and the others to have harmed these two female zergs. It sounded incredibly unbelievable.
Upon hearing this, Johnny instinctively raised his hand, pointing towards Han Yan. However, he seemed to reconsider and quickly withdrew his hand. The unexpected attack was undoubtedly complex, and until the facts were clear, he decided it was best to say less.
Feeling guilty, Johnny shook his head and vaguely replied, “The situation was too chaotic at that time. I don’t know what happened.”
Just as Major Kane was about to say something, a low and cold voice suddenly sounded in his ears, “Did the medical team arrive?”
Han Yan’s profile was marked with spatters of blood, adding a touch of grimness to his appearance. The bloodstains made him seem colder, and his gray-blue eyes showed no trace of emotion as he silently stared at Major Kane. “If there are any questions, I believe you can wait until after we’ve received treatment in the hospital,” he said calmly.
Major Kane only now realized that both of them were injured. He quickly responded, “I apologize, gentlemen. I’ll contact the medical team for you right away.”
Han Yan and Johnny both suffered various degrees of injuries from the collision. Considering their male zerg identities, the military temporarily set aside their inquiries and promptly transported them to a nearby hospital for treatment—
Along with the female zerg whom Han Yan had critically injured with a gunshot.
The other female zerg had a fatal wound to the throat and had already ceased breathing.
The sudden occurrence of this accident was truly unprecedented. Apart from the notorious interstellar pirates who spared no mischief, there had never been an instance within the main star’s territory where a female zerg dared to plot the murder of a male zerg. Moreover, given Han Yan’s special status, his connections to the royal family, and the gravity of the situation, the chief officer in charge of the case dared not make hasty decisions and promptly reported the news to higher authorities.
When Gaien received the news of Han Yan’s injuries, he immediately piloted an aircraft and rushed from the military headquarters to the hospital. Limping down the corridor, he swiftly moved through the hospital, finally finding the ward. He arrived just in time to witness the doctor tending to Han Yan’s wounds, with Johnny lying in the adjacent bed.
As the aircraft’s porthole glass shattered and burst open, Johnny’s arm had been cut with a deep wound. Despite receiving anesthesia in advance, Johnny let out a series of agonizing cries, as if undergoing some form of torture, while the doctor stitched up his wound.
In contrast, Han Yan remained expressionless as he sat by the bedside. Throughout the entire procedure, he uttered not a single word. His gray-blue eyes were fixed on the doctor stitching up his right leg. The suture thread moved back and forth between the flesh and skin, and his eyes didn’t blink.
Han Yan’s glasses had already been damaged, and without the lenses, his eyes resembled an unfathomable abyss, dark and mysterious, as he silently observed the stitching process.
The doctor felt a cold sweat running down his back under Han Yan’s intense gaze. He nearly made a mistake with the needle due to the trembling of his hand. Hastening the procedure, he skillfully treated Han Yan’s wound. Only then did he visibly relax, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead.
“Your Excellency, fortunately, your leg isn’t broken. However, you’ll need to change the dressing at the stitched area every day during this time. Make sure to keep it dry,” the doctor advised.
Han Yan remained silent. As he subtly raised his eyes, he suddenly noticed Gaien standing at the door of the ward. There was a barely noticeable pause in his expression. Gaien, who had presumably hurried to the hospital, showed signs of labored breathing, with a faint lingering pallor on his face.
Upon noticing Han Yan’s acknowledgment of his presence, Gaien silently tightened his fingertips and limped into the ward. His gaze first landed on the injured leg of Han Yan and finally shifted to the doctor. His emotions were hard to discern as he asked, “Doctor, how is his condition?”
Being a person with a limp, Gaien was particularly sensitive to injuries to the legs. In reality, he was more concerned about whether these injuries would affect Han Yan’s future mobility. However, the words about the potential impact on Han Yan’s walking ability lingered unspoken on his lips.
The doctor understood what he wanted to ask. Offering reassurance, he said, “His Excellency Ashya’s wound, although somewhat deep, hasn’t affected the bones. With proper rest and recovery, it should heal without impacting his future mobility.”
Having realized the awkwardness of the situation, the doctor suddenly became aware of Gaien’s limp. After a moment of hesitation, he offered a few more instructions and then left the ward with his assistant.
Upon learning that Han Yan’s injuries wouldn’t affect his mobility, Gaien gradually released the tight grip on his fingertips. He approached the bedside, lifted the blanket to examine Han Yan’s wound, and then gently covered him again. His gaze lowered, and his expression, unexpectedly calm, betrayed no particular emotion.
Gaien whispered, “Are you still in pain?”
Han Yan shook his head.
Gaien said, “I’m sorry, it’s my negligence that led to your injury.”
Han Yan calmly closed his eyes and replied, “It has nothing to do with you.”
The male leaned back against the bedside, his expression as calm as ever. The dark gaze he had cast upon the doctor during the stitching process seemed almost like a mirage now.
Seeing this, Gaien slowly reached his hand out in mid-air, as if he wanted to touch Han Yan’s brow, but for some reason, he retracted it. His fingertips twitched slightly, and he softly spoke, “I will make those zergs who hurt you pay for it.”
Han Yan abruptly opened his eyes at his words, locking eyes with Gaien. However, Gaien didn’t evade his gaze; instead, he smiled and said again, “I will make those zergs who hurt you pay for it.”
Gaien rarely smiled, and the few times he did, it was usually directed at Han Yan, shyly captivating him when lying on the bed. However, this time, his smile was eerie yet gentle. It was a peculiar smile, and although nothing seemed out of the ordinary, an inexplicable chill crept up on one’s neck.
“…”
Han Yan stared at Gaien for a while, neither approving nor disapproving. After a moment, he finally uttered a sentence, “Is that female zerg still alive?”
He referred to the assailant who was severely injured but still clinging to life.
Unable to resist, Gaien raised his hand and gently smoothed a strand of hair that had fallen across Han Yan’s face. There was a small piece of white gauze on the forehead of the male zerg, slightly glaring. “He’s still alive. The military is investigating his background, and we’ll have results soon.”
After a pause, Han Yan continued, “Do we need to inform Father and the others about this news?”
“No need,” replied Han Yan.
Gaien didn’t say anything more. “Good, to spare them from worrying,” he added.
Han Yan crossed his arms, tapping his fingertips absentmindedly on his arm. In his mind, he ran through a list of possible enemies and competitors, finally arriving at an answer—
Sande Durant.
Lying on the adjacent bed, Johnny apparently reached the same conclusion as Han Yan. After all, the two of them were partners in crime, and no matter what unethical deeds they committed, they shared a bond as close as an open book. Fuming with anger, Johnny slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “Why bother investigating! It must be that wretched zerg Sande! Who else would want to put us in such a dire situation?”
Johnny was so furious that he disregarded the pain, exclaiming loudly. He forcefully pulled open the curtain between the beds, sticking his head out and shouting, “Ashya! No need to investigate, it’s definitely those zergs from the Durant family. Let’s quickly report it and catch them!”
Han Yan remained silent, but Gaien looked at Johnny and asked, “Why suspect them?”
Johnny responded confidently, “Why ask? Of course, it’s them. Last time, Sande got injured by Ashya at the banquet, and when he went back, he was in pain all over. He couldn’t get out of bed for half a month. Then, Ashya duped them into investing their entire fortune in the catering business. However, when the food delivery app was developed, they deliberately blocked us from joining. The Durant family is now on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Johnny seemed to know a lot of insider information, and his rapid-fire speech resembled a machine gun. He eagerly continued, “Oh, and there’s more. Sande Durant used to cheat at gambling, causing us to accumulate a ton of debt and get sent to a third-tier star. We have a new anchor in our company who’s a master at cheating. Ashya deliberately baited him into gambling with Sande. That wretched zerg has already lost tens of millions now…”
Han Yan was a cunning and unscrupulous businessman, devoid of any sentimentality. With his current influence, he wouldn’t let his past enemies off the hook. Sande Durant happened to find himself right in the crosshairs.
Gaien, initially puzzled about why the Durant family would target Han Yan, listened to Johnny’s explanation. He lowered his gaze, contemplating the information. Finally, he had a rough direction for further investigation.
Han Yan noticed that Johnny was still going on and finally glanced at him, calmly asking, “Who told you all this?”
While it was normal for Johnny to know some things, there were details that Han Yan had never shared with him. However, Johnny seemed to possess an incredibly detailed knowledge of those undisclosed aspects, raising suspicions.
Johnny, caught off guard, stammered, “Huh?”
Did he accidentally spill the beans?
However, Han Yan seemed to have figured something out. “Was it Prince Pei who told you?” he asked.
Johnny immediately fell silent, shutting his mouth and adopting an innocent look. He played dumb with remarkable skill, saying, “Prince Pei? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
However, as they were discussing, the sound of footsteps, gradually approaching from a distance, suddenly echoed in the hospital corridor. To their surprise, an unexpected female zerg appeared in the ward—none other than Prince Pei.
Gaien, instinctively rising from his chair, couldn’t help expressing his surprise, “Prince? What brings you here?”
Prince Pei was usually occupied with various responsibilities, and his presence here was indeed unusual. Especially considering he had been on a business trip to a different planet a few days ago, he now appeared disheveled and dusty, indicating a hasty return.
Prince Pei did not immediately respond. Instead, he raised his hand, gesturing for his attendant to wait outside, and then entered the ward. He surveyed the room, pausing briefly at the adjacent bed before settling his gaze on Han Yan and Gaien. “I heard His Excellency Ashya has been injured in an unidentified attack and is hospitalized. I came here specifically to check on him. How is he? I hope the injuries are not severe?”
Although Han Yan didn’t believe that Prince Pei came to visit him, he still nodded politely, responding, “Thank you for your concern. It’s just a minor injury, and both Johnny and I are fine.”
Gaien also seemed to share the skepticism about Prince Pei’s visit. He pulled a chair for him and whispered, “A few stitches on the arm, not a serious injury.”
Although Gaien didn’t explicitly mention names, Han Yan’s arm appeared entirely normal, showing only minor abrasions that didn’t resemble stitches. Therefore, it was apparent that Johnny, the person in the adjacent bed, was the one who had stitches.
Prince Pei had navigated the business world for many years, cultivating an unshakable composure. His expression remained unchanged, and he inquired with curiosity, “Oh? His Excellency Ashya had stitches on his arm?”
Being of royal descent, Prince Pei shared a striking resemblance to Gaien—silver hair, red eyes, though his eyes leaned towards a darker hue, resembling a reddish-brown. He exuded sophistication and charm, falling into the age range where a man is most mature and appealing, akin to a wine that becomes more fragrant with time.
Johnny, who had been silent, couldn’t hold back any longer upon hearing the conversation. He stuck his head out from behind the curtain and said, “It was me who got stitches on the arm.”
He sounded a bit sullen, giving off an air of resentment.
Prince Pei, subtly pausing at the revelation, seemed to instinctively want to approach and check on him. However, for some reason, he restrained himself. His fingertips rested on his knee, and he calmly inquired, “So, His Excellency Johnny is also injured? Why are you sharing a room with His Excellency Ashya?” Typically, male zergs each had their own separate rooms.
Gaien explained, “They were both brought to the hospital together. The wounds were just treated, and the doctors are currently clearing a room. They should be able to move there shortly.”
Prince Pei frowned slightly and remarked, “It’s too crowded here. It’s not convenient for both of you to recover. You should move as soon as possible.”
As the hospital also had his shares, Prince Pei got up, walked to the door, and said something to the attendant. Shortly after, a few nurses arrived and moved Johnny to another room.
Now, there was a considerable distance between Han Yan and Johnny.
Prince Pei sat in Han Yan’s ward, exchanged polite greetings, left a pile of expensive gifts, and then excused himself.
Gaien watched him leave, closed the door to the ward, and as if recalling something, opened it to glance outside. To his surprise, he saw that Prince Pei hadn’t left but had turned into Johnny’s ward. Dismissing all attendants, Prince Pei closed the door securely.
Han Yan, sitting on the bed, calmly asked, “Did he go to see Johnny?”
Gaien closed the ward door and looked at him, asking, “How did you know?”
Han Yan replied, “I guessed.”
Han Yan was exceptionally silent today, and even when he spoke, it was only for two or three sentences at most. His glasses were damaged in the accident, and his vision seemed to be covered with a layer of white mist, making everything appear blurry, including his injured leg.
Gaien initially wanted to pour him a glass of water but found that the water dispenser switch had been turned off at some point. He had to turn it on again and patiently waited for the water to heat up. “The military female officials responsible for the records will come tomorrow. You can rest well today.”
Han Yan just made a vague acknowledgment sound but didn’t make any movements.
Han Yan’s gaze remained fixated on his injured right leg. He seemed lost in thought, occasionally adjusting his posture. However, the numbness in his leg made his brows furrow tighter and tighter.
“The effects of the anesthesia haven’t worn off completely yet. In a few more hours, it should be much better,” Gaien remarked.
As if sensing the underlying restlessness beneath Han Yan’s calm exterior, Gaien helped straighten the skewed bandage on the male zerg’s leg. He then gently covered him with the blanket, soothingly adding, “You’ll recover quickly, and in a few days, you can go back home for proper rest. There won’t be any lasting effects.”
Han Yan’s gaze lingered on Gaien as he spoke with a seriousness that seemed to transcend the situation. Gaien, repeatedly and emphatically, assured Han Yan:
“There’s only room for one cripple. There won’t be a second.”
“The doctor said that once the wound scabs over, you’ll be able to walk normally.”
“Your leg is perfectly fine; it won’t end up like mine.”
“Never become a cripple like me.”
Gaien’s tone was resolute, as if he was determined to imprint these assurances into Han Yan’s mind.
Gaien’s words, with each repetition, seemed to reopen a wound that had never truly healed for Han Yan. Unbeknownst to Gaien, those needle-like phrases struck deep into Han Yan’s heart, unraveling the most concealed pain of his past life and revealing a secret he had never disclosed in this lifetime—
Han Yan was also a cripple.
In his previous life, he, too, was a cripple…
His condition was not as honorable as Gaien’s, not acquired on a battlefield or as a result of heroic actions. He was born with a disability.
The higher powers seemed to have anticipated that Han Yan would grow up to be someone ruthless, and from the moment he took his first breath, they had already preordained the punishment awaiting him in the latter part of his life, even though, at that time, he was just an innocent child.
Han Yan acknowledged that everything Gaien said was true, yet he still harbored an aversion to the feeling of inadequacy in his right leg. He disliked every word and every sentence Gaien spoke.
Han Yan silently gripped Gaien’s jaw, gradually tightening his hold. The action was not painful, but enough to bring silence to Gaien.
Gaien fixed his gaze on the wolven, and his eyelashes trembled involuntarily.
However, Han Yan remained silent, gradually leaning closer to Gaien’s ear, gently brushing against it, creating an intimate connection. It was only at this moment that a hint of his inherent coldness surfaced. His eyes remained calm, but his voice became even more deep, tenderly saying, “Of course, I am not a cripple…”
Han Yan’s fingertips, with distinct joints, slowly traversed through Gaien’s silver strands. Perhaps with an intent to cover up, he closed his eyes and softly repeated the phrase, “Of course, I am not a cripple.”
Of course not.
No, not at all.
He had already lived through it once; how could he end up looking like a cripple again?
The water dispenser had finished heating, emitting a soft clicking sound. Han Yan noticed this and finally released his grip on Gaien’s hand. Then, he lifted the blanket, got out of bed, and limped towards the water dispenser.
Han Yan should be extremely unaccustomed to this “limping” movement, even though this movement had accompanied him for more than thirty years in his previous life, making it familiar to the core. However, after taking one step, he suddenly froze in place, standing motionless, his expression dark and uncertain, hesitating to take the second step.
Gaien followed behind him, suddenly understanding what Han Yan wanted to do. Subconsciously, he stepped forward and said, “I can help you get water…”
However, Han Yan refused, saying, “No need.”
Han Yan’s fingertips rested on his right leg, gradually tightening the pressure. He took another step forward, but due to the lingering effects of the anesthesia, he stumbled for a moment, nearly falling. Fortunately, Gaien, quick to react, caught him. With a hint of urgency in his voice, Gaien said, “Your wound hasn’t healed yet. If you continue like this, it might reopen. Let me help you.”
Han Yan clenched his teeth silently, coldly uttered, “No need for your concern.”
This was the first time he spoke to Gaien in such a tone. After saying this, he forcefully tried to shake Gaien off. However, Gaien refused to let go. In their struggle, it was like a taut rubber band suddenly being cut. In the end, neither of them managed to maintain their balance and fell to the ground together.
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
Gaien collided with a chair, while Han Yan crashed into a table. Both of them ended up sitting on the cold floor, staring at each other, momentarily frozen.
“…”
Outside the window, the sun was setting, casting an orange glow into the hospital room. It illuminated the floor and the two crippled figures sitting there.
Han Yan seemed to be trying to stand up, but with a little effort, he groaned and fell back. A strand of blue hair quietly slipped down, his expression cold and embarrassed, a far cry from his usual poised and confident demeanor as an upper echelon.
“…”
Gaien had never seen Han Yan in such a distressed state. He quietly clenched his fingertips, pondering something. Finally, he stood up from the ground and limped towards Han Yan.
This time, Gaien didn’t try to help the male zerg up. Instead, he sat down next to him on the floor and tightly embraced Han Yan. “It’s okay…”
He held the embrace, hugging Han Yan tightly, as if holding onto his past self and embracing the human Han Yan across time and space. In a soft and repetitive tone, he reassured, “It’s okay…”
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![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
