Gaien left early in the morning with the troops to head into the dense forest. When he departed, the sky was just beginning to brighten, with the clouds appearing slightly dim, and a chilling air pervaded, finally carrying a hint of the desolation belonging to winter.
Han Yan took a day off today and didn’t go to work. He accompanied his partner to the doorstep, watching as the other boarded the aircraft. Only then did he turn back towards the house. As he passed by the flower garden outside, he suddenly felt a coolness on the back of his neck. Looking up, he saw snowflakes fluttering down from the sky, gently twirling in mid-air.
Han Yan halted in his tracks when he saw the scene, surprised that the first snowfall of the year in Salaranfa happened at this moment.
Only now did Han Yan suddenly realize the passage of time. He stood still in the courtyard for a moment, watching as a thin layer of snow covered the artificial rose garden beside him. Finally, he took a step inside.
The house was heated, completely shielding him from the harsh cold outside, but it seemed a bit empty. With a rare day off, Han Yan found himself unsure of what to do. He started by sitting on the sofa, flipping through magazines for a while, then wandered into the kitchen, and eventually went upstairs to return to his room.
Upon receiving the message from Johnny, stating that the exhibition hall’s land approval documents had not been processed, Han Yan unconsciously furrowed his brows.
The land for constructing the exhibition hall was purchased from Prince Pei. Given their long-standing collaboration, it seemed improbable for such issues to arise.
Han Yan opened his terminal and immediately initiated a video call request to Johnny, which was answered in less than three seconds.
Johnny seemed to be outdoors, surrounded by some noise. He wore a thick coat and was visibly cold, exhaling sharply, “Bro, I just went to process the construction planning permit for the exhibition hall. They said we’re missing the land use proof and review documents, so they can’t approve it.”
Upon hearing this, Han Yan switched to the holographic brain interface, and his fingertips rapidly tapped the keyboard for a search. The results revealed that these documents needed to be provided by the collaborating party. His eyebrows raised slightly, and he instantly understood something.
Han Yan inquired with a hint of mystery, “Didn’t you go ask Prince Pei about this?”
Johnny scratched his head, looking somewhat troubled, “I did, but his secretary said he’s taking a day off at home and didn’t go to the office.”
Han Yan glanced at the background behind Johnny, “Where are you right now?”
Johnny casually mentioned the name of a restaurant, “I’m having a meal and meeting someone outside.”
Another blind date.
Han Yan raised his hand to adjust his glasses, “Didn’t you just have one yesterday?”
Johnny sighed, “Don’t remind me. It didn’t work out. Today, I specifically found a matchmaking agency, but the first prospective partner suddenly had something come up, and the second one couldn’t make it either. I waited in the restaurant all morning, but they either had busy work schedules or got stuck in traffic. I didn’t meet either of them.”
It’s evident that Johnny is feeling quite frustrated, but Han Yan, clearly not a sympathetic older brother figure, is merely a profit-driven opportunist. “It’s working hours now. Who allowed you to go on blind dates?”
Johnny pretended to be clueless, “Blind dates? Who’s going on blind dates? I didn’t even meet those potential partners; how can you call it a blind date? I just sat in the restaurant for a while.”
Han Yan spoke indifferently, “I don’t care what methods you use, but you must submit the land approval documents to me within a week.”
Johnny exclaimed, “And what if I can’t submit them?”
Han Yan replied, “Then submit your resignation letter.”
“What?! How is this my concern?!”
Upon hearing this, Johnny was so infuriated that he was about to accuse Han Yan of being an unreasonable opportunist. However, to his surprise, Han Yan abruptly ended the communication, leaving behind a string of busy tones.
When the king of hell fights, the little ghosts suffer.1It is used to describe a situation where powerful figures or authorities clash, and the consequences often negatively impact those who are less influential or have lower status. Though Han Yan isn’t exactly a little ghost, he couldn’t avoid getting caught in the crossfire to some extent. The current situation is quite apparent – Prince Pei deliberately delays the project, and this action is intricately connected to Johnny.
Han Yan slowly reclined in his chair, thinking that it’s indeed better to keep personal and professional matters separate. Once emotions get involved, it’s easy for them to cloud judgment. Even though the cooperation should be mutually beneficial, Prince Pei, in his attempt to ensnare Johnny, is willing to forego any financial gain.
Can a businessman who places the phrase “making money” at the end still be considered a pure businessman?
It should be considered so. Perhaps Prince Pei only aims to engage in another, more lucrative transaction, much like Han Yan did initially.
The room was silent, creating a slightly uncomfortable atmosphere. Han Yan slowly raised his right hand, moving his fingertips through the air. On the ring finger of his right hand, he wore a shining silver wedding ring, still radiant.
Outside the window, snowflakes fell one after another, and he reminisced about a distant female companion, the most profitable deal he had ever made in his life.
Han Yan took off the ring, caressing the dazzling diamond on it. Eventually, he brought it to his lips, lowered his gaze, and planted a warm kiss. His gray-blue eyes hid behind the lenses, resembling a calm and profound sea. After the storms, he finally glimpsed a bit of the tranquility that comes with the passage of time.
“Gaien…”
The man spoke softly, the tone revealing an unknown emotion, only to dissolve into the air.
Deep within the Solitiam Forest, numerous dangerous mutant species still lurked, despite the containment of the origin stones of pollution. Though their strength had significantly diminished, they remained a considerable nuisance for the military.
After three days of intense battles, they finally eradicated a high-level Red Scale Dragon Serpent. Soldiers skillfully cleaned the bloodstains, sealed the corpse in a container, and now, in the midst of heavy snowfall, these mutant bodies could remain preserved for a considerable amount of time without decay.
“Set up camp and rest here. We’ll continue our journey tomorrow!”
The adjutant trod through the snow, which reached up to his ankles, and headed straight into the main tent where a fire was burning, finally dispelling some of the intense cold.
Gaien was tending to his wounds. During the battle, he had charged at the forefront, and his right shoulder was accidentally bitten by the Red Scale Dragon Serpent, leaving two deep, bone-revealing puncture wounds. After the military doctor treated the venom, he returned to his tent to dress the wounds himself.
The adjutant sat by the fire, warming himself. Familiar with Gaien’s character, he refrained from offering assistance, but expressed his sentiments, “We’ll reach the center of the forest tomorrow, General. It’s truly unimaginable. In my lifetime, I never thought I’d see this land return to normal.”
Gaien wrapped his right shoulder with gauze, lowered his head, bit a corner of the fabric, and tied a knot. Faint bloodstains seeped through the white gauze, indicating the severity of the injury. “How much longer until we reach the end of the forest?”
The adjutant pondered, “If everything goes as planned, it should take about half a month. Let’s hope we won’t encounter any more troublesome creatures ahead.”
Half a month…
Upon hearing this, Gaien subtly furrowed his brows. They had already spent more than twenty days in the forest, far exceeding the initial expectations, “The snow is getting heavier. In the next few days, have the troops speed up their pace. The remaining supplies won’t last much longer.”
The adjutant nodded, “The low temperature also affects instrument detection. It’s better to complete the mission and return as soon as possible.”
Gaien took a clean shirt from his tactical backpack, sat on the bed, and methodically buttoned it up. His robust figure disappeared beneath the fabric, yet, for some reason, the collar seemed a bit loose.
The adjutant glanced at him, teasing, “It seems you’ve lost quite a bit of weight since entering the forest. Your clothes don’t fit as well anymore.”
Gaien paused.
This shirt belonged to Han Yan…
He didn’t offer any explanation, stood up, walked to the fire, and asked, “Have you found any trace of the zerg I told you about?”
Gaien remained silent, and the moment he spoke, the adjutant couldn’t resist rolling his eyes, “General, you must have lost your mind during a fever. With the heavy snowfall blocking the mountains, many of those cold-blooded mutant species have frozen to death. How could there be zergs, let alone black-haired, black-eyed males, appearing here?”
He continued, as if remembering something, shrugging, “Oh, maybe there are. His Royal Highness Yusto’s companion does seem to be black-haired and black-eyed. But the Zerg God isn’t that generous, continuously sending male zergs to this damned place.”
Gaien had actually just asked casually. The Solitiam Forest was full of dangers, and with the current freezing conditions, both robust military females and mutant species found it challenging to survive, let alone male zergs.
Since Han Yan brought it up, Gaien had to look into it.
Gaien reached out his hand, warming it by the orange flames. The signal was too weak deep within the forest, making it impossible to contact the outside world. He hadn’t spoken with Han Yan for quite a long time now, “Continue the search with the reconnaissance team until we’re out of the forest.”
The adjutant shrugged, saluting, “Yes, General.”
After all, they also needed to clear the mutant species lurking around and finding a male zerg was just an additional task.
While the military was engaged in clearing mutant species, on the other side, the exhibition hall that Han Yan had invested in was finally under construction. Although it hadn’t reached completion, the exterior was taking shape, giving a glimpse of the future prosperity and vibrancy.
Initially, Han Yan had given Johnny a week to handle the land approval documents. Surprisingly, Johnny’s efficiency was remarkable; he submitted all the approval documents the next day, along with some uncertain news.
On this day, Johnny sat across from Han Yan at his office desk, hands resting on his knees. With a hesitant demeanor, he spoke, “Big brother, there’s something I want to tell you.”
Han Yan had been staring at the terminal and, upon hearing Johnny’s words, casually responded, “Speak.”
Johnny gathered his courage before uttering, “I’m getting married.”
Han Yan’s fingertips, which had been tapping on the keyboard, paused for a moment. Finally, he looked at Johnny with some interest and asked, “Married? To whom?”
After a considerable pause, Johnny finally spit out two words, “Prince Pei.”
He even omitted the word “Prince.”
Upon hearing this, Han Yan remained silent. He raised his hand to adjust his glasses. Initially, he had only asked Johnny to handle the land approval documents, and now it seemed like the other party had exerted some excessive effort in the wrong direction.
Unexpectedly calm, Han Yan responded, “So what?”
Surprised, Johnny looked at him and asked, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?!”
He was prepared for a storm, but Han Yan’s response was unexpectedly light.
Han Yan raised an indifferent eyebrow, “When do you plan to get married?”
He always managed to pinpoint Johnny’s sore spots accurately. Johnny, with a mournful face, leaned onto Han Yan’s office desk, tears welling up, and pleaded, “Big brother, you’re my real brother. My family will definitely not approve of this marriage. Please, help me convince them.”
In his previous life, Han Yan was a tourism developer and had never dabbled in matchmaking. He had no intentions of doing so in this life either. Nonchalantly, he remarked, “How do you know they won’t agree?”
In the beginning, for the sake of returning to the main star for residence, even at the cost of letting Han Yan marry Gaien, a female zerg deemed handicapped and useless by the outside world, Admon and the others went to great lengths. In comparison, Prince Pei not only had a slightly older age than Johnny but also had the title of an elder. In almost every aspect, he was impeccable.
Admon and the others might readily accept it.
Han Yan genuinely thought so, but Johnny felt like he was speaking empty words. With a sorrowful expression, he lay on the desk and said, “What if my female father opposes it? My star ID is still in their hands. If they don’t agree, I won’t be able to get married.”
The family dynamic was clear: the two female fathers listened to the male father, and the male father listened to the big brother. Following the hierarchy, with Han Yan holding absolute authority, Johnny couldn’t help but feel that this matter was closely tied to Han Yan’s assistance.
Han Yan’s compassion, however, seemed limited, “It’s none of my concern.”
If Johnny couldn’t handle something like this on his own, maybe it was better not to go through with the marriage. When they established the company, Han Yan had been guiding him overtly and covertly. Johnny should have made progress by now.
“Alright.”
Johnny seemed to give up on the previous topic and brought up another matter, “You’ve been at the company for more than ten days without going home. The female father said you should come home after work today and have dinner together. Will you go?”
Approaching the end of the year, even the Zerg species had customs of gathering.
Han Yan, upon hearing this, realized that it had indeed been a while since he visited Admon and the others. With nothing else to do, he agreed, “Sure.”
Seeing Han Yan’s acknowledgement, Johnny took it as a confirmation, “7 PM, don’t forget.”
After saying this, he heard Han Yan respond with a simple “Hmm.” Johnny then pulled the chair and got up, leaving the office. As he closed the office door, Johnny excitedly gave a silent cheer, though it was unclear what kind of plans he was making.
Meanwhile, Han Yan sat alone in his office, lost in thought. On his desk, there was a paper calendar with numerous red circles, silently counting the days since Gaien’s departure.
Since entering the jungle, there had been no news from the military. More than half of the originally set one-month deadline had passed. Whether they would return on time was still an unknown variable.
They might be progressing smoothly, or they could be facing a total disaster.
Han Yan had speculated countless possibilities in his mind. Like his business ventures before, he would usually anticipate the risk level and potential consequences behind each situation, allowing him to formulate appropriate strategies. However, this time, his mind was completely blank.
What if Gaien sacrificed himself deep in the jungle? What would he do?
Or, considering a less extreme scenario, if Gaien got injured and became more impaired than before, how would he handle it?
In the past, Han Yan might have thought it didn’t matter much. After all, there were plenty of other potential mates, and acquiring a new one wouldn’t be much trouble.
However, this time was particularly peculiar; the thought had never crossed his mind, not even once.
At times, Han Yan couldn’t help but wonder if, alongside changing bodies, his soul had unintentionally undergone alterations. The profit-driven nature of a businessman seemed to be fading, replaced by something he couldn’t quite define.
Han Yan furrowed his brows in silence, unable to understand the reason even after a long time. Finally, he picked up a red pen and gently circled another date on the calendar, harboring a mixture of reluctance and urgency.
The entire planet was already covered in heavy snow. As Han Yan left the company building after work, there was a layer of accumulated snow several inches thick along the streets. The cold wind greeted him, stinging his cheeks.
Han Yan walked over to his aircraft, opened the cabin door, and stepped inside. The warmth enveloped him, shielding him from the biting cold outside.
Adjusting the destination, he set off towards his old residence. Throughout the journey, his mind seemed preoccupied.
Johnny arrived home earlier than Han Yan. Uncharacteristically, he helped with cooking, cleaning, and even did the dishes and utensils diligently.
Admon was pleased and turned to his female monarch and female consort, saying, “Look, Johnny has indeed grown up. He never used to do these things before.”
However, the female monarch, Seris, had a more nuanced perspective. He glanced at Admon and said, “Let’s hope that Johnny genuinely wants to help and is not looking for something from you.”
He actually wanted to express the idea that there might be an ulterior motive behind Johnny ‘s sudden helpfulness, but considering he was their own offspring, he refrained and chose a more delicate way of putting it.
Antal, the female consort, also found Johnny ‘s behavior unusual and asked in confusion, “Did a new game hit the market recently?”
Johnny had long heard their whispered conversation. Without saying a word, he pulled out a chair, gesturing for Admon to sit at the dining table. He also guided the two female fathers to take their seats. Only then did he say, “Father, I have something I want to tell you.”
After a moment’s consideration, he added, “I’ve already discussed it with my elder brother, and he agreed as well.”
Admon was puzzled, “What’s the matter? Why all the secrecy?”
Johnny hesitated for a moment before saying, “I want to get married.”
Admon couldn’t help but feel a sense of astonishment at Johnny’s words. Even Seris and Antar exchanged surprised glances. After all, Johnny had been known for his intense passion for gaming and hadn’t heard about him being close to any female mates.
Admon, with a puzzled expression, asked, “Marriage? With whom?”
Johnny replied, “Prince Pei.”
“Pft—!”
Admon almost spat out the water he was drinking, momentarily questioning if he had heard correctly. He widened his eyes in shock and exclaimed, “You said you want to marry who?!!”
Johnny, with an attitude of defiance and nonchalance, fully embracing his rogue nature, replied, “Prince Pei. I plan to marry him!”
Admon, clearly lacking the patience of someone like Han Yan, found Johnny’s idea utterly absurd, believing it had reached the point of being mentally abnormal. He angrily retorted, “Zerg shit! What’s the age difference between you and Prince Pei?! You actually want to marry him!!”
Johnny made a face at him, saying, “My big brother agreed. If you’re not convinced, go talk to him!”
“Nonsense! How dare you lie! I’ll beat you to death!”
Admon believed Johnny was out of his mind and, disregarding the attempts of the two female zergs to stop him, he picked up a slipper and swung it at Johnny. When Han Yan walked in, he saw Johnny running around the room trying to dodge Admon’s attacks, with a fluffy slipper flying through the air, producing a loud whooshing sound.
“Swoosh—!”
Han Yan leaned to the side, narrowly avoiding the slipper that happened to hit a vase on the shelf behind him. Accompanied by a series of crashing sounds as the porcelain shattered, the whole room fell into complete silence.
Johnny saw Han Yan and stammered, “Bi…Big Brother?”
Admon, realizing that the slipper he threw nearly hit Han Yan, was scared stiff and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, he was steadied by the quick hands of the female zerg.
“Ah…Ashya, when did you come back? Why didn’t you say so earlier? I could have picked you up.”
Although Han Yan had already moved out, the lingering shadows remained. Admon greeted him with a nervous smile, hopping on one foot to retrieve his slipper and quickly put it on, his heart still trembling.
Han Yan didn’t say anything. He took off his coat and draped it over his arm, furrowing his brow slightly as he observed the chaotic scene in the house. “What happened just now?”
Johnny immediately approached, playing the sycophant. “Big brother, didn’t you say that when I marry a monarch, I should marry someone I like?”
Han Yan raised an eyebrow nonchalantly. “And if I did?”
Johnny continued, “You don’t oppose me marrying Prince Pei, right?”
Han Yan neither approved nor opposed, leaving room for Johnny to exploit. “Consider it done.”
Having gained Han Yan’s response, Johnny felt as if he had obtained a valuable treasure. He became more confident, pointing at Admon. “Father, you see, I told you I wasn’t lying. Big brother also agrees to this marriage!”
Admon just wanted to smack him with a slipper, “Nonsense! If you marry Prince Pei, do you expect Ashya and Gaien to address you as their uncle?”
The author has something to say:
Grandpa San furrowed his brow, realizing things weren’t straightforward: You want me to call you uncle?
Johnny (smacking his chest): We’ll both call you big brother with Pei!
![He Lived Like You [End of the World]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/HLLY.jpg "He Lived Like You [End of the World]")
