Admon, though sometimes foolish, had a rare moment of clarity at a crucial juncture. He slyly attempted to align Han Yan and himself on the same side, but he clearly underestimated Johnny’s thick skin.
“What’s the big deal? After we get married, both Pei and I can call Ashya Big Brother. We’re all in the same boat anyway, why bother drawing lines so clearly?”
Admon was infuriated and felt like punching him again. “Anyway, I disagree!”
Johnny, always ready for a confrontation, retorted, “Your disagreement doesn’t matter. It’s me marrying a monarch, not you!”
Johnny, after his remark, made a face at Admon and swiftly ran upstairs, ducking into his room. If it weren’t for Seris and Antal blocking him, Admon might have chased after him to give him a beating.
“Forget about it, my lord. Let’s have dinner first and talk to Johnny later.”
“Yeah, getting angry isn’t worth it. It’s bad for your health.”
Admon was dragged and pushed into a chair by the two females, unable to release his anger, feeling incredibly frustrated.
Han Yan took his seat across from them, not uttering a word throughout. Seeing Johnny retreat upstairs, he finally spoke up, “Let’s eat; the food is getting cold.”
Seris furrowed his brows, looking somewhat worried, “Ashya, how could Johnny suddenly be with Prince Pei? And thinking about marriage?”
Han Yan rarely paid attention to this matter. He only knew that Johnny had personally visited Prince Pei’s mansion last time for some paperwork and didn’t return all night. “Our company has cooperation with Prince Pei. They might have met during business negotiations.”
Antal exclaimed in surprise, “Prince Pei is old enough to be Johnny’s uncle. How could they get married? Ashya, you need to talk to Johnny when you have the chance, don’t let him do something foolish.”
Han Yan, who usually responded to questions, was about to say something in response when his wrist terminal suddenly vibrated, indicating a new message.
He glanced at the message from Prince Pei, quickly scanning its contents. He raised an eyebrow faintly, then closed the screen and resumed eating with his chopsticks.
While Han Yan had previously shown no intention of getting involved in Johnny’s affairs, he inexplicably changed his stance at this moment. “Johnny is grown up now; let him make his own decisions regarding marriage.”
Admon couldn’t believe these words were coming from Han Yan’s mouth. He stammered, “But… But there’s such a big age difference between them…”
Han Yan adjusted his glasses and replied, “If, when you first met your mate, he was older than you, would you have not married him?”
Seris instinctively looked at Admon upon hearing this, curious about his response. Even Antal glanced over, tugging at his sleeve and playfully asking, “My lord, if I were older than you, would you have still married me?”
Caught in the middle, Admon felt like he was between a rock and a hard place. He genuinely cared for both of his partners, and hastily reassured, “Of course not! I love your souls; age has nothing to do with it.”
After his words, Admon embraced both Seris and Antal, planting a kiss on each of their cheeks, quickly soothing them with a few words, leaving them blushing.
Han Yan quietly observed this scene, lost in thought. Suddenly, the food in his mouth seemed tasteless. He wasn’t entirely sure if Admon’s teasing had affected him. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke calmly, “In that case, let Johnny make his own decision about marriage. He’s grown up and knows what he wants.”
Admon snapped out of it upon hearing this, realizing he had fallen for Han Yan’s trap. Anxiously, he asked, “But what if they’re not suitable for each other?”
Han Yan met his gaze directly, smiling gently, “That would still be their choice to make.”
No matter the outcome, it’s their own path to choose. Without experiencing it firsthand, they’ll never know right from wrong. The more others try to block them, the more they’ll feel resentful. It’s better to let go and let things unfold naturally.
The atmosphere during the meal was oddly tense. While there was chaos earlier, the latter part was unusually quiet.
Seeing that it was getting late, Han Yan finally stood up to bid farewell and leave. He walked to the coat rack, put on his coat, and said to Admon and the others, “It’s getting dark; I’ll head back now.”
Seris glanced outside the window, “The snow is getting heavier. Why not stay the night and leave in the morning? Gaien hasn’t returned from the battlefield yet, and there’s no one at home to take care of you.”
Han Yan paused at Seris’s suggestion but quickly resumed his usual demeanor. “It’s okay, I’ll just head straight home. It’s not far anyway.”
He couldn’t pinpoint when exactly he started referring to that place as “home” too.
Outside, the sky darkened, a deep ink-blue spread overhead. Despite the heavy snowfall, the artificial greenery in the courtyard remained unaffected by the cold. The vibrant red roses stood out even more against the backdrop of white snow. Seasons came and went, with no discernible pattern.
Since the distance wasn’t far, just across the street, Han Yan leisurely walked back home. Snowflakes landed on his blue hair, giving it a light dusting of frost.
Han Yan actually didn’t want to go home.
Perhaps it was because the luxurious house felt empty, devoid of any vitality.
He lifted a hand to remove his gold-rimmed glasses, wiping away the snow that had settled on them. Finally, he raised his head to gaze at the sky, his eyes squinting slightly. He wondered if the Solitiam Forest was also blanketed in snow at that moment.
A tiny snowflake silently fell in front of Han Yan’s gray-blue eyes, quickly melting away.
After a month-long arduous march, the army finally reached the border of the forest, where they would exchange tasks with the zerg clan from the north.
This vast land lay between the north and west, strictly divided in half. Gaien’s team was responsible for exterminating one half of the mutants, while the other half was left to the Northern Zerg Clan.
“Tsk, your speed is slower than we expected.”
The Northern Zerg Clan were robust and more resistant to the severe cold. Their leader, Faeus, stood at the edge of the forest, waiting. Behind him stood a group of soldiers, their black and gold uniforms contrasting starkly against the snow-covered landscape, resembling a flock of ominous crows representing death and ill omen.
“Then I wish you success in clearing out the remaining mutants within half a month.”
Gaien, clad in a platinum-colored uniform, stood gracefully and silently amidst the snow. He handed over the imperial decree from the Zerg Emperor to Faeus, showing no interest in further entanglement with these barbarians. He spoke in a calm tone, “My lieutenant, Commander Blairand, is currently tasked with chasing down the interstellar pirates. By His Majesty’s orders, we hope Leader Faeus can cooperate fully.”
Faeus reached out to take the decree, quickly scanning its contents before handing it to his adjutant beside him. Adjusting the military cloak on his shoulders, the black fur lining the collar already dusted with snowflakes, he replied with a wry smile, “Very well, I’ll obey His Majesty’s orders and do my best.”
Faeus’ features were strikingly profound, with sharp contours reminiscent of finely carved blades. His bronze-toned skin gave him a wild and untamed appearance, bearing the traits of most females from the House of Hossburgh. His deep green eyes resembled the color of the depths of the forest, but they held a cruel and icy demeanor when he smiled. “But if Commander Blairand were to unfortunately perish in the pursuit of pirates, that would be none of my concern.”
Gaien hinted, “Of course, it would be none of your concern. However, it would be a loss for the entire South.”
Blairand was the deputy leader of the Southern Yinchatait. If anything were to happen to him, the South would surely not let it go easily. If Faeus were to take covert actions, he would have to consider the trouble it might bring upon himself.
Faeus wore a pair of black leather gloves. He casually smoothed out the creases on them upon hearing Gaien’s remark. His red hair was slightly disheveled by the cold wind, but it didn’t detract from his overall elegance and arrogance. His tone dripped with sarcasm, “Let’s hope the Zerg God you worship can protect him.”
The Northern Zerg Clan did not believe in gods; they were embodiments of greed and selfishness.
Gaien himself might not necessarily believe in gods either, but he chuckled imperceptibly at Faeus’ comment. “Indeed, let’s hope so.”
The relationship between the North and the West had always been delicate, so Gaien didn’t linger. After replenishing supplies in the main city of Hossburgh, he immediately led his troops back along the same route. Behind them, the supply wagons were filled with the corpses of mutants they had eliminated over the past few days.
As Gaien sat inside the vehicle, watching the scenery outside rapidly changing, he wiped the condensation off the glass window. He thought to himself that the male lord would probably be pleased to establish a Forest Exhibition Hall, considering the abundance of mutant specimens they had collected.
This trip hadn’t been in vain.
The dense foliage of the forest blocked out the sky, making it impossible for aircraft to fly in such a complex environment. They had to rely on military armored vehicles for transportation. Even with non-stop travel, it would take at least four days and nights to reach the border.
At nightfall, the army found a spot to camp and rest, conveniently located near a valley. The adjutant compared the coordinates and pointed to a nearby snowfield. “General, the origin stones were initially excavated from here. It’s said that this place used to be a sea of roses, but after the stones were mined, all the roses withered away.”
Gaien walked to the edge of the valley upon hearing this. Although he still walked with a limp, it had become steadier. He picked up a pair of binoculars and looked into the distance, but all he saw was endless white snow. “Take some soil samples. They might be useful in the future.”
The adjutant responded with an acknowledgment and immediately led a few assistants to collect soil samples. Gaien continued to observe the distant movements through his binoculars. His gaze inadvertently swept over the valley below, and he suddenly noticed something unusual. He adjusted the focus and realized that something dark was wedged in between the crevices of the rocks.
Gaien frowned silently. He wasn’t entirely sure if it was a mutant. To err on the side of caution, he spread his golden wings behind him and flew down to inspect the situation.
Despite the thick layer of snow covering the ground, his landing was silent.
As Gaien approached closer, he realized that the dark shadow wasn’t a neglected mutant but rather the remains of a bus corroded by wind and rain, leaving only its metal frame behind.
Over the years, the Empire had never given up on exploring the forest, and many soldiers had perished in the process. Finding the wreckage of vehicles wasn’t uncommon. However, this bus clearly had no affiliation with the military. How could it suddenly appear here?
Gaien stepped onto the broken stones and approached the bus. He raised a flashlight to inspect the interior but found nothing of note. The bus had been heavily corroded by the elements, with only a few seats remaining intact. Everything else had lost its original form.
With no clues to be found, Gaien descended from the pile of broken stones and attempted to search the surroundings. However, the snow in the forest had already reached his calves, obscuring everything in the vast night. Countless ancient trees stretched their branches toward the sky, shimmering with a faint blue light in the moonlight.
The cold wind whistled, echoing through the woods.
After circling around the bottom of the valley and finding no clues, Gaien prepared to head back up. However, as he passed through a certain area, he suddenly noticed several blue flowers peeking out from the snow, gently swaying in the cold wind.
Gaien immediately recognized the flowers as Sorrow flowers. He approached with surprise, not expecting to find this extinct species blooming in the depths of the Solitiam Forest, especially during the harsh winter.
Initially, he considered plucking them for research, but seeing how delicate and vulnerable they were, he slowly withdrew his hand.
Forget it,
Gaien thought. He already had one flower; he shouldn’t be greedy.
His lord was still waiting for him to come home.
Gaien rose from the ground and ultimately decided to leave. Unbeknownst to him, not far away, the ground was slightly raised, concealing the remains of someone’s bones. He had no idea whether those bones, like the bus, were slowly disintegrating and decaying beneath the ice and snow.
As he passed by that spot, he also passed by death.
Here lay the resting place of those who had returned to the earth.
Gaien spread his wings in the snowstorm, soaring into the sky with the fierceness of a hawk. In midair, he glanced back at the valley below. The mountain wind howled, carrying countless snowflakes, leaving only a white blur.
This winter was exceptionally cold.
Han Yan stood by the window, silently lighting a cigarette. He had received a message from Prince Pei, stating that the reconnaissance team sent to the forest would arrive at the main planet tomorrow. The mission to eradicate the mutants had been successful, with Gaien being the primary contributor. His return would likely see him promoted to the rank of major general.
Prince Pei also mentioned that the Solitiam Forest was no longer as dangerous as before. He would do his best to persuade the Emperor to help develop the area into a tourist zone.
Knowing that this effort was ultimately for Johnny’s sake, Han Yan didn’t object. He was a businessman, and he wouldn’t let go of any benefits that came his way. The Solitiam Forest was highly profitable, rivaling even software development.
Han Yan’s wealth was growing day by day, far exceeding his previous life. He earned more money, expanded his industries, yet there was always a void in his heart that he couldn’t seem to fill.
The ashtray was gradually filled with cigarette butts, unnoticed by Han Yan.
He pushed open the window, allowing the cold wind to blow in and dispel the lingering smell of tobacco in the air. Han Yan exhaled a puff of smoke slowly, holding onto the half-burnt cigarette between his fingers. The flickering flame made him realize belatedly that some things could also become addictive.
It wasn’t just the cigarettes.
It was 2 a.m., but Han Yan felt no trace of sleepiness. Standing by the window, his blue hair tousled by the cold wind, he thought that Gaien should be returning at dawn.
Finally, Gaien had emerged from the shadows of the past and attained the glory he desired.
Han Yan flicked the cigarette ash lightly, and a faint warmth flickered in his ash-blue eyes, unnoticed by himself. It was shallow, faint, yet undeniably real.
Lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice the barely audible footsteps outside.
Gaien had rushed back overnight, expecting Han Yan to be asleep by now. However, as he gently pushed open the door and glanced inside, he saw the male zerg standing by the window, smoking. The scent of tobacco hung thickly in the air, impossible to dispel.
Gaien’s brow furrowed with concern. He placed his luggage in the corridor and limped into the room, as if afraid of disturbing something. He called out softly to Han Yan’s back, “My lord…”
Han Yan’s figure froze at the sound, almost suspecting he was imagining things.
But the voice echoed again, clearer this time, closer, “My lord?”
It was Gaien…
Han Yan felt a sudden pang as the cigarette butt burned his skin, snapping him out of his daze. He subconsciously turned around, only to find Gaien standing behind him, looking somewhat worn but with eyes brighter than before.
Gaien approached slowly, stopping in front of Han Yan. He gazed at the male zerg, his eyes filled with affection and longing, as he spoke softly in the warmth of the moment, “My lord, I’m back.”
Han Yan remained silent, calmly extinguishing the cigarette between his fingertips. A wisp of white smoke rose and quickly dissipated without a trace. He tossed away the cigarette butt, lost in thought. Finally, he reached out his hand to Gaien, whispering a single phrase softer than moonlight:
“Come here.”
Gaien stepped forward, only to suddenly fall into an embrace infused with the scent of tobacco. The arm around his waist tightened as if trying to merge him into its very essence.
Though Gaien found it hard to breathe under the pressure, he didn’t resist. Instead, he willingly wrapped his arms around Han Yan’s neck. Their passionate kisses rained down like droplets in a storm, as if they wanted to capture every last breath of air between them.
“My lord…”
“My lord…”
Gaien’s voice carried a hint of yearning as he and Han Yan stumbled into each other’s arms, kissing passionately. He reached up and removed Han Yan’s cold glasses, placing them on the table nearby. Amidst their kisses, he urgently asked, “Did you miss me?”
Han Yan remained silent, his gaze still chilly. He calmly began to remove Gai Yin’s military uniform, his voice flat as he countered, “What do you think?”
Gaien felt certain that Han Yan must have missed him, otherwise he wouldn’t have kissed him so fiercely or acted so urgently. Tears welled up in his eyes, his voice trembling with emotion.
Han Yan always loved to see Gaien cry. This female zerg seemed to fit his desires perfectly, even in his tears, he looked so beautiful.
“Shh, don’t cry…”
But Han Yan always had to coax a little.
He pressed his forehead against Gaien’s, kissing him gently along his brows, nose brushing lightly against his. There couldn’t be a more intimate pair in the world than them.
Gaien, lost in his emotions, rested on Han Yan’s shoulder, gasping for breath. There were still traces of tears in the corners of his eyes. “My lord, I missed you…”
So much, he missed him so much.
Han Yan hummed in acknowledgment. “I know.”
He caressed the smooth abdomen of the female zerg, as if contemplating something. Finally, he carried the female zerg into the bathroom, closing the glass door behind them. It took a full two hours before they emerged.
Han Yan had changed into a clean set of pajamas, while the female zerg in his arms was completely bare. Gaien held his abdomen tightly, seeming uncomfortable, but the faint blush on his cheeks betrayed his satisfaction.
Han Yan leaned over and laid him on the bed, then retrieved a plug from the drawer, gently inserting it. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he gently rubbed Gaien’s shoulders, thinking that this mission was probably more dangerous than he had imagined.
Han Yan pulled back the covers and saw that the red marks on Gaien’s right leg had faded considerably. He looked down and asked, “Did you puncture it every day?”
Gaien nodded, his voice hoarse and broken, “I did.”
It hurt a lot at first, but it gradually stopped hurting later on.
Han Yan, perhaps to reward Gaien for his obedience, kissed him approvingly. However, the female zerg, recalling something, slowly opened his right hand, revealing the faintly colored words on it. “My lord, you still haven’t told me what these two words mean?”
On his fair palm were two words —
Han Yan.
Han Yan asked with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “Do you want to know?”
Gaien nodded gently, “I do.”
However, Han Yan suddenly fell silent. He pulled back the covers and lay down on the bed with Gaien, closing his eyes without speaking for a long time, as if recalling some long-forgotten memories.
Gaien waited and waited, until his eyelids began to fight against drowsiness, but he didn’t receive Han Yan’s answer. He was just too tired. Eventually, he fell asleep in the embrace of the male zerg without realizing it. In a daze, he only felt a hand covering him with a blanket and patting his back lightly.
In the darkness, Han Yan kissed Gaien’s earlobe. After a long period of silence, he closed his eyes and softly uttered two words: “Han Yan.”
His name, Han Yan.
These two words could only be uttered in the dead of night because they couldn’t bear the sight of sunlight. He was waiting for a clean snowfall to bury all the past hardships…
Han Yan felt like Gaien couldn’t hear him.
But the female zerg in his embrace, in the darkness, opened his eyes without a sound, and eventually closed them again.
The author has something to say:
Gaien: (＾▽＾)/ I heard it!!
![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]")
