Jan 7, 2024
—
by
Juno
in Fight for Peace and Love
Bai Luo Luo couldn’t forget the potatoes he had for dinner last night, so the next morning, he got up early and used the stone pot he brought to cook a large pot of porridge. He also kneaded some dough and fried a bunch of pancakes.
The pancakes were filled with meat, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. When you bit into them, the hot and fresh meat burst into your mouth. The meat was from the prey they caught last night, still very fresh. It was chopped into filling, a perfect mix of lean and fat, with juices exploding in the mouth. Eating a bite of the pancake and taking a sip of refreshing vegetable porridge made life unbelievably wonderful.
Xue Hui had a big appetite and devoured five or six pancakes in one go. After finishing his own portion, he looked at others, drooling. Seeing him like this, Bai Luo Luo quickly roasted another piece of meat for him to gnaw on—he was genuinely afraid Xue Hui would expose his true nature because of food.
After summer comes the harvest season of winter. The treetops were full of various fruits, and animals began to eat frantically to prepare for the coming winter.
Most of the fruits in the jungle were edible, but some caution was still needed. One day, when Yuan Shuzi climbed a tree to pick fruits, he reached for a fuzzy fruit, wondering what it was. Just as he was about to crack it open, the fruit on the ground let out a miserable scream, extended its legs, and ran away, leaving everyone in shock.
Mu Xing Palace said, “Is this an animal or a plant?”
Yuan Shuzi was completely stiff, seemingly on the verge of tears from the fright.
Bai Luo Luo comforted him with a pat on the shoulder.
Such incidents happened once or twice, and it seemed like on this planet, animals and plants were given an entirely new definition.
Xue Hui didn’t seem to care much, continuing to pick fruits every day. Bai Luo Luo witnessed him smashing a fruit attempting to escape, then expressionlessly stuffing it into his mouth and chewing.
Fortunately for the plants, most of the time, Xue Hui wasn’t interested in vegetarian food.
Today, everyone got lucky and caught a large prey.
The prey in autumn is the most abundant, and when you cut it open, you can see the white layer of fat inside. Bai Luo Luo used all of this fat to make oil, which was then sealed in jars and arranged in a row on the back of the stone creature. The biggest issue in winter is insufficient heat, and stored oil can be very useful during the winter.
While sending Xue Hui home, Zhou Rong and the others were also preparing for the winter. With the stone creature, transporting supplies became much easier.
The fur peeled off from animals needed to be treated with nitrate before it could be worn as fur clothing, which was quite a technical task. Fortunately, in Zhou Rong’s team, there were talents in various fields, and they also discovered salt. Thus, the task of nitrate treatment fell to them.
Xue Hui’s clothes were a bit tattered, and as he grew taller, the originally fitting pants turned into capris, and the clothes were a bit shorter, looking somewhat awkward. However, he was lucky. When Bai Luo Luo was worrying about his clothes, over a dozen people came to offer themselves, and Xue Hui directly skewered them into a meat skewer. Although the clothes were torn, he could still wear the pants.
Bai Luo Luo didn’t waste any resources. After releasing those people from the vines, he stripped them completely and sewed a new set of clothes for Xue Hui after repairing the torn ones.
With his new clothes, Xue Hui wasn’t very happy. He complained that the clothes had a fishy smell. Bai Luo Luo could only ask him to endure it, as there weren’t many clothing options on this planet.
As the autumn leaves fell, Xue Hui’s appearance gradually matured. His facial features deepened, like a flower that was finally about to bloom, gradually shedding the youth’s greenness. Some people lose the delicacy and vitality of their youth as they grow older, but Xue Hui was completely different. If he was previously beautiful enough to evoke sympathy, now his appearance not only attracted men but also women.
Mu Xing Palace also noticed the change in Xue Hui and incredulously said, “Ling Yueming, what did your Xue Hui eat to grow so fast?” He vaguely remembered that when he first saw Xue Hui, Xue Hui was not as tall as Bai Luo Luo. In just a few months, Xue Hui had grown taller, and this morning, he unexpectedly found that he was a bit shorter than Xue Hui.
Bai Luo Luo, busy roasting a bird with his head lowered, heard Mu Xing Palace’s words but didn’t raise his head. “Ate the same food as everyone else.”
“This is too fast,” Mu Xing Palace said. “It’s almost inhuman speed…”
Bai Luo Luo reached out and gently patted Xue Hui’s head, saying, “Look at you, growing so fast, scaring people.”
Xue Hui touched his head with a look of grievance, saying, “If I don’t grow tall, how can I be Ling’s prince?”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
Mu Xing Palace didn’t understand Xue Hui’s words and asked, “Huh?”
Xue Hui said, “I want to be Ling’s prince. Ling is my princess. When I’m taller than Ling, it’ll be my turn to carry Ling.” He grinned, revealing a row of beautiful and white little teeth.
Mu Xing Palace burst into laughter and started calling Bai Luo Luo “Princess Ling.”
Bai Luo Luo, with a dreamy expression, recalled the time he teased Xue Hui. Back then, he had no idea that Xue Hui could grow so quickly and become so tall. So, shamelessly, he declared that the shorter one was the princess. Now that Xue Hui suddenly became taller than him, he felt like lifting a stone and smashing it on his own foot.
From that day on, in addition to being Fuzi (Lucky Child), Bai Luo Luo gained another nickname, Princess.
Xue Hui had no idea why everyone was laughing but thought they were happy for him. He had decided since the day Bai Luo Luo decided to protect him from harm that he would be the one to protect his precious princess.
As the autumn chill set in, the air became extremely dry.
Without the abundant rain of spring and the dryness of summer, autumn was a very leisurely time compared to other seasons.
Zhou Rong and his team were quite lucky to catch a large mountain ox, nearly three meters long, with sharp horns on its head, giving it a brutal appearance. However, its temperament was actually quite gentle. As long as it wasn’t thoroughly provoked, it could even be used as a means of transportation.
So, everyone’s burden was reduced, and some could even take a break by sitting on the back of the ox.
Of course, Bai Luo Luo’s stone creature served as a private space for him and Xue Hui. Sometimes Yuan Shu Ze would join them to sleep, but most of the time, it was just the two of them.
With nothing else to do, Xue Hui planted a row of plants on the back of the stone creature that looked somewhat like small onions. With a serious expression, he declared that when the onions grew, it would be the day he married Bai Luo Luo.
Bai Luo Luo didn’t take Xue Hui’s words seriously and thought he was just joking.
However, a few days later, there was a small rain shower, and Xue Hui’s onions grew.
One morning, Xue Hui got up early, cleaned up, climbed onto the stone creature, and earnestly used a knife to cut the row of small onions. Then, he ran to the water to wash the onions, neatly placing them in front of Bai Luo Luo, asking him to fry eggs for him.
Bai Luo Luo didn’t take Xue Hui seriously, so he went to find a bird egg and fried a plate of eggs for Xue Hui.
Xue Hui ate the eggs by himself without sharing with anyone. Then, he solemnly declared Bai Luo Luo to be his new bride.
Everyone in the group thought Xue Hui was joking, and after a hearty laugh, they forgot about it. Little did they know, some jokes, once spoken, were no longer just jokes.
That night, Bai Luo Luo was awakened by noise.
Opening his eyes, he saw the bright moon above. The moon seemed larger than usual, and he even felt like he could vaguely see the dark circular mountains on its surface.
Bai Luo Luo was confused for a while, fully waking up. He looked around and found himself alone.
No Xue Hui lying beside him, no stone creature, no Zhou Rong and Mu Xing Palace. Other than himself, there was no one else. Even when Bai Luo Luo called for the system in his mind, he received no response.
Bai Luo Luo felt a bit bewildered and wondered if he was dreaming, but why did this dream feel so real? He lowered his head and saw his bare feet. He lightly tapped the dark soil with his toes, and the texture was identical to reality – moist and soft. Bai Luo Luo felt a bit lost.
“Is anyone there?” Bai Luo Luo attempted to move forward while calling out, “Is anyone there?”
“Ling,” a man’s voice echoed.
Bai Luo Luo recognized this voice. It was the one who saved him when he was attacked, the one who also violated him… This voice belonged to the grown-up Xue Hui.
But Bai Luo Luo didn’t call out that name. He vaguely felt that uttering this name might not be a good thing.
“Ling.” The wind rustled through the treetops, and the moonlight grew brighter. However, the color remained cold. In the deserted forest, Bai Luo Luo didn’t feel fear. He knew someone was accompanying him.
“Where is this?” Bai Luo Luo asked, “Who are you?”
“We’re almost home,” the man’s voice, tender and gentle, said, “I’ll introduce you to my family.”
After speaking, the trees in front of Bai Luo Luo moved aside, revealing a cobblestone path.
The stones on this path emitted a faint glow, resembling stars in the sky. Connected, they looked like the Milky Way.
Bai Luo Luo walked up barefoot. The stones weren’t cold but rather warm. A figure appeared in front of him, with long, snow-white hair. Without turning around, the figure gently took Bai Luo Luo’s hand.
The temperature of those hands was slightly lower than Bai Luo Luo’s, soft and cool, like moonlight in the sky.
Bai Luo Luo was led forward by him. They didn’t walk fast, but the scenery beside them rapidly retreated. When Bai Luo Luo noticed, the cobblestones beneath his feet were gradually floating – they were walking towards the sky.
Tall trees were stepped on, and the ground scenery became increasingly tiny. Bai Luo Luo involuntarily tightened the hand held by Xue Hui.
“Don’t be afraid.” Xue Hui responded to Bai Luo Luo’s nervousness. He said, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
Bai Luo Luo miraculously calmed down.
The cobblestone path became a ladder to the sky, and the stones emitting fluorescence traced a brilliant light in the night sky. Bai Luo Luo felt the dream was too beautiful, so beautiful that he didn’t want to wake up.
The clouds also made way for the two, and Xue Hui, holding Bai Luo Luo’s hand, led him forward. The scenery beneath their feet kept changing. Desert, rainforest, wasteland, grassland – it seemed like they had traversed the entire planet.
After an unknown period, Xue Hui suddenly stopped.
“We’re here,” he said.
Bai Luo Luo looked ahead and saw only a sparkling array of stars.
Xue Hui said, “Those are my parents.” He pointed to the sky.
Bai Luo Luo looked bewildered. He seemed to vaguely see a star in the sky twinkling slightly.
“That’s my father.” Xue Hui pointed to another star, and Bai Luo Luo turned his head to look.
Turning back, Xue Hui gently looked at Bai Luo Luo. He lifted Bai Luo Luo’s hand, placed a soft kiss on his finger, and then, with a wave of his left hand in the air, a ring with a sparkling light appeared in his palm.
“This is the ring I prepared for you.” Xue Hui held Bai Luo Luo’s hand and said seriously, “Ling, would you like to marry me and be my bride?”
Finally, under the bright moonlight, Bai Luo Luo saw Xue Hui’s face clearly – the person in front of him seemed to be the fully grown Xue Hui. He still had those beautiful peach blossom eyes, but now he exuded an entirely different charm. It was a beauty that couldn’t be described in words. Even the gentle breeze passing by him would leave behind a sigh, regretting not being able to linger by his side for a moment longer.
Bai Luo Luo was stunned. He had seen his fair share of beautiful people, but he had never seen someone like Xue Hui. Xue Hui had surpassed the human realm – where there were flaws in every person, big or small, Xue Hui had none. He was perfect.
“Ling.” Seeing Bai Luo Luo in a daze, Xue Hui’s eyes carried a hint of a smile. He said, “Ling, if you don’t speak, I’ll assume you’ve agreed.”
Bai Luo Luo’s lips were about to move when Xue Hui directly lowered his head and gave him a deep kiss.
Bai Luo Luo instinctively wanted to push him away but was tightly embraced by Xue Hui. He felt Xue Hui’s tongue enter his mouth, and along with it, his body heated up. Bai Luo Luo became dizzy, unable to distinguish between reality and dream. After ending the kiss, Xue Hui naturally put the snowy-white ring on Bai Luo Luo’s ring finger.
Bai Luo Luo felt his ring finger slightly tightened. When he realized it, everything had already ended.
“Ling,” Xue Hui said, “I want to be with you forever.”
Bai Luo Luo looked at Xue Hui and whispered, “Is it really you, Xue Hui…”
“It’s me,” Xue Hui said.
The person in front of him was both familiar and strange. Everything happening around them felt like a breathtaking fairy tale. Suspended in the night sky, accompanied by stars, with clouds as their path, even the person standing beside him seemed unreal in such beauty.
Bai Luo Luo couldn’t distinguish between reality and dream anymore.
Xue Hui bent down, naturally lifting Bai Luo Luo into his arms. Bai Luo Luo didn’t understand what he was going to do at first, until he noticed that the clouds around them had formed into a massive bed.
Bai Luo Luo: “…” Oh my God.
Xue Hui said, “Ling, I missed you so much.” When a beautiful person acted cute, it softened one’s heart. If it weren’t for the fact that this beautiful person had an interest in his backside, Bai Luo Luo might have been even more moved.
After the fairy-tale beauty, all that remained was the cruel adult world. Bai Luo Luo found himself on a cloud, and once again, he was kissed passionately by Xue Hui.
“No… Xue Hui…” Bai Luo Luo’s eyes were moist, and he tried to refuse Xue Hui’s advances. However, both his words and actions were feeble.
“Why not?” Xue Hui asked, “Ling, you seem to like it a lot.”
Bai Luo Luo hadn’t spoken the next sentence when he felt his clothes being removed without any visible movement from Xue Hui. Even if this beautiful person had an interest in his backside, Bai Luo Luo might have been even more moved.
After the beauty of the fairy tale, all that remained was the cruel reality of the adult world. Bai Luo Luo found himself on a cloud, and once again, he was passionately kissed by Xue Hui.
“No… Xue Hui…” Bai Luo Luo’s eyes were moist, and he tried to refuse Xue Hui’s advances. However, both his words and actions were feeble.
“Why not?” Xue Hui asked, “Ling, you seem to like it a lot.”
Bai Luo Luo, with his eyes open, was yet to say the next words when he felt his clothes being removed without any visible movement from Xue Hui. Even if Xue Hui’s hands hadn’t moved, without a doubt, in this world, he was the master.
Bai Luo Luo swallowed hard, barely maintaining the little reason he had left. He said, “What we’re doing, Xue Hui… it’s not right.”
“It is right,” Xue Hui said, “What’s wrong with being with someone you like?” He seemed a bit displeased with Bai Luo Luo’s words, lifting a layer of white clouds with a wave of his hand.
Seeing Xue Hui’s expression, Bai Luo Luo knew that arguing with him would be futile. So, he got up and tried to escape to another place. However, as soon as he stood up, the ground beneath him softened, and he sank into the soft clouds. What was even more terrifying was that when he leaned forward to see the scenery below the clouds, he realized that they were tens of thousands of miles above the ground, and everything on the earth had shrunk to the size of ants.
Bai Luo Luo: “…” He almost fainted.
Seeing Bai Luo Luo petrified with fear, Xue Hui directly pressed him from behind and then tenderly said, “Ling, since you like it this way, I’ll follow your wishes.”
Bai Luo Luo didn’t have acrophobia, but seeing himself at such a height involuntarily triggered a fear within him. He wanted to retreat, but Xue Hui firmly held his shoulders.
“Ling.” A scorching breath sprayed onto his neck, making the atmosphere even more ambiguous. Xue Hui said, “I really like you.”
Bai Luo Luo looked at the intense love in Xue Hui’s eyes, as if it was about to overflow. His throat moved slightly, and for a moment, he found it hard to utter words of refusal.
Below them was a bottomless abyss, and in front of him was Xue Hui’s gentle face. Bai Luo Luo, trembling, was forced to hold on tightly to Xue Hui’s neck. He feared that if he let go, he would plummet down and shatter into pieces.
Sensing Bai Luo Luo’s fear, Xue Hui reached out, gently brushing the strands of hair in front of Bai Luo Luo’s eyes, and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, Ling. It will be very comfortable.”
Bai Luo Luo widened his eyes, feeling Xue Hui’s body pressing against his.
After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
Bai Luo Luo covered his face with his arm, softly sobbing. Xue Hui was gentle, not causing him any pain. But with the continuous pleasure, he felt himself losing control.
The cloud beneath them was so soft, but if he wanted to turn around and escape, there was only a dead end behind him. Xue Hui was telling him with facts that only what was in front of him was the right path.
Xue Hui and Bai Luo Luo entwined intimately, their voices carrying a hint of laughter. Xue Hui said, “Ling, your body feels so comfortable…”
Bai Luo Luo glared at him. This gaze had no intimidation, but it only excited Xue Hui even more.
The dream was long, seemingly endless.
The night sky above was always filled with shining stars and a bright moon, and the sun never rose. Time seemed to freeze. When Bai Luo Luo couldn’t bear it anymore and started begging, Xue Hui was still smiling.
He said, “Ling, don’t cry. It’ll be fine.”
“I can’t take it anymore, spare me,” Bai Luo Luo sobbed heavily, almost unable to speak.
Hearing this, Xue Hui lowered his head and kissed Bai Luo Luo’s cheek, just as Bai Luo Luo had once kissed him. He said, “I just wanted to know, Ling, where your limit is…”
Bai Luo Luo showed a terrified expression, wondering when this dream would end.
Bai Luo Luo didn’t know when he woke up, but when he opened his eyes and saw the night again, he immediately sat up, tense.
“Yuan Ming?” Yuan Shu Ze next to Bai Luo Luo was puzzled. He said, “You’re awake.”
Bai Luo Luo wiped his face with his hand, swallowed hard, and asked, “What happened to me?”
Yuan Shu Ze said, “You’ve been asleep for a whole day. We were worried about you.”
Bai Luo Luo took a deep breath. He asked, “And Xue Hui?”
Yuan Shu Ze looked around and said, “He just went out to use the restroom. He hasn’t come back yet.”
Bai Luo Luo sighed.
Yuan Shu Ze, seeing Bai Luo Luo’s strange expression, asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Bai Luo Luo vaguely agreed and did not answer. He raised his left hand and looked at it, finding a faint white ring on his ring finger—indeed, it wasn’t a dream.
Yuan Shu Ze expressed concern about Bai Luo Luo’s condition. Bai Luo Luo reluctantly pulled himself together, saying that he just wanted to rest for a while.
Hearing this, Yuan Shu Ze wanted to ask, “Didn’t you just wake up?” but seeing Bai Luo Luo’s exhausted expression, he decided to hold back the words and suggested, “Then rest well,” before climbing down from the stone creature.
Yuan Shu Ze left, and Bai Luo Luo hurriedly questioned the system, saying, “Didn’t you notice anything unusual about me?”
The system was a bit puzzled and said, “No, your body metrics are very healthy, in a deep sleep state…”
Bai Luo Luo exclaimed, “Damn.”
The system asked, “Hmm? What’s wrong? Did Xue Hui do something to you while you were sleeping?”
Bai Luo Luo almost cried. He said, “I don’t even know if I’m dreaming or not.” If it’s a dream, why did a white ring appear on his hand? If it’s not a dream, why hasn’t anyone noticed anything unusual about him?
The system said, “Tell me in detail.”
Bai Luo Luo vaguely described the contents of his dream to the system, of course, omitting a certain part. However, the system, with its high-level understanding, almost immediately guessed what happened to Bai Luo Luo. It was shocked, “So you spent the whole day dreaming?”
Bai Luo Luo said, “… How do I argue with that?”
The system thought for a moment and said, “Xue Hui’s identity is not simple. I think you’ve already noticed that.”
Bai Luo Luo said, “Yes.”
The system said, “Can we make a hypothesis?”
Bai Luo Luo asked, “What hypothesis?”
The system said, “Suppose Xue Hui has the ability to pull you into a dream and then do things to you that shouldn’t be done?”
Bai Luo Luo almost cried out. The worst thing wasn’t that he was “raped by the whole world,” but that “the whole world” couldn’t testify for him when it happened.
Bai Luo Luo almost wanted to collapse on the stone creature and cry his heart out.
The system could only comfort him, saying, “Don’t cry, my friend. Be strong. There are many beautiful things in the world waiting for you.”
Bai Luo Luo, with a gloomy face, asked, “Such as?”
The system said, “… such as tomorrow night?”
Bai Luo Luo said, “… Damn it.”
While they were talking, Xue Hui, who had gone out to the restroom, returned. As soon as he saw Bai Luo Luo, he showed an incredibly bright smile, then climbed onto the stone creature and gave Bai Luo Luo a sweet kiss.
Xue Hui, with a shy expression, looked completely different from the dominant man in Bai Luo Luo’s dream. He slowly climbed onto Bai Luo Luo and hummed, saying, “Ling… you finally woke up.”
Bai Luo Luo: “…” You’re pretending.
Xue Hui: “I was really worried about you.” His expression doesn’t seem fake; he genuinely seems concerned about Bai Luo Luo.
Bai Luo Luo: “Xue Hui.”
Xue Hui: “Hmm.”
Bai Luo Luo takes a deep breath and says, “Last night, you…”
Suddenly, Xue Hui’s face turns red, and he stammers, “Last… last night?”
Bai Luo Luo: “…” If you only look at his expression, someone might think he had a romantic encounter with Xue Hui.
Onlooker Yuan Shuzi, at the side, seems to have connected his brainwaves with Bai Luo Luo. He observes Xue Hui’s shy appearance, looks at Bai Luo Luo’s expression, and links it to their strange behaviors in the past couple of days. He seems to have a vague idea of what might have happened.
Yuan Shuzi feels a tinge of sadness, thinking that after spending so much time together, Ling Yuming has finally accepted Xue Hui. After all, Ling Yuming loves Xue Hui so much and wouldn’t want him to be hurt. It seemed natural for them to be together, and it wouldn’t be surprising.
But now, seeing Xue Hui go from joy to gradually losing his expression, Yuan Shuzi has a bad feeling.
Ignoring Yuan Shuzi beside him, Bai Luo Luo takes a deep breath, determined to clarify things with Xue Hui.
Bai Luo Luo says, “Xue Hui, did you do something to me last night?”
Blushing, Xue Hui nods shyly.
Bai Luo Luo says, “Did I not tell you before that such things should only happen between people who like each other?”
Xue Hui is stunned for a moment, his face turning even redder. He says, “Uh, yes.”
Bai Luo Luo says, “But…”
Xue Hui looks at Bai Luo Luo with adoration.
Feeling uncomfortable under Xue Hui’s gaze, Bai Luo Luo, who was the one with the awkward leg positions last night, strangely starts to feel like he’s a scumbag who’s only interested in one-night stands. But for the countless nights to come, Bai Luo Luo still gathers courage. He says, “But, we can’t be together. I don’t like you.” His tone is especially heavy, as if squeezing the words out is not easy.
Hearing Bai Luo Luo’s words, tears fall from Xue Hui’s eyes.
Bai Luo Luo: “System, he’s crying.”
The system says, “I saw.”
Bai Luo Luo, feeling a headache, says, “What should I do?”
The system says, “You don’t have a girlfriend, right?”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
The system says, “Now there are a few options.”
Bai Luo Luo: “Tell me.”
The system says, “Option one, ignore his tears, continue expressing your opinion, and let him give up.”
This option is the most appropriate, assuming Bai Luo Luo can withstand Xue Hui’s tear attack. But looking at the current situation, it seems unlikely. So, there’s option two.
The wise old system says, “Option two, cry with him and see who cries more miserably.”
Bai Luo Luo: “…Are there any other options?”
The system says, “There’s one last option.”
Bai Luo Luo: “Hmm?”
The system sighs and says, “Give up. Isn’t it just getting laid in your dreams at night? Are you sacrificing yourself for socialism or staying pure?”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
Xue Hui would definitely excel in acting, especially in emotional scenes. While for others, crying might affect their image, he manages to evoke a pitiable charm even when shedding tears. Even the redness of his nose is so endearing, making people want to embrace him and assure him that everything will be alright, urging him to stop crying.
Yuan Shuzi, who has been watching the entire time, feels his heart tremble. Logically, he should be the type to dislike Xue Hui’s appearance as he himself is more of the “white lotus” type. However, after witnessing Xue Hui’s tearful expression, Yuan Shuzi doesn’t harbor any aversion. Instead, he is filled with sympathy, wanting to rush up, shake Bai Luo Luo’s shoulders, and say, “Why are you hurting him? He’s just a child.”
Yes, indeed, a particularly large child.
Bai Luo Luo, feeling helpless, says, “Xue Hui, please don’t cry. Let’s talk things over.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Hui reluctantly stops his tears and forces a smile, saying, “Okay, I won’t cry. Ling, don’t abandon me.”
Bai Luo Luo says, “Last night was a misunderstanding…”
Xue Hui says, “But you promised me those things. Didn’t you say you would take me home? Didn’t you promise to be with me forever?”
Bai Luo Luo says, “…Did I say that?”
Before Bai Luo Luo can continue, Xue Hui, in a melancholic tone, says, “Are those promises not valid anymore?”
Bai Luo Luo says, “…”
Choking back tears, Xue Hui says, “You’re comfortable with it too. I’ve tried so hard. I know I don’t understand much, but I can learn, as long as you’re willing to teach me…”
Bai Luo Luo despairs, realizing that he has perfectly embraced the role of a scumbag. He says, “But I like women.”
Xue Hui says, “I can wear girls’ clothes.”
Bai Luo Luo says, “But you’re forcing me.”
Xue Hui says, “But when you accepted my ring, you didn’t refuse me.”
Bai Luo Luo says, “…”
As the conversation goes back and forth, Yuan Shuzi can’t bear to listen anymore. He says, “Ling Yuming, why are you like this!”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
Yuan Shuzi says, “Even if Xue Hui is not a woman and can’t give you children, he’s so beautiful and kind, deserving to be cherished!”
Xue Hui, in a hushed voice, says, “I can give birth to children for Yuming.”
Whether his voice is too low or Yuan Shuzi doesn’t hear, Yuan Shuzi angrily climbs onto the stone creature, saying, “You did such a thing to him; you have to take responsibility! Acting like this, abandoning him halfway… You’re not worthy of being a man.”
Bai Luo Luo: “Oh no.”
System: “Clickety-clickety-click.”
Xue Hui says, “Shuzi, don’t say that to Ling like this. This matter…”
Yuan Shuzi says, “Xue Hui, don’t speak. You don’t understand these things. You’re the one taken advantage of. Come over; let me see if you’re hurt.”
Xue Hui says, “Where am I injured?”
Yuan Shuzi says, “Of course, in that area.”
Xue Hui says, “I’m not injured.”
Yuan Shuzi is about to say not to pretend to be strong, but he suddenly remembers something. He turns to look at Ling Yuming, squatting by the roadside, smoking a leaf-wrapped cigarette with a weary expression. An unbelievable thought pops into Yuan Shuzi’s mind. Although he had this thought before, today it seems particularly clear.
Yuan Shuzi stammers, “Xue Hui… when you and Ling did that, who was on top?”
Xue Hui says, “It was me.”
Yuan Shuzi: “…”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
Xue Hui, puzzled, says, “Ling said the taller one is the prince, shouldn’t the prince be on top?”
Bai Luo Luo extinguishes his cigarette, says nothing, and walks away.
Yuan Shuzi stares at Bai Luo Luo’s departing figure, feeling that everything he said before was nonsense. He can’t find any words now, facing the naturally innocent Xue Hui. He can only pat Xue Hui’s shoulder and say, “Ah, try your best on your own. I really can’t help you.”
Xue Hui blinks.
Yuan Shuzi says, “This matter… Ah, this matter…” After talking for a long time, he can’t make sense of it. The reality is too unexpected, making him feel like he’s been punched in the face and is now in a daze.
“Now, go quickly and comfort Yuming ge. If I were him, I definitely wouldn’t be able to handle this.”
Xue Hui agrees and hurries off.
Yuan Shuzi gazes at the disappearing figures of the two, feeling like his worldview has been reshaped. He looks completely lost, even his eyes vacant, thinking only one thing—Ling Yuming is the bottom.
Jan 7, 2024
—
by
Juno
in Fight for Peace and Love
Bai Luo Luo couldn’t forget the potatoes he had for dinner last night, so the next morning, he got up early and used the stone pot he brought to cook a large pot of porridge. He also kneaded some dough and fried a bunch of pancakes.
The pancakes were filled with meat, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. When you bit into them, the hot and fresh meat burst into your mouth. The meat was from the prey they caught last night, still very fresh. It was chopped into filling, a perfect mix of lean and fat, with juices exploding in the mouth. Eating a bite of the pancake and taking a sip of refreshing vegetable porridge made life unbelievably wonderful.
Xue Hui had a big appetite and devoured five or six pancakes in one go. After finishing his own portion, he looked at others, drooling. Seeing him like this, Bai Luo Luo quickly roasted another piece of meat for him to gnaw on—he was genuinely afraid Xue Hui would expose his true nature because of food.
After summer comes the harvest season of winter. The treetops were full of various fruits, and animals began to eat frantically to prepare for the coming winter.
Most of the fruits in the jungle were edible, but some caution was still needed. One day, when Yuan Shuzi climbed a tree to pick fruits, he reached for a fuzzy fruit, wondering what it was. Just as he was about to crack it open, the fruit on the ground let out a miserable scream, extended its legs, and ran away, leaving everyone in shock.
Mu Xing Palace said, “Is this an animal or a plant?”
Yuan Shuzi was completely stiff, seemingly on the verge of tears from the fright.
Bai Luo Luo comforted him with a pat on the shoulder.
Such incidents happened once or twice, and it seemed like on this planet, animals and plants were given an entirely new definition.
Xue Hui didn’t seem to care much, continuing to pick fruits every day. Bai Luo Luo witnessed him smashing a fruit attempting to escape, then expressionlessly stuffing it into his mouth and chewing.
Fortunately for the plants, most of the time, Xue Hui wasn’t interested in vegetarian food.
Today, everyone got lucky and caught a large prey.
The prey in autumn is the most abundant, and when you cut it open, you can see the white layer of fat inside. Bai Luo Luo used all of this fat to make oil, which was then sealed in jars and arranged in a row on the back of the stone creature. The biggest issue in winter is insufficient heat, and stored oil can be very useful during the winter.
While sending Xue Hui home, Zhou Rong and the others were also preparing for the winter. With the stone creature, transporting supplies became much easier.
The fur peeled off from animals needed to be treated with nitrate before it could be worn as fur clothing, which was quite a technical task. Fortunately, in Zhou Rong’s team, there were talents in various fields, and they also discovered salt. Thus, the task of nitrate treatment fell to them.
Xue Hui’s clothes were a bit tattered, and as he grew taller, the originally fitting pants turned into capris, and the clothes were a bit shorter, looking somewhat awkward. However, he was lucky. When Bai Luo Luo was worrying about his clothes, over a dozen people came to offer themselves, and Xue Hui directly skewered them into a meat skewer. Although the clothes were torn, he could still wear the pants.
Bai Luo Luo didn’t waste any resources. After releasing those people from the vines, he stripped them completely and sewed a new set of clothes for Xue Hui after repairing the torn ones.
With his new clothes, Xue Hui wasn’t very happy. He complained that the clothes had a fishy smell. Bai Luo Luo could only ask him to endure it, as there weren’t many clothing options on this planet.
As the autumn leaves fell, Xue Hui’s appearance gradually matured. His facial features deepened, like a flower that was finally about to bloom, gradually shedding the youth’s greenness. Some people lose the delicacy and vitality of their youth as they grow older, but Xue Hui was completely different. If he was previously beautiful enough to evoke sympathy, now his appearance not only attracted men but also women.
Mu Xing Palace also noticed the change in Xue Hui and incredulously said, “Ling Yueming, what did your Xue Hui eat to grow so fast?” He vaguely remembered that when he first saw Xue Hui, Xue Hui was not as tall as Bai Luo Luo. In just a few months, Xue Hui had grown taller, and this morning, he unexpectedly found that he was a bit shorter than Xue Hui.
Bai Luo Luo, busy roasting a bird with his head lowered, heard Mu Xing Palace’s words but didn’t raise his head. “Ate the same food as everyone else.”
“This is too fast,” Mu Xing Palace said. “It’s almost inhuman speed…”
Bai Luo Luo reached out and gently patted Xue Hui’s head, saying, “Look at you, growing so fast, scaring people.”
Xue Hui touched his head with a look of grievance, saying, “If I don’t grow tall, how can I be Ling’s prince?”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
Mu Xing Palace didn’t understand Xue Hui’s words and asked, “Huh?”
Xue Hui said, “I want to be Ling’s prince. Ling is my princess. When I’m taller than Ling, it’ll be my turn to carry Ling.” He grinned, revealing a row of beautiful and white little teeth.
Mu Xing Palace burst into laughter and started calling Bai Luo Luo “Princess Ling.”
Bai Luo Luo, with a dreamy expression, recalled the time he teased Xue Hui. Back then, he had no idea that Xue Hui could grow so quickly and become so tall. So, shamelessly, he declared that the shorter one was the princess. Now that Xue Hui suddenly became taller than him, he felt like lifting a stone and smashing it on his own foot.
From that day on, in addition to being Fuzi (Lucky Child), Bai Luo Luo gained another nickname, Princess.
Xue Hui had no idea why everyone was laughing but thought they were happy for him. He had decided since the day Bai Luo Luo decided to protect him from harm that he would be the one to protect his precious princess.
As the autumn chill set in, the air became extremely dry.
Without the abundant rain of spring and the dryness of summer, autumn was a very leisurely time compared to other seasons.
Zhou Rong and his team were quite lucky to catch a large mountain ox, nearly three meters long, with sharp horns on its head, giving it a brutal appearance. However, its temperament was actually quite gentle. As long as it wasn’t thoroughly provoked, it could even be used as a means of transportation.
So, everyone’s burden was reduced, and some could even take a break by sitting on the back of the ox.
Of course, Bai Luo Luo’s stone creature served as a private space for him and Xue Hui. Sometimes Yuan Shu Ze would join them to sleep, but most of the time, it was just the two of them.
With nothing else to do, Xue Hui planted a row of plants on the back of the stone creature that looked somewhat like small onions. With a serious expression, he declared that when the onions grew, it would be the day he married Bai Luo Luo.
Bai Luo Luo didn’t take Xue Hui’s words seriously and thought he was just joking.
However, a few days later, there was a small rain shower, and Xue Hui’s onions grew.
One morning, Xue Hui got up early, cleaned up, climbed onto the stone creature, and earnestly used a knife to cut the row of small onions. Then, he ran to the water to wash the onions, neatly placing them in front of Bai Luo Luo, asking him to fry eggs for him.
Bai Luo Luo didn’t take Xue Hui seriously, so he went to find a bird egg and fried a plate of eggs for Xue Hui.
Xue Hui ate the eggs by himself without sharing with anyone. Then, he solemnly declared Bai Luo Luo to be his new bride.
Everyone in the group thought Xue Hui was joking, and after a hearty laugh, they forgot about it. Little did they know, some jokes, once spoken, were no longer just jokes.
That night, Bai Luo Luo was awakened by noise.
Opening his eyes, he saw the bright moon above. The moon seemed larger than usual, and he even felt like he could vaguely see the dark circular mountains on its surface.
Bai Luo Luo was confused for a while, fully waking up. He looked around and found himself alone.
No Xue Hui lying beside him, no stone creature, no Zhou Rong and Mu Xing Palace. Other than himself, there was no one else. Even when Bai Luo Luo called for the system in his mind, he received no response.
Bai Luo Luo felt a bit bewildered and wondered if he was dreaming, but why did this dream feel so real? He lowered his head and saw his bare feet. He lightly tapped the dark soil with his toes, and the texture was identical to reality – moist and soft. Bai Luo Luo felt a bit lost.
“Is anyone there?” Bai Luo Luo attempted to move forward while calling out, “Is anyone there?”
“Ling,” a man’s voice echoed.
Bai Luo Luo recognized this voice. It was the one who saved him when he was attacked, the one who also violated him… This voice belonged to the grown-up Xue Hui.
But Bai Luo Luo didn’t call out that name. He vaguely felt that uttering this name might not be a good thing.
“Ling.” The wind rustled through the treetops, and the moonlight grew brighter. However, the color remained cold. In the deserted forest, Bai Luo Luo didn’t feel fear. He knew someone was accompanying him.
“Where is this?” Bai Luo Luo asked, “Who are you?”
“We’re almost home,” the man’s voice, tender and gentle, said, “I’ll introduce you to my family.”
After speaking, the trees in front of Bai Luo Luo moved aside, revealing a cobblestone path.
The stones on this path emitted a faint glow, resembling stars in the sky. Connected, they looked like the Milky Way.
Bai Luo Luo walked up barefoot. The stones weren’t cold but rather warm. A figure appeared in front of him, with long, snow-white hair. Without turning around, the figure gently took Bai Luo Luo’s hand.
The temperature of those hands was slightly lower than Bai Luo Luo’s, soft and cool, like moonlight in the sky.
Bai Luo Luo was led forward by him. They didn’t walk fast, but the scenery beside them rapidly retreated. When Bai Luo Luo noticed, the cobblestones beneath his feet were gradually floating – they were walking towards the sky.
Tall trees were stepped on, and the ground scenery became increasingly tiny. Bai Luo Luo involuntarily tightened the hand held by Xue Hui.
“Don’t be afraid.” Xue Hui responded to Bai Luo Luo’s nervousness. He said, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
Bai Luo Luo miraculously calmed down.
The cobblestone path became a ladder to the sky, and the stones emitting fluorescence traced a brilliant light in the night sky. Bai Luo Luo felt the dream was too beautiful, so beautiful that he didn’t want to wake up.
The clouds also made way for the two, and Xue Hui, holding Bai Luo Luo’s hand, led him forward. The scenery beneath their feet kept changing. Desert, rainforest, wasteland, grassland – it seemed like they had traversed the entire planet.
After an unknown period, Xue Hui suddenly stopped.
“We’re here,” he said.
Bai Luo Luo looked ahead and saw only a sparkling array of stars.
Xue Hui said, “Those are my parents.” He pointed to the sky.
Bai Luo Luo looked bewildered. He seemed to vaguely see a star in the sky twinkling slightly.
“That’s my father.” Xue Hui pointed to another star, and Bai Luo Luo turned his head to look.
Turning back, Xue Hui gently looked at Bai Luo Luo. He lifted Bai Luo Luo’s hand, placed a soft kiss on his finger, and then, with a wave of his left hand in the air, a ring with a sparkling light appeared in his palm.
“This is the ring I prepared for you.” Xue Hui held Bai Luo Luo’s hand and said seriously, “Ling, would you like to marry me and be my bride?”
Finally, under the bright moonlight, Bai Luo Luo saw Xue Hui’s face clearly – the person in front of him seemed to be the fully grown Xue Hui. He still had those beautiful peach blossom eyes, but now he exuded an entirely different charm. It was a beauty that couldn’t be described in words. Even the gentle breeze passing by him would leave behind a sigh, regretting not being able to linger by his side for a moment longer.
Bai Luo Luo was stunned. He had seen his fair share of beautiful people, but he had never seen someone like Xue Hui. Xue Hui had surpassed the human realm – where there were flaws in every person, big or small, Xue Hui had none. He was perfect.
“Ling.” Seeing Bai Luo Luo in a daze, Xue Hui’s eyes carried a hint of a smile. He said, “Ling, if you don’t speak, I’ll assume you’ve agreed.”
Bai Luo Luo’s lips were about to move when Xue Hui directly lowered his head and gave him a deep kiss.
Bai Luo Luo instinctively wanted to push him away but was tightly embraced by Xue Hui. He felt Xue Hui’s tongue enter his mouth, and along with it, his body heated up. Bai Luo Luo became dizzy, unable to distinguish between reality and dream. After ending the kiss, Xue Hui naturally put the snowy-white ring on Bai Luo Luo’s ring finger.
Bai Luo Luo felt his ring finger slightly tightened. When he realized it, everything had already ended.
“Ling,” Xue Hui said, “I want to be with you forever.”
Bai Luo Luo looked at Xue Hui and whispered, “Is it really you, Xue Hui…”
“It’s me,” Xue Hui said.
The person in front of him was both familiar and strange. Everything happening around them felt like a breathtaking fairy tale. Suspended in the night sky, accompanied by stars, with clouds as their path, even the person standing beside him seemed unreal in such beauty.
Bai Luo Luo couldn’t distinguish between reality and dream anymore.
Xue Hui bent down, naturally lifting Bai Luo Luo into his arms. Bai Luo Luo didn’t understand what he was going to do at first, until he noticed that the clouds around them had formed into a massive bed.
Bai Luo Luo: “…” Oh my God.
Xue Hui said, “Ling, I missed you so much.” When a beautiful person acted cute, it softened one’s heart. If it weren’t for the fact that this beautiful person had an interest in his backside, Bai Luo Luo might have been even more moved.
After the fairy-tale beauty, all that remained was the cruel adult world. Bai Luo Luo found himself on a cloud, and once again, he was kissed passionately by Xue Hui.
“No… Xue Hui…” Bai Luo Luo’s eyes were moist, and he tried to refuse Xue Hui’s advances. However, both his words and actions were feeble.
“Why not?” Xue Hui asked, “Ling, you seem to like it a lot.”
Bai Luo Luo hadn’t spoken the next sentence when he felt his clothes being removed without any visible movement from Xue Hui. Even if this beautiful person had an interest in his backside, Bai Luo Luo might have been even more moved.
After the beauty of the fairy tale, all that remained was the cruel reality of the adult world. Bai Luo Luo found himself on a cloud, and once again, he was passionately kissed by Xue Hui.
“No… Xue Hui…” Bai Luo Luo’s eyes were moist, and he tried to refuse Xue Hui’s advances. However, both his words and actions were feeble.
“Why not?” Xue Hui asked, “Ling, you seem to like it a lot.”
Bai Luo Luo, with his eyes open, was yet to say the next words when he felt his clothes being removed without any visible movement from Xue Hui. Even if Xue Hui’s hands hadn’t moved, without a doubt, in this world, he was the master.
Bai Luo Luo swallowed hard, barely maintaining the little reason he had left. He said, “What we’re doing, Xue Hui… it’s not right.”
“It is right,” Xue Hui said, “What’s wrong with being with someone you like?” He seemed a bit displeased with Bai Luo Luo’s words, lifting a layer of white clouds with a wave of his hand.
Seeing Xue Hui’s expression, Bai Luo Luo knew that arguing with him would be futile. So, he got up and tried to escape to another place. However, as soon as he stood up, the ground beneath him softened, and he sank into the soft clouds. What was even more terrifying was that when he leaned forward to see the scenery below the clouds, he realized that they were tens of thousands of miles above the ground, and everything on the earth had shrunk to the size of ants.
Bai Luo Luo: “…” He almost fainted.
Seeing Bai Luo Luo petrified with fear, Xue Hui directly pressed him from behind and then tenderly said, “Ling, since you like it this way, I’ll follow your wishes.”
Bai Luo Luo didn’t have acrophobia, but seeing himself at such a height involuntarily triggered a fear within him. He wanted to retreat, but Xue Hui firmly held his shoulders.
“Ling.” A scorching breath sprayed onto his neck, making the atmosphere even more ambiguous. Xue Hui said, “I really like you.”
Bai Luo Luo looked at the intense love in Xue Hui’s eyes, as if it was about to overflow. His throat moved slightly, and for a moment, he found it hard to utter words of refusal.
Below them was a bottomless abyss, and in front of him was Xue Hui’s gentle face. Bai Luo Luo, trembling, was forced to hold on tightly to Xue Hui’s neck. He feared that if he let go, he would plummet down and shatter into pieces.
Sensing Bai Luo Luo’s fear, Xue Hui reached out, gently brushing the strands of hair in front of Bai Luo Luo’s eyes, and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, Ling. It will be very comfortable.”
Bai Luo Luo widened his eyes, feeling Xue Hui’s body pressing against his.
After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
Bai Luo Luo covered his face with his arm, softly sobbing. Xue Hui was gentle, not causing him any pain. But with the continuous pleasure, he felt himself losing control.
The cloud beneath them was so soft, but if he wanted to turn around and escape, there was only a dead end behind him. Xue Hui was telling him with facts that only what was in front of him was the right path.
Xue Hui and Bai Luo Luo entwined intimately, their voices carrying a hint of laughter. Xue Hui said, “Ling, your body feels so comfortable…”
Bai Luo Luo glared at him. This gaze had no intimidation, but it only excited Xue Hui even more.
The dream was long, seemingly endless.
The night sky above was always filled with shining stars and a bright moon, and the sun never rose. Time seemed to freeze. When Bai Luo Luo couldn’t bear it anymore and started begging, Xue Hui was still smiling.
He said, “Ling, don’t cry. It’ll be fine.”
“I can’t take it anymore, spare me,” Bai Luo Luo sobbed heavily, almost unable to speak.
Hearing this, Xue Hui lowered his head and kissed Bai Luo Luo’s cheek, just as Bai Luo Luo had once kissed him. He said, “I just wanted to know, Ling, where your limit is…”
Bai Luo Luo showed a terrified expression, wondering when this dream would end.
Bai Luo Luo didn’t know when he woke up, but when he opened his eyes and saw the night again, he immediately sat up, tense.
“Yuan Ming?” Yuan Shu Ze next to Bai Luo Luo was puzzled. He said, “You’re awake.”
Bai Luo Luo wiped his face with his hand, swallowed hard, and asked, “What happened to me?”
Yuan Shu Ze said, “You’ve been asleep for a whole day. We were worried about you.”
Bai Luo Luo took a deep breath. He asked, “And Xue Hui?”
Yuan Shu Ze looked around and said, “He just went out to use the restroom. He hasn’t come back yet.”
Bai Luo Luo sighed.
Yuan Shu Ze, seeing Bai Luo Luo’s strange expression, asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Bai Luo Luo vaguely agreed and did not answer. He raised his left hand and looked at it, finding a faint white ring on his ring finger—indeed, it wasn’t a dream.
Yuan Shu Ze expressed concern about Bai Luo Luo’s condition. Bai Luo Luo reluctantly pulled himself together, saying that he just wanted to rest for a while.
Hearing this, Yuan Shu Ze wanted to ask, “Didn’t you just wake up?” but seeing Bai Luo Luo’s exhausted expression, he decided to hold back the words and suggested, “Then rest well,” before climbing down from the stone creature.
Yuan Shu Ze left, and Bai Luo Luo hurriedly questioned the system, saying, “Didn’t you notice anything unusual about me?”
The system was a bit puzzled and said, “No, your body metrics are very healthy, in a deep sleep state…”
Bai Luo Luo exclaimed, “Damn.”
The system asked, “Hmm? What’s wrong? Did Xue Hui do something to you while you were sleeping?”
Bai Luo Luo almost cried. He said, “I don’t even know if I’m dreaming or not.” If it’s a dream, why did a white ring appear on his hand? If it’s not a dream, why hasn’t anyone noticed anything unusual about him?
The system said, “Tell me in detail.”
Bai Luo Luo vaguely described the contents of his dream to the system, of course, omitting a certain part. However, the system, with its high-level understanding, almost immediately guessed what happened to Bai Luo Luo. It was shocked, “So you spent the whole day dreaming?”
Bai Luo Luo said, “… How do I argue with that?”
The system thought for a moment and said, “Xue Hui’s identity is not simple. I think you’ve already noticed that.”
Bai Luo Luo said, “Yes.”
The system said, “Can we make a hypothesis?”
Bai Luo Luo asked, “What hypothesis?”
The system said, “Suppose Xue Hui has the ability to pull you into a dream and then do things to you that shouldn’t be done?”
Bai Luo Luo almost cried out. The worst thing wasn’t that he was “raped by the whole world,” but that “the whole world” couldn’t testify for him when it happened.
Bai Luo Luo almost wanted to collapse on the stone creature and cry his heart out.
The system could only comfort him, saying, “Don’t cry, my friend. Be strong. There are many beautiful things in the world waiting for you.”
Bai Luo Luo, with a gloomy face, asked, “Such as?”
The system said, “… such as tomorrow night?”
Bai Luo Luo said, “… Damn it.”
While they were talking, Xue Hui, who had gone out to the restroom, returned. As soon as he saw Bai Luo Luo, he showed an incredibly bright smile, then climbed onto the stone creature and gave Bai Luo Luo a sweet kiss.
Xue Hui, with a shy expression, looked completely different from the dominant man in Bai Luo Luo’s dream. He slowly climbed onto Bai Luo Luo and hummed, saying, “Ling… you finally woke up.”
Bai Luo Luo: “…” You’re pretending.
Xue Hui: “I was really worried about you.” His expression doesn’t seem fake; he genuinely seems concerned about Bai Luo Luo.
Bai Luo Luo: “Xue Hui.”
Xue Hui: “Hmm.”
Bai Luo Luo takes a deep breath and says, “Last night, you…”
Suddenly, Xue Hui’s face turns red, and he stammers, “Last… last night?”
Bai Luo Luo: “…” If you only look at his expression, someone might think he had a romantic encounter with Xue Hui.
Onlooker Yuan Shuzi, at the side, seems to have connected his brainwaves with Bai Luo Luo. He observes Xue Hui’s shy appearance, looks at Bai Luo Luo’s expression, and links it to their strange behaviors in the past couple of days. He seems to have a vague idea of what might have happened.
Yuan Shuzi feels a tinge of sadness, thinking that after spending so much time together, Ling Yuming has finally accepted Xue Hui. After all, Ling Yuming loves Xue Hui so much and wouldn’t want him to be hurt. It seemed natural for them to be together, and it wouldn’t be surprising.
But now, seeing Xue Hui go from joy to gradually losing his expression, Yuan Shuzi has a bad feeling.
Ignoring Yuan Shuzi beside him, Bai Luo Luo takes a deep breath, determined to clarify things with Xue Hui.
Bai Luo Luo says, “Xue Hui, did you do something to me last night?”
Blushing, Xue Hui nods shyly.
Bai Luo Luo says, “Did I not tell you before that such things should only happen between people who like each other?”
Xue Hui is stunned for a moment, his face turning even redder. He says, “Uh, yes.”
Bai Luo Luo says, “But…”
Xue Hui looks at Bai Luo Luo with adoration.
Feeling uncomfortable under Xue Hui’s gaze, Bai Luo Luo, who was the one with the awkward leg positions last night, strangely starts to feel like he’s a scumbag who’s only interested in one-night stands. But for the countless nights to come, Bai Luo Luo still gathers courage. He says, “But, we can’t be together. I don’t like you.” His tone is especially heavy, as if squeezing the words out is not easy.
Hearing Bai Luo Luo’s words, tears fall from Xue Hui’s eyes.
Bai Luo Luo: “System, he’s crying.”
The system says, “I saw.”
Bai Luo Luo, feeling a headache, says, “What should I do?”
The system says, “You don’t have a girlfriend, right?”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
The system says, “Now there are a few options.”
Bai Luo Luo: “Tell me.”
The system says, “Option one, ignore his tears, continue expressing your opinion, and let him give up.”
This option is the most appropriate, assuming Bai Luo Luo can withstand Xue Hui’s tear attack. But looking at the current situation, it seems unlikely. So, there’s option two.
The wise old system says, “Option two, cry with him and see who cries more miserably.”
Bai Luo Luo: “…Are there any other options?”
The system says, “There’s one last option.”
Bai Luo Luo: “Hmm?”
The system sighs and says, “Give up. Isn’t it just getting laid in your dreams at night? Are you sacrificing yourself for socialism or staying pure?”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
Xue Hui would definitely excel in acting, especially in emotional scenes. While for others, crying might affect their image, he manages to evoke a pitiable charm even when shedding tears. Even the redness of his nose is so endearing, making people want to embrace him and assure him that everything will be alright, urging him to stop crying.
Yuan Shuzi, who has been watching the entire time, feels his heart tremble. Logically, he should be the type to dislike Xue Hui’s appearance as he himself is more of the “white lotus” type. However, after witnessing Xue Hui’s tearful expression, Yuan Shuzi doesn’t harbor any aversion. Instead, he is filled with sympathy, wanting to rush up, shake Bai Luo Luo’s shoulders, and say, “Why are you hurting him? He’s just a child.”
Yes, indeed, a particularly large child.
Bai Luo Luo, feeling helpless, says, “Xue Hui, please don’t cry. Let’s talk things over.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Hui reluctantly stops his tears and forces a smile, saying, “Okay, I won’t cry. Ling, don’t abandon me.”
Bai Luo Luo says, “Last night was a misunderstanding…”
Xue Hui says, “But you promised me those things. Didn’t you say you would take me home? Didn’t you promise to be with me forever?”
Bai Luo Luo says, “…Did I say that?”
Before Bai Luo Luo can continue, Xue Hui, in a melancholic tone, says, “Are those promises not valid anymore?”
Bai Luo Luo says, “…”
Choking back tears, Xue Hui says, “You’re comfortable with it too. I’ve tried so hard. I know I don’t understand much, but I can learn, as long as you’re willing to teach me…”
Bai Luo Luo despairs, realizing that he has perfectly embraced the role of a scumbag. He says, “But I like women.”
Xue Hui says, “I can wear girls’ clothes.”
Bai Luo Luo says, “But you’re forcing me.”
Xue Hui says, “But when you accepted my ring, you didn’t refuse me.”
Bai Luo Luo says, “…”
As the conversation goes back and forth, Yuan Shuzi can’t bear to listen anymore. He says, “Ling Yuming, why are you like this!”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
Yuan Shuzi says, “Even if Xue Hui is not a woman and can’t give you children, he’s so beautiful and kind, deserving to be cherished!”
Xue Hui, in a hushed voice, says, “I can give birth to children for Yuming.”
Whether his voice is too low or Yuan Shuzi doesn’t hear, Yuan Shuzi angrily climbs onto the stone creature, saying, “You did such a thing to him; you have to take responsibility! Acting like this, abandoning him halfway… You’re not worthy of being a man.”
Bai Luo Luo: “Oh no.”
System: “Clickety-clickety-click.”
Xue Hui says, “Shuzi, don’t say that to Ling like this. This matter…”
Yuan Shuzi says, “Xue Hui, don’t speak. You don’t understand these things. You’re the one taken advantage of. Come over; let me see if you’re hurt.”
Xue Hui says, “Where am I injured?”
Yuan Shuzi says, “Of course, in that area.”
Xue Hui says, “I’m not injured.”
Yuan Shuzi is about to say not to pretend to be strong, but he suddenly remembers something. He turns to look at Ling Yuming, squatting by the roadside, smoking a leaf-wrapped cigarette with a weary expression. An unbelievable thought pops into Yuan Shuzi’s mind. Although he had this thought before, today it seems particularly clear.
Yuan Shuzi stammers, “Xue Hui… when you and Ling did that, who was on top?”
Xue Hui says, “It was me.”
Yuan Shuzi: “…”
Bai Luo Luo: “…”
Xue Hui, puzzled, says, “Ling said the taller one is the prince, shouldn’t the prince be on top?”
Bai Luo Luo extinguishes his cigarette, says nothing, and walks away.
Yuan Shuzi stares at Bai Luo Luo’s departing figure, feeling that everything he said before was nonsense. He can’t find any words now, facing the naturally innocent Xue Hui. He can only pat Xue Hui’s shoulder and say, “Ah, try your best on your own. I really can’t help you.”
Xue Hui blinks.
Yuan Shuzi says, “This matter… Ah, this matter…” After talking for a long time, he can’t make sense of it. The reality is too unexpected, making him feel like he’s been punched in the face and is now in a daze.
“Now, go quickly and comfort Yuming ge. If I were him, I definitely wouldn’t be able to handle this.”
Xue Hui agrees and hurries off.
Yuan Shuzi gazes at the disappearing figures of the two, feeling like his worldview has been reshaped. He looks completely lost, even his eyes vacant, thinking only one thing—Ling Yuming is the bottom.
