TMWTGD CH70

Naming beasts that could devour you at any moment was truly a bone-chilling joke, but on second thought, it evoked a deep sigh.

Humans were social animals, thriving in lively company and abhorring loneliness.

If there was even a single friend, one could find the joy and motivation to survive.

Yet Lu Li had nothing. Stranded on an isolated planet, accompanied only by a pack of mindless beasts, he not only survived, but lived with vibrant resilience.

By comparison, Xie Jianwei felt deeply ashamed.

Lu Li fed him the berries one by one. But these sweet fruits were likely very rare, so before long, they were all finished. Lost in thought, Xie Jianwei didn’t notice and parted his lips again.

Feeling terribly bashful, Lu Li asked, “Do you want more? I can go pick some more for you.”

Snapping back to his senses, Xie Jianwei hurried to say, “No need, get some rest.”

Having fought beasts all night, then running so far at the crack of dawn to gather fruit, no matter how extraordinary Lu Li’s constitution was, he was still human and shouldn’t run himself ragged.

Lu Li said, “I’m fine…” He paused before adding, “I’ll change your dressing.”

Xie Jianwei regretted it. He truly shouldn’t have said last night that his herbs were completely useless.

It had hurt the youth’s feelings for nothing.

Pitiably, Lu Li had no other options either. He could shield him from the beasts’ claws, tirelessly gather herbs for him, and travel great distances to fetch sweet fruit, but he couldn’t save someone who was bent on dying.

Xie Jianwei considered that after his death, this youth would remain on this desolate planet all alone, keeping company with named beasts that only ever wanted to devour him.

Would his entire life be like this? Could such an exceptional youth, such a dazzling man, spend his whole life unable to step beyond this narrow cage?

It was far too tragic a waste!

After diligently changing the herbal mash and bandaging him up, Lu Li walked away dejectedly. Sitting off to the side, he stared blankly at the beast carcasses scattered across the ground.

Turning his head, Xie Jianwei caught sight of him, feeling a sharp twinge of heartache.

He called out to him, “Lu Li.”

Lu Li looked back at him. “Hm?”

Xie Jianwei actually felt a bit nervous. “Could you… do me a favor?”

Lu Li immediately rushed back to his side, his expression grave, his starlit eyes tinged with sorrow. He likely assumed Xie Jianwei was dying and uttering his last words. He said solemnly, “Just say the word.”

Xie Jianwei felt like laughing, but held it back, simply saying, “There should be an emergency medical kit inside my life-support pod. If you can retrieve it for me, this wound might still heal.”

Lu Li froze for a second, then sprang up, clearly overjoyed. “I’ll go look for it right now!”

He moved to bolt, so Xie Jianwei had to call out, “Wait, let me tell you how to open it…”

Lu Li scurried back, humbly listening. “Tell me.”

Unable to hold back a smile, Xie Jianwei softly explained the operating procedure and asked, “Understand?”

Lu Li blinked, blurting out, “You look so beautiful when you smile.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Lu Li scratched his head in embarrassment. “Sorry, could you repeat that? I didn’t catch it just now.”

He had been so entranced by his smile that his brain went completely blank.

Xie Jianwei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, having no choice but to repeat it.

This time he didn’t dare smile, so Lu Li understood clearly. Committing each instruction to memory, he turned and went to search for the silvery-white life-support pod.

Before long, Lu Li returned, carrying the intact medical kit in his hands.

Xie Jianwei said, “Thank you.”

Almost simultaneously, Lu Li asked, “Can this cure you?”

A wave of warmth filled Xie Jianwei’s heart. Having someone value your life more than you valued it yourself was a wonderful feeling.

As long as Xie Jianwei didn’t want to die, he could survive even without this medical kit.

Indeed, he no longer wanted to die.

He didn’t want to abandon him, nor did he want to see such a brilliant star gathering dust on an isolated rock.

“If luck is on our side, it can heal me.”

Lu Li said, “Your luck is definitely great!”

Xie Jianwei smiled softly. “Yes, very great.” The best luck of his lifetime had accumulated here, allowing him to meet him.

Lu Li stayed by his side, asking, “Is there anything you need my help with?”

There was actually no need for him to do anything, but he clearly longed to help. Xie Jianwei couldn’t be bothered to move on his own, saying, “Of course I need your help. You see, I can’t move by myself.”

Lu Li said hastily, “Don’t move around recklessly. Just tell me whatever needs doing.”

Looking at him, Xie Jianwei said, “I’ll be troubling you then.”

Lu Li shook his head. “It’s nothing. I’m very happy that you can live on.”

He was very happy…

Xie Jianwei felt deeply happy as well.

Not happy simply because he could live, but happy because his living brought joy to this youth.

It was convoluted, yet his mood at this moment was just like these words, winding into several sweet little loops.

The outcome was predictable. The medical kit was exceptionally effective, and Xie Jianwei made a full recovery in just seven or eight days.

Lu Li was endlessly fascinated. “Incredible. It didn’t even leave a scar.”

Every day he had been extraordinarily attentive to Xie Jianwei’s wound, lifting his shirt to stare at it for long stretches. As long as the wound was closing slowly, he remained full of energy all day.

Now that it was completely healed, the once-festering flesh had smoothed out, the skin wrapping tightly over regenerated tissue. The gruesome scene had vanished, replaced by exceptionally fair, delicate skin.

Lu Li stared unblinkingly, suddenly blurting out, “May I touch it?”

Xie Jianwei found it rather amusing. “Go ahead.”

“It won’t hurt, will it?”

“It has fully healed, how could it hurt?”

“If it hurts, you have to tell me.”

“Mm-hmm,” Xie Jianwei said. “If it hurts, I’ll call out to you.”

Lu Li said, “I shouldn’t end up hurting you.”

The conversation was completely innocent, but if a third person were on this planet listening in, their face would surely flush crimson: Good heavens, what in the world are you two doing?!

Lu Li touched him with extreme care, truly cautious, using just the tip of his finger.

Then he looked up and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Unable to hold back any longer, Xie Jianwei’s eyes curved with laughter. Grabbing his hand, he placed his palm flat against his lower abdomen.

A loud buzz rang through Lu Li’s head. The touch beneath his palm was smooth, warm, and delicate, skin far more fragile than sweet fruit. He feared that using even slight force would break him! Yet it was so smooth, fine, and soft, as if drawing his hand inward, making it impossible to pull away.

Xie Jianwei asked him, “How is it? All healed, right?”

Lu Li couldn’t resist shifting his hand, stroking him with a feather-light touch.

Xie Jianwei chuckled softly. “That tickles.”

His voice sounded different from usual. Still melodious, but carrying an indescribable nuance. Hearing it made Lu Li’s own ears itch fiercely. Looking up at him, he felt not only itchy, but burning hot, his cheeks turning bright red.

Pulling his hand back, he forced a steady front. “It truly has recovered!”

Xie Jianwei said, “Thanks to you.”

Lu Li said, “I didn’t do anything, those herbs…”

“No,” Xie Jianwei cut him off, speaking with absolute sincerity, “it truly was thanks to you.”

Lu Li felt the heat intensify. Worse still, this flame was wicked, surging wildly until a certain place began to stand at attention.

Startled by his own reaction, Lu Li stammered hurriedly, “I’ll go get something for you to eat.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Alright.”

Lu Li bolted. He didn’t pick fruit or hunt; he dived headfirst into the azure lake, his mind saturated with Xie Jianwei’s smile, while that flat, firm, breathtaking abdomen danced repeatedly before his eyes. He tried to force it down, but ended up soiling the lake water in his vivid fantasies instead.

Xie Jianwei sorted through the items in the life-support pod.

To explore uncharted frontiers, interstellar humans had developed various portable survival kits. A compact life-support pod contained not only an emergency medical pack, but also abundant supplies, tools, and naturally, a distress beacon.

However, Xie Jianwei was in no rush to use that gadget.

The outside world was turbulent right now, and casually sending a signal might attract who-knew-what.

Furthermore, he was a prominent figure. It didn’t matter if something happened to him, but he could never drag little Lu Li into danger.

Besides, the current Lu Li was not ready to integrate into society. He needed to teach him more, letting him understand humanity’s present state, which would make everything far easier when the time came.

By the time Xie Jianwei finished tidying up, Lu Li had returned. He had gathered sweet fruit and hunted a plump ox, with firewood strapped across its back.

In truth, the nutrient solutions in the pod provided far more balanced nourishment for the body.

Yet no matter how innovative nutrient packs were, their flavor could never satisfy the palate.

Exquisite food wasn’t just about taste; it was about the physical sensation of chewing in the mouth, both of which were indispensable.

Lu Li roasted meat with masterly skill, leaving Xie Jianwei craving it after a single taste.

Look how wonderful this young lad was. Handsome, steady, conscientious, and skilled at cooking.

An absolute little angel!

The more Xie Jianwei looked, the fonder he grew, feeling that living a second life was truly striking gold.

The two settled down on the barren planet like this.

Xie Jianwei constructed a small house, modified the life-support pod along the way, and used available tools to survey the planet’s geology, preparing to mine useful ores.

While doing these tasks, he tutored Lu Li.

Lu Li was brilliant, eager to learn, and adept at drawing broad conclusions from single examples, making Xie Jianwei’s teaching experience immensely enjoyable.

Keeping each other company, a month flew by on this asteroid, as pleasant as paradise.

Meanwhile, Lu Li’s feelings for Xie Jianwei became increasingly impossible to conceal.

At an age when blood ran hottest, falling head over heels for anyone would be natural, let alone for someone as extraordinary as Xie Jianwei, who could enchant half the Milky Way.

It would be a miracle if Lu Li didn’t fall for him.

Xie Jianwei had noticed long ago. Far from disliking it, he felt quite happy.

He loved Lu Li too, though considering Lu Li’s age gave him slight pause.

Barely eighteen, while he was five years older.

Well, the age gap wasn’t that wide, and in any case, he was an adult.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. For Lu Li, it truly felt like a fleeting breath. In past years, after his grandmother passed away, living alone had made every day drag like a year.

Now, a year felt like a single day, time slipping by so quickly that he felt reluctant.

He wished every second spent with Xie Jianwei could stretch into days and years.

Xie Jianwei taught him countless subjects, but some things couldn’t be mastered through words alone; practice was required.

Such as piloting mechas, commanding starships, and wielding high-end weaponry.

Simply memorizing theory wasn’t enough; extensive practical experience was essential.

Fortunately, Lu Li’s practical aptitude was astonishing. Xie Jianwei wasn’t overly worried; once they had the chance to leave the planet, finding a pirate crew for target practice should handle it.

Today was quite a special day.

Checking the time, Xie Jianwei smiled, “Exactly one month. A month ago at this hour was when I crash-landed.”

The life-support pod logged time stamps.

Hearing this, Lu Li’s eyes lit up. “This counts as an anniversary.”

Xie Jianwei teased, “It is also the memorial day for Catherine, Dick, Effie, Barton, and Niuer.”

Lu Li laughed, “Then we must celebrate even harder.”

Xie Jianwei was amused by him instead.

Lu Li said, “Let’s bake a cake.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Put lots of sweet fruits in it.”

Lu Li agreed, “No problem!”

He was far from what he used to be. After picking up all sorts of skills, the biggest perk was that his fruit-gathering level had skyrocketed: from a handful in the past to an entire basket now!

Xie Jianwei prepped inside the house, and before long, the chef returned.

Chef Lu shooed him out, “Wait outside, I’ll handle it.”

Xie Jianwei refused to budge. “I’ll help you.” Saying this, he popped a sweet fruit into his mouth.

Lu Li washed a plate of them and set it outside. “Can you wait now?”

Beaming with joy, Xie Jianwei said, “Mm-hmm!”

Watching him smile made Lu Li’s heart itch. Lately, that itch had grown so unbearable he hardly dared look at him.

Yet if he didn’t look, he longed to; and when he did, he felt scorching heat. Lately it had escalated further. Merely watching him from behind sent hot blood surging to his head.

Even through clothing, that lean waist and firm rear were visible. He was so breathtaking. Lu Li pondered this ten thousand times a day, how could such an attractive person exist, and how was he lucky enough to encounter him?

His luck was simply too great!

With such sweet feelings, the resulting cake was predictably delicious.

Xie Jianwei had never considered himself a lover of sweets, but pampered by Lu Li, he had fallen completely in love with this treat.

Sweet, soft, and fragrant. Sharing a meal with the one you fancied filled not just the stomach, but the soul.

Xie Jianwei had truly starved through the first twenty-odd years of his life!

Lu Li had baked a rather large cake, far more than the two could finish, which Xie Jianwei found quite wasteful.

Lu Li didn’t mind in the slightest. He only felt that the way Xie Jianwei knitted his brow was exceptionally lovely, so lovely he wanted to touch him.

And so, he touched him.

Xie Jianwei blinked. “Did you get cake on my face?”

Lu Li: “…” He actually hadn’t, but since it was just the two of them and Xie Jianwei couldn’t see, he might as well claim he did.

So he smiled.

A playful mood overtook Xie Jianwei, and he smeared some on Lu Li in return.

Lu Li didn’t actually want to smear cake on him, only wanting an excuse to touch his cheek, so he poked him again.

Back and forth it went, until the leftover cake was smeared all over both of them.

After laughing and playing around, looking at each other’s messy faces, they collapsed into breathless laughter.

Having had his fill of fun, Xie Jianwei said, “Let’s go take a bath.”

Lu Li replied, “Alright.”

Behind their dwelling was a small freshwater stream. Xie Jianwei had modified it into a natural hot-spring-style bathing pool, where the two frequently soaked.

Sometimes together, sometimes separately.

Today, however, was clearly a shared session.

Stripping off his clothes, Xie Jianwei glanced at Lu Li. “Big tabby cat.” He was referring to Lu Li’s face.

Looking up at his bare frame, Lu Li unconsciously blurted out, “White tofu.”

Xie Jianwei didn’t hear clearly. “Hm?”

Snapping back to his senses, Lu Li cleared his throat hurriedly. “Little tabby cat.”

Xie Jianwei laughed. “No manners!”

Lu Li didn’t even know what he was mumbling. With Xie Jianwei laughing nonstop, he didn’t dare stare too long, leaping straight into the water to soak.

Sadly, the cool water failed to douse the fire in his chest.

Watching Lu Li huddle at the far end three or four meters away, Xie Jianwei found it hilarious. “Come closer.”

Lu Li said, “It’s cooler over here.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Wash my back.”

A loud buzz rang through Lu Li’s head, leaving him frozen.

Xie Jianwei called out, “Hurry up!”

Lu Li was dying to go over, yet terrified of laying eyes on that smooth, fair back…

“A-Li?”

Flustered, Lu Li stammered, “C-Coming.”

Lu Li edged over. Xie Jianwei had already turned around, exposing his undefended back completely before his eyes.

Lu Li drank in the sight hungrily. From the slender neck all the way down, admiring the gorgeous waist, the rear submerged beneath the water, and those long legs. His head felt like a steam engine chugging furiously, the billowing hot steam nearly scalding him to death.

Waiting for quite a while without feeling anything, Xie Jianwei glanced back. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Taking a deep breath, Lu Li began washing his back.

Heaven knew he was insanely envious of this white handkerchief. What right did it have to touch Xie Jianwei directly? He desperately wished to press his bare palm against his skin, transmitting his burning heat straight to him.

Perhaps because he was daydreaming, or because his desire was too overwhelming, the handkerchief slipped into the water, and Lu Li’s bare hand pressed directly against Xie Jianwei.

Xie Jianwei felt the scorching heat, looking back at him. “Your hands are so hot.”

Lu Li wanted to say that another part of him was far hotter.

Clearing his throat, he said, “All clean.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Let me help you in return.”

Lu Li said hurriedly, “N-No need!”

“Why not?”

Lu Li couldn’t answer. While he stammered, Xie Jianwei picked up the handkerchief and began wiping his back.

Lu Li began resenting the handkerchief all over again. What right did it have to be held in Xie Jianwei’s palm? He wanted Xie Jianwei’s cool palm to touch him directly.

And then, the handkerchief was discarded once more…

Stroking him with his bare hand, Xie Jianwei praised, “You are truly solid.”

Lu Li: “…” His brain suffered an error code.

Xie Jianwei patted and touched him. “With such a great constitution, working out yields twice the results. Look at me, I can never build muscle properly.”

Lu Li mumbled in a muffled voice, “You are wonderful.”

Wonderful beyond measure; his mind was entirely occupied by his body.

Beaming, Xie Jianwei asked, “Truly?”

Lu Li said, “Of course.”

Xie Jianwei leaned in close, pressing his chest against Lu Li’s back.

Lu Li’s frame shuddered, barely finding his voice: “A… A-Wei.”

Resting his chin on his shoulder, warm breath brushing against his ear, Xie Jianwei whispered, “Do you need my help?”

Those words were like detonating a bomb, sending Lu Li soaring into the stratosphere.

He whipped his head around, dark eyes blazing like stars: “You…”

Glancing down, Xie Jianwei gasped, “So big.”

Worse still, Xie Jianwei reached out and took Big Li firmly in hand.

Lu Li truly wanted to ravish him on the spot.

In truth, Xie Jianwei had zero practical experience either. Stroking him a few times, he asked, “Does this feel good?”

Lu Li’s voice was completely hoarse: “May I kiss you?”

Xie Jianwei froze.

Before he could react, Lu Li leaned down and captured his lips.

The instant their lips and tongues met, a tingling jolt surged straight into their brains like an electric shock. Xie Jianwei was stunned, while Lu Li swept through his mouth like a raging tempest. Long-suppressed desires shattered their cage, surging wildly like floodwaters bursting through a broken dam, completely unstoppable.

“Wait, wait…” Having initiated the mischief, Xie Jianwei grew somewhat nervous. “Don’t… don’t kiss there!”

Lu Li kissed him thoroughly inside and out.

And naturally, took him to absolute bliss.

Xie Jianwei had prepared himself mentally, knowing he would likely be on the bottom, but never imagined it would be this thorough.

Nor did he expect he had lit a rocket, sending him soaring straight to heaven at the slightest provocation. Soaring to heaven in sheer ecstasy, that is.

Once that paper window was broken, their sweetness grew cloyingly intense.

The hot-blooded youth Lu Li wished he could die on top of Xie Jianwei.

People said an ox would tire before the field wore out, but clearly Ox Lu was no ordinary ox; he was extraordinarily formidable.

Xie Jianwei felt a tiny bit of regret, but having seduced him, he had to feed him full.

Later on, Xie Jianwei felt his lifelong reputation had been ruined; how could he have been foolish enough to think he could ever feed him to satisfaction?

Recalling up to this point in bed, Lu Li began growing restless again. “Back then, I truly never imagined you would…”

Xie Jianwei didn’t dare admit how much he had regretted it afterward.

Kissing him, Lu Li said, “Back then, I was genuinely ecstatic.”

Xie Jianwei said, “You were just slow.”

Lu Li’s eyes sparkled. “Did you love me back then already?”

Xie Jianwei rolled his eyes at him. “Otherwise?”

“Well…” Lu Li stayed quiet.

Xie Jianwei glared at him. “Could eating cake actually make someone drunk?”

Clearing his throat, Lu Li said, “I thought I was the only person on that barren planet…”

Xie Jianwei said, “Do I look like someone driven purely by lust?”

Lu Li was remarkably honest today: “I didn’t dare overthink.”

Xie Jianwei pecked his lips. “Then overthink it right now.”

Lu Li said nothing.

Xie Jianwei sighed softly, “My feelings have been the same from start to finish. Because of you, I wanted to live on; because of you, life became interesting; and because of you, I learned what love truly is.”

Lu Li remained dazed for a very long time.

Xie Jianwei spoke gently to him, “A-Li, I love you.”

Such a wonderful atmosphere, such a warm and sweet confession; Lu Li had to be overjoyed, right?

Just as Xie Jianwei thought this, he was suddenly flipped over onto the bed. Blinking, he gasped, “Wait…”

Was Lu Li happy? His face was dark, jealousy reeking to high heaven, plunging straight to the bottom in a furious rush.

Xie Jianwei was stunned for a moment before realizing the truth.

Damn it! The personality had switched!

A perfectly good confession had been ruined by the arrival of a vinegar jar!

Driven into breathless moans, Xie Jianwei mourned the exquisite atmosphere he had painstakingly built.

Meanwhile, Classmate Big Li was on the verge of exploding.

Which personality had been capable enough to make A-Wei speak such breathtaking words?

What had they done earlier? What had happened? He knew nothing, yet witnessed Xie Jianwei’s eyes brimming with love.

He was looking at him, yes, he was certainly looking at him, but it wasn’t him!

Because he had no idea what they had done before, having no clue what had caused Xie Jianwei to become like this!

After being worked by the god of jealousy to the point of being unable to leave the bed, Xie Jianwei had only one thought left in his mind:

Cure this split personality first. This illness had to be cured immediately!

Without curing it, no confession would ever work!

When Yan Ke returned, Xie Jianwei recounted Lu Li’s dreaming.

Yan Ke’s eyes lit up. “This is a great sign! It means memories are beginning to bridge between the personalities.”

Logically, Lu Li should retain memories of what occurred in the dreams, though not clearly; like an ordinary person waking from a dream, most details were forgotten, sometimes entirely, but fragments always remained.

However, Lu Li assumed his personalities didn’t share memories, so the waking personality knew nothing of the dreams experienced by the others.

After all, the dreaming personality had fallen asleep and wouldn’t awaken anytime soon.

And the waking personality hadn’t dreamed yet, which was why the therapy had remained hidden for so long.

Now that an un-dreamed personality possessed memories from the dream, it proved they were slowly integrating.

Xie Jianwei shared this view, so he was in high spirits, saying, “Let us accelerate the process. Only two personalities remain.”

Once all personalities were appeased, “it” would be thoroughly dealt with, and Lu Li would return to normal!

When he recovered, Xie Jianwei would tell him everything. His own past, why he wanted to die, and why he chose to live on. He would lay every detail bare.

Free of suspicion, Lu Li would no longer feel insecure.

Their hearts were aligned, and their feelings for each other were entirely mutual!

Yan Ke said, “Then we shall begin the new treatment immediately.”

“Mm.” Xie Jianwei kissed the sleeping Lu Li and lay down beside him.

Following a familiar wave of dizziness, Xie Jianwei opened his eyes.

This time, the memories in his head were quite complete.

The background was still set in ancient Earth style (Lu Li truly possessed a unique obsession with ancient Earth), and he actually had a normal family.

Both parents were civil servants, minor clerks, but with decent benefits, keeping the family comfortable and secure.

His parents shared a harmonious relationship. Not overly dramatic, but as an old couple, they viewed each other as true family, sharing deep bonds rather than merely cohabiting to get by.

Xie Jianwei was their only child, pampered from youth. His mother doted on him, and while his father tried hard to play the strict patriarch, he frequently broke character, proving rather incompetent at being strict.

A perfectly ordinary family, the only slight abnormality being that Xie Jianwei was a bit too good-looking.

Nothing could be done about it; bearing his own face, he could never escape the label of handsome wherever he went.

Let alone inside Lu Li’s dream. If Xie Jianwei scored a perfect one hundred in looks normally, inside Lu Li’s mind, that score doubled to two hundred.

However, this version of Xie Jianwei kept a low profile, dressing modestly with large glasses, paired with a scholarly haircut. Bowing his head in a crowd, nobody would notice his features.

Sorting through the memories, Xie Jianwei found it rather miraculous.

His persona this time was truly ordinary.

Not a scumbag, not causing trouble, even somewhat pitiful.

Because he disliked standing out, he was occasionally teased by friends, though harmlessly and without malice.

Xie Jianwei had mediocre academic performance and a mediocre career. His parents desperately wanted him to take the civil service exam, but he scored eighteen points, prompting the two elders to abandon the idea completely.

Recently, Xie Jianwei encountered frustration at his company, so he simply resigned, lounging at home to live off his parents.

The two elders weren’t angry, supporting their son’s decision instead.

Mother Xie put it this way: “You should have quit long ago! Starting at seven, finishing at six, and working overtime until eleven at night, what kind of cursed job was that!”

Father Xie still feigned strictness: “You shouldn’t put it like that. It was a major enterprise after all, not an idle post like yours.” Naturally, words aside, he supported his son’s resignation with both hands and feet.

Mother Xie consoled her son, “Don’t fret. Your parents don’t need you to support our retirement. Do whatever you enjoy, no need to push yourself so hard.”

Father Xie remarked aloud, “One should still strive, being young after all.” Yet with his hands, he gestured to his wife behind his back, signaling her to give their son more pocket money.

Taking this in, Xie Jianwei felt warmth pool in his chest.

Did Lu Li know his real family was broken, and wanted to bring him warmth?

Xie Jianwei truly loved this gift.

He had always wanted to know what a normal family was like, and how normal parents cherished their children.

Xie Jianwei curved his eyes, saying to his parents, “I’ll start looking for a new job the day after tomorrow.”

Mother Xie panicked, glaring at the loose-tongued Father Xie, and said hastily, “No rush, no rush! Rest well first.”

Father Xie panicked too. Had he spoken too harshly? Deep regret set in!

Xie Jianwei had to add, “Rest assured, I will look for a job with normal working hours, and definitely close to home.”

Those words made Mother Xie beam. “Then hurry and take the civil service exam.”

Recalling his persona’s history, jumping from eighteen points to eighty-eight seemed rather illogical, so Xie Jianwei smiled wryly: “That might truly be beyond me.”

Mother Xie didn’t force him: “Fine, do as you please, as long as you find work you enjoy.”

Father Xie chimed in, “It still needs future prospects.”

Mother Xie glared at him, prompting him to qualify immediately: “As long as it appears to have prospects, that is enough.”

Xie Jianwei found his “parents” ridiculously adorable.

He had no idea where Lu Li drew this inspiration from.

Xie Jianwei preferred to locate Lu Li first, yet his memories held zero trace of him, as if they had never met.

Not knowing each other was fine too; without a shared past, they wouldn’t be tortured by painful memories.

Xie Jianwei looked for a job while searching for Lu Li.

A job opening surfaced, yet there wasn’t the slightest news of Lu Li.

This was rather strange.

Given Xie Jianwei’s skillset, his search methods were hardly ordinary. He breached national databases directly, capable of pulling records on high-ranking leaders, let alone Lu Li.

There were countless individuals sharing the name Lu Li, but not a single one bore Lu Li’s face.

What was going on?

Where was Lu Li?

How could he be nowhere to be found?

Xie Jianwei went for an interview, exiting the corporate building after it concluded. Just as he stepped out the front doors, an eerie chill washed over him. Looking up, the sky seemed to turn lead-gray for a split second.

Xie Jianwei knitted his brow, about to look around, but the chill vanished as quickly as it came, like a phantom hallucination. Looking up again, brilliant sunshine blanketed the sky!

Yan Ke said, “How strange.”

Xie Jianwei said, “This dream world probably isn’t as simple as it looks.”

Yan Ke agreed.

After Xie Jianwei returned home, his parents were still at work. Checking the time, there was no rush to prepare dinner.

Inside this dream, it was midsummer, the scorching sun blazing hot enough to melt stone.

Having walked outside, he was drenched in sweat and prepared to take a shower to cool down.

Grabbing a towel, he headed into the bathroom. The moment he stripped off his clothes, he froze.

Someone… was touching him.

Xie Jianwei blinked, looking at the mirror directly ahead.

Only he was reflected in the mirror, completely bare without a stitch of clothing, yet an unseen rascal was touching him all over.

Though invisible, the heat and contours of that palm were far too familiar, and Xie Jianwei knew every single spot the man loved to caress.

After pausing in a daze, Xie Jianwei feigned shock: “Who… who is there?”

The presence paused for a fraction of a second, then caught his chin and sealed his lips in a kiss.

Dazed by the kiss, Xie Jianwei let out a muffled groan, yet continued to struggle with feigned resistance.

When his lips were finally released, he panted breathlessly, “Where are you? Who are you? Are… are you a human or a ghost?”

The presence finally spoke: “Afraid?”

It was Lu Li’s voice. Afraid of a ghost! Xie Jianwei had to keep up the terrified act: “You… you…”

Lu Li murmured, “Your skin is truly fair.”

Xie Jianwei tried to wrap himself with his clothes.

Lu Li added, “Kissing you feels like tasting tender tofu.”

Xie Jianwei’s face flushed. “Just what kind of creature are you!”

He could not see him at all.

Lu Li answered lazily, “A ghost. Didn’t you say so just now?”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Lu Li even deliberately tried to scare him: “A vengeful ghost come to claim your life.”

Vengeful ghost, my foot; clearly a perverted ghost!

Yet Xie Jianwei had to pretend to be scared out of his wits.

Lu Li was in high spirits. Seeing his reddened eyes, he wished he could make him weep.

Not from terror, but from sheer ecstasy.