TMWTGD CH76

The atmosphere in the room was intensely rigid. Yan Ke, swept by Lu Li’s sharp gaze, felt an immediate urge to squeeze into a crack in the wall and live as an insect.

Good grief. Never mind how dramatic, amusing, and humorous the Lord Marshal was inside the dreams; in reality, this man was the undisputed hegemon of the entire Milky Way. A single word from him could send Yan Ke packing his bags in tears to go sell sweet potatoes back on his home planet!

Yan Ke was terrified out of his wits, daring not look at anyone, let alone speak. He tried with all his might to shrink his presence smaller and smaller. Yet it was utterly futile. He stood out far too prominently. If one followed the Lord Marshal’s wild imagination just a little further. Dead of night, two men alone in a room, with a sleeping husband right there; holy shit, Yan Ke’s heart went freezing cold. He felt this was far beyond just selling sweet potatoes; he might actually lose his life!

Military Advisor Xie remained remarkably steady. He turned to Yan Ke and said, “Go back and rest.”

His voice shaking, Yan Ke stammered, “Y-Yes, right away…”

Thankfully, he still remembered his manners. Trembling, he bade farewell and bolted faster than lightning.

Only Lu Li and Xie Jianwei remained inside the treatment room.

Their eyes met, and Xie Jianwei offered him a gentle smile.

After a single glance, Lu Li stiffly averted his gaze.

Xie Jianwei kept smiling, his voice light and relaxed: “What do you think I am doing?”

Lu Li said nothing, merely staring at the floor, as if a buried treasure lay hidden there and staring long enough would dig it out.

A playful mood overtook Xie Jianwei, and he teased, “Could I possibly be trying to harm you?”

Lu Li replied in a dull, muffled voice, “If you want me dead, I will not live another day.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

The smile at the corners of his lips turned into helpless exasperation. Recalling the dreams he had traversed, Xie Jianwei knew all too well that Lu Li was not joking. His heart felt both warm and aching; for a moment, the sensation was genuinely difficult to describe.

With a soft sigh, Xie Jianwei said, “Stop talking nonsense.”

Lu Li lapsed into silence.

Inside the quiet room, the two sat very close together. Their feelings were identical, yet their thoughts were worlds apart.

Out of the blue, Xie Jianwei asked, “A-Li, do you love me?”

Lu Li furrowed his brow, yet answered without a moment’s hesitation: “Of course. I love you, and for you, I would do anything.”

Looking at him, Xie Jianwei asked softly, “Including killing yourself?”

Lu Li snapped his head up, his dark eyes flickering.

Xie Jianwei said, “Your memories are no longer shared, correct?”

Since he had asked, it meant he already knew the answer. Concealment was impossible, and thus unnecessary. Lu Li answered, “Yes.”

Xie Jianwei asked, “When did it begin?”

Lu Li said, “About two months ago.”

Xie Jianwei’s heart clenched.

Two months ago, Lu Li had awakened in the early morning, gazing at the slumbering person in his arms only to be seized by immense dread. Xie Jianwei had been wearing his pajamas, his exposed neck covered in ambiguous flushed marks. He was still asleep, a relaxed, contented smile gracing his lips.

What had occurred the previous night to make him so happy?

How long had it been since he had seen him smile like that? Which “him” had done what to bring him such joy?

No one gave him an answer. Jealousy gnawed at his heart like a venomous viper. Lu Li leaned down to kiss him, desperate to overwrite those marks with his own.

Letting out a soft groan, Xie Jianwei had murmured sleepily with closed eyes, “Stop fooling around.”

Lu Li did not stop.

Opening his eyes slightly to look at him, Xie Jianwei’s lips curled into an indulgent smile: “Didn’t we do it enough times last night?”

It was as though Lu Li’s nerves had been pierced. A single sentence left him numb with agony. His voice turned rigid: “Not enough.”

Usually, Xie Jianwei would refuse him, push him away, and tell him to show restraint. Yet on that morning, Xie Jianwei lifted himself slightly, sealed his lips with a kiss, and murmured, “Only once.”

Lu Li felt no joy, only an escalating dread. Forcing a smile, he asked, “Why so generous today?”

Xie Jianwei’s lowered voice was mesmerizing, enchanting like a siren: “You made me feel so good last night.”

With a deafening boom, thunder seemed to detonate inside Lu Li’s mind. Though kissing the person he loved most, he could taste no sweetness at all, his mouth filled only with bitterness. It conquered his taste buds, invaded his nerves, and sent heavy agony coursing through every limb and bone.

What in the world had transpired when he was unaware?

What had they done?

Yes… they. It was them.

Lu Li’s movements had turned uncontrollably rough. Xie Jianwei pleaded breathlessly, yet the thought that he had spent the entire previous night in this exact state, crying out in pleasure all night long, made Lu Li feel as though his internal organs were being shredded apart. Despairing, agonizing, yet entirely helpless.

He could not blame Xie Jianwei. The fault lay solely with himself.

Yes, blame himself.

Xie Jianwei had not betrayed him, yet he tasted the bone-deep agony of being betrayed by his beloved.

…

Such days continued for two months.

Every Lu Li suffered through torment. Yet the more they despised one another, the less they could share. They ceased communicating and refused to interact. The only thing they maintained was hiding it from Xie Jianwei together. When passing along vital memories, they spoke with deliberate vagueness, even intentionally provoking the next personality so that he woke up sick with misery before his eyes even opened.

They wished for the other to be discarded by Xie Jianwei, yet feared being the one cast aside.

They were fundamentally the same person. If Xie Jianwei disliked one, how could he love another?

Yet they could not see clearly, or perhaps even if they saw it, they could not rein in their emotions. Jealousy was the easiest trigger for humanity’s darkest impulses, and an already fractured persona only backed itself further into a corner.

No one knew who suggested it first. Since none could tolerate the others, and each demanded exclusive possession of Xie Jianwei, then parting was the only answer.

Once they possessed independent bodies, they would be separate individuals, capable of claiming Xie Jianwei completely.

As for whom Xie Jianwei ultimately chose, that would depend on their own abilities.

Thus came the clones.

Xie Jianwei said, “A-Li, do not harm yourself.”

Now that everything was laid bare, Lu Li was calmer than expected. He said flatly, “That is not me.”

Frowning, Xie Jianwei said, “That is you.”

Looking at him, Lu Li’s dark eyes were resolute and unyielding: “One of me is enough, and you can only belong to me alone.”

Just as Xie Jianwei was about to counter, Lu Li added, “You do not need to worry. We will handle our own affairs, and will not put you in a difficult position.”

Xie Jianwei grew angry: “Not put me in a difficult position?”

“Yes,” Lu Li said. “I am not killing myself, but killing them.”

Xie Jianwei raised his voice, a rare occurrence: “You are all one person! If they die, do you think you can stay alive?”

Lu Li said obstinately, “Then we die together.”

Xie Jianwei snapped, “Lu Li!”

Lu Li did not look at him, but his voice was remarkably steady: “I know what you are worried about. It doesn’t matter. If killing them means I die too, then dying together is fine. I do not want to endure another single day of this life.”

He could not bear waking up to find Xie Jianwei had been kissed by “someone else.” He could not bear seeing Xie Jianwei smile at “someone else.” He could not bear the thought that Xie Jianwei’s happiness had been granted by “someone else.”

If Xie Jianwei did not love him, then he should love no one. He could not accept that after striving for over a decade without winning Xie Jianwei’s love, another version of himself had succeeded.

It was too terrifying. Rather than accept such an outcome, destroying everything was better.

Xie Jianwei stared at him: “What are you saying?”

Lu Li refused to meet his eyes.

Xie Jianwei’s voice shook, breaking into sobs: “If you die, what am I supposed to do?”

Lu Li stiffened violently. He had never heard Xie Jianwei use such a tone, never imagined he could be this fragile, and could never have dreamed that Xie Jianwei was like this because of him.

He looked up and saw tears rolling down from those beautiful eyes.

Weeping silently, Xie Jianwei’s voice was hoarse and devastated: “Lu Li, if you die, what meaning is there in me staying alive?”

Lu Li parted his lips. He wanted to say that if he died, Xie Jianwei could live better, free of restraint, free of criticism and mockery, able to stand at the true pinnacle and reclaim everything that rightfully belonged to him.

Yet he could not voice a word.

Bowing his head, his shoulders trembling, Xie Jianwei began to apologize: “I’m sorry, A-Li, I’m sorry…”

Why apologize? Why say he was sorry?

Lu Li did not know, yet watching Xie Jianwei in such agony made his heart nearly cease beating: “Don’t… don’t be like this.” Flustered, he gathered him into his arms, wanting to wipe his tears. Yet the moment he touched him, he was scalded as if touching molten magma, aching from his fingertips straight to his core.

“You did nothing wrong.” Lu Li only wanted him to stop crying and stop hurting. “You have already done so well. I am grateful to you, I…”

“If I had done well enough…” Xie Jianwei looked up at him, his eyes veiled in tears, his voice trembling uncontrollably, “if I had done well enough, why wouldn’t you know that I love you?”

Lu Li froze entirely.

Xie Jianwei asked him, “If you die, I will never live on alone. Did you forget those words?”

Lu Li’s lips parted slightly. He could never forget those words, nor could he forget the soul-stirring tremor that surged through him when he heard them. Yet he had believed, he had believed Xie Jianwei was merely encouraging him, simply boosting his morale for the battle.

Because he knew all too well that if he truly died, Xie Jianwei would continue living well. After all, their relationship had never been equal.

He could not survive without Xie Jianwei, but Xie Jianwei would only thrive without him.

Yet now, Xie Jianwei was telling him: “I spoke those words simply because I love you, Lu Li. Just what must I do to make you understand that I love you?”

Lu Li could not utter a single syllable.

Inside the warm treatment room, they sat in utter silence.

Outside, the horizon gradually brightened. A magnificent star bathed the beautiful city in light, like a mother awakening her child.

The capital of the Milky Way was named Weicheng.

The character “Wei” was drawn from the phrase: looking up at the vastness of the universe, looking down at the subtlety of particles. Yet everyone knew that the sole reason their Marshal chose it as the capital was simply because it was called Weicheng, and “Wei” was the name of his beloved.

He loved Xie Jianwei; everyone knew it.

Xie Jianwei did not love him; Lu Li believed this himself.

Yet now, Xie Jianwei was telling him that he loved him.

He was telling him that he did not know how to make him understand his love.

Lu Li did not know either. He feared this was a dream. The sweeter it was, the crueler waking up would be.

He had long grown accustomed to it. From the moment he left the barren planet and learned of Xie Jianwei’s true identity, he understood that Xie Jianwei would never fall in love with him.

He accepted it willingly, wanting to be his family, his shield, his blade, wanting to be someone vital and indispensable to him.

He dared not entertain extravagant hopes, nor did he dare wish for more.

This life was already stolen; how could he demand anything further?

Therefore, seeing all of that earlier, Lu Li had not despaired. Having prepared himself mentally long ago, those things could not break him. He merely wished for Xie Jianwei to live well; as long as he was well, that was enough.

Xie Jianwei spoke softly, “When I crash-landed on that barren planet, I was actually seeking death.” He paused before continuing, “I was not a fortunate survivor of the Xie family’s fall, but their sole executioner.”

Lu Li had never heard him mention this.

Xie Jianwei said slowly, “I killed my father, killed my mother, and killed my two elder brothers. I slaughtered all my blood kin. Though liberated, I had no desire to go on living.”

Lu Li’s pupils contracted sharply: “H-How could that be?”

Xie Jianwei said, “When an opportunity arises, I will tell you the full story of the Xie family. But regardless of the justification, that I committed patricide, matricide, and destroyed the entire Xie family is an undeniable reality.”

“Therefore…” Looking at Lu Li, he said, “I am not as good as you imagine.”

Lu Li pulled him into a fierce embrace, countless words rising to his lips, yet unsure of what to say.

Sounding deeply exhausted, Xie Jianwei said, “If I hadn’t encountered you on that barren planet, I would have died long ago.”

“It was my fault, but back then, I truly could not bring myself to tell you about the Xie family. I didn’t want you to know, was even terrified of you knowing, so I did everything to ensure the truth could never be unearthed, shaping myself into the sole survivor of the Xie family.” Xie Jianwei let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Perhaps back then, you assumed that bringing you out of the barren planet and campaigning across the stars was to avenge the Xie family. It wasn’t. What revenge was there to take? I was the one who killed them! I did it all! My vengeance was already fulfilled, so why would I…”

Holding him tightly, Lu Li kissed his hair: “I’m sorry. I didn’t know any of this, I’m sorry…”

Shaking his head, Xie Jianwei continued, “Because of you, I found the will to live. You were so young, so brilliant, so good; you shouldn’t have been trapped on that barren rock, shouldn’t have spent your life in obscurity.”

He looked at Lu Li, examining his brows, eyes, nose, and mouth. Studying every detail with infinite devotion, his voice tender to the extreme: “A-Li, I assumed this was what you desired.”

Lu Li parted his lips, saying with bitter heartache, “I only want you.”

Xie Jianwei smiled softly, murmuring, “Yet I have belonged to you all along.”

From the very beginning until now, Xie Jianwei had belonged to Lu Li.

Because you had already obtained me, I wished to give you even more…

Lu Li stared at him unblinkingly, whispering, “I… can hardly believe it.”

Xie Jianwei said, “We have a lifetime ahead of us. You will come to believe it.”

Warmed by the word “lifetime,” the gloom in Lu Li’s heart dispersed considerably. Leaning down, he captured Xie Jianwei’s lips.

They shared a sweet kiss, saturated with deep love for one another.

They finally opened their hearts, stepping out from the solitary act of loving the other, beginning to understand the reality that the other loved them in return.

After steadying his emotions, Xie Jianwei explained what had been happening here.

“I could never allow you to kill yourself, yet your memory gaps could not be ignored. That is why Yan Ke and I formulated a treatment plan.”

“What kind of treatment?”

Xie Jianwei smiled, “Entering your dreams to help untie your inner knots.”

Curious, Lu Li asked, “In my dreams?”

Xie Jianwei nodded, “Your dreams were quite fascinating.”

With a blank mind, Lu Li had no idea what had transpired, feeling vaguely uneasy: “I didn’t dream of anything terrible, did I?”

Xie Jianwei began listing them: “In every single dream, I didn’t love you, I was an absolute scumbag, either having an unattainable first love, an ex-lover, or living as a wanton playboy who cared only for physical pleasure.”

Lu Li: “…”

Xie Jianwei added, “In every dream, you were a pitiful soul, loving me desperately while suffering unrequited longing, constantly searching for opportunities to lock me in a dark room.”

Lu Li: “…” He believed it; those were definitely his dreams, without a doubt.

Glaring at him, Xie Jianwei continued, “Worse still, you were remarkably stubborn. If I didn’t act sufficiently scummy, you found it unrealistic, threatening to wake from the dream at any second.”

Lu Li cleared his throat awkwardly to ease the tension.

Soon, Xie Jianwei’s eyes curved again, full of sweetness: “Yet you were wonderfully adorable too. The moment I suffered the slightest grievance, you felt so miserable you couldn’t even continue dreaming, preferring to torture yourself to death rather than let me hurt. What was even more absurd was that when I was hit by a car, you actually managed to make sure I didn’t feel a speck of pain. Quite impressive.”

Lu Li smiled as well: “It sounds rather interesting.”

“Exceedingly interesting,” Xie Jianwei kissed him. “I am very grateful to your dreams for teaching me how to love you.”

Hearing him speak of love, Lu Li still felt a surreal touch of unreality.

Yet Xie Jianwei was in no rush. He now understood how two people in love ought to interact, and he had plenty of time to show Lu Li that his love was genuine.

Lu Li asked, “How many personalities have you appeased?”

Xie Jianwei said, “You are the very last one.”

Lu Li asked, “Once all are appeased, will we integrate?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Yes.”

Lu Li actually felt that staying like this was quite nice.

Knowing him so well, Xie Jianwei said immediately, “You must integrate. The other personalities are merely sleeping; once they awake, you will start fighting to the death all over again.”

Lu Li still harbored a lingering desire to eliminate them.

Xie Jianwei added, “Do not be foolish. Once integrated, you are you, Lu Li. You have always been Lu Li.”

Lu Li accepted it. If Xie Jianwei truly loved him (he would choose to believe it for now), then he had no wish to die. Having finally attained what he dreamed of, how could he bear to lose it?

If killing them meant dying himself, integration was far more sensible.

Seeing that Lu Li had come around, Xie Jianwei asked, “During your final battle with the Hundred-Limbed King, what exactly happened? Can you tell me everything?”

Lu Li said, “There isn’t much to say.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Yet it is the root cause of your personality split.”

Lu Li narrowed his eyes sharply: “It is dead.”

Xie Jianwei said, “It latched onto your consciousness.”

Lu Li was taken aback, saying after a long moment, “So that was it.”

Xie Jianwei asked, “What do you mean?”

Lu Li said, “It claimed it could not die, that no matter what I did I could never slay it. Attaching itself to my consciousness was probably its contingency plan.”

Xie Jianwei asked again, “Can you tell me why you cut off the video feed during that final battle?”

Lu Li paused before explaining, “It showed me certain things.”

“What things?”

Lu Li: “What your future would have looked like had you never met me.”

Xie Jianwei paused in surprise: “Had I never met you?”

Lu Li’s eyes flickered, his voice dropping low: “Yes. Without meeting me, you would have been rescued by a pirate fleet, then used their military might to storm back into the Milky Way. Ultimately, you founded the New Federation, became its first President, and led humanity toward a flourishing future.”

Xie Jianwei: “…” After a long silence, he asked, “Did I also meet a lover surnamed Xu?”

Lu Li said, “You married your fiancée, but she was killed in the war. Afterward, you remained single until meeting a man surnamed Xu. Rather feminine, bearing similarities to your fiancée. You ended up with him.”

Listening to this, Xie Jianwei felt an urge to curse: “And you actually believed that?”

Lu Li said, “It sounded quite logical.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Yet you must realize, had I not met you, I would have died back then.”

Lu Li looked at him: “I didn’t know that at the time.”

Xie Jianwei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Even so, there was no need to believe it! What does ‘a future without meeting you’ even mean? Meeting you was an event that had already occurred; how could an established fact produce a variable?”

Where was the logic in that? Still, reflecting on Big Li’s dreams where logic had completely ceased to exist, Xie Jianwei figured being duped was only natural for him.

A subtle emotion flickered in Lu Li’s eyes, yet he spoke lightly: “Believing it or not didn’t matter anyway; I had to kill it regardless.”

Xie Jianwei said, “It didn’t die completely.”

Lu Li smiled at him: “Is it close to dying completely now?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Only the final one remains.”

Although Lu Li didn’t know what had happened in his dreams, he understood Xie Jianwei well. With his meticulous observation, he was bound to notice it, and upon noticing it, he would surely find a way to destroy it.

Good. It should have died long ago.

Xie Jianwei negotiated with him: “In the next dream, dream of something nice, alright?”

Lu Li stated solemnly, “Dreaming is not something one can control.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Stop always imagining me as a scumbag. Look at me. From start to finish, I have had only you, loved only you, slept only with you, and stayed only with you…”

His words were so sweet that Lu Li couldn’t resist kissing him.

Xie Jianwei kissed him back, continuing, “I have even forgotten my fiancée’s name. How could I ever love her? And love her so deeply that years later I would seek out a man who resembles her?”

Lu Li paused: “Right, you didn’t love her.”

Curious, Xie Jianwei asked, “Why did you ever assume I was straight?”

Lu Li grumbled, “Didn’t you have a fiancée?”

Xie Jianwei said, “A political marriage, don’t you understand?”

Lu Li was remarkably docile: “I understand now.”

Quite pleased, Xie Jianwei pondered for a moment: “Come to think of it, I don’t think I was ever straight, was I?”

Lu Li: “…”

Xie Jianwei said, “Within days of meeting you, I could tell how you felt about me. I didn’t dislike it, and always wanted to tease you…”

Lu Li stayed silent.

Xie Jianwei concluded, “Would a straight man do that?”

Lu Li couldn’t hold back: “You are not allowed to like other men.”

Xie Jianwei laughed, “Of course not. I only like my Big Li.” Saying this, he glanced downward.

Under his gaze, Big Li stood at attention in salute.

Xie Jianwei chuckled softly, “Big Li only likes me too.”

How could Lu Li ever resist such seduction? Already burning with heat from their kisses, he abandoned conversation entirely, deciding to communicate down below instead.

After turning the Military Advisor into a puddle of water, the Lord Marshal felt he had indeed been rather foolish. How did this look like a straight man in any way?

Straight or not, he could only ever be like this beneath him.

Thinking of this, he lifted those fair, slender legs once more, pressing right back inside.

Xie Jianwei didn’t even know how he ended up back at the Marshal’s Manor. Lying in their own bed, he didn’t forget to instruct Lu Li: “Did you tidy up the treatment room?” Although Yan Ke was an insider, it was still rather embarrassing.

Lu Li said, “Rest assured, it is tidied.”

Xie Jianwei asked, “You aren’t heading out today?”

The heavily burdened Lord Marshal prepared to play truant: “Going nowhere.”

Xie Jianwei didn’t want him to leave either: “Slacking off occasionally is quite nice.”

Lu Li said, “If you cling to me like this, I want to slack off every day.”

Xie Jianwei said, “That won’t do. It will delay serious business.”

Lu Li moved to say something, but held his tongue.

Only then did Xie Jianwei recall that their memories were unshared; this Lu Li knew nothing of what he had done previously. So he said, “From now on, wherever you go, I will go with you.”

Lu Li’s eyes lit up: “Accompanying me on diplomatic visits?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Not just diplomatic visits; when you attend meetings with the old ministers, I will follow as well.”

Lu Li sat up abruptly: “You…”

Xie Jianwei looked at him: “Not allowed?”

“Allowed, absolutely allowed!” Lu Li laughed, “With you there, they will certainly behave like obedient quails.”

Xie Jianwei said, “If I usurp your position, don’t regret it later.”

Lu Li said, “Everything I possess is yours for the taking. My only fear was that you wouldn’t want it.” Not wanting anything, and eventually not wanting him either.

Xie Jianwei scolded him playfully, “Ungrateful brat.”

Lu Li said, “Knowing you is enough for me.”

Xie Jianwei added, “Did you smear honey on your lips? So sweet.”

Lu Li said, “You wrong me. How could I ever match the sweetness of your mouth?” With that, he added shamelessly, “Both of your mouths are sweet.”

Xie Jianwei was no match for him in brazen banter. Sitting up, he said, “I’ll go cook. What would you like for lunch?”

Surprised, Lu Li asked, “Cook what?” He instinctively sensed this didn’t mean setting up an AI program.

Xie Jianwei shot him a glance: “In one of your dreams, you set me as a world-class chef whose dishes received unanimous praise from everyone on the planet. Pitiably, I didn’t know how to cook at all, forced to practice diligently. To meet Mr. Lu’s high standards, I took painstaking pains.”

Lu Li asked, “There was such a wonderful thing?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Wonderful indeed. You had anorexia, able to eat only food prepared by my hands. If I failed to reach standard, I couldn’t pass the tasting phase, forced to watch you starve. Tell me, do you think I was frantic?”

Lu Li cleared his throat: “…I wonder which personality had such a shameless dream.”

Seeing that he could joke about it, Xie Jianwei felt he was truly ready to cooperate with therapy and integrate swiftly. Relaxing, his mood brightened further: “Wait here, I’ll let you taste my cooking.”

How could Lu Li wait? He followed him into the adjacent small kitchen, even more astonished by the setup inside: “You know how to use such ancient items?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Who told your dreams to be drenched in ancient Earth style? I never realized you had such a penchant for retro aesthetics before.”

Lu Li smiled, “Things from the past are quite charming.”

Watching Xie Jianwei handle pots, pans, and utensils with practiced ease, Lu Li knew his Military Advisor had truly invested immense effort.

Before long, an exquisite three-course meal with soup was served, leaving Lu Li overwhelmed with joy.

“It tastes incredible.”

Xie Jianwei huffed, “I am a top-tier chef after all.”

Lu Li said, “What a pity that I cannot remember the dreams.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Not remembering is fine; it was just those kinds of things anyway.” Inwardly, he thought it was better not to remember. Although a few dreams had been sweet, several had been intensely agonizing, especially the ones involving two personalities. Recalling those made Xie Jianwei feel like a scumbag standing with a foot in two boats, even if the boat had merely split in half.

Lu Li felt genuine regret, feeling he had experienced so many wonderful dreams, only to forget them all upon waking.

After finishing lunch, they spent a leisurely afternoon lounging inside the Marshal’s Manor.

Lu Li asked about the dreams, and Xie Jianwei shared the amusing details.

Chatting along, he recalled Loren and Yan Ke, remarking, “How did you ever think to pair those two up?”

Lu Li answered calmly, “Loren likes Yan Ke.”

“What?” Xie Jianwei blinked, “Since when?”

Lu Li said, “Many years ago. Do you remember when Loren was injured and recuperated for a long time? Yan Ke was the physician in charge.”

Xie Jianwei remembered; during the war years, every general had hovered on the brink of death.

Lu Li said, “I don’t know the exact details. After recovering, Loren came to ask me who his attending physician was, and I said he was your subordinate, named Yan Ke.”

“It’s Yan Ke, with the wood radical.” Xie Jianwei paused, then added, “Yan Ke is straight…” A genuine straight man who liked only women with large busts; he knew him well.

Lu Li said, “I told Loren that, and he knew it too, which is why he never mentioned it all these years.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Loren hasn’t stayed idle over these years; he has quite the reputation as a playboy.”

Lu Li scoffed, “Merely putting up a front.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Lu Li said, “Why bring him up? A coward, serves him right.”

Xie Jianwei shot him a glance.

Lu Li said, “I am never a coward.” Knowing Xie Jianwei didn’t love him, he had still refused to let go; regardless of whom he fancied, claiming him first was the only way.

Xie Jianwei thought to himself: You aren’t a coward, just a bit of a fool!

Come evening, Lu Li took the initiative to suggest: “Shall we begin therapy?” He didn’t want it living any longer; killing it swiftly would bring him peace of mind.

Xie Jianwei said, “Alright, I’ll contact Yan Ke.”

Yan Ke arrived at the treatment room with trembling legs, terrified that the Lord Marshal might execute him over a minor whim, and Military Advisor Xie certainly wouldn’t defend him! He had lived less than forty years, not even a quarter of his lifespan, and didn’t want to die QAQ!

Lu Li was very gentle with him, even greeting him: “Doctor Yan, good evening.”

Yan Ke nearly fell to his knees.

Xie Jianwei said, “Alright, stop frightening him.”

Lu Li smiled, “Doctor Yan is quite approachable after all.”

Yan Ke thought: What kind of misunderstanding do you have about me, Lord Marshal? My persona has never had anything to do with being cool and distant!

Lu Li lay down first, demanding a kiss before sleeping.

Xie Jianwei kissed him, reminding him, “Make sure to have a good dream.”

Lu Li said, “As long as I dream of you, every dream is wonderful.”

That’s hardly guaranteed, thought Yan Ke, who had witnessed the entire process; torturing himself half to death was the Lord Marshal’s signature talent.

Xie Jianwei was still uneasy: “You must not make me too much of a scumbag, understand?”

Lu Li said, “Rest assured. You are the finest person in the entire world, in the entire dream.”

Xie Jianwei had a faint, ominous premonition, but figured it should be fine. After all, everything had been laid bare between them; thinking back to the ghost Lu Li from the previous dream, because they had opened their hearts, he had been warm, adorable, and sweet throughout.

With that thought, Xie Jianwei felt this final dream was bound to be splendid.

He waited a bit longer, needing Lu Li to enter deep sleep before entering his mind.

Yan Ke whispered, “My Lord, you and the Lord Marshal have cleared everything up?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Yes, everything is settled.”

Yan Ke breathed a sigh of relief: “That is wonderful.”

Xie Jianwei said, “As long as we destroy it in this dream, all will be well.”

Yan Ke raised a flag without realizing it: “There will definitely be no problem.” It had been foolish across seven dreams; it couldn’t possibly be much smarter in the last one.

With the Lord Marshal and the Military Advisor joining forces, nothing could stop them!

In high spirits, Xie Jianwei entered the dream world. After adjusting for a moment, he…

Yan Ke: “…”

Xie Jianwei didn’t know what to say either.

This time, he truly wasn’t a scumbag, not in the slightest; he was practically a peerless white lotus.

Yan Ke corrected him, “I think the term should be Mary Sue… well, a Gary Stu.”

Xie Jianwei let out a heavy sigh.

His persona this time was ridiculously exaggerated, stopping just short of having “universal charmer” stamped on his forehead.

Recalling Lu Li’s words before sleeping: You are the finest person in the entire dream.

He was indeed extraordinarily fine. Loved by everyone, adored by all, cars braking to a halt at the sight of him.

Walking down the street, men and women, young and old alike stared at him unblinkingly. Dog walkers didn’t notice their dogs running off, drivers sat oblivious when the light turned green, and even a shifty-eyed thief dropped his tools, foolishly holding stolen goods waiting to be arrested; pitiably, the arresting officer froze in a daze as well, completely forgetting he was on duty…