CH 82

After a whirlwind of chaos, Xiao Zhenyun reappeared on screen. He steadied the base of his wheelchair, his elbows pressed against the seat, trying his best to push himself up. In the midst of this, he didn’t forget to reassure Si Di, “Thanks for asking, I’m fine.”

“No, you don’t look fine at all.”

“You’re mistaken. I’ve never felt better,” Xiao Zhenyun replied with a stoic face, stubbornly clinging to his dignity. Dragging his legs, which looked like steel rods, he resembled a puppet just made, with joints yet to be added, struggling to get himself back into the wheelchair.

The movements of his prosthetics were all controlled by his brain. Once he got the hang of it, they felt almost like real legs. But now… Xiao Zhenyun felt like his brain wasn’t cooperating, sending weird signals to his prosthetics, causing him to awkwardly sprawl on the carpet.

Si Di felt both pity and amusement, covering his mouth with one hand to hide his reaction. His gaze dropped and then lifted again, as he turned to lick his lips, pressing his fingers against the corners of his mouth, his eyebrows knitted in concern, “Maybe… you should take a break?”

Xiao Zhenyun closed his eyes in silence, accepting his fate. He raised his hand to summon another floating screen and called Hedgehog.

“Could you come over? I’m in a bit of trouble.”

“Huh? I’m busy,” Hedgehog lazily turned over in bed. “Besides, what trouble could you possibly have in your room in the middle of the night? Did your zipper get stuck again while talking to Black Wolf?”

“… Pretty much,” Xiao Zhenyun paused for two seconds, “Something like that.”

“Alright, I’m on my way.” The sound of Hedgehog’s eager knocking soon followed. When he burst into the room, his face was lit up with a how-could-you-not-invite-me-to-this expression, only to find Xiao Zhenyun kneeling on the floor, legs spread in an awkward V, with a jacket wrapped around his waist.

“Hmm, quite the ladylike posture,” Hedgehog remarked as he circled around him, then burst out laughing without a trace of sympathy.

Si Di couldn’t help but burst into laughter too, stretching out his legs and leaning back against the headboard, his eyes curved into crescent moons as he watched the screen. Xiao Zhenyun, embarrassed and angry, threw a tissue at Hedgehog, “Stop laughing and help me up.”

“Oh, asking for my help and still so fierce?” 

“Hedgehog, don’t tease him,” Si Di chuckled before finally remembering to feel sorry for Xiao Zhenyun. “Quick, help Zhenyun up.”

“Alright, alright. Geez, I’m just a slave…” Hedgehog bent down, letting Xiao Zhenyun use his arm as support, and lifted him steadily. Once Xiao Zhenyun stood upright, he cautiously withdrew his hands until he was a meter away, leaving Xiao Zhenyun standing straight in place.

“Hmm, not bad, standing up,” Hedgehog commented with his arms crossed.

Xiao Zhenyun’s eyes lit up with joy. He didn’t move his legs recklessly but stood there, looking around and then gazing at Si Di.

“Congratulations,” Si Di clapped his hands in delight. “Little Uncle, don’t stand for too long, let…”

Before he could finish his sentence, a loud noise interrupted him.

“Little Uncle?!” 

Si Chu burst into Si Di’s room, his round amber eyes filled with surprise and joy, carrying the tattered Xiao Nian on his back. “I heard you mention Little Uncle, is there news about Little Uncle?!”

Si Di’s smile froze on his face. 

Seeing Si Di’s relaxed posture on the bed, Xiao Nian knew exactly what he had been up to. He quickly widened his eyes, signaling him to come up with an excuse.

On the other end of the video call, Xiao Zhenyun quickly hung up, heartlessly leaving the mess to Sentinel to deal with.

“Erm.” Si Di glanced at the dark screen, gently swiping it to bring up Xiao Zhenyun’s picture on the main screen—a picture of the guide with long hair, dressed in a white guide’s robe, sitting on a brown stone path, his face slightly turned as he gazed into the distance. Behind him was the shimmering sea, the golden and dark hues of the sunset casting a dividing line on Xiao Zhenyun’s figure. High above floated large gray clouds, enveloping the distant white town about to be engulfed by nightfall, the gray-blue of the sky matching the misty hue of the guide’s eyes perfectly.

In the tranquil and serene scene, everything was blurred and hazy, except for Xiao Zhenyun, who remained a clear and dazzling focal point.

“There’s no news…” Si Di quickly switched to a melancholic tone. “I was just looking at the picture of your Little Uncle, reminiscing about the past, thinking of all the experiences we had together. Maybe I involuntarily uttered his name, I didn’t even realize… Sorry for getting your hopes up for nothing.”

“No, no, why are you apologizing, Brother?” Si Chu quickly put Xiao Nian down and walked up to comfort Si Di. “I overreacted. I’m sorry, Brother. I know you must be more upset about Little Uncle’s disappearance than me… Brother, if you feel sad, just talk to me. I’ll always be your most loyal listener! If you keep everything to yourself, it’ll only make things worse eventually! Come on, let’s sleep together tonight. You can tell me anything, no need to be embarrassed. We’re Brothers!”

“Um…” Si Di’s wolf ears twitched slightly as he struggled to speak after several attempts. “No need…”

“Why are you still being polite with me? It hurts my heart to hear you calling Little Uncle’s name while locked in your room looking at his picture,” Si Chu said, deeply moved, as he held Si Di’s hands. “Brother, you truly love him!”

“…”

Compared to the newcomer Xiao Nian, Si Di had more tricks up his sleeve for dealing with an enthusiastic little dog. He smoothly diverted the attention, “Xiao Chu, compared to me, Nian Nian needs your help more. After all, I’m an adult with my own coping mechanisms. But Nian Nian is still a child. Don’t forget the promise you made to Mom. How can you prioritize me over him?”

“…” Si Chu realized Si Di was right and turned to look at Xiao Nian, who was eagerly eyeing the door, itching to run away. “…Then, how about the three of us sleep together tonight?”

Under solid evidence, except for the Soren Land Guild’s vote against it in the final decision meeting, almost all other countries voted in favor. The United Nations subsequently issued sanctions against the Soren Land government, demanding their cooperation in arresting all individuals involved in the MP Experiment Facility within their borders, in accordance with international security laws.

After returning to the country, Xiao Jingfeng also visited the grave of Xiao Jiali and then found Si Di. He was surprised to learn that there had been no trace of Xiao Zhenyun yet.

“With the whole mountain surrounded by people at the time, everyone, including Si Chu and Xiao Jiali who were with him, was found. Even the experimental subjects chasing them were all caught. Yet he vanished without a trace?” Xiao Jingfeng pondered, tapping his fingers on the table. “Strange, very strange…”

Si Di knew that the Chairman was much harder to deceive than the little dog. He kept his eyes downcast, silent, and his back slightly hunched, looking pitiful as if life had bent his spine.

Xiao Jingfeng looked up and saw Si Di in this sorry state, feeling both pity and anger. “Straighten your back. Look at yourself. The fusion mark is still there, meaning he’s not dead. Why are you moping around with a mournful face? Do you still have the demeanor of an S-Class Sentinel? Go and find him. Even if you have to overturn the whole mountain, the entire city, the whole country, you must find your guide!”

“Yes,” Si Di lifted his head and straightened his chest.

“Good. Put aside the other tasks for your team. I’ll give you one week,” Xiao Jingfeng said sternly. “Within a week, find Xiao Zhenyun. Do you hear me?”

“Understood!” Si Di replied firmly.

—He didn’t dare to promise to complete the task because he was sure it was impossible.

After all, who could wake up someone pretending to be asleep?

To better protect Xiao Zhenyun’s whereabouts, for the next two months, Si Di didn’t meet Xiao Zhenyun privately again. They only chatted online at night, discussing the progress of his prosthetics.

Xiao Zhenyun didn’t stay in hotels anymore but went to a property purchased in his name when he was around twenty years old. It was located in a remote suburb with no access roads, and the nearest station required riding a horse to reach.

Despite being a nocturnal creature with a reversed sleep schedule, after a few days of adapting to this harmonious coexistence with nature where candles were necessary at night, Xiao Zhenyun unexpectedly managed to endure it. He even complained to Si Di over voice messages, “I really feel like a forest ranger now. Yesterday, a group of instant noodle packets knocked on my door, asking for food.”

Hedgehog felt right at home in the wilderness, spending his days hunting with his viper and playing with small animals. But after two days, he received a mission from his old employer and had to ride a horse and catch a plane overnight.

Left alone, Xiao Zhenyun led a solitary life, living by the rhythm of sunrise and sunset.

Two months later, Si Di finally caught an opportunity to visit Xiao Zhenyun. In his mind, he still pictured a figure sitting in a wheelchair with long hair. But when he dismounted from his horse, all he saw was a tall man standing in the courtyard, playing with the deer using leaves, his back turned to him.

He had imagined countless times what Xiao Zhenyun would look like standing up, but now that the guide had left the wheelchair, Si Di found it unfamiliar.

Yet, he also felt that Xiao Zhenyun seemed to be just like this; this was his true appearance, standing tall like bamboo, like a towering pine, like the proud plum blossom, gracefully standing before him.

“Zhenyun…”

Xiao Zhenyun turned at the sound of his voice, pleasantly surprised, and set down the tender leaves he was holding. “You’re here?”

Si Di didn’t move, only opened his arms, gesturing for Xiao Zhenyun to come to him.

“…” Xiao Zhenyun hesitated for a moment but decided to satisfy his lover’s curiosity. “…No laughing allowed.”

He took the first step. After two months of practice, the prosthetics were still not as flexible as real legs, stiff and rigid, with pauses between bending and straightening. The product manager had said this was normal progress, as the adaptation period between the body and the prosthetics usually takes four to six months. Xiao Zhenyun was advised not to rush, to avoid causing damage to his leg muscles and skin from prolonged wear of the prosthetics.

So, Si Di watched as Xiao Zhenyun stumbled toward him step by step.

Tian Lu and Tai Chi quickly gathered around the guide, accompanying him with concern, ready to assist him if he fell, either to catch him or to cushion his fall.

“So far.” Halfway there, Xiao Zhenyun stopped to catch his breath. “Come closer.”

Si Di gazed at him, his expression gentle and affectionate, but he only took one more step forward. Xiao Zhenyun chuckled, “What are you doing? Are you going to take one step and leave the remaining ninety-nine steps for me?”

“Speaking of which,” Si Di took another step forward, “don’t you owe me a confession? Like the one you rehearsed with Si Chu. A rehearsal without the real thing?”

“We’re already married. Do we still need confessions?”

“By that logic, you still owe me a wedding.” Si Di took another step. “The previous wedding ceremony was interrupted halfway because of that damn plot twist. Four main characters, but only three left.”

“You’re such a troublemaker,” Xiao Zhenyun took another step, a bit impatient. Despite his unsteady gait, he was about to attempt running when naturally, he stumbled, and Si Di quickly rushed over to catch him, his long tail instantly curling around Xiao Zhenyun’s legs. “Caught it, caught a little deer.”

‘…Are you kidding me?’ Xiao Zhenyun conveyed this message with his eyes.

The more childish Si Di felt delighted, “After catching it, we should bring it back to our nest and eat it.”

Tian Lu perked up his ears alertly: Is this how it is?!

Tai Chi, whose reputation had been tarnished: It has nothing to do with me!

After two months apart, Si Di was as enthusiastic as ever, but unfortunately, Xiao Zhenyun’s hardware couldn’t keep up. The medication took effect slowly, much to Si Di’s frustration. He was so anxious that he almost licked Xiao Zhenyun bald.

“Are you really taking your medication on time?” Si Di, with a flushed face, asked as he lay on the bed. “Why do I feel like this thing hasn’t changed much from before?”

“…I swear, you’re asking for it,” Xiao Zhenyun gritted his teeth in frustration.

Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters.  (๑>ᴗ