Chapter 99 - I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE

SHEN JI YUN typed on WeChat and sent it to Luo Yan.

[luckycloud]: Are you about to log in to Arcadia now?

He asked because this was the usual time that Luo Yan logged in to the game.

[YanYan1213]: No.  I'm doing some studying.  I'll play later after dinner.

[luckycloud]: Are you working on your summer homework?

After sending that, he sent a rabbit sticker with a question mark on its head.  He did it without even changing the expression on his face.  As if he just sent a normal message and did not do something so out of character.

[YanYan1213]: No.  I'm studying for my admission exam next week.

Admission exam?  By age, Luo Yan should be in third year of high school this coming academic school term which would be next month.  Why would he take an admission exam?

[luckycloud]: Are you going to transfer schools?

That's the only explanation Shen Ji Yun could think of.

[YanYan1213]: Not really.  It's kind of hard to explain without telling you my circ.u.mstances.

Circ.u.mstances?  Was it something serious?  He wanted to know.  But would it seem like he's meddling too much with his business?  He didn't want Luo Yan to think that he's such a busybody.  But-  At the end, he gave in and still asked.

[luckycloud]: What kind of circ.u.mstance?

[luckycloud]: But it's alright if you don't want to say it.  Sorry for being such a meddler.

Then he sent a crying rabbit sticker that was lying on the ground and drowning on its own tears.

Luo Yan sent back a laughing emoji.

[YanYan1213]: It's okay.  I don't mind telling Brother Ji Yun.  

[YanYan1213]: I don't know if Brother Ze already mentioned this to you, but I was in a coma for seven years and just woke up a little bit more than four months ago.  I'm studying to take an exam that would automatically put me in third year high school, as I should be if not for the accident.  I don't want to be in a class full of grade schoolers, you know.  After all, I'm already 17.

Then he received a smiling emoji.

Shen Ji Yun stared at the words 'seven years', 'coma', and 'accident'.  Before he could think of anything, he already sent a video call request to Luo Yan.  After a few seconds, a beautiful face appeared on the screen.

The boy's face was small.  He had big peach blossom eyes surrounded by long black eyelashes.  His black hair looked naturally soft to the touch.  His skin looked as white as the most expensive porcelain.  

This was the first time Shen Ji Yun saw Luo Yan's real face after more than a month.  Looking at him, there was that strange beating of his heart again.  But then he remembered the message he just read.  And an uncontrollable worry just filled him.

"Brother Ji Yun?" Luo Yan asked, confused.  

He wasn't sure why Shen Ji Yun suddenly video called him.  But he still answered nonetheless.  Because there's really no reason not to.

"You… are you alright now?"

Luo Yan was stumped for a bit because of Shen Ji Yun's question.  But when he looked at this guy's usually expressionless face that was now very unusually filled with worry, his heart softened.  Was he worried about him?  Because of the message he sent?  Really, despite his looks, like he seemed to be unconcerned about everything around him, he really was just one big softie.

"I'm fine.  My family has always been there by my side so everything has been easy so far," he said with a smile.  

Which was true.  Luo Yan wouldn't probably adapt to his new life this easily if he was reborn into a different body.  If he didn't become this 'Luo Yan' and didn't become part of this family, he truly didn't know what would have become of him.

The reason why he was able to easily accept his death and rebirth was because of his new family.  They gave him love and security.  Two concepts that had been foreign to him ever since he could remember.  Although he did feel sorry for the real 'Luo Yan'.  It's like he robbed him of everything that should belong to him.  That's why to compensate it all, he would live a life in his place that he would be proud of.  And to do everything in his power to care and love the family he left behind.  Though that last part was not really that hard to do.

Luo Yan had a theory.  Maybe the real 'Luo Yan's' soul had long departed from his body and only an empty shell remained.  That's why he, Luo Yan, was able to enter this empty shell and occupy it.  Maybe after he died, his soul wandered around until it found a suitable body.  That's why he only managed to wake up after seven years.

Having this body, having a second chance at life, he would forever be grateful to 'Luo Yan'.

Shen Ji Yun stared at the serene smile on Luo Yan's face.  But it still wasn't enough to lessen his worry.  

Now that his brain was a bit clearer, he remembered an incident seven years ago.  There was a period when Bai Ze was pretty down.  He didn't look for him and caused him trouble like he always did.  He didn't even talk much which was very not so like him.  So he asked and found out that his aunt's family had been in an accident.  His aunt died and one of his little cousins fell into a coma.

After reading what Luo Yan sent to him and then knowing that the two were cousins, it's not hard to connect him to that accident.  Which meant that Luo Yan's mother died and then he became comatose.  He only woke up after seven years.  If his family was not well-off, they might have decided not to put him into life support.  Then Luo Yan wouldn't be here now.

Thinking of a scenario that he wouldn't be able to meet the rabbit, his heart suddenly felt hollowed and pained.  No.  He didn't want something like that.  Even as a dream, it would be a total nightmare.

"If you need anything or if you're in trouble, don't hesitate to tell me.  I'll do my best to help."

Those blue eyes stared at Luo Yan with conviction.  He couldn't say anything at first.  This awkward guy was probably feeling sorry for him.  He helplessly shook his head.  

"Brother Ji Yun, I'm not so weak.  If you treat me like I'm a delicate flower that would be blown away by the wind at any second, I'd be angry," he said, trying to look as threatening as he could.  But all that appeared was a pretty face, bulging his cheeks like a squirrel and furrowing his delicate eyebrows. 

Of course, Shen Ji Yun understood that sentiment.  If he was also told this by another guy, he'd probably break out in hives.  But he couldn't just leave Luo Yan alone.  From the bottom of his heart, he truly wanted to protect this boy.  To not let any harm to come his way.  He wanted him to always be happy.  

It was a weird sentiment and something he truly didn't understand.  But understanding these complex emotions was not the most important thing he should do right now.

"I don't think you're weak at all.  I think you're really strong," he said honestly.  Someone who fell into a coma and only woke up after seven years but still faced everything with optimism could not be called weak.  "I just want you to know that no matter what will happen from here on out, I will always be here to give you my support."

Faced with the other person's sincere gaze, Luo Yan didn't know what to say for a moment.  So in the end, he could only smile and say, "Okay.  Brother Ji Yun should not forget what he said today."

"There's no way I will."