ABRIWMTHM Chapter 1

On New Year’s Day of Star Year 331, heavy snow fell.

Shi Xing’s pale face was wrapped in a thick plush collar as he boarded the train from Ancheng to the Imperial Capital.

There weren’t many people around the New Year, and Shi Xing chose a corner to sit in, his cloak concealing his figure, wrapping him up tightly.

[Imperial Capital News, today, the Prince’s Residence will hold a grand wedding for General Lu Lu. As the youngest son of the prince, General Lu Lu’s mental power is rated an unusual SS grade…]

[The other newcomer, Major Bi Shu, is reported to have been engaged to the general since childhood, with mental power also reaching S grade. This wedding serves as a strong union between the Prince’s Residence and the Senate, and the two newcomers have been rated by Star Net as the most compatible newlywed couple of the century… Let’s connect with our frontline reporter at the Prince’s Residence…]

In the empty carriage, the news broadcast on the light screen was especially clear.

Shi Xing’s eyelashes fluttered lightly, slowly raising his head, the ocean-blue of his eyes reflecting the light and shadows of the screen as he quietly watched the reports about the wedding.

The Prince’s Residence still looked like it did in his memories; the guards lined up neatly filled the two streets, grandly welcoming the noble guests attending the wedding.

The frontline reporter was at the main entrance, and the atmosphere was lively with people coming and going.

Unconsciously, Shi Xing scanned the surroundings.

There were only two or three passengers in the carriage, and outside, snowflakes fell like goose feathers, making the world appear solemn.

The bustling excitement on the light screen and the quiet desolation surrounding Shi Xing felt like two different worlds.

A hint of irony rose in his heart, and Shi Xing tugged at the corners of his lips, wanting to smile but unable to do so.

An hour later, the train arrived in the Imperial Capital.

The station’s announcements continuously reminded residents to prepare umbrellas due to the heavy snow.

Shi Xing stood at the exit, silently watching the seemingly overwhelming snowfall, determined.

He called a flying vehicle to the Prince’s Residence.

After getting into the car, the driver enthusiastically said, “Are you going to the Prince’s Residence for the wedding? The wedding ceremony is open to the public, and many young people are going to watch.”

“By the way, I heard that His Majesty will also be attending. His Majesty hasn’t shown his face much in recent years, and rumors have been going around about his severe mental disorder. Today, many people are also coming for His Majesty…”

Shi Xing smiled politely, his voice very light as he replied, “I’m going to the Prince’s Residence.”

But he wasn’t going as a guest.

If he had to say it, he was probably an uninvited guest here to cause trouble.

After all, as Lu Lu’s ex-husband, no one from the Lu family probably wanted to see Shi Xing at the wedding.

The driver dropped Shi Xing off at the closest stop to the Prince’s Residence.

After getting out and opening his protective umbrella, snowflakes landed on the transparent energy shield above his head. Cold air filled his lungs, and under the umbrella, Shi Xing suddenly bent over and let out a violent cough.

The coughing persisted for a while, his chest rising and falling greatly, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. He found a wooden bench beside the street and sat down, taking a long time to finally catch his breath.

Looking at his bloodless palms, Shi Xing thought, this might be his last outing.

The last time to bring closure to unfinished matters, that would be good too.

After resting for a bit, Shi Xing stood up and headed straight for the Prince’s Residence.

Without an invitation, he was unsurprisingly stopped at the door. Shi Xing calmly stated his name, and soon a familiar face appeared at the entrance of the Prince’s Residence. They exchanged a distant glance, and when the visitor saw Shi Xing, their pupils trembled.

“Shi, Shi Doctor… Shi…”

After several years, his status had changed, and the visitor struggled to find a proper way to address him.

“Just call me Shi Xing.”

His voice was gentle and soft. As he spoke and smiled, despite the pallor of his face, Shi Xing seemed to be the same warm-hearted little team doctor from years ago.

Not beating around the bush, Shi Xing said straightforwardly, “I want to go in, and I hope the Major can let me through.”

The visitor’s expression showed reluctance.

Shi Xing promised, “I won’t make a scene; I just want to take a look and perhaps say a few words before leaving.”

“You know me. If I wanted to cause a scene, I would have already reported to the special court and wouldn’t use this method.”

The Major displayed a complicated expression, seeming to offer consolation after a long pause, “Doctor Shi, since it has come to this, why bother?”

Why bring discomfort to everyone?

Why tear down the last layer of the curtain?

Shi Xing smiled again, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes, murmuring, “Yes, why bother…”

“Perhaps I need to see it with my own eyes to finally let go.”

Shi Xing raised his head, his complexion as pale as the snowy scene behind him, but his gaze was particularly firm, “I trouble the Major.”

In the end, Shi Xing was allowed into the Prince’s Residence.

Fearing he might be recognized and stopped, the visitor escorted him all the way to the lounge where Lu Lu was, before finally feeling relieved to leave.

Shi Xing glanced at the communicator; there was only half an hour left before the wedding started.

He adjusted his cloak and carefully recalled that the last time the two had been in contact was about seven or eight months ago. At that time, he was hardly able to get out of bed; Lu Lu told him to rest well and said he would definitely find a way to treat him.

Past promises echoed in his ears. After a few months of delirium, Shi Xing received news of Lu Lu’s remarriage.

Shi Xing couldn’t believe it, so he came.

Before coming, he was resolute, but now that he finally faced the moment of meeting, he still felt a bit uneasy.

Even though he had prepared for the worst possible scenario.

Taking deep breaths, exhaling, deep breaths…

Just when Shi Xing confirmed he could still endure, he was about to move when a familiar figure dashed past him, knocking on the door with an energetic rhythm, “Ah Lu—”

The words were affectionate.

Shi Xing recognized him; he was the other main character of the wedding today, Major Bi Shu.

A heavy thud echoed in Shi Xing’s heart.

In the next moment, the door was opened from inside, revealing the long-missed lover’s face, smiling brightly as he nodded toward Bi Shu and called out to him, “Xiao Shu.”

It was an endearment on par with “Ah Lu.”

A sharp ringing filled Shi Xing’s ears.

The next scene became a silent film in his eyes; he saw Bi Shu speaking closely to Lu Lu, whose silence showed that although he wasn’t overjoyed, the faint smile in his eyes and at the corners of his mouth couldn’t be said to be forced…

Bi Shu talked; Lu Lu listened.

After Bi Shu finished talking, Lu Lu nodded.

Bi Shu playfully stuck out his tongue, and Lu Lu lightly tapped his forehead.

Bi Shu covered his forehead and acted spoiled, and Lu Lu comfortingly ruffled his hair…

That was enough.

Shi Xing suddenly closed his eyes.

That was already enough.

—Lu Lu was there willingly.

Confirming this point, Shi Xing’s every question was answered, leaving no room for doubt.

The ear-splitting ringing persisted, and the heartache surged as emotions stirred within him. His fingers beside him twitched uncontrollably, and upon opening his eyes, he forced himself not to look, turning to leave.

Instead of returning to the main entrance, Shi Xing chose to depart through Central Park adjacent to the Prince’s Residence.

Before leaving the Prince’s Residence, Shi Xing entrusted a servant to pass a box to Lu Lu.

It was a special gift Lu Lu had given him, something he had carried for these years, but now… it was no longer necessary.

Once he had pressed his emotions down and stepped out of the Prince’s Residence, Shi Xing couldn’t help but run.

As if wanting to throw away everything that had caused him pain.

Cold air filled his lungs, and Shi Xing coughed several times, but he didn’t want to stop; he wanted to be willful just this once.

Given his current physical condition, it was actually impossible for him to leave Ancheng, let alone travel all the way from Ancheng to the Imperial Capital and then to the Prince’s Residence.

He… acted against medical advice to absorb a large amount of crystal energy, that was how he managed it.

But he could no longer completely digest them; this action was no different from drinking poison to quench his thirst. Shi Xing was uncertain if he would be able to stand up again after today.

As long as he could still run, Shi Xing didn’t want to leave any regrets.

In fact, he and Lu Lu had come to this point, their relationship riddled with cracks, and everything had long been irretrievable.

Shi Xing knew it.

No one was clearer about it than him.

But, until the last moment, not seeing it with his own eyes, not hearing it with his own ears, Shi Xing would always cling to a glimmer of hope.

The choice he once believed wholeheartedly in, nearly a decade of affection, whatever others mocked, that was fine; if he could easily deny it too, how could he endure that?

Central Park covered in thick snow was nothing but pure white, and sunlight shone on the snow, making it hard for Shi Xing to open his eyes.

His line of sight was interrupted, and the scenes from the Prince’s Residence flooded back.

Crushing the last shred of Shi Xing’s hope.

Just as he had told acquaintances, once confirmed in person, he had no choice but to let go.

“Who goes there?”

“Stop!”

“Don’t move.”

Suddenly, commands and several high-grade mental powers erupted simultaneously.

Shi Xing was startled by the shouting, and when he raised his eyes, he realized a group of soldiers had formed a formation before him, and he… had charged straight toward them…

It was possible to stop, but as high-grade mental powers swept across him, his body lost control almost instantaneously, and without hesitation, Shi Xing crashed toward the person sitting in the middle.

As soon as he got close, he sensed a nearly terrifying mental force.

Danger!

Fear gripped his heart. Just as Shi Xing acquiesced that he would be thrown out by this force, that inescapable sense of oppression suddenly receded like a tide.

Before collapsing, Shi Xing caught a glimpse of the other person seemingly raising a hand toward him from behind…

The impact momentarily disoriented him.

For a few breaths, Shi Xing couldn’t see or hear anything.

When he regained consciousness, he was uncontrollably coughing violently, and the scene before him distorted…

His body was too weak.

He… was nearing death.

Once the coughing subsided, Shi Xing noticed the other person letting him fall onto their body, one hand gripping his right arm, preventing him from completely toppling over while maintaining the last bit of politeness between them.

Two light pats landed on his back, and a deep male voice hesitantly asked, “Are you okay?”

Covering his mouth to control the coughing, Shi Xing’s voice was hoarse, “I’m fine.”

The response he received was silence.

Shi Xing thought, perhaps his words held no convincing power.

Fortunately, the other person didn’t linger, “Can you get up by yourself?”

Shi Xing looked up and was met with a pair of ash-gray eyes.

A unique color for eyes.

The man nearby had deep-set features and an extraordinary demeanor, quietly watching people with an imposing aura without needing to be angry.

It was clearly Shi Xing’s eyelashes that were raised and focused on him, but Shi Xing felt as if he was being looked down upon by this gaze.

Remembering that immense mental force, Shi Xing’s heart tightened, and he suspected he had collided with a significant figure in the Empire. His back tensed, and disregarding his flustered state, he hastily got up.

The man helped him again.

The extended hand had well-defined knuckles, and there was a small red mole on the outer side of his pinky finger.

As Shi Xing stood straight among a group of orderly soldiers, the silent intimidation brought about by their strict discipline felt even stronger.

Shi Xing also increasingly sensed the extraordinary status of the other person.

“I’m sorry for bumping into you. I didn’t mean to,” Shi Xing apologized.

“A Blue Star human?” The man tapped lightly on the armrest, “Did you have an argument with your guardian?”

Realizing the other person mistakenly believed he was still in the maturity period, Shi Xing was momentarily at a loss for words.

Not knowing how to respond, Shi Xing asked for the way out instead.

The man said nothing, and a subordinate beside him gestured to Shi Xing in the direction, unobtrusively parting ways with him.

After thanking them again, Shi Xing said goodbye.

Noticing that Shi Xing didn’t want to answer his question, the man no longer pressed and calmly nodded his chin, signaling a farewell.

Such a high-handed gesture seemed perfectly natural when coming from him, as if it were just meant to be.

After walking a distance, he was pursued by the subordinate who gave him a piece of crystal.

“The prince asked me to give this to you. Regardless, I hope you’ll return to your guardian soon.”

Blue Star humans were precious to the Empire, and their growth was difficult; the soldiers treated them very kindly.

The energy was rich; it was a high-grade crystal.

Holding it in hand, Shi Xing felt a long-lost kindness.

From a distance, he could see the man sitting tall, and his expression was obscured.

Regardless of whether the other person could hear him, Shi Xing whispered, “Thank you.”

As Shi Xing’s figure disappeared into the snowy backdrop, an officer said to the man, “Your Highness, the wedding has been postponed.”

The man raised an eyebrow.

“There was an issue with General Lu Lu; it seems he’s searching for someone in the Prince’s Residence.”

“Moreover, Director Xue has sent several messages, strongly requesting that you return to the flying vehicle to rest due to the heavy snowfall today.”

If Shi Xing had carefully paid attention before leaving, he would have noticed that the man’s expression was not much better than his own.

It was similarly lifelessly pale.

That day, Shi Xing returned to Ancheng, but he didn’t make it back home.

Collapsing in the snow, just before his pupils scattered, Shi Xing hazily saw glimmering snowflakes falling into his eyes.

It seemed as if he, along with the drifting snow, began to float away.