ABRIWMTHM Chapter 15

Seeing Lu Lu like this, Shi Xing’s heart trembled.

He called out to the other person, and since Lu Lu was willing to stop and turn around, he didn’t hesitate to take a few more steps, slowly walking in front of Shi Xing, allowing Shi Xing to see him clearly.

The spirited young Master Lu, now closer, revealed more details on his face.

His eyes were deep red, with dark circles underneath, and his expression carried a heavy weariness…

It was obvious that Lu Lu had not been resting well these past few days.

As for why, Shi Xing couldn’t help but tremble; he naturally understood.

There was an arm’s distance between them, and Lu Lu stopped, staring at Shi Xing unblinkingly. Shi Xing felt a kind of unexpressed torment and reluctance under such a gaze, but he didn’t show any oddity on his face.

Both of them fell into silence for a moment.

Silence, complete silence.

“You called me, yet you don’t speak?” Lu Lu’s voice was rough, like sandpaper scraping against wood.

Taking a deep breath, closing his eyes and reopening them, Shi Xing’s gaze was clear.

“Didn’t you come to the residence to find me?”

“Is it not you? Aren’t you finally willing to see me?”

Shi Xing understood Lu Lu. If he really wanted to avoid him, he wouldn’t appear boldly at the residence entrance; if he wanted to hide, Shi Xing wouldn’t even have the chance to see him.

The most likely explanation was that Lu Lu had finally decided to respond to his invitation on the communicator and came to find him directly.

However, he probably didn’t expect to be returned by Tan Yan, whose name had already been listed among those participating in the matching. Lu Lu would know through the star network; he was aware of their intentions.

While he was struggling internally, he collided with Tan Yan, who was carrying on with laughter while bringing him back, which naturally made Lu Lu angry.

The pride of young Master Lu drove him away in a huff.

Shi Xing’s question made Lu Lu fall silent, and silence sometimes equated to a kind of tacit agreement.

It was true; Lu Lu was indeed here to find him.

Once again, silence fell between the two.

At this moment, both of them had turmoil brewing in their hearts, but facing each other, they unconsciously remained silent.

“Have you decided long ago?”

Hoarsely, Lu Lu finally spoke.

“You never, from beginning to end, thought about choosing me, did you, Shi Xing?”

Lu Lu questioned.

“Not really.” Shi Xing’s voice was soft. “I thought about it a long time ago.”

In his previous life, he had thought about it, and he had chosen, but unfortunately, it never ended well.

Shi Xing smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes, appearing bitter and astringent—something Lu Lu had never seen before.

“However, reality and ideals are always at odds. You’ve seen it; we… are not suitable.”

This sentence, which had been stuck in his throat several times, was finally spoken out seriously and decisively by Shi Xing.

He repeated it, “Yes, we are not suitable.”

“Lu Lu, you can’t support me; I am a burden to you.”

“If that’s the case, why not be more realistic.”

After a long pause, Shi Xing smiled again, this time with clarity in his eyes, “Let’s leave it at that.”

His gaze towards Lu Lu was bright, tinged with a glimmer of water. Shi Xing had experienced many devastating moments—when he discovered the true attitude of the princess, when he lost his abilities, when he realized there would be no possibility between him and Lu Lu—but… he had never cried.

It hurt, it was painful, but he did not wish to cry.

Yet at this moment, with fate becoming clear and taking a turn, Shi Xing unusually felt a moisture gathering in his eyes.

Lu Lu was also looking at him, incredulous, and as he discerned that Shi Xing wasn’t joking, his body involuntarily swayed.

Young Master Lu opened his mouth, speechless, unable to make any sound.

After a long while, his hoarse voice questioned, “Just like that?”

“Just like what?”

Shi Xing: “Our matching situation ends here; there’s no need to bring it up again.”

His words were decisive; saying it felt relieving.

As if some long-pressed heaviness in his heart had vanished.

Lu Lu unconsciously took a step back, his gaze flickering.

Shi Xing didn’t even know how much he had been enduring and suffering these past few days.

However, on this basis, what he didn’t know was that even so, even at this point, he still didn’t want to give up; he was still thinking of ways, thinking about… the possibility of their matching…

These past few days, Lu Lu had finally realized how much he liked Shi Xing.

But Shi Xing’s words made his actions seem foolish, devoid of meaning.

Lu Lu looked deeply at the other, as if it were the first day he had met Shi Xing… Was it really Shi Xing saying these words? Or had he never truly understood Shi Xing?!

Lu Lu vividly and clearly remembered his experience after the talent evaluation.

At first, it was complete chaos; information surged in like a tide, making Lu Lu feel half-numb.

He had no means to grasp things; Shi Xing’s rank was too high. Even though he rationally knew he should act to resolve the issue, a voice deep down continued to deny him, saying everything he wanted to do was meaningless.

Born into a military family, with an older brother stationed on the border for years, Lu Lu had a very clear recognition of this kind of situation in his heart.

—Giving up was the best choice.

But his emotions wouldn’t allow him to. While he could give up on an SS+ ranked Blue Star human, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon Shi Xing. Just the thought of it scorched his soul.

These two days, before the matching, he had repeated Shi Xing’s name countless times at home. When he opened the communicator, his family already knew what happened; his father and sister comforted him, but Lu Lu didn’t want comfort.

Only his older brother, unable to bear it, offered a solution, saying that ultimately matching still relied on personal choice. If he was unwilling to give up, he should try going to Shi Xing.

Even if he failed, it would be better than doing nothing and regretting it later.

Lu Lu was moved but still fearful, anxious about many inexplicable things… Until his mother said she was coming.

His mother, who had always ignored everything, a wealthy idler living in the Imperial Capital, hearing this news, was willing to come help him, so what could he possibly be afraid of?

The princess consort’s actions, stepping onto a ship to come to Ancheng to accompany Lu Lu, gave him immense courage, leading to today, when he took a gamble and sought out Shi Xing.

Only he hadn’t expected that the most likely path would be the most blocked one.

Shi Xing’s reaction made the torment he had endured these past days seem like a joke.

A laughable joke.

Lu Lu felt desolate in his heart, looking at Shi Xing, and suddenly burst into laughter, a mocking laugh, laughing at himself and the Lu family.

“Ending it here, just like that?”

Repeating Shi Xing’s words, Lu Lu’s eyes were already abnormally red; gritting his teeth, he said, “The debts can be written off, but how do we account for me and you?”

Lu Lu took a huge step forward, staring aggressively at Shi Xing, his voice almost escaping through clenched teeth, “How do you account for how much I like you?”

“It hasn’t been a day or two; it’s not just a month or two; it’s been several years, Shi Xing, a whole several years. Can’t you feel this sentiment even a little?”

“Have I not treated you well? Am I not good enough for you?”

Lu Lu held Shi Xing’s shoulders tightly, his expression frantic, and the hoarse voice that came out of his mouth trapped Shi Xing in place.

“In these years, do you have even a slight feeling for me?”

His expression was mad, yet his tone was humble to the core; Shi Xing had never seen Lu Lu like this.

Speechless, Shi Xing forced himself to calm down, “Lu Lu, calm down…”

But this remark had the opposite effect, igniting Lu Lu’s repressed emotions to the extreme.

“Calm down? How can I calm down? How can I?!”

“Do you know how I’ve been these past few days?!”

“Do you know what kind of feelings I came here with, Shi Xing, do you know…”

“Do you know how broken I am?”

Yes, broken.

Tears streamed down from the corners of Lu Lu’s eyes, but he remained oblivious, staring directly at Shi Xing, his eyes questioning as if it had substance.

Lu Lu’s voice became softer again, but its weight was heavier, “I have never gone to such lengths for anyone.”

“Neither has my family.”

“My older brother is still on the border, where the mutated beast swarm is piled up, keeping in touch with me late at night to offer suggestions. My second sister is pushing aside her duties to go back to the Imperial Capital early. My father is working day and night, holding meetings at the military, and still messaging me… Oh, and my mother, upon hearing your rank, immediately called me, saying she would come to Ancheng to accompany me and help me.”

“I never expected that the first person to tell me to give up would be you.”

“How could it be you, how could it possibly be you…”

Overwhelmed with sorrow, Lu Lu held Shi Xing’s shoulders too tightly, causing him pain.

But the originally silent Shi Xing, upon hearing something, suddenly developed other emotions in his eyes, pulling himself out of Lu Lu’s sadness, almost instinctively asking.

“Your mother… Princess Consort Tan Shao is coming to the Nest?”

“Yes, she boarded a ship yesterday; she will arrive today.”

Shi Xing’s lips twitched sadly. He suddenly turned cold, saying, “Lu Lu, have you misunderstood something?”

“I believe she is coming to Ancheng to accompany you, but to help you… you must have misunderstood, right?”

“What are you talking about?” Lu Lu asked.

Shi Xing didn’t know where his strength came from; perhaps it was due to the long-suppressed feelings, all wanting to burn out like fireworks on this day. He forcefully broke free from Lu Lu.

Instinctively, Lu Lu moved forward again, but the next moment, Shi Xing pushed him away forcefully.

“If I’m correct, she only said she was coming to accompany you, right?”

“The rest is merely your self-righteous assumption.”

Lu Lu’s expression changed slightly as he realized something. “What do you mean?”

Since it had come to this, there was no need to hold anything back.

Shi Xing’s nails dug into his palm, suddenly realizing he might have long awaited this moment, to the extent that he could no longer help but blurt out:

“Literally.”

“If you want to talk about yourself, then just mention yourself; don’t bring up your family.”

“Besides, regarding your family’s situation and your parents’ attitudes, do you really think you understand?”

Lu Lu’s face darkened. “Don’t slander my parents.”

This time, Shi Xing smiled—a sarcastic smile, even sharper for having experienced it firsthand.

“Lu Lu, when I say we are not suited, I’m not speaking carelessly. Your status and mine aren’t matched; your family wouldn’t agree.”

“There are things you do not know; it’s okay. You can find out.”

“After all, your mother is coming today. If you don’t believe me, you can directly ask her and test whether she’s here to help you or to persuade you to give up!”

“Do you think your brother, who’s been stationed at the border and hasn’t come home, really is just because the military can’t send anyone else?”

“He asked you to accompany the Princess Consort just because he’s too busy with military affairs to come home?”

Looking at Lu Lu’s dazed expression, Shi Xing’s words were cruel, “You don’t know anything.”

You don’t know what has happened in the Lu family because of Wen Xi (Lu Lu’s brother’s partner). You don’t know the Princess’s complicated attitude towards Blue Star humans. You don’t know… his family doesn’t really welcome him.

“Just go.”

“Your family doesn’t welcome me.”

“We’re not suitable. I won’t choose you.”

“Star—” Lu Lu still wanted to reach out to Shi Xing.

Shi Xing shook off his hand forcefully, “Lu Lu, can you be more realistic?”

Both of them, stirred by their emotions, were in a bit of a chaotic state due to their mental powers. The muted conversation faintly reached out, having long arrived where Fu Qing was observing for some time with the application form. Even if he only heard the last sentence, he was deeply shocked.

Shi Xing is facing a persistent candidate? So quickly?!

Fu Qing immediately recorded a video for Chi Yao, asking, [Your Highness, it seems someone is entangling with Shi Xing; it’s been quite a while. Should I handle it?]

In the video, Shi Xing’s face was clearly visible, while Lu Lu was only seen from the back.

Chi Yao frowned, [During the matching period, officers are prohibited from entangling with Blue Star humans.]

Watching the two in a fierce clash, the young Blue Star human also appeared off, after a moment’s thought, Chi Yao decided: [Bring him back.]

At least no one dared to stir trouble in front of him.

Fu Qing replied, “Understood.”

Just as Lu Lu reached out again to pull Shi Xing, high-level mental power surged in, and Lu Lu was instantly sent flying.