Chapter 207:
Side Story 2 – Love (Part 2)
During summer break, besides waiting for his university acceptance letter, Xing Nuo had a new activity: going on dates with Lu Qi.
Both of them were clueless about romance.
Whenever they met, Lu Qi would either say something awkward and nerdy, his face stiff with nervousness, or just sit there silently, his mind racing with dating tips he had read online, but unable to put any of them into practice.
Xing Nuo was also inexperienced in dating. He would fidget, his usual chatter replaced by an awkward silence, his hands nervously twisting and turning.
They would walk aimlessly, the scorching July sun beating down on them, their faces flushed, their clothes damp with sweat, neither willing to suggest they go somewhere cooler.
After wandering around for hours, they finally reached Xing Nuo’s complex, and Xing Nuo, blinking, waved at Lu Qi.
“I’m home. See you next time?”
Lu Qi, his heart sinking, Time flies so fast, nodded, trying to appear calm and collected.
“Okay. Be careful. See you.”
Xing Nuo smiled, his eyes crinkling, and waved, then turned and went inside.
His dads were both at work.
A wedding photo of his two dads hung in the living room, their love story a familiar tale Xing Nuo had heard countless times.
According to Wen Xingxue, he had found Shen Wen, frozen and almost lifeless, buried in a snowdrift, on his way home from work one winter evening, shortly after graduating from university.
He had been terrified, a recent graduate himself, and had frantically dug Shen Wen out.
Shen Wen’s body had been ice-cold, his heart still, but after Wen Xingxue brought him home and blasted him with a space heater, he had miraculously revived.
Wen Xingxue had later learned that Shen Wen was a monster, with no heartbeat.
Shen Wen was beautiful, his long, golden hair flowing like a river, his eyes filled with an aristocratic arrogance, but he had been completely clueless about the human world, not even knowing how to use a phone.
Wen Xingxue, smitten, had let Shen Wen stay in his small, rented apartment. He worked hard to support them, returning home every evening to find Shen Wen had bought a mountain of useless trinkets online.
But Shen Wen was so beautiful that Wen Xingxue couldn’t bring himself to be angry or to ask him to leave, just working harder, climbing the corporate ladder from a lowly employee to a manager, to provide for Shen Wen.
They had gotten married, and only then had Shen Wen revealed his true nature.
And that he had created two other monsters.
Wen Xingxue, stunned, had only asked:
“Will those two little monsters take my last name?”
Shen Wen, seemingly amused by his question, had shook his head. “No, they’ll take mine.”
Wen Xingxue, not daring to ask if Shen Wen had any other “exes,” just nodded, secretly wondering if monsters even had marriage laws.
But we’re married now. I have priority over any monster exes!
Then Xing Nuo had been born, and Shen Baizhou and Shen Yan had arrived from the monster world.
And Shen Wen had started his own career.
He was now a sought-after fashion model, his striking looks and perfect proportions gracing magazine covers and runways.
He had even gained some online fame.
He had made a guest appearance on a not-very-popular variety show a few years ago, and clips of his appearance had gone viral.
But Shen Wen was easygoing and hadn’t pursued fame, focusing on raising Xing Nuo.
Xing Nuo, standing in front of their wedding photo, eating a popsicle, sighed contentedly.
Thanks to his two dads, he had a romantic view of love, innocent and hopeful.
After finishing his popsicle, he was planning his summer internship when someone knocked on the door.
He opened the door and saw Shen Wen.
But his dad’s face was grim, his arms crossed, and a man with a video camera stood behind him.
“Sorry to disturb you.”
The cameraman was polite, bowing repeatedly, and followed Shen Wen inside.
“Daddy, you’re back!”
Xing Nuo, assuming they were here to film his dad, like before, for a photoshoot, didn’t think much of it and hugged his dad’s arm, nuzzling him affectionately.
His face, still retaining a hint of childish roundness, his smile sweet, his curls soft and fluffy, inviting a touch.
Shen Wen, his mood lifting at the sight of his adorable son, smiled faintly and hummed.
“My company is starting a live stream project. This is the cameraman.”
He then turned to the cameraman. “Is it live?”
Cameraman: “Yes, it’s been live since we left the car.”
Shen Wen frowned, then shrugged.
“It’s fine. Not many viewers anyway.”
He led Xing Nuo inside, to unpack some deliveries.
“Bao Bao, look, Daddy bought you some things for university.”
Xing Nuo, not minding the camera, thinking it was just another one of his dad’s projects, a new marketing strategy by his company, like that time he had made a guest appearance on a variety show,
leaned against his dad, watching him unpack the boxes.
Shen Wen took out a frog-shaped pen, squeezed it, making it croak, and smiled.
“What do you think? Nice, right? You can use it at university.”
Xing Nuo gasped, squeezed the little frog, remembering his own collection of frog toys, and giggled.
“Cute! I take it to university…take notes!”
Xing Nuo, the ever-supportive son, always enthusiastic, no matter how strange or ridiculous the item.
Shen Wen, his mood lifting at his son’s praise, his light-colored eyes sparkling, smiled.
The viewers in the live stream were captivated.
[The anchor is so handsome!]
[Is he always live at this time?]
[Two beautiful people! I’m obsessed with this live stream!]
After half an hour of unpacking, having fulfilled his company’s quota, Shen Wen covered the camera lens and turned it off.
“Alright, Xiao Zhou, you and the cameraman can go now.”
Xiao Zhou, his assistant, sighed. The live stream was just starting to get popular!
But he knew Shen Wen well and didn’t argue, quickly leaving with the cameraman.
Xing Nuo thought the live stream was just a minor interruption in their day.
But the next morning, he was woken by a call from an unknown number.
“Hello?” he mumbled sleepily.
“Hello! Is this Shen Xing Nuo? Are you interested in becoming a trainee? I guarantee you a spot on this summer’s idol survival show if you sign with us!”
Xing Nuo, yawning, his head still foggy with sleep, thought, These scammers are working early, and hung up.
He was now wide awake, and just as he was about to get out of bed, another call came in.
“Hello? Is this the curly-haired cutie from the internet? Interested in acting?”
Xing Nuo’s face darkened. Who leaked my information? So many scammers!
He hung up again, then, as he was having breakfast, his mood still sour, another call.
Before the person on the other end could even speak, Xing Nuo said:
“Not interested in acting or idol shows. Thank you. Please don’t call again.”
A pause, then a soft, hesitant voice:
“Xing Nuo, it’s me.”
Xing Nuo, recognizing the voice, said quickly:
“Lu Qi? Is that you?”
He then added, slightly embarrassed:
“Sorry, I thought it was another scammer.”
Lu Qi, relieved that Xing Nuo wasn’t angry, his heart filled with joy, said:
“A scammer? I did see your video online. You looked good.”
The comments were filled with people calling Xing Nuo their “wife” and saying how cute he was.
Lu Qi, reading them, a strange mix of jealousy and possessiveness, and a deep, unsettling joy, scrolled through the comments.
Xing Nuo, realizing what he meant, quickly checked his phone.
The video of him and his dad from yesterday’s live stream had gone viral.
Fortunately, Shen Yan quickly sent him a message:
[Don’t worry about the video. I’ve taken care of it.]
Shen Wen also messaged him: [I’ve had the video removed. Don’t worry, Bao Bao.]
The messages from his family, their concern and support, filled him with warmth.
“Lu Qi,” he said, his voice soft, “I’m so lucky.”
Lu Qi, standing under a tree, a stiff smile on his face, said:
“You deserve it, Xing Nuo. Look out the window.”
Xing Nuo, sensing something, ran to the balcony and looked down.
The morning sun, bright and warm, illuminated Lu Qi, standing under a tree, a golden halo around him.
He could even hear Lu Qi’s soft breathing through the phone.
“I had a dream last night. I wasn’t human, just a…machine…without a body.”
“But I was lucky. I met you. We traveled to many worlds together. And when we parted, a Guardian asked me what I wanted.”
“I said I wanted to be human…find you…and be with you…always.”
“And now…my dream has come true.”
Xing Nuo, looking down at Lu Qi, his throat tight with emotion, after a long moment, whispered:
“Me too. I had that dream too.”
Lu Qi, startled, looked up, unable to see Xing Nuo clearly, but his heart pounding, a strange nervousness gripping him.
“Lu Qi,” Xing Nuo’s voice, soft and hesitant, echoed through the phone, “do you want to be with me…always?”
Lu Qi’s heart soared. More than anything!
“Of course!”
This was the person he had searched for, across worlds and lifetimes!
They would be together, always.
In this life, and the next, he would always find Xing Nuo.
