Chapter 51 Farewell to the Past

Chapter 51: Farewell to the Past

After settling Samuel in, Idris shut himself in the study.

Having reviewed all the materials once more, Idris became even more certain of his suspicions. However, information on the mental plague was exceedingly scarce. Trying to uncover the full story behind the plague's outbreak was next to impossible.

Yet, no matter how difficult, it had to be investigated.

Idris had a premonition that as long as the cause of the mental plague's outbreak was clarified, the mystery of the differentiated illusion could also be unraveled.

He organized the materials at hand and placed them in a drawer. As he withdrew his hand, Idris accidentally brushed against a box tucked in the corner of the drawer.

The box was a dark red overall, adorned with delicate gold-traced lotus patterns.

Idris examined the red box, unable to quite remember where it came from. So, he took it out and carefully opened it. Inside lay several fragments of dark green jade, alongside a hand-woven pendant.

Seeing the physical objects, Idris suddenly remembered. These were items Ray had sent over along with the inhibitor last time, saying he'd found them in a dark alley.

At the time, Idris had glanced at them upon receiving them. He'd originally meant to find a chance for Samuel to identify whether they were his belongings. However, shortly after receiving them, he was assigned a mission. After returning, he got caught up in work and forgot all about it.

Closing the drawer, Idris took the box and left the study.

When the knock sounded, Samuel was sitting at the desk, organizing two already-sorted stacks of drawing paper.

"Come in."

As he spoke, Samuel placed the neatly aligned stack of drawing paper into a drawer.

By the time Idris reached the desk, Samuel was carefully arranging the other stack of paper on the table, placing each sheet into a portfolio. His movements were gentle, handling the paper with a subtle, almost imperceptible tenderness.

Idris saw clearly that the insects in the portfolio were all him, not the one who resembled him in appearance.

Feeling valued, a smile appeared in Idris's eyes, and an endless sweetness welled up from the depths of his heart.

"Your Excellency, these are things Ray found at the place where he rescued you. Please see if they are yours." Placing the box in his hand on the desk, Idris leaned casually against the table edge.

"What things?"

As he spoke, Samuel set down the portfolio and curiously took the box. With a slender fingertip, he gently lifted the lid, and it opened with a soft click.

When the contents of the box were fully revealed, the curiosity in Samuel's eyes vanished completely, replaced by shock that crept into the corners of his eyes. He stared at the items in the box, disbelief evident as he traced the edges of the broken jade with his fingers.

This was "Brother's" jade.

But this jade should have been on "Brother's" person. How could it be at the place where he was found?

Samuel glanced at Idris with surprise and suspicion. The moment he lowered his head, a fragment of an unfamiliar memory flashed in his mind.

In the memory, he was wearing a plain white robe, fleeing in panic into a two-story building marked with the sign of a certain daily newspaper.

The people inside initially greeted him with smiles, but upon hearing him call out Su Mu's name, their faces showed surprise.

Afterwards, a bespectacled middle-aged man came before him, led him to a secluded room, and handed him two items.

One was this jade pendant, the other was a letter.

Upon seeing the jade pendant, he already had an ominous premonition. When the letter was opened, the premonition became reality.

The envelope didn't contain much, only a single yellowed sheet of paper. The words on it were few, but each sentence and phrase exuded guilt towards him.

In the memory, he read the letter, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face. When he saw the words "Su Mu's final words" at the end, he was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Su Mu, his elder brother, died in the year he turned sixteen.

At that time, he was being kept under watch by his second uncle in a small courtyard, counting the days, eagerly waiting for his elder brother to finish his current task and take him away.

His elder brother had once said that after completing his mission, after driving away the foreigners who lorded over this land; after finding a way forward for this land; after every person on this land could truly stand up, he would take him away to see the magnificent rivers and mountains.

He believed it, but his elder brother broke his promise.

He did not wait for his return.

He left the newspaper office in a daze, taking his elder brother's jade pendant and that letter, drifting through life in a haze for nearly half a year.

On a certain day in December, his second uncle suddenly withdrew the servants from outside his courtyard, hurriedly moving his family to Chongqing. He was forgotten and left behind in the mansion.

Later, war broke out in Jinling. Enemies wielding bayonets swaggered arrogantly through the city, playing inhumane games of killing.

The sky over Jinling turned a river-water red. The entire city was never at peace. Every day, the piercing sound of air raid sirens would echo repeatedly through the city. Whenever the sirens sounded, the common people would scatter like frightened birds, frantically rushing towards air-raid shelters.

When the sirens fell silent, the roar of enemy planes would sweep across the sky. After a series of explosions, houses and those who hadn't escaped in time turned into rubble.

In the memory, he did not follow the common people to the air-raid shelters. Instead, he hid in the cellar of the Su residence with Fu Ling and Auntie Wang.

Later, Fu Ling and Auntie Wang also left him, one after the other. He hid common people and children from the surrounding area who had nowhere else to go in the cellar. He learned from his elder brother, luring the enemies away, protecting those children.

"Elder brother..."

Samuel clutched the broken jade pendant. Bright red blood seeped from the wound cut by the jade, quickly staining his palm.

"Your Excellency!"

Seeing this, Idris hurriedly bent down, reaching out to pry open Samuel's fingers. But the harder he tried, the tighter the male clenched, and the faster the blood flowed.

"Your Excellency, the items won't run away. You're injured. Could you please let go first?" Idris bent over, supporting Samuel's injured hand, and gently persuaded him.

Samuel looked up at the female whose face was full of concern, opened his palm, and stared blankly at the blood-stained jade pendant. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Idris, I want to be alone for a while."

Idris sighed. He didn't ask why the male suddenly became so emotional. He simply took the fragments from his palm, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and carefully covered the wound. He asked, "Then, may I bandage it for you before I leave?"

Samuel pressed his lips together and shook his head slightly.

"But I'm worried about you." Idris half-knelt, looking up at Samuel. The usually stern and uncompromising Major General had melted the coldness from his brow. He lowered his stance, softened his tone, all just to stay.

Idris was rarely this... soft.

Samuel stared at him for a long moment, then finally nodded.

Having received permission, Idris quickly went downstairs to fetch the first aid kit to the bedroom. After bandaging the wound, he left as promised. However, before leaving, he bent down and hugged Samuel.

He said, Your Excellency, I will be right outside the door. Don't be afraid.

That day, Samuel sat at the desk for as long as he did, and Idris stood outside the door for just as long.

By the time Samuel opened the door, the sun had already set.

He gazed at the insect leaning against the door of the second-floor side bedroom, walked step by step closer to him, took the female's hand, and asked with reddened eyes, "Idris, will you leave?"

Idris said with utmost seriousness, "No."

"As long as you need me, Your Excellency, and as long as you don't push me away, I'll always be by your side."

Samuel heard the sincerity in Idris's voice. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to give someone's promise one last chance.

After that, Samuel placed the recovered jade pendant, along with a portrait and a letter from his late brother, into the bottom drawer.

He bid farewell to the past, chose the future, and chose Idris.

Meanwhile, Idris was nervously planning a secret confession, all while keeping an eye on Samuel's mood and working to free Ray.

Clueless, he called Yisang. When he received Idris's communication, Yisang was surprised, but it made sense.

Ever since the last time Idris swallowed his pride and endured Ivar's teasing to inquire about secondary differentiation information, Yisang knew that Samuel held an extraordinary place in Idris's heart.

Now that this male insect, who had once refused matching, had decided to pursue a male insect, Yisang felt he must offer his full support.

Thus, Ivar got the cold shoulder and was even roped by Yisang into doing grunt work.

While the confession was being prepared with great urgency, Ray's trial also entered its final stage.

On the day of the final hearing, Idris and Samuel left early for the courthouse.

Due to the involvement of an S-class male insect, the trial drew a huge amount of attention, and the military court rarely livestreamed the proceedings.

During the livestream, the presiding judge first read out Ray's numerous crimes and presented the relevant evidence. As the charges were read, netizens grew increasingly agitated.

"Wow, this military male insect is really bold, daring to take a male insect to the insectification ward?!"

"My god, and it's an S-class Excellency! Does this military male insect even know how precious an S-class Excellency is! What if something had happened?!"

"Latest news: something did happen to the Excellency. Reportedly, he fell into a coma immediately after the grooming session, entered secondary differentiation prematurely, and only woke up recently."

"Then I understand why he was taken by the military court."

"I heard the S-class Excellency will be present in person today. Given the temperament of male insects and the crimes currently announced against the military male insect, it seems he won't make it."

"Damn right! Let's see if any other military male insect dares to force an Excellency again!"

Samuel was completely unaware of the discussions among netizens on the Star Network. After the military court finished reading Ray's charges, Samuel, as a party involved, requested to supplement the evidence.

Upon receiving permission, he laid out the whole story to the livestream, emphasizing his own leading role in the incident and defining Ray's actions as forced compliance with his orders. He also stressed that after the accident occurred, Ray transported him to the male insect-exclusive hospital at the fastest possible speed, which prevented things from getting even worse.

"In summary, I do not agree with the relevant crimes listed by Your Honor. If any insect must be held responsible for this matter, it should be me. If Your Honor wishes to pursue accountability, it should be directed at me, not Ray."

A mix of emotions crossed Ray's face as he stood in the dock. He had never imagined that after the incident came to light, this Excellency, a male insect, would testify for him—an insect he had barely met—and step forward to save him.

After all, when conflicts arise between male insects and their own interests, male insects rarely make concessions or compromises for them.

Consequently, when Samuel spoke those words on the livestream, the netizens, especially the male insects, went wild.

"Is this a male insect??"

"What kind of insect-shit luck did this military male insect have?! An S-class Excellency is actually willing to protect him!!"

"A male insect actively saving an insectified military male insect? What kind of joke is this! The trial court surely won't actually believe this story and let that military male insect go, right?!"

"They actually let him go!! This is the first military male insect to walk out of the military court standing!!"

"Ahhh, when will I ever encounter such a handsome and kind-hearted male insect?!"

"Well, you just did! Excellency, I volunteer to warm your bed!!"

Author's Note: Transition chapter, may be revised.

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Finally, we're getting to the confession chapter. I'm almost dying of anticipation. [Coughs up blood]