Chapter 106: Can’t Let Go

Chapter 106: Can't Let Go

As soon as Lake heard the name Ling Qingjue, a chill went down his spine, recalling the fear of being dominated by Ling Qingjue back then. He ran over to turn off the stove, then ran back, grabbed a small stool, sat by the bed, and asked with wide eyes:

"You mean he gave you this gem?"

"Yeah." Meng Shu's head was pounding, and he laughed bitterly: "I didn't think he would like me. Someone like me... how could he possibly like me?"

"Why do you think he doesn't like you?" Lake asked in confusion. "You're such a great person; it's only natural for him to like you!"

"I..." Meng Shu gave a bitter smile. Only you see me that way.

He didn't say it out loud, looking down as he stroked the gem, speaking slowly: "I thought someone as outstanding as him would at most just fool around with me, never have true feelings..."

"Did you get together with him?" Lake asked.

"The affection level is seventy; next time I go back, it'll be eighty." Meng Shu spoke extremely slowly, each word lingering on his tongue.

His condition was deteriorating rapidly.

This was the toll that frequent time-traveling took on him.

"So fast..." Lake sighed. "You even managed to win over Ling Qingjue; you're the most impressive person I've ever seen."

"Do you think he... really likes me?" Meng Shu started to back away instead. "If he truly likes me... I can't go back to him. If I'm gone, he'll be sad..."

Lake rested his chin on his hands and asked: "Do you like him, then?"

Meng Shu hesitated, unable to hide his guilt: "I don't know. I just think he's good-looking, and he was so cocky at first that I wanted to mess with him a little. Since I'm going to die soon anyway, it'd be worth it to annoy him a bit before I go."

If it weren't for the fact that he was about to die, Meng Shu wouldn't have dared to provoke Ling Qingjue; he didn't have the guts or the malicious intent.

A dying man, he let himself be selfish for once, thinking, "I'm going to die anyway, might as well indulge one last time," and approached Ling Qingjue with ulterior motives.

He thought Ling Qingjue would always find him annoying, never give him a good face, and not give him a second glance even if he died.

But Ling Qingjue gave him a response.

He offered his sincere heart, which pressured Meng Shu and made him want to pull back.

He wasn't afraid of Ling Qingjue hating him; he was only afraid that Ling Qingjue truly liked him.

For the first time, Meng Shu regretted approaching Ling Qingjue. He admitted he was driven by lust, and in his reckless state, he felt that since he was about to die, he could do whatever he wanted without responsibility.

He and Ling Qingjue were just ships passing in the night. If he died, Ling Qingjue wouldn't care, and at least he'd have had a romance before his death, with fewer regrets.

Every step was perfect. He was selfish, Ling Qingjue was arrogant. But in this game, it seemed Ling Qingjue had genuinely fallen for him.

That wasn't what Meng Shu wanted.

The more he spoke, the more dejected he became, his temples pounding: "If I'm not around, will he be really upset..."

This was the first time Meng Shu expressed resistance to death. He had always known he would die soon and had calmly accepted that reality.

Now he didn't want to die; he wanted to stay by Ling Qingjue's side.

Lake stared at him, not moving. This man was already skin and bones; for Meng Shu, the last good thing was that cat, wasn't it?

"Don't overthink it," Lake said, unusually serious for once. "If you like him, go for it. Why overthink it?"

"But..."

"Given your current condition, you have at least a year left in that world. Why not break up with him after a year?"

Lake chose his words carefully: "Aren't you just afraid he'll miss you? Don't worry. With Ling Qingjue's personality, he's not the type to lose his mind over you."

Meng Shu thought about it carefully. According to Ling Qingjue's temperament, if he brought up a breakup, Ling Qingjue would just curse at him and tell him to get lost, right?

He might even block him permanently, not wanting to see him ever again.

As long as Ling Qingjue didn't know the truth, he would never forgive him, and naturally wouldn't mourn for him.

"Besides, as long as you don't take it to marriage, breaking up is easy. You're both adults; what's the big deal about having a relationship?" Lake didn't want him to have regrets, showing a faint smile. "There's still time. You don't have to avoid him so urgently. Maybe he's just playing around too."

Meng Shu clutched the Moonstone tightly. "I haven't made up my mind. Maybe I shouldn't get close to him anymore."

Lake tapped him on the head, frustrated: "Hey, you're dying. At least think about yourself for once. You really think that cat has feelings for you? He's Ling Qingjue! There are more people chasing him than there are magical beasts in the Demon Forest! If you break up with him, he'll find the next one in no time!"

Who would chase Ling Qingjue? That mouth of his would curse out anyone he saw; he had plenty of enemies, if anything.

Meng Shu laughed despite himself: "Aren't you afraid I'll become a jerk?"

Lake rubbed his nose and grinned slyly: "I'd think you're amazing even if you were juggling three relationships at once."

Is this what they call being biased?

Lake continued: "Mengshu, you're near the end of your life... I think life is already exhausting, and since you don't have much time left, just do what you want."

"I..." Meng Shu lowered his gaze. "I don't know."

"If you like him, give it a try." Lake reached out, took Meng Shu's left hand in his, and made him squeeze the Moonstone.

"It's not easy to win over Ling Qingjue, and you won't make it to marriage. Just a relationship. People break up all the time in Moon Bay. The romanceable targets often have conflicts, even throwing slimes at each other's houses. And the town mayor—his wife is fierce. I heard his baldness was caused by her pulling his hair out."

Meng Shu found that funny: "So the mayor is bald because of that?"

Lake looked very serious: "Of course! Romance is not about the end result. It's about both people being happy in the process."

The Moonstone in his palm shone with an enchanting luster. It had witnessed the love between Ling Qingjue's parents, and it was now given to Meng Shu.

He was stunned, then let out a laugh of relief: "I have about a year left after all... I really couldn't make it to three years."

"You time-traveled too often."

Lake said reproachfully: "It could have lasted a bit longer."

"For the time I have left, I want to be by his side." Meng Shu's lips slowly, very slowly curved upward. His smile was bitter, his voice low and thick: "I know this is selfish... He probably doesn't like me that much."

He had made his choice.

Ling Qingjue was always scolding him, never gave him a kind look, called him stupid, ugly, and poor.

Ling Qingjue was so proud, with unmatched looks and strength, and once they broke up, he wouldn't come looking for him.

As long as he broke up with Ling Qingjue before death, they would cut ties completely, leaving no connection.

Meng Shu thought, so there really was such a big gap between him and Ling Qingjue.

Then he thought again, fortunately the gap was big enough; it would be easy for Ling Qingjue to move on from him.