Chapter 127: Kitty Really Stop Crying

Chapter 127: Little Cat, Please Don’t Cry Anymore

He'd only been here two days, and his body was already giving out.

Meng Shu's eyes were a little red. He steadied his emotions, then smiled and put his arm around Ling Qingjue's shoulders. "Look at me. Just look at me."

Ling Qingjue deliberately looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.

But Meng Shu suddenly got anxious and raised his voice. "I told you to look at me!"

Only then did Ling Qingjue glare at him, pouting. "What?"

Meng Shu's temper instantly faded. His shoulders sagged and he laughed softly. "Kitty, I'm heading back now."

Ling Qingjue furrowed his brows. The TV light flickered, and his expression shifted with it. "Why? It's only been two days."

Meng Shu nervously rubbed Ling Qingjue's shoulder and smiled tenderly. "Well... I'm going back to get you the Moonstone. I want to give it to you as soon as possible."

"Didn't you just say you wouldn't give it to me? That you'd give it to someone else? Now I don't want it." Ling Qingjue's voice was low and dull, unlike his usual clear, bright tone.

"I was just teasing you. Who else would I give it to if not you?"

Ling Qingjue stared at him expressionlessly. "You tell me. That damn fox, that third-rate writer, and a bunch of random people. Don't think I don't know—you've got over sixty relationship points with all sorts of people."

Meng Shu looked helpless. "Taking commission quests gives you affinity points, that's just how it works. We send each other stuff sometimes, and it goes up without me meaning to. I never deliberately raised it."

"Who knows if you're doing it on purpose?" Ling Qingjue pressed his lips thin, barely hiding his jealousy.

"Jealous again?" Meng Shu blinked his big eyes. "What are you, a jealous jar?"

"I am not!"

Ling Qingjue turned his head away. "I'm just telling you—have some shame. You chose me, but you're still farming affinity with other people. If I catch you again, I'll plant you in a pot."

"You've already said you'd plant me in a flowerpot three times."

Ling Qingjue glared at him fiercely. "You think I wouldn't dare?"

He suddenly leaned in, his nose touching Meng Shu's cheek. Each word seemed to whisper right into Meng Shu's ear: "You're mine forever. Even if you die, you can't escape. This is the path you chose. I gave you a chance, and you chose to stay."

For a moment, his heart pounded like a drum.

He couldn't help lifting his head and pressing his lips to Ling Qingjue's.

Ling Qingjue only stayed fierce for a second. The moment he got kissed, all his anger melted away. He pressed back harder, kissing him even more passionately.

Somehow, Meng Shu ended up pinned beneath him, his back against the sofa with nowhere to run. The kiss was so intense that the corners of his eyes got a little wet, his lips were swollen and he was out of breath.

Ling Qingjue looked puzzled and gently rubbed the corner of Meng Shu's eye with his thumb. "Why are you crying?"

He lowered his head and kissed the corner of his eye. "Don't cry."

Meng Shu opened his eyes, dazed. "Huh? Maybe... I cried because you kissed me."

He smiled to himself. "Such a fierce kitty."

Ling Qingjue was rarely so gentle. He smiled a little, but his voice carried a hint of sadness. "If I weren't fierce, I couldn't keep you in line. You say nice things, but you don't really take me seriously."

He coughed. "Hey... I guess I'll cook this once, even though I don't want to."

I've been good, so you have to give me the Moonstone too.

Ling Qingjue's eyes were stunningly bright—even in the dim light, they sparkled like gems. He looked at Meng Shu with anticipation in his eyes. No matter how much he tried to hide his feelings, it was useless.

"...I understand."

Meng Shu took his hand and pressed it to his own cheek, murmuring softly, "Kitty... thank you."

He put his arms around Ling Qingjue's back. "I'm heading back. Kitty, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Ling Qingjue let go.

Meng Shu gave him a small smile, then vanished from his arms.

...

Back in the real world.

Meng Shu woke up in his own bed once again. He was completely unable to move, just lying there paralyzed.

Lake was lying by the bed, probably waiting for him to come back. He'd waited so long he'd fallen asleep.

Meng Shu's eyes moved very, very slowly. He could barely see anything anymore; even breathing seemed difficult.

He didn't have much money. He couldn't afford an expensive gem for Ling Qingjue.

What could he give Ling Qingjue?

Meng Shu's mind was sluggish. He wanted to sit up, tried to move his fingers, but his body refused to obey.

Fortunately, as soon as he stirred, Lake woke with a start. "Ah! Brother Mengshu, you're back."

He took Meng Shu's hand—it was very cold. "How are you feeling?"

Meng Shu's body had been failing fast these past two days. He was wasting away, that was all. He moved his eyes wearily, lacking even the strength to turn his head. "I... need... a stone."

Lake didn't really understand. "What stone?"

"For... Ling Qingjue... a pretty stone."

Lake suddenly tightened his grip on Meng Shu's hand. His tone was odd. "Even at a time like this, you still want to give him a Moonstone?"

"Not a Moonstone. Just... giving it back to him." Meng Shu slowly glanced at the cabinet by the bed. "The Moonstone he gave me... and there's a box in there. Get it out for me."

Lake was quiet for a while, then he took out the box.

It was a rusty iron box.

He opened it. Inside were a few scattered bank cards, a passbook, some faded letters, old photos, and a handful of glass marbles.

"Those are from when I was little. My mom gave them to me." Meng Shu's voice was barely audible. "She gave me one. In middle school, I played against other kids... won a bunch. Over the years, I lost a lot. This is all I have left."

Lake had never seen glass marbles. In his world, nobody played with things like that.

They were beautiful marbles, colorful and clear.

"I remember... there's one with green streaks inside." Meng Shu paused, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "This is all I can give him."

He didn't even have enough money for treatment, and these past few days he couldn't even scrape together the money for medicine.

Meng Shu thought, if only he weren't so broke, he could return a costly jewel to Ling Qingjue.

But all he could give Ling Qingjue was a cheap glass bead.

Lake silently picked up that bead, and after a long time, he said, "Brother Meng Shu, this bead is beautiful. Our world doesn't have it. He'll like it."

"Really?" Meng Shu managed a faint smile. "Then... that's great."

"Put the gem he gave me... and this bead, into my hand."

Lake held back his tears and placed the gem and the glass bead into his palm.

Meng Shu caught his breath and asked one last question: "In that world... there must be some kind of magic that can make everyone forget me."

Lake broke down in that instant, and he burst into tears. "You want everyone to forget you? Meng Shu, how could you be so cruel!"

After a long time, he heard Meng Shu say this: "Lake, your big brother is begging you... tell me... don't let them shed tears for me. Shedding tears for me... haha... that would be... so damn stupid."

Especially Ling Qingjue.

Little cat, please don't cry.