Chapter 46

Chapter 46

"Leaving the Star Security Checkpoint"

The starship slowly entered the docking bay, soldiers skillfully boarded the ship for inspection. A youth in a trench coat stepped out and entered the security check room.

"A pass for Planet R. What are you going there for?"

The young man's voice was hoarse: "Medical treatment."

"Please provide your medical report."

A report was unfolded, and the eyes of the examiners fell on the young man's face. "Could you please take off your mask?"

The young man removed his mask, revealing half of his face covered with burns—grotesque and horrifying, in stark contrast to the other half.

The examiners compared the photo on the ID and couldn't help but shudder.

"That's enough. Please put it back on. You can leave after the ship's internal inspection is done. It's dangerous outside the front lines lately. We suggest you stick to the safe route and don't stray off course. We wish you a smooth journey."

"Thank you."

The young man retrieved his documents, turned, and walked out of the security check room, just in time to see the soldiers exiting the starship, noting "No irregularities" on the report.

The starship slowly exited the star sector's safety perimeter, and a prompt appeared before his eyes.

"Safe travels. Planet A will always welcome you back."

The star sector was far more beautiful and vast than he had imagined. After leaving Planet A, the starship automatically activated its stealth mode and vanished into the vast interstellar grid.

"... ..."

The frontline had been winning many battles recently, and good news frequently reached Planet A, greatly boosting public morale. The rebels who had indiscriminately bombed Sector A a while back also got what they deserved.

Recently, the trending topics on the Galactic Net were almost all from the frontline.

"I heard the fighting has been fast lately. That damn Chief's right-hand men have been captured and are being sent back to Planet A."

"Vebo Shark Kill the Most! Sample first,"

"No way? The front's that far, where'd you get that info?"

"Got friends in the Alliance. Just ask around. I heard the Commander's been going nuts, pushing all the way to their hideout."

"Hell yeah! So many people doubted him, now we can shove these victories right in their faces!"

Meanwhile, on the frontline star domain.

A battle ended, and all the soldiers returned to rest with fierce energy, still carrying the unrelenting killing intent from the front, their bodies tense.

A tall figure walked in the opposite direction from the crowd, and someone caught up to him.

"Commander, a letter from Planet A for you."

Yan Zhuo paused slightly, realizing this was likely another summary of events from Assistant Xiao, and a strong reluctance surged in his heart.

For some reason, he didn't want to look at these things right now.

But... after a moment, he still reached out and took it without saying a word, then turned and returned to his private rest room.

He had been in a bad state these days, a precursor to his approaching rut. But since it was a critical time, he had to keep pressing the attack and finish the battle as quickly as possible so his condition wouldn't affect the war.

Back in the room, He sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, legs spread wide, spaced out for a full ten minutes, before finally focusing on the letter before him.

Taking a deep breath, his normally steady hands trembled involuntarily as he gently opened the thin envelope.

Inside were just a few sheets, but the handwriting was painfully familiar.

Realizing it was a handwritten letter from Ruan Yunchu, his pupils contracted slightly. He subconsciously turned on the bedside lamp and read word by word.

"Yan Zhuo, I rarely write letters, but I thought since I've received so many from you, I should reciprocate with something.

First of all, regardless, I hope you are safe. The identity of Commander is far heavier than I imagined. Your safety represents many things. I hope you return safely and everything goes smoothly.

Now, let's talk about our personal matters. Before you left, I didn't have much time to think. Now, after a few months of solitude, I finally feel ready to share what's on my mind.

Since you came into my life, you must have already looked into everything about me. I don't need to repeat those things, but I can share some deeper thoughts with you.

I told you that when I was very young, my mother died in a car accident. At that time, only the three of us were in the car. Ruan Mingyi, to save himself, exposed my mother in the passenger seat and me in the back to danger, resulting in my mother's death and my legs never being able to stand again. After that, Ruan Mingyi surrounded himself with people eager to climb up. He always used these people to test and teach me, making me learn his hypocrisy.

... ... ...

Before that, he always regarded me as the future heir of the Ruan family. Unfortunately, at 16, I presented as an omega. He was bitterly disappointed but soon started scheming about an arranged marriage, hoping to sell me off at a high price.

This is a long story. I tell you this with no other intention; these factors shaped my entire personality. This is why I told you that deception is what I can't stand the most.

You're very generous. Perhaps because of your profession, you are far more open-minded than I am. But precisely because of this, we think differently. Maybe what I say doesn't mean much to you, but that is my one and only bottom line.

I can't accept it. I can't imagine it. I don't regret bringing you home back then, but we can never be lovers.

I look forward to your return to Planet A, but I hope that when you do, you'll sit down with me face to face and give us a chance for a sincere, respectful conversation."

The letter was not long. Even if Yan Zhuo read it carefully word by word, it took only two minutes to finish.

But it felt longer than the deployment maps and regulations he read every day. Otherwise, how could it make him keep looking back, unwilling to let go?

The room fell into a dead silence. He slowly raised his head, took a deep breath, and a glint of moisture flickered in his sunken eyes.

It was all too late.

One year later.

-

A major victory at the front. Countless rebels were crushed, and several of their chiefs were killed on the spot outside the front lines. The expeditionary forces finally got to return to the planet.

The Commander's return to the planet was broadcast live across the entire Galactic Net, drawing everyone's attention.

In a tavern on some remote planet, the waiter stopped moving, looked up at the screen, and couldn't help but click his tongue.

A guest slapped the table: "Turn up the volume! Can you stop making noise? I can't hear anything!"

The speaker was a tall, scruffy man. As he spoke, the previously noisy and discussing guests fell silent. At the same time, the man wearing the Commander's uniform and mask entered the frame.

A line of the Commander's personal guards exuded the fierce and cold aura of those who had truly been on the frontlines. The man at the front was tall and dignified, his deeply sunken eyes profound as he faced the camera, his expression icy.

Surrounding media wanted to interview, but none got a chance to speak. The man briefly reported the frontline situation to the Alliance media, nodded slightly, and prepared to leave.

And just then, one media outlet boldly zoomed in from the outer corridor.

"Commander, what do you plan to do first when you return to A-Star?"

The scene was noisy, yet for some reason, the commander precisely picked up on that question, glancing back at the camera briefly without saying a word.

This exchange naturally made it onto the live broadcast. After the commander's personal guard left, the media began interviewing other soldiers, and the tavern's atmosphere relaxed again.

"If you ask me, is there even any need to ask? He's definitely going back to get a good night's sleep and rest."

"Exactly, think about it—this war lasted a year and a half; no one could take that."

"I heard it was because the commander changed tactics to directly take out the rebel stronghold, which dragged things on. If they'd stuck to the original plan to push them back, it would've ended long ago."

"Taking out the stronghold is the only way to finish it; otherwise, they'd regroup and be back before long."

"That seems a bit harsh."

"What are you saying? You're not a rebel spy, are you?"

"No, no—I mean, the casualties would be heavy. What if soldiers who could have returned safely end up dead?"

Finally, someone couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed the skinny guy by the collar, yanked him down, and ripped open his own collar with a tearing sound to reveal two bullet scars.

"I was a soldier myself. When you go to war, you'd better be damn ready. Do you think we're all afraid of death?"

"I..." The man mumbled, his face flushing red as the entire tavern cursed at him.

Someone shouted to throw him out, when a clear, clean voice cut through the noise.

"Excuse me."

Everyone turned around to see a slim young man suddenly sitting in the corner.

"This boy is still a minor. He said that because his father died on the front lines. Could you give him a chance to turn over a new leaf?"

Hearing this, the bearded man's expression shifted. He looked at the boy, who was holding back his tears, and finally let go.

"Why didn't you say so earlier? I thought you were a spy."

"But now that I think about it, he does look young. Wait, how'd a minor get in here?"

Two minutes later, Xiao Nan was shoved and coaxed out of the tavern.

He kicked a stone angrily, looked around, and found a spot to squat.

Not long after, the young man in a casual sweater slowly walked out and moved toward a certain street.

Unlike A-Star, where the live broadcast took place in the morning, here it was the dead of night.

Xiao Nan followed silently, puzzled, not knowing how to start a conversation, so he just kept following.

But soon, when he looked up again, the figure ahead had vanished.

Lost him?

Curiously glancing around, he turned his head, only to find the man standing right behind him.

Xiao Nan stumbled back, startled. "You, you..."

The young man looked down at him, his beautiful, vivid face carrying a hint of indifference. "Why are you following me?"

Xiao Nan stared at him, stunned by his exquisite features. He had never seen anyone so good-looking in his life. Flustered, he stammered, "I, you—why did you help me back there?"

"I wasn't helping you." The young man said coolly. "You were too noisy; you ruined my drinking vibe."

Somehow, Xiao Nan felt that wasn't the truth, but he couldn't think of what to say. "My name is Xiao Nan. What's yours? You helped me this time; if you ever need anything, you can call on me."

"Fu Yun."

After saying his name, Ruan Yunchu slowly and deliberately looked at the young skillful pickpocket. "I just need your help."

Xiao Nan: "Huh?"

He felt like this was a little too deliberate.

That night, Xiao Nan was taken to his home. Standing at the door of the clean, tidy house, he felt extremely awkward. His clothes and shoes were dirty, as if one touch would make everything dirty.

"I know you have nowhere to go. Sleep in the living room tonight. Tomorrow, I'll tell you what to do." Ruan Yunchu went into the room and found a change of clothes for him.

Xiao Nan took them cautiously, eyeing him with suspicion. "Do you know what I do? You're not going to ask me to put my life on the line, are you? Because I can't do that."

"You have that kind of ability?"

"..."

Ruan Yunchu stopped beating around the bush. "I know you're a thief. But tonight, you picked the wrong target. If I hadn't saved you, that half pack of cigarettes in your pocket would have been found. Then what do you think the bearded man would have done to you?"

Xiao Nan's eyes widened. He instinctively touched the half pack of cigarettes in his pocket—he hadn't managed to sell it yet.

"How, how do you know that?"

Ruan Yunchu glanced at him and said calmly, "You don't even remember who you've stolen from?"

Xiao Nan was startled, ready to bolt.

"The first day I came to this neighborhood, you stole my wallet from my pocket. Good thing it was new; it was empty inside."

As he spoke, Ruan Yunchu gave him a cold look.

Xiao Nan felt a pang of guilt. "Sorry, sorry. I'll make up for it."

"No need. Just do a good job tomorrow."

With that, Ruan Yunchu gestured for him to use the guest bathroom and went back to his room.

Night deepened. The sounds outside slowly faded. A small nightlight was still on in the room, and faint music was playing.

-

The young man lay on the bed, his shoulder-length hair splayed across the pillow. His long lashes drooped slightly, casting delicate shadows under his eyes.

Half an hour later, his emerald green eyes opened, with no sign of sleepiness.

Ruan Yunchu stared coldly at the ceiling. He had to admit—Yan Zhuo was a real nuisance.

Just seeing his live broadcast today had already made him lose sleep again.