Jiang Xunyu’s heart felt full, as if it were submerged in a vast, deep ocean.  

But he had never thought about expressing this feeling, nor did he dare hope for their relationship to progress further. He understood that with his frail body and background, he wasn’t worthy of Ji Yunzhou. Just being able to stay Ji Yunzhou’s side was enough to satisfy him, leaving no room for regret.  

Brilliant fireworks bloomed one after another, lighting up the night sky.  

Yet the dazzling display didn’t last long. The sky suddenly turned overcast, and a chilly wind swept through.  

Raindrops, large and heavy, began to fall unexpectedly, catching everyone off guard.  

Ji Yuzhou frowned. They had checked the weather forecast beforehand, which had predicted no rain. The sudden shift from clear skies to dense clouds was unusual.  

The rain intensified rapidly, pouring down in torrents. The crowd scattered like startled birds, and Ji Yuzhou didn’t have time to think further. He grabbed Jiang Xunyu and led him back the way they came.  

Even the fireworks were forced to stop midway.  

The park, intentionally unlit for the fireworks show, was now plunged into darkness. The cold rain and wind drove everyone to seek shelter as quickly as possible.  

In the chaos, someone from behind bumped into Jiang Xunyu, causing him to stumble and fall onto a nearby step. A sharp pain shot through his knee.  

Ji Yuzhou quickly pulled him up, took him away from the crowd, and checked his injury.  

The dim lighting made it hard to see clearly, and the heavy rain blurred his vision further. He could only make out that the skin on Jiang Xunyu’s knee had broken, though the extent of the injury was unclear.  

The rain continued to pour, soaking both of them to the bone. Jiang Xunyu hurriedly said, “I’m fine. Let’s head back—the rain is too heavy.”  

Ji Yuzhou nodded and bent slightly. “Get on. I’ll carry you.”  

Jiang Xunyu immediately shook his head. “N-no need. I can walk on my own.”  

The thought of letting a Corps General carry him felt too extravagant. Besides, Ji Yuzhou was already so kind to him—if he indulged further, he feared he might fall even deeper into this gentle trap.  

“It’s fine. Come on.”  

But Jiang Xunyu firmly refused, his resolve unyielding. Ji Yuzhou, seeing his determination, relented and said no more.  

Fortunately, the crowd had thinned significantly by now. The two of them slowly made their way back through the rain.  

Seeing the scattered remnants of fireworks on the ground, Ji Yuzhou sighed lightly. “It’s a shame we didn’t get to see the grand finale.”  

Jiang Xunyu, however, felt no regret at all. Being able to spend time alone with Ji Yunzhou, staying together, soaking in the hot springs, even holding hands—it all felt like a dream come true.  

No, not even dreams were this wonderful.  

“This is already more than enough.” Jiang Xunyu smiled shyly, revealing his sharp little canines. “Thank you, Mr. Ji. I’m so happy.”  

The rain continued to fall. Droplets clung to Jiang Xunyu’s eyelashes, crystal clear and radiant, making it hard to look away.  

Ji Yuzhou lowered his gaze and murmured softly, “I’m glad.”  

…..

It took them three times longer to return to the hotel than it had to get to the park.  

When they finally reached their room, both of them were soaked to the skin, their clothes dripping with water. The air conditioning in the room hadn’t been turned off, and the sudden shift between cold and hot caused Jiang Xunyu to let out a loud sneeze.

Ji Yuzhou frowned, immediately pulling off his shirt. “Go take a shower first.”

When Jiang Xunyu tried to decline, Ji Yuzhou cut him off decisively, saying, “If you don’t want to get sick, hurry up.”

Ji Yuzhou’s stern expression made Jiang Xunyu a little nervous. More than getting sick, he feared Ji Yuzhou’s anger even more. 

In the end, Jiang Xunyu said nothing more and obediently went into the bathroom.

Ji Yuzhou changed into a fresh set of clothes and glanced out at the overcast sky, still feeling a bit uneasy. 

He contacted a guard, instructing them to investigate the meteorological bureau. Ji Yuzhou suspected this was a case of artificial rainfall.  

As for the reason… He couldn’t be sure.  

Jiang Xunyu soon finished his shower and came out wrapped in a robe. The water had rinsed away the blood on his leg wound, but the injury still looked shocking.  

When he had fallen, he had landed on his knees. From the wound, it seemed as though he had slid forward a considerable distance. A large area was covered in bruises.

Fortunately, Ji Yuzhou always carried medical supplies with him. Taking out an ointment, he offered to apply it to Jiang Xunyu’s wound, but Jiang Xunyu quickly said, “I’ll do it myself.”  

He reached out to take the ointment and cotton balls from Ji Yuzhou’s hands. “You should take a shower.”  

Jiang Xunyu, a perfectly normal young adult, found himself struggling with his feelings. Having just realized his own emotions, he instinctively avoided further contact with Ji Yuzhou, fearing that his feelings might be accidentally exposed.

Ji Yuzhou frowned, noticing Jiang Xunyu’s sudden withdrawal, and seemed to guess at something but said nothing. Barefoot, he headed into the bathroom.  

…..

The next morning, they checked out of the hotel early and set off to return home.  

The ointment Ji Yuzhou had applied was quite effective. By the next day, a thin scab had already formed on Jiang Xunyu’s leg.  

The weather had also cleared up, so much so that there was no trace of the violent storm from the night before. As Ji Yuzhou drove, his left eye involuntarily twitched twice, and he subconsciously pressed the accelerator a little harder.  

It was still early, and there weren’t many cars on the road, making the drive smoother than expected.  

However, as they turned at an intersection, Ji Yuzhou suddenly noticed a car speeding toward them from behind.  

At the same time, his communicator buzzed urgently with short, rapid sounds, signaling the highest level of emergency.  

After three buzzes, the communicator automatically connected, and the voice of a guard came through, sharp with urgency. “General Ji, based on our emergency investigation, the rainfall was indeed artificially induced. Through monitoring, we highly suspect that a pirate subgroup is operating near you.”  

Just as the guard finished speaking, Ji Yuzhou saw through the rearview mirror that the car behind them suddenly sped up and was charging toward them.  

He immediately gave the order, “Request backup!”  

Ji Yuzhou’s car was a civilian vehicle, while the one behind was clearly a military model, much faster. It quickly closed the distance, and a photon gun was aimed at his chest as the car’s window rolled down.  

“Bang!”  

Ji Yuzhou slammed on the brakes. At almost the same moment, Jiang Xunyu, seated in the passenger seat, unbuckled his seatbelt and threw himself on him, shielding him. A red stain began to spread across Jiang Xunyu’s pale shoulder.  

The car behind them didn’t slow down after firing the shot but accelerated, disappearing around the corner ahead.  

Ji Yuzhou glanced at the fleeing car but didn’t chase it. Instead, he pressed down on the wound on Jiang Xunyu’s shoulder, applying pressure to stop the bleeding.  

The bullet had come from Ji Yuzhou’s side. He had anticipated it before it penetrated the window and braked to minimize the damage.  

But he hadn’t expected Jiang Xunyu to throw himself over and take the shot for him.  

Blood quickly soaked through Jiang Xunyu’s clothes, dyeing them a vivid red. Ji Yuzhou immediately tore away the fabric around the wound to prevent it from sticking to the coagulating blood and pressed the gas pedal to its limit, heading toward the nearest hospital.  

Unfortunately, this area was remote with a sparse population. The nearest hospital equipped to handle gunshot wounds was still a 30-minute drive away, even at maximum speed.  

Photon gun bullets were different from traditional ones. Once inside the body, their energy dispersed, damaging surrounding skin and muscle tissue, causing extensive harm. Victims endured excruciating pain and were at high risk of dying from blood loss.  

Blood flowed through Ji Yuzhou’s fingers as Jiang Xunyu’s consciousness began to waver.  

“Don’t sleep, Xunyu. Stay with me. We’re almost there.”  

Ji Yuzhou kept calling Jiang Xunyu’s name, trying to keep him awake. Initially, Jiang Xunyu could respond, but later, his replies faded into faint, nearly inaudible murmurs.  

“Mr. Ji…”  

Even in his haze, Jiang Xunyu kept calling Ji Yuzhou’s name. It seemed that just saying it gave him the courage and strength to hold on.  

“I’m here.”  

Ji Yuzhou’s voice was steady. He grabbed Jiang Xunyu’s hand with his free one, holding it tightly.  

Due to the blood loss, Jiang Xunyu’s fingertips were cold. Ji Yuzhou repeatedly warmed them with the heat of his palm.  

“Mr. Ji… cough…”  

Jiang Xunyu weakly called Ji Yuzhou’s name again, coughing up blood.  

“Stay with me, don’t talk. We’re almost there.”  

Jiang Xunyu slowly closed his eyes. His lungs ached with every breath, and his voice grew weaker. Struggling to make his words clear, he said, “I… have no regrets.”  

At that moment, unlike the speeding car, Jiang Xunyu’s heart was strangely calm.  

He had been born with eyes that the world didn’t accept. He had felt lost and resentful, endured bullying, and retreated into a shell. Yet, meeting Ji Yuzhou had allowed him to experience the different flavors of life.  

If he could die for Ji Yunzhou, die in his arms, he would have no regrets, no resentment.  

Jiang Xunyu’s eyelashes trembled slightly, like a butterfly that had been circling and hesitating for a long time, finally finding a place to rest and gently folding its wings.  

Ji Yuzhou clenched his teeth, one hand holding Jiang Xunyu’s body while the other gripped the steering wheel tightly, flooring the gas pedal.  

With his forceful acceleration, the car let out a roaring wail, the tachometer spinning past its maximum rating until it completely broke down.