Chapter Sixty-Two: The Mundane Flames of the World

Chapter Sixty-Two: Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World

Fortunately, Shen Ce’s bedroom had a double bed, more than enough for two grown men. After bathing, Shen Ce took out a brand-new set of toiletries for Mo Yi, then lay down on the bed first. Out of sight, out of mind—Shen Ce had no intention of dealing with Mo Yi.

In the silent darkness, Shen Ce once again dreamed the lingering nightmares of recent days: a silver mask adorned with flowers flickered before his eyes like a demonic summons; soon, the vision shifted to a knife dripping with blood and a ruined face.

His body trembled. He nearly cried out the name “Selos.” Pain stung Shen Ce’s heart, suffocating him. Sweat broke out on his forehead, and he quickly jolted awake from the nightmare—only then did he realize a large figure was sprawled atop him. Yet the weight was negligible; Mo Yi was so thin his bones pressed uncomfortably against Shen Ce.

He glanced at Mo Yi draped over him and suddenly the ache vanished from his chest. Selos was here—he was alive. Shen Ce lowered his eyes; the gloom in his heart dispersed. At least for this moment, he could feel the warmth of another’s body, real and tangible.

Unlike Shen Ce, Mo Yi seemed to be enjoying a pleasant dream. The corners of his mouth curled into an unconscious smile as he nuzzled Shen Ce’s shoulder, warm breath spreading across his skin.

Outside, moonlight seeped into the room, faint but enough for Shen Ce to scrutinize Mo Yi. Mo Yi’s cheeks were almost unnaturally pale; his eyelids cast blue-black shadows on his face. It was a beautiful face—still charming, but now too thin, too white. Shen Ce carefully shifted Mo Yi off himself, then tucked the disheveled blanket around him.

Sensing Shen Ce’s movements, Mo Yi rolled over and once again attached himself to Shen Ce, this time in a more comfortable position, wrapping Shen Ce in his arms.

Shen Ce’s lips twitched. Mo Yi’s breathing was even and long, but Shen Ce couldn’t be sure if he was truly asleep or just pretending. Determined to test him, Shen Ce raised his head slightly, voice low: “Mo Yi…”

At the sound, Mo Yi’s hand tightened around Shen Ce, holding him even closer—yet he still appeared lost in sleep. Shen Ce tried two or three more times, but the result was the same: Mo Yi slept peacefully.

Shen Ce’s eyelids grew heavy. After some deliberation, he abandoned the idea of dragging Mo Yi aside. Tomorrow, he would buy another set of bedding and clear the study for him to sleep in.

Just as Shen Ce was about to drift off again, Mo Yi suddenly opened his eyes. His pale lips curled into a strange smile, making Shen Ce uneasy. As expected, within seconds, Mo Yi grabbed Shen Ce’s hand. Shen Ce froze, and Mo Yi lowered his head to kiss him—a light, gentle kiss, devoid of any aggression, instead reverent as if in worship.

Mo Yi’s tousled hair brushed Shen Ce’s face; they were so close, Shen Ce could see the deep glimmer in Mo Yi’s eyes.

Shen Ce’s heart raced. He lowered his head to hide his flustered expression and said coldly, “If you want to sleep on the sofa, say so. Or do you want to leave now?” Mo Yi’s behavior was the very definition of “taking things too far.” Shen Ce should never have trusted his earlier nonsense.

Mo Yi coughed twice, voice hoarse: “Shen Ce, I’m just cold. Can’t I hold you while I sleep?”

Truthfully, Shen Ce wanted to retort that he wasn’t a heater. But Mo Yi’s condition looked genuinely poor, so he restrained himself. After all, one ought to be gentle with the sick.

Shen Ce studied Mo Yi for a long moment. Suddenly, he raised his hand. Mo Yi thought Shen Ce was about to throw him out, but instead, Shen Ce gently placed his hand on Mo Yi’s forehead. Mo Yi relaxed; it was clear Shen Ce responded to softness, not force. As long as he didn’t push too far, Shen Ce would not drive him away.

Shen Ce blinked, his voice simple and indifferent: “Suit yourself. Go to sleep.”

He told himself to stay calm. It was only a matter of enduring a few more hours. He had already decided to take a day off tomorrow, convert the study into a bedroom, and restore peace.

But Shen Ce underestimated his own ability to sleep. Despite Mo Yi’s insubstantial weight, the warmth of Mo Yi’s breath on his neck was impossible to ignore. Shen Ce tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Mo Yi noticed Shen Ce’s insomnia. He grasped Shen Ce’s left hand with his right: “What’s wrong?”

Shen Ce glanced at their intertwined hands beneath the covers but made no effort to pull away. Mo Yi, sensing Shen Ce’s gaze, smiled even more.

Shen Ce shook his head. “Nothing, just can’t sleep.” Seeing Mo Yi awake, Shen Ce asked, “Mo Yi, how did your consciousness end up in ‘Heaven’s Dominion’? And as the boss, no less? You didn’t seem to have any memories from reality then, did you?”

Mo Yi hadn’t expected Shen Ce to ask this. He replied half joking, half serious: “If you kiss me, I’ll tell you.”

Shen Ce’s eye twitched. Whether in-game or in reality, Mo Yi was always a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Shen Ce shot him a sidelong glance: “Do you believe I’ll kick you out right now?”

“Not a chance,” Mo Yi replied, raising their joined hands. Seeing the ominous look on Shen Ce’s face, he quickly dropped the frivolity and spoke earnestly: “You know ‘Heaven’s Dominion’ is the most immersive holographic game ever made, but it was extremely unstable when first developed. We ran many internal tests. During one of those, my consciousness ended up trapped in the game. As for why my memory was stripped or why I became the boss, I honestly don’t know.”

As a programmer, Shen Ce found this horrifying. With current technology, excessive realism in games could be dangerous—if it harmed players’ consciousness, the consequences would be unimaginable. The fact that ‘Heaven’s Dominion’ had suffered such incidents yet still dared to launch was madness driven by profit.

Mo Yi paused, his tone tinged with regret: “If you hadn’t killed me, maybe I would have stayed trapped in that game forever. So, I should thank you.”

Shen Ce frowned. “Let’s not talk about that.” Killing Selos in the game was anything but a good memory.

No sooner had Shen Ce finished speaking than a sudden burst of dazzling light flashed outside the window. Accompanied by shrill whistles, countless brilliant fireworks soared into the sky, blooming like a sea of flowers suspended in midair—capturing every eye with effortless beauty.

Someone was setting off fireworks in the middle of the night. Shen Ce was surprised, but soon those blossoms disappeared, falling from the clouds, and silence returned. It was as if the sudden beauty had been nothing but an illusion—coming swiftly, vanishing without a trace, leaving nothing behind.

In this long life, some encounters are breathtaking, but apart from the memory of that moment, nothing can truly be retained. After all, what in this world can be possessed forever?

In the hush, Shen Ce felt a sudden pang of sadness. Mo Yi rested his head on Shen Ce’s shoulder, his voice solemn, eyes softened with tenderness: “Shen Ce, let’s be together.”

Shen Ce gazed into Mo Yi’s dark eyes, lips curving slowly: “Alright.”

Perhaps he could try to keep this person beside him, for a lifetime.

Mo Yi hadn’t expected Shen Ce to agree so quickly. He embraced Shen Ce fiercely, their skin pressed together, warmth making both shiver.

They froze for a moment. Mo Yi was the first to recover, his gaze fixed on Shen Ce’s exposed collarbone; his throat worked, longing to touch it. Mo Yi was always direct in such matters—he reached out without hesitation.

Shen Ce finally realized something was amiss. He cast Mo Yi a cool glance and brushed his hand away: “Your health is terrible. Best not to think about such things.”

Mo Yi was stunned, then immediately cursed his own condition. He blurted out, “Actually, I have plenty of stamina! Really! If you don’t believe me—”

Shen Ce eyed Mo Yi as if he were insane. After a moment, Mo Yi wisely shut his mouth. A true man knows when to yield; future happiness is what matters most.

And so, at two-thirty in the morning, the two drifted into sleep together.

[End of Main Story]

Author's note: The main story ends here. Thank you all for your company along the way—big hugs and kisses, love you all. Some readers asked for an extra chapter, so there will be a side story… I’ll try to write it tonight; tomorrow I need to pack and head to school. Don’t really want to go, what should I do…