Chapter 1358: JUST FATE

SHEN JI YUN closed his eyes tightly as he heard Luo Yan sob into his chest. He could feel all the sadness and pain in each cry. He didn’t try to stop him or calm him down. He just let him cry. He had a feeling Luo Yan needed this. All he could do was hold him tight and pat his back as gently as he could, hoping it would help ease some of what he was feeling.

He didn’t know how long they stayed like that. Minutes, maybe more. Shen Ji Yun didn’t really notice the time passing. His attention was completely on Luo Yan, on being there for him however he could.

"I think I got snot all over your shirt," Luo Yan said as he pulled back.

Shen Ji Yun glanced down at the top of Luo Yan’s head, since he still hadn’t lifted it. Then he looked at his shirt. It was wet, and there was probably snot on it. He didn’t really care. That was the least of his concerns right now.

He gently tilted Luo Yan’s face upwards, his thumb brushing away the fresh tear stains that still clung to his blotchy, red-nosed skin. Luo Yan’s eyes were red and puffy, his cheeks still wet with tears.

"You can wipe your tears and snot on me all you want," he said, a slight smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "I don’t mind."

"You say that now, but let’s see what you say when I start using your shirt as a tissue every time I cry." Luo Yan said, his hoarse voice teasing.

Hearing the hint of life back in Luo Yan’s voice made Shen Ji Yun feel a little lighter, and the worry that had been weighing on him started to ease.

"If that’s what it takes," he said quietly, "then I’ll be your human tissue anytime you want."

Luo Yan’s soft laugh was music to Shen Ji Yun’s ears. He wanted to hear it more often, and he vowed to give Luo Yan many reasons to laugh from now on.

Luo Yan raised his hand and touched Shen Ji Yun’s cheek. His gaze was soft and quiet. "Thank you for believing in me, Brother Ji Yun."

Shen Ji Yun pressed his hand over Luo Yan’s, keeping it against his cheek. Then he turned his head just enough to press a soft kiss to the center of the other’s palm. His lips lingered there for a moment before he pulled back. "Always."

That made Luo Yan smile. Then he tilted his head, studying Shen Ji Yun’s face. "Aren’t you curious how this all happened?"

"More than curious," Shen Ji Yun said honestly. "I’m fascinated. It’s the kind of thing you only read about in novels." He paused, his eyes searching Luo Yan’s. "Do you have any idea how it happened?"

Luo Yan shook his head. "I don’t have a clear answer. But I think my soul was too stubborn to just move on, so it drifted until something pulled it in. Then I just woke up in this body." He paused, a faint, wry smile crossing his face. "I’m sure there’s a more magical explanation out there, but it’s not like I can go looking for it."

Shen Ji Yun nodded. There was no way to explain something like that with logic alone. Maybe they could find a shaman or a monk who might know more. He thought about suggesting it to Luo Yan, but decided against it. At least not now. Luo Yan had just finished crying and was finally starting to calm down. That could wait.

"Then I’m glad your soul was that stubborn," he said simply. "Because how else would I have met you?"

Luo Yan started to smile, then hesitated. His expression slowly dimmed. "Do you think... Do you think I stole this body from the real Luo Yan?"

It was one of the thoughts he had pushed aside ever since he woke up in this body. Especially after he had grown close to the Luo family. They gave him love without question, without hesitation, and all the while he was just a stranger wearing the face of the person they truly loved. It hurt. More than he let himself admit. He rarely let himself think about it, but when he did, it hit him hard every time. Like a punch he couldn’t brace for. It never got easier.

"No," Shen Ji Yun said quickly, taking both of Luo Yan’s hands in his. He didn’t like the sadness that had crept into his voice. "No, Yan Yan," he repeated, firmer this time. "I know this body had been in a coma for seven years. I heard from Bai Ze that the doctors believed he was already brain dead and only being kept alive by machines. They wanted to pull the plug because they thought he was already gone. But Uncle Wei Tian never agreed." He squeezed Luo Yan’s hands gently. "If only one soul can occupy a body at a time, then the original Luo Yan must have passed on long before you arrived. So there’s no stealing here. Just fate giving you a second chance. A chance to live the life you deserve."

Luo Yan felt his eyes sting again. If he had any tears left, they would have spilled over. But it seemed he had already cried everything out. What Shen Ji Yun said had loosened something in his chest. A knot he had been carrying for so long that he had almost forgotten it was there. It wasn’t completely gone, but a big part of it had unraveled. He let out a shaky breath and held Shen Ji Yun’s hands a little tighter.

"Thank you for saying that," he said softly. Then, after a moment, he asked the question that had been lingering in his mind since he decided to tell Shen Ji Yun the truth. "Should I tell my family about this... truth?"

There was a pause before Shen Ji Yun answered. "Do you want me to be honest?"

Luo Yan nodded. "Yes, please."

"No," Shen Ji Yun said. "I don’t think you should."

If you find any errors ( Ads popup, ads redirect, broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.