Stars See Me [Interstellar] | Chapter 109 | Warmth Amidst the Frost | Novela.app

Should they find a nearby hotel or return to their rented modular apartment? Ultimately, the two of them, unable to agree, reached a compromise: they rented a new apartment nearby. The Ring World was vast, and these official modular apartments were everywhere. To accommodate certain individuals whose presence might be legally inconvenient, no identification was required to rent one. Indeed, the Ring World was all-encompassing, for better or for worse. And every person who had ever disturbed this 'inclusivity' was now dead. "This place actually has a 'Rogue Planet' theme for its apartments..." Amidst a profound chill, Lei Ting looked at the mottled frost outside the wooden-furnished apartment window, feeling somewhat shocked. "The air conditioning is cranked up so high; a lava-based lifeform would probably freeze to death the moment they stepped inside." "Any intelligent creature knows to choose the right living environment for themselves... just as we wouldn't choose a place filled with liquid nitrogen. Surely you know that." Having dropped his disguise upon entering, Evanheiler’s expression was calm as he reached out to turn on the eco-friendly fireplace nearby. "Besides... it’s actually fine. This place is equipped with plenty of heating facilities that cycle on and off once someone checks in, ensuring the indoor temperature doesn't actually freeze anyone to death." As for how the system distinguished the appropriate temperature for an individual— —Naturally, the occupant had to preset it themselves. If they didn't and froze to death, it was classified as suicide or attempted suicide; no one would pay them compensation. Having also dropped his disguise, Lei Ting stood by the window, kneading a ball of metal in his hand that was constantly shifting shape. He discovered the window wasn't actually a window, but a high-precision display screen. It showed a silent forest under heavy snowfall, with what looked like an ice plain in the distance. If operated via a light-computer, a loop playback progress bar nearly ten thousand hours long would pop up, along with a control interface featuring event filters like 'Clear Sky,' 'Visualized Electromagnetic Instability,' 'Beast Migration,' 'Meteorite Fall,' and 'Planetary-Scale Random Severe Weather.' Lei Ting casually selected the 'Hail' event. Chunks of ice the size of goose eggs plummeted from the sky, and the dull thuds they made hitting the 'roof' caused Evanheiler to turn back reflexively. "?!" Suppressing a laugh, Lei Ting dragged the environmental filter to 'Thunderstorm.' *CRACK!!!* A jagged, branch-like bolt of dazzling blue-violet lightning struck 'outside in the distance.' Moments later, a rolling, thunderous roar followed. Evanheiler approached, his forehead practically lined with black streaks. "Respected Lord 'Sun Star,' are you doing something 'mature and steady'?" "This is actually pretty fun, Evan!" Lei Ting laughed, wrapping an arm around his waist and casually switching the setting back to 'Heavy Snow.' Feathery snowflakes drifted down in abundance, and the synchronized temperature regulator caused condensation to gradually build on the glass. Inside the warm room, the blonde, mature man glanced at the black-haired youth holding him tightly. He raised his hands to embrace the other’s powerful back, sighing inwardly: *He’s still a young man after all.* Then, that young man’s hand slid down with utmost solemnity. Evanheiler: "?" Feeling the strength and presence of that hand, Evanheiler’s lip twitched. "Lei Ting, you..." "Shh." Lei Ting chuckled and pressed him down onto the sofa. He watched as that powerful, beautifully lined back helplessly leaned into the soft cushions under his strength, laughing lightheartedly beside him. "Evan, don't you think the atmosphere is nice?" Evanheiler rolled his eyes in silence. It wasn't exactly a friendly gesture, but both of them knew his body had already given the correct response. A rich, sweet, and formal response. But Lei Ting wasn't prepared to let him have everything just yet. "Don't be in such a hurry... my golden beauty, filled with hidden treasures." He leaned down to kiss the reddened tip of the other's ear, the hand that had been gripping something slowly sliding down— "How about a taste of this first?" Evanheiler only failed to react for a second, and then he didn't need to react at all. "...Ugh!!" The man’s brows knit tight as he gritted his teeth, suppressing a pleasant-sounding groan, his body trembling as if in pain. After a long while, his breathing was ragged and he was drenched in sweat. He opened his beautiful, reddened, tear-filled blue eyes and glared fiercely at Lei Ting, who had retreated to sit nearby. Yet, amidst his tremors, he slowly straightened his back, looking down at Lei Ting with a cold, majestic arrogance. "Very impressive, Uncle." Under the gaze of those blue eyes, the tall youth sat by the edge of the bed, praising his fortitude and admiring his beauty. "Now," his deep, melodic voice issued a summons to the warrior who could take up arms at a moment's notice—a summons that had nothing to do with any serious business or his serious demeanor: "Come to me." Evanheiler looked at him, suddenly curling his lips into an ethereal, haughty smile. Then, he did not walk toward Lei Ting, nor did he slowly remove the clothes that were partially soaked amidst the sound of wind and snow. Instead, he leaned back against the sofa, casually snapping his slender fingers, letting his outer garments scatter into the room like starlight. ... Ten minutes later, Lei Ting rose with gritted teeth and strode toward the mature man who was happily entertaining himself. He scooped him into his arms, earning a delighted, soft chuckle. *Fine, fine... maybe I’m the real captive,* Lei Ting thought amidst the sweet fragrance. To hell with 'not moving.' ... ... ... Much later, on the velvet-covered sofa draped with several layers of fluffy blankets, Evanheiler lay in Lei Ting’s arms with a rare softness. Right beside them was the 'window' with its raging blizzard. A hidden vent allowed cold air to circulate; the moment he left this embrace permeated with warmth, he would encounter the chill of the room... Though such cold wasn't even enough to make Evanheiler shiver, why would he go out into the cold wind when there was a warmer embrace right here? He had suffered in the wind and snow for far too long. That was why he had begun to miss Lei Ting after leaving all those years ago, even though, hindered by a heart full of concerns, he was far from loving the other 'completely.' Longing is a magical thing—an atmosphere, a type of environment, a hug, a scent, a song... when one realizes that everything before their eyes isn't as impressive as something in their memory, then most of it can touch a seed buried in the past and stir a sense of longing. Sometimes, even hate works the same way. Evanheiler knew he would eventually walk back into the wind and snow, return to his comrades, and continue being 'Starstream.' There would be campfires and campsites there, but there wouldn't be the warm embrace of this young man behind him... Or rather, by then, this embrace would be encased in thick, hard, cold battle armor, and this warmth might very well turn into a dangerous source of heat, like a solar corona. "What are you thinking about?" Lei Ting kneaded and massaged the narrow waist of the man in his arms, enjoying the feel of it while asking softly. "Thinking about where a guy like you learned all this..." Evanheiler gritted his teeth. "Does the Academy actually teach this? How come I didn't know?" "You understand a bit after seeing enough. I mean... seeing you." Lei Ting laughed and kissed the back of the other's neck, where he had just lightly bitten him. His dry, warm palms rubbed against the other's cool skin. Unlike Lei Ting, whose body temperature was higher than a normal person's, Evanheiler's was a fraction lower. Firstly, it was due to a deficiency in qi and blood; secondly, it was because... he seemed to have suffered severe frostbite in the past. Although there were no traces on the surface now, that icy aura still constantly entwined and permeated his bones and blood. This made him always appear heavily fatigued, because he truly was very tired. Though being tired didn't stop him from continuing his work. "Uncle... you need to keep warm." Lei Ting murmured softly, his palm pressing against Evanheiler’s smooth, beautiful abdominal muscles, rubbing them and happily feeling the slight, numbing tremors from within. "But don't worry, I'll help you." Evanheiler let out a muffled groan, then remained silent, gritting his teeth as he endured with difficulty. A long time later, his tensed body suddenly lost its strength. Amidst his unceasing tremors, he gasped for air, trying to suppress his racing heart against the disorienting sensations. Lei Ting turned slightly, gazing at the man in his arms with a serious and sincere expression. "Are you alright, Uncle?" His 'concern' was written with a superficial hypocrisy. "I must have... committed some great sin... to run into a little rascal like you..." Evanheiler helplessly felt the gradually swelling heat. His voice was hoarse, his gaze somewhat unfocused, and his flushed face carried a hint of exhaustion. His voice grew lower and lower: "...Let me... mm... rest for a bit..." "Alright, alright." Lei Ting smiled, first feeding Evanheiler a few sips of warm water, then holding him as he fell into a deep sleep, offering a comforting embrace and caress. "Sleep," he said. "The snow is still heavy outside." ... ... ... Evanheiler had a dream. In the dream, he returned to the snow of nineteen years ago, on a rogue planet far from any star system—disordered, anxious, unable to find peace, curled up alone in a mountain cave. He knew he still had things to do; if he failed, many people would die... but he had been ambushed. He had fallen into the grave of a civilization, gravely injured and ignored by all. In the entire planetary world, he was the only living person. He knew the outcome of the last time: he had fought his way out of that desperate situation with his heavy injuries and rushed back, only to witness the flame-like, graceful colors of the 'Boiling' virus powder drifting in the beautiful skies of those planets. He had even been infected by it himself. Later, to suppress the power of the 'Boiling,' he had to personally destroy a portion of his 'Sky Eye' structure. Amidst terrible pain, energy depletion, and the despair of knowing his abilities would never progress again, he had given those who trusted him his usual bright smile. Later, he had always been seeking death—a sufficiently glorious death. But he failed. He was rescued by another group of people who had been risking their lives waiting near the battlefield, and they took him to the Deep Space Heaven in the borderlands. Peaceful, loving, just, and ruled by law. The distribution of resources had no deliberate oppression, nor the corrupt issues of 'superiors having a sudden whim, subordinates implementing extortion, and ordinary people having almost no way to survive.' It was said that the Federation was actually like that when it was first established... but now it was corrupt. He knew that if the Resistance held great power, they might one day turn into that same shape. But at least for now, he would never allow anyone to disturb that beautiful dream. Unless they stepped over his corpse. ... Golden sunlight fell upon Evanheiler. He knew the wind and snow had stopped, and he would soon walk into the distance amidst the sunlight, to the depths of the starry sky, to a beautiful place. The blonde man slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying in bed. He didn't know how long he had slept; he only knew that the young man beside him... had never left. Just like the sunlight that always shone on him in those cold dreams now. Just as he thought this, a sweet, burning sense of fulfillment forced Evanheiler to pull his mind back. His lip twitched, and he moved his body lazily, glancing sideways to see his handsome, powerful new sun wearing that same lovely yet detestable smile: "You dream quite a lot, Uncle." *Sigh...* *...This little brat!!* *Where did that unromantic block of wood from back then go?!!* Evanheiler lay in that warm embrace with gritted teeth, his tone carrying a rare hint of sarcasm that was neither philosophical nor dignified: "Indeed, but I've never dreamed of you. I wonder why that is?"