The sun that watched over him was right before his eyes.
Yet, he had forgotten how to speak to its master. In those solar depths, he saw a sea beneath the sunlight—sometimes surging with violent waves, sometimes as still as a mirror.
*It’s so warm,* he thought. A passion intense enough to ionize all matter.
Perhaps what he had gained from the *Solaris* was more than just a greeting from an old friend, the headmaster’s assistance, or a hidden identity.
Starting ten or twenty years ago, long before Lei Ting even existed in this world, the soul and life of the seemingly brilliant Evenheiler Kang had been fashioned into a black box. First, it was filled with secrets and memories, then with death, blood, conspiracies, slaughter, and pain. Later, he had quietly tucked in his principles, his morality, his bottom lines, and a desperate, hopeless hope.
And now, he had even stuffed in a sun he had happened upon.
Evenheiler’s face remained expressionless; there was no fake smile, nor anything else. He felt as though he were about to be scorched, probably. Though, he didn’t think that was a bad thing.
It wasn't bad at all. It was a stroke of luck, he thought.
He had finally gotten lucky once in his life. It was nice, wasn't it?
Then, saying nothing of his thoughts, he simply asked, "What are we buying?"
Lei Ting laughed. In the past, Evenheiler would likely have asked, "What are *you* buying?"
Noticing the blonde man’s unnatural turn of the head to avoid his gaze, Lei Ting considerately looked away. However, he did not gently back off as he might have in the years gone by. Instead, he kept his arm around that supple, powerful waist, even tightening his grip to pull the other man into his chest. He buried his face in the brilliant gold hair, savoring the wonderful experience of that sturdy, upright body silently complying with his embrace.
Then, he chirped cheerfully, "Isn't the Orion commercial street right next door? Shall we go there for a meal?"
Evenheiler didn't object. He simply let himself be held, his gaze drifting a bit as he stared at the slightly strained fabric over Lei Ting’s chest. He murmured, "Even among Orions, tastes vary depending on which star sector they’re from."
Lei Ting was completely unaware of where the other man was looking. Of course, if he had noticed, he might have generously opened his arms to let his 'Golden Beauty Uncle' take a long, slow look.
Though, if he actually called him that, he would surely receive a heavy punch.
"Anything is better than that 'Bubble Juice'... that stuff isn't fit for human consumption," the young man grumbled. "That texture... it felt like everything except food."
Evenheiler recalled the taste and sighed softly. "True. But why did you drink it all?"
"I wanted to see if it was one of those things that gets better in the aftertaste," Lei Ting replied ruefully. "Clearly, I lost that bet."
***
For humans, time always passes quickly. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed since the day Lei Ting arrived at the Ring World.
The impact of these two weeks on the Orion/Perseus Arm sector of the Ring World was that, finally, few people were still trying to find the vanished 'Solar Star.'
Lucas was also finally released from his daily grind of press conferences and various promotional activities. He was deeply moved by this liberation and called Lei Ting to have a good cry about how hard he had been working lately.
Under Evenheiler’s amused observation, Lei Ting listened while breaking into a cold sweat. In the end, he seriously praised Lucas and promised to give him a gift when he got married.
Then, just as the other man reached the word 'mate' in the sentence "So Brother Lei, why haven't you found a mate yet?", Lei Ting snapped the connection shut.
Lucas: "?"
Lucas sadly sent a message to Susanna: [It’s over. Brother Lei is still hung up on Valen. Is he going to pine for him his whole life? His life is going to be so long—if nothing goes wrong, he could live to be at least four hundred!!]
Remembering one person since your twenties... for a high-level esper with an incredibly long lifespan, it was practically like a slow-motion execution of one's own life.
But he regretted the message as soon as he sent it. When it came to remembering one person forever, wasn't Susanna the same? It was fine to talk about it normally, but there was no need to keep poking at her scars.
Lucas quickly reflected on whether he had lost his necessary sensitivity and empathy during his recent high-intensity social duties. Perhaps it was exhaustion... he shouldn't be like this.
But Susanna’s response was perfectly calm: [I met Supervisor Valen. He was indeed an impressive person.]
She spoke as if she hadn't associated the situation with herself at all.
On the other side, Lei Ting looked up and put on a pitiful expression for Evenheiler.
Being good-looking is an innate advantage when playing for sympathy, an advantage both of them possessed in spades. Unfortunately, while Lei Ting’s handsome face was effective, Evenheiler had a heart of stone... mostly.
Alright, he was actually just faking it. When Lei Ting hugged him with that pitiful look, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
When a man like that laughed, no one could resist looking at him. Especially since he was laughing in another man's arms; thus, if the man who loved to hold him tight did something in response, it seemed entirely natural.
Until one day, Lei Ting received a message. A message from 'Tianhe.'
[Today's Weather: Cloudy turning to clear.]
Attached to this message was a report file. After reading it once, Lei Ting closed the communication interface, leaned against the top of a giant tree, and sighed softly.
"What's wrong?" the 'Mr. Wen' beside him asked.
"Nothing. I was just thinking... this period of time has felt like a dream."
Lei Ting tilted his head back, looking at the crimson sky and the probes tracing arcs beyond the atmosphere.
"Sometimes when I look at the galaxy, I think about how those stars weren't always this close to the Ring World. The Galactic Core is expanding, and so is the universe. Almost everything in this world is in a process of accelerating away from everything else, just like people as they grow up. We gradually drift apart, gradually understand what distance is, gradually find the direction we need to go, and then we each walk forward, as if the end of the road is the home of our own souls."
"Why the sudden philosophy?" Evenheiler was a bit bewildered. But he knew Lei Ting didn't just spout nonsense... though even if it were nonsense, he would listen intently.
But Lei Ting answered with a different topic: "Even, you know your brother is here too, right? I was the one who brought him."
"...I know," Evenheiler said hoarsely.
"How many years has it been since you last saw him?"
"Eight years."
"That long?" Lei Ting was somewhat surprised. "You haven't seen him since that banquet back then?"
"Seeing me is never a good thing for anyone," Evenheiler replied flatly.
*True. For anyone in the Federation, seeing Evenheiler is not a good thing.*
*Except for me,* Lei Ting thought.
He quietly removed himself from the list of people who 'should stay away from Stellar Stream.' This was the first time this year he had tried to claim a new privilege for himself. Even though he was usually someone who wouldn't dream of using such a thing.
But now...
"Go see him," Lei Ting said.
"..." Evenheiler froze. "Why?"
"It’s been so long. There’s no harm in a visit... I won't go with you," Lei Ting said. "This world is dangerous. If there’s someone you want to see, you should go see them quickly."
"...Lei Ting, what’s wrong?" Evenheiler didn't leave immediately. Instead, he frowned and moved closer. "Did something happen?"
"..."
Lei Ting was silent for a moment, then said softly, "The war is about to begin. This time, it won't be a minor skirmish involving a few planetary weapons. I know why you wanted your optical computer back. You’ve been gathering information from keywords in social news and media accounts, only held back from sending messages because I was here. However... now, the critical window has passed. Send them. Tell your comrades that a conflict they absolutely cannot handle is approaching..."
Amidst Evenheiler’s shocked reaction, his eyes widening, metal began to sprout from all directions. In the warm golden sunlight, an angular, irregular metal sphere enclosed them.
In an instant, Lei Ting, back in his full armored uniform, raised his hand and drew his golden laurel crown down from a beam of light.
Through the crown, he gave Evenheiler a deep look.
"Even, the reason you haven't tried to escape isn't just for personal reasons; you were also trying your best to stall me for the sake of your comrades," Lei Ting sighed. "You knew that I wouldn't act recklessly in a place with such a high population density. As long as I was here, most of the Resistance's operations within the Federation would face much less pressure."
"..."
Evenheiler didn't deny it. He watched as Lei Ting donned the glorious golden crown, signaling the return of the 'Solar Star.'
"Go back. Next, let me see their capabilities... and their possibilities."
Lei Ting narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression turning cold.
"But do not let me find them seeking death near a battlefield where the Federation military is involved. Otherwise, I will send them to their deaths ahead of time, and then let the Federation proceed according to the plans of the 'Originals' and myself."
Evenheiler looked at him silently. At this moment, both of them knew that the 'Stellar Stream's' thoughts were in utter chaos.
Lei Ting clearly had his own business to attend to—the serious and dangerous kind. In the process, he would inevitably be unable to maintain constant, high-level vigilance against space-time transfers...
But there was no need to maintain it anymore.
The most critical period had passed.
The visor automatically deployed and clicked into place. Lei Ting floated up slightly, his cloak and sashes snapping in the wind.
Just as he prepared to retract the metal barrier and turn to leave, a faint ripple of psychic power emanated from behind him.
But Evenheiler did not simply teleport away. Instead, he blurred in a flash of motion, soaring through the hazy light-mist and fine stardust to block Lei Ting’s path.
Thus, the handsome man, now changed into a light-armored combat suit and trench coat, hovered before Lei Ting. His brow was furrowed, his thin lips pressed tight. His golden hair and blue eyes shimmered in the starlight. The traces of time at the corners of his eyes did nothing to diminish his beauty; they only lent him a weathered, tempered charm. Anything caught in the gaze of those eyes would feel flattered by his intense focus.
"..." Lei Ting looked at him with a calm face.
Until Evenheiler drifted down, grabbed the front gorget of Lei Ting’s armor, and pulled the younger man toward him—or perhaps it was the other way around.
In short, Mr. 'Stellar Stream' kissed 'Solar Star' with extreme dominance. In this long, deep kiss, he even pinned him against the inner surface of the metal sphere. Amidst a dull thud, he wrapped his arms around Lei Ting’s solid waist and back, forcing him to loosely embrace the man who was currently kissing him senseless.
After a long while, 'Stellar Stream' slowly stopped. He released 'Solar Star,' who hadn't offered the slightest resistance, but remained inches away, staring into his eyes.
When the blonde man saw the shocked eyes behind the dark lenses of the other’s visor, he arched an eyebrow and laughed, then pecked the corner of Lei Ting’s mouth.
Then, he leaned close to his Alpha’s ear, his voice a whisper that almost kissed the earlobe:
"I can come find you when I run into trouble, but you just throw me away when you have something going on?"
Lei Ting was stunned. Before he could react and consciously control his heart rate, his heart beat faster than it ever had in his life.
But before he could explain, he heard a pleasant, light chuckle. He realized then that the man in his arms was deliberately twisting the facts.
In the next second, Evenheiler gave Lei Ting a shove, using the counterforce to propel himself into a patch of starlight.
"Fine, I’m leaving first. As for you..." Before vanishing into the starlight, Evenheiler gave Lei Ting a provocative smile. "Get lost and find someone to teach you how to talk to your boyfriend, you little bastard."
***
