Chapter 159: Back To That Key Moment ③

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Chapter 159: Back To That Key Moment ③

Rhine’s adjutant opened the car door for him. “Sir, are we returning to the camp or going back to your residence?”

“My residence.” Rhine sat in the back seat, his darkened gaze passing through the window and settling somewhere beyond the endless distance.

The car sped along the road in complete silence. The adjutant acting as driver felt an invisible pressure weighing on him. He normally exchanged a few words with Rhine during drives like this, but today he did not have the courage to speak at all.

Just then, Rhine suddenly barked, “Stop!”

The adjutant jumped, but his excellent training allowed him to react immediately. He pulled smoothly and quickly to the side of the road while scanning the surroundings alertly.

“Sir, what happened?” the adjutant asked.

Rhine did not answer. His entire attention had been captured by a figure across the street.

The young man wore a vivid blue casual jacket over a white shirt, with fitted black trousers outlining his long, slender legs. In his arms was a bouquet of flowers blooming like flames. Set against his gentle smile, they became a dazzling splash of color that suddenly burst into Rhine’s gray-white vision.

Wherever he passed, the buildings, flowerbeds, signs, and everything along the street seemed to be infused with life, bursting into brilliant color.

Rhine stepped out of the car without conscious thought. He stared at that winding ribbon of color in the distance, then began following it as though bewitched.

“Sir!” the adjutant called anxiously.

“Go back without me. Don’t follow.” By the time Rhine left those words behind, he was already far away.

Traffic flowed endlessly along the roads and pedestrians moved through the streets, yet Rhine could see only that single streak of color ahead. Step after step, he followed behind without caring about the passage of time or the changing surroundings. Everything around him became quiet and peaceful, as though this path might continue forever.

A faint fragrance drifted through the air. At first Rhine thought it came from the flowers, but he soon realized it was the scent of the young man’s pheromones. Sweet, passionate, gentle… every note stirred an aching sense of attachment within him.

Rhine did not know how long they had been walking when the young man suddenly stopped, then quickened his pace and rushed toward the entrance of a shopping center. An Alpha there was roughly grabbing an Omega, his movements aggressive and his expression distinctly hostile.

The beautiful atmosphere shattered instantly, and Rhine was dragged back into the noisy world.

“Dad.” Shang Ke knocked away the Alpha’s hand from Jiva’s arm and demanded coldly, “Uncle Gerald, what are you doing?”

Gerald was Filmore’s father’s younger brother and had harbored improper intentions toward Jiva for years. Only his elder brother’s authority had kept him from acting on them openly.

“Fil, you’re here.” The moment Jiva saw his child, a delighted smile appeared on his face.

“Dad, was he bothering you?” Shang Ke stared coldly at Gerald.

Before Jiva could answer, Gerald hurried to defend himself. “Who said I was bothering him? I only saw that he was carrying things and wanted to lend him a hand.”

“Is that so? Then I misunderstood you, Uncle. My apologies.” Shang Ke’s tone remained perfectly calm. “You can leave things like this to me. I’m sure you’re busy, so we won’t take up any more of your time.”

Gerald gave a few fake laughs and wisely took his leave.

Shang Ke was currently an acting Major—he had only reached the rank of Colonel shortly before his death—so Gerald did not dare offend him openly.

Once the nuisance was gone, Shang Ke stuffed the bouquet into Jiva’s arms, took the shopping bags from him, and slung an arm over his shoulders. “Come on, Dad. I’ll go shopping with you.”

“All right.” Jiva was naturally delighted.

Gerald walked toward his car with a gloomy expression, completely unaware of the pair of icy eyes watching him from nearby.

Rhine had no memory of this man whatsoever. Presumably, Gerald had never been important enough to remember.

The Omega named Jiva, however, did seem familiar. Rhine had interacted with Jiva’s husband several times before.

At the same time, the young man’s name finally surfaced in his mind—Filmore.

Several years earlier, Filmore had been sent to Via City as a graduating military cadet to complete his graduation field assessment, only for the city to be besieged by the insect race. After the commanding officers were lost, Filmore had assumed command in the crisis, fought desperately, and held the defensive line for days and nights until reinforcements arrived, saving tens of thousands of lives.

Later, Rhine himself had personally ordered Filmore transferred into his unit. Yet he could remember almost nothing beyond that. He seemed able to recall the futures of most people around him, but his memories concerning Filmore were strangely blurred.

Rhine continued following behind them, silently watching Filmore laugh and talk with Jiva. A faint envy rose in his heart, followed by… an inexplicable trace of jealousy.

After they finished shopping, Shang Ke accompanied Jiva to dinner at a restaurant.

Rhine took a seat in a corner more than ten meters away, positioned perfectly to see Shang Ke’s face.

The handsome features, vivid expression, and indescribable vitality present in every movement gradually filled in the blurred silhouette within Rhine’s mind, transforming it into something real and alive.

After dinner, Shang Ke politely declined Jiva’s invitation to stay at home overnight, saw him into his car, and waved goodbye.

Rhine paid his bill and left the restaurant.

The food on his table remained completely untouched.

Night had fallen outside, and bright lights glittered all around. Two figures moved quietly through the streets, one walking ahead and the other following behind.

Rhine did not understand why he could not simply step forward and greet him. It was as though he were afraid of something. He would rather lower himself to the role of a stalker and silently follow Filmore’s footsteps.

At that moment, his communicator rang.

Rhine answered it casually, and his adjutant’s voice immediately came through. “Sir, where are you? Would you like me to pick you up?”

Rhine glanced at the time and only then realized that more than six hours had passed.

“No. I’ll return on my own.” Rhine ended the call and looked up again—only to find that the figure ahead had disappeared from view.

Rhine’s heart abruptly clenched. Panic seized him, and he hurried through the crowd, searching frantically for the man.

A faint fragrance remained in the air. Like a warm breeze, it gently soothed Rhine’s agitation.

Rhine stopped, closed his eyes and quietly traced the source of that scent.

A moment later, he opened his eyes.

His gray world burst into color once more, and the figure that had vanished reappeared before him.

The distance between them gradually narrowed as the other man approached him of his own accord. The dream Rhine had been afraid to disturb suddenly became real.

“Major General, what a coincidence. Are you out shopping too?” Shang Ke gazed at the man before him, delight shining in his eyes.

A moment earlier, Shang Ke had sensed the man’s pheromones. Even among the chaotic blend of scents in the crowd, Rhine’s remained extraordinarily clear and distinct. So Shang Ke had turned back and followed them straight to him.

Rhine slowly moved his lips and called his name.

“Fil…”

Shang Ke noticed his hesitation and unease and found it strange.

Rhine should currently have been in the most vigorous and high-spirited period of his life. Why did he carry such a weary, somber air? And given their relationship, even if they were not the type to display affection publicly, they certainly should not have felt this unfamiliar with each other.

Rhine looked at Shang Ke as though he were simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar, with an awkward stiffness that suggested he did not know how he was supposed to interact with him.

Shang Ke had only just returned to this point in time and did not yet understand what had changed, so he did not rashly voice his doubts.

He smiled. “Since we’ve run into each other, why don’t we walk around together?”

Rhine nodded.

The two walked side by side. Shang Ke chatted naturally about amusing things he had seen around the city, occasionally buying some small item and casually stuffing it into Rhine’s hand or pocket.

Rhine simply watched, listened, ate whatever Shang Ke handed him, and allowed the man close without the slightest trace of defense.

It felt as though he had not experienced anything like this for a very, very long time—as though he had endured several lifetimes of loneliness before finally recovering a warmth he had once lost.

“It’s gotten this late?” Shang Ke checked the time, then looked at Rhine. “Want me to take you home?”

“Mm.” Rhine agreed. “Come back with me.”

Apparently, “come back with me” meant keeping Shang Ke overnight.

Shang Ke had barely escorted Rhine to the door before he was “invited” inside the residence.

After spending an hour or two with him, Shang Ke became certain that Rhine really had changed. The old Rhine had been sharp-edged and brimming with fighting spirit. The Rhine before him now was dignified and restrained, carrying a concealed melancholy and a dangerous depth.

After taking a shower, Shang Ke found Rhine sitting in the living room drinking.

Drying his hair as he sat down beside him, Shang Ke asked, “By the way, Sir, didn’t I hear that a new mission was being assigned? Why hasn’t there been any notification?”

“The redeployment mission?” Rhine watched the water dripping from his hair. “I refused it.”

Shang Ke froze, surprise flashing through his eyes. “You refused it? Why?”

That mission was supposed to be his journey toward death. Before Shang Ke had even prepared to overturn the outcome, Rhine had already strangled the danger in its cradle?

Could it be… he was reborn too?

But if Rhine had truly been reborn, why was his attitude toward Shang Ke so strange? He was neither familiar nor guarded, neither actively affectionate nor distant.

And drinking late at night was not a habit the old Rhine had ever possessed. He had drunk especially rarely whenever Shang Ke was around.

“I don’t know. I simply felt that I couldn’t accept that mission.” Rhine raised his glass and took a small sip, the movement unnervingly natural.

“Drinking at night is bad for your stomach. Let me make you something to eat.” Shang Ke put down the towel and headed toward the kitchen.

Rhine leaned lazily against the sofa, his deep gaze following Shang Ke the entire time.

Only when the aroma of food drifted from the kitchen did Rhine realize how hungry he was. He had followed Shang Ke for hours today without eating much of anything, and the smell immediately awakened his neglected stomach.

Shang Ke brought the food out and placed it directly on the coffee table in front of the sofa. It was already late at night, so there was no need to fuss over formalities.

Rhine set down his wine, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and began eating heartily. Even at the dinner table, he retained a soldier’s efficiency, clearing the food with the same clean decisiveness as an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

The living room fell quiet, filled only by the faint sounds of Rhine’s bowl and chopsticks.

When Rhine finished, Shang Ke silently watched him for a moment before calling softly, “Rhine.”

“Mm?”

“You… are you crying?”

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