The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Extra 07 - Ning Yu’s First Life (Part 2)
Extra 7: Ning Yu’s First Life (Part 2)
Ning Yu reached out and grabbed the boy, lifting him effortlessly. He swept his gaze around the room and said, “I'm taking him with me.”
Everyone was taken aback. Someone hesitated before speaking. “Lord Gabriel, you—”
Wearing his silver mask, Ning Yu's voice was hoarse as he slowly said, “His identity is important. I need to interrogate and deal with him personally. Do any of you have a problem with that?”
“N-No.”
“He's yours, Lord Gabriel.”
“We trust your judgment.”
“These nobles need to be taught a lesson!”
Ning Yu gave a slight nod and left the base with Ji Ling without delay. To prevent Lector from realizing and interfering, it was safer to leave as soon as possible.
He quickly reached the spaceship parked outside the base, activated the autopilot, and then threw Ji Ling onto the floor.
The boy trembled, his teeth chattering as he looked at Ning Yu in terror—far more frightened than before, as if he were facing some bloodthirsty monster.
Ning Yu thought to himself that the Empire’s efforts to vilify him over the years had certainly paid off—seeing how terrified this little guy was. But there were some things he couldn’t explain to Ji Ling, even if he wanted to. In fact, seeing the boy so afraid reminded Ning Yu of all the arrogant threats he had made in front of him before, and he suddenly had the urge to tease him a little.
This little guy probably never expected the tables to turn so quickly.
Behind the cover of his silver mask, Ning Yu’s lips curved slightly. He stepped forward, looking down at the boy and said in a low, hoarse voice, “Do you know what happens to those who fall into my hands?”
He had only meant to scare him a little. But to his surprise, the boy suddenly let out a wail and burst into tears.
He cried without any dignity, sobbing uncontrollably, tears and snot running down his face.
Between hiccups, he pleaded, “Waaaahhh—please don’t kill me! I beg you, don’t kill me! Please don’t kill me, waaahhh—”
Ning Yu: “...”
This was the most easily frightened person he had ever met.
After a moment of silence… for some reason, he reached out and, with the cold metallic fingertips of his gloves, gently wiped away the tears at the corner of the boy’s eyes. He gazed into those blue eyes, glistening with tears, filled with naked fear, vulnerability, and despair…
He was just an arrogant, weak, spineless, annoying dandy.
He was the kind of person Ning Yu should hate the most.
Someone who could act recklessly when he had power and status, trampling on others, yet when faced with the threat of death, had no dignity and could only cry and beg…
People like him…
So why did Ning Yu feel a faint trace of pity and reluctance?
Why had he risked exposing his identity to come personally when he learned that Ji Ling had been kidnapped?
Why did he feel strangely empty when he thought the boy might have already been killed?
Was he really that important?
Not necessarily.
His death would be troublesome, but problems could always be solved.
And yet, Ning Yu had come without hesitation to take him away. Ultimately, perhaps it was simply because he didn't want to see this seemingly frivolous boy—who occasionally showed a clever, endearing side—meet such a cruel end.
He didn’t deserve that kind of fate.
Ning Yu’s chest rose and fell slightly. He took a deep breath, slowly withdrawing his hand. Looking at the dazed boy, he lost interest in frightening him further. The kid had already had a bad enough day.
Ning Yu turned and placed a box of nutrient-packed instant food on the table, then left the room, closing the door behind him.
………………
The outside world was flooded with news of Ji Ling’s capture by the rebels. Some even reported that he had already been executed. Ning Yu knew Ji Ling was safe, but he wasn’t planning to return him just yet. He saw this as a perfect opportunity to turn Carlos’ scheme against him.
Carrying the hopes and lives of countless people… he never had the luxury of acting on impulse. He was used to calculating every move, planning meticulously, and maximizing every possible advantage.
Now that everyone believed Ji Ling was dead, Carlos would not waste such a golden opportunity to incite public outrage, pressuring Jing Sui into taking action against the rebels and the commoners. When the conflict reached its peak, Ning Yu would release Ji Ling—catching Carlos off guard and forcing him into a difficult position.
And so, Ning Yu drifted through space with Ji Ling.
Knowing that his reputation among the nobles was terrible and that Ji Ling was terrified of him, Ning Yu deliberately avoided appearing in front of him too often. But to his surprise… Ji Ling was braver than he had expected.
Although he was distant for the first two days…
On the third day, the little guy cautiously tried to talk to him, saying, “I'm hungry.”
Making demands was a good sign. Ning Yu gave him extra food.
On the fourth day, Ji Ling pitifully whined, “It's so stuffy in here. Can I go out and walk around?”
Since there was nothing on the spaceship that needed to be hidden, Ning Yu opened the door.
On the fifth day, the little guy seemed less afraid of him and even tried to please him, saying, “The nutrient meals taste awful, so I made a few dishes…”
Ning Yu stared at him for a long time but eventually tried the food. Surprisingly, it was edible and not poisoned.
On the sixth day...
On the seventh day...
As time passed, Ning Yu gradually saw a completely different Ji Ling, one entirely unlike the arrogant and domineering young noble from Emperor Star. This Ji Ling had abandoned all the pretenses of nobility, acting as if he were just a simple child. He racked his brain to survive, but knowing too little, he could only carefully orbit around Ning Yu, clumsily trying to curry favor with him.
And yet, it was unexpectedly endearing.
Ning Yu gazed at the boy and felt a question swirling on the tip of his tongue—Which side of you is real?
Is this truly the real you, or is it just another disguise?
A compromise made to survive?
But this wasn’t a question he should be asking. And, in truth, Ning Yu found himself rather enjoying their current dynamic. If that was the case, then he would simply take this little guy before him as his true self.
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed.
The power struggles on Emperor Star had reached a critical point.
Despite a lingering reluctance, Ning Yu knew it was time for them to part ways. He couldn’t let Wei Zhen continue to risk his life posing as him, nor could he keep Ji Ling by his side forever.
All things must come to an end.
That night, Ning Yu visited the boy's room one last time. He looked at the sleeping Ji Ling, gently brushing aside the strands of hair on his forehead, gazing at the peaceful and serene expression on his face… I hope that when you return this time, you can live well and stay far away from our stormy whirlpool.
Stay away from me, from Jing Sui, from Carlos...
Do you understand?
Ning Yu turned away resolutely, set the spaceship on an automatic course back, then quietly slipped away, piloting his mecha into the vast darkness.
………………
When Ning Yu infiltrated back, Wei Zhen was still in his quarters pretending to be sick. Seeing Ning Yu return, he was so moved he nearly burst into tears. “My lord, you're finally back! If you stayed away any longer, I really wouldn't have been able to hold out!”
Ning Yu said in a low voice, “You've worked hard these days.”
Though Wei Zhen grumbled, he was someone who knew priorities. He quickly asked, “By the way, did you find Ji Ling? The news outside says he's dead, and Carlos is demanding blood for blood from the rebels!”
Ning Yu patted his shoulder, the corners of his lips curling into a meaningful smile. “What, you're not hoping he's dead anymore?”
Wei Zhen looked awkward.
Ning Yu said, “Don't worry. He's fine. Carlos won’t get what he wants.”
Wei Zhen was finally reassured.
………………
A few days later, the nobles, full of anger, gathered at the palace again, demanding that Jing Sui send troops against the rebels. They insisted on digging up every inch of land to find Ji Ling—dead or alive—and making the rebels pay the price for challenging noble authority!
But at that very moment, Ji Ling returned.
He looked a little disheveled, but he hadn’t suffered any harm.
He told everyone that the rebels had captured him but then let him go without actually hurting him.
The enraged nobles instantly fell silent, and Jing Sui swiftly shut down the demand for war. It was said that Carlos’s expression that day was particularly grim.
Ning Yu wasn’t present at the scene, but his informants reported everything to him in detail.
Ning Yu thought, perhaps this kid also didn’t want a war to break out, didn’t want rivers of blood to flow.
So, he had chosen to say nothing.
This time, he hadn’t disappointed him.
Ning Yu chuckled to himself, put the matter aside, and moved on to his next plan.
After rescuing Ji Ling, he hadn’t let Lector off the hook. Instead, he secretly gathered evidence of General Lector’s dealings with Carlos’s subordinates. Although the evidence didn’t directly incriminate Carlos, it was enough to place suspicion on him.
These findings were soon anonymously leaked online, causing an uproar! Previously, Carlos had vowed to annihilate the rebels and avenge Grand Duke Ji Ting. But now, it seemed this had all been orchestrated by him from the start. His goal in trying to kill Ji Ling was to force Jing Sui into war! Jing Sui immediately rebuked Carlos and launched an investigation into his family's businesses and subordinates under the pretext of rooting out traitors. Taking this opportunity, he delivered a severe blow to Carlos.
The entire fiasco ended with Carlos being forced to back down.
At the same time, Jing Sui decided to accelerate his plans and personally approached Ning Yu, bringing up the marriage arrangement for the first time.
Neither of them believed there was any love between them, but both found the engagement beneficial.
Soon, word spread that the Empire would soon welcome its first commoner Empress.
When the news first broke, the public erupted in excitement. However, Ning Yu’s subordinates felt increasingly uneasy. Wei Zhen, in particular, often looked at Ning Yu with an odd expression.
If Lord Gabriel really married Jing Sui, who would be on top? They were both SSS-level powerhouses—without fighting, no one could say for sure who was stronger. Wait a minute… Lord Gabriel was currently disguised as an S-level. Could it be that he was actually willing to be Jing Sui’s Empress? The thought alone was too terrifying to imagine...
Wei Zhen was completely stunned by his own thoughts!
Too terrifying.
Too horrifying.
Unimaginable!
One day, Wei Zhen couldn’t hold back anymore. He braced himself and asked Ning Yu, “My lord, are you really planning to marry Jing Sui?”
Ning Yu gave him a meaningful look. “You should ask Jing Sui—does he really plan to marry me?”
Wei Zhen muttered in a daze, “It should be real… right?”
Ning Yu said indifferently, “Whether it’s real or not doesn’t matter. As long as people believe it, that’s enough.”
Wei Zhen: ???
He felt like an absolute fool.
But Ning Yu understood clearly that this marriage might not actually happen. They were only using the engagement to further their reform plans. Once Carlos was eliminated, whether the engagement remained or not wouldn’t really matter.
………………
While Ning Yu was busy fighting Carlos—playing the role of an idolized commoner hero on the surface while secretly undermining Carlos—he was also keeping a close eye on someone else: the first-ever commoner Speaker of Parliament. But that so-called ‘first commoner Speaker’ was far from a benevolent champion of the people. Beneath his gentle, harmless, and refined exterior lay a heart colder than anyone else's. He was a ruthless egoist, and he had long since allied himself with Carlos.
Carlos must have promised him substantial benefits to make Wen Yan work for him.
But what exactly had Carlos offered Wen Yan?
It didn’t take long for Ning Yu to find out.
He was targeted in an assassination attempt—swift, sudden, and ultimately unsuccessful. The assassin was captured, and under interrogation, they revealed the mastermind behind it—Ji Ling.
The given reason? Ji Ling had supposedly ordered his death out of jealousy upon learning about his engagement to Jing Sui.
And the evidence? A recorded video of Ji Ling himself giving the order. In the footage, the pale and frail-looking young man, his eyes devoid of emotion, uttered coldly: “Go, kill Ning Yu.”
At that moment, Ning Yu didn’t know what to think.
He didn’t believe Ji Ling would do something like this. The Ji Ling he knew wasn’t like that. Yet… he really had done it. And the evidence left no room for argument.
Public opinion erupted once again, and this time, no one could protect him.
It seemed like an open-and-shut case—a failed act of vengeance, nothing more.
But the truth wasn’t so simple. The person Ji Ling had given the order to wasn’t actually the assassin—it was Wen Yan. The video had been cleverly edited to remove Wen Yan’s presence. After extensive investigation, Ning Yu finally uncovered this crucial detail.
Wen Yan had always clung to the Ji family, even after becoming Speaker. Everyone believed he was a loyal and grateful servant.
But that was the biggest joke of all.
It was a lie—one that fooled only the clueless masses.
Because this so-called loyal and righteous man had silently maneuvered Ji Ling into the center of the storm. He hadn’t just pulled Ji Ling down from his noble pedestal, stripping him of everything and casting him into the dust—he wanted the entire Ji family to be utterly destroyed. Like a venomous snake lying in wait, he had hidden in the shadows, striking with a fatal bite at just the right moment.
The Ji family—that was the price Wen Yan had offered in his deal with Carlos.
Unfortunately, Jing Sui had no intention of uncovering the truth. Not because he couldn’t—because he wouldn’t. He didn’t care what the truth was. With public outrage at its peak, throwing Ji Ling to the wolves was the simplest solution. Besides, was it really a wrongful accusation? Whether Ji Ling had given the order to Wen Yan or the assassin didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had, in fact, issued that command.
Ji Ling had made a mistake.
A week later, Jing Sui personally stripped Ji Ling of his noble status and exiled him from Emperor Star, forbidding him from ever returning.
This was done to appease the enraged public.
To uphold the dignity of the imperial family and the laws of the Empire.
The Ji family paid a hefty price to ensure that Ji Ling was merely exiled instead of executed on the spot.
The entire affair was simple, clear-cut, and ended exactly as expected. That damned spoiled brat had finally received his punishment—though if he had died, it would’ve been even better. The scorn and insults on the internet raged on for a long time.
That day, Ning Yu stayed at home. Outside, countless media reporters gathered, all eager to interview him about his thoughts.
But he didn’t go out.
Because there was nothing to say. Was he supposed to declare how happy he was about Ji Ling’s punishment? Was he supposed to praise His Majesty’s wisdom?
The only thing he wanted to know was… Why had Ji Ling given that order?
Over and over, Ning Yu watched that video. He stared at the pale, emotionless boy on the screen. And then, he had to face a certain truth. Ji Ling really did love Jing Sui. Loved him so much that he lost his reason. Loved him so much that he was willing to do anything. Even kill him. He looked at him with such deep hatred…
But that wasn’t the answer Ning Yu wanted.
Yet… what other reason could there be?
Ning Yu curled his lips into a faint smirk. It didn’t matter whether you truly wanted me dead. This time, you trusted the wrong person. Do you realize that?
Wei Zhen came to see Ning Yu and sighed, “Ji Ling was personally exiled by Jing Sui. I suppose that’s karma at work. He’ll never have a chance to cause trouble on Emperor Star again. The place already feels much quieter without him. But that guy was such an idiot, actually believing that Wen Yan was truly working for him. How many nobles has Wen Yan already betrayed? He’s always just been using the Ji family—nothing more than an ungrateful snake. Speaking of which, why did he target Ji Ling and the Ji family? Did he hold a grudge for some past humiliation?”
Ning Yu pressed his lips together. “I don’t know.”
Wei Zhen was momentarily stunned before scratching his head. “With Ji Ling’s arrogant and reckless mouth, he must have offended Wen Yan countless times without even realizing it... But whatever Wen Yan’s motives are, it’s none of our concern. We’ll never work with someone like him anyway. A person who prioritizes profit, plays both sides, and stabs people in the back isn’t worth trusting. Just look at what happened to Ji Ling.”
Ning Yu suddenly felt irritated and didn’t want to continue the conversation. He said in a low voice, “Jing Sui is about to make a move against Carlos. Things might get turbulent soon. You should leave Emperor Star and lay low for now.”
Wei Zhen quickly said, “But will you be okay staying here alone? Don’t you need my help?”
Ning Yu replied coolly, “Of course I’ll be okay. Do you think I’m you?”
Wei Zhen: “…Can you not crush my confidence like that?”
Without mercy, Ning Yu drove Wei Zhen away. He felt like this guy was getting more and more annoying lately, unable to speak properly.
………………
Soon after, Carlos was ambushed while leaving Emperor Star to inspect the mining planets.
Jing Sui and Brandon launched a joint assault, severely wounding Carlos, but in the end, the cunning old fox still managed to escape. He had hidden more backup plans than they anticipated. Killing him wouldn’t be easy.
Ning Yu remained a cold observer.
Although he also wanted Carlos gone, he didn’t mind letting Carlos and Jing Sui wear each other down first.
To hunt down Carlos, Jing Sui cast a vast net, searching across multiple star systems.
And yet, as if fate intervened—
After disappearing for a time, Carlos returned unharmed.
Then, he made his move against Ning Yu.
When the ambush came, Ning Yu wasn’t entirely surprised. It was clear that Carlos had decided to tear off all pretenses and go all in.
Carlos knew that Jing Sui and Ning Yu’s marriage was purely political. But that didn’t matter. In a way, political marriages were more reliable than so-called love. Love was fleeting and easily betrayed, but breaking a political alliance carried heavy consequences.
Jing Sui had to come to Ning Yu’s rescue. If he didn’t, it would prove that he never cared about the common people, that his love for the people and his supposed devotion were just a performance. If Ning Yu’s life meant nothing to him, the commoners’ outrage and backlash would be inevitable.
So, Jing Sui would come.
Everything Carlos thought of, Ning Yu had already considered as well.
Of course, Ning Yu didn’t want to be captured and used as a bargaining chip against Jing Sui.
But Carlos was a cautious man. Unlike Ji Ling, he wouldn’t leave behind any obvious mistakes. Even though Ning Yu only outwardly appeared to be an S-level powerhouse, Carlos still deployed a large force of elite fighters, determined to make his escape impossible. No—if Ning Yu truly wanted to escape, he could.
Even against ten SS-level powerhouses, he could kill them all.
But doing so would expose his true identity. And if that happened, Jing Sui’s pride would never allow him to let Ning Yu live. He wouldn’t even need Carlos’s provocation—Jing Sui would personally ensure Ning Yu and the entire Rebel were destroyed. All their previous efforts would be for nothing.
Yet allowing himself to be captured was equally dangerous. He could still flee now, but once he was in the hands of Carlos—an SSS-level fighter along with his elite forces—there was no guarantee he could escape if things went south. It would be a gamble with his own life.
It was a difficult decision.
But he only had seconds to make it. In that instant, Ning Yu made up his mind. He chose to feign capture. It was a dangerous gamble, but great rewards often required great risks.
There was a chance he would die here and lose everything. But there was also a chance he could use this to join forces with Jing Sui, eliminate Carlos once and for all, and gain Jing Sui’s trust—without exposing his identity. If it worked, it would open up entirely new possibilities.
To gain something, one had to be prepared to pay the price.
Carlos’s men took Ning Yu to a hidden base. From this moment on, he had to be extremely careful—because there was no guarantee that Carlos wouldn’t simply kill him outright. Everything was uncertain.
At this base, Ning Yu once again came face-to-face with Carlos.
This man—the leader of the conservative noble faction who had been orchestrating everything from the shadows.
Powerful, ruthless, and merciless, yet still maintaining an air of aristocratic elegance.
He would sacrifice anything to achieve his goals. To him, commoners and even nobles alike were nothing more than ants.
Now, Carlos had shed his refined facade, revealing his cruel and ruthless side. He looked like a vampire emerging from the darkness, his voice smooth as he said, “Do you know why you must die?”
Ning Yu replied calmly, “Because I am someone His Majesty needs.”
Carlos smiled faintly, then shook his head. “That’s only one reason. More importantly, if you die—Little Angel will be happy.”
For once, Ning Yu was caught off guard. A vague suspicion rose in his mind, but he didn’t want to acknowledge it. Slowly, he asked, “Who would be happy?”
Carlos gazed into his eyes, his lips curling into a faint smile. “Xiao Ling. Your existence pains him.”
…Is that so?
Ning Yu had never found something so utterly absurd.
Ning Yu felt that there wasn’t really any deep-seated hatred between them. Even that so-called emotional entanglement seemed almost unreal to him, as if it had been forcibly imposed on him. But then, he suddenly recalled that image he had watched countless times— The pale-faced youth, his eyes dull and lifeless, uttering the words: ‘Go, kill Ning Yu.’
If that was just an act, then Ning Yu had to admit—this seemingly foolish boy actually had a remarkable talent for deception.
He had fooled everyone. Even him.
Ning Yu curled his lips into a slow, hoarse laugh. “He told you to kill me?”
Carlos nodded.
Ning Yu’s gaze abruptly sharpened. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.
He had wanted to question Carlos— You were the one who betrayed Ji Ling. You were the one who condemned him to death. You were the one who used the Ji family as a bargaining chip with Wen Yan. And now, what is this act for? Who are you trying to convince? Don’t you find it hypocritical and ridiculous? Everything that had happened today felt absurd and laughable to him.
But those weren’t the words he should say.
As ‘Ning Yu,’ he wasn’t supposed to know any of this.
He watched as Carlos left, saw the door close in front of him. Slowly, he shut his eyes, his expression calm and unchanging.
He couldn’t let such a minor accident shake his heart. He told himself that even without Ji Ling’s request, Carlos would have done the same…
…But he still couldn’t help but recall the past. The way that arrogant, brash youth had repeatedly sought him out, deliberately provoking him—yet always hesitating at the last moment, showing a rare mercy. The fleeting looks of uncertainty in his eyes, so unlike the usual arrogance of a spoiled dandy.
And those few days when he had wandered through the stars as ‘Gabriel’—the boy had shown a completely different, unexpectedly endearing side of himself.
He had thought he understood. Thought he had seen enough. But in the end, none of it had meant anything.
Because now, he wanted him dead.
Ning Yu’s lips curled into a faint, self-mocking smile. Sorry, but I can’t exchange my life for your happiness. I still have things I need to do. Perhaps… we were never meant to belong to the same world.
As for that brief moment of heartache—let’s just pretend it never existed.
………………
Ning Yu remained imprisoned, keeping his composure. At least for now, it seemed that Carlos had no intention of killing him before Jing Sui arrived. If Carlos truly meant to use him as leverage, he would return. And when that happened— That would be his only chance.
Minute by minute, second by second, time passed.
Then suddenly— A faint click echoed through the silence as the heavy metal door swung open from the outside.
Every muscle in Ning Yu’s body tensed instantly. His nerves exploded into action, prepared for battle at any moment. But when he lifted his gaze— What met his eyes was a pair of clear, bright blue irises. Just like the very first time they had met by accident.
Why are you here?
The boy looked far more haggard than before. His face was unnaturally pale, his frame thinner than before. He was dressed in simple, unadorned gray clothing… Ah, right. He had been exiled. No more servants waiting on him. No more extravagant feasts. No more fine silks and lavish jewels. His life must be far from comfortable now.
By all logic, he shouldn’t be here at all. And yet, here he was. But aside from proving Carlos' words true, this meant nothing.
The only way he could have made it here… Was if Carlos had allowed it.
Carlos had not lied.
So, what are you here for? To mock me one last time before I die? To flaunt your victory in my face?
A trace of mockery flickered through Ning Yu’s gaze, but he said nothing.
He was never one for unnecessary words. And with Ji Ling, he had already spoken far more than he should have. Done far more than he should have. Now, he should return to how things were supposed to be.
The boy stared at him for a long moment— Then, as expected, he began to curse him.
The insults were nothing new. Ning Yu had long since grown tired of hearing them.
He had far more important matters to deal with than listening to Ji Ling’s pointless rants, so he cut him off coldly. “Leave.”
Ji Ling ranted for a while before he finally grew tired, his watery eyes fixed on him with a mix of anger and anxiety. His soft pink lips moved slightly—then, all of a sudden, he stepped forward, raising his hand to strike. But in his haste— Thud! He tripped and fell flat on his face right in front of Ning Yu.
The fall was harsh. Tears welled up in his eyes from the pain as he struggled to push himself up from the ground. And in that moment— Two small, delicate disguise devices rolled out of his pocket, landing right in front of Ning Yu.
Ning Yu: “…”
What the hell? Why bring these while throwing a tantrum? One was bad enough, but two?
Ji Ling saw them too. He rubbed his nose, eyes darting around—then suddenly snapped, “Don’t touch them! Those are mine! You’re not escaping from here!”
Yet even as he said that, he made no move to retrieve them. Instead, he simply sat there, wide-eyed, staring at Ning Yu— As if waiting for him to react.
Their gazes locked.
And the longer Ning Yu remained still, the redder Ji Ling’s eyes became—his cheeks puffing up in frustration like a small, aggrieved animal on the verge of a tantrum.
After a long pause— Ning Yu let out a quiet, breathy chuckle.
…Good. At least you haven’t changed.
You’re still the same as I always thought you were.
I'm glad... that you don’t want me to die. You actually came today to help me, didn’t you? No matter the reason, no matter the truth behind it all.
Thank you for coming here today.
For letting me see that the person in front of me is the real you.
Ning Yu easily broke free from the shackles on his wrists, then picked up the disguise device from the ground and stood up. In that instant when he lifted his gaze, he didn’t miss the look of relief that flashed in the boy’s eyes. The corners of his lips lifted uncontrollably as he took slow steps toward him.
He grabbed the boy’s wrist and pressed him against the wall. Meeting the boy’s feigned anger, Ning Yu chuckled lowly with amusement. “You want me dead that badly? Too bad, you miscalculated again.”
The boy huffed. “Do you really think you can escape? The place is full of Carlos’ men right now!”
Ning Yu replied, “I just need to disguise myself as you and leave you here in my place. That way, Carlos won’t realize I’ve escaped.” This is the escape plan you secretly prepared for me, isn’t it?
The boy remained stubborn. “Don’t even think about it!”
Ning Yu raised his hand, his fingertips brushing gently across the boy’s cheek before carefully sticking the disguise device behind his ear. His voice was low and hoarse. “Stay here.”
Wait for me.
Wait for me to take care of Carlos, and then I’ll come back for you.
Why did you order Wen Yan to kill me back then? Do you really love Jing Sui that much? You don’t actually hate me that much, do you?
And what is it that you truly want?
Who is the real you?
I have so many questions that I want to ask you, one by one.
Ning Yu looked at the boy deeply, suppressing an emotion he himself hadn’t even noticed. Then, he turned, picked up the disguise device, and left.
Although he wasn’t sure what had happened in between, it was now clear that Ji Ling was highly valued by Carlos. Disguised as Ji Ling, Ning Yu was able to walk out unimpeded.
He planned to meet up with Jing Sui first. Along the way, he knocked out a soldier and stole a communicator.
However, after several attempts, he was still unable to contact Jing Sui. So he tried reaching Brandon instead. This time, the connection went through quickly. Brandon was extremely surprised and delighted to hear from him. He also told him that Jing Sui had just launched an assault on Carlos’ base.
Ning Yu was momentarily stunned. Then his expression suddenly changed—he and Jing Sui had just missed each other!
By the time he rushed back to the base, the battle had already reached its climax. The sky was darkened by the chaos of war, countless mechas plummeting from above. The aftershocks of the battle between two SSS-level powerhouses threatened to flatten the entire planet.
Perhaps it was fate.
By the time Ning Yu arrived, the battle was nearly over.
From a distance, powerless to intervene, he watched as Ji Ling suddenly broke free from Carlos’ grasp and, without hesitation, stepped in front of Jing Sui. That frail body erupted with an unprecedented strength—but it lasted only for a fleeting moment. Like a piece of paper, light and fragile, he was sent drifting down. When the boy’s real face was revealed, Carlos was finally caught off guard for the first time, his expression momentarily stunned.
And it was that single moment of hesitation that cost Carlos the battle against Jing Sui.
Ning Yu stood frozen in place, his feet seemingly rooted to the ground.
Why?
Why didn’t you tell Carlos your true identity?
Why did you charge forward like that?
You didn’t have to die…
I understand now.
You wanted to protect Jing Sui. You wanted to protect me. You were trying to protect us… but you never stopped to think about how to protect yourself.
You were wrong. I don’t need your protection, and neither does Jing Sui.
But you’ve always been this foolish.
Ning Yu closed his eyes, his hands slowly clenching at his sides. The scent of blood in the air seeped into his chest, bit by bit.
As everything came to an end, Brandon finally arrived as well, his face filled with shock and disbelief. No one knew how much time had passed before Jing Sui left, carrying the boy’s lifeless body in his arms, while Ning Yu turned and walked deep into the ruins of the fallen sky.
He walked far, far away.
Then, he opened his hand. Resting in his palm was a small disguise device—left behind by the boy.
When he left the boy behind that day, he had thought it was just a temporary separation. He never expected it to be an eternal farewell.
And so, the words ‘Stay here’ became the last thing he ever said to him.
But that wasn’t what I wanted…
To be my final words to you.
………………
With Carlos’ death, the conservative noble faction collapsed. Wen Yan swiftly shifted allegiance, choosing to support Jing Sui instead.
The reforms proceeded smoothly.
The introduction of the gene evolution agents filled the common people with joy. It was clear that, many years from now, the empire would become an entirely different place.
A few months later, Jing Sui proposed annulling his engagement with Ning Yu.
This nominal yet meaningless engagement had indeed lost all value, and Ning Yu knew that neither of them wished to continue it.
He calmly accepted Jing Sui’s proposal.
That day, he looked at Jing Sui indifferently. This man, who had always been cold and emotionless, seemed… a little different.
Ning Yu handled the annulment with composure, watching Jing Sui’s departing figure before letting out a soft, self-deprecating laugh. In his pocket, he still carried a disguise device—the last thing the boy had left him. His fingers gently brushed over it.
Look, you finally moved His Majesty’s heart. But it’s too late.
Many years passed.
Ning Yu disbanded the Rebel army and continued playing his role as the hero of the common people. But unlike before, he was no longer the sole shining figure. In fact, he deliberately faded from the public eye.
Because one after another, gifted commoners emerged.
He was no longer the only hope for everyone.
He no longer had to bear such a heavy burden.
It felt… much lighter.
The world had already become a much better place—just as he had wished.
Only, few people still remembered that once dazzling boy. The world was always forgetful.
But he wouldn’t forget.
He would never forget that boy, fleeting like a shooting star, who had shone brilliantly for a moment in his night-like darkness.
However,
That was all.
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