Afterlife Department

Chapter 160 – First Love

"When I first met him, I was sixteen right after I just got an award as the youngest scientist in my field and became famous." Jiang Ce started. "My professor took me with him to a banquet. When I laid my eyes on 'him', I had fallen in love with him." The 'him' he's referring to is Harry Walter. "I was very happy I managed to see him up close when my professor approached the head of the Walter family at that time. However, when I saw him closer, I noticed his expression is cold. I felt disappointed. I wanted to see him smile." He said. "My field, bioengineering, is a coincidence. I was already researching about the perfect replication of the genes. That time, a crazy thought struck me when I saw him." He lowered his gaze. "I want to see the him who is smiling, laughing… but I met his gaze.. What I currently see is like an empty doll." He suddenly made a sad smile. "That woke me up. I realized I am superficial. I only liked his face." He laughed. "However, after the Walter head heard my research, he became interested. That was then I was 'invited'." He raised his head.

They all fell silent as they listened to Jiang Ce's past.

"My professor immediately agreed and I was very happy and excited." Jiang Ce continued. "I went with the Walter family filled with hopes and dream… ah, youth." He smiled. "It's really fine as a youth. What isn't is to be naïve." His smile faded. "Being unexpectedly the same age as him, the Walter family made him accompany me. Interacting with him every day, my attraction towards him gradually turned to love." he said. "With the Walter family providing me resources for my research, naturally, it sped up my research. Before I knew it, six years has passed." He sighed. "Someone who's been by your side for a long time… who wouldn't develop a sexual tension with him? Thus, that year, we've developed a physical relationship." He told them.

It was both expected and unexpected. They already expected Jiang Ce falling in love with the development in his story, but what's unexpected is that Jiang Ce falling in love with Harry Walter.

"Who wasn't stupid when they were young?" Jiang Ce asked. "Me falling in love wasn't a mistake. My mistake is that I fell in love with a wrong person." He bitterly smiled. "When his parents found out, I was scared. However, unexpectedly, they didn't disapprove our relationship. Well… I am a man. I have nothing to lose unlike a woman." he shook his head. "Our relationship lasted for a year… until his parents approached me. I thought they would talk to me about marriage. How stupid I was." He laughed. "They are a prominent family. Why would they agree their child being married to a man? They only agreed to our relationship because of my value." He said. "They told me it was time I do my job. I gave them the product of the years of my research. I injected the genes and fertilized the egg cell. Who knows how… in less than a year, a baby was born." His expression became heavy. "And, it grew at a fast pace. Surprisingly though, they left him with me. During the three years, the child turned to a youth. Then, the youth turned to a man."

That was no doubt, the Harry Jackson who is Huo Ling's father.

"He's exactly the same as him. If I hadn't seen him grow up, I would think he is his 'twin'." Jiang Ce said. "Over the years I stayed in the Walter family, naturally, I became aware of the supernatural world. It also explained the fast growth…" he sighed. "However, since the other him has been by my side all along, naturally, I distinguish who is who. Of course, since I raised his 'twin', our time together became less and less. Until, that time – " his gaze darkened and he clenched his fists. " – I heard them talk about his marriage. I confronted him. But, do you know what he said?" he bitterly smiled as he turned to them.

Even though they already guessed, none has spoken to answer.

"'What's between us is consensual. I have no responsibility towards you. You're a man, so don't act like a girl. Stop fantasizing and know your place.'" His eyes reddened as if the pain he felt was just yesterday. 

It was obvious. The one Jiang Ce truly love is not Harry Jackson, but Harry Walter. They could already guess what happened after their fall out.

Out of spite, Jiang Ce stole Harry Jackson and escaped.

"Jiang Ce." Huo Ling called. "Your goal to resurrect me is not for me to see my father, but – " he raised his head and looked at Jiang Ce whose face has unshed tears. " – you're the one who wanted to see him the most. And I'm your excuse." He said. No need to confirm whether what he said is true, since tears finally fell from Jiang Ce's eyes that're filled with exhaustion.

With the security of the Walterland, Jiang Ce definitely cannot enter on his own. Thus, he needed Huo Ling, who is a powerful fox to break through their defense and see Harry Walter.

"You don't need Huo Ling to bring you to him." it was Yi Bing who spoke. "I can take you to him." he told Jiang Ce.

"Thank you." Jiang Ce said in a hoarse voice and covered his eyes.

Hao Baiyun sighed while Fei Xuli and Jing Yu just silently sat on the side.

The next day.

Huo Ling felt his soul became more powerful and solid after he refined his corpse. He bade his farewell to Hao Baiyun. Hao Baiyun told him that only the three of them – he, Fei Xuli and Jing Yu, knows his existence as a fox clan member. If there will, they would deal with them.

Yi Bing looked at Huo Ling and Jiang Ce talking on the side as they waited for their plane to arrive.

3257: we will be going back first to the Afterlife Department to send the Soul Fragment back before going to another world. 

3257: even though the power left to the Fragment lessened, it's better than the Fragment having nothing left. Who knows what will happen after the power in the Fragment was all absorbed? 

3257: look after that human scientist in case his memories when he used the Fragment comes back. See you~

Yi Bing lowered his gaze to hide his thoughts. Not long after, their plane arrived.

Pennsylvania, Walterland.

"I chose him not because of his profession, but I chose him as a person. His eyes are full of spirit, I cannot take my eyes off of him even for a second. I am afraid, he might be gone from my sight. I guess, I had fallen in love with him at that time." Harry Walter said to the grave. "I'm really sorry to use you as an excuse." He said as he touched the engraved name on the stone tablet. In the end, because of their corrupted blood, they cannot bear a child. It was the same with the other branches of the Walter family.

They are the last generation of the Walter family – the family that existed over a thousand years.

"Master." The Walter family's butler called. "We have visitors." He told him.

Harry Walter smiled. "He finally came." He said before he turned. "Jiang Ce." He called when he saw Jiang Ce standing beside the butler.

The butler excused himself and then left.

"Our family is untrusting of outsiders. Thus, they marry within the family. Because of that, our family started to decline over the years. Another reason, our blood became impure because of the thousands of lives that died in our hands and their blood soaked our hands. We became rotten to our core. Our family dies earlier than they should. This is our punishment. However, as generations passed, the lifespan becomes shorter than it already had. Death arrived earlier upon us."

"But, you came and gave us hope to live longer. Yet, you arrived too late, which I am glad of, since our tainted blood can't continue any longer."

"You guessed right. I am dying, that's why I said those words, causing you to leave me. I can only give you my clone as my parting gift for you. However, in the end, I still can't help myself but destroy it out of jealousy… and envy, since I had realized that I wanted to be with you before I die." 

"Jiang Ce… I am sorry, and I love you. – Harry" 

When the letter along with the envelope fell on the floor, a clinking sound was heard. Inside the envelope, there was a pair of rings. The letter is the promise of love and the ring is its proof. 

Huo Ling sighed as he gazed at the graveyard afar where Jiang Ce ran after he had read the letter. When they arrived in the castle, they saw everyone was sound asleep and had a serene look on their face. They know that they each had reached the end of their life.

"Many had painfully died in their hands yet their death is painless." Huo Ling said. "It is unfair."

Yi Bing's brows raised when he heard Huo Ling's words. Then, after a while, his lips curled up. "Life is indeed unfair. So – " he said as he held Huo Ling's hand and placed a necklace on his palm. " – do you want to experience the fairness of death?" he asked, his eyes shone as he stared at Huo Ling's face that slowly darkened.

"You – !" Huo Ling said as he glared at Yi Bing. So irritating always! He thought before he looked at the necklace Yi Bing had placed in his palm.

"I chose him not because of his profession, but I chose him as a person. His eyes are full of spirit, I cannot take my eyes off of him even for a second. I am afraid, he might be gone from my sight. I guess, I had fallen in love with him at that time." 

Years later…

"Papa. I want to eat that!" a child pointed a box of candies inside the shop.

"You can't." Gu Xingfeng said as he lifted the child. "Eating too much candies will rot your teeth. Do you want your teeth to rot?" he asked.

The child's eyes widened as he gasped. He covered his mouth as if he could feel his teeth rotting. "Including my canine teeth?" he whispered.

Gu Xingfeng solemnly nodded. "Including your canine teeth." He answered.

Hao Baiyun chuckled as he picked up the box their second son, Tang Tang, chose. "Do you think his name is just a decoration?" he asked as he kissed Gu Xingfeng's cheek, then their son's.

"Little young master, which cake do you want?" Fei Xuli asked Tian Tian, Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng's first son. When Tian Tian chose, Jing Yu took the cake and carried it to the counter.

Gu Xingfeng's face was covered in dark lines. "You all…" he said. So it's these two who were spoiling the children!

Hao Baiyun laughed and kissed Gu Xingfeng's lips. "Don't worry. We have strong teeth." He said, referring to them as foxes.

Gu Xingfeng paused before he stared at Hao Baiyun. "You're right." he said. His gaze meaningful.

It took a long while before Hao Baiyun understood and his face reddened. "Rogue!" he said and hit Gu Xingfeng's arm, but Gu Xingfeng just heartily laughed.

When Fei Xuli and Jing Yu heard what Gu Xingfeng said, it was their turn to have their face darkened. They really hate this puny policeman!

Stable World, Afterlife Department.

Yi Bing walked towards the Pathway of the Clouds with a smile, a necklace on his hand. He's on his way to a new world.