1.12

Although Shu Wenjie and Qi Yuxuan's 'tree of life' died, they survived. After Qi Yuxuan was discharged from the hospital, Qiao Chen sent him a welcome home gift.

Three years ago, Qiao Chen was rescued before the abductors killed him. Wei Zhennan ordered his men to take those men away. It should have been almost four years since they've been suffering in torture by his command. The kidnappers were released, but they became so thin and pallid that they didn't even look like human beings. The most peculiar thing was that they didn't even have a single scratch or injury on their bodies.

The kidnappers all went into the police station and turned themselves in. The confessed everything about the abduction from over three years ago. They told the police the whole process and how it was carried out. They admitted that it was Qi Yuxuan who first looked for them in the first place. He was the one who hired them. They also stressed that it was Qi Yuxuan who made the plans to fake the abduction.

Qi Yuxuan always believed that the kidnappers killed Qiao Chen and fled overseas. Once he saw Qiao Chen alive and well, he was first surprised. Then he was terrified of the possible consequences. He feared the worst: that Qiao Chen knew about his abduction plan. He scared of whether Wei Zhennan would have helped Qiao Chen with his revenge. However, the more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself otherwise. If they were the ones who caught the kidnappers, then they would have long known about it. They wouldn't have waited three years to enact their plans. With Wei Zhennan's resources, it would have been easy to take revenge. As a result of his reasoning, he figured the kidnappers had escaped. However, he never expected the abductors to show up now and expose the skeletons in the closet. They even showed up at the worst possible moment. They just had to come at a time when he was the most vulnerable, with no backing what so ever. The men even turned themselves in with the 100 million Yuan ransom (~15 million USD) they received from Mr. Qi.

Mr. Qi received a police notice about the situation. The police also notified him that they were in possession of the 100 million ransom money. It turned out that he wasn't missing a single cent from the ransom amount. Then, Mr. Qi learned about how the kidnapping scam was Qi Yuxuan's scheme to go after Qiao Chen. Mr. Qi rushed over and wanted to strangle Qi Yuxuan to death.

"You're not even human! You're an animal- a beast!", Mr. Qi shouted at Qi Yuxuan. He pointed his finger at him and cursed, "What did I do to deserve this? There's something else you're guitly of- Beichen and Yuxin. You've succeeded in making a fool of the entire Qi family."

"Father, I really know I was wrong. Please forgive me. Let me come back home, please dad." Qi Yuxuan cried as he was held up by the police. He dropped down and knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness.

"Forgive you?"Mr. Qi sneered, "I've raised you for so many years now. Have I ever owed you anything? Even if a wolf was raised from a pup into adulthood, it would know how to be grateful. What about you? How did you repay me? The Qi family has fallen because of you, and you still have the gall to ask me to forgive you? You'd better hope you get to stay in prison for your whole lifetime, because if you ever get out… I'll never let experience a moment of peace."

...…..

Wei Zhennan drove his yacht on the sea. He was relaxing with Qiao Chen. The blue sea below… the blue sky hanging above… the sunshine and wind caressed them. In their rose tinted world, they did as they pleased.

Qiao Chen was dressed in sunglasses, swim trunks, and an opened button up shirt. He sat against the guard rail as he enjoyed the sea breeze.

Wei Zhennan was dressed in almost the same attire as Qiao Chen. He handed the wheel to someone else and came out of the cabin. Then he walked to Qiao Chen's side. He kissed Qiao Chen as he pulled him into his arms. One of his hands snaked its way into Qiao Chen's pants and caressed the tender skin under the thin pants.

Wei Zhennan pulled Qiao Chen's swim trunks down to the thighs. He just rubbed a bit and now he's started taking off my clothes. What kind of foreplay is that? Qiao Chen thought accusingly. However, he reciprocated as he wrapped his arms around Wei Zhennan's neck and jumped off the railing. He landed with his legs tightly coiled around Wei Zhennan's waist.

Wei Zhennan's response was to drag Qiao Chen's butt back into the room he just came from. He dropped Qiao Chen onto the water bed and pushed him down. The yacht was still moving forward as the sounds of the ocean waves rang through the air…

The yacht docked at an unnamed island. The rocks, tides, and beach were teeming with mussels and lobsters. The couple picked up a bucket, and they leisurely filled it up. They hopped back onto the yacht to cook their next meal. The two men worked together as they set up the barbecue. The rack was up and they placed some lobsters and mussels on top. Qiao Chen roasted some vegetables. Then he pulled out pre-prepared dipping sauces.

The two men gorged themselves from the lobster and mussel alone. The food they specifically brought for the trip was useless. Since they were out at sea, then of course the sea was able to provide fresh and live food. It was quite satisfying.

Qiao Chen ate and drank his fill. Then, with no regard for his image, he splayed across the sofa to rest.

Qiao Chen and Wei Zhennan stayed together for over ten years now. Wei Zhennan always openly showered Qiao Chen with love and affection. Qiao Chen had never experienced such warmth and affection before. In the ten years they had been together, Qiao Chen experienced this tenderness every single day. He finally experienced what love was as it took root within his heart.

Nowadays he rarely opened the system to check Wei Zhennan's soul loading progression. He didn't care whether General Andrei would remember these memories when he awoke either. He just wanted to enjoy the time he had now.

He supposed that it was better to complete Wei Zhennan's soul download before he got older. After all, they always said that when beauty faded, they were abandoned. It was time for the man to trade up. He figured that the aging husband would have had a hard time maintaining that youthful, passionate love he shared with the other old husband

However, time after time, day after day, and even years after years had passed. They became elderly men, and their love never faded. Qiao Chen himself found it quite incredible.

….

Wei Zhennan was over 90 years old, but Qiao Chen's system still hadn't completely downloaded Wei Zhennan's soul. Qiao Chen couldn't help but sometimes think: This old bastard is still alive and kicking. And why does his soul always stop downloading before it finishes? Qiao Chen didn't want to fail his first mission.

In the end, Qiao Chen did not out live Wei Zhennan. He was in Wei Zhennan's embrace when he quietly passed away. However, Qiao Chen's soul didn't immediate shift back into his body. It stayed behind- always following Wei Zhennan's side. He watched as Wei Zhennan properly buried Qi Beichen's body. After he completed this, Wei Zhennan looked like he was finally at ease. He closed his eyes, and the life in him drifted away.

The moment that Wei Zhennan also died was the moment that Qiao Chen's system completely downloaded Wei Zhennan's soul. Qiao Chen's soul also began shifting. It felt like an earthquake as he was jolted and shaken. He felt dizzy as he returned back to his body.

The first thing Qiao Chen did when he opened his eyes was to look at General Aunan Andrei. He was still comatose. Then he forced himself to remove and erase all the lingering thoughts and experiences between him and Wei Zhennan. That life ended. That life was a life lived with no regrets. Besides, Wei Zhennan was just a small piece of Aunan Andrei's soul. It wasn't the man who lay before him.

Qiao Chen sat up and Molder Foley came into the room. Molder Foley said, "Congratulations on your completed mission. That part of the general's consciousness and soul should have been successfully retrieved."

"How long have I been asleep?" Qiao Chen asked. He was curious about the time difference between those decades he spent in that life and the time here.

"If we count today, then you were under for ten days. In order for the General to quickly wake up, we place an importance on even one day's worth of time. Therefore, please begin your second mission after two hours of down time. If you encountered any difficulties within the first mission that the system couldn't handle, please notify us now. I will have the technician come and improve the system as much as possible within the time constraints." Molder Foley quickly briefed Qiao Chen.

"There isn't anything that needs to be improved. However, there is a program I would like for you to help me shut down or cancel." Qiao Chen replied.

"Tell me."

"Have you set up a program within the system where the original body's emotions are replicated for me to perceive? I think that those emotions may have negatively impacted me several times when I was completing the mission." Qiao Chen explained. He normally was an apathetic person, so he . It took over 15 years of Wei Zhennan's persistence and pestering for a seed of love to finally root in his heart. He also especially didn't like those raw emotions that felt as though they were ripped out from the deep recesses of his heart.

"We were afraid that if we set up such a program, that it would influence you during your mission. So the answer is no. We did not set up a program like that." Molder Foley clarified.

"There wasn't a program set up?" Qiao Chen asked. He was a bit surprised. The emotions and desires he experienced in that body weren't brought upon by the system…If that were true, then he should have been like a third party spectator. He shouldn't have experienced those feeling. So why did he?

"That's correct. We didn't install such a program in the first place." Foley affirmed, "However, in order for you to successfully complete the mission, we did install another program. It's the Good Will and Intimacy pack. You should have noticed as you worked on your mission."

"What is the Good Will and Intimacy pack?" Qiao Chen asked suspiciously.

"The program allows the system to stimulate the general's soul so that he would unconsciously want to be close to you. This will make it easier for you to come into close contact with the general so you can complete the task." Foley disclosed.

Qiao Chen's expression changed for a split second after he heard Foley's explanation. However his face quickly went back to normal, but he felt numerous emotions broiling within. It turned out that that was the only reason Wei Zhennan wanted to be close to me, and even fall in love with me. The system did it all. So it was only me who fell in love. I alone sincerely gave Wei Zhennan all of my heart during those days we spent together. It wouldn't have mattered if I knew from the beginning… but to find out after I had fallen in love was really-

Qiao Chen didn't want to think about it anymore.

Towards the latter part of his life, Qiao Chen discovered that the soul download didn't activate through physical contact. It only activated because of the love that Wei Zhennan had for him. He felt an inexplicable sense of happiness because of this. However, knowing what he knew now, it was quite ironic.

"Alright then. Please help me turn off that good will and intimacy pack." Qiao Chen blurted out. He was even confused by his impulse. Obviously, the program would aid him in completing his missions quicker and with better efficiency too. However, I'd rather not have to face such fake feelings during the mission. Qiao Chen quickly found the rationale behind his impulsiveness.

"Are you sure?" Foley questioned. He was quite puzzled as he continued, "If we terminate the program, then your mission success rate would be reduced. Why do you want to shut it off?"

"Terminate it. I don't need it. I will be more determined to complete the mission without the program in play. Please believe in me." Qiao Chen justified.

Foley took a minute to think it over. Then he said, "Well then, I will inform the technician to override the program's command and modify it. He will list the program as one of the functions you will be able to control. Therefore, if you find that you want to turn it back on, you can do as you please."

"OK. Let's do that." Qiao Chen nodded in agreement and then added, "Can I rest in here for an hour?"

"That's fine. Rest well. I will go notify the technician about the modifications. In one hour, I will bring the team over for preparations." Foley agreed and left immediately after.

Qiao Chen made his way beside Aunan Andrei. He lay down beside him and looked at the general's face. He reached out and used his index finger to trace the general's face. He whispered in a voice that he barely heard himself, "You bastard. I thought you really loved me, but it turned out to be fake." Qiao Chen retracted his hand and quietly whispered again, "Sorry general. I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to that little sliver of a soul that's in your head. The one that was once Wei Zhennan. If you can hear me, please help me pass the message to him."

Qiao Chen rested for an hour. He stayed in the room that was occupied by only himself and General Aunan Andrei. Eventually, Foley returned to the room with a team of technicians to prep the equipment ready for the next mission. Then he began the process of the second transmigration with the machine.