Warm air wrapped around the students the moment they stepped into the greenhouse. The door shut behind them with a soft click, and the noise of campus faded like someone had turned down the volume on the world. Inside, everything felt slower.
Sunlight filtered through the glass ceiling and scattered across the rows of plants, turning the leaves into layers of soft green and gold. The air smelled alive. Damp soil. Fresh leaves. Something faintly sweet from a cluster of small white flowers near the entrance. That's a gorgeous flower species. Students who had been talking loudly outside suddenly lowered their voices without realizing it.
"Whoa damn…"
"Okay this place is actually pretty nice."
"Don't touch anything with y'all dirty and dusty paws," someone said but then immediately after saying that, the cat's paws stretch, reaching toward a leaf with green lustre. The professor shot them a look. The fat paws retreated slowly.
Mingzhe stepped onto the narrow stone path between the tables of plants. The warmth brushed lightly against his skin. Somewhere nearby, water dripped slowly from a watering can into the soil with quiet, steady taps.
And then he saw him. Not clearly at first. Just a figure deeper inside the greenhouse, partly hidden by tall leaves and climbing vines. Someone stood near a long wooden table, moving slowly as he watered a row of plants. Usually, a foggy shadow and a figure like this won't attract his attention but this time, he couldn't help it.
The man's sleeves were rolled up slightly. Dark hair fell loosely across his forehead, catching a bit of sunlight when he leaned forward. A pair of thin glasses rested low on his nose. He looked calm, like a scholar. He seemed really belonged to this quiet rhythm of the greenhouse. Several students noticed him at the same time.
A wave of hushed whispers spread immediately.
"Is that him? The handsome prof?"
"That has to be him, nobody else is here except for him."
"No way."
"He's actually THAT young??"
"He's not even wearing a lab coat but whew...."
The whispers stacked on top of each other like falling dominoes. Professor Muchen seemed to notice the noise then.
He straightened slowly, setting the watering can down beside the table. When he turned around, the sunlight caught his face properly for the first time. The greenhouse went very quiet one could hear the rustles of the plants inside.
"…Okay," someone quietly gasped behind Mingzhe.
"That's fucking illegal. Is he even human? The God is so unfair."
Another student muttered under their breath, "Why does the botany department get the good looking professors while we get old grandpas?"
"Life isn't fair."
Professor Muchen looked briefly confused by the sudden crowd of staring students. His gaze moved across the group calmly, polite but distant, like someone who had been interrupted mid-task. He adjusted his glasses with his ring finger, putting down the thing on his right hand down. Normally, younger people either bow a little to be polite but somehow, this one just stands there adjusting his glasses without minding a damn etiquette.
"Professor Liang," he said, voice quiet but clear.
The older professor laughed awkwardly.
"Ah, sorry for the sudden visit. Literature students. I thought they might enjoy seeing the greenhouse."
Professor Muchen nodded once.
"I see."
His eyes shifted again, briefly scanning the students. Then they stopped. Right on Mingzhe. The moment lasted less than a second. Just a pause. A tiny flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. Then he looked away again like nothing had happened.
But Mingzhe's keen sense felt it. The tug in his chest suddenly tightened. Not faint anymore. Not so distant like before. His heartbeat stumbled once. Then again.
For a brief moment, the entire greenhouse seemed to blur around the edges.
Him.
The word surfaced instinctively in Mingzhe's mind before he could stop it. A sudden, overwhelming impulse surged through him. It was fast. Almost violent in its intensity after weeks of quiet waiting. His steps nearly moved before he realized it. His hand twitched slightly at his side.
Across the greenhouse, Professor Muchen had already turned back toward the plants, picking up the watering can again like nothing unusual had happened. Just another afternoon. Just another group of visiting students.
Strangers.
The word landed in Mingzhe's mind like a stone dropping into still water.
Strangers.
He hadn't heard that word in a very long time. A very, very long time. For billions of years, that man had never been a stranger.
Not once. Not across endless worlds. Not through endless lifetimes. Not through arguments and reconciliation, laughter and cries, quiet and noisy nights, or the long stretches of existence where time barely meant anything anymore.
Never a stranger.
And yet.
Now the distance between them felt wider than entire universes.
A quiet voice spoke beside him.
[Host.]
Yize's tone was careful.
[Master does not recognize you.]
Mingzhe's breathing slowed slightly..His eyes were still fixed on the man across the greenhouse like it can drill holes on the back of his head.
[This world's identity has no memory of Host.]
The words were gentle but firm. Yize decided to be frank and also keep a reminder on Mingzhe's tab.
[To him, you are currently a stranger.]
Stranger.
Mingzhe let out a slow breath. It felt strange hearing that word attached to himself.
Stranger.
To the person who once knew the smallest details of his habits. The person who could tell his mood from a single glance. The person who used to rest his head on Mingzhe's shoulder during long nights when the universes were quiet.
Stranger.
That realization settled in his chest in a way he hadn't expected. Not really painful. But a lot more hollow. Like there's a black hole in his soul. It feels like he's standing in a familiar house that no longer recognized its owner. It rejects the closeness that once bathing him in its glory.
For a moment, Mingzhe almost laughed softly.
"So this is what mortals feel," he murmured under his breath.
Yize hovered quietly beside him.
[Host's emotional state is fluctuating.]
"I'm fine."
Across the greenhouse, Professor Muchen continued watering the plants, completely unaware of the storm he had just caused in someone else's heart. A student beside Mingzhe nudged their friend.
"Do you think he's married? I don't see a ring on his finger. Probably wearing one as necklace?"
"I hope not. I wanna be his wife"
"Shameless, you ain't worthy."
"I'm just fucking asking, why are you being meaaaaannn?~"
Someone else whispered, "I think he looked at someone earlier."
"Who?"
"No idea."
Mingzhe finally looked away. His expression had returned to its usual calm. But something in his chest still felt unsteady.
Strangers.
He repeated the word quietly in his mind.
It sounded unfamiliar. Uncomfortable. It makes him feel like crying and stomping his feet. He feels like there are thousands of arrows stucks on his chest and his throat.
For a moment, Mingzhe simply stood there. Students around him had already begun drifting deeper into the greenhouse, their attention bouncing from one table of plants to another.
"Look at this one, he stands alone like an introvert"
"Is that a cactus?"
"Don't touch it, you idiot."
"Relax, it's small and cute."
"Small things are often deadly."
Someone laughed. Someone else nearly knocked over a watering bottle and was immediately shushed by three people at once. Life continued around him in the usual noisy, careless way. But Mingzhe barely heard any of it.
His gaze had returned to the quiet figure across the greenhouse. Professor Muchen was still tending the plants, moving slowly from one row to the next. His attention stayed on the leaves, the soil, the small adjustments he made to the light covers above the tables. He's calm, focused and composed. Like the outside world barely existed or like the crowd of whispering students had nothing to do with him. Mingzhe watched him longer than he should have. Something in his chest twisted. It wasn't pain. Not exactly. More like hard, heavy pressure. A deep, old instinct stirring after too long asleep.
It's him.
Even if the soul fragment was incomplete, even if the memories were sealed away, Mingzhe would never mistake that presence.
He had crossed too many worlds with that person.
Lived too many lifetimes.
That quiet rhythm. That steady aura. Even the way he held the watering can with one hand while brushing a leaf with the other.
All of it felt painfully familiar.
And yet...
Professor Muchen didn't look at him again. Not once. To him, Mingzhe was just another student in a crowd of strangers. The realization made something restless stir inside Mingzhe's chest. It's an impulse. A very strong one. For one reckless second, he wanted to walk straight across the greenhouse, grab that man's wrist, and hug his waist and buried his face on his chest, snuggled up to him. He wanted to call his name. Not "Professor Muchen." The real name. The one only he used.
The thought rose fast, almost slipping past his control.
Yize reacted instantly.
[Host.]
The small system's voice carried a clear warning. There's a mild siren sounds inside his head.
[Please stabilize emotional output.]
Mingzhe blinked once.
"…Emotional output?"
[Your current fluctuations are exceeding normal human parameters. This is dangerous for you]
Only then did Mingzhe notice the subtle change around him. The air in the greenhouse had grown slightly heavier. It's not enough for normal people to feel. But enough for someone like him to notice.
The leaves of several nearby plants rustled softly, even though the air was still. Sunlight filtering through the glass ceiling flickered for half a second.
Like the world itself had blinked a second faster.
Yize's tone dropped lower. He was a bit anxious but he couldn't show it. He's Mingzhe's anchor.
[Attention levels are rising, a second late and it will notice our presence.]
Mingzhe finally looked away from Muchen.
"…Already?"
[Yes.]
The system's small projection flickered once beside him.
[This world is sensitive to anomalies.]
Mingzhe exhaled slowly. Of course it was. Every world had something watching over it. A silent will that kept reality stable. Most of the time, it slept. But sudden disturbances could wake it. Especially disturbances that didn't belong.
And Mingzhe very much did not belong. Across the greenhouse, Professor Muchen suddenly paused. His hand hovered above a leaf. A strange feeling brushed across his senses again. Very faint and subtle but definitely stronger than earlier.
Like the air had shifted for a second. He glanced around the greenhouse quietly. Students were chatting. A few were pointing excitedly at a row of orchids. One girl was whispering loudly about how unfair it was for someone to be both a professor and that good-looking. Everything looked normal.
But something felt off for the second time. He tried to focused more on this feeling.
His sword like eyebrows wrinkled slightly.
Then the feeling vanished again.
"…Strange."
He shook his head and returned to watering the plants. He ignored it twice.
Back near the entrance, Mingzhe closed his eyes briefly. He drew in a slow breath. Then another. The restless pressure inside his chest gradually settled. The air around him smoothed out again. Leaves stopped rustling. The sunlight returned to its quiet golden stillness. Yize waited a few seconds before speaking again.
[Fluctuation levels stabilizing.]
Mingzhe opened his eyes.
"…My control slipped."
[Understandable, Host. You and Master have been together for so long.]
The system hovered closer to his shoulder.
[Host has waited three weeks.]
Three weeks of quiet searching.
Three weeks of walking past strangers while knowing the person he wanted most in the universe was somewhere in this world.
And now he had finally found him. Standing less than twenty meters away. Close enough to see the sunlight in his hair. Close enough to hear the faint splash of water hitting soil.
But still impossibly far.
Because right now they were strangers.
Mingzhe rubbed lightly at the bridge of his nose and let out a quiet breath.
"…That word still feels unpleasant."
["Stranger"?]
"Yes."
Across the greenhouse, Professor Muchen finished watering the last row of plants and straightened again. His gaze drifted across the students one more time.
It passed over Mingzhe briefly. Just another casual glance. Nothing more. Then he looked away again. But Mingzhe didn't miss the tiny pause. Barely a heartbeat. A small smile tugged faintly at Mingzhe's lips.
"…Interesting."
Yize tilted slightly.
[Host seems pleased.]
"He noticed something."
[But does not understand it.]
"Of course."
Mingzhe watched the man across the greenhouse with quiet patience now. The earlier impulse had faded. In its place was something calmer. Something older.
A hunter's patience.
Or perhaps a lover's stubbornness. After billions of years together, Mingzhe knew one thing very well. No matter how many worlds existed. No matter how many times fate tried to separate them. That person always ended up walking back to him somehow. Even if they had to start again from the very beginning. Even if they had to begin as strangers.
Mingzhe tilted his head slightly, sunlight catching briefly in his eyes.
"…Alright," he murmured softly.
"If this is the first meeting."
His gaze returned to Professor Muchen, calm and steady. It shows a new determination in his sparkling eyes.
"Then let's do it properly this time."
Somewhere deep in the invisible layers of the world, something stirred faintly.
.......
Near the entrance, the literature professor clapped his hands once to gather everyone's attention. The students were spread like viruses here and there.
"Alright, settle down. Don't wander too far. Some of these plants are research samples." Which naturally meant half the students immediately leaned closer to the plants.
Professor Muchen set the watering can aside and stepped toward a metal rack near the wall. A white lab coat hung there, slightly wrinkled from being folded earlier. He picked it up and slipped it on in a practiced motion, tugging the sleeves down his arms.
The coat didn't make him look older like it did with most researchers.
If anything, it made the students stare more.
"Is he really not a celebrity?," someone whispered behind Mingzhe in doubt.
"That's even worse."
"Worse? How so?"
"For my GPA, y'know. How am I supposed to focus on anything else after being fed with a face card that lethal?"
Professor Muchen ran a hand through his hair absentmindedly as he buttoned the coat. The movement left a few strands slightly out of place near his temple. He didn't seem to notice. Then he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and turned toward the group.
"Professor Liang mentioned you're literature students," he said.
His voice was calm, a bit hoarse but quieter than most lecturers. Not the kind of voice that filled a lecture hall. More like the kind meant for small rooms and quiet work.
Professor Liang nodded cheerfully like a chicken pecking rice. "Just a short visit. Let them see the greenhouse."
Professor Muchen gave a small nod of acknowledgement. He's stating their objectives and understand the needs of a changed pace sometimes.
"Alright. Please stay on the path. Some specimens are delicate."
The students gathered around him, curiosity winning over their earlier nervousness.
He started walking slowly along the stone path, gesturing toward the rows of plants.
"These are drought-resistant species," he said, resting a hand lightly on the edge of a table. "We're studying how they regulate water retention." Botany students are scarce before he came here but for some reason, watching their enthusiasm today makes him wonder if their department will start receiving transfer students very soon.
A student leaned forward.
"So they're like desert plants?"
"Yes."
Another student raise his hand and joked, "I could never survive in the desert hehe."
"You already barely survive in the dorm."
Professor Muchen continued walking.
"These vines here respond strongly to changes in light," he explained. "If the exposure shifts even slightly, their growth direction changes." His tone was steady and professional. But Mingzhe noticed something else.
Every time he took a few steps closer to where Mingzhe stood, the professor's speech sped up slightly. Not enough for the other students to notice. But enough for Mingzhe to hear the difference. A subtle quickening. Professor Muchen reached the next table and adjusted his glasses again.
"This section contains hybrid orchids. They're used for genetic observation rather than decoration."
Someone said loudly, "They're still pretty."
"They are," he admitted.
His hand brushed lightly against a leaf. Then he paused. Just for a second. Like he had forgotten what he was about to say.
"…Their growth cycles are slightly shorter than natural orchids."
He continued walking again.
And the closer he got to Mingzhe, the faster he started explaining things.
"These species require higher humidity."
"This one reacts strongly to temperature shifts."
"We recently adjusted the soil composition here."
His words began stacking together more quickly. A student near the front frowned slightly.
"Is he talking faster?"
"Maybe you're just slow."
Behind them, Mingzhe watched quietly. The distance between them was shrinking with each step. Professor Muchen reached the table right in front of Mingzhe's row.
He suddenly stopped.
For a moment, he seemed to realize he had been talking almost nonstop. He pulled his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose lightly. "…Sorry," he muttered.
A few students looked confused. Why is the professor apologizing? It almost made them jump okay?! It's not normal.
"For what?"
"Nothing."
Without the glasses, his face looked softer somehow. Younger. And when he lifted his head again, his eyes were fully visible. Mingzhe's breath stilled. That color. It was the same. Not exactly identical. The shape of the face was slightly different. The features belonged to this world's identity.
But the eyes....
The deep, familiar shade that Mingzhe had seen across countless lifetimes. For a moment, the greenhouse felt very quiet. Professor Muchen ran a hand through his hair again, accidentally making it messier.
"I think the temperature is a bit warm today," he said casually.
One student immediately said, "I feel fine."
Another added, "It's actually nice in here, sir."
Professor Muchen frowned faintly.
"…Is it?"
He turned away quickly and walked toward the next row of plants. His explanation resumed, though his pace remained slightly faster than before.
"These seedlings were planted last week."
"They should sprout within a few days."
"Please don't touch the soil."
But he never looked directly at Mingzhe.
Not once. Even when he passed right beside him. Even when the distance between them shrank to less than a meter. His gaze always shifted somewhere else.
A leaf.
A label.
Another student.
Yet the restlessness around him became more obvious the closer he moved. He adjusted his sleeves twice. Pushed his hair back again. Picked up his glasses then didn't put them back on. Like something in the air around him refused to settle.
Yize's quiet voice appeared beside Mingzhe.
[Master's biological signals indicate agitation.]
Mingzhe watched the man's back calmly.
"…He can feel something."
[But does not understand the cause.]
Professor Muchen finished explaining the final row and stepped back slightly.
"That concludes most of the greenhouse section," he said.
Professor Liang clapped once again. The explanations and the visit was very brief but as long as the students stop thinking about quizzes, tests and exam like a broken record then his tactics work.
"Alright, everyone. Thank Professor Muchen."
A chorus of voices followed.
"Thank you, Professor!"
"Thanks!"
"Your plants are cool!"
Professor Muchen gave a small nod.
"You're welcome."
The students began drifting toward the exit again, chatting loudly about the greenhouse, the plants, and very obviously the professor. Mingzhe remained where he stood for a moment longer. Across the path, Professor Muchen finally slipped his glasses back on. His gaze briefly moved across the dispersing group of students. It passed over Mingzhe once more. Just a normal glance and nothing unusual if seen by normal eyes. Then he turned away again, reaching for the watering can. Like nothing had happened at all.
But Mingzhe knew better.
He had seen the restless movements of him. The slightly faster speech or the way his hands kept adjusting things that didn't need adjusting.
Mingzhe smiled faintly.
"…You felt it too."
Beside him, Yize floated quietly.
[Host appears satisfied.]
Mingzhe picked up his notebook and started walking toward the exit with the other students. He feels quite reluctant but it's not an appropriate time. Not yet.
"Yes."
His gaze lingered once more on the quiet figure among the plants. Even if that man didn't recognize him. Even if they were strangers now. Somewhere deep in that soul, something had already started to stir.
........
By the time the class finally left the greenhouse, the sun had already dipped lower in the sky. Late afternoon light stretched across the campus lawns, painting the trees in soft gold. Students spilled back onto the paths in small groups, the earlier excitement turning into loud conversations again.
"Okay but seriously," someone said behind Mingzhe, "botany department is cheating for fucking real."
"I know right? This campus is cheating! Let's just get the principal sacked and beat him a few times." Laughter follows after.
"How are we supposed to focus on literature now? Our professors are all balding, none of them can wash my eyes"
"You weren't focusing before."
"That's not the point."
Mingzhe walked quietly among them, hands in his pockets. The greenhouse door closed behind the group with a soft click. He didn't look back. But the faint resonance in his chest lingered like a quiet echo.
Three weeks of searching. And now he had finally seen him. Not spoken to him. Not properly met him. But seen him.
Beside him, Yize floated lazily in the air.
[Host's heart rate remains elevated.]
Mingzhe snorted lightly. This system is a curious one. Don't think he doesn't heard the smug tone.
"You've been monitoring that since the greenhouse."
[It is unusual. I've never seen you so out of control before. Even when customers kept harassing you.]
"You're unusually nosy today."
[I am very curious. Just see me as the curious orange cat that kept poking a beehive.]
They reached the edge of campus where the buildings gave way to a small street lined with shops and food stalls. Even before stepping onto the street, the smell hit them.
Grilled meat.
Sweet syrup.
Fresh noodles frying in a hot pan.
Voices overlapped everywhere.
"Fresh dumplings!"
"Two for five!"
"Hot skewers!"
Students crowded around the stalls, laughing and arguing about what to eat.
The place felt alive. Mingzhe slowed his steps. "…This area wasn't on the campus map." He observed quietly.
[It is a student food street.]
Mingzhe watched a vendor flip noodles dramatically in a pan, flames jumping briefly into the air.
"Humans seem very enthusiastic about eating outside isn't it? "
[Host also requires food.]
"That's true too. I feel a bit hungry."
He stood there for a moment, observing the chaos. People eating while walking. Someone nearly dropping a bowl of soup. A couple arguing about whether fried tofu counted as a proper meal. The entire street buzzed with energy. It felt very warm and noisy. Mingzhe smiled faintly.
"I think I'll walk around first."
[Host does not intend to cook tonight. Host's craftmanship is only at making coffee perhaps.] There was a hint of laughter.
"Absolutely not."
Yize rotated slightly. His eyes flickered a few more times.
[Host's residence contains a full kitchen.]
"Yes," Mingzhe said calmly, "which will remain decorative."
[System shop contains culinary talent cards if Host wants to learn.]
That made Mingzhe pause.
"…You're suggesting I cheat? After three weeks?"
[I am suggesting efficiency. Don't slander me, Host. I'll cry and make a fuss.]
Mingzhe snorted playfully. A small holographic menu flickered in front of him, visible only to Mingzhe. Rows of glowing cards appeared.
Chef Talent Card
Gourmet Appreciation Card
Advanced Flavor Perception
Mingzhe tapped one lightly.
"Chef talent."
[Unlocked.]
Another.
"Gourmet appreciation."
[Unlocked.]
Warm knowledge flowed briefly through his mind. Knife techniques. Flavor balances. Cooking instincts. Recipes from dozens of cuisines. Mingzhe blinked once.
"…That's a lot."
[These talents are based on Master's abilities.]
Mingzhe tilted his head slightly. He has never realized how talented a man named Mu Chen is. All the time he has been doing it, it feels so normal.
"Of course they are."
Muchen's hobbies. Botany, research, cooking. The cards carried traces of those same instincts. Familiar tastes and familiar combinations. The subtle balance between sweet, sour, and spice.
For a brief second, Mingzhe almost laughed.
"So even his cooking habits followed me here."
[Master always enjoyed feeding Host. He tried to fatten you up]
"…True, however you sounds a bit gloating."
Yize sends a mechanical laugh and pretend that it's a real robot. But Mingzhe didn't turn toward the grocery store. Instead, he walked deeper into the food street.
[Host is not cooking.]
"No."
He stopped in front of a small stall where an old man was grilling skewers over charcoal. The smell was incredible.
"I'm exploring."
Yize hovered closer. He wanna explore too.
[Exploring food.]
"Exploring people."
A student nearby burned their tongue on hot soup and started fanning their mouth.
"Hot hot hot—!"
His friend laughed mercilessly. It sounds like cruel gangster laughter according to Yize's data.
"Skill issue."
Mingzhe chuckled quietly. He ordered two skewers from the stall. The vendor handed them over wrapped in paper. "First time here?" the old man asked casually.
"Yes."
"Try the sauce, you'll see why."
Mingzhe took a bite. The moment the flavor hit his tongue, the newly unlocked gourmet card activated automatically. His senses sharpened instantly.
Charcoal smoke.
Garlic oil.
A hint of honey in the glaze.
Pepper.
The balance was simple but surprisingly good. Mingzhe nodded in approval.
"This is excellent."
The vendor grinned proudly. He has been doing this business for years. Another compliment is a music to his ears. "Of course it is."
Yize hovered beside him.
[Host appears pleased and happy.]
"It's good."
They continued down the street slowly. Fried dumplings, fruit tea, sweet pastries. Mingzhe sampled small portions from several stalls, more curious about the experience than the food itself. Students laughed loudly around him.
Music played from one of the cafés.
Someone was trying to convince their friend to try spicy noodles and failing miserably.
The whole street felt like a tiny world of its own.
After a while, Mingzhe wiped his hands with a napkin and looked down the road toward the parking area.
"…I should go home."
[Host does not know how to drive.] Yize immediately came out with this sentence it pretty much baffling Mingzhe. Looks like Yize forgot something too. But still...
"That's correct." His car sat waiting near the curb. A sleek black vehicle that definitely didn't match the budget of a normal university student. Mingzhe opened the door and slid into the driver's seat.
He stared at the dashboard.
"…Now what?"
Yize appeared on the console display. He cracked his nonexistent knuckles and his neck muscles like a little fighter.
[Autopilot engaged.]
The screen lit up with a map.
Route calculated.
Navigation active.
The car hummed softly as it pulled away from the curb and joined the evening traffic.
Mingzhe leaned back in the seat, watching the city lights begin to glow outside the windows. Cars passed. Street lamps flickered on one by one. For a while, he simply watched. Then he spoke quietly.
"…Yize."
[Yes, Host.]
"Today was interesting."
[Because Host located Master.]
"Yes."
He looked out at the passing streets.
"But also because of this."
The food stalls.
The students.
The laughter.
The simple chaos of ordinary life. Billions of years of existence had contained countless grand events.
Wars.
Cosmic disasters.
The birth and death of universes.
But moments like this.... Walking down a crowded street and eating grilled skewers among noisy students...
Those were strangely rare. Mingzhe smiled faintly. "…I think he was right."
[About what?]
"That mortal lives can be surprisingly fun."
The car turned smoothly onto a quieter road leading toward his apartment. Yize floated calmly beside him.
[Host appears happier.]
"Maybe."
Mingzhe rested his head lightly against the seat and closed his eyes for a moment.
"…Tomorrow I'll visit the greenhouse again."
[For investigation.]
"For lunch." Yize paused. Then the system quietly updated the plan.
[Understood.]
The car turned off the main road and glided into a quieter district of the city. Streetlights reflected softly against glass towers and polished sidewalks.
Compared to the lively chaos of the student food street, this area felt calmer. Wealthier. The kind of place where buildings had doormen and the trees were trimmed into perfect shapes. The car slowed as it approached a tall residential building.
This building consists of thirty floors. It has glass balconies, like the one in those wealthy young masters movies. Soft lighting along the entrance. The gate opened automatically as the car approached.
Yize's calm voice sounded from the dashboard.
[Arrived at residence.]
Mingzhe opened one eye and looked up at the building.
"…Home."
The car slipped into the underground parking lot and stopped in a reserved space near the elevator. Mingzhe stepped out, stretching his shoulders slightly. The quiet here felt completely different from the noisy campus. No shouting students. No sizzling street food. Just the distant hum of city life above.
He walked toward the elevator and pressed the top floor button. The doors closed with a soft chime. Yize floated beside him again.
[Host previously stated he did not know how to drive.]
Mingzhe leaned back against the mirrored wall of the elevator.
"That was a strategic statement."
[Host was lying.]
"I prefer the term creative reasoning."
The elevator hummed upward.
"You know I can drive," Mingzhe continued lazily. "I owned a café before coming here."
[Correct.]
"I spent years transporting supplies and equipment."
[Then why use autopilot and not reminding this innocent system?] Yize is a bit sulky. He forgot that Mingzhe have learned some modern things and very eagerly trying to serve him. He probably looks a bit silly. Yize pouted his invisible lips.
Mingzhe smiled faintly. "I wanted to look outside."
Yize tilted, thoughts halted for a second.
"…What?"
"The night scenery." Through the elevator's glass panel, the city slowly spread out beneath them.
Streetlights.
Cars moving like streams of fireflies.
People still walking the sidewalks.
"I didn't want to focus on driving," Mingzhe said. "I wanted to watch."
Yize processed this quietly. He understands now although a bit late.
[Host enjoys observing mortal life as form of learning.]
"Yes, correct."
The elevator chimed. The doors opened directly into the apartment. Technically, the entire top floor. The lights inside turned on automatically as Mingzhe stepped in.
The space was enormous but it didn't feel cold. The design blended modern architecture with older aesthetics. Clean glass walls stood beside carved wooden screens. Soft lighting reflected off polished stone floors, while antique shelves held delicate porcelain and scroll paintings.
One side of the living room held a modern television and low leather couch. The other side looked like a traditional tea room with wooden chairs and a long carved table.
It felt really balanced. Ancient and modern. Order and warmth. It reminds Mingzhe of some things from the past.
Mingzhe walked in slowly, slipping off his shoes near the entrance.
"This place still feels like him."
Yize drifted toward the ceiling lights.
[Residence assets registered under Host's name.]
"Of course they are."
Muchen had always been like that. No matter what world they were in, Mingzhe somehow ended up owning the most comfortable place to live.
Houses.
Estates.
Palaces once or twice.
Even entire cities.
And now an apartment building. Technically.
Mingzhe walked to the window wall overlooking the city.
"…Wait." He closed his eyes, feeling like he's hallucinating a bit.
He glanced down at the system panel.
"I own the building?"
[Correct.]
"And the land?"
[Correct.]
Mingzhe rubbed his temple. Well, what else can he say? Knock on the professor's door and give all these back?
"He really went all out."
[Master consistently prioritizes Host.]
"That much is obvious, if he's not pampering me then who else will he spoiled?"
He turned away from the window and headed toward the bathroom. A few minutes later, the sound of running water echoed softly through the apartment. When Mingzhe came back out, his hair was still slightly damp. He had changed into comfortable clothes and dropped onto the couch.
The television flickered on.
A news broadcast filled the room.
"—local economic updates this evening as several new businesses open near the university district…"
Mingzhe watched absentmindedly.
News anchors talking.
Traffic reports.
Weather forecasts.
Ordinary things.
But one line made him pause.
"—small café owners report rising popularity among students this semester—"
Mingzhe blinked.
"…Yize."
[Yes.]
"What happened to my café?"
The system flickered thoughtfully.
[Processing records, wait a second Host.]
A moment passed.
[I have checked and Host's café continues normal operations.]
Mingzhe leaned forward slightly. Is it?
"…It's still open?"
[Correct.]
"Who's running it?"
[Host hired a manager before transmigration.]
"Oh."
Right.
He had done that.
Running a café required reliable staff. The thought made him chuckle softly.
"So my café is still operating somewhere in another world."
[Yes, very much operating. The business is booming.]
"Without its owner."
[Correct.]
Mingzhe leaned back again.
"…I hope they didn't burn the place down."
[Statistically unlikely since the manager is also not a human.] Yize grinned ear to ear. If one looking closely, he looks like a ball of a cartoon keychain.
"As long as the business is still running and not interrupting."
The news droned on quietly in the background. After a while, Mingzhe turned the television off and stood. The apartment grew peaceful again.
Soft lights.
The quiet city beyond the glass windows.
Yize hovered beside him.
[Host appears tired and drained. It is advised for Host to sleep and take a long rest.]
"I will."
Three weeks of classes. Searching for a soul fragment. Emotionally intense greenhouse visits. Even higher beings had limits. Mingzhe walked toward the bedroom.
"Tomorrow," he murmured.
[Host intends to visit greenhouse again.]
"Yes."
He pulled the blanket aside and slipped into bed.
"…For lunch."
[Understood.]
The lights dimmed automatically.
Within minutes, the apartment fell silent.
Outside, the city continued moving under the night sky. Mingzhe's breathing gradually softened. Sleep came easily.
And with it comes a memory.
The sky in that world had been violet. Not the dim purple of dusk, but a deep, endless color that stretched across the heavens like spilled ink. Stars moved slowly overhead, drifting in long, quiet arcs. Mingzhe sat on the edge of a wooden terrace, legs hanging lazily over the side. Below them, an ocean of clouds rolled gently like pale waves.
A warm teapot rested on the small table beside him. Across from him sat his beloved, adorned in fine silk and crown.
Not Professor Muchen.
Not the slightly restless researcher tending plants in a greenhouse but the man Mingzhe had known for longer than most universes had existed. He looked younger there. Relaxed. One arm draped over the back of the chair while the other held a small brush he had been using to sketch something absentmindedly onto paper.
Lines of plants.
Leaves.
Roots.
Muchen always liked drawing plants. It's always like this whenever he came back from visiting worlds under his jurisdiction. Mingzhe had teased him about it countless times.
Mingzhe leaned back slightly and watched him.
"You've been quiet today."
Muchen didn't look up immediately.
"I'm thinking."
"You trying to find a concubine?"Mingzhe raised his pretty brows.
That made Muchen snort softly.
"I won't take the risk."
Mingzhe poured tea into two cups. He was just teasing the man.
"Then, thinking about what? Tell me and share your thoughts"
Muchen tapped the brush lightly against the paper. "Fatigue." His word was slow. Mingzhe raised an eyebrow.
"You?"
"Yes."
"That's new."
Muchen finally looked up.There was something thoughtful in his gaze. Not tired exactly. But it feels like countless dark impulses surge in those visions.
"I've been maintaining too many universes lately."
"You always do. I have a strong husband and I'm proud" Mingzhe tease a bit, palm extended to caress Muchen's tired face. The man rubbed his palm lightly, pecking it twice in a row.
"Thirty thousand is a bit excessive though"
Mingzhe slid one of the tea cups toward him.
"You're the one who volunteered. You have the strength, the qualifications and the trust of us all"
"I know."
Muchen accepted the cup and leaned back slightly.
"For the first time in a while, I'm wondering how long it will take."
"For what?"
"Fixing everything."
Mingzhe look at his wrinkled nose, feeling he seems a bit childish like this. But he understands his fatigue. He can help but he has his own shares of burden too. He is not without responsibilities.
Immortals are once humans too.
"However long it takes." Mingzhe said lightly.
"That's not very reassuring, baby." Muchen let out a hoarse laughter.
"I believed you'll manage. No matter the problems. My faith in you is thicker than even the universes."
Muchen studied the tea quietly for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"One day, if you ever feel tired and exhausted then take a rest. Take a comforting shower, wear soft pajamas and then go to sleep" Muchen smile, his hand reaching out to grab Mingzhe's smaller one.
None of them talking again but somehow...
........
Morning arrived slowly.
Golden sunlight crept across the bedroom floor and climbed up the edge of the bed. Birds chirped somewhere far below.
Mingzhe opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling for a moment.
"…Morning."
Yize floated near the window. His little hands is currently grabbing a set of dumbell.
[Good morning, Host.]
Mingzhe sat up and stretched. The pajamas hang loosely on his slender body, his fair waist peeking a bit.
"What time is it?"
[8:12 AM.]
He rubbed his hair lightly.
"…Breakfast first."
Because even ancient beings chasing his husband's soul fragments still needed foods.