Chapter 232: The Final Curtain

The Empire.

The torrential rain poured down, the curtain of rain drenching the entire Beidu City, with the blurred reflections of neon lights shimmering in the puddles.

The lights in the study remained on; Chu Yi lowered his eyes to flip through documents, his tie removed and his collar slightly loosened, his slender fingers gripping a fountain pen to sign the documents with sharp, decisive strokes.

After five years of civil strife and the intervention of the royal family, the class system that had been sanctioned for the nobles was completely abolished, and both sides signed a ceasefire agreement.

Jobs that were once only open to nobles were now available to the general public, with everyone able to compete fairly; the distinct line that had once separated the Slums from the villa districts had long since quietly vanished from satellite maps, replaced by liberation and a light of equality brimming with vitality.

"Click!"

Chu Yi capped his pen.

He leaned back slightly, rubbing his brow in exhaustion.

On the desk sat a simple photo frame, the lights of Maple Forest Avenue in the photo bursting behind two youths like a palette overturned by God.

Ling Wu likely occupied two-thirds of the photo, while Chu Yi stood not far behind him, his body caught at the intersection of light and shadow; perhaps because the photo was taken in a hurry, his eyes were not looking at the camera, but were simply gazing quietly at Ling Wu, his wind-swept hair brushed by the colorful lights, just like a secret admirer in the midst of chaos...

Chu Yi's fingertips brushed over the edge of the frame.

Perhaps because it was touched so often, the wooden edge had developed fine scratches from the passage of time.

This photo was taken by Ling Wu himself back when they were at Sike Academy; Chu Yi had kept it for a long time before he dared to put it in a frame and place it where he could see it every day.

The ticket stubs for his trips between the Empire and the Federation were tucked by Chu Yi into the front page of "silentlove"; counting them carefully, there were over twenty, and the oldest tickets had begun to yellow slightly at the edges.

Chu Yi knew Ling Wu was not dead; Ming Tan had told him.

Ming Tan had secrets, secrets shared with Ling Wu, so Chu Yi did not ask why; he knew the news that Ling Wu was still alive was enough.

When they were at Muya Snow Mountain, Ling Wu said he had no freedom; after jumping into the sea, he obtained the freedom he wanted, living carefree in the Federation, but Chu Yi had responsibilities and a mission he could not shirk, deeply mired in the quagmire of the Empire's power, unable to free himself.

Only when he became embroiled in these disputes did he truly understand Ling Wu's feelings at the time, and understand his lack of response when faced with affection.

Embrace freedom first, then embrace love.

Chu Yi was busy, extremely busy, and also tired; he had poured his heart and soul into the liberation of the commoners, working from dawn until night, yet he carved out time to persistently fly to the Federation every September 29th and New Year's Eve, returning the next day.

"Knock!"

"Knock!"

Chu Yi laid the photo frame face down and said to the door, "Enter."

Ming Tan brought in a cup of coffee, and while placing it on the table, he casually straightened the overturned photo frame: "Since you like him, go find him."

Chu Yi did not speak.

Ming Tan knew what he was worried about; he was bound by the mission and responsibility on his shoulders.

When he first heard the news of Ling Wu jumping into the sea, Chu Yi had been so devastated he nearly collapsed.

Ming Tan had the 001 system and knew Ling Wu was not dead; only after Chu Yi learned this news did he gradually regain his vitality, pulling himself together and focusing his attention.

He did not know what Ling Wu specifically meant to Chu Yi.

Can liking someone really allow a person to place everything about them above oneself?

If it were true, then this feeling had long since transcended liking and had another name: it was called love.

Ming Tan had never experienced such a soul-stirring emotion, and even less did he understand—Chu Yi had never even been with Ling Wu, and the other party had never once responded to his affection from beginning to end; where did he get the faith and courage to persist for 1,826 days and nights?

He attributed it to the greatness of love.

Ming Tan said: "I know what you are thinking; the Empire's civil strife has ended, the noble class has been abolished, the commoners have ushered in liberation, and the people do not need exploitative and oppressive nobles, nor do they need an Emperor; they want freedom, they want equality, they want democracy, they want justice..."

"The era of the past has completely come to an end."

"Chu Yi, go do what you want to do."