After Jian Xingyi returned, the guild became much livelier; it was clear to see that everyone’s spirits were high, and they were happy.

Jian Xingyi leaned against the bed, with Shanhai sitting beside him, supporting him.

Jian Xingyi had only been awake for less than a week, so his body was still somewhat weak at the moment.

Heiye, Bai Jie, and the others gathered around him, some peeling fruit for him, others blending juice, chattering away as they handed him things and recounted the events of the past five years. Jian Xingyi listened with rapt attention.

It took five years for the game and reality to merge, and the day Jian Xingyi returned marked the end of that five-year period. As a result, by the time he returned, the disaster and the zombies had vanished. But the reconstruction was still ongoing.

After the Great War, everyone used the trade portal to return to their former guild bases and begin rebuilding their homes.

Bai Jie smiled and said, “But I heard that after you came back, Yu Shen, Cangshui, and the others all wanted to come visit. Peace Mountain should be bustling in a few days.” Jian Xingyi blinked and asked, “Is everyone… doing okay?”

“They’re great! Doing just fine,” Cola said excitedly. “After the war, once everyone had recovered from their injuries and regained their strength, they were full of determination to rebuild. Once you’ve regained your strength, let Shanhai take you for a walk outside—you’ll be surprised.”

After the game system gradually faded away, everyone stopped relying on it and was no longer limited by its construction mechanics.

They rolled up their sleeves and built houses with their own hands. Now, the buildings have already reached a height of tens…

By the time he reached the fourth floor, surrounding facilities—including the pier and the station—had gradually begun to take shape.

After all, the trade hub is slowly becoming obsolete, and the map isn’t as static as it used to be.

This is reality now.

Jian Xingyi listened with admiration. “Everyone is so amazing…”

Bai Jie chuckled softly, “All of this… is thanks to you.”

Jian Xingyi was taken aback.

Then he smiled shyly, “It’s really thanks to everyone’s hard work.”

Bai Jie shook her head. “We’ll never forget what you’ve done for us…”

“That’s right,” Baizhuo said with a smile. “If you get the chance, you should go to the square and see your statue.”

Jian Xingyi: “Huh?”

What?

Jian Xingyi looked completely blank. “What statue?”

Haihai said with a smirk, “Exactly what it sounds like—your statue. Now that the Trade Gate is inactive, it’s just an ordinary building. To commemorate it, everyone turned the building into a Heroes’ Memorial Hall. Every map has one, and they document the deeds of many heroes. There’s a statue of you in the square outside the memorial hall.”

Jian Xingyi: “……”

This is so embarrassing, help me!

Lone Wolf asked sincerely, “Don’t you like it? I think it’s totally awesome!”

Jian Xingyi: “….. ”

Jian Xingyi changed the subject. “So, will the Chamber of Commerce still function without me?”

“Yes, but the difference is that no one is restocking the food supplies anymore,” Bai Jie chuckled. “But it’s now become our online shopping app.”

“However…” Bai Jie’s expression turned serious. “The large stockpile of food and medicine you left behind helped us get through the long period after the Great War. Everything was in ruins after the war; we survived thanks to the supplies you left.”

Jian Xingyi breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, before the war, just in case—fearing he might die—he had quietly gathered all the food and medicine from his backpack and listed them on the marketplace.

He hadn’t told anyone about this, though—after all, he knew everyone was doing their best to protect him.

Lone Wolf burst out laughing. “That’s exactly why the statue is well-deserved!”

Jian Xingyi: “……”

Five years have passed, yet this kid is still just as naive as ever.

But…

Jian Xingyi glanced at everyone, his smile softening slightly.

Everyone had grown more mature; the years had etched deeper lines and wrinkles into their faces.

Shanhai looked even more… haggard?

“Okay,” Bai Jie said. “Let’s head out first. We’ve visited long enough today. Let Xinghe get some rest. Yu Shen and the others will be coming to see him in a few days anyway.”

“Okay!”

Before leaving the room, Cola gave Jian Xingyi a knowing look. “Xinghe, you’d better give your Shanhai a good comforting. He’s had a miserable five years—it’s enough to make anyone weep. He…”

“Zhou Xiaole, you can get lost.” Shanhai threw a cup at Cola.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why are you getting physical? The Combat Power System has faded now—don’t think I’m afraid of you!”

Shanhai raised an eyebrow. “Do I need a Combat Power System to beat you up?”

“…………”

Le Ke scampered away.

Jian Xingyi blinked.

That actually piqued his curiosity…

Jian Xingyi turned to look at Shanhai.

Over the past five years… has he been doing okay?

He’d just woken up a few days ago, still dazed and half-asleep. When he got up, he’d simply embraced Shanhai in silence. Now that his mind was slowly clearing, he… hadn’t asked yet.

“Lu Yan… ”

“Hmm?”

Jian Xingyi looked at the dark circles under Shanhai’s eyes, which had clearly been there for months, and swallowed hard.

He started by asking a lighter question: “What did Cola mean when he said your ‘combat power has declined’?”

Shanhai replied, “After the fusion, the player interface was adjusted. Most skills are unusable, and combat power doesn’t have as much impact as it used to.” He paused, then ruffled Jian Xingyi’s hair and said, “But don’t worry. I was a soldier before I entered the game, so I can still protect you.”

Lying down, Jian Xingyi curled up in Shanhai’s arms and said, “Hmm?”

“I was able to come back…”

“Haha……….. “

“Never mind that—in a peaceful world, I probably wouldn’t need protection anyway. Why would I care about that?” 

Jian Xingyi and Shanhai snuggled back under the covers

“Lu Yan… I’m so happy… It really is so nice.” Jian Xingyi said with a beaming smile, “I was actually a bit regretful—there were still so many things I wanted to tell you before I ‘died’… Now I finally have the chance.”

Shanhai asked softly, “What words?”

“Just… ” Jian Xingyi paused, “First, tell me how you’ve been these past five years.”

“No dodging the question, and don’t lie to me.” Jian Xingyi gently pinched Shanhai’s ear. “I’m listening. If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask others and get the info from them.”

After a long moment, Shanhai seemed to have finally figured out how to put his thoughts into words. He sighed and said, “It was just like that. Nothing special.”

Shanhai hugged Jian Xingyi close so he couldn’t see his expression. “Yu Shen and the others set up a research institute. Every day, I ran errands for the institute, gathering materials and helping them complete their research, all in the hope of bringing you back. Life was so hectic that… I don’t really remember what it was like.”

Shanhai spoke of these past five years as if they were nothing, but deep down, Jian Xingyi knew it couldn’t have been that easy.

He buried his head in Shanhai’s chest and mumbled, “I’m sorry…”

“No, don’t say you’re sorry. You saved everyone.” Shanhai reached out and gently rubbed the back of Jian Xingyi’s head. “Saving everyone was your choice; bringing you back was my responsibility. I’m glad we succeeded. Otherwise, once the five-year deadline passed and reality and the game fused completely, we would have lost every last bit of data, and I wouldn’t have been able to bring you back. I had already made up my mind…”

Shanhai left the rest unsaid.

He changed the subject and said, “As long as you’re back, I ask for nothing else.”

Jian Xingyi suddenly felt a pang of sadness in his heart. “Lu Yan…”

“What I want to tell you is… I’m sorry I kept forgetting to tell you before: I like you. I like you—not just in the way I like family, but also…and…”

Shanhai’s voice was hoarse. “And what else?”

“There’s also the kind of love that makes me want to kiss you.” Jian Xingyi was relieved that Shanhai couldn’t see the look of tears welling up in his eyes. “It pained me to make the choice to go back and leave you. Now that I’m back in reality, the thought that I can’t see you anymore… it made me so sad.”

But Shanhai “pulled” Jian Xingyi away from his chest. He cupped Jian Xingyi’s chin, studying his face intently, then leaned down to kiss him.

Jian Xingyi’s eyes welled up with tears, but so did Shanhai’s. Emotions long suppressed burst forth without warning in that moment, and their kiss grew increasingly passionate, increasingly intense.

Their lips and tongues entwined, their breaths mingling. Jian Xingyi’s reddened eyes grew even redder, but not because of sadness—it was…

“Mmm…”

As their kiss grew more intense and their breathing grew heavier, Jian Xingyi felt something pressing against his lower abdomen.

“Lu Yan…” Jian Xingyi’s voice was soft and gentle as he wrapped his arms around Shanhai’s neck.

Five years of deep affection cannot be summed up in a few words; the emotions one feels at this moment are indescribable. So all these pent-up feelings transformed into an impulse to merge the other into his very flesh and blood. Shanhai could no longer contain himself and began to move with both hands.

“Ugh… it hurts.” Jian Xingyi curled his toes, his nails leaving several red marks on Shanhai’s back.

Shanhai’s voice was hoarse. “Then… should I stop?”

“Don’t stop…” Jian Xingyi’s voice trembled with a hint of tears. He thought Shanhai was so cruel—how could he ask him such a thing at a time like this?

A moment later, Shanhai lowered his head to kiss Jian Xingyi’s earlobe, panting heavily as he asked, “Can I go inside?”

Jian Xingyi whispered, “Then don’t use force.”

As it turned out, that was impossible.

And Shanhai proved to Jian Xingyi that, even though combat stats no longer mattered, Shanhai was still Shanhai.

The Top Player’s stamina and endurance were staggering. If Jian Xingyi’s body hadn’t still been recovering, Shanhai wouldn’t have held back from taking full advantage of him—they were still far from him being satisfied.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

The next morning, the sun rose.

When Jian Xingyi opened his eyes and saw the sunlight streaming through the window, he was still a bit dazed. 

Five years later, everyone could finally see the sunlight every day.

Just as he was about to bask in the warm sunlight, a sudden sharp pain shot through his lower body, reminding him of last night’s folly.

“……”

Luckily, after last night was over, Shanhai held him while they showered and got it out; otherwise, he would definitely have gotten sick today.

Jian Xingyi turned to look into Shanhai’s eyes, took a deep breath, and bit his shoulder in frustration.

“You promised you wouldn’t bite hard…!”

Shanhai let Jian Xingyi bite him, gently patting his back. “I was already being gentle.”

“But last night, when I told you to stop because I was tired, you kept going.” Jian Xingyi pouted.

Shanhai said, “…Can’t I just stop whenever I want?”

“……”

Jian Xingyi looked even more aggrieved. “My back hurts.”

Shanhai sat up and began massaging it for him.

“My thighs hurt…”

It felt like something wasn’t quite right. Jian Xingyi felt so ashamed and humiliated that he wanted to die, because other parts of him were aching too, and he felt like he couldn’t get out of bed. Fortunately, when others came to visit, he could say it was because his body hadn’t fully recovered yet, so he wouldn’t give himself away.

Shanhai had bought quite a few patches from a shopping app and said earnestly, “I’m sorry… I’ll control myself next time.”

Jian Xingyi pouted, “It’s okay…”

He really would control himself. Shanhai wasn’t satisfied with that—he couldn’t just think of his own feelings.

Besides… it wasn’t entirely painful.

Jian Xingyi whined, “Then give me a massage.”

“Okay.”

Outside, the sun was warm, and Jian Xingyi lay curled up in the soft, fluffy blankets, enjoying Shanhai’s touch. Shanhai’s hands were calloused and firm, and the pressure felt comfortable as they rested on his waist and legs.

It was as if, in that moment, he finally felt truly alive.

—Jian Xingyi is really back.

Shanhai said, “Once you’ve regained your strength, I’ll take you for a walk outside. Also… there’s something I want to ask you.” 

“Hmm?”

Shanhai tentatively suggested, “Everyone will be here in a few days. It’ll be crowded and lively. Maybe we could use the opportunity to host… a banquet?”

“Is that okay? You decide. I’m still not sure how this world works, and I don’t know what our resources are like.”

“……”

Shanhai continued to hint, “It’s just a rather special banquet.”

“Huh? How special?”

Shanhai:“……”

After a moment’s hesitation, Shanhai said, “Would getting married now be too rushed? Otherwise, could we just treat it as an engagement party?” 

“……!!”

…?!

“Say that again?!”

Engagement?!

How did things suddenly go into double speed?!