Chapter 33: Don’t Suppress It
There was no time left.
Qi He glanced over the script, then reached for the communicator in Yan Chuanbai’s hand.
“I’ll talk to him.”
He didn’t dare disturb Yan Chuanbai.
“You don’t have to get involved.”
Yan Chuanbai: “?”
That long, slender, pale hand took the communicator right from his palm. He didn’t stop him—only kept his gaze fixed on him.
As soon as Qi He got hold of it, he saw a whole wall of flowery greetings in the chat window. He went silent for a second, then sent a message:
[It’s me. Qi He.]
The other side froze.
[?]
[I’d like to talk to you.]
At the same time, the system was briefing him:
[‘The grace of parents’ is your life-saving charm. Even though others know Yan Chuanbai doesn’t… doesn’t care much for you, they won’t ignore the son of his benefactor.]
The text script continued to unfold:
[This time, you’re to use your specialties—looking pitiful + an emotional soft approach.
You tell the other party: ‘My life’s been full of misfortune, and Yan Chuanbai treats me with complete indifference…’]
Qi He quickly sent the line:
[My life’s been full of misfortune, and Yan Chuanbai treats me with complete indifference.]
Gong Lianyu: [What!??]
A voice suddenly dropped beside him.
“You think I treat you with indifference?”
The scene hadn’t finished playing out. Qi He didn’t respond—just kept typing messages to Gong Lianyu.
Yan Chuanbai gave a short, incredulous laugh.
“Qi He.”
The script on the panel kept scrolling line by line.
While Qi He’s eyes flicked briefly over the next section, the communicator in his hand started ding ding ding—nonstop.
Gong Lianyu was typing furiously:
[Wait, aren’t you still using his communicator to send messages?]
[Stop stop stop!!!]
[What are you doing? Don’t drag me into this!]
Qi He didn’t have time to pay attention to what Gong Lianyu was sending.
Following the script, he typed:
“Actually, I just need someone to care about me.”
Beside him, it sounded like someone let out a quiet sigh.
On the panel, the scene was finally reaching its end:
[…I don’t need anything from you, as long as you can▇▇▇▇]
[As long as you can—] Qi He paused for a few seconds.
Then his fingers moved. He sent:
[—casually send me 50 yuan?]
System: [……]
Yan Chuanbai: “……”
Gong Lianyu replied at lightning speed:
[Sure sure sure! Your account number—wait, never mind, don’t give it to me. I’ll just transfer it to Yan Chuanbai and have him forward it to you. 🙏🙏🙏]
And then, like fleeing a disaster, he disappeared offline.
Ding! — The scene cleared successfully.
Qi He’s heart finally settled. He scrolled up to reread the chat history, musing, “System, he seems to be avoiding me?”
The system snorted: [You’re too formidable. He’s scared of you.]
…Forget it, Gong Lianyu wasn’t important anyway.
He didn’t quite know how he’d managed to torment the guy, but he definitely had.
Qi He handed the communicator back to Yan Chuanbai.
“All done—”
He broke off mid-sentence.
In the glow of sunset, Yan Chuanbai was looking down at him.
The light traced the sharp line of his profile, his expression caught somewhere between a smile and not.
“Finished talking? Finally willing to acknowledge me?”
Qi He: “…”
Yan Chuanbai took back the communicator and swiped through the messages again.
“I treat you with indifference? You need someone to care about you?”
Qi He said seriously, “He’s been pestering you nonstop. I was just trying to shut him up.”
“Really.” The tone was unreadable. “I thought that was your heartfelt confession.”
“How could it be? My life’s actually going pretty well.”
“I thought so too. The things that used to trouble you have basically all disappeared.”
“……”
Yan Chuanbai didn’t seem inclined to press further. He slipped the communicator into his pocket, and the two of them continued toward the high-rise building ahead. As they stepped through the entrance, the dim, amber light behind them was abruptly cut off, replaced by the bright glare of white fluorescent lamps.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and they stepped inside.
In silence, they ascended together until the elevator stopped on the 28th floor.
Ding! Qi He stepped out.
Just as the doors were about to close behind him, a hand pressed the “open” button again. The doors slid apart—
Yan Chuanbai looked up at him. “Whether or not it was the truth, you said our relationship was closer now.”
He added, “Whatever you want, just tell me.”
Qi He froze for a moment.
Then Yan Chuanbai withdrew his hand, and the elevator doors closed.
The display showed the numbers climbing upward. Qi He stood still before the closed doors, tilting his head slightly.
“System, does Yan Chuanbai think I’m love-deprived?”
The system made a dry sound: [If you say so, sure.]
Qi He ignored the system’s sarcastic tone.
He turned back toward his room, lashes lowering faintly.
But just now… did that count as him being kind to him?
—
The next day, Qi He left his room.
The elevator was coming down from above.
When the doors opened, Yan Chuanbai was inside. Qi He stepped in and glanced at him a couple of times.
Yan Chuanbai turned to the side. “What is it?”
Qi He shook his head and withdrew his gaze. “Nothing.”
The elevator soon reached the ground floor.
Qi He walked out—he had a training session scheduled today.
Yan Chuanbai didn’t have any classes. A message from Yu Tianxing popped up on his communicator:
[Come to the third floor of the research institute—military department internal testing. ~Xing]
He stepped out of the elevator and headed straight for the research institute.
When he reached the laboratory on the third floor, he pushed the door open.
Inside, only Yu Tianxing was there. On the table sat a piece of equipment—it looked brand new. The gauge on it had only a few markings: S, 2S, 3S, 4S, 5S.
As the door closed behind him, Yu Tianxing said, “You’re here.”
Yan Chuanbai stopped in front of the device, giving it a glance. “An S-rank power-level detector? It’s finished?”
Yu Tianxing ran a hand affectionately over it, beaming. “My Nirvana No. 1.”
“What do you mean by ‘internal testing’?”
“Headquarters just sent notice to the research division,” Yu Tianxing explained. “You know how the three major bases always share their research results. Ever since Qi He proposed the new improvement model, we started working on a synchronized development. But after Ying Zhen was taken away, our base lacked a psychic-type ability user for live testing, so progress slowed down. Until Guan Shang arrived—”
Everyone knew that Guan Shangchun spent most of his time in the lab.
Yu Tianxing smiled brightly. “Especially since his ability is Perception, progress has been advancing by leaps and bounds.”
Yan Chuanbai said, “So what does the internal test involve?”
“Now that all three bases have completed their detectors, Headquarters plans to initiate a live holographic communication session and hold the first online S-rank evaluation ceremony.”
Yu Tianxing continued, “But military personnel need to be tested once beforehand and have their data submitted to Headquarters. The rest can wait to be tested during the ceremony itself.”
That made sense to Yan Chuanbai—after all, the military’s ranking data couldn’t exactly be revealed to Headquarters at the last minute.
He asked, “And what was your test result?”
Yu Tianxing replied, “I’m at 2S. Guan Shang, as part of the research team, also took the test—he’s somewhere between S and 2S. But his level’s been rising quickly. Looks like Qi—”
Yan Chuanbai glanced at him, and Yu Tianxing immediately stopped mid-sentence, smiling innocently.
“Haha~ I didn’t say anything. Go on, your turn to test.”
Yan Chuanbai withdrew his gaze and focused on the machine.
Both Yu Tianxing and the others had fallen within the 2S range.
He stared at it for a moment, then placed his hand on the sensor.
His spiritual energy stirred within him. On the gauge, the indicator climbed steadily—past S, then 2S—heading straight toward 3S. Just as it was about to break through the 3S mark, his spiritual power surged, bubbling up like steam forcing open the lid of a kettle—then settled back down again.
Yan Chuanbai stopped and withdrew his hand. The reading stabilized exactly at 3S.
Yu Tianxing clicked his tongue in admiration. “Knew it—you’re at least 3S.”
He noted down the result, ready to report it to Headquarters later.
“Qi He shouldn’t be weak either. That testing ceremony’s going to be worth watching~”
Yan Chuanbai gave a low “mm,” without further comment.
“No problem, I’ll head out first.”
Yu Tianxing waved absently without looking up. “Go, go.”
…
Once he stepped out of the lab, the door closed behind him.
Yan Chuanbai lowered his eyes, recalling that fleeting moment when his spiritual energy had surged and then subsided.
It had felt like it had reached its limit—
And yet, somehow, it also felt like it hadn’t.
He had just stepped into the corridor when he ran into Guan Shangchun, who was likely on his way to the lab.
They met face-to-face and both stopped.
The overhead light spilled down between them. Guan Shangchun glanced at the direction Yan Chuanbai had come from, studied him for a few seconds, and said,
“You must be 3S, right?”
Yan Chuanbai replied lazily, “Mm.”
Guan Shangchun looked at him. “You’re really strong,” he said, then added more seriously, “But I’m getting stronger too. Someday, I’ll surpass you.”
‘But his level’s been rising fast. Looks like Qi—’
Yu Tianxing’s words resurfaced in Yan Chuanbai’s mind.
The spiritual energy he’d just stirred up suddenly felt like it was boiling again—an intense emotional surge that he instinctively forced back down, as he always did.
He adjusted his breathing for only two seconds before giving a quiet laugh, lifting his eyes to reply:
“That’s your business. Nothing to do with me.”
With that, he took a long stride past him and left.
—
Qi He had training in the morning and took on a small mission in the afternoon.
By the time he returned to base, mealtime had already passed.
He went to the cafeteria to pick up two nutrient vials.
The green liquid slid down his throat, instantly restoring his strength.
The system asked curiously: [What does it taste like?]
“Basically no taste—just a hint of grass.”
[Didn’t Base II’s improved formula get rolled out?]
“It did. For the punishment program.”
Qi He casually tossed the empty tube into the trash.
Just as he was heading back toward the high-rise dorms, he ran into Yan Chuanbai coming out from inside.
Their gazes met. As usual, Qi He asked, “Where are you going?”
“Training room.”
“Alone?”
Yan Chuanbai stopped, studying him for a few seconds before smiling.
“Could be two people.”
There was a flicker of long-lost fighting spirit in his eyes.
“Want to come? Let’s spar.”
Qi He’s pulse quickened, excitement rising.
“Sure.”
The training room was empty at this hour.
The pure-white sensor doors closed behind them. Qi He strapped on his gear, loading bullets into his gun.
Across from him came a crisp click—Yan Chuanbai holstered his own weapon at his waist.
“Same rule as always — we stop when one side loses the will to fight.”
Yan Chuanbai tightened the straps on his gloves and turned his head. “Alright.”
Their eyes locked for a few seconds—then moved at the same time.
Boom—
The instant layers of ice spikes sealed the space, gravity came crashing down toward Yan Chuanbai! Qi He dodged deftly, but suddenly felt his body seize up—the chill biting into his limbs. He froze for half a beat.
His heart gave a hard thud—then a surge of power shattered the ice spikes into dust!
Thud! He landed safely.
Among the scattering shards of ice that glittered across the floor, Yan Chuanbai had already pushed himself up, twisting midair into a counterattack. His explosive momentum tore through the flying frost and, in a blink, he was right in front of Qi He.
Bang! A bullet suddenly fired from Yan Chuanbai’s holster.
His attention flickered for half a second—
It was the same trick Qi He had once used on Gong Lianyu.
Qi He seized the opening, sidestepping the strike and sweeping his leg upward. Normally, Yan Chuanbai would have dodged sideways—but this time, a strong hand came up instead. Yan Chuanbai seemed to smile at him—
Then caught Qi He’s knee and yanked it sharply to the side—
“!”
In the instant he was pulled forward, Qi He twisted, adding a burst of rotational force. The two of them flipped, bodies tangling midair—
Then slam! Qi He’s back hit the floor.
He reacted instantly, drawing his gun.
Click. Two muzzles pressed against each other’s foreheads, fingers resting on the triggers.
Silence.
Only the pounding of their hearts filled the air.
Qi He lay on his back, one shoulder pinned down firmly by Yan Chuanbai’s palm. His fringe fell aside, revealing sharp, striking eyes that glinted beneath the barrel of his gun—staring straight into Yan Chuanbai’s gaze.
Yan Chuanbai’s hand holding the gun seemed to tremble slightly.
His heartbeat was racing.
Warmth and softness seeped through his palm. The bit of exposed skin above the collarbone caught his eyes—too bright, too close. Trapped in the unyielding gaze beneath him, Yan Chuanbai couldn’t look away.
In the soundless stalemate, he felt Qi He’s tense leg tighten against his waist—
That final thread of rationality snapped taut in an instant.
Yan Chuanbai shut his eyes abruptly and was the first to pull his gun away.
His spiritual energy and blood surged violently, the air around them dropping in temperature as frost silently began to form.
He drew in a deep breath and forced everything back down.
…
Below, Qi He froze.
He could feel that surge of spiritual energy pressing down on him, the cold seeping into every inch of air—a chill that reminded him of the first time Yan Chuanbai had “lost control.”
But only for a few seconds. Then, the power receded.
Qi He glanced at Yan Chuanbai’s averted gun, and at the shadow that had fallen across his eyes.
He frowned suddenly and yanked the other man down—
The one above him startled, eyes snapping open.
With the distance between them gone, Qi He could see the faint tremor of the other’s lashes. He lifted his chin slightly, meeting his gaze head-on.
“What are you holding back?” he asked.
Yan Chuanbai’s pupils flickered; for a moment, he just stared.
Qi He’s tone carried a hint of irritation. “Why won’t you fight me with your full strength?”
He could see it clearly—Yan Chuanbai was by nature free-spirited, unrestrained.
Yet again and again, there was this deliberate control in him—like the neatly folded sheets on his bed, like the suppressed surge of power in his veins.
Instinct and talent were both things one was born with.
Qi He’s heart sank slightly. Perhaps it was precisely this restraint that was holding back Yan Chuanbai’s true ability…
The one above finally came back to himself.
Then his gaze dropped, sliding away—
Downward, landing on Qi He’s lips. Yan Chuanbai’s breath faltered for a split second before he simply closed his eyes. “It’s nothing.”
The emotions he had barely suppressed began to surge again, his spiritual energy threatening to slip free of control.
Qi He’s pulse spiked. His knee shifted unconsciously.
Within his own range of control, he could sense it—the minute changes happening in the particles around them as the temperature continued to fall.
Yan Chuanbai was evolving.
Qi He didn’t have time to think. He caught the other man’s chin, forcing him to look up.
“Don’t suppress it—”
“I can take everything you’ve got.”
Boom! The dam of reason burst apart in an instant.
The gaze from above deepened, dark and consuming.
Amid the plunging cold, warmth pressed against him—blocking out the chill. An arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, pulling him into a tight embrace—
Yan Chuanbai tilted his head, his lips brushing dangerously close.
“…You sure about that?”
—————————————————————
Author’s note:
System: Stop! STOP!!
