Run the Plot Ch.57.2

Chapter 57.2: Confession * Commendation

Qi He tossed aside the nonsensical conversation and went home.

The moment he stepped through the door, a voice boomed in his mind:

[You! YOU——!!]

On the bedside table, the system was flashing red:

[Out all night—only came back this morning!]

Qi He walked over, expression calm. “I went to discuss the script.”

System: [Hehe. Late-night script session.]

Qi He paused, a few images surfacing in his mind. The lingering heat threatened to rise again, but he suppressed it. “You’re dirty.” He squinted at the system’s wide, bean-shaped eyes, then thought for a moment and tapped it on the head.

“And Yan Chuanbai and I have already made our relationship official. Even if something happens, it’s normal.”

The system’s eyes widened suddenly: ●—●

After a moment, it was forced to accept reality: …Heavens! Its host and the male protagonist had finally gotten together!!!

Qi He gave the system a precautionary warning.

Then he scooped it up, cradling it in his hand, and returned to business. “About the plot—Yan Chuanbai already knows.”

A click sounded in his palm: [Knows everything?]

Qi He nodded. “I think so.”

Yan Chuanbai had already suspected Qi He’s behavior—perhaps thinking someone behind the scenes was orchestrating or coercing him. But based on the key information he revealed yesterday, the system’s intelligence, and Qi He’s own unusual “breakthrough” actions…

With Yan Chuanbai’s mind, he should be able to deduce that whoever was coercing him wasn’t a human—but something from a higher dimension.

Qi He said to the system: “He also knows what you are now.”

The system’s voice went alert: […How will he treat me?]

Qi He thought for a moment, then reassured it: “Probably like one of his own.”

[……] System: [He, thank you.]

…

Qi He had originally thought today would be uneventful.

But by noon, he received a message from Yu Tianxing. The Headquarters had issued commendations for them, and they were to hold a summary and awards meeting at the base.

Yu Tianxing: “We’ve also released part of the footage. Information about the Source still needs to be processed and filtered before it can be made public, so for now we’ve put out the videos of you taking down the first two bosses.”

“Perfect for showing a little at the summary and awards meeting~ haha.”

The first two bosses?

Qi He remembered that there had been two mutated creatures in the second area. Yan Chuanbai had taken on one alone, and Zhuge Dun’s perspective had captured the most comprehensive footage.

Another message from Yu Tianxing arrived: “Don’t worry about anything. Training ground at three this afternoon.”

Qi He put away his communicator.

Three o’clock in the afternoon, at the training ground.

As the largest open space in Base I, the training ground could accommodate all the ability user operatives. A temporary stage had been set up at the front, with a projection system installed behind it.

News about the summary and awards meeting had already spread throughout the base.

Besides the ability users, ordinary personnel could also come and watch, finding space around the perimeter of the training ground.

As three o’clock approached, the sunlight was bright and clear.

The training ground was already packed inside and out.

Yu Tianxing stood on the stage, organizing the order, while military personnel guarded the perimeter. On the big screen, dark, eerie footage of the hospital corridors was displayed first.

Adrenaline spiked instantly in the crowd.

Amid this tense and thrilling atmosphere, Qi He walked onto the stage.

He still wore a simple white T-shirt, casual as ever.

Yan Chuanbai followed a step behind, his crisp military uniform radiating lethal precision.

The two of them stepped up together, and the crowd fell completely silent.

Yu Tianxing smiled and spoke loudly: “This final battle is a victory for all of humanity. Everyone at our base, and across all bases, gave their utmost effort. At the same time, we must solemnly thank the two great contributors who eliminated the Source—”

“Qi He, Yan Chuanbai.”

“And they also brought back precious video footage — today, at the commendation and awards ceremony, we’ll be showing a portion of it to the public for the very first time.”

After Yu Tianxing finished speaking, he turned slightly to the side and pressed play.

The crowd erupted instantly!

Qi He turned his head as well — this was his first time watching a recording of his own battle, from a bystander’s perspective.

The hallway footage began to move.

As the two stopped walking, a slender, well-defined hand reached out, followed by a calm voice:

“Reinforced concrete becomes brittle under freeze–thaw cycles. From here, downward…”

Exclamations of awe rippled through the audience below.

When the corridor came crashing open — the humanoid mutant entwined with vines appeared onscreen, immediately followed by a chorus of “Holy shit!” and retching sounds from below.

On the screen, a series of precise commands were already being issued.

Qi He’s white figure moved through the dimness like a streak of light — agile, resilient, his body curving with impossible flexibility as he dodged blow after blow.

He appeared again and again in places no one would have thought possible — and each time, in mortal danger.

Magnetic force, gravity, traction…

The entire underground parking structure was in turmoil.

The scene unfolded like a blockbuster brought to life — the sheer visual intensity sending a shock straight to everyone’s core!

No one dared to breathe.

This… was that kind of destructive power really human?

…

Before anyone could recover, Yan Chuanbai’s footage cut in.

A vine-type boss came into view.

The mutant filled the frame like an enormous web of vines, roots tangled and layered, spanning the full height of three underground floors! Its sheer size made the human standing before it look utterly insignificant.

And there stood Yan Chuanbai, facing the massive vine creature — raising one hand.

The countless vines lunging toward him froze solid in an instant! Then, from behind Yan Chuanbai, more vines emerged — strange, deadly ones, laced with frost and poison — lashing out to bind the mutant vine creature in turn.

Vine against vine, they tangled and strained.

Their struggle nearly filled the entire frame.

And that colossal mutant — was being forcefully restrained by Yan Chuanbai’s dual abilities alone, until the gloved hand before the camera clenched into a fist.

“Break.”

BOOM!!! — the entire screen shattered into cascading shards of ice.

…

The fragments scattered toward the camera, exploding outward with such impact it almost felt like they’d burst through the screen itself—

Someone below gasped, breath catching in their throat.

Then, Yu Tianxing paused the video.

It was also Qi He’s first time seeing Yan Chuanbai’s battle footage — equally powerful, clean, efficient. It perfectly matched his sense of aesthetic; a fight so precise it was almost beautiful to watch.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, lips curving.

Beside him, Yu Tianxing spoke again, pulling the stunned crowd back to attention:

“The footage you just saw was only a portion of the battle record. The full combat video will be released later in sequence.”

“Next, we’ll begin the commendation for this operation.”

After witnessing the sheer force in those clips, the entire hall fell silent.

No one could doubt the weight of the honors to come — and more than a few were shaken to their core: Those two were only at super-4S level back then… and they were already that strong.

Now that they’d both reached 5S level — what kind of monsters must they have become?

Whatever the thoughts stirring in the crowd, the ceremony went on.

Yu Tianxing presided over it, and after a brief speech of commendation, he presented a shoulder insignia.

“…Hereby conferring upon Yan Chuanbai the rank of Major General, in recognition of his merit.”

At his side, Yan Chuanbai raised his hand and gave a crisp military salute.

The insignia was pinned to his shoulder, the metal gleam catching the sunlight—reflecting off his sharp, coolly handsome face.

From that moment on, he became the youngest major general in the entire military.

“Qi He.” The single call drew everyone’s attention back.

Qi He turned his head to see Yu Tianxing smiling at him. Holding out a medal fastened to a ribbon, both hands extended, he said,

“Since you’re not part of the military, the Headquarters has decided to award you the Medal of Highest Honor—”

“—and to appoint you as a Special Tactical Instructor. Anyone attending your lectures will be considered your student.”

Qi He paused briefly, then accepted it. “I’ll live up to the trust.”

Applause erupted throughout the training grounds, echoing inside and out. Amid the sea of praise, Yu Tianxing and the others gave a formal salute to the two of them:

“Humanity’s bases will remember your achievements!”

—

The commendation ceremony gradually drew to a close.

People began to disperse in twos and threes.

Military personnel were organizing the flow outside. Qi He and Yan Chuanbai remained on the raised platform, waiting for the crowd to leave in order before they themselves stepped down.

Below, Yu Tianxing was packing up the equipment when the image on the giant screen flickered a few times.

Those who were about to leave turned back to look.

On the screen, the two figures were still locked in combat—powerful, precise, fluid.

Their gazes then shifted to the very same two figures standing before the screen now.

One, tall and refined, stood loosely, his gaze unfocused somewhere into the distance; the other, dressed in the crisp austerity of a military uniform, stood half a meter away, calm eyes watching the crowd below.

And once again, yesterday’s rumor surfaced in everyone’s mind:

“I heard Instructor Qi and Major General Yan are together?”

“Yeah, it was announced when they returned yesterday. The pickup team all saw it.”

“No way! There wasn’t any sign before that…”

Amid the murmurs, someone glanced back at the screen—at the two equally formidable figures locked in battle—and whispered:

“Do you think… it might be a political or military power match? A ‘strong alliance’ kind of thing?”

The people nearby froze for a moment — then realization dawned on someone:

“Right, both of them are 5S-rank. And Instructor Qi isn’t part of the military…”

“Exactly. Otherwise, why would they suddenly announce it like that?”

“No wonder no one could tell they were together — so it’s that kind of relationship?”

…

On stage, Yan Chuanbai suddenly lowered his gaze.

The fragments of conversation weren’t particularly loud, and the voices came from far away, mingled with all the other background noise.

But a 5S-rank’s hearing was far sharper than ordinary people’s —especially when it came to certain words that struck a nerve.

Qi He noticed the change in his expression. Following his line of sight, he caught the same murmurs drifting over:

“…What kind of relationship are they talking about?”

“They’re saying Instructor Qi and Major General Yan — it’s probably a military alliance. Even their colleagues didn’t hear anything beforehand, so they’re not really dating—”

The chatter cut off all at once.

Everyone below turned their heads toward the stage.

Because the “Major General Yan” they were gossiping about — had just reached out and taken Qi He’s hand.

…

Onstage, Qi He also froze.

A faint tickle brushed against his fingers — he looked down to see a slender vine curling gently around his ring finger.

When he lifted his eyes, he met Yan Chuanbai’s gaze — burning, unguarded, unwavering.

Yan Chuanbai raised his other hand between them; tiny ice crystals bloomed one by one, settling over the vine ring.

“The last time… the timing wasn’t right,” he said softly. “My confession to you was still missing one crucial piece.”

Qi He’s breath hitched — his heartbeat stumbled once, hard.

“This ice is condensed from 5S-level spiritual power. No matter how far apart we are — whether I’m here or not — it will never melt.”

In the sunlight, the crystal glowed brilliantly.

And like every snowflake in the world, no two were ever the same.

“Qi He.”

Yan Chuanbai bowed his head, pressing a kiss to his ring finger, then looked up at him —

“I love you, forever unfading.”

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