Afterlife Department

Chapter 511 - What If

"General." Wei Shi called before Shou Ji could leave. "What I said earlier… it is true." He told him. "You already know, right?" he asked as he looked at him.

Shou Ji didn't answer.

Wei Shi took a deep breath. "I deeply regret it…" he said and bitterly smiled. "I should've confessed to you in this life. Should've confessed… earlier." He looked at him with deep love in his eyes. "Even if you would reject me, or disdain me… separate from me – " he said as his eyes reddened. His tears are threatening to fall..

"I wouldn't." Shou Ji spoke. "I wouldn't have rejected you." He said and awkwardly looked at Wei Shi. His ears are red. "Even if I was busy with my work… but… I still find some time to accompany you. I am not that indifferent to you. Because… I was… moved." He confessed.

Wei Shi's eyes widened in shock.

"But – " Shou Ji frowned. " – we still can't be together now. Not even now." He said. "You should know, right?" he stared at him.

Wei Shi bitterly smiled. "I know." He answered.

Shou Ji sighed in relief. Even if they can't be together in this life… but Wei Shi would return to Shi Jiu since he is his soul. Then, what will happen to Shi Jiu? Would he be affected by Wei Shi's feelings? If he would, then… how would he answer him? To Shi Jiu, although the other is dumb, but he also likes him. Not that he is fickle because he was also moved by Wei Shi right now… but, because of Shi Jiu's sincerity towards him, he started liking Shi Jiu. But, does Shi Jiu even like him? What if Shi Jiu doesn't like him? What about Wei Shi? Although Wei Shi loves him, but Wei Shi is just a part of Shi Jiu's soul. So, Shi Jiu wouldn't like him. Ai…

Then, what about Wei Shi? Yes. He was also moved by Wei Shi. And he likes him. But, if this was before, he would really be together with Wei Shi. Yet, they already missed each other because of Yu Yan. Yu Yan separated them, life and death…

"Damn Yu Yan!" Wei Shi cursed, probably thought what Shou Ji is now thinking too.

Shou Ji's eyes reddened, and then his tears fell. Yes… if only he didn't die, he and Wei Shi must have been together. Even if it will take him longer to realize his feelings, but Wei Shi definitely wouldn't wait for that long to confess. As he said, he wouldn't be indifferent to Wei Shi, since he knows him, and he definitely likes him. He just didn't realize it yet. Thus, they could have been together.

Yet Yu Yan severed their relationship. He and Wei Shi are now separated by life and death. Even if they met again, but they can be together now.

BANG! Wei Shi punched the wall and Shou Ji jumped, startled.

"S – sorry." The other immediately apologized and tried to touch him to comfort him but then remembered that he is now on a different shell, so he helplessly lowered his hands. He sighed in defeat.

"I'm okay." Shou Ji told him. "Wei Shi… how did you know I died? That it was Yu Yan who killed me?" he asked. Seeing Wei Shi's ugly expression, his guess about Wei Shi feeling that his soul was torn into pieces was right. "T – then… just answer how did you know about Yu Yan killing me?" he said.

Wei Shi's face is still pale and green because he recalled that painful tearing feeling again. Although it wasn't his soul, but just knowing that it was Shou Ji's… he clenched his fists and he took deep breaths to calm down. "Do you know how much I wanted to tear him that time?" he asked. His face is dark.

Shou Ji didn't answer.

"My wife died, and his soul was split!" Wei Shi kicked the chair in anger. "But, I was gravely injured because of the explosion. My soul is screaming but my body can't move." Veins throbbed in his forehead. "Until now, there are still hidden injuries in my body and my physique was affected. Thus, I didn't immediately find him to kill him. I didn't let my family do it, either, since I wanted to kill him by my own hands." He gnashed his teeth. "I will make him feel how it feels for his soul to be split slowly, piece by piece!" he said.

Shou Ji's eyes widened. No… if Yu Yan's soul would disappear, then how about their task? Although he is very angry, and feel indignation on Wei Shi's behalf, but he still hasn't forgotten his task. Not because Yi Bing reminded him, but because he still remembers his duty as the Collection Department's chief!

He has to persuade Wei Shi to not tear Yu Yan into pieces! "Wei Shi." He called.

Wei Shi turned and his eyes gained their clarity and focus. "General…" he muttered and his tears fell. "I missed you… I miss you…" he said as he fell on his knees.

"Wei Shi…" Shou Ji closed his eyes. "Do you believe in afterlife?" he asked him.

"'afterlife'?" Wei Shi muttered. "I do." He answered. "Not because I experienced this rebirth, but because – " he raised his head and looked at Shou Ji. " – I wanted to be with you for eternity." He spoke. "Life after life, and wouldn't end in death, our feelings…" he said as he stared at Shou Ji's eyes, as if looking into his soul.

Shou Ji's eyes widened in shock. Unbeknownst to them because they are deeply immersed in their emotions, Reine was crying while covering his mouth to prevent his sobs from being heard. His whole face is flushed red from crying, and his tears stream down like a waterfall, unceasing.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling stood beside Reine who was crouching on the floor. To prevent Shi Jiu from hearing the conversation inside the classroom, they had the alpha trio take him away to exercise or play sports. Then, they took Reine here to let him hear that Wei Shi is loyal to the general. But, Reine has to promise them that he won't tell anyone about Shou Ji being his cousin.

Why did they do this? It is to test the extent of the rules, and how messed up it is now after the rebirth. They know that it is self-repairing, but now, letting Reine know about Shou Ji's identity is fine. Of course, they wouldn't go too far of letting everyone know about Shou Ji's return, since they know that after this, Shou Ji would cease to exist and everyone will forget him, including Wei Shi, who will also be forgotten by everyone after he returns to Shi Jiu.

Then, everyone will go on with their lives…

Inside the classroom, Wei Shi smiled. "General… I know you don't remember it, so I will tell you." He said. "That time, I am on the height of my possessiveness… obsessiveness towards you." He spoke.

Instantly, Shou Ji's face reddened. Not only because of Wei Shi's intense feelings, but he could guess what he is implying. And outside the room, Yi Bing's and Huo Ling's faces darkened while Reine's shoulder shook. Not because of crying, which he did earlier, but now because of laughter since he knows what Wei Shi wanted to say: how he deceived Shou Ji to be bound to him forever, not only body, but also soul.

He didn't know that this cute but also dark deception of Wei Shi to his cousin would prevent a disaster from happening in this world – of Wei Shi finding out Shou Ji's illness from Yu Yan, who wanted him to forget Shou Ji.

"That time, I told you to manifest your soul." Wei Shi continued. "We still haven't tried doing that in that state, and I told you that it was… ehem." He coughed and blushed after seeing Shou Ji glaring at him. But, he knows, his general is just embarrassed. "It is true that it is really that." He smiled and winked at Shou Ji who wanted to punch him. "But, after that, I realized that I can feel your feelings, and know the condition of your soul." He said.

Shou Ji was shocked. "Really?!" he exclaimed.

Wei Shi nodded. "But, it seems that you aren't aware of it. You couldn't feel my soul." He continued. "That was because my soul is weaker than yours to affect you, and that I became aware after I realized what is happening. I then realized that your soul is stronger than mine, so I can feel your soul even though it wasn't intentional on your part, because you didn't know the consequence. I also didn't know this, too." He explained.

"So that's what happened…" Shou Ji finally knew it now.

"So, because of that – " Wei Shi blushed as he shyly looked at Shou Ji. " – I would feel where you are. Even if general isn't around me, but I will feel that you will return." He looked at him in the eyes. "So, general, you can't leave me." He told him