Afterlife Department

"I promise not to tell anyone that you came back." Wei Shi spoke when he is leaving their residence after he and Shou Ji caught up with each other about this life, and their previous life. Of course, Wei Shi omitted the part that they were lovers.

"Good. Go home safely." Shou Ji waved his hand as he saw him off. When Wei Shi's car disappeared, he turned and faced Yi Bing and Huo Ling while Shi Jiu went upstairs to rest because he was too tired due to their class this afternoon. "Thank you for not telling Shi Jiu that we are lovers in this life." He told the remaining two.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling froze on their seats and almost spat out a mouthful of tea when they heard what Shou Ji said. "…" so direct! They thought and looked at him with a complicated gaze.

Shou Ji's expression was calm, though.. "Even if Shi Jiu would know that Wei Shi is him… his reincarnation, but with his dumb brain, he would never know that we were lovers in the previous life." He spoke as he picked up his cup of tea and took a sip. "Wei Shi also thinks that I don't remember… well, I don't. But, I could guess. Shi Jiu is slow, so he would never guess. Unless someone tells him." He looked at them.

"We won't." they said and resumed drinking their tea.

"Good." Shou Ji nodded. "Since Wei Shi plans to kill Yu Yan, Yu Yan definitely would give Wei Shi his life since he likes Wei Shi and realizes that Wei Shi also had the memories of the previous life." He said.

"Pppt!" Yi Bing and Huo Ling finally can't help but spat out their tea. He also knows this?! They thought, shocked.

"What? I can guess from his reaction." Shou Ji said.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling were speechless.

"Since Yu Yan will let Wei Shi kill him, then we can let them duke it out. We are just here to collect Yu Yan's soul, and then look into his memories how he reborn, and how did he affect the whole space to rewind." Shou Ji continued. "As for Shi Jiu's soul…" he said and then fell silent.

"After Yu Yan's death, the world might operate properly, being fixed." Yi Bing spoke. "Then, we'll just let Wei Shi have a natural death, and then Shi Jiu's soul will return to him." He explained.

"Yes." Shou Ji nodded.

"… won't this make Shi Jiu have Wei Shi's memories then, considering that he and the Afterlife Department had a contract?"

A long silence fell.

"Huo Ling…" Yi Bing called as he rubbed the space between his brows while Shou Ji froze on his seat.

"Sorry." Huo Ling insincerely said. He looked at Shou Ji. "You can't hide from him." He told him. "I think it is better to come clean with Wei Shi. Even if you can't remember your life as lovers with him, but this lessens the pain he feels from still expecting, hoping that you will like him back in this life since you came back, despite not having memories of your previous lives." He explained.

Shou Ji fell silent.

"Wei Shi is a good guy. Although he held on the fact that you were former lovers, but he understood that in this life, you missed the chance to become one. So, he is letting the nature take its course." Huo Ling continued. "Then, you really came back and he found out. But, although he is still hoping, but he is considerate of you who has no memories of your relationship as lovers before." He told him.

"… you're right." Shou Ji muttered as he lowered his head.

"Thinking this – " Huo Ling spoke.

"Enough." Yi Bing stopped him.

"No, no. I am already done with analyzing their relationship." Huo Ling told Yi Bing.

"Then, what is it this time?" Yi Bing asked.

"Since Wei Shi and Shou Ji were lovers, and both of them can feel each other, then, could it be that they might have united spiritually?" Huo Ling asked.

Yi Bing. "…" what the… he thought as he froze like a statue.

Shou Ji. "…" what… his eyes widened and his face flushed red.

"So, I am right?" Huo Ling muttered and his expression became thoughtful. "This world has mental strength and spiritual strength stuff. Not to mention pheromones." He looked at Shou Ji. "Since there is spiritual strength, then what happens to one's soul will be carried even if in the next life. Thus, you and Wei Shi can feel each other right now. That also triggered Wei Shi's memories to return, since his soul is connected to his brain. And you… your soul was split by the black hole, then scattered to different worlds, so you also brought your soul's injury to the Stable World." He explained. "… you haven't thought of this?" he asked as he looked at Shou Ji with a complicated gaze.

Shou Ji. "…" how can I think about this way! He inwardly complained. He declined to answer, since he still felt embarrassed. He and Wei Shi… he knows how things done between men… but spiritually… his face turned redder.

"Yi Bing." Huo Ling called when he thought of something.

Yi Bing got a bad feeling. "Enough with your brain hole…" he said. But, it was too late.

"Will this affect them both when we returned to the Stable World?" Huo Ling asked.

Shou Ji. "…" … what… he thought as he felt steam coming out of his head. In short, he exploded.

Yi Bing. "…" I should have sealed Huo Ling's lips… with my lips! He thought as his eyes darkened and he looked at Huo Ling.

"What?" Huo Ling blinked when he saw Yi Bing staring at him. "I am just asking now for Shou Ji to prepare himself now before we return to the Stable World." He explained and looked at Shou Ji.

Shou Ji knows Huo Ling isn't malicious. He nodded at him. "Thank you. I'll make some preparations." He said and hurriedly left.

"… you did that on purpose." Yi Bing spoke as he looked at him with an accusing gaze.

Huo Ling innocently blinked. "I did. Because I want Shou Ji to prepare himself." He explained.

Yi Bing felt speechless at Huo Ling's shamelessness.

"Say, Yi Bing." Huo Ling called. "What if Shou Ji didn't return this time?" he asked. "He would never know that Wei Shi loves him, and he loves him, too. Yu Yan successfully broke them up, and also separated Shou Ji from his family that loves him." He said when he remembered Reine. "Wei Shi would continue to live alone, and also filled with hate, since even if he killed Yu Yan, his hate would never be gone, because he still continues to love the general, and remembers him. So, as long as he loves his general, he will continue to live in hate." He explained.

"He won't." Yi Bing spoke. "Shou Ji won't not return. He will definitely return." He said.

Huo Ling didn't speak.

"The Collection Department knows everyone's birth dates and death dates. So, the Afterlife Department won't miss Yu Yan's death day, since the interstellar world would definitely be fixed." Yi Bing spoke, then suddenly made a pause.

"What is it?" Huo Ling asked.

"… nothing." Yi Bing answered. But, there is something. And it was Shi Jiu's soul. How coincidental it is. Shi Jiu went to this world and met Shou Ji, who died and arrived in the Stable World to meet Shi Jiu…

"Yi Bing." Huo Ling, who has the same thoughts as Yi Bing, spoke.

"… you can tell me now." Yi Bing permitted him to speak.

"Shi Jiu reincarnated to this world and then met Shou Ji, who was a general, and fell in love with each other. But, Yu Yan wanted to break them apart out of jealousy. Then, he was reborn, and he prevented the two to be closer to each other." Huo Ling spoke. "But, since Shou Ji and Shi Jiu… wrong, wrong. I mean Wei Shi. Since the general and Wei Shi were successfully torn apart, there is no need for Yu Yan to kill Shou Ji, right?" he asked. "Wei Shi thinks that because Yu Yan likes him, then he wanted to kill Shou Ji. But, I think this isn't as simple as this could be." He frowned.

"Reine said that Yu Yan belongs to the enemies and killed Shou Ji for both personal and business matter, since he is cooperating with them." Yi Bing said.

"… is this really is it?" Huo Ling asked with his brows knitted. "Why do I feel that there is something else… Yu Yan definitely has another reason…" he muttered. "And… Wei Shi should know it, too, since he remembers their first life!" he said and looked at Yi Bing.

Yi Bing's face turned serious.

Suddenly, Huo Ling froze when a thought flashed in his mind. "Yi Bing…" he called as he looked at the other who is also thinking the same thought. "How did Wei Shi and Yu Yan die in their previous life?" he asked.