Top edge chapter 76
Reconciliation with the Past
Rescue helicopters entered the Life Tree, and Shen Siwei heard the resounding cheers. The area that was struck by the pulse weapon and left a large pit was surrounded by people, including major news media. Helicopters carrying reporters circled around the rescue helicopters, and Malken’s projection appeared in the news footage, filled with news about Shen Siwei and Klet.
“Boss, are you really not considering taking over Miller’s position?” Malken browsed through the news. “What a pity.”
“What’s there to regret?” Klet said. “If you like it, you can have it.”
“How can I have it?” Malken murmured softly, then asked, “So, what do you guys plan to do next?”
“Haven’t thought about it,” Klet said, looking at Shen Siwei beside him. “Ask him.”
After transferring to the military aircraft on the second floor, Shen Siwei and Klet returned to the top floor of Miller’s residence.
Amor was locked in his own bedroom, guarded both inside and outside. At this moment, Rita happened to come out of the bedroom and stopped in her tracks upon seeing Shen Siwei and Klet. She said, “Captain Shen, I’ve heard about your situation.”
Now the news is reporting the causes and consequences of last night’s power outage. It was hard for Rita to be unaware of it.
Shen Siwei nodded slightly as a greeting and asked, “Is Amor doing okay?”
“He doesn’t want to talk to me,” Rita said. “You can try, Captain Shen.”
After saying that, Rita left the room with her maid, as if she didn’t want to spend too much energy on Amor. It made sense, as there were still many things waiting for her to handle in the house. The fact that she came to visit Amor already fulfilled her duty.
The lift door opened, and Shen Siwei dismissed the guards in the room.
Amor, half lying on the bed, withdrew his gaze from the window and moved his lips slightly. “You’re here, Captain Shen.”
It seemed like he had already expected Shen Siwei to appear.
“How’s your health?” Shen Siwei walked straight to the bedside, while Klet boredly went to the bookshelf covering the entire wall.
“You shouldn’t have saved me,” Amor said calmly, without any emotion in his eyes. “Or maybe your intention was to let me continue living in pain.”
“You’re thinking too much,” Shen Siwei said lightly. “Saving people is my instinct.”
Amor lowered his eyes slightly. The morning sunlight illuminated his profile, revealing the faint trembling of his eyelashes. When he spoke again, there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. “Did I do something wrong, Captain Shen?”
“It’s your own choice, and no one has the right to judge that.”
“But when I look at you, I feel like I did something wrong.”
Having never experienced the pain of losing a loved one, Shen Siwei knew he had no right to speak. All he could do was take responsibility because it was he who had advised Amor to vent his hatred.
“What will happen next?” Amor lifted his chin and looked at Shen Siwei.
“According to the law, you will be exiled indefinitely from the Life Tree.”
“Is that so?” Amor seemed surprised.
Most criminals wouldn’t want to become refugees, but judging by Amor’s expression, leaving the Life Tree seemed like a form of liberation in his eyes.
Amor chuckled self-deprecatingly. “So, by killing my father and brother, I finally embrace true freedom.”
Shen Siwei didn’t know how to evaluate that matter. He had to admit that he sympathized with Amor, but Amor’s actions had indeed gone too far.
“When I leave the Life Tree,” Amor continued, “if I were to commit suicide again, Captain Shen, you won’t be able to save me, right?”
“That’s your business,” Shen Siwei replied.
“I will try to live on. After all, I shouldn’t waste your kindness,” Amor paused and let out a sigh. “But the final outcome might still be the same.”
In other words, he could hold on for a while longer, but in the end, he would likely end his own life.
Shen Siwei couldn’t help but furrow his brows slightly. “Time will heal everything. You don’t have to be so pessimistic.”
Although he claimed not to care, Shen Siwei couldn’t ignore it.
“You don’t understand, Captain Shen.” Amor shifted his gaze to Klet. “You have someone you love by your side. How could you know my pain?”
“Just like you do,” Klet, who was on the other side, threw away the book in his hand and came to Shen Siwei’s side. He said to Amor, “Have you lost a loved one?”
Amor pursed his lips, displeasure evident on his face. “Your loved one is right beside you. It seems like you don’t have the right to say anything to me.”
The word “dramatic” was written all over Klet’s face. Shen Siwei was afraid he would say it out loud, so he quickly said, “You can find something to divert your attention.”
“Like what?” Amor asked.
“Now the Life Tree is facing the establishment of a new order. Laizhe, the leader of the Nightingales, happens to need assistance. If you’re willing, you can propose your ideas for the new society to him.”
“…Ideas for the new society?” Amor’s expression suddenly became animated.
“Yes, isn’t that your expertise?” Shen Siwei remembered Amor mentioning in his diary how much he wanted to change this distorted society. Perhaps his vacant emotions could be filled through a career.
“But,” Amor hesitated, “I will be exiled from the Life Tree.”
“Do you remember Z City in the Western District? You can have your office there.”
Amor fell into contemplation, as if he was envisioning scenes of the future. Seeing his expression, Shen Siwei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew he had persuaded Amor.
After a moment, Amor looked back at Shen Siwei and said with a reconciliatory tone, “Thank you, Captain Shen.”
“He’s so dramatic.” Coming out of Amor’s room, Klet had an expression of wanting to vent but didn’t. “It’s one thing to feel pain, but he has to keep talking about it.”
“It’s better to express it than to keep it inside and feel uncomfortable,” Shen Siwei said.
“But it’s not cool to constantly talk about it.”
Shen Siwei chuckled, slightly quickening his pace. Speaking to himself, he said, “Longing for someone is truly painful. It feels like I’ve been…”
“Shen Siwei.” Klet quickly caught up with Shen Siwei’s pace, interrupting his words. “Did you read my message?”
Shen Siwei continued, “Longing for someone is truly painful. It feels like I’ve been… Oh, never mind.”
“You stop right there.” Klet grabbed Shen Siwei’s wrist. However, at that moment, a servant happened to pass by in the corridor. He barely held back his words and only asked in an annoyed tone after the servant left, “How could you sneak a peek at my message?”
“What do you mean by sneak a peek?” Shen Siwei said with a smile. “You clearly asked me to read it.”
“I only asked you to read Amor’s message.”
“You wrote it in the public message book, so isn’t it meant to be read by people?” Shen Siwei said. “Who said it’s not cool to talk about pain?”
Klet moved his lips, returning Shen Siwei’s words, “It’s better to express it than to keep it inside and feel uncomfortable.”
Shen Siwei pinched Klet’s cheek. “You learn fast.”
“Can’t I be in pain?” Klet held Shen Siwei’s hand, dissatisfied. “Do you know what I went through all those years?”
“I don’t know. Tell me about it.” Shen Siwei held Klet’s hand in return, intertwining their fingers. “We have plenty of time now, anyway.”
The matters of the Miller family were handled by Rita, and Klet had no intention of getting involved or worrying about it.
Things were progressing smoothly with the Nightingales. The national referendum would take place in two days. Although everyone in the Life Tree knew what the outcome of the referendum would be, the procedures had to be followed.
The higher-ups of Marg seemed to have disappeared from the media, no longer making public statements. It seemed like they had adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards the impending changes.
Everything was slowly getting better, except for the lingering old condition on Shen Siwei’s body.
“The Spider Capsule can also solve the problem of moving around . Are you sure you want to undergo surgery?”
Back in the pristine laboratory, it felt like returning to the starting point. Klet crossed his arms in front of his chest, his back turned to Dr. Chen who was busy at the operating table. He said to Shen Siwei, “You know I can’t bear the consequences if the surgery fails.”
“The Spider Capsule is helpful, but it’s very uncomfortable.” Shen Siwei, wearing a loose surgical gown, held onto Klet’s clothes and sat on a swivel chair, rocking back and forth. “It feels like something is stuck in my throat, and I don’t want to feel like this forever.”
“Then how about wearing an oxygen mask?”
“Are you sure?” Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow. “Do you want it to be like last night?”
The previous night, they were in the middle of having sex when suddenly the Spider Capsule ran out of power, and Shen Siwei couldn’t breathe. Klet was halfway inside him and initially planned to give Shen Siwei artificial respiration while continuing, but Shen Siwei, suffocating, almost crushed him. He had no choice but to stop.
Klet frowned, clearly not wanting to experience that “tight agony” from last night again.
“Don’t worry, boss. Isn’t my mentor here watching?” Malken turned his head, lifting his chin and pointing at Dr. Chen. “If he dares to mess up, I’ll snap him in a minute.”
“But it won’t be your turn to do anything.” Laizhe leaned against the table.
Both of them were speaking without paying attention to their volume. Dr. Chen rubbed his cold neck weakly and said, “Everyone, why would I mess up? Captain Shen is my most proud creation. I cherish him more than anyone.”
Shen Siwei twitched his mouth. “…”
Klet’s face turned cold. “Shut up.”
Dr. Chen shrunk his neck and respectfully said to the old ghost sitting in the wheelchair, “Senior, shall we go through the procedure again?”
To prevent any possible network interruptions, Malken brought the old ghost to the third level of the Life Tree. With her personally overseeing it, the surgery was unlikely to go wrong.
“You can rest assured.” Shen Siwei pulled on Klet’s clothes again. “With all of you by my side, what could possibly go wrong?”
Klet let out a heavy sigh. “Indeed.”
After a pause, he added, “Once you’re better, I won’t spare you anymore.”
Shen Siwei smiled. “Once I’m better, it should be you begging me for mercy.”
Over the years, Shen Siwei had fallen into a deep sleep several times, but this time was different from before because he knew that when he woke up again, he would be greeted by a better world.