Chapter 162

162 Okay.... I won’t force you

However, when he got there, he didn’t find Zi Han. He only saw Li Ran struggling with a beast twice the size of the ones they had been fighting. It seemed this was more or less the main boss of the mission. On the screen, there was only one red dot left meaning this was the last beast they had to deal with.

“My signal got jammed and I couldn’t-,” he said as he punched the beast hard causing it to stagger a few steps backward.

Yi Chen pierced the back of the beast cutting through the hard skin at its spine and as it bellowed with its slimy spit flying everywhere It struggled to grasp the sword. “Where is ZI Han?”

Confused Li Ran pointed the muzzle of the gun at its forehead and as he pulled the trigger he answered, “I don’t know. I thought he was with you.”

“Shit,” muttered Yi Chen as he withdrew the blade. It was then that he recalled what happened in that alley. If Zi Han was triggered by this incident it would negatively impact him and mess with his emotions.

“Han Han... can you hear me?” he asked but still there was no response. It was then he heard the prompt he had been waiting for. The simulation faded and everything returned to nothingness.

Yi Chen saw Zi Han standing in place staring in the distance. He packed away his mech and called out,

Han Han!” but the youth didn’t respond.

It was as though his soul had left his body leaving behind an empty shell. Yi Chen was terribly worried.

.....

Zi Han still had his weapon drawn which meant he had to be careful while approaching him. Zi Han might be perceiving that everything is real.

Yi Chen’s steps slowed before he stood behind Zi Han. His hands that were about to touch Zi Han’s arms froze midair. Feeling a little panicked he breathed in and out deeply calming his mind. He took another step forward and exhaled deeply before whispering his name, “Han Han...,”

Zi Han who was still in a catatonic state felt an itchy feeling on his nape. Without any hesitation, he spun around and immediately pulled the trigger.

Yi Chen acted fast grabbing his wrist before pulling his arm upwards. The weapon was still in simulation mode. It seemed Zi Han hadn’t had the chance to change the mode.

Zi Han came back to his senses and his tense muscles relaxed. He involuntarily shivered as he stammered, “I, I.... I,” but Yi Chen didn’t let him continue. He slid his hand behind Zi Han’s neck and whispered,

“Shh, don’t talk.... At least not here.”

Li Ran rushed over and asked, “Is he okay?” in a low whisper. When he saw Zi Han’s red eyes and trembling lips he knew it wasn’t good.

“Go erase everything,” said Yi Chen and Li Ran nodded his head before rushing out of the simulator. As soon as Li Ran disappeared, Yi Chen lightly rubbed the back of Zi Han’s neck with his thumb while drawing him closer.

Zi Han wanted to push Yi Chen away but his body was weak at the moment. He could only say, “Don’t,” but Yi Chen didn’t listen.

How could he not understand Zi Han’s mind? Zi Han always had that charming smile on his face even when he was going through something. When the incident in the alley happened, he didn’t even want to talk about it afterward like he didn’t want anyone to see his vulnerable side.

He did the same thing again when they were inside the robot janitor’s closet station. They were discussing something serious but Zi Han always found a way to stir the conversation away and make one overlook the important issue at hand.

It was his fault back then. It was his fault for not recognizing the emotional shield that Zi Han put up around himself keeping everyone at arm’s length.

The incident in the alley obviously affected him but he didn’t talk to anyone about it. Yi Chen was even certain that he didn’t even speak to his family about it. Now that he knows Yi Chen planned to bring down that emotional wall. Only then can the two of them truly become closer.

“Did you change your shampoo?” asked Yi Chen as the scent of berries and cream assaulted his senses.

Wrapped in the warmth of Yi Chen’s embrace, Zi Han seemed to calm down a little. His lips twitched like he was hesitant to say something. After thinking it through for a second he said, “I borrowed my mum’s. Mine finished.”

Yi Chen smiled slightly before saying, “It smells nice.”

Zi Han pinched Yi Chen’s waist and said, “Stop being a pervert.”

Yi Chen bent the side of his body and Zi Han took the opportunity to escape.

“Don’t make a fuss... I am fine,” he said before turning to walk away.

This little episode was so embarrassing for Zi Han that he just wanted to leave the training room and forget everything that happened. He planned on repressing it again the same way he repressed every other emotion he didn’t want to see the light of day.

Ten minutes later Zi Han was sitting opposite Yi Chen with the atmosphere fairly tense. That’s because the two of them were at an impasse.

Yi Chen had asked Zi Han what happened in the simulator just now but Zi Han changed the subject without a second thought.

He just wanted a massage thus he asked Yi Chen to take him to his place. This matter could have been handled better on both fronts but these two were new at this and didn’t know how to compromise.

“I can do more than just massage your back. You can also talk to me about important things.... I thought we were friends now,” said Yi Chen trying to reason with him.

“Friends, yes but I don’t want to talk about it,” replied Zi Han his expression serious.

“Would you ever talk to me about it?” asked Yi Chen but he already knew the answer to that question. Zi Han’s friendship with him could only be considered skin deep and wouldn’t reach the heart.

He knew the answer but he sincerely hoped it would be different.

Zi Han thought it through before answering truthfully, “No.”

As though punched in the gut, Yi Chen lowered his head and ruffled his hair feeling a little flustered.

After a long period of awkward silence, he whispered, “Okay..... I won’t force you.”