Just looking at it made Qin Chu's heart sink.
Levy is very tired.
Qin Chu had a vague feeling about it before he fell asleep.
On the aircraft, he told Levi that he hoped Levi wouldn't care so much about whether he was happy or not, and that he wanted Levi to make him angry like before.
After disembarking from the aircraft, Levy did as instructed.
Adapting to another person's identity and life is exhausting enough, let alone in a situation with unknown risks. But Levi was even more exhausted than him, because Qin Chu could clearly sense that Levi really wanted to do everything he had ever done before.
Or rather, he was afraid he wouldn't do a good job.
Qin Chu thought that by making things clear, he could make Levi relax a little and care less about him. But now he realized that he had unknowingly put another layer of pressure on Levi, forcing Levi to pretend to be the person Qin Chu wanted on top of his own exhaustion.
Author's Note:
One of the world's unsolved mysteries: Why was Burke, a lieutenant general, stuck guarding the gate?
Levy was surprised to learn in this scene that Burke and Qin Chu had known each other for so long.
Later, Levy lost his memory and encountered Burke, who had been transferred to Roy Palace, for the first time in the real world.
After looking everyone up and down, Levy asked the butler: Where is the hottest place in the entire Royal Palace?
Butler: ...Outside the gate?
Levy looked at Burke: Did you hear that? Go stand up.
Burke: ...
#Although I don't remember you, I really dislike you#
#Even if you have amnesia, you'll still be jealous#
Chapter 134, The Sixth Story (18)
Without speaking or moving, Qin Chu even subconsciously maintained the deep, heavy breathing he would have been doing while asleep.
Levi would only show this tired look when Levi was asleep, with his back to him. If he found out Levi was awake, he would probably have to perk up and try to make Levi angry or happy.
Qin Chu was somewhat confused.
He didn't know what he could do to make Levy relax.
Based on his past experience, he knew he could only tell the truth. But he had already said it on the plane, which only put more pressure on Levy.
Besides this, Qin Chu couldn't think of any other way.
He didn't even want Levi to find out that he was awake and had witnessed this scene. If Levi found out, he would have to find an excuse to tell him that it was okay and that he wasn't very tired either.
With his eyelids slightly closed, Qin Chu felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety for the first time during a mission.
He used to have a clear understanding of each task and a clear attitude, and he would not have such emotions regardless of whether the situation was good or bad.
But this task is different.
In this virtual world that is just like reality, many things that concern him seem to keep popping up one after another.
Will Levi be able to adapt to his work and life? Will Levi get tired? What does the disappearance of their tattoos signify? Is Levi's hair turning black at the roots just a misreading?
Every little worry weighed on Qin Chu's mind, making it hard for him to breathe.
In addition to this, there is an even bigger crisis.
This crisis had been brewing since we entered this world, and now it has finally come to light in front of Qin Chu.
Lying in the dark cubicle, I listened to Levi's slightly heavy breathing outside.
For the first time, Qin Chu began to reflect on her relationship with Levi.
Was it right for him to be with Levy?
Previously, Qin and Chu had never considered this issue, nor had they had any way of thinking about it.
But now, seeing Levi become like this because of his mission, even he, who knew nothing about emotions, began to ponder.
Why is Levy with him?
Qin Chu knew Levi as a hedonist, and the reason for being with him would be simple: being with him would bring joy. But is Levi happy now?
Is he happy that Levi has become like this?
Her fingers unconsciously clenched, wrinkling the blanket beneath her.
But... I don't want to break up.
Even so, he didn't want to separate from Levi.
The wound on the back of his head started to throb again. Qin Chu endured it for a while, but eventually fell asleep.
Qin Chu woke up again in a daze and saw Levi push open the partition door and crawl in.
"Did I wake you up?" Levy asked.
Qin Chu shook his head.
"Does the wound still hurt?" Levi reached out and touched Qin Chu's hair, his voice low. "I'm sorry for making you go through these things you shouldn't have had to go through."
"No," Qin Chu denied.
He instinctively felt that Levi was wrong and that Levi shouldn't apologize to him, but he didn't know exactly how to say it.
Qin Chu never thought there was anything wrong with being quiet, but at this moment he suddenly began to envy others who were eloquent and able to clearly organize their thoughts and express them.
Levi stared at his furrowed brows for a moment, thinking he was uncomfortable, and stepped back: "I'll go sleep outside, the sofa is much softer than the bed."
Qin Chu instinctively grabbed him: "It's not like you can't sleep, why are you going out?"
Levi looked down at Qin Chu's fingers gripping his clothes tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"Okay, I'll stay with you." He nodded, squeezed Qin Chu's hand, and lay down again.
But fearing he might crush Qin Chu, he left most of the space in the cubicle open and lay down on his side against the door.
Qin Chu could sense that Levi was somewhat reserved.
He suddenly felt a pang of regret.
The cubicle wasn't big; it was barely enough for the two of them to sleep. Levi was worried about his injury, and knowing they were both lying in the cubicle, neither of them would get a good night's sleep.
Logically speaking, letting Levy sit on the sofa would be the best option.
In the past, Qin Chu would have kicked the person off without a second thought, but now he subconsciously kept the person, creating a situation where both of them are in an uncomfortable state.
He always felt that something was wrong, yet he also felt that the answer was right there on the tip of his tongue, ready to be spoken, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure it out.
Qin Chu felt like he and Levi were trapped.
They sensed a crisis and neither wanted to be separated, so they instinctively tried to hold on to each other, fearing that letting go would lead to the worst possible outcome.
But because they were held too tightly, the crisis worsened step by step.
It's like an unsolvable cycle; they can only watch each other fall deeper into crisis.
When Qin Chu woke up the next morning, after a night's sleep, he could feel that his wounds had almost healed.
He opened his eyes and received a message from Noah.
The cubicle door was still half open. Qin Chu pushed the door open and got out of bed, subconsciously looking for Levi's figure.
There was no one in the room, but some noises came from the exit.
Qin Chu walked towards the door and was stunned when he saw the person sitting on the ground by the door.
The person sitting was Levi, his hair was half-loose, still fluffy and curly, but his golden brown hair looked like it had been dyed with ink, presenting a jet-black color.
He sat on the threshold, his back view giving off a feeling that Qin Chu found completely unfamiliar.
It wasn't entirely unfamiliar, but rather carried a deep sense of familiarity, like meeting a friend you hadn't seen in a long time.
Qin Chu instinctively called out, "Levy!"
"Hmm?" Levi turned to look at him.
The moment Levi turned his head, the heavy ink faded away, and what appeared before Qin Chu was still a bright golden brown, gleaming in the morning light.
One time it might have been a mistake, but this time it definitely couldn't have been.
Qin Chu opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to ask a question.
Levy waved the red thorn flower in his hand at him and laughed, "Although you're unwilling to tell me, I still know what it means."
These words interrupted Qin Chu's attempt to speak.
Qin Chu paused, unsure whether he should ask.
Levi looked up at him again, twirling the flower branch in her hand twice: "The most sincere love. I didn't realize, General Qin, that you liked me so much?"
Under Levi's teasing gaze, Qin Chu nodded: "Yes."
His straightforward answer surprised Levy for a moment.
Qin Chu stepped forward and sat down next to Levi, turning to look at him and saying, "Noah sent me a message."
"How's the situation?" Levy asked.
"He said we are very close to the location of the main brain's core," Qin Chu said.
“No wonder this scene lasted for so long,” Levy sighed.
Qin Chu nodded, looked up at the sky, and said, "It's almost... over."
This statement carried a hint of a sigh; Qin Chu was serious.
He had never looked forward to the end of a mission so much.
Levi nodded. He hesitated for a moment, about to say something, when his communicator rang.
After a two-second pause, he answered the call, and an anxious voice came through: "Something's happened! A fight's broken out! Qin Chu, come quick!"
Levi asked for the details and the location, then hung up the phone, stood up, and sighed: "Something's come up over there, I'll go take care of it, you go and rest for a while."
"No need," Qin Chu stood up as well. "I'll go with you."