Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 213

 

| PN | Past Life | Extra 3 | 213

Qi Chao's birthday is coming up soon.

It happens to fall on a weekday.

The family’s puppets originally planned to take a day off, but Qi Chao refused.

"It’s just a birthday, isn’t it? You can celebrate with me when you get back in the evening." Qi Chao shared the same birthday in his original life. 

Since he didn’t place much importance on his own birthday, he naturally didn’t want the kids to take time off just for him. "Brother Shen and I will go to work in Ganfen District during the day, and we’ll have dinner together at home in the evening."

Shen Yuxi, who loved clinging to Qi Chao, also didn’t want the puppets interrupting their time together.

Shen Yuxi casually glanced at Agu, who had been watching the commotion, Shen Yuxi’s glance immediately made Agu shiver. Sensing the mood, Agu promptly said, "Alright, alright, Agu is super busy anyway. I’ll make sure to come back early to help Dad after I finish my work."

As he spoke, he patted Moss’s shoulder, signaling him to open a spatial vortex quickly.

Moss, who also picked up on their father’s intentions, directly opened the vortex and stepped inside.

The other puppets didn’t persist either, though they repeatedly assured their dad they’d return early.

Qi Chao chuckled and nodded in agreement. After the children left, he slightly turned his head to look at Shen Yuxi, who was smiling faintly. Noticing Shen Yuxi’s puzzled expression as he looked back, Qi Chao didn’t say much. 

Instead, he reached out and took Shen Yuxi’s hand.

"Let’s go, Brother Shen. Time to head to Ganfen District."

"Alright."

Shen Yuxi knew Qi Chao had probably guessed his little trick. He gently rubbed the calluses on Qi Chao's fingertips with his own, he suddenly let out a soft laugh, his good mood evident to anyone watching.

"By the way, Qi Yang is still sleeping upstairs. I'll go tell him. Brother Shen, wait for me here," Qi Chao said as he dashed upstairs.

Shen Yuxi smiled warmly on the surface, but inwardly, he clicked his tongue. He had forgotten about Qi Yang, the potential third wheel. Knowing Qi Yang's personality, it was entirely possible he’d disrupt their time together, bringing unnecessary annoyance.

For Qi Chao's birthday that comes once a year, Shen Yuxi absolutely wouldn’t tolerate the presence of a third wheel.

As soon as Qi Chao’s figure disappeared upstairs, Shen Yuxi pulled out his light-brain and sent a message to Qi Feng and Qi Ye.

[Got it, Brother Shen. No problem.]

Qi Feng and Qi Ye replied almost immediately. Both had the day off from work and were currently lounging lazily in the old family house. When they saw Shen Yuxi's message, they straightened up with a start.

The two often came to their eldest brother’s house for free meals and held Shen Yuxi in high regard. Upon learning that their eldest brother’s adopted sibling was at the house, they promptly agreed to take Qi Yang out for the day.

[Don’t worry, Brother Shen. Qi Ye and I will definitely take good care of him!] Qi Feng replied, adding cheerfully, [You just enjoy your quality time with my brother!]

Both of them remembered that today was their brother’s birthday.

[Alright.] Shen Yuxi replied, thoughtfully adding, [Come back home for dinner tonight.]

Seeing this warm, family-oriented message, Qi Feng and Qi Ye couldn’t help but feel delighted. [Got it, Brother Shen!]

“Brother Shen, who are you talking to?”

When Qi Chao came downstairs with his younger brother, he saw Shen Yuxi looking at his light-brain as if chatting with someone.

Shen Yuxi put away his light-brain and said gently, “I was talking to Qi Feng and Qi Ye. I invited them to come over for dinner tonight.”

“They’ve already agreed. When they heard Qi Yang was here, they even said they wanted to take him out for a bit of fun.”

As Shen Yuxi spoke, he tilted his head slightly and gave Qi Yang a warm smile. “Yangyang, do you want to go?”

Qi Yang: …

Those two? There’s no way they’d offer to take me out for fun without a reason. It was definitely this guy’s idea!

“Go on.”

Qi Chao was completely unaware of the subtle undercurrents between the two. He patted his younger brother on the back. "You were just saying you wanted to come to the shop with me. But since Qi Feng and Qi Ye want to take you out, you should go with them."

The smile on Shen Yuxi’s face didn’t waver.

He knew this would happen.

Qi Yang pursed his lips but ultimately didn’t refuse and agreed to go out with the two brothers.

This guy has been with my brother for years, and he still cares so much about their alone time. 

Qi Yang thought about giving Shen Yuxi a hard time, but since it was his brother’s birthday, there was no need to ruin the mood.

With his younger brother’s plans settled, Qi Chao drove the airship out of the garage and headed to Ganfen District with Shen Yuxi.

Today, they needed to treat a C-grade puppet. The client had been waiting in line for two months. Qi Chao had been working on the puppet for about a week, and if all went well, it would be fully healed today.

"After Guai Ni leaves, let’s stop by the trial grounds," Qi Chao said.

Guai Ni was the name of the C-grade puppet.

Qi Chao calculated the days. It had been two weeks since his last visit to the trial grounds. By now, most of the deformed puppets there had been repaired and sent to help the Alliance. 

However, some remained stubbornly guarding the mother tree. He made it a habit to check on them every so often.

"Alright," Shen Yuxi agreed.

Shen Yuxi had no objections. He turned his head slightly, gazing at Qi Chao.

The only puppet master capable of repairing all puppets, Qi Chao’s existence was undeniably invaluable.

Every time they worked in Ganfen District, Qi Chao would use the abilities of the Mother Tree to disguise himself, Shen Yuxi, and even their airship. This included blocking all electronic devices to ensure their identities remained hidden.

From Shen Yuxi’s perspective, Qi Chao appeared to have the face of a stranger due to the disguise. 

But even if he wasn’t familiar with this appearance, when he met Qi Chao’s eyes, he would still feel—this was his Qi Chao.

“What’s wrong?”

Qi Chao noticed Shen Yuxi staring at him in silence and chuckled.

“Nothing.”

Shen Yuxi smiled softly. Why he smiled, only he knew.

The two soon arrived at the shop.

Guai Ni and his guardian were staying at the neighboring inn. After learning that the puppet master and his partner had returned, they quickly tidied up and headed over to meet them.

Guai Ni’s guardian, Beo, was an elderly man nearing 200 years of age. The inhabitants of Blue Star generally had a long lifespan; 200 years marked about three-quarters of a typical lifespan. 

People of Beo’s age often needed companionship the most. Unfortunately, Beo’s only family member had passed away just three years prior.

Now, Guai Ni was Beo’s only remaining family.

“Thank you both,” Beo said as he gently stroked Guai Ni’s head with a loving gaze. His noble upbringing imbued his every movement with the poise of a nobel. “If not for you, Guai Ni might not be here anymore.”

C-grade puppets had relatively short lifespans.

Even with meticulous care, they rarely lived beyond ten years.

Originally, Beo had no intention of adopting a puppet through the Alliance. For one, the Alliance maintained strict oversight of puppets, and he, being advanced in age, lacked the energy to comply with their demands. 

Another reason was that he feared growing attached to a puppet only to face the heartbreak of losing another family member.

Yet, fate intervened, and he ended up adopting a puppet. Over time, Beo found himself repeatedly grateful for that decision. 

Guai Ni brought joy and companionship to his lonely later years, giving him a taste of the happiness of doting on a grandchild.

As these thoughts passed through his mind, Beo once again expressed his gratitude to the two before him.

One wore a superman mask, while the other, though unmasked, had a strangely forgettable face—so much so that when he looked away,  it was difficult to recall his appearance.

After all this time, the identities of the two had remained undiscovered, a testament to their effective means of self-preservation.

He felt relieved about this—if these two could protect themselves so well, it meant his child could rely on them for a long time.

After paying the fee, the elderly man left with his puppet. The next appointment for puppet treatment was scheduled for the following day.

Shen Yuxi changed the sign at the door to "Resting" and then entered the operating room. Qi Chao was inside, sanitizing precision knives with alcohol.

“Brother Shen, just wait for me a little longer. We’ll head out soon.”

“Alright,” Shen Yuxi replied, walking over to Qi Chao’s side to help him clean up.

The crisp clinking of the precision knives created a harmonious rhythm, blending seamlessly with the quiet atmosphere. 

As Qi Chao glanced over, he noticed Shen Yuxi’s fair fingers gently placing the silver tools into their case. The movement was simple yet inexplicably sensual.

When the workspace was spotless, Qi Chao pulled Shen Yuxi’s hand into his own and began wiping his fingers with a moist towelette, meticulously cleaning every nook and cranny.

Shen Yuxi quietly watched Qi Chao’s actions, his gaze softening considerably. Within his eyes shimmered emotions born only between lovers—deep affection that seemed to drown anyone who dared to meet his gaze.

Qi Chao couldn’t resist. He lowered his head and kissed Shen Yuxi’s fingers gently before pressing his hand against the tabletop. One arm wrapped protectively around Shen Yuxi’s waist as Qi Chao leaned in to place a kiss at the corners of Shen Yuxi’s faintly reddened eyes.

The best part of working with Shen Yuxi was being able to have moments like this after finishing their tasks—kissing freely without the fear of interruptions.

Originally, Qi Chao had intended for the kiss to be brief and innocent. But just as he was about to release Shen Yuxi’s hand and fix the disheveled collar of his partner’s clothes, two soft arms slid up and draped over his shoulders.

Startled, Qi Chao heard Shen Yuxi’s voice, tinged with a smile, near his ear:

“Qi Chao, happy birthday.”

Shen Yuxi’s voice was as gentle as spring breeze, perfectly matching his personality. But when deliberately lowered, it carried a sensual undertone that seemed to tease without effort. 

The sound alone made Qi Chao’s throat tighten.

“Mm.”

Qi Chao licked his slightly dry lips, trying to suppress the rising heat within him. 

Yet his Shen Yuxi seemed blissfully unaware of the precarious mood, keeping his arms looped over Qi Chao’s shoulders. 

Occasionally, he leaned in for quick kisses, the curve of his smiling eyes as captivating as ever—no matter how many times Qi Chao saw it, he found himself falling all over again.

“Brother Shen, we should get going.”

Qi Chao, despite being tempted by the situation, he didn’t want Shen Yuxi to feel uncomfortable here. They had never indulged themselves at this place, and Qi Chao certainly wasn’t going to start now. 

He coughed lightly, trying to ease the tension as he moved to remove Shen Yuxi’s arms from his shoulders.

“Alright.”

Shen Yuxi raised an eyebrow slightly, withdrawing his arms. However, instead of stepping away as Qi Chao had expected, he slowly unbuttoned the first button of his shirt, revealing the elegant curve of his collarbone.

Qi Chao: …

“I didn’t want Qi Yang to come with us earlier,” Shen Yuxi remarked, his smile deepening as he tilted his head slightly. The movement made his neck appear even more slender and delicate. 

He leaned casually on the tabletop, his posture seemingly nonchalant yet laced with an irresistible allure. His golden hair and sapphire eyes shone like those of an angel tempting someone to fall into sin.

“Dear, can you guess why?”

Qi Chao: …

As an experienced man, Qi Chao might have initially missed the hint. But with Shen Yuxi making his intentions this clear, if Qi Chao still didn’t pick up on the subtext, he’d hardly deserve to be called a man.

“Brother Shen, your little schemes are absolutely adorable.”

Qi Chao pulled his partner into his arms, unable to resist placing a playful bite on Shen Yuxi’s neck.

Shen Yuxi could tell from the tone of Qi Chao’s voice that he wasn’t upset at all—in fact, he seemed quite pleased. There was a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

The longer he spent with Qi Chao, the more Shen Yuxi realized just how gentle and accepting he truly was. No matter how dark or selfish Shen Yuxi could be, Qi Chao would always embrace him wholeheartedly.

This unconditional love had made Shen Yuxi more and more addicted to it, and he became more willing to tell him these harmless little tricks to bring them even closer.

“Do you dislike it?”

“No, I quite like this gift.”

Qi Chao chuckled, feeling a bit light-headed from the sweetness of the moment.

Their gazes met, and the air between them grew warmer. The temperature in the room steadily rose, and the desk that had been tidied earlier now seemed like a small blessing for what was unfolding.

Originally, Qi Chao had planned to accompany Shen Yuxi to the training grounds, but by the time everything was wrapped up, it was already four in the afternoon.

“Brother Shen, how about we just head back?”

Qi Chao thought for a moment, considering Shen Yuxi’s well-being, and decided that going to the training grounds could wait until tomorrow—it wasn’t urgent.

“No need.”

Shen Yuxi rested his forehead against Qi Chao’s shoulder, absently playing with his fingers. His voice was a bit hoarse, carrying a languid tone. “I’m fine.”

Qi Chao gently stroked Shen Yuxi’s soft blond hair, pondering for a second before he seemed to come to a decision and agreed.

The aircraft started and then stopped.

When they stepped out, several puppets emerged from the woods, their heads popping out as they heard the noise and rushed over.

Upon seeing that it was Qi Chao and Shen Yuxi, the formerly deformed puppets showed visible joy, eagerly rushing towards them.

They were incredibly fast. Within the protective range of the mother tree, even puppets with lower levels could still be quite strong. This was one of the reasons Qi Chao had always felt comfortable leaving them in the training grounds.

In the blink of an eye, the two of them were surrounded by puppets. To these puppets, Shen Yuxi was the human who had saved them, who gave them a place to belong. 

Qi Chao’s aura, similar to the mother tree, was the first to make them feel love from a human.

They adored both of them deeply.

Qi Chao asked the puppets about their recent conditions, and upon learning that they were all doing well, he felt relieved. He then told the puppets to continue with their own tasks and, hand in hand with Shen Yuxi, they made their way toward the mother tree.

"Are we going to see the mother tree?"

Shen Yuxi tilted his head slightly, glancing at Qi Chao.

At first, he had thought that after Qi Chao asked about the puppets' well-being, they would leave.

Qi Chao nodded, taking Shen Yuxi's hand. The days were getting shorter as winter approached, and the darkness came early. The training grounds were filled with trees, casting everything in an already dim light. "Brother Shen, be careful of your footing."

"Mm." Shen Yuxi leaned closer to Qi Chao.

They walked hand in hand without speaking, the silence of the night enveloping them. The only sound was the crunch of dried branches and leaves beneath their feet.

After what felt like an unknown amount of time, they reached the towering, camouflaged mother tree. It was far brighter here than outside, with clusters of green light floating around them like fireflies, surrounding them in a welcoming, affectionate embrace.

"We’re here."

Qi Chao released Shen Yuxi’s hand and noticed a few leaves had fallen onto Shen Yuxi's shoulder. He gently brushed them off, then cupped Shen Yuxi's face, his touch tender. "Brother Shen, are you tired?"

“Not tired,” Shen Yuxi replied with a soft smile, his eyes curved in amusement.

They stood before the mother tree, watching the green light orbs drift around them. After a moment, Qi Chao’s voice broke the silence, asking, “Brother Shen, can you tell me about the nightmares you’ve had these past few days?”

“What?”

Shen Yuxi stiffened, turning to look at Qi Chao, confused about how he had noticed.

He was certain he didn’t make a sound when having nightmares, and he had never brought them up after waking up.

In truth, Qi Chao had noticed this three days ago, but it seemed that Shen Yuxi didn’t want to talk about it. 

So, Qi Chao had kept quiet, waiting for Shen Yuxi to bring it up himself.

However, what surprised him was that Shen Yuxi’s nightmares seemed more troubling than he had anticipated. If they weren’t, Shen Yuxi wouldn’t have made the gesture he did earlier. 

While Shen Yuxi had spun it into a birthday gift, Qi Chao still sensed that something was off. He gently reached out to touch Shen Yuxi’s face, his lips pressed into a thin line, his deep voice carrying a subtle, magnetic force.

“Brother Shen, what did you dream about?”

He studied Shen Yuxi’s silence, then paused, his voice softening, “Or is it something you can’t talk about?”

Shen Yuxi felt the warmth of Qi Chao’s palm on his cheek, and his lashes fluttered slightly. It was as though he was drawn back into the repeating nightmares from the past three nights.

It was a dream without Qi Chao.

In the dream, he repeatedly relived events from long ago — the bloodshed in the trial grounds, the puppets falling one by one. Shen Yuxi had always believed that he didn’t care about the puppets.

But when he truly saw them torn apart, he realized that he was wrong.

Moss, Ayu, Chi Yao, Lan Luo — all died at the hands of humans.

And Agu… Agu died by his own hand.

He had taken the last core of the Mother Tree, and no one knew what Agu planned to do with it. 

But the destruction of the Mother Tree meant that everything — every plan — was ruined. And so, Agu died.

A lot happened in the dream. In the end, Shen Yuxi fused with the core of the Mother Tree, destroying the entire world.

That was not a nightmare.

It was simply the previous life without Qi Chao's presence. From the early days of San Yue dreams to Xing Yu, everything pointed to the same conclusion — without Qi Chao, Shen Yuxi’s fate would have been that way.

Shen Yuxi was not a weak person. In fact, he had already suspected his own fate a long time ago, so the nightmare didn’t affect him much.

Of course, that was his subjective view.

Objectively, after waking up these past few days, he couldn’t help but lean close to Qi Chao, confirming the warmth of his body and his presence.

Perhaps it was this very detail that made Qi Chao notice something was off. Shen Yuxi replayed the past few days in his mind. His eyelashes trembled slightly as he paused for a moment before speaking in a low voice, “I dreamt of the original ending.”

As he spoke, his pale fingers slid through Qi Chao’s, tightly gripping his hand. His tone seemed normal, though.

"Don't worry, it's all in the past now."

He gave a faint smile, his blue eyes soft — that was Shen Yuxi's true thought. But to fully shake off the lingering effects, it might take a few more days.

Qi Chao, upon hearing about the dream, kept his gaze fixed on Shen Yuxi. He knew Shen Yuxi was speaking honestly. Thinking about the fragmented ending of the previous life, Qi Chao pressed his lips together, then looked up at the green glowing dots floating in the air.

Like fireflies, these glowing specks scattered across the branches, almost like distant stars within reach.

“Do you know why Agu betrayed you, Brother Shen?”

Although the dream didn’t clarify it, Shen Yuxi had some guesses. Perhaps Agu wanted to stop his plan. Shen Yuxi’s gaze grew dark, but it wasn’t out of sadness; after all, he understood Agu, the puppet he had created, very well.

Agu was selfish, but also the one that understood him the most.

However, since Agu had betrayed him, he would have to face the consequences of that betrayal.

Qi Chao noticed that Shen Yuxi had lowered his head, silent. After a moment of thought, he pulled him into an embrace.

“At that time, he wanted to leave,” Qi Chao paused before continuing, “and take you with him.”

“Agu was very clever. After realizing you had no intention of leaving, he planned to steal the core of the mother tree, so that you wouldn’t stay in the trial ground anymore.”

Qi Chao gently caressed Shen Yuxi's cool cheek, his touch soft and comforting.

 This is a fragment left in the mother tree's memory. In fact, if the mother tree itself disagrees, Agu cannot take the core away.

"At that time, the core of the mother tree was already on the verge of shattering. It had been watching everything unfold. In its memory, at first, you only considered the trial ground plan as your mentor’s dying wish. It was only after the successive deaths of the children that you became increasingly entangled in it."

“The mother tree also wanted you to leave,” Qi Chao added, his voice serious as he moved his fingers away from Shen Yuxi’s cheek.

Qi Chao continued, "That was my thought back then too.”

The mother tree's core, in its final moments, absorbed the residual force of the broken rules through the shattering dimension, and it was reborn as a human. 

 After that, he came to this world with the help of the General Administration of Craftsmen under the rules, and successfully changed the original fate.

However, all these are in the past.

Everything that happened in the last life only exists in nothingness.

"Our meeting was destined."

This is the only certain thing in the void. Qi Chao gently held Shen Yuxi's fingertips with his warm palm, focusing on looking at his Shen Yuxi, and said with a smile.

Shen Yuxi trembled slightly upon hearing these words.

The reason nightmares are nightmares is because he fears Qi Chao's disappearance. These words seemed to poke at the deepest fear in his heart.

 "No matter what happens, I'll stay by your side," Qi Chao leaned in and softly kissed the corner of Shen Yuxi's eye. His voice was magnetic. "So, don't be afraid."

Shen Yuxi couldn't help but clench his fist, a more relieved smile appearing in his eyes.

He should have guessed Qi Chao's purpose in bringing him here. Qi Chao didn't comfort him, only saying two sentences, but they felt more useful than any comfort.

"With you here, I'm not afraid."

Shen Yuxi's blue eyes curved slightly as he draped his arm over Qi Chao's shoulder, leaning in with a sticky, intimate gesture.

They kissed under the countless glowing lights in the sky.

In the end, it was Qi Chao who pulled away first. In Shen Yuxi's confused gaze, Qi Chao let out a soft laugh, raising a hand to wipe the corner of Shen Yuxi's mouth. "We can't kiss anymore, the kids are coming to find us."

 Hearing this, Shen Yuxi turned to look in the distance.

 The fluctuations of the space vortex grew stronger, and in the next moment, a group of puppets surged out from within.

 "I found you!"

 "Father and Dad are here!"

 "Father, Dad, let's go, it's almost time for the birthday dinner!"

 "We came back early on purpose!"

 The puppets chattered excitedly.

Lan Luo and Li Bai were the happiest, Qiu Qiu also mixed in among them, muttering to herself. 

Agu was not shy about causing trouble, grinning as he leaned over and poked Xiang Yue, urging him to move aside.

 Chi Yao and Ayu occasionally added a word or two, while Xuan Jian and Shuang Jian, though silent, kept their gazes fixed on Qi Chao and Shen Yuxi.

Moss and Xing Yu stood beside the vortex, seemingly waiting for the two adults to hurry over.

A hint of smile appeared in Qi Chao's eyes as he stood up, extending his hand toward Shen Yuxi and gently pulling him up.

The two of them walked hand in hand toward their family.

 This was their true reality, one that belonged only to them.

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