【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 355 [Empire] Connecting Our Past and Future

After completing the mission and exiting the mission hall, the midday sun mercilessly beat down on the ground, a wave of heat hitting me, and the air was filled with a subtle smell of dust. I squinted my eyes slightly, feeling the scorching heat, and for a moment I felt dazed.

Today on the capital planet, the sunlight of the urban environment simulation system carries a sense of oppression that makes people silent.

It seems that it is not warmth, but a silent oppression, constantly reminding you that even nature will not tolerate too much relaxation.

I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head. The road beneath me was as crowded as ever. Surrounding me was the bustling commercial district, filled with advertisements for various businesses, fast-paced pedestrians, flashing neon lights, and fleeting hovercars. This was one of the empire's core cities, a place where money, power, and lust intertwined. Everyone seemed to have a role assigned by the system and would not stop.

"How's it going? Where are you going?" Nightingale's voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to look at him and found that he was still as calm as ever, as if the heat and noise of the city had no effect on him at all.

I shook my head. "I haven't thought about it yet. Let's go for a walk first."

We walked side by side in the crowd, and I felt that Nightingale seemed to be troubled, but he didn't show it. Although he never said it, I could feel the occasional glint in his eyes, like some unspoken emotion, lingering gently between us.

Perhaps because the mission had been completed, what happened next seemed to become extremely calm, like a temporary blank, waiting for an upcoming decision.

Before we knew it, we had walked into a cafe. The atmosphere here was completely different from the outside world. Although the cafe was also full of people of all kinds, the atmosphere was so quiet that it made people relax a little.

We found a seat by the window and sat down. Nightingale handed me a cup of dark coffee. I took it and frowned slightly. "You always know what I like."

"All the things you drank eventually became a burden to me." Nightingale chuckled, her tone not filled with dissatisfaction but rather a hint of teasing.

I know what he means, although he never reveals too much, but we have been working together for so long that we understand each other tacitly. Sometimes, he is like a cold bystander, standing aside and observing my every move.

I took a sip of coffee, savoring its subtle bitterness and richness. Perhaps some people, like this cup of coffee, appear calm on the surface, but are actually filled with complex flavors.

"What are you going to do next?" Nightingale asked, looking through the window at the hovercraft passing by. He seemed to have not asked me this question in a long time, or rather, this kind of question was usually used to test me.

I paused, my eyes unconsciously drifting to the laptop screen on the desk. Mission information scrolled by, new mission reminders flashing constantly. Each one was closely related to me, perhaps to accumulate enough merit, or to escape this empire and find something I once lost.

"Keep doing the mission," I finally said. "Until I no longer need it, until I'm free."

Nightingale didn't argue, only nodded gently, his gaze filtering through the light and shadows outside the window, as if lost in thought. I knew he understood what I meant. We all know that after living too long and becoming accustomed to tasks and goals, we unconsciously place all our motivation in them, until one day, we no longer even understand why we're working so hard.

I put down my coffee cup, stood up, and prepared to leave. "Let's go on," I said softly.

The nightingale followed behind me at a leisurely pace, as if it was accustomed to walking this seemingly endless road with me.

Turning the corner, I bumped into Wen Ya. My heart skipped a beat, and my steps involuntarily stopped. The person before me was still that familiar face. Wen Ya wore a faint smile, as gentle as ever, her eyes gleaming with reason and warmth.

But for some reason, when I saw him, I felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness in my heart, as if at this moment, all my emotions were suppressed and unable to continue flowing.

Since that recital, I haven't met Wen Ya face to face again. Back then, he shone on the stage, his grace a perfect being, while I was just a tiny shadow in his world. Since then, I haven't given myself the chance to face him, and I don't even dare to recall those moments that made me feel so uncomfortable. Even now, I'm still not ready to look him in the eye again, especially in a setting like this—standing next to Nightingale.

"As you wish?" Wen Ya's voice was soft and low, a hint of surprise, but more of a familiar concern. His eyes swept between Nightingale and me, his brows slightly furrowed, obviously noticing our positions and the delicate atmosphere.

I didn't answer immediately, but subconsciously looked at Nightingale beside me. Nightingale's eyes were still cold, but he didn't seem to show anything wrong. He just stood quietly by the side, his eyes slightly lowered, as if he was not surprised by this unexpected encounter.

"Yes, Wen Ya." I took a deep breath and tried to make my voice sound calm. "I've been busy with some missions recently and haven't had much chance to go back. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Wen Ya obviously didn't mind my explanation. He just smiled gently and said, "I understand that you have been very busy. It's just that... your life now seems to be much more complicated than I imagined." There was a hint of doubt in his words, and his eyes stayed on me, as if he was exploring something behind me.

I felt a wave of unease. Yes, I'd kept it a secret from him. I'd joined the mercenary guild without telling him, and I'd accepted those dangerous missions without telling him. I'd always told myself that all this was just to reach adulthood quickly, to quickly accumulate merit. But deep down, I felt unprepared to face the complex relationship between Wen Ya and me.

Nightingale seemed to notice my silence and raised his head slightly, a look of disdainful amusement in his eyes. He glanced at Wen Ya, then turned to me: "So? Are you two acquaintances? Do you need me to leave?"

I was stunned for a moment, and a sense of gratitude welled up in my heart. Nightingale's straightforwardness, though somewhat cold, did ease the awkward situation a little.

Wen Ya didn't seem embarrassed. He just smiled faintly and said, "It's okay, Mr. Nightingale. I won't bother you anymore. But, Ruyuan, shouldn't you go back?" He glanced at me with a hint of concern and said, "Mr. Shan Qi should have urged you."

"Yeah, I know." I nodded, looking at Wen Ya with a bit of confusion. He seemed more concerned about my condition than this chance encounter. But this concern made me feel even more guilty, as if he had noticed the changes in me during this period, but still didn't ask directly, just silently considering me.

Wen Ya smiled softly, as if sensing my inner turmoil, and slowly spoke, "But, like you are now, it's good to relax occasionally." He paused, then added, "I have a performance coming up in a few days, and it will still be mainly me. I might need your help, if you're free."

I was stunned for a moment, a complex mix of emotions welling up within me. A performance? This was the first time he'd directly mentioned anything related to me. The man who once lit up the stage, now, in this bustling city, gently reconnected our past and future.

"Okay, Wen Ya. I'll definitely go after I finish the things at hand." I answered in a low voice, with a hint of unconscious seriousness in my tone.

Wen Ya nodded, her smile still gentle: "Then I'll wait for you." Then she turned around.

In fact, I was not ready to face him, or even to face myself.

Nightingale laughed coldly beside me: "Sure enough, the name 'Wen Ya' really makes you uneasy." His tone was mocking, but he didn't go into details.

I didn't respond, simply turning and walking towards the mission hall. This unexpected reunion was like a stone dropped into my heart, stirring up waves that slowly spread. I knew I had to make a choice, stop running away, face the emotions I'd never truly understood, and re-evaluate my place in this city.

As if I suddenly thought of something, I turned around and caught up with the slightly thin figure.