Chapter 99: You Are the Endless Loop I Refuse to Awaken From, Trapped in My Memories

"Very well."
The next day, Zhou Yili found himself haunted by these three words during filming.
Very well.
Shen Jixing treated him very well.
"This disturbance in the energy has nothing to do with you. Is everyone in this star system dead, that you alone have to enter and seal it???"
For the first time, Zhou Yili lost control on set.
The story’s ending was clear: they seized the final energy core, bringing ultimate peace to the star system governed by the two of them.
They would live happily together until old age.
Not separated between life and death.
"That’s a fairy tale, Zhou Yili."
Shen Jixing was far calmer. "No one’s life is smooth sailing. The story foreshadowed everything from the beginning."
Humans and beastfolk were at odds, needing a new ruler.
Shen Jixing pierced him through the abdomen with a sword, banished him from the Human Alliance base.
The doctor’s words, hesitant, brought no solution to the icy poison.
"In truth, phoenix fire is useless. All along, I’ve only been longing for you."
The pain’s source never left him.
He simply found ways to ease it.
Today, Sikong Xiu was fully armed, wary of being beaten by Zhou Yili, but as he listened to their argument, something felt off.
So five minutes ago, he ordered everyone,
"Start filming."
"Useless?" Zhou Yili looked at him in disbelief.
He had always been possessive about energy cores, feeding Shen Jixing with every crystal he collected as snacks, insisting pridefully he was strong and didn’t need them.
He just hoped Shen Jixing would recover faster.
To stay healthy by his side.
Whether he liked him or not didn’t matter; so long as Shen Jixing was well.
Now Shen Jixing told him it was useless, that he had always been waiting for death.
Zhou Yili clenched his palm, controlling himself not to speak, turning to leave, "..."
His dropped hand was caught.
"The Human Alliance base has always used toxins to temper the body, hoping to someday strengthen genes and eradicate beastfolk."
"What does that have to do with me?"
Zhou Yili had no desire to continue filming.
"If I don’t publicly humiliate you, the beastfolk can’t rescue you."
Shen Jixing looked at him, "I don’t want you to be injected like me."
"...It hurts."
Such a cheerful, lively little lion shouldn’t be tormented by toxins as he was.
Shen Jixing held his hand, gently squeezing his fingertips, "It hurts. You wouldn’t endure it."
Zhou Yili’s lashes quivered, his tall, cold frame stood beneath the snowy mountain. He turned and embraced the frail figure tightly.
"I can’t endure it..."
As if sensing his powerlessness and guilt.
Shen Jixing’s hand rested on his head, softly soothing him, "The star system needs a ruler. I think that person is you."
Zhou Yili said nothing, immersed in Shen Jixing’s superb acting, fully drawn into the scene.
He wondered how much pain this person endured.

Clearly so pampered, he insisted on breaking crystals into tiny pieces to eat.
"You’re gifted, fearless, kind and upright. Most importantly, you never bully the weak with beastfolk strength, and you like humans."
Buried in his neck, Shen Jixing’s voice was hoarse, "Who told you I like humans?"
Something scorching seeped into his collar, burning his skin.
Shen Jixing heard his muffled, raspy voice.
"I like you."
The little lion didn’t care for humankind.
He simply liked that aloof and strong, pampered and silly Shen Jixing.
It just so happened Shen Jixing was human.
Shen Jixing stroked the hair at his nape, laughing faintly, "Then for me, like humans."
The one who gained the ultimate energy was him. He believed the little lion would rebuild a star system without war or hostility.
Zhou Yili slowly raised his head. Those arrogant eyes would someday be just as moist and red.
"You did it on purpose, didn’t you?"
"From the start, you deliberately sought me out, to maximize your benefit before dying."
Shen Jixing’s long lashes trembled, his thin lips gently moved, "I..."
"You always knew my old feelings for you lingered, that I couldn’t forget, so you set the board, aiming to usher in a new king."
Zhou Yili couldn’t even discern whether the nearly illusory love under such grand conspiracy was real,
Or merely a noble sacrifice for humanity’s survival.
"Shen..." Zhou Yili paused, changed his address, "Admiral, you’re truly great."
For humanity, he willingly became bait.
At least under Zhou Yili’s rule, he would show boundless tolerance for humanity because of that abruptly ended love.
"Too bad, you miscalculated,"
Zhou Yili finally let go of his hand, "I don’t want to be the new king."
Whoever wants it can have it.
Shen Jixing wouldn’t need to sacrifice himself for the energy core, nor would Zhou Yili force himself to stand above all.
"We’ll continue to battle together, searching for scattered crystals for your snacks."
Zhou Yili’s voice was somewhat hoarse, "Even if it’s useless, at least you’ve gained a little weight."
"I’ll give you all my phoenix fire. If it still doesn’t work, then I’ll accompany you."
Shen Jixing looked up abruptly.
Zhou Yili’s Adam’s apple bobbed; he would never let Shen Jixing be humiliated.
"Our opinions differ. Let’s calm down and talk later."
The little lion who always exploded at the slightest provocation, for the first time, spoke so calmly.
This time, Shen Jixing didn’t hold him back.
As Zhou Yili silently turned, Shen Jixing’s voice suddenly rose.
"I don’t know who to turn to."
His steps halted.
Shen Jixing spoke calmly, "No one can help me."
Snow drifting from the vast sky seemed to carry memories, returning to the story’s first day.
"I don’t know who to turn to. I have no friends."
The set fell into silent stillness.
They couldn’t even tell if they were acting. Zhou Yili wasn’t a professional actor, but every frame now was as genuine as an award-winning performance.
Until they realized,

Shen Jixing was crying.
This towering star, always so calm and indifferent, seemed untouchable, unshakable.
"Zhou Yili."
He stepped forward, walking toward that tall, cold figure.
"I don’t know who to turn to."
At the end of his life, he didn’t know who could help him.
The only one he could think of was the little lion he had once wounded so deeply.
Zhou Yili felt arms wrap around his back. He looked down at the hand on his waist, his voice hoarse and choked.
"But you can’t use love to cage me, to make me willingly send you to your death."
Shen Jixing closed his eyes, quietly pressed against his back, and whispered,
"If only there were a grand mansion to shelter all the world’s cold souls."
"I’m not so noble. If I must admit to selfishness, I have it, too."
A clear tear rolled down Shen Jixing’s cheek.
"I wish for your safety."
"I wanted to see you one last time."
………………
The energy core at the Northern Mountain burst through the sky.
Someone used their body to seal all disturbances, gathering the vast, supreme energy into one person.
He became the strongest in this world; the lion’s roar echoed beyond the Northern Mountain, spreading across the four battle zones. In this endless war,
The smoke cleared, and a new king was born.
"Someone must step forward, and it just happens to be us."
Amid the infinite icy blue light, he brushed his forehead, lowered his gaze, and pressed a loving kiss.
"Even if we’re extinguished in the endless passage of time,"
"I love you. Forget me."
Another Christmas arrived.
The young, slender new king curled up on the sofa, quietly and coldly watching the snow outside. The fireplace crackled with burning branches, the table laden with fragrant, tempting roast chicken.
His mind wandered, gazing at the winter world outside.
Until the phone rang—
"Captain, a new energy site was found at Northern Mountain."
He’d sat in silence for so long he no longer knew who he was.
"Can’t go. Entry requires four people. I haven’t found a new spellcaster yet."
Spellcaster?
Zhou Yili was suddenly jolted.
Over the line came his squad member’s voice, "Then we’ll look for one... beep beep beep."
Zhou Yili tossed the phone aside, stumbled from the sofa to the door. Through the snow-lit night, he heard the echo of fate’s cycle.
"Knock knock knock—"
"Cycle" End

———
I wonder if anyone remembers Cat and Spoon’s "the next us," which inspired Cycle. Isn’t this a kind of connection, too? :-D