Seizing Dreams

Edited by: Amelea, FistFullOfDollars and Juurensha

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“Kaikai?” Fu Liqun said, “What are you guys doing?”

Chen Yekai, “Discussing matters concerning our majors.”

Zhou Sheng promptly followed up, “Let’s talk about it later.”

This scene seemed bizarre no matter how you looked at it, as if Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng were......conducting a diplomatic negotiation between love rivals for Yu Hao??! When he linked this to all the gossip he had heard, Fu Liqun couldn’t help but reveal a strange expression on his face.

Yu Hao looked hesitantly at Zhou Sheng, and from the gentle shake of his head, Yu Hao knew that Zhou Sheng had decided to tell him.

Chen Yekai smiled, “Thank you, Zhou Sheng.”

“You’re good.” Zhou Sheng answered.

Chen Yekai’s eyebrows raised slightly but he didn’t hound Zhou Sheng further with Fu Liqun present. He asked the three people in the dormitory, “Want to head out for lunch? My treat.”

“Okay!” Fu Liqun agreed immediately, “And pack some dinner for me too! I only have 300 yuan left to tide me over for the rest of the month!”

The strange atmosphere in the dormitory continued into their meal. Yu Hao felt extremely apprehensive and kept watching Zhou Sheng’s face. He hoped that Zhou Sheng would give some obvious or subtle clues on how to counter Chen Yekai’s suspicions while resisting and neutralizing his attacks. But Zhou Sheng didn’t look at him. Instead, he spoke to Fu Liqun and asked how he had reconciled, his expression unchanged.

Meanwhile, Chen Yekai had returned to his usual self as if nothing had happened. But within the short span of the past two days, the news of his resignation had already spread throughout the college, and many people had privately discussed about how Chen Yekai and Yu Hao were caught in the woods having a teacher-student love affair, and it was all described in vivid detail. Chen Yekai could only ignore the gossip on campus, let alone try to clarify anything.

But Fu Liqun was the most baffled one. One time in class when someone asked him about Yu Hao and Chen Yekai, Fu Liqun had bluntly asked the person to shut up or else he could just wait for Zhou Sheng to beat him until he looked like an ink wash scroll painting. But after he returned to the dormitory today and saw the scene made by Yu Hao, Chen Yekai, and Zhou Sheng, even Fu Liqun couldn’t really hold on anymore. He feared that something would really happen.

“Was Shan Jie so touched that she cried?”

“Oh yes, yes.” Fu Liqun quickly said, “Let me tell you what happened.”

So Fu Liqun could only try his best to liven up the mood. He talked about how he had managed to reconcile with and deeply move Cen Shan, with the other three applauding all together in the end.

“That’s really great!” Yu Hao spoke first, then glanced meaningfully at Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng pretended that he didn’t notice.

“Congratulations to you both.” Chen Yekai smiled.

The three of them were already very sleepy. One of them had just taken an 11-hour flight on top of suffering jet lag from his previous trip, while the other two had forced themselves to stay up all night.

Fu Liqun, “You all haven’t slept yet?”

Chen Yekai waved his hand and packed dinner for Fu Liqun, then got up to settle the bill.

Fu Liqun said, “You look exhausted, go back and sleep ba.”

“I’ve still got something to do.” Zhou Sheng said solemnly, “I’ll go back to the dorm later.”

Fu Liqun, “Do you need help, bro?” As he spoke, he looked at Yu Hao again and comforted him, “What’s the matter? Don’t always endure things by yourself.”

When Yu Hao heard this, he suddenly felt extremely moved, yet Zhou Sheng remained silent. After a long time, he looked up at Fu Liqun and said earnestly, “Thank you, Gege.”

Yu Hao began to worry again. After Chen Yekai settled the bill, he actually appeared to be in high spirits, “Let’s continue discussing the project from this afternoon. Liqun, see you tomorrow.”

So Fu Liqun had to get up and leave. Chen Yekai said, “Let’s go talk somewhere else?”

“Give us ten minutes.” Zhou Sheng raised his hand as a signal. Chen Yekai knew that he had gotten to the truth upon hearing this and he nodded briskly, “Let’s look for a cafe ba.”

In the flower cafe, Zhou Sheng bought two cups of hot chocolate, “Don’t drink coffee anymore, or else you won’t be able to sleep later.”

Yu Hao was at his wits’ end and kept glancing at Chen Yekai.

“We have two options now.” Zhou Sheng briefly thought about it and irritably smoothed out his hair, “One, initiate our backup plan, tell him the truth, and after we save him, use the Golden Crow Wheel to erase his memory.”

Zhou Sheng explained, “Pressing your forehead is just a trigger; the purpose of it is to return to your dreamscape and erase all your memories regarding me in the dream.”

“How do you erase them?” Yu Hao asked.

Zhou Sheng said, “Through demolition, but you have to obtain the owner’s permission first. I’ll teach you when the time comes; there shouldn’t be any issues.”

Yu Hao nodded. Zhou Sheng continued, “Two: I still have another way, and he’s bound to lose.”

“What is it?” Yu Hao said, “Things have already reached this point, but you still have a way to reverse the situation?”

Zhou Sheng leaned a little closer to Yu Hao and whispered, “As long as we play dumb all the way to the end and are dead set on not admitting anything, there’s nothing he can do.”

Yu Hao turned around to look at Chen Yekai from afar, and said in a low voice, “That won’t dispel his doubts. Besides, in the dormitory, you’re the one who said ‘you’re good’, so you already admitted it!”

Chen Yekai ordered a cup of hot tea and was currently standing in front of the French windows in a daze. The scenery outside looked exceptionally beautiful, with the flowers outside the flower cafe in full bloom, lit by the early summer’s afternoon sunshine.

“We can withdraw our confessions!” Zhou Sheng said, “Later on, we’ll go over and tell him that we’ve thought it through and say that we’ll tell him the truth, but that we’ll have to go somewhere first. Next, flank him on both sides and take him to Fourth People’s Hospital. Don’t mind anything else, just abduct him and rush inside......”

Yu Hao instantly understood — Fourth People’s Hospital was a psychiatric hospital! Zhou Sheng’s plan was too cruel. Like this, Chen Yekai would think that the two of them were discussing how to send him to a psychiatric hospital right now, and afterwards, regardless of whether he was diagnosed with a mental illness, it would be unlikely that Chen Yekai would continue to zealously pursue this matter.

Yu Hao deeply felt that every time it seemed like there was no way out, Zhou Sheng would come up with a cunning, elaborate scheme that was like the light at the end of a tunnel; it was really too godly. It seemed that in the final battle between Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng, Zhou Sheng was still the victor by a slight margin.

“This method can effectively solve our current dilemma.” Zhou Sheng looked at Chen Yekai before he lowered his voice and said to Yu Hao, “But it won’t solve the ones that will follow, including the matter with Liang Laoshi. You make the call ba.”

Zhou Sheng examined Yu Hao. Yu Hao thought, how could I decide? In fact, he had been in a difficult position from the moment they started helping Chen Yekai. On one hand, Zhou Sheng has always seemed subtly jealous of Chen Yekai; and on the other hand, he seemed to give Yu Hao the impression of ‘I’m only saving him for your sake’.

“I can’t make the call.” Yu Hao said honestly, “How could I decide for you? It’ll be a gesture of generosity at your expense ba.”

“Gesture of generosity at my expense?!” Zhou Sheng looked like he was in utter disbelief, “So that’s how you’ve always seen me? Yu Hao?! What do you mean by that? Explain in detail?”

“I was wrong!” Yu Hao realised that his old habit had resurfaced, so he quickly said, “I......sorry, Zhou Sheng, don’t be angry! Okay, I’ll definitely reflect on my behaviour......”

Zhou Sheng suppressed his displeasure and said with slight impatience, “Okay, I won’t argue with you now. Why don’t you consider it from a different perspective? When you’re facing a problem where you can’t come to a decision, would you be willing to let me make the decision for you?”

Yu Hao said, “Of course.”

For Yu Hao, if he could give Zhou Sheng the authority to make decisions for any significant events and Zhou Sheng was willing to help him make those decisions, he would actually be very happy instead.

“Then that’s it, isn’t it?” Zhou Sheng got up and said, “I’ll go smoke a cig, think it over carefully ba.” (WHAT???)

Zhou Sheng simply exited the flower cafe and smoked while he sat within the sunshine. Yu Hao understood the meaning behind Zhou Sheng’s words, and by the time Zhou Sheng came back, Yu Hao decided to tell Zhou Sheng what he really thought.

“I think Chen Laoshi is a very good person.” Yu Hao, “Zhou Sheng, he’s also helped us before, we can’t just ignore him.”

“Un.” Zhou Sheng became slightly more solemn and nodded.

Yu Hao continued, “Tell him ba.”

“I was also inclined towards telling him.” Zhou Sheng finished drinking his cup of hot chocolate and answered, “But this isn’t a decision you made just for me, because you have to enter his dream too, so your opinion also matters.”

Chen Yekai had waited for nearly half an hour before Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao finally came to an agreement.

“Finished discussing it thoroughly?” Chen Yekai said, “I won’t say anything I’m not supposed to; I know the inside story must be quite complicated. You can also believe me selectively, and retain your reservations.”

“Let’s talk elsewhere.” Zhou Sheng said.

Yu Hao suddenly realised that his ‘discussion’ with Zhou Sheng seemed irrelevant to their actual concern. Instead, Zhou Sheng seemed most concerned with the issue of whether ‘their opinions were unanimous’. They hadn’t even planned out how to resolve the problem at hand. But looking at Zhou Sheng’s expression, it seemed like he had already anticipated that this day long ago.

Zhou Sheng, with the other two, walked past the hotel that they had stayed in the day before. Just as he was about to enter and book a room, Chen Yekai took the initiative as he asked, “Are we going to sleep? Let me ba.”

“I don’t have my ID card.” Zhou Sheng realised.

“I do.” Chen Yekai’s IDs were all with him. He walked them to a five-star hotel and got a room at the front desk. The three of them remained silent the whole time. It was only when they entered the elevator that Chen Yekai said one sentence.

“Within the dream of the dreamer, the one who was dreamed of awoke.”

Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng both looked at Chen Yekai.

Chen Yekai said, “Ever since Ryuusei’s death, I’ve always felt like I’ve been living in a fleeting dream. Thank you.”

With a “ding”, the elevator arrived on their floor. Zhou Sheng said, “Nothing’s certain yet, you need to buck up.”

“Wah!” Yu Hao was completely stunned by the room. He had never stayed in such a fancy hotel before. And this was just a standard luxury room, so it wasn’t even considered the best. There were two huge beds, and the room was well-lit with ample sunlight. Chen Yekai opened the fridge, took out some drinks, and passed them to the other two.

Chen Yekai sat down. He looked at Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao expectantly, waiting for them to speak.

“Sleep there.” Zhou Sheng motioned for Yu Hao to sleep in one of the beds, then said to Chen Yekai, “You sleep in the other one.” Before he entered the bathroom, “I’ll take a bath first. I pulled an all nighter last night.”

Yu Hao had already taken a bath in the morning, so he didn’t need to take another one before going to sleep. From the side, Chen Yekai took off his sweater and loosened the buttons of his shirt, “It’s hot.”

As they laid down on the beds, Yu Hao could barely fight back his sleepiness. He was relying solely on willpower to hold on as he listened to the sound of running water from the bathroom.

“Yu Hao.” Chen Yekai was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt. He was laying on his side as he looked at Yu Hao.

“Un.” Yu Hao turned sideways to also look at him.

Yet Chen Yekai only quietly watched Yu Hao. Yu Hao muttered under his breath, “Find a job that you’re willing to devote your life to. Be with a person whom you truly love: without being trapped by fame and profit, without the disturbance of the secular world, without being burdened by money. Don’t suffer because of choices or abandonment, and truly, find your freedom.”

“Those are your words.” Yu Hao said.

“That’s my ideal.” Chen Yekai said, “But I couldn’t do it.”

Yu Hao, “You can achieve it someday. After graduating from high school, I also wanted to start a new life somewhere. But then I thought, starting a new chapter of my life has nothing to do with where I am.”

“Yes.” Chen Yekai sighed, “Ultimately, it all depends on your heart. You’re a strong and nurturing kid. Yu Hao......I want to ask......never mind.”

“Ask ah.” Yu Hao said, “You can ask me anything.”

“If......” Chen Yekai made a very difficult decision, “I know this analogy is very offensive, but if you were Ryuusei, then on the very last day......”

Yu Hao remembered his “last moment”. When that moment was about to come, his heart no longer held any hatred for anyone, “I think, since he chose that place, it meant that he still loved you. And I understand Ryuusei.”

Chen Yekai, “......”

“You said that he was too insecure.” Yu Hao smiled a little helplessly, “But that was only natural. Because you’re too outstanding, that kind of......it’s very hard for me to describe, it’s a kind of excellence that goes beyond reason. From ideas, from knowledge, from......how you view problems, it’s all very difficult to feel that one is worthy of your excellence.”

“I’ve always been like this since I was a kid.” Chen Yekai nodded.

“I understand.” Yu Hao said, “Chen Laoshi, you’re rich, a curve wrecker, and you have such elegance too. You should be the pride of many — no matter of your family, or your lover. But actually, you are quite indifferent to a lot of things.”

“Yes.” Chen Yekai had to admit to it, “Most of the time, my polite attitude towards outsiders don’t reflect my true thoughts.”

Chen Yekai turned over to lie flat on his back and looked at the ceiling.

The sound of running water in the bathroom stopped, then a blow dryer could be heard . A moment later, Zhou Sheng, using a cotton swab to dig his ears, walked out of the hotel’s bathroom. He said to Yu Hao, “I’ve already washed and aired out my clothes and underwear by myself.”

When Yu Hao saw Zhou Sheng’s wheat-coloured chest and his well-built calves underneath his bathrobe, he thought, you you you......why aren’t you wearing anything inside??!!

Chen Yekai said, “Now you can tell me what happened ba.”

“In short, we are the patron saints of dreams.” Zhou Sheng walked over to Yu Hao’s bedside and said to Chen Yekai, “You can think of us as some kind of superhero or something; our duty is to help resolve the serious psychological problems of you mortals. But this all depends on the trust you place in us. I’m Sun Wukong, and Yu Hao is, the Archangel. Imagine that for a moment?”

Chen Yekai was very obedient as he strove to imagine it.

Zhou Sheng continued, “Kaikai, the more you trust us, the more powerful we become in your dream.”

Yu Hao, “......”

Zhou Sheng blurted out words like ‘superhero’ so smoothly that Yu Hao almost spat out his drink involuntarily. But Chen Yekai listened to him with unprecedented earnestness, and his expression immediately produced an atmosphere of absurdity.

Chen Yekai held no doubts towards Zhou Sheng’s words. He answered, “Just like how I think Yu Hao can swim?”

“Yes.” Zhou Sheng picked up an iced cola and drank it in two gulps, “If you want redemption, ultimately, it’ll still depend on you. Do you think Lin Xun will still be too strong for you to overcome?”

Chen Yekai answered, “Of course not.”

Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao exchanged a look. Zhou Sheng said, “So you’re not scared of him.”

“Yes.” Chen Yekai said, “Only Ryuusei is a barrier that I can’t overcome. But after listening to Yu Hao, I can sort of understand myself better now.”

Yu Hao said, “Right now, the existence before the well is confirmed to be Ryuusei.”

“The gatekeeper may be Lin Xun.” Zhou Sheng said, “But if Kaikai’s not afraid of him, then he won’t be difficult to deal with.”

Chen Yekai frowned as he listened to their conversation.

Yu Hao suddenly remembered something, so he asked, “Chen Laoshi, why did you want to do that that night? Can you tell me?”

Chen Yekai took a deep breath and answered, “Lin Laoshi had spoken to Ryuusei before he committed suicide. But, I......never knew that, Ryuusei and Lin Xun had met each other alone. Until that day, in the flower cafe, when you got splashed with coffee......I happened to hear it from Liang Laoshi.”

Yu Hao suddenly felt a chill in his heart; the entire sequence of events instantly connected.

“Wait wait wait!” Zhou Sheng immediately exclaimed, “Kaikai! Be specific about what could have occurred! Don’t hide anything! It’s very important for you to tell us everything!”

Chen Yekai said wearily, “I have reason to believe that Lin Xun had conducted some......psychological manipulation on Ryuusei.”

“Why?” Zhou Sheng said, “What does it have to do with him?!”

Chen Yekai said, “He hated Ryuusei very much. From the very start, he had already expressed his opposition towards our relationship and didn’t want me to marry Ryuusei. He persistently asked me to reconsider, and he had always wanted to persuade Ryuusei to leave me.”

“Hold on.” Yu Hao recalled an indistinct memory. He looked at Chen Yekai and kept feeling that he could uncover many more clues from this......

Zhou Sheng, “In order to break the two of you up, he persuaded Ryuusei to commit suicide through psychological manipulation?!”

“Ryuusei suffered from depression.” Chen Yekai’s thoughts were in utter chaos, “This is a physiological disease. When it flares up, and when death was a type of liberation for them in the first place, under this sort of pain, the effects of any psychological manipulation would be magnified......I......”

Chen Yekai’s own psychological state had already been slightly unstable. Right now, he took quite a long time before he could compose himself.

Zhou Sheng, “Yu Hao?”

Yu Hao was thinking the whole time and hadn’t uttered a word.

Zhou Sheng didn’t hear that recording in the office, but Yu Hao did!

That day in the flower cafe, Liang Jinmin and Chen Yekai had sat down as they talked, and the recording that Lin Xun provided included a portion of what Chen Yekai said, “In this reincarnation cycle, I’ve met another kid like Ryuusei again......”

According to the situation, it could be deduced that this must have been said before Liang Jinmin told Chen Yekai about her own conjecture. Yu Hao began to try and recreate the entire conversation in his mind — Liang Jinmin invited Chen Yekai out, Chen Yekai first mentioned Yu Hao to Liang Jinmin, then after consoling him briefly, she mentioned what happened four years ago.

“That recording.” Yu Hao glanced at Zhou Sheng, and Zhou Sheng understood within an instant and very accurately grasped the most vital point.

“Does Lin Xun know that the two of you spoke privately?” Zhou Sheng said.

Chen Yekai was a little baffled. He began frowning and seemed to have figured something out.

Zhou Sheng, “Your conversation was being monitored!”