Volume Two: The Youth of a Thousand Faces — Chapter Forty-Eight: The Voices of the Flowers

The fireworks faded away, giving way to the host’s lengthy opening speech.

Meanwhile, a man dressed in camouflage reached the roof of a building directly facing the stage set up in the central square. He took out his crystal brain and reported through the encrypted channel used within his organization: “Sniper in position.”

He belonged to a mercenary group known as “Golden Toad.”

This organization was infamous for their audacity and strength—each member was powerful enough to contend with Class-A calamities. Their leader was even rumored to have slain a Catastrophe-class disaster. To hire them was simple: pay the price.

Regardless of whether your business was lawful or illicit, whether the target was human or disaster, as long as you offered enough Sola, they would take the job.

Yet, for all their notoriety, they did not exist beyond the reach of law. In the everyday world, they operated under another name on major ability-user hiring websites: “Golden Leopard.”

To ordinary people, they seemed nothing more than a typical organization for hiring ability-users, but in the shadows, they were the bloodthirsty “Golden Toad.”

Just days ago, someone had contacted them through underworld channels and hired them for a peculiar task: to accept another commission.

As “Golden Leopard,” they were to protect ordinary people entering Bancroft; as “Golden Toad,” they were to cause chaos here.

The leader of Golden Toad was bold indeed. Despite knowing Bancroft was guarded by countless experts—students here could match their own soldiers—he did not hesitate to accept the job.

But whether out of personal grudge or other reasons, the employer had attached an additional condition: kill Night Rain Crow, and the fee would be doubled.

The Golden Toads valued money above all; how could they refuse? What was one more life to take?

Thus, the sniper was now in position.

At last, the host’s opening speech ended, and to everyone’s anticipation, Night Rain Crow was about to take the stage.

“Now, let us welcome the star of tonight’s celebration, Teacher Night Rain Crow!”

Countless female fans in the square erupted in organized, rhythmic chants: “Night Rain Crow! Night Rain Crow! Night Rain Crow!...” Leading the chorus was the usually quiet and reserved Shangguan Jade Butterfly. Those who knew her never expected her to have such a lively side, but the reason was simple—the man she admired was about to appear on stage.

The cheers and applause rose and fell, but never ceased.

Amidst this applause, Huo Ye slowly walked onto the stage.

“Please, right this way, Teacher Night Rain,” the host said to Huo Ye. As Huo Ye approached, the host feigned surprise, “Wow, this is my first time meeting you in person. Even with the mask, your youth and energy are truly remarkable.”

“Haha, you flatter me,” Huo Ye replied perfunctorily.

“Teacher Night Rain, would you say a few words to everyone?”

“Hello, everyone,” Huo Ye said simply.

“Xiao Ai, I think big brother seems a little nervous, don’t you?” Rayleigh asked Alice, watching Huo Ye from below the stage.

Alice, a lollipop in her mouth and fiddling with a newly bought little crow, replied, “It’s normal. My brother’s never been good at handling enthusiasm from others. Look at him—he’s just nervous now, but inside he’s probably panicking. He can challenge the whole school, but a crowd of fans? That, he can’t handle.”

Though Huo Ye only uttered three simple words, nearly all the fans erupted in cheers and screams—such was the charm of an idol.

As Night Rain Crow, Huo Ye always spoke with a disguised voice—a magically magnetic timbre, especially alluring to the opposite sex, a mischief from his youthful days.

Now, whenever he thought of Shangguan Jade Butterfly, captivated by that voice, Huo Ye felt an urge to throttle his younger self—for not choosing a hoarse, unattractive tone.

The host continued to warm up the atmosphere: “Teacher Night Rain, you seem quite young. May I ask how old you are?”

Huo Ye hesitated, but seeing no reason to hide, replied, “Nineteen.”

A wave of astonishment swept through the audience. So the representative of contemporary young writers was this young? Not just a young writer—he had created “Rhapsody on a Rainy Night” five years ago, which meant he was only fourteen back then, already possessing literary talent that won the praise of masters. A true prodigy!

The host remained composed, “So, Teacher Night Rain, you truly are young and promising. What work have you brought for your readers today? Could you share your feelings about this book?”

Huo Ye narrowed his eyes with a smile. “Of course.” He casually picked up a book from the desk, showing its cover to the audience.

On the giant screen appeared a close-up of the new book’s cover. At Huo Ye’s request, it was a pure white base adorned with various flowers, with a white spider lily at the center as the focal point.

Huo Ye spoke, “This book is called ‘The Language of All Flowers.’ It tells of a garden in heaven belonging to the gods. One day, the flowers, tired of gazing at endless blue skies and swaying in the wind, decide to become beautiful young girls and descend to the mortal world in search of love. Each chapter tells the love story of a different flower. Their personalities differ, they meet all sorts of people, and their endings are both joyful and sad. Through this book, I hope to portray love in all its forms.”

“It sounds like your new work is a pure romance,” the host remarked. “What inspired you to write such a story?”

Huo Ye was silent for a long time, his gaze distant as if the host’s question summoned him back to a far-off past. At length, he spoke softly, “I had a friend. She was... a girl who loved flowers, bright and delicate as a blossom herself. Later, she left. I miss her very much.”

Huo Ye did not elaborate, but anyone with a keen ear understood—this person must have been the beloved of Teacher Night Rain.

She loved flowers, so his protagonists were maidens transformed from blooms. She left, so he wrote a book in her memory. A book about love, and the nature of their relationship was clear without words.

With the exception of Alice and Rayleigh, no one present knew whether “left” meant she was gone from his life or from this world. But to have a man express his love for her in such a way—she must have been truly happy.

Shangguan Jade Butterfly was shaken. So Teacher Night Rain had always had someone in his heart? What, then, of her own feelings all these years? Had she been deluding herself?

Should she go up, as before, to shake his hand and ask for his elegant “Crow” signature on her book?

Everything had changed. All those things had happened long ago, yet the moment Night Rain Crow uttered that sentence, the world was different.

Clenching her teeth, gripping her clothes tightly, Shangguan Jade Butterfly suddenly felt the air grow heavy around her, the sky darkening as if the sun would never rise again. People seemed to recede from her, leaving her in utter loneliness. She wanted to run, to find a place to cry her heart out, and then...

She was lost and helpless.

But in the very next moment, Huo Ye’s magnetic voice as Night Rain Crow resonated through the air: “It’s all in the past.”

Shangguan Jade Butterfly looked up in shock at the man in the mask, his face unreadable. He continued, “It’s hard to let go, but not impossible. Let this book be the last gift I give her.”

Staring at Night Rain Crow, Shangguan Jade Butterfly saw the world light up again. That man was still as radiant as ever.

Perhaps he spoke to himself, or perhaps he was rescuing the host from awkwardness. It didn’t matter. In the end, he had found his way to keep her forever in his world. And after that, he would move forward.

“Xiao Ai, why are you crying?” Rayleigh asked Alice.

Alice wiped her tears and shook her head, “It’s nothing. I’m just happy for my brother.”