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“Some things, once you’ve loved them, become yours forever. And if you try to let them go, they only circle back and return to you. They become part of who you are.”

-Kill Your Darlings

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HORNY WEEKEND STARTED

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This baby deserves to be the happiest man in the world.

If that day, the tragedy of his family never existed..

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Anything you want, his majesty.

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LUCIEN STANS ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?

look at how she position her leg 👀👀👀👀👀👀

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THE ANGST

That melancholy looks

MY HEART

💔

Why is there a bleeding in the water?? Who dare hurting him?!

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MLQC CN: Chapter 37, Xu Mo’s Route (Part 4 of 5)

“This time, you’ll be the one to bring me home.”

This part is so sweet I’m melting ⛄️ I also like this CG! Xu Mo’s CGs for this chapter are so pretty and heartwarming.

Read the other parts here:

Summary of Chapters 1-36

Summary of Chapter 37, Parts 1-4

Chapter 37, Xu Mo’s Route (Part 1 of 5)

Chapter 37, Xu Mo’s Route (Part 2 of 5)

Chapter 37, Xu Mo’s Route (Part 3 of 5)

Dedicated to @superlemniscate.

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~Please don’t repost this translation in any way.~

As reported in the news, the time to the comets’ impact was the same as our original estimation. The situation had not improved. 

The broadcast of “Judgment Day Miracles” got golden reviews, better than all our past shows had ever gotten. In these few days, no small number of researchers, local and overseas alike, had come to join in the research effort.

Turning off the television, I drew a deep breath. Just as I had calmed myself down and was preparing to leave the house, my phone vibrated twice.

[MC]: Xu Mo? I’m preparing to come over now. Are you in the lab already?

Xu Mo: I’m not going into the lab today. 

Xu Mo: I’m preparing for the last stage of our project now. I hope you’ll be able to complete it with me. 

[MC]: Of course I can—you’re forgetting that I’m your Special Assistant after all. So, what do you need me to do?

A soft laugh sounded from the other end of the phone.

Xu Mo: Calm down. Go downstairs now and head to the central research hub.

Xu Mo: Hmm? What are you laughing at?

[MC]: It’s nothing. I was just thinking that this is all too familiar.

Xu Mo: Now that you mention it, I seem to remember all those times too.

***

[MC]: I’m here, why don’t I see you?

Xu Mo: Do you see a black box? It should be under the tree.

[MC]: Mmm… I’ve found it. This is… an empty fountain pen case?

Xu Mo: There’s only one more step to go. But I need you to complete it.

Xu Mo: A word of warning first, however. The road from here on may be bumpy, but I have faith in you. 

[MC]: …What do you mean by this? Where exactly are you now?

Xu Mo: I’ll be waiting for you here.

Xu Mo: [MC], remember what you said. After all this has ended, you must bring me home.

[MC]: Xu Mo…?

Before I could wrap my head around what was going on, the line went dead.

In utter confusion, I looked at the empty case before me. Then inspiration struck. Removing the fountain pen from my pocket, I slotted it into the case—

It was a perfect fit.

At the same time, an announcement rang out in the park: “100 seconds remaining to the Judgment Day preview.”

[MC]: Judgment Day preview? What’s going on…

Just then, raindrops fell again, but this wasn’t the gentle drizzle that I had seen previously. A few seconds later, the ground beneath my feet started shaking.

Looking at the lush greenery around me and the sudden changes which had just occurred, my brain frantically started putting the pieces together.

The selection of seeds Xu Mo had previously spoken about, the cruel rat race of evolution in the forest, the supposed last stage of the project… And, the Judgment Day preview. 

Suddenly, I understood.

This giant forest was the actual coliseum of life. In the impending “Judgment Day preview”, only the seeds and plants that survived would continue to live on. 

If that was the case… 

[MC]: I know where it is!

Turning, I started to run towards the place I had guessed. But the road ahead of me was filled with obstacles.

As the countdown ticked mechanically on, the ground started shaking increasingly frequently. Cracks even appeared! The drops of rain that fell began to hit the ground heavily, so that the soil began to turn into mud. 

I ran through area after area, forests and streams—all these places I had previously visited with Xu Mo.

The ground beneath me gradually turned slippery. One careless step made me almost lose my footing, but I regained my balance in time. As I bent over with my hands on my knees, panting for breath, I looked up. 

The night cherry blossom shone a dazzling pink that lit up the entire night sky, as if guiding the path I should take. 

Now I knew—all this time, he had been reminding me. 

[MC]: Xu Mo…

Raising a hand, I brushed away the raindrops that had fallen on my face. Then, picking up my pace, I started running without any more hesitation.

I finally understood. 

In those bygone days, when you pushed me away again and again, you were actually hoping that I would catch up with you.

I had felt lost, I had doubted, I had hesitated, and I had lost faith in myself. But, thankfully, I had never given up.

I had kept on running, not to stay where I was, but to get nearer to you, to understand the world you saw.

Though my growth wasn’t fast, not by any means, and I would sometimes stumble and fall, I had always been running towards you.

Now, I was even more sure of it: at the same time that I walked towards you, you would, too, turn and walk towards me.

From the first till this very moment, we had been walking back and forth hesitantly on countless paths, chasing and yet turning away from each other, trying to find that so-called “correct” path…

But perhaps there was no “correct” path. I just wanted to choose the path that led to you.

No matter whether it was right or wrong, I just wanted to walk to your side, walk towards you, to prove that it wasn’t wrong. 

Ding—

As the elevator doors slid open, I could see that familiar figure in the distance. Then, without a second’s hesitation, I started striding towards him.

[MC]: Xu Mo!

He turned. Then he took one step towards me. Another. And yet another.

Xu Mo: You arrived more quickly than I thought you would.

[MC]: That’s because I ran here.

Because I wanted to be a little faster. Even if it was only by a second, I wanted to meet you earlier.

I was so out of breath that I couldn’t get a fluent sentence out. Pulling me into his arms, Xu Mo gently tucked behind my ear the strands of hair that had escaped during my run.  

Xu Mo: [MC], are you still afraid of Judgment Day now? 

[MC]: I’m no longer afraid.

Gazing straight at Xu Mo, I said this without hesitation.

[MC]: Because I believe in what you said. That life will never stop.

[MC]: Just like how you’ve been persevering all this time, I won’t give up as well.

[MC]: Even till the very last, I won’t give up on growing. 

[MC]: All this is what you taught me.

For a moment, Xu Mo was silent. A smile tugged at his lips.

Xu Mo: I am glad to have watched you grow.

Xu Mo: It’s nearly time.

As he said this, he pressed down on a button on the wall. The wall in front of us slid apart, revealing a passage.

***

Walking into the passage, we were given a bird’s eye view of the entire park. Now, we were standing within an enormous glass dome. Above us was the starry night sky.

Xu Mo: We created this model forest of life, and we’ve also simulated the final moment when the comet hits. 

Xu Mo: All the seeds we’re keeping will be buried in the deepest parts of the earth. Only if they escape this catastrophe will they truly survive.   

Xu Mo: [MC], now, let’s have a sneak peek of what it’ll be like at the end.

Just as Xu Mo finished, an automated voice sounded all around us: Magnetic-field simulation of the arrival of the comets activated. Counting down. 10…

Throughout all of this, Xu Mo held my hand tightly. Through my palm, I could feel his warmth, his pulse, soothing my worries. 

3, 2, 1—

At the last second, out of instinct, I returned Xu Mo’s clasp tightly.

The vibrant life outside the glass suddenly sped up. At the very last moment, their growth was accelerated.

Vines shot up into the sky, flower buds burst into bloom, fruits grew in size before falling to the ground, where they decomposed. Alas, in a giant burst of light, all turned into ash.

The scene appearing before me was vastly different from what I had imagined.

But at this very moment, as we stood here hand in hand, watching the ashes swirling down over the garden, it was as if we had really arrived at the world’s end.

For some inexplicable reason, I could feel my nose turn runny.

[MC]: Is this really the end of life?

Xu Mo: You can see it this way, but you can also see it differently.

Xu Mo: Do you still remember what I told you when we first met?

[MC]: You mean, the Red Queen Hypothesis?

Xu Mo: Yes. Life is a circle—the scenery at the start and finish lines is the same. The very moment of reaching our destination can also be seen as a new beginning.

Outside the glass, among the flurry of ashes, a single, faint ray of light shone down from somewhere, gently kissing a new sprout that had appeared on the wasteland.

Involuntarily, I wrapped my arms around Xu Mo from behind. Resting my head against his shoulder, I closed my eyes.

[MC]: Xu Mo, do you see that light?

Xu Mo: I see it, very clearly.

A light jumped in Xu Mo’s eyes. Looking back at the girl behind him, his eyes were filled with a deep gentleness.

Colour began to spread through the scene before his eyes, blossoming through his world.

Finally, because of the girl beside him, he was able to see the colour of this world once more.

[MC]: Xu Mo, the flowers will bloom again, won’t they?

Xu Mo: They will.

Xu Mo: But before that, you have to promise me one thing.

[MC]: What?

Xu Mo: This time, you’ll be the one to bring me home.

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MLQC CN: Xu Mo’s Official Artbook Letter (Translated)

Translation posted in response to a request by @arsyirachie. Thank you for permitting the images to be shared with everyone! 

The third last para is so poetic and touching ❤️

~Please don’t repost this translation in any way ~

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展信好。

今天逛进一家小店的时候，看到了几张你大概会很喜欢的邮票，索性就换一种方式送你这份礼物。

这时候你在做什么？有好好休息吗？

在我不能及时监督你的时候，只能寄希望于某个小傻瓜能自觉照顾好自己了。研究所的晚上很安静，新月弯弯，很像你笑起来的样子。

写下这些字句的时候，我的脑海中已经渐渐浮现出了你认真读信的样子。甚至开始犹豫，比起绞尽脑汁把心情转化成文字，是不是该直接打个电话给你？

不过，写信本身也是一件很有趣的事情，我会不由自主想到一些琐碎的小事，比如你欠我的一场电影，是不是应该找个时间兑现一下？还有你留给我的性格测试题——答案是 C，至于像不像，我要好好向你求证一下了。

在这些生活零星的瞬间里，我也看到了自己。曾经的步调中，很多事情会被安排得很妥帖，那些计划之外的事情很少发生，也从不会费太多心思。但是在和你相遇的日子里，我看到了另一种不同的生长，也第一次在平生未见的天空之下，看见日子的色彩，甚至不知不觉中习惯了被你改变的那部分生活。我已经开始期待在更久以后，那个我完全想象不到的自己了。

距离上次见面好像已经过了很久，所以作为补偿，是不是应该把这么多次的读后感一起说给我听？邮票还剩几张，一起放在了信封里。

我很期待你的回信。

——许墨

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I hope this letter finds you well.

When I was browsing a small store today, I found a few stamps I think you’ll love, and I thought I’d just give you this present in a unique way. 

What are you doing now? Have you had a good rest?

When I’m not around to supervise you, I can only hope that a certain dummy will have the sense to look after herself. Nights in the research centre are very quiet. The curve of the crescent moon reminds me of your smile.

When I’m writing all this, I’m starting to think of the serious look on your face when you’re reading this letter. I’m even hesitating—rather than rack my brain to put my thoughts into words, wouldn’t it be better to just give you a call? 

That said, writing is in itself very interesting. I am involuntarily reminded of some trivial matters, such as that movie that you owe me. Don’t you think you should find a time to fulfil your promise? Also, that personality test which you left me—my answer is C. As for whether it’s reliable, I’ll need you to verify it thoroughly.

In these fragments of my life, I’ve also seen myself. I used to walk through life with everything planned down to a tee, and very rarely would anything outside my plan happen, so I never gave too much thought to it. But in the days since meeting you, I’ve seen a different side of myself grow. For the first time ever, I saw how life could be colourful, and unbeknownst to myself, I’ve even become accustomed to that part of my life, that part which you’ve changed. I’m already looking forward to that future version of myself, so much transformed I won’t be able to imagine him. 

It seems like it’s been a long time since we last met. So, as compensation, don’t you think you should tell me all your reflections from reading my letters? I enclose the remaining stamps with this letter. 

I look forward to your reply, very much.

-Xu Mo

Translation Notes:

Literally translated, Xu Mo actually says “I’ve seen a different kind of growth”, which I’ve interpreted as “a different side of myself grow”. 

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Even if he’s Ares, I still trust him.

I LOVE ALL OF HIM

No one can change my mind.

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Into Your World [Xu Mo Character Study]

I’m back with another post that’s been rattling around in my brain, except it’s a bit disconnected. However, there’s been a theme that I’ve wanted to focus in on with Xu Mo: each other’s worlds, their dreams (goals and/or fancies), and water imagery.

Contains spoilers for Chapter 24 and unreleased dates in ENG.

First, I want to give a disclaimer that MC is pretty much the only person who can get into the mens’ inner worlds, and that’s why they’re the romantic main characters; but there’s just something a little poignant with Xu Mo because of his archetype.

Li Zeyan’s archetype makes him belong to another world because of his wealthy background and social status. Zhou Qiluo’s archetype makes him belong to another world because it’s the dark side of humanity, and he actively tries to keep MC away from that. Bai Qi’s archetype is how they’re already in the same world and they just need to open up to each other LOL he’s the guy next door.

However, Xu Mo’s archetype is literally the alienated genius [Official Life History] since he was a child and, after he lost his parents, he just threw himself into his studies and goals and didn’t bother making connections with anyone.

Xu Mo: Mm, I graduated early.

Xu Mo’s tone was normal, as if it were a matter unrelated to him and there was no sense of pride at all. However, it still made people impressed.

MC: So, when you were in high school, you spent all your time studying?

Xu Mo: At that time, yes.

MC: Why?

Xu Mo: Silly, why are there so many why’s? It’s just like when you were going to take your entrance exams, there were things I also needed to do.

[Blossom Date - CN Translation]

Heck, even now, MC is the only one he replies to in his Moments [Official Character Profile].

Since the moment we meet him, he takes on the “mentor” role and teaches MC about things. She mentions this all the time, about how he teaches her the laws of the world, etc. Xu Mo is innately part of another world because the realm of geniuses is not supposed to be understood.

However, this isn’t a one-way street. Just as we can’t understand them, they can’t understand us. So, as MC makes an effort to understand Xu Mo, he is also making an effort to understand her.

IMO this is what makes the following interactions extremely tender and romantic.

Keep reading

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Lucien stans, Are you ready?

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Such a lonely back you have... 😭

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Catharsis

It wasn’t exactly one of her best days, but it certainly couldn’t be classified as the worst.

It just…was.

If you had asked her to explain how she felt, she’d tell you she just felt tired. Maybe a little sad. A bit melancholy. 

Nostalgic for something she couldn’t place.

So when she found herself in tears in the restroom at work after a particularly tough client had given her a hard time, she chalked it up to stress. There had been a lot going on in her life lately, and she was tired. 

Worn out. 

Overwhelmed. 

She thought after a good cry, it would be over. But upon returning home, she was just. So. Tired.

Without even taking off her shoes, she threw herself into bed and fell asleep almost immediately. 

When she woke again, the room was pitch black; the sun had set hours ago. She stretched, then curled back into herself, recalling the events of the day. A single tear escaped and trailed across her nose, but before it could drip onto the pillow, a cool, smooth fingertip swiped it away. Upon her cheek, a palm was pressed, and she leaned into it, the tears now coming fast and profuse.

“I’m here,” Lucien whispered. She felt him shift his weight toward her, then she was lifted into his arms, cradled against his chest as she sobbed. 

She tried to speak, but the words came out in strained syllables, barely audible over her anguish. 

“You don’t have to tell me. I’m here. Relax. Breathe deep…there is time.”

He was right. There was always time. To heal. To cry. To wallow in the sadness for a little while. 

But the time would come when she would dry her tears, and rise again. And he would be there then, too. It never lasted forever. Right in those moments of deepest despair, though, she always felt there was no easy way out. 

There would be light.

There would be color.

There would be Lucien. Waiting for her on the other side.

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Ares, let me hug you.

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🚨🚨🚨🚨SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨🚨

EPISODE 6!!

I can’t stop crying. He’s been through a lot. 😭

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Such a beautiful creature 😭💜🦋

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Who said he doesn’t love her?