Side Story: Hell on Earth
Chapter 117
Mind Connection
Belief raised an eyebrow.
"That's cool, but how do we play?"
Ange listened to their intriguing conversation:
"Simple, we're playing hide-and-seek. Whoever finds the other within the time limit proves how well they know each other."
Belief nodded and added:
"I have another idea. Each person writes their thoughts on a piece of paper and hides it anywhere in the villa. We play Rock-Paper-Scissors; the loser must guess where the winner hid their paper. If they guess right, the loser must hide, and the winner must find them. If both of us succeed, it proves we truly understand each other."
Ji clapped in approval. The two shouted, "Rock, Paper, Scissors!" Ange gently lifted her pillow, stealing a glance at her sister and husband as they began the game.
After Belief lost, he had to close his eyes and face the wall so his wife could write on the paper. Ji ran out, then returned to the room, signaling Belief to begin his search.
He lightly kissed his wife's lips and started hunting with great enthusiasm. The time limit was already half over, but the smartphone remained silent. Ji stayed calm, yet Ange grew worried for her sister. Forgetting what had just happened, she whispered:
"Time is running out; how can you not be worried?"
Ji suppressed a smile, seeing her plan to "save Ange from embarrassment" nearing success. The elder sister moved closer to the younger one, hugging her to express absolute trust in Belief:
"He will never let us down!"
At the word "us", Ange buried her mahogany-flushed face back into the pillow. Ji looked at her adorable sister with a smile and whispered in her ear:
"A girl who doesn't know how to be shy isn't a girl at all. But my silly sister, we are family with him, we are husband and wife. Did you forget what Mom said? This kind of thing is normal between a married couple."
Ange murmured so softly that Ji had to press her ear against the girl's cheek to catch every word:
"But… every time he… does that… I… I… my face burns, my whole body trembles… it even fills the room with strange sounds… and… it seems… I can't control my inner urge to urinate…"
Her voice grew smaller and smaller. By the end, those words "inner urgency" became almost inaudible. Ji had to rely on the typical bashfulness of a virgin who dared not face her lover to guess Ange's intent. The elder sister smiled:
"That water isn't the kind of "urine" you're thinking of…"
Ange's eyes widened, innocently asking what it was. The "sex education teacher" skillfully explained to her sister why she felt excited, why the room was filled with strange sounds… and… why Ange had lost control, eventually mistaking it for something shameful.
Fearing her sister would be too embarrassed to ask, Ji explained in detail:
"If you, I, or any girl didn't have such high emotions, that would be abnormal and worrying."
The elder sister smiled at her sister's crimson face. Ange dove under the blanket, covering her bare body.
"Silly girl, that's a normal physiological response. People call it a natural instinct. All girls are the same. Mom and I are no exception!"
Ange stuttered for a long while before saying:
"But… it seems… compared to you that night, I was even more excited…"
Ji gave an "Oh":
"Which night? I don't know what you mean."
Ange blurted out:
"Three days ago."
Ji froze, instantly recalling that passionate night with Belief. She blushed but quickly dispelled the awkwardness. She deliberately teased her sister, just as they used to when they were still carefree, tickling Ange until the little girl burst into laughter:
"Ah… this little brat! Dare to tease your sister? I'll teach you a lesson, I'll tickle you to death… hee hee…"
Ange giggled, repeatedly saying:
"I'll stop, I'll stop, I'm sorry."
The two sisters lay happily in each other's arms. Ji explained the reason for Ange's heightened emotions:
"Maybe you're ovulating today, so you're more excited than usual. Every woman has a period in the month when her desire is at its peak. It's very similar to the excitement you feel when being intimate with your husband. Coincidentally, I am ovulating today too."
Ange widened her eyes and looked up at her. Ji smiled, stroking her sister's rosy cheek:
"This means that today, we are most likely to conceive."
Ange's gaze wavered slightly, her red cheeks puffed out a bit, and a shy smile lingered at the corners of her mouth. The awkward atmosphere gradually dissipated as the smartphone rang. Ji turned on the speakerphone so Ange could hear Belief's voice:
"Honey, I found it."
Ji asked her husband to read the contents of the paper. Ange listened intently to her husband's soft voice:
"You wish for our family to have many children and grandchildren, to always be safe, and to stay together for a hundred years!"
Belief laughed and urged his wife to hide quickly:
"In ten minutes, I'll come looking for you."
Ji said in surprise:
"Did you remember incorrectly? The one who lost is the one who should hide."
Belief laughed:
"Ah, I am your husband. A husband should be the one to seek his wife; why should I let my wife work hard to find me? I am a man; I must properly pamper my women."
Ji understood his meaning and smiled, making an excuse that she had to find a place to hide quickly, otherwise Ange would hide under the blanket and refuse to come out again. A moment later, a clear sound of laughter came from outside the room.
Ange opened her eyes slightly and saw Belief carrying Ji back to the bed. Her husband gave a gentle smile, and the little wife hid under the blanket once more. He lay down beside her and whispered to Ange:
"Do you like playing this mind connection game with me? I hope we can understand each other better!"
Sweet words, gentle and moderate behavior, and respect for his beloved wives in everything from small to large matters… all of this allowed Ange's mind to settle. The little girl thought silently, and after a moment of inner struggle, Ange whispered:
"I promised to listen to my mother, my sister, and… you."
Ji and Belief both laughed. When Ange timidly played Rock-Paper-Scissors with her husband, they both remained silent, avoiding looking directly at the little girl. Belief deliberately lost; he closed his eyes and turned toward the wall. Ange held the pen, earnestly writing line by line.
The little girl folded the note neatly. Originally, Ange was supposed to go hide alone, but she was very timid, so Ji had to accompany her. She draped a coat over Ange's shoulders, and they walked out of the room together.
At this moment, there were only the three of them in the villa. Because they worried that too many people would make Ange embarrassed, the soldiers and servants had been sent home on leave. Ten minutes later, Ji called him.
He carefully analyzed Ange's personality, her likes and dislikes, and all possible hiding places. Belief was not surprised that Ange and that piece of paper were hidden in the same spot.
He looked at his smiling little wife, and saw Ange gently handing the paper to her husband. Belief chuckled softly, unfolded the "letter", and read:
"We are your wives; Ji and I will take care of you for a lifetime. From now on, I will strive to adapt to married life and become your strong support, a good wife who loves you just like Ji. If I make a mistake, please teach me; if I am clumsy, please give me time!"
Belief gently pressed his hand against her burning cheek:
"We are a married couple, we are a family. You and Ji are both my wives. I am your husband, not an enemy or a stranger. We are equals."
Ange nodded slightly, understanding Belief's meaning: be an obedient wife and listen to her husband, but there was no need to beg timidly. Belief excitedly lifted the "Angel" high:
"Thank the spirits for their blessing; thank the Goddess of Love for bringing us together."
Ange hurriedly clung to Belief's shoulders… because… her husband was spinning around in excitement, laughing out loud:
"Come, congratulate me, my dear wives! Congratulate the happiest, luckiest man in the world!"
Ji's eyes were filled with happiness. Love had been sown in everyone's hearts for a long time, and now it was finally bearing fruit. When she saw the two most important people in her life expressing their love so intensely, she gave a brilliant smile. Belief supported Ange's back, lifting his wife up. The little wife felt panic, fearing she might fall, and her husband whispered:
"Rely on a solid point of support… through your feet."
Ange was confused and did not understand. Whenever she felt flustered or embarrassed, she sought help from her family. Ji smiled and demonstrated the movement for Ange to imitate. The Angel lowered her bashful face, hesitated for a long moment, and her svelte legs slowly crossed, hooking around Belief's waist.
Belief maintained his balance, walking closer to the princess's bedside. Every step was accompanied by a sweet kiss upon her rosy lips, gently touching a heart that throbbed with emotion... listening to its own wholehearted wish to care for her husband:
"You… I… I… want… want to "cherish" you like Sister Ji does."
This innocent, shy Angel now boldly expressed her delicate wish. Reading that letter, Belief understood his beloved wife's mind and feelings.
Ange strove to fulfill her duty as a wife, working hard to adapt to married life… not only hoping to hold her husband's heart along with her sister, but also wanting to treasure, love, and take care of everything belonging to her husband.
She wanted to prove that a wife is willing to do everything for her husband, even if facing wind and rain, enduring danger, or confronting the most difficult challenges, while a few days ago, she always felt guilty, mistakenly believing this was terrible bullying.
The final reason that prompted Ange to so carefully cherish her bridal night was—curiosity. Indeed, this innocent, eager-to-learn girl who liked new things had her attention deeply attracted by curiosity. It urged her to find out the reason that made her feel embarrassed and shy, even though her mother and sister said it was normal.
Ange desperately wanted to verify what that feeling was actually like… cringing? Embarrassed? Or as normal as her relatives said… or rather, was there an entirely different sensation, a longing for something she had yet to name?
Ange always felt that her mother and sister had not told her everything, fearing she would not dare to see Belief because she could not hide her embarrassment, because… that shame made her feel that she had already reached the point where she could not hide her shame.
Ange hurriedly shook her head, dispelling her chaotic thoughts, and patted her burning cheeks, wanting the flush to recede. Although Belief felt somewhat perplexed in his heart, he still remained silent, gently laying his wife on the bed.
He refrained from asking, to avoid making his wife feel awkward. No matter how long he needed to wait patiently, this delicate man was still waiting for his wife to "take care of" him.
Ji looked at Ange. The Angel had made up her mind: if her mother and sister can do it, I can do it too. Although the little girl had made up her mind, she was still somewhat hesitant. The elder sister smiled gently, trying to help her overcome the psychological barrier… with… a slight shudder.
The entire villa was equipped with heating, so the people inside could maintain their body temperature no matter how low the temperature outside was. Ji rubbed her arms again, blowing heat into her frost-reddened palms.
Belief soon understood Ji's intention to dissolve the awkward situation. The husband slapped his forehead, blaming himself for being thoughtless and actually forgetting that someone else also needed his affection.
Ange lowered her head, forcefully holding back that meaningful smile; Belief, for his part, blamed himself for being absent-minded, clenching his hands tightly as he apologized to his beloved wife. The little girl felt confused and ashamed because her sister always cared about her loved ones, but she had not remembered her sister.
Ji came over to embrace her husband, and two seconds later, pretended to suddenly remember an important matter:
"We wish to take care of our husband together. But while the two of you are being intimate, it feels a bit inappropriate for me to be right beside you. However, I don't know why I keep shivering. If I continue to lack that kind of warmth, I will get sick."
Ange smiled at her half-joking, half-serious sister; she wanted to make the awkward scene a bit more relaxed, but her tone was both solemn and grave, imbued with extreme respect for her husband and sister.
"So… little wife, let your bridegroom come and warm up the big wife!"
The atmosphere between the three of them was subtle, tinged with a hint of constraint. To avoid embarrassment, Ji did not refer to each other as "sisters." Ange and Belief secretly admired this clever handling.
The elder sister also noticed her younger sister nodding slightly… and… frowning slightly, with fine wrinkles appearing on the bridge of her nose. Because that floral fragrance from the "Sand Castle" still lingered, persistent and inseparable from her "beloved husband."
Ji chuckled inwardly, for Belief had realized this unspeakable matter almost at the same time as she did. The husband stole another glance at the bathroom next to the bedroom. The wife took off her contact lenses and handed them to her husband:
"I forgot to wash my contact lenses tonight, no wonder my eyes are itchy. Can you help me wash them?"
Belief held back a smile as Ange asked her sister with concern. At first, the younger sister did not notice that her elder sister was deliberately distracting her so that Belief could take the chance to go to the bathroom… to clean up… that scent that was bullying this shy little girl. But immediately after, Ange quickly sensed Ji's true intention. The younger sister lowered her head and smiled, while the elder sister said to her husband:
"My eyes are a bit itchy, can you see if they are red?"
Ji moved closer to Belief so that her husband could gently lift her eyelids. The two of them waited for Ange while pretending to concentrate on an "eye exam".
The younger sister understood that her elder sister could not embrace her husband yet, because Ji and her husband both wanted the person who "restarted" the wedding night to be Ange. Ji watched her younger sister tenderly, clearly indicating that she would wait for Ange no matter how long it took.
The younger sister smiled gratefully and looked up at her elder sister. She summoned the courage to face what her relatives did not avoid. Her mother and sister were both women.
They accepted it calmly, believing it was not shameful at all, and even continued to reach a spiritual sublimation with their husband; the family remained happy and harmonious. Ange was also a female, and was about to become… her husband's woman. There was no reason to be afraid or worried anymore.
The Angel closed both eyes, recalling the interaction between Ji and her "husband". She meticulously imitated every sweet kiss, treasuring every minute and caring about every second. Ji silently watched her husband.
Belief watched Ange thoughtfully and carefully as she performed every movement with great deliberation. Every moment of hers was extremely gentle, as if doing so to apologize to her husband for her clumsiness, embarrassment, and sometimes for being too passionate, which forced Belief to endure the pain of slight scratches on his skin.
Whenever this happened, the Angel felt apologetic and worried, looking up at her husband who was enduring the pain; so the little wife compensated with a full, tender, and warm embrace.
Ji silently watched her husband's melancholy state of mind. It was that kind of guilt one felt toward a new marriage when unable to forget an old love.
The suffering was that…
If one were to favor the new and forget the old, a person of great loyalty and affection would feel tormented in front of the one who once shared joys and sorrows, who stood side-by-side during the bitter years, and who laid the foundation for an obscure nobody to achieve a great career.
That heartfelt devotion reminded Ji of the past. Belief's teammates once told the story of the day he had to walk alone, digging a grave to bury his deceased wife; back then, the husband had to fight back his tears.
Some speculated that this was why Belief feared the punishment of the "Hive". Some guessed it was because his beloved wife's soul haunted his heart, unable to be reincarnated, forcing him to hold back his tears. Others believed it was for both reasons. No one knew the exact reason… except Ji.
The night before marrying Belief, Ji went to find him and discovered her fiancé pouring out his heart to his late wife's portrait. He did not let anyone know his feelings. A man who valued heartfelt devotion and affection bore the pain and longing in silence… and then… when talking to the past alone, let all his emotions burst forth.
He remembered every detail and unforgettable moment: those intense battles of life and death, and the scenes where Belief risked his life to save his late wife amidst a storm of bombs and bullets. In return, to save her husband, she had bravely leapt into a sea of fire.
Ji had tasted all the bitterness and suffering alongside Belief—the man who saved her from a gang rape. If he had not killed those perverted soldiers that day, she would have been raped to death long ago.
Fearing a loss of talent, the "Hive" pardoned him from death, but the living punishment was inescapable. The Genocidal Group severely disciplined him: three years of pay cuts and a four-level demotion. Once again, he was empty-handed and had to start from zero.
To repay this kindness, Ji ignored the danger of stray bullets, risking her life time and again in the brutal war to save Belief. Despite the risk of catching a contagious disease, Ji never left his side for a moment, feeding him medicine day and night, caring for every meal, and watching over his every slumber.
His late wife, during her lifetime, never had the chance to care for her husband in the way Ji did. Outsiders once said this was simply a difference in each person's life; but those in the know felt that everyone's fate is predestined.
Whether it was the arrangement of fate or the fact that each had a different life, Belief confessed that his late wife no longer occupied his entire mind. True affection from the current image... had... knocked on the door of a heart that had closed off all past emotions... thinking... it would never open again.
That day, the late wife's radiant, happy portrait… was soaked… with the hot tears of a husband no longer faithful to the one he once loved with all his heart, the one he had protected with his life.
Ji would never forget the guilt of "competing for affection" with Belief's late wife... transforming into... a hallucination of his wife's image, weeping sad tears for her unfortunate fate and mourning her unfulfilled romance.
Belief could not forget his late wife's image, and Ji could not overcome the feeling of being a "third party" that tortured her with guilt. A person who deeply loves others, and a person who values shame, do not wish to feel ashamed before the deceased… and… cannot do wrong to the one who treasures them for the rest of their life.
Belief and Ji had to postpone their wedding. The couple might have been separated forever… if… they had not contracted a strange illness where they did not smile all day.
Sometimes, the two of them were as lifeless as if they had lost their souls; at other times, they absent-mindedly soliloquized into the void… as if… talking to ghosts. The doctors could not find the cause.
The "Hive" felt it would be a pity to waste such rare talents and tried various treatments, even mobilizing psychologists and psychiatrists, but still failed.
Fortunately, that year the "Hive" captured hundreds of prisoners, among whom was a famous female Yin-Yang Master. After calculating the Bazi, she summoned the soul of Belief's late wife to ask the reason.
The late wife said sadly that the integrity of those involved had created an obsession for the deceased... causing... the soul to want release, yet being bound by emotions and karmic marriage from past lives, unable to be reincarnated.
The wife was grateful that her husband still valued her and showed her such devotion. She thanked Ji for saving Belief's life and wished that Ji could take care of him for a lifetime. She advised those in love that although they miss their loved ones, they must let go of obsession.
If the living remain trapped in the past, constantly torturing and agonizing themselves, then the souls of the dead will forever be bound by worldly karma, imprisoned in the sinking sea of bitterness.
Both sides must look to the future so the deceased can return to the eternal world for reincarnation in peace. If they remain stubborn, the deceased might become a wandering ghost, never able to transcend.
Belief wept silently and foolishly before his fiancée, expressing his longing for his late wife. The first wife smiled with satisfaction, peacefully entrusting her husband to this woman who understood his character... and... felt sympathy for a man of loyal love... worthy... of the respect of two life partners until death.
The moment they understood each other's hearts, the separation of Yin and Yang could not stop the family reunion, mourning the one with whom they once shared bed and dreams.
Love transcended the boundaries of emotion. Ji panicked and ran frantically, not letting tears seep into her soul. She stumbled, her skin cut by stones, her knees swollen, her arms trembling, yet she still reached out to the couple who had just reunited only to be separated forever.
Because the soul was gradually dissolving into a pair of deep red eyes, deeply engraving the image of a husband who had lost his spirit and no longer possessed any emotion.
Ji cast a resentful gaze at the female Yin-Yang Master. Because when she had rushed forward earlier, the female Yin-Yang Master warned that the reunion of Belief and his wife was a Golden Path hour; unfortunately, Ji's Bazi clashed with both of them at that moment. If she drew near, the Golden Path hour would instantly turn into a Black Path hour.
The female Yin-Yang Master advised her to maintain a distance from the couple to avoid misfortune and to show respect for the one she cared for. Ji regretted that she had been foolish enough to believe such nonsense.
She wanted to scream, to curse, yet she could not utter a single word; her intense rage drove her to rush frantically toward the female Yin-Yang Master, intent on revenge. The female Yin-Yang Master sighed, restrained Ji, and spoke slowly:
"Calm down and witness the conclusion of this tragic love story; it is not too late to kill me then..."
Ji's face, fierce with fury, burned like a raging fire... then slowly cooled... vanishing into the joy of the spirit's gentle smile. The late wife gazed at her husband one last time... and then... ascended to heaven. Ji pushed the female Yin-Yang Master aside and ran joyfully to embrace her husband.
"At the same moment you are mourning and weeping for me, she is also worried that your tears fall into my soul, and "I" will vanish because of it. It is precisely that heartfelt devotion and affection that has become the only way for my soul to no longer be bound by unfulfilled romance and an unfortunate fate, allowing me to be reborn in peace. Such profound ân tình proves one's heart; it is the final consolation for the deceased and the most meaningful closure for the living. There are no more worries or anxieties; I can now ascend with peace of mind!"
This explanation dispelled the confusion in the hearts of Belief and Ji, and also vindicated the female Yin-Yang Master. According to Eastern beliefs, tears falling on the deceased bring misfortune to the living, and the soul of the deceased will scatter, never able to reincarnate.
If Ji had approached, she would have prevented the husband's hot tears from seeping into the soul of his late wife, and the deceased would have been unable to ascend. Therefore, the female Yin-Yang Master had fabricated a story to keep Ji away, which, in turn, fulfilled Ji's true intentions.
When Ji bowed her head in apology, the female Yin-Yang Master shrugged and accepted it with a smile. Ji and her husband broke into radiant smiles as they thanked her and waved farewell to the soul of the late wife.
"Thank you. From this day forward, he is your husband, and you are his formal wife. I believe you will cherish your husband and care for him until you both grow old with white hair. I wish you both a hundred years of happiness!"
Entrustment and blessings are the most meaningful gifts for those bound by love.