CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 182: CAO MING’S DREAM

Chapter 182: Cao Ming’s Dream

When night came before the second round of competition, Qin An quietly used his spiritual energy to send Bai Yue on Cao Ming’s dream to have a conversation.

"You only have the time tonight, Bai Yue."

"I understand." Bai Yue nods and he also has no plans to have a long time because his brother will certainly have to take a rest after this.

Inside the dream, Cao Ming saw himself standing in an unfamiliar yet familiar place that he didn’t expect.

It was the rooftop that was seen from Bai Ling’s video. Was this the night when ’he’ died? Cao Ming looked around to confirm his thoughts and all the things around were really from that time.

This made him stunned. He couldn’t figure out why he’s in this place. Or was he dreaming? But before he could dwell on those thoughts, he was even more surprised by the next situation.

The scene suddenly flashed and he was now standing near the end of the railing facing someone who’s facing his back on him.

"!!!"

Cao Ming’s pupil dilated in shock when he recognized the back of that kid in front of him.

It was him. His real half-brother Bai Yue.

The one who died and was supposed to have the life that Bai Ling stole.

The one in front of him was clearly a young kid but even when he was facing his back, the thin physique and lonely temperament isn’t really suitable for him. And with the swaying sleeves of his white cloth by the wind, he also saw the glaring scars carved on his arms.

It was dense and many of the marks were not even that old.

"..."

Cao Ming was shocked and didn’t know how to react to this situation. He remained still and only stared at the real brother in front of him.

Why is he in this place? Why is he seeing him right now?

Was this another scene or will he witness that scene here? That thought made him stiff and he subconsciously looked around to look for Bai Ling but didn’t see anybody around.

And he didn’t even know why he actually sighs in relief at that fact.

Silence engulfed the rooftop and the two remained at their position after a long time that he didn’t know.

It was not until a hoarse voice from that kid broke the silence.

"Will you push me down too?"

Cao Ming was stunned. Push him?

"I’m an illegitimate son from your father’s affair with that woman, the one who destroyed your and your mother’s life."

Cao Ming stood frozen at the mention of his late mother.

His mother who died from an illness probably couldn’t expect that after her death, she will immediately be replaced by someone, right? Or maybe she knew? Cao Ming didn’t know.

Ever since he was a child, he just thought that his life was perfect before those two came to their life. He was under the fact that his father was someone he admired and he had to take care of his mother because she’s sick. He just wanted to protect her at that time.

But things quickly changed after her death. He couldn’t even mourn for her for too long because they came and turned his life upside down drastically and without even letting him catch his breath.

At first, he even thought that maybe his father was too sad and just wanted someone to fill the void of his heart. If that was his decision, he would certainly respect that and will try to be nice to her. But who would expect that she was actually his mistress that he kept for a long time.

What was even more unacceptable was when he learned her plans such as making her son become outstanding from the start. Wouldn’t that mean that she was actually expecting for her inside his family? What about his father? Does he know her plans too? Was he really just using his mother for his greed?!

What about him? What about his fatherly love? Was it all just a facade because he was just using him too? And now that Bai Ling appeared, did he leave him out like that?!

So everything was planned? That they only waited for his mother’s death before shamelessly claiming what they aren’t?!

That thought made him forget the situation he was in. Hatred grew inside his heart again but he felt even more helpless. What can he do in that situation anyway?

His mother was already dead, Bai Ruan and Bai Ling were in the prison while he had no power to say anything in front of his father.

"If I jump... will you pull me?"

Cao Ming was pulled out from his own reverie after hearing Bai Yue’s words.

He looked at Bai Yue and responded to him. "Why would I? As you’ve said, you are a son from such a mistake, why would I pull you if you want to die?"

The kid didn’t respond to his remarks for a second.

"Is it bad to be just normal?" Instead, Bai Yue begins talking about some things. "Mother replaced me with someone else just because he was better, was that enough for her to abandon me?"

"People who are greedy will not be satisfied with anything." Cao Ming commented when he remembered Bai Ruan, Bai Ling and even his father Cao Jun. They are the perfect example of people’s hearts full of greed.

"Even with their own blood?"

Cao Ming sneered. "I’m sure you already knew that."

"... that’s right." Bai Yue chuckles a bit.

Silence envelopes them again after that. Cao Ming stared at the thin back and exhaled a loud breath.

"Have you heard about the afterlife?" he asked. The thin kid finally turned his back slightly to face him. His young face was full of confusion and only when he remembered something.

This kid wasn’t even smart from the beginning, how will he know?

Cao Ming was speechless but since he already started it, he had to continue.

"Afterlife is something you’ll go to after death. Simply put, you’ll live again after death." he explains.

"Really? Wasn’t that a wonderful thing?" Bai Yue said.

"But you’ll forget your past life," he added. Bai Yue nodded and shrugged his shoulders.

"I think it’s not bad to forget."

Cao Ming couldn’t wait to agree to that. It’s even better to forget what happened to this life anyway.

"In any case, if you’ll have an afterlife, you better live your life for yourself. Don’t be too sentimental about blood relations especially if they aren’t even treating you well."

Cao Ming didn’t know why he started saying those words but he couldn’t help it after knowing the latter’s life when he was still alive.

He didn’t know if there’s really an afterlife. The Earth believed that it does so maybe it really exists? It’s just something that probably everyone hopes but at this time, Cao Ming didn’t care if it’s not true because he wanted to believe that it’s real.

Even if he didn’t really know Bai Yue, even if he came from that Bai Ruan who ruined his life— he wanted to believe that it’s true for him, for Bai Yue.

... and maybe for himself too.

It turns out that they are someone who both needed love and family. They were the ones who were supposed to fill that gap inside their heart but fate didn’t let them.

If Bai Ling didn’t intervene, can he accept him and treat him as his brother? He didn’t know.

... but if it’s him, Cao Ming felt he wouldn’t hate him like how he felt for Bai Ling.

"Okay." Bai Yue gave him a soft smile on his face and nodded as if what he’s saying would come true.

"..." Cao Ming went silent after seeing that and looked away. He went near the railing with distance between them and looked down.

He saw how tall they were and couldn’t help but remember how Bai Yue died.

He was pushed down to this height. For sure it was definitely scary. It’s also painful more than anything else.

From this kid’s thin body, how could he even withstand the pain? He never.

Cao Ming unknowingly clenched his fist that he didn’t notice. How painful was that night? It’s not just about being dead but probably about the betrayal he faced, right?

"If I’ll have an afterlife, I want you to be my brother."

Cao Ming paused at what he heard.

"Can I?" He didn’t answer.

Bai Yue smiled knowingly and raised his head to stare at the night sky. Different from that night where there were no stars to accompany him, the sky tonight is dense with tiny lights above.

He had company, not just the stars but also his brother.

"But if I won’t have it.. It’s alright." He continued. He was about to say that what happened tonight satisfies him forever but to his surprise, that words seems to stimulate Cao Ming and glares at him.

"Why do you say that it’s fine when it’s clearly not?!"

***