The first rays of sunlight shone softly on the city streets, bringing with it a rosy glow in the sky. A new day had arisen and the world welcome another flurry of morning activities and works. Alarm clocks ringing, kids boarding their school bus, adults driving slowly or hurriedly on the road. Everyone is doing their own thing on this new day.
A peaceful coffee shop is seen bustled with customers on the side of the road today just like any other day before. A long queue can be seen. Some wears office attires, some still in their sportswear and some wears simple outfits. Most of them waited patiently in the long queue, playing with their tablets or phones while some just chatted leisurely with their partners.
An earthy warm, rich coffee aroma wafted out of the café to the people outside. It makes them stretch out their neck to catch a whisp of the smell, engraving it in their mind. Morning coffee with a just right heaviness of cocoa, added along the smell of baked buns and breads. It was a peaceful day. This shop is called Café Royale.
Ding!
The café's door opened and a boy with a chestnut hair step out. His apron is still tied to his slim figure, adding a sunny temperament to the still immature face paired with a pure smile.
"Good morning and good day. I apologized for the long waiting time. Guests can come in now" His soft voice echoed in the busy street. The people who were queuing step inside the café in a straight line like a good student. They can't help it. The soft and pure voice making it feels like being noisy will blaspheme the boy.
Gasps could be heard once the people were inside. If the boy at the door exudes innocent aura, then the one who is currently decorating a bun at the counter right now is a definition of an angel. His appearance can't be described in words.
The people inside are new customers. They come here because someone had posted on the country's forum yesterday that the new café has a very beautiful boy and his crafts are top notch. The buns, beverages, foods, cakes and the cookies here tasted divine. The café always open and closes whenever the orders are full. These customers have been betting their morning and works just to have a taste of it.
"Good morning, miss. What can I do for you?" The voice brings back everyone's thoughts. A smiling face is currently looking at the first person on the line and the person who receives such kind smile started blushing uncontrollably.
"Can I have a uh …. A small cup of cafe latte plus two pieces of cheese toasts?" The girl shyly ordered which the man on the counter nods softly. "Is that all?" He asks patiently. The girl nodded again and the man hands in her receipt.
The rest of the queue were handled unhurriedly but orderly. Everyone seated on their preferable seats. The inside of the café is a new environment. It was a royalty theme café. From the door view, an ochre yellow carpet is placed on the tile floor. It was actually an old café before this new, young owner take over the building. So, the carpet was just left there by the new owner and it can be seen that he still cherishes the carpet. The lights inside the café are soft and warm, creating a cozy atmosphere that most places missed out.
The blue sky outside is dotted with fluffy, white and clean clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze of the morning. More and more people attracted to the sweet and warm smell emanating from the comfortable café. The sound of the bell ringing continuously throughout the whole morning and slowly fades away when noon arrives. Only then can the two boys inside take a breather.
"The numbers of people coming here keep increasing, right?" The boy whose face stuck in his 17 sighed comfortably upon rested on the soft couch. There were beads of sweat glistening on his nose bridge.
The man who cleans a mug heard his smug tone and instantly chuckled. The soft voice bringing pleasure to the listener.
"Mingzhe, if you keep up your soft boyfriend voice on me, I believed I'll bent tomorrow" The boy, Yize, snorted funnily. He twisted his body to find a more comfortable position to rest while maintaining his sight with the slender figure on the counter.
The bright sunshine pours from the window glass, bathing the body in a vibrant colour full of youthful vitality. The already beautiful face instantly burst to an enchanting glow; glittered like the sparks of the finest diamond; like a lucid dream in countless peaceful nights blooming vividly.
Yize still remembers his first impression the moment his sigh fell upon the gorgeous face. The boy, on the spur of moment started questioning his sexuality. It was such a bizarre yet such fathomable experience.
Mingzhe is a mysterious existence. No one knows where he comes from, or the reason for such a noble man chose to reside in this small city. He always carried elegance and etiquette in each of his moves, like a professional aristocrat. He smiles sweetly, eyes sparkle with tiny lights, pure of kindness and benevolence; just like his name. At first, Yize thought that Mingzhe is a retired model whose dream is to live like an ordinary person, living a simple retirement life. However, there was no models in this world related to Mingzhe. Yize's family is not a wealthy family. In spite that, to require a person's information is not a hard thing for Yize. Despite that, he found nothing at all about his current boss. He is blank like a white sheet of canvas; like the purest morning dew.
"We will take a break tomorrow" Mingzhe softly speak, his tone almost making Yize's knees weak. Honestly, Yize think he will be bent sooner or later.
Mingzhe casts a glance at the lazy cat on the couch. The outside is scorching hot because it is summer now. Mingzhe plans to take an early rest today. His body aches a lot due to all the non-stop orders the whole morning. His body is still not used to works like this.
"I'm worried your frail being cannot withstand the torment of the world" His father sighed worriedly, caressing Mingzhe's soft silver hair. Mingzhe chuckled at his father's baseless concerns.
"Father, how could this son of yours could understand the world if the only thing he ever did was being held in your callous palm?" Mingzhe answered softly, clasping his father's warm hand against his own.
The man stares at the overly, bewitching face; just like his beloved wife. His teardrop only added a fatal charm to his already stunning appearance. His only son, beget from his only wife.
Mingzhe shakes his head at the short memory of his father. To experience the world, to brings kindness and goodness to this fragile world, to cater to his inner feelings – He chose to experience it on his own.
After the café closed, Mingzhe and Yize went back to their respective residents. The sky had already shed its bright blue colour, now changes to a bit of oranges and pink hues. The evening comes before the sky darkens and stars become visible.
Yize offered to send Mingzhe off but the latter shook his head, intending to take a walk back to his own home. He enjoys the evening breeze, the smell of dried grass and listening to the flapping sounds of the birds coming back home. He enjoys every little thing this world could offer.
There is a small, short bench on the side of the road. It was located in front of Mingzhe's small house where he resides. Seeing as the time is still early for dinner, he plans to sit for a while and admire the colours spreading on the sky. It reminds him of a painting he once saw.
There are others in the close vicinity but Mingzhe paid them no attention. His hazel, silvery orbs stuck to the sky, seemingly caught up in a long, almost forgotten memory. On the corner of the beautiful memory, a man stood with his back against the sunset. It casts a breathtaking glow to his figure, like an elf bestowed upon the world by the God. A pampering and soft smile formed on his full lips, eyes gleaming with loves and adoration for his beloved.
"Darling, the apple of my eyes" Lover's whispers tickles his ears, turning the fair skin reddish.
Mingzhe drilled into that warm embrace, too shy to look at the love overflowed from the man's green orbs. His ears caught a chuckle escaping from the vibrating chest. It was full of happiness and longing, sweet to the core.
"Will you look at this handsome face of your lover, please? I will be going for a bit longer this time" The deep voice vibrated from the chest again and Mingzhe let out an embarrassed sigh.
He shyly peeked a little and shrank back to the warm embrace after their gazes locking into each other. The man pinched his chin softly, preventing the blushing face to hide away. His face, still with a pampering smile enlarged in front of Mingzhe until a soft kiss landed on the bridge of his nose. "My love, my beloved" He sighs softly. The love pouring from the sigh almost drowned Mingzhe's soul.
"If, this is an if. If I'm gone for far too long and your longing for me couldn't be supressed, I have a gift for you to ease it"
Mingzhe looks up. He tilted his head, a bit confused of the man's words.
"I have gifted you a precious thing. Go to the lower world and find a man named Yize. Everything will fold accordingly after that"
Mingzhe shook his head. He will wait for him. He can do it.
However, the Mingzhe who stares at the sky full of longing and yearning could not hold it in any longer. The moon is up, the stars twinkling on the sky and the streetlights shine brightly onto the road. Without realizing it, Mingzhe had been sitting here for so long.
Is it the right time?
Mingzhe's soft gaze once more struck the sky. It's been so long. Mingzhe is not used to this lonely feeling.
He decided to go back home first and think about the rest after a careful thought.
*********************************************************************************************************
Yize is not an ordinary person. At least, in this city his father can be said to be the driving force of this city to thrive excellently for the past few years. After the failed investigation of Mingzhe happened, his curiosity grew like wild weeds on the streets. It's not that Yize wanted to violate the gorgeous, enchanting boss's private affair but deep down he felt a close connection towards the elegant man. He was thinking about all those lost sibling drama and his heart feel itchy.
"Why are you gazing at the stars like you would gaze at a lover?" A cute voice sounded from below his thighs and his sight immediately fell on his chubby younger sister, a soft and white little dumpling. She stares at him with wet eyes. So well behaved but her innocent question almost makes Yize choked.
"Who told you about all these lover's gaze and whatnot?" Yize picks her up, holding her carefully and pinches her round cheeks. "Xinyi is naughty' Yize took a bite of her lovely round cheek and smooch it.
Xinyi smiles and kiss her brother back. Her tiny hand holding tightly to her brother's chestnut hairs. "Papa said big brother lacks a lover's care" Xinyi landed another personal attack. Yize grits his teeth secretly. His father didn't even care to at least give him some face in front of his younger sister. He's at the bottom of the food chain, it seems.
Suddenly, his silent phone vibrated. It is a call from Mingzhe. "Xinyi, go to papa first. Big brother needs to take this call" Yize kiss that chubby cheek once more and put down the spoiled little girl who nods and scurried away like a hamster.
"Hello, Your Majesty" He picks up the call and teased the man on the other side of the phone. Yize heard a soft laugh; it makes his heart thump like a hundred horses galloping. Really, he might really fall in love sooner or later.
"Yize, are you busy right now? If not, can you come to my house? I have a few important things for you" Mingzhe said in one breath. It is visibly noted in his hurried tone that the task is definitely need to be done tonight.
"Roger, I'll arrived at 8 later" Since Mingzhe invited, there's no reason for Yize to refused.
"Okay, drive safely. I'll be waiting"
The call ended and Yize hurried to his room to take a quick shower.
For some reason, Yize felt a sense of relief coming when he started his car and proceed to Mingzhe's house. It's like there is a long and heavy burden placed on his shoulders for so long has finally lifted. However, Yize is currently a little clueless of this feeling. It came out of nowhere, like a fleeting leaf in summer softly dancing along the gentle breeze and landed on the dried soil. It came and born so abrupt and left so soon.
Yize arrived after almost an hour drive. Although no matter the amounts of times witnessing Mingzhe and his gentleness, Yize's eyes can't help but fall onto the man's every move fill with grace. Mingzhe was just flipping a book. It sounds like an exaggeration but at this silence moment, Yize once more realized how close he is to an angel.
"Huh? Ah, you came" Mingzhe sounds a bit surprised. He truly forgot that Yize knew his door's passcode and that the security downstairs already recognized his one and only employee.
Yize let out a light laugh upon hearing the soft, nasal tone of the gorgeous man wrapped up in the white shirt. The colour makes his fair skin turned a shade paler than usual. It carries a bit of alluring charm making his face a lot gentle.
Yize sits on the extra chair, arms folded on his chest as his legs spread open. His leisurely action did not affect his youthful air the slightest and Mingzhe also didn't bother to make a comment on his antics.
"Yize, the first system to have its own consciousness; return to your realm"
Yize, who forgot to react suddenly felt a strong vortex pulling him. Everything happened in an instant. When his blurry views cleared, he almost screamed at the enlarged face of Mingzhe. Mingzhe is still the same man who carries nobility and grace in his entire being but right now Mingzhe is a little bit massive for the ball of fluff flying on the air. Mingzhe, for once, had a rare shocked expression on his beautiful face. He touched the rounded ball and it twitch around trying to avoid his finger. It even trying to strike back but bounce back because the fur is too fluffy, like a ball of soft clouds on the sky.
"Yize, you can talk" Mingzhe hid his amusement in a fake cough. He feels a bit guilty after that happened. Yize might sulked and pouted if he was in his human form right now.
"Mingzhe, what happened?" A rather calm voice spoke from the fluffy ball. Mingzhe tried to resist the urge to pinch it.
"You're originally a system. You were created by a man closest to me to aid me with tasks in different worlds. I was initially tried to hold it in, but my longing for this man hurts my mind and torment my heart. Thus, I have decided to finally asking for your help, as your main task as my system is to help me ease this yearning" Mingzhe shyly spoke, his cheeks stained a pink colour.
Yize is a bit dumbfounded. "What is a system?" He dumbly asks. Honestly, his mind is in chaos and he can't comprehend the words coming out from Mingzhe at all.
Mingzhe sighed guiltily. He touched the round, soft ball. "It'll be a lot easier if I just give you back your lost memories" As he spoke, a golden warm light penetrated Yize.
The memories clearly started from the day Yize born, being held and perfected by another handsome man and was kept in the lower realm to bask in people's goodwill.
"Yize, your responsibility is to help my beloved visiting me in these worlds. I can't stop this yearning of mine, what more for Mingzhe who has been pampered and spoiled by me for hundred of years" The warm voice echoed in Yize's consciousness.
Yize gave a light glow twice. The man turned around, holding a golden bracelet on his hand.
"I have to seal your memories and I'll send you to the lower realm. There, you have to spread kindness and goodness to the people. After all, kindness is the reason I named you Yize. Only by then can you gain their goodwill. These wishes of people will strengthen your power and when the right time comes for Mingzhe, he will unseal your memories"
Yize twitch and then shone brighter. It said that it agrees. It feels grateful to be born into this world and hopes to help as long as it still can.
Yize was sent to the Earth, being reborn as a son to a good family. His education was perfect, nobility and royalty inside and outside. His family spreads grace and kindness in the world which is a great lesson for the blank paper Yize.
Yize met Mingzhe as soon as he turned 22. All of these because Yize stated that he wanted to work and experience the world. Funnily enough, Mingzhe have the same goal. The two soon acquainted and became close.
[::>_<:: !!!!]
Mingzhe caressed the still overwhelmed Yize. He understood the man's bewilderment and confusing feelings.
[Mingzhe, after you reunited with him, will I still be able to meet my family here? (>'-'<)]
Mingzhe almost laughing out loud. Looks like Yize have long gotten attached to the people here. "Absolutely, you will see them again and live like before" Mingzhe reassured the restless fluffy ball.
[Yay! Thank you! Long Live Mingzhe! Then, I will call you Host?]
Mingzhe did not have such high requirements but out of the blue, his heart wanted to do a bit of mischief. "Yes, call me Host or Master" Mingzhe solemnly declared.
[Host! I have received information from my database. It is a complete manual of what I can do. Do you want me to explain?]
Well, Yize sure gets into his character without any difficulties. Mingzhe nodded as he also seemed to have a bit of confusion as to how the system operates. Years living in this world had taught Mingzhe so many things including reading all these novels about people who transmigrates to other universe using a system. However, from what Mingzhe first saw on the instructions left by the man, Yize's system is a little bit different from all the systems he had read. After all, Yize is a real thing and not a character is a book.
(Author's Note: I hope no one tell Mingzhe anything, okay? O(≧口≦)o)
It was past midnight. The dim lights in the room are still brightly lit, bathing Mingzhe and the ball of fluff in a golden glow. Yize is floating on the air, his face can't be seen but his gesture is quite a bit lively for a person who receives such shock for the first time. In the far distance, there is still a bit sound of vehicles, paired with continuous sounds of dogs barking. In the vast starry sky, the moon hung high, bestowing the world with its soft light.
Yize took a deep breath. Honestly, he thought of these changes to be the reason of his sudden light feeling earlier. It was like he knew subconsciously that this time have comes.
[Host, my system will bring you to transmigrate to approximately six worlds in different universe. In these worlds, host's soul won't be put into an already existing body. Instead, you will come as yourself. Master have made changes in these worlds to accommodate your soul and body. By the time we arrived in these new worlds, you will already have all the benefits Master provided for you. Your task is to live a good life while finding Master's soul in these universes. After the both of you met, things will proceed just as both of you see fits]
Mingzhe nods. So, all he has to do is going on this transmigration, find his man and live a good life. Yize is definitely a different system. And according to this information, the man whose Yize called Master had arranged his life to be a smooth journey. His heart throb. No matter where and when, he always brings the best of the best for Mingzhe. This is the reason Mingzhe never regret his decision to accept the unconditional loves from him, and also giving back the same loves from his heart to the man.
[Host, you will have to go through different universe and different lives as yourself. Will you be alright, adapting to all the changes?] Yize's worried and concern voice echoed. The ball even bounces on Mingzhe's soft, beautiful palm.
Mingzhe snapped out of his thought and flicked the ball. It bounces away but still floating back to the warm palm. "Of course, I will. I have a question. Are there any rewards, or system shop, points, and small task to complete in those worlds?" Mingzhe is a bit curious about these things. He saw it in a novel last Friday, that a system will provide tasks to complete and the host will be given rewards or punishment accordingly.
[Yes, Host. However, this system doesn't have a punishment requirement. Only rewards, guide and a small task. For example, host needs to help a student with his/her studies until he/she lives a successful life. After the completion, no matter if it is a failure or a success, a reward will be given to host. Host have to be careful as these worlds have its own consciousness. So, anything out of the norm can greatly harming host, internally or externally. Host can access to this system's shop, rank E to SSS easily as Master had given host full control over it]
Mingzhe is a bit surprised. This is like a vacation for him. The only thing he have to look out for is the world's consciousness. It's easy and most of all, he can find his man too. Mingzhe is a bit excited for his first ever journey. He wanted to know and experiences all the world his man had gone to. In the past, he couldn't do anything to help. Now, he has at least a chance to provide simple help at the very least for the one who lives in his heart.
Yize watched as Mingzhe lost in his thoughts, sometimes blushing and sometimes frowning. He wanted to tell Mingzhe about the fact that Master might already lost his memories in these worlds but Yize hesitated to pop the beautiful pink bubbles emanating from the gorgeous being.
Master, wait for us.
After a long discussion, Mingzhe and Yize decided to start their first journey tomorrow. It was past midnight and both of them haven't gotten proper rest. Yize also wanted to spend a little time with his family and mostly, his spoiled Xinyi.
For the first time. Mingzhe sleep deeply, dreaming of all the past memories of them. Pursuit, confession, proposal and marriage. Happiness could be seen engulfed the slender figure on the soft bed, covered with a thick light blue duvet.
Goodnight, my Muchen.