From Apocalypse To Entertainment Circle (BL)-Chapter 43: The Last Embrace of a Forgotten Soul

Honestly, Sian’s childhood was as tragic as Romeo and his friends in the anime, except that, unlike Romeo, Sian had no friends at all.

He suffered alone, worked hard since childhood, and was harassed constantly in the orphanage.

He was always a breathtakingly beautiful child—a delicate doll of a child who had everyone wanting to take him home and give him the happy life he so rightly deserved.

Somehow, though, nobody ever adopted him.

He grew up in the orphanage, studying diligently to secure scholarships since the orphanage didn’t cover his school expenses. At seventeen, he aged out of the system and was left to fend for himself.

That was three years ago.

Sian completed high school but was deceived by his so-called best friend and tricked into signing a ten-year contract with an entertainment company.

That ’friend’ had orchestrated the bullying Sian endured, only to swoop in like a hero and ’save’ him, making himself appear righteous and kind.

Sian watched the memories unfold, seeing how that boy manipulated the young, naive original Sian, convincing him not to accept adoption because ’strangers would mistreat him.’

That was one of the reasons he had never been adopted.

That... was cruel.

Sian found it strange that such a young child could possess such intelligence and malice in manipulating others.

This person... wasn’t normal.

Sian continued watching the memories unfold, finding them all too familiar—a cliché movie plot where a ’green tea whore’ successfully deceives a beautiful yet foolish protagonist, making him look like a jealous villain while playing the innocent victim.

And of course, the cold-hearted CEO—who initially had a good impression of Sian—fell right into the trap.

Honestly... how had someone with such non-existent emotional intelligence managed to run an empire all this time?

Before waking up, Sian saw the original looking straight at him. The scene shattered like glass, leaving them in a vast, white space.

Sian stood still as the boy approached him step by step.

"Hello, Brother," the original Si’an said slowly, his gaze shy.

Sian couldn’t bring himself to correct him and say that he wasn’t his brother.

Perhaps because he had seen others’ memories—his loneliness and suffering. This kid never had anyone to love him since he was a child. He had been alone, seeking love—whether it be family love, romantic love, or even the love of friends.

He had but a single friend, a snake disguised as a rabbit, who had tricked and led him down into the depths. Sian felt a slight pang of sorrow and sympathy for this little boy, so he permitted him to call him "brother."

"Do you want to go back?". Sian asked calmly. Both of them understood what he meant by that question.

Honestly, even if Sian loved this peaceful world, he wasn’t so selfish as to steal another person’s body and take over their life just to stay here. If this child wanted to reclaim his body and his place in this world, Sian would accept it without hesitation.

But the other boy simply smiled and shook his head gently.

"This is your body now, Brother. I hope you live a good and peaceful life, just as you always dreamed," he said. "Just as my memories are now yours, your memories are mine as well. So, I sincerely wish for you to have a wonderful life in this world. And... if possible, I hope you find a family who loves you, friends, and even someone special. I hope you get everything I never could."

Sian was surprised to learn that the boy had seen his memories as well.

Not because he minded—it wasn’t about privacy—but because his past had never been something pleasant to witness.

Then he looked at the boy standing before him, now spreading his arms wide. No, he was asking for a hug.

"Brother, may I have a hug once?"

Sian stood frozen, his heart racing as he gazed upon the boy’s body shining with pale spots of light. The cracks, as fine lines on a delicate sculpture, scored the boy’s flesh, spreading gradually as if the very material of him was cracking. Panic flooded Sian, but at this instant, time crawled.

In a flash of instinct, he took a step forward, his impatience pushing him to do something. He enveloped the boy in a close embrace, the heat passed from his own body against the cold that seemed to seep from the cracks. Sian felt the boy’s fragile state, the fine tremors running through him, and clung to him the more tightly as if, by sheer willpower, he could mend the cracks.

Gently, Sian brushed the boy’s hair, his fingers weaving soft strands of hair together, offering comfort and solace. He spoke softly, surrounding them with a protective cocoon. The sparks of light shone and glimmered, a ghostly but magical sight, but all Sian could focus on was the smooth rise and fall of the boy’s breathing against his own.

Softly, Sian combed the hair of the boy, his fingers weaving strands of soft hair into braids, providing comfort and solace. He spoke softly, wrapping them in a warm cocoon. The flashes of light glowed and sparkled, an ethereal but enchanting sight, but all Sian could focus on was the smooth rise and fall of the boy’s breathing against his own.

Softly, in his gentle voice, he said low, "You did well, little brother. You were always good. This world was cruel to you—not you. None of it was your fault. Not anything."

As he finished, a warmth that was unexpected filled Sian’s skin, and he recognized it as the weight of tears—his own grief blending with that of the original Sian, whose stifled weeping pressed down on him like a cold echo. The pure, unmitigated sorrow was palpable as if the essence of longing and loss enveloped them both. freewebnøvel.com

At that moment, he understood—sometimes, what a person yearns for is not revenge, love, or even belonging. Sometimes, all they need is to be reminded that it wasn’t their fault. That their miserable life wasn’t because of them. That their suffering and tragic fate weren’t self-inflicted. That they were enough.

Sian was wrapped bundled in this hug of comfort forever, and he kept the boy close to his breast.

He could sense the gentle throb of his heart, the gentle in and out of the air entering and leaving his lungs, and the gentle heat seeping from his little body. All else faded as they were bathed in this valuable time, a protective bubble of safety and security surrounding them in tranquility. Suddenly, he felt a vacuum fill his arms, as if they were cooled by the heat and weight once carried and now filled with a vacuum that ached him with a loneliness of loss and longing.

This was when he knew—the child was lost.

He had crossed behind life’s curtain, a shadow lost to light, never to re-step on this earth’s earth once more.

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Erato-san has something to say:

It’s heartbreaking to see someone go through such tough times. It’s important to show compassion and support, especially for those like baby Sian who have faced so much hardship. A little kindness and understanding can make a world of difference in their lives. Let’s keep spreading love and empathy.

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