Everyone Is Non-Human Except Me [Rebirth] Chapter 127

“Although the disaster of Kunlun Void’s collapse happened four years ago, many citizens still gather at the city plaza on this day to mourn. They bring flowers and…”

Carrying two plates of breakfast from the kitchen, Wei Huan set them on the dining table and casually turned off the news broadcast. He leaned on the table and sank into thought.

Yun Yongzhou, freshly washed and dressed, walked out of the bathroom. He knew that every year on this day, Wei Huan would inevitably grow quiet and low-spirited. As Wei Huan once said himself, his short twenty-some years of life had been a string of losses—and in the years to come, he’d have to slowly learn to live with more.

It was like shedding skin—a process marked by cycles of pain wrapping around him. Perhaps he was already used to it.

But Yun Yongzhou couldn’t stand seeing him hurt.

Sensing Yun Yongzhou’s presence, Wei Huan looked up and smiled, naturally hooking his arms around his neck. “Morning.” He kissed Yun Yongzhou’s lips affectionately, eyes half-lidded. “I like the smell of that toothpaste.”

“It’s the same as yours.”

“That’s why I like it more.”

Yun Yongzhou rested a hand on his waist and kissed him back, then gently pulled him into his arms and stroked his back. He didn’t say much during moments like these, but he took Wei Huan’s grief seriously—not ignoring or covering it up, but wrapping it in quiet embraces and kisses, helping him work through it piece by piece. It was a slow, tender kind of comfort—and it worked well for Wei Huan.

“I had a dream last night,” Wei Huan said. “The four of us were on a mission together, still kids. When it ended, I found this little tavern—it was weird, kind of like the one Mo Tong and Brother Li used to have. We were drinking and chatting, and at the next table were Tianfa, Qing He, Yang Ling, and Jing Yun—but it wasn’t how we know them now, it was like we met by chance.”

Wei Huan buried his face in Yun Yongzhou’s chest. His body gave off a comforting warmth, calming his emotions as he continued. “Clearly it was a dream. Back when we were in the combat squad, Yang Ling and the others were still kids, Qing He was still suffering… none of us even knew each other.”

Yun Yongzhou gently stroked the back of his head. “Did you know it was a dream while you were dreaming it?”

“I don’t remember. But I was really happy, so I drank a lot. Buyu… he kept stopping me. I smiled at him and said, ‘Let me drink. Who knows when we’ll be able to again?’” At that point, Wei Huan’s throat closed up and he couldn’t go on.

Yun Yongzhou kissed the top of his head and kept stroking his nape.

After a few seconds, Wei Huan spoke again. “But he still stopped me. He smiled like it was real and said, ‘We won’t just vanish. There’ll be plenty of next times.’” His voice trembled as he tried to laugh it off. “Look at that guy, such a liar.”

“Mhm.” Yun Yongzhou let out a soft sigh.

He had once disliked Su Buyu’s indecisiveness. As someone often on the opposite side of him, he had seen Su Buyu’s inner turmoil more clearly than Wei Huan ever could. But in the end, Su Buyu’s final decision was something Yun Yongzhou respected.

His kindness became a burden he couldn’t bear—until it carved out a resolute end.

Su Buyu was a worthy opponent.

“He wouldn’t want you to be sad,” Yun Yongzhou said sincerely. “I know that.”

Wei Huan smiled without replying.

It was hard to convince himself not to feel regret. He had once sworn to protect Su Buyu for life. But in the end, maybe it was he who had been protected all along.

What he regretted most was never truly knowing Buyu. Maybe that invisible barrier was why Buyu never told him what he was going through, and why they ended up drifting apart.

But none of it ever came in time—neither death nor rebirth could change that. Even if they had another chance, their regrets would remain.

“Are you going to the memorial today?” Yun Yongzhou asked as he held him.

Of course, Wei Huan shook his head. “I don’t want to. I’ll dodge it if I can.”

The memorial was held by the Demon Realm Federation government to commemorate the collapse of Kunlun Void. The first year, Wei Huan couldn’t get out of it and had been forced by Principal Lin Zhengze to accept a medal. But every year since, he’d found ways to avoid the so-called honor. He finally understood what the Phoenix’s divine consciousness once told him.

Being put on a pedestal wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

After everything, he just wanted a simple life with Yun Yongzhou. That tiny wish had never changed.

“Then where do you want to go?” Yun Yongzhou gently rubbed the tip of his ear, his gaze impossibly soft. “I’ll go with you.”

Just as he leaned in to kiss Wei Huan’s nose, a small fuzzy furball suddenly leapt out, shaking its fur and clinging right onto Wei Huan’s nose. Wei Huan’s eyes widened, his voice shifting, “Hey… what’s with your timing?”

“Ying Ying~” The little furball somehow shook out a shower of white petals, still whimpering as it did.

“You’re humming now?” Wei Huan looked surprised. “Why does that tune sound so familiar?”

“Wedding march,” Yun Yongzhou said.

The furball vibrated with joy, its fur bristling in place of a nod.

“Oh, right!” Wei Huan suddenly remembered, full of remorse. “I totally forgot—Qing He and Tianfa are getting engaged this weekend! Let’s go help them.”

Now that was a good idea. Yun Yongzhou thought Wei Huan could use the distraction.

“Mhm.”

When they arrived, everyone except Yang Sheng (who had to attend the memorial) was already there. Since they needed to invite some members from Rebel, Qing He had chosen a small private flower garden in Fanzhou for the engagement party. Because of their special identities, privacy was crucial, so there was no outside planner—everything was handled internally.

“Need help with anything?” Wei Huan rolled up his sleeves right away. “I’ll do it.”

“We’re pretty much done.” Qing He crossed the last item off on a digital board. “You’re late, big bro. It’s giving fake-friend energy.”

“Weren’t we always plastic sisters?” Wei Huan shrugged.

Yang Ling flitted around like a pixie, pulling endless rare herbs and flowers out of her Xiaoyao Box to decorate the floating flower baskets. Yan Shanyue helped affix each bloom in place with foxfire.

“Looks nice. Girls really do have better aesthetics.” Wei Huan was mid-comment when he noticed a tower of boxes, stacked sky-high, wobbling toward him.

“Excuse me, excuse me, coming through!”

It was Jing Yun’s voice. Wei Huan quickly pulled Yun Yongzhou aside. “Every time I see Jing Yun doing heavy lifting I feel like we’re exploiting child labor.”

“It’s okay,” Jing Yun set the boxes down with a thud. “Yesterday Brother Sheng even had me help move his bookshelf.”

“He’s got nerve.” Wei Huan shook his head. “Then again, unarmed, he might die in one punch from his wife.”

Jing Yun scratched his head sheepishly. “No way. We agreed—no hitting unless absolutely necessary.”

Qing He laughed. “Poor guy.”

“Standing around doing nothing feels weird,” Wei Huan said as he tossed an orange into the air and caught it. He peeled it and offered a slice to Yun Yongzhou, who refused. So he popped the whole thing into his own mouth, speaking around it. “You guys doing dinner tonight too? Overnight stay maybe?”

Qing He rolled his eyes. “You don’t seem that embarrassed to ask.”

The bickering had just begun when Tianfa rushed over. “Qing He, that cake shop you mentioned? It moved. I went all the way there for nothing.”

“It moved?” Qing He was surprised. “I didn’t even know. Where to? Far?”

Tianfa checked the address. “A bit. New city. We might not make it in time to get the cake for tomorrow.”

Wei Huan cleared his throat. Qing He looked over. “What now, you freeloading spirit?”

Before he could finish, Wei Huan dramatically unfolded his wings and flapped them like a peacock showing off. Yun Yongzhou turned his head, clearly mortified. “I’ll go,” he said, dragging Wei Huan away.

“Hey! He hasn’t even begged me yet.”

“Please, little one,” Yun Yongzhou said flatly, firmly holding Wei Huan’s restless hand. “Qing He, send the address.”

The new address was in a city near the capital of Fanzhou. They flew over, and it was much faster than expected. Fanzhou was quite different from the Demon Realm—it had a smaller land area, buildings were built tall, streets were narrow, and the roads were always crowded. Yun Yongzhou and Wei Huan suppressed their demon aura and followed the address bit by bit to find the place. After all, Fanzhou didn’t have any barriers, so they couldn’t just whoosh through.

“This is so hard to find. Why are there so many street numbers here?”

Wei Huan craned his neck, looking around at the numbers. He didn’t notice that they were already attracting a lot of side glances from passersby. Although they were dressed just like regular humans, their appearances were far too striking.

As they walked, a well-dressed young woman suddenly stopped Wei Huan head-on. She was very enthusiastic. “Hello! Are you two college students? Would you be interested in working as models?”

Wei Huan quickly smiled and waved his hands, a bit embarrassed. “Um, we’re just tourists, sorry.”

“Really?” The girl was persistent. “Would you maybe reconsider? Our company has branches in other cities too. You both have excellent potential—you could even become big stars! What do you think?”

Stars… no, thank you.

As she spoke, the girl suddenly stared intently at Wei Huan’s face. “I feel like you look really familiar… You really resemble someone…” She tried hard to recall.

Wei Huan figured she had probably recognized him. After all, Fanzhou sometimes broadcast news from the Demon Realm. He quickly pulled up the hood of his hoodie. “You must be mistaken. Sorry, I have to go.”

“Hey?” The girl blocked his way. “Th-then could we at least exchange contacts? Can we be friends?”

“No need. We’re in a hurry, really.” Wei Huan just wanted to bolt.

But the girl wasn’t giving up so easily. She even dug into her bag to pull out a paper business card, insisting on handing it to Wei Huan and even began asking if he had a girlfriend.

Standing behind, Yun Yongzhou’s patience had finally worn thin. He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Wei Huan’s shoulder. “You probably won’t want to be friends with us.”

His voice, combined with his naturally cold expression, was intimidating. The girl looked up and froze when she saw him.

Then Yun Yongzhou reached out, pinched the business card between his fingers, glanced down at it, and said, “Nice to meet you, Miss Lin. Since you introduced yourself, I should do the same.”

He looked up and raised an eyebrow with a hint of menace. “I’m the boyfriend of the person you just tried to hit on.”

In that instant, a flame suddenly ignited at his fingertips and reduced the business card to ash.

“Excuse us.”

The girl stood there stunned, watching as Yun Yongzhou took Wei Huan’s hand and walked away. She stayed frozen for a few seconds, then suddenly turned around—but the two tall figures had already vanished.

“D-Dem… demon…”

Wei Huan’s hands were tucked into the sleeves of his hoodie, swinging back and forth. The hood framed his face into a round shape. “You totally scared her just now.” He flashed his little doglike canine teeth, smiling mischievously. “So jealous~”

Yun Yongzhou’s face was blank. “Rope.”

“No no no, don’t,” Wei Huan clung to his arm, “I was just joking.”

Right after begging for mercy, he couldn’t help but tease again. “Although I do like it when you tie me up, doing it in public probably isn’t a good idea…”

“Wei Huan.”

“Your little baby is right here~”

While bantering with Yun Yongzhou, he almost tripped over a brick on the ground. Wei Huan quickly reached out and steadied himself against the wall. “Whew, close one.”

When he looked up again, he was shocked to find that the street number here was exactly the one Qing He had given them. “Wait, is this the place?”

They hadn’t expected that the random alley they ducked into to avoid the girl was actually the new location of the cake shop they’d been searching for all along.

A string of blue wind chimes hung at the entrance, each bell shaped like a little fish. Since they were both tall, they bumped their heads into the chimes as soon as they entered, making them jingle noisily.

“Welcome, welcome!”

The shop owner was a slightly chubby middle-aged man with droopy eyes, giving him a very kind appearance. When they entered, he was wiping down the glass of a large floor-to-ceiling display. He looked up and showed a hint of surprise in his eyes—these two were far too good-looking, even for this city.

“What can I get you? Feel free to look around. There are samples over there—you can try them all.” The owner wore a pastry chef’s outfit and a hat, looking exactly like the cartoon bakers Wei Huan remembered from childhood.

Inside the display case were all sorts of beautiful, delicate desserts. The soft whipped cream and glossy fruit preserves instantly lifted one’s mood. Wei Huan smiled and said, “We’d like to order a cake—for an engagement. Can we look through the styles?”

“Styles? Sure thing.” The owner patted his belly, scratched his head, then bent down to rummage through the cabinet behind him. “Sorry, I just moved in, haven’t organized everything yet.”

“No rush.” Wei Huan leaned on the display case. He found himself especially fond of the shop’s atmosphere—there were all kinds of charming handmade items and fresh flowers scattered around. He couldn’t help chatting, “Boss, why’d you move here from Fan Capital?”

“My kid’s starting kindergarten.” The owner wiped off some sweat. “The kid’s mom liked the education system here. We visited yesterday—it’s a beautiful kindergarten, lots of trees and flowers, all organic plants. The air’s better here too. We also moved into a bigger house, got a pet for the kid. There’s a small lake in the backyard—our kid loves water.” He realized he was rambling and quickly apologized. “Sorry, I tend to talk a lot. Hope I’m not annoying you.”

“No no,” Wei Huan propped up his arms and cupped his face, “That’s really lovely.” He turned to Yun Yongzhou. “Isn’t it?”

Yun Yongzhou nodded as well.

“Aiya, I just remembered!” the shop owner slapped his thigh. “The custom design samples for big cakes are at home. I’ll get my wife to bring them over right away.”

He brought coffee and cake for Wei Huan and Yun Yongzhou and invited them to sit down.

A few high school girls in uniform came into the shop, chattering noisily about their dinner plans. They bought up the last few caramel cream puddings in the store. Their hands also carried bags of roasted chestnuts—their sweet fragrance mixed with the warm sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, softly filling the entire cake shop.

Wei Huan leaned on the table, quietly watching Yun Yongzhou who was sitting across from him, gazing out the window at the passersby. His fair skin glowed in the warm autumn sunlight. Sunlight really was a wonderful thing—it softened the sharp contours of this guy’s face, and if you looked closely, you could even see the fine, soft hairs.

He thought of how Yun Yongzhou had once described himself—a killer with the appearance of a stuffed toy.

Then he must be a fluffy iceberg, Wei Huan thought, unable to stop a slightly silly grin from spreading across his face.

Yun Yongzhou seemed to notice. He turned his head and slightly raised his eyebrows, as if asking what was going on.

With his chin resting on the back of his hand, Wei Huan shook his head. “Nothing. You just look really good.”

A little caught off guard by his bluntness, Yun Yongzhou lowered his head and took a small sip of coffee.

“Can we open a cake shop someday?” Wei Huan asked.

Yun Yongzhou, expressionless: “My hands are probably better suited for demolishing cake shops.”

Wei Huan blinked. “You’ve got a point.”

The wind chimes rang again.

With his back to the entrance, Wei Huan heard the cheerful voice of the shop owner: “You’re here? Why’d you bring Little Xi too?”

“He’s got a bit of a cold today, so I figured I’d take him to the hospital on the way. Here, this is for you.”

Before long, the shop owner brought over a giant cake catalog and placed it in front of Wei Huan and Yun Yongzhou. “Here it is, take your time looking.”

Wei Huan quickly thanked him and turned to see the owner’s wife smiling gently at them. After offering a small greeting, she turned back and took out a thermos, saying to the owner, “I brought you some soup—have a little.”

Only then did Wei Huan notice that she had a small child by her side. A soft, chubby hand clutched at his mother’s clothes, revealing half a head peeking curiously at them.

The little one wore a grey-green knit cap and a snow-white mask. Only a pair of slightly droopy, wide eyes showed—soft and round like a sticky rice ball. Wei Huan rested his chin on one hand and smiled at him, finding it amusing.

While the couple chatted over soup, the child let go of his mother’s clothes and tottered over to Wei Huan, as if he had springs under his feet. Wei Huan, afraid the boy would fall, stayed alert to catch him.

But the little one made it safely to him, stopping a few steps away to stare—first at Wei Huan, then turning to look at Yun Yongzhou with unblinking eyes.

“Your name is Little Xi?” Wei Huan had overheard earlier and used it to get close. He offered the child a chestnut Mont Blanc pastry he’d just bought. “Want some?”

Little Xi shook his head. Even through the mask, his voice was soft and milky, still too young to speak clearly. “Mama said… cough.” He waved his hands.

“You’re coughing so no sweets, huh?” Wei Huan bent down and touched his little hat. “Such a good boy.”

Suddenly, Wei Huan noticed a faint birthmark under the child’s eye—like a teardrop.

His heart skipped violently.

Yun Yongzhou, who usually had little interest in children, unexpectedly asked, “How old are you?”

The child looked down, using one hand to count on the other. He started with three fingers, then added one more.

“Four~” he mumbled something, unclear but earnest.

Hearing that number, Wei Huan looked up at Yun Yongzhou, and the two exchanged a glance. Wei Huan asked again, “What did you just say?”

Just as the child was about to speak, he blinked twice, glanced back at his mother, and, seeing her still talking, quickly pulled down his mask.

When they saw his full face, both men froze.

He looked far too familiar.

“I—I said, my birthday is almost here! So I’m four~”

Four years old.

Exactly. How could this be a coincidence?

Wei Huan forced himself to stay calm and gently asked, “When is your birthday?”

Little Xi stood on tiptoe, hands clasped behind his back, face tilted up, a shy smile showing two tiny dimples.

“Today~”

That smile. Too familiar.

Wei Huan’s brows drew together, his nose stung. He quickly dropped his head to hide his emotions.

Demons do not reincarnate. He had never expected anything—not even one sliver of hope. Having lost so much and gained so much, Wei Huan no longer dared wish for miracles. Even when Su Buyu, in his dreams, had told him there would always be a next time—he still couldn’t believe it.

In that moment, he even wondered if this too was a dream. Maybe he simply refused to wake, and so had fallen into another one.

In his blurry vision, those tiny feet moved closer. A soft little hand landed gently on Wei Huan’s knee.

That milky voice carried a child’s pure confusion. “older brother?”

Wei Huan sniffled, pressed his lips together, and touched Little Xi’s cheek. “So amazing… you’re already four years old.”

His voice trembled. Yun Yongzhou could tell. He got up and squatted beside Wei Huan, holding his hand, and turned to Little Xi. “I heard your dad say you like water?”

Little Xi nodded earnestly, “I can swim!”

“You’re amazing,” Wei Huan said, pained but afraid to show it. He forced a smile. “So young and already swimming.”

“I can—I can hold my breath.” Little Xi’s eyes lit up, arms flailing with excitement. “I can open my eyes underwater too!”

Hearing that, Wei Huan was reminded of the first time he met Su Buyu.

Back then, he’d been hiding under the water, watching him.

“Little Xi?”

Finally, the shop owner’s wife turned around. Little Xi quickly put his mask back on. She walked over, slightly embarrassed. “I’m so sorry, he’s usually terrified of strangers—never speaks to anyone. It’s my first time bringing him to the shop, and I don’t know why, but he’s clung to you two.”

She pinched Little Xi’s hand. “Did you think the older brothers are handsome, hmm?”

To everyone’s surprise, Little Xi nodded seriously.

Yun Yongzhou stood. “He was born today, four years ago?”

“You already told them?” the mother was surprised. “Yes, it’s his birthday. We’re closing early today to celebrate.”

“Was he… born in the afternoon?”

She was taken aback. “How… how did you…”

Yun Yongzhou offered calmly, “Just wondering. He’s very cute.” He picked a five-layer cake from the menu. “We’ll take this one, please.”

“Of course.” She took the menu to the back.

They paid and made arrangements to pick up the cake another day. Wei Huan didn’t ask more, worried it would raise suspicion.

As they left, Little Xi looked reluctant. He stood at the doorway, eyes fixed on Wei Huan. At last, he called out, “Older brother, leaving?”

“That’s right.” Wei Huan crouched to ruffle his hair. “Get better soon, okay? When I come pick up the cake, I’ll bring you something tasty, alright?”

Little Xi nodded.

Wei Huan looked at those dimples, emotions surging. After a brief hesitation, he put his hand behind his back. A soft blue light began to glow in his palm.

“Today is your birthday, and older brother happens to have a little gift for you. Want it?” Wei Huan smiled gently.

Little Xi nodded again but frowned slightly. “But… Mama said no.”

Wei Huan lowered his voice too. “It’s okay. Just keep it hidden. When you grow up, you can tell her.”

Little Xi nodded eagerly, eyes squinting with delight. Wei Huan held out his fist, and Little Xi held out both hands to receive it.

What fell into his palms was a smooth, grey-green bead, faintly patterned with red. At his touch, it gave off a gentle, warm glow.

“Shh, this is our secret.” Wei Huan smiled at him.

“Secret, I know.” Little Xi tucked it into a pocket on his chest and carefully snapped it shut—patting it twice for good measure.

“Don’t lose it, no matter what.”

Yun Yongzhou suddenly spoke. “It will stay with you.”

Seeing Little Xi’s eyes widen, Wei Huan mock-scolded, “Don’t scare the kid, creepy uncle.”

He held out his arms. “Can I hug you?”

Little Xi mimicked him, throwing his little arms around Wei Huan.

In that moment, Wei Huan felt a tenderness he could never forget—a quiet flow, like water.

His eyes rimmed red. He held back tears against the child’s tiny shoulder.

“What ‘Xi’ is your Little Xi?”

“Hmm…” the boy thought, then whispered in his ear, “Xi… as in hope.”

“Good name.” Wei Huan let him go, smiling.

“Nice to meet you.”

To choose destruction, then be reborn as hope— That’s the life you should’ve had.

“Little Xi?”

He turned and ran back to his mother. She picked him up and kissed his cheek. Holding his hand, she waved to them. “Say bye to older brother.”

“Bye-bye~”

Wei Huan walked backward as he waved, leaving the cozy little cake shop.

“The odds of a half-demon reincarnation do exist,” Yun Yongzhou said. “I’ve heard similar stories.”

Wei Huan took a deep breath, tilting his head to the sky—so clear and blue.

“How wonderful.”

He took Yun Yongzhou’s hand, voice filled with warmth. “He finally has a home. Parents who love him more than anything.”

No more being outcast, no more desperate attempts to belong in a world not made for him.

He could just be himself now. A child, loved and growing up in peace.

Yun Yongzhou turned to him. “Happy?”

Wei Huan smiled.

Rather than happiness, he’d finally let go.

Life is strange and beautiful. It had filled a crack he once thought permanent.

“I’m telling everyone!”

“You want that little guy surrounded by nosy demons every day?”

“What’s to be afraid of? They were all his best friends in the last life~”

After a happy birthday, Little Xi went home with his parents. While his mom was busy putting things away, he snuck into his room. With chubby little fingers, he pulled the bead from his pocket.

He thought long and hard about where to hide it. Crawling under the bed didn’t work—it was full of boxes. Then he opened his little wardrobe.

No good. Mama would find it.

“Little Xi?”

Hearing her call, Little Xi panicked. He spun around like an anxious little ant. Then his eyes landed on the flowerpot by the window.

It was a gift from his kindergarten class—everyone had gotten a vegetable seed to grow. His was spinach.

But it had been three days and still hadn’t sprouted.

He climbed on a stool, grabbed a little trowel, and dug a hole in the pot.

“Little spinach, you don’t mind being squished, right?” he whispered, milky voice soft. “You and little bead can squeeze together, okay?”

He nodded to himself. “Okay.” Then buried the bead and patted the soil firmly. He even watered it.

“All done, little spinach,” he instructed solemnly. “Be good friends with little bead, okay?”

Task complete, he hopped down and ran out to get his bath.

That night, Little Xi lay in bed hugging his toy fish. For some reason, he suddenly opened his eyes and looked toward the window. Through the curtain, he thought he saw a faint green glow from the flowerpot. But when he blinked again, it was gone.

He dreamed that night.

He dreamed he’d turned into a little fish—just like the one he hugged in sleep. But different. His tail sparkled beautifully in the sun.

When he woke, he rushed to the window.

He wanted to see if the spinach and the little bead had fought.

But when he pulled back the curtain with all his might, what he saw stunned him.

In that tiny flowerpot, overnight, a flower had bloomed.

A red flower whose name he didn’t know yet—

The very manjushahua who had once sworn never to meet him again.

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