Everyone Is Non-Human Except Me [Rebirth] Chapter 31

“It looks like…” Wei Huan kept his eyes on the chaos outside. “They’ve all gone far. Let’s wait another minute.” As he spoke, his gaze shifted from the disorderly street to the face just inches from his own—and at that exact moment, Yun Yongzhou’s eyes flicked away, looking deeper into the narrow alley.

His heart started pounding again in an erratic rhythm.

Wei Huan instinctively held his breath. He didn’t even know why. Awkwardly, he swallowed, his eyes blinking without control, unsure where to look. Yun Yongzhou’s straight nose was right in front of him—so close that if even a gust of wind rushed past his back, just one gust, he would…

He would brush against the tip of his nose…

He didn’t even dare to think the word “kiss.” The image was there in his mind, but he didn’t dare to name it.

Only after a long while did he remember what he had blurted out in a panic earlier.

[At least hug me.]

It had come out so casually then, but now, Yun Yongzhou’s hand resting on the small of his back felt like a branding iron—unbearably hot.

What the h*ll had he been doing just now?

The height difference had forced him to tiptoe, and only now did his feet finally start to ache. He tried to let his heels down gradually, to make it seem a bit more natural. But doing so only made it more awkward—Yun Yongzhou’s lips were now right in front of his eyes. Beautifully shaped, slightly pursed, as if at odds with something.

Wei Huan quickly turned his gaze away, let go, and took a step back. “Well, I at least picked a good-looking face. Up close, it doesn’t look gross or anything, haha.”

He didn’t need a mirror to know how awkward his smile looked. “Isn’t this electronic mask amazing? Super realistic. It can even fool the facial recognition systems in that tower…”

Uh oh.

“So, you went to a place like that without telling anyone—why exactly?”

As expected, Yun Yongzhou’s expression darkened. He reached out and removed the trigger device from Wei Huan’s neck. “Why are people trying to kill you?”

Well, he’d said too much. No one to blame but himself. Wei Huan’s brain spun rapidly. “It’s… it’s kind of a long story. Before I went to take the exam at Shanhai, I racked up a huge amount of debt. Yeah, and I was originally looking for a friend who works in that building, and then…”

“And then you ran into debt collectors and had to jump out a window,” Yun Yongzhou tilted his head and locked eyes with him.

“Yes!” Wei Huan immediately seized the excuse. “That’s exactly what happened!”

Yun Yongzhou slowly nodded. “So how much do you owe, that they’d come after you with micro-missiles and a Gatling gun?”

Wei Huan almost choked. “Well…” He waved his arms wildly. “An insane amount. I probably can’t pay it off in this lifetime. They even tried to poison me to collect the debt. It was some really nasty stuff…”

He hadn’t even finished making up the story when Yun Yongzhou turned to leave.

“Hey! You’re not wearing a shirt…” Wei Huan reminded him in a low voice.

“It’s on the ground. Not wearing it.”

This young master’s temper is something else!

“You can’t just go around shirtless, Instructor Yun.” Wei Huan chased after him and saw Yun Yongzhou walk into a roadside shop. He followed. It was a clothing store, clearly struggling—no customers at all. Yun Yongzhou glanced around, picked up a dark blue T-shirt, and then chose a maroon long-sleeve sweatshirt.

Shopping like he’s got money. Wei Huan was now worried the shopkeeper might appear and demand payment.

Yun Yongzhou pulled the blue T-shirt over his head, then casually tossed the red sweatshirt onto Wei Huan’s forehead.

“You got money for this?” Wei Huan peeled the sweatshirt off his face. “Don’t tell me you’re going to steal clothes? You’re the Prime Minister of the Demon Realm Federa—”

Before he could finish, Yun Yongzhou unhooked a jewel-encrusted dagger from the weapon chain on his instructor’s pants and placed it on the table.

“—tion’s son.” Wei Huan wore a speechless expression. “You really are the Prime Minister’s son. Couldn’t you just pry off one gem? Are these two shirts really worth it, Instructor Yun?”

Yun Yongzhou frowned. “I have more.”

Yeah, I know you’re rich! Wei Huan took a deep breath. “Fine.” He turned around, took off his shirt, and put on the maroon sweatshirt—even though he really didn’t like the color.

Yun Yongzhou had been deliberately avoiding looking, but the store’s mirror offered a reflected angle—and suddenly he noticed something.

As Wei Huan struggled with the sweatshirt, the skin on his lower back was exposed—lean and firm, with visible indentations at his waist. The muscles shifted with every movement of his arms. And right between those two hollows was a golden sun totem.

Exactly the same as the one on Yun Yongzhou’s chest.

So that’s where the demon mark was imprinted.

Yun Yongzhou had never formed a pact with any human or demon before. He had no experience with this. He didn’t even really understand what sort of “pleasure” those demons who liked to keep others leashed got out of it. If he hadn’t been desperate—if there were any other way to save Wei Huan—he would never have done it.

But now, seeing his unique mark on Wei Huan’s body—this feeling was too complicated. It was like branding someone as his possession. No matter what, that mark would never fade. And at the same time, Yun Yongzhou felt shame.

He never wanted Wei Huan to be anyone’s possession—not even his own.

“Instructor Yun?” Wei Huan had finished changing and saw him spacing out. “What are you thinking about?”

Yun Yongzhou snapped out of it and shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Looks bad, huh.” Wei Huan walked to the mirror, looking at himself critically from all angles. “Well, whatever. Barely acceptable. Let’s go. No wonder this shop is so dead. Might as well turn it into a haunted house.”

Like a chirping little bird, Wei Huan walked out of the shop just like that, while Yun Yongzhou followed behind him, keeping a small distance, the way he was used to.

But Wei Huan wasn’t used to that. He stopped, waited for Yun Yongzhou to come up beside him, and only then continued walking. “Are you feeling any better now? Can you channel your spiritual energy?”

He had recovered long ago.

Yun Yongzhou remained silent as usual. Wei Huan was used to that part, too, so he just kept talking. “Actually, the dark zone during the day doesn’t look that chaotic.”

As soon as he said that, a punk being chased by a gang of thugs leapt off a rooftop and landed with a thud on a fruit stand selling synthetic apples.

The two of them shifted their gazes from the scattered artificial apples and exchanged a look. Wei Huan couldn’t help but shrug with a smile. “Okay, maybe a little chaotic.”

Yun Yongzhou’s skin was very fair, and with the deep blue shirt he wore, it stood out even more—almost glowing in the sunlight. Wei Huan glanced at him a few times, remembering that in his past life, he had once imagined what Yun Yongzhou would look like in the Fuyao school uniform.

Definitely better than in the Yansui uniform. That cold, aloof face of his fit it perfectly.

“Say, the way we’re dressed now, don’t we kinda look like we’re wea—”

Sh*t.

Wei Huan instantly wanted to slap himself. He had actually said out loud what he was just thinking.

Wearing each other’s uniforms? Was he nuts?

Sure enough, Yun Yongzhou noticed something was off. “Look like what?”

Look like what?

Like…

Wei Huan, you can do this. Aren’t you the genius who can spin any lie into gold?

He hyped himself up inside, but in the end, the only answer he could manage was a terrible one. “Like… humans.”

He expected to be immediately called out, but Yun Yongzhou simply moved his gaze forward and said calmly, “Is that so.”

Wei Huan broke out in a cold sweat.

“Yeah, but you’re like the best-looking kind of human. No no, even the best-looking ones don’t come close to you.” Wei Huan quickly tried to salvage the situation, but just then, a delicious aroma hit his nose, and he quickly changed the subject. “What’s that smell? Smells amazing.”

He tugged on Yun Yongzhou’s arm. “Let’s go check it out.”

Yun Yongzhou paused, lips subconsciously tightening.

This was probably why he didn’t like using barrier teleportation spells.

Here, in this rundown city that looked like a pile of ruins, they were just like two ordinary humans wandering the streets. Watching him joke and talk nonsense—it wasn’t anything significant.

They were supposed to be on a desperate escape.

Wei Huan suddenly turned around, grinning brightly.

“Found it!”

I found it too, even though it took me seven whole years.

Following the trail of that unreliable fragrance, Wei Huan pulled Yun Yongzhou through winding alleys and across several streets until they reached a corner with a shabby two-story building. Inside was a small courtyard, and above it hung a half-broken wooden sign, missing some nails, with a few bold words painted on it—Kong Tong Tavern.

“Hm…” Wei Huan tilted his head, thinking, then pointed at the wobbly sign and said to Yun Yongzhou, “You think the owner of this place is homophobic?”

Yun Yongzhou frowned. Wei Huan quickly added, “Eh, who cares? What’s it got to do with us if he is?” H*ll, my hometown used to be called Beiji Tiangui*—didn’t stop me from coming out every day.
*Tiangui = heavenly closet

Yun Yongzhou’s frown deepened.

In the courtyard were a few tables and chairs made of cheap-looking eco-materials, not a single customer in sight. Inside was a room behind a curtain, and the delicious smell was coming from there. Wei Huan walked up. “Anyone here?”

He turned to look at Yun Yongzhou, motioning for him to sit down.

Yun Yongzhou glanced down at the old chair and visibly moved a step away.

Clearly didn’t want to sit.

Still a pampered young master—hasn’t changed a bit.

Just then, someone lifted the curtain. A young man, about Wei Huan’s height and age, dressed all in black with chin-length black hair tied half-up at the back, walked out. He tossed a white towel over his shoulder and looked up at Wei Huan.

His eyes were a deep green. Wei Huan was a little surprised, but there wasn’t a hint of demonic energy on him—clearly a pure human.

And for some reason… Wei Huan felt like he’d seen him somewhere before. But he quickly dismissed it—he always thought that when he saw someone good-looking. Except the first time he saw Yun Yongzhou—that level of beauty had been beyond imagination.

The guy in black looked just as cold and distant as Yun Yongzhou—definitely not the kind of face you’d want for customer service. “You here to eat or drink?”

“Drink!” / “Eat.”

They answered at the same time. Wei Huan laughed awkwardly, “Don’t listen to him, I want to drink.”

The guy in black looked past Wei Huan to stare at Yun Yongzhou not far away.

“Well then.” Wei Huan walked over to Yun Yongzhou, wiped down the table and chair with some recycled napkins, and forcibly made him sit. Then he looked up at the guy and smiled. “We’ll eat and drink. Got anything good here?”

“Only noodles. Soup noodles.” The guy crossed his arms, voice flat. “And only one kind of alcohol. Just so you know, it’s not organic—it’s synthetic. Fake.”

“Uh…”

Man, that was way too blunt—I don’t even know how to respond.

Wei Huan grinned. “It’s fine, bring it on. I followed the smell all the way here.”

Only then did the guy reluctantly agree and head back into the kitchen behind the curtain.

Yun Yongzhou grabbed Wei Huan’s arm to leave, but Wei Huan pulled him right back down. “Sit,” he said. Then he realized he shouldn’t be using that tone with his current instructor, and softened it, holding onto Yun Yongzhou’s arm. “Just this once, I promise. It’s our day off, right?”

“You can’t handle alcohol,” Yun Yongzhou said seriously all of a sudden.

Wei Huan froze. “Hm? Why not?”

But Yun Yongzhou didn’t answer. His expression was a bit subtle. Wei Huan thought, back when he was a demon, he wouldn’t let him drink; now that he’s human, he’s still being stopped.

“I heard that demons can’t drink human alcohol.” Wei Huan picked up a cup that was upside down on the table, rinsed it with the hot water on the table, then poured Yun Yongzhou a cup and placed it in front of him. “So, instructor, you can’t drink it, but I can. Don’t worry, this synthetic stuff can’t get anyone drunk.”

Yun Yongzhou didn’t look at him, only stared at the cup of water. In it was the reflection of the blue sky over the Dark Zone.

“When we’re outside, you don’t have to call me ‘instructor.’”

Wei Huan almost thought his ears were waterlogged. He was one step away from asking, “Come again?” What exactly happened to Yun Yongzhou in these past seven years to make him so… gentle? Where was the cold little Golden Crow who would unleash light blades after being teased just three times?

“Oh, really…” Wei Huan propped his elbows on the table, cupping his face. “Then what should I call you?”

It sounded like a genuine question, but to Yun Yongzhou, it was no different from the usual teasing. He didn’t lift his head. “Whatever you like.”

Can I call you Little Golden Crow?

In your dreams.

“Let me think…” Wei Huan was just about to start thinking when the guy in black brought over two bowls of noodles. They really were just noodle soup—only soup and noodles, not even a sprinkle of green onions.

Wei Huan opened a pair of chopsticks for him, stirred the noodles a bit to keep them from clumping, then pushed the bowl toward Yun Yongzhou. But the moment he did, he paused.

Yun Yongzhou looked at him. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” Wei Huan snapped out of it and pulled out another pair of chopsticks. “It just feels a little familiar.”

He didn’t know why, but whenever he was with Yun Yongzhou, there would always be one or two moments that felt oddly familiar—yet no memories ever surfaced.

It was a subtle feeling, like waking from a long dream but being unable to recall what it was about. Trying hard to remember, but ending up empty-handed.

A sense of vague loss.

Yun Yongzhou also fell silent. He lowered his head and quietly ate his noodles. In truth, he didn’t like human food at all. These cheap synthetic replicas were a poor imitation of what human food used to be—mostly just imitations in appearance, offering a bit of nostalgia in a chaotic world.

But Wei Huan really liked them. This was something Yun Yongzhou could never quite understand. Even back in Shanhai, Wei Huan would always find excuses to sneak into the Dark Zone during missions. There were no taboos here, and while most residents were human, many demons came and went too.

But at Shanhai University, the Dark Zone was off-limits to students. Because of past incidents where Shanhai students had harmed others in the zone, the school issued a strict ban. Students couldn’t enter without authorization, and when demon riots broke out in the zone, students would even be dispatched on missions—like Wei Huan and Yun Yongzhou.

The guy in black brought over a tall glass bottle filled with a colorless liquid. As soon as the wooden stopper was removed, the fragrance of alcohol spread. Wei Huan lit up. “That’s the one—I love this kind of drink.”

And it stirred Yun Yongzhou’s most deeply buried memories.

Memories he was certain even the person in front of him had long forgotten. The kind of memory that only he in the whole world remembered.

Back then, he’d been punished alongside Wei Huan too many times. Every time they got implicated together. Tired of the constant punishment, Yun Yongzhou once searched the entire Dark Zone to find him—finally tracking him down in a bustling underground nightclub, being pinned against the wall by a blue-haired half-demon, just shy of being kissed.

Even now, he couldn’t explain it. Maybe it was just rage, or maybe it was just ridiculousness. Either way, he grabbed Wei Huan’s arm without a word and pulled him away.

Demons couldn’t drink human alcohol. The side effects were severe—temporary loss of reason, even.

But Wei Huan hadn’t just had a sip. He was so drunk he couldn’t form complete sentences. When he saw who’d come, he only grinned stupidly and called his name.

“Breaking into a restricted zone—are you trying to get me punished with you?”

Upstairs from the nightclub was much quieter. Streetlights flickered on and off. The streets were empty. Only the moon hung alone in the sky.

Yun Yongzhou spread his wings. Knowing they’d be punished if they went back like this, he brought Wei Huan to the rooftop of a tall building to let him cool off in the night air.

But Wei Huan was completely out of it. He kept laughing and stumbling. When they landed, he dropped to his knees and couldn’t be pulled up.

“I… I want more…” He got up again, his hazy eyes dazed as he looked at the dazzling lights outside the skyscraper. “Where are we…? Why are there no stars here? Huh?”

Yun Yongzhou only hated that he didn’t have water-based abilities. In this state, not even a bucket of cold water could sober him up.

“It’s so beautiful… look, rainbow stars, over there… I’ll go get one for you…” And in the few seconds that Yun Yongzhou was distracted, Wei Huan had run to the edge of the rooftop, half his body already over the ledge. “Yun Yongzhou… it’s so beautiful here…”

“You’re insane.” Yun Yongzhou’s heart jumped. He rushed to grab him—but the next second, Wei Huan spread his arms and fell from the hundred-meter-high building.

“Wei Huan!”

Watching him fall, Yun Yongzhou’s heart practically stopped. His breath caught. Pupils dilated. He couldn’t believe what he saw.

“Are you kidding me…” He stood at the edge of the rooftop, trying to look down, trying to call his name.

“Wei—”

He didn’t get the chance to finish.

“Found them… the stars…”

That wild and free youth had spread his black wings and soared back up, hovering in front of him. Still grinning, sharp canine tooth peeking out, blue demon markings glowing faintly on his collarbone and cheek.

All scolding words were stuck in his throat—just one second more, and it would’ve been a total disaster.

Because the boy hanging in midair leaned in and kissed him.

No hug, no warning words, just a direct and sudden approach. Those cool, damp lips pressed against his, carrying the curve of a smile.

Yun Yongzhou felt as if struck by lightning. He abruptly shoved Wei Huan away. “You maniac!”

Wei Huan was pushed far off, his wings spinning mid-air from the momentum, but he only grew crazier—he flew straight at Yun Yongzhou again, tackling him onto the rooftop, pinning him down as he kissed him. Though the upper hand was clearly his, he clung to Yun Yongzhou’s school uniform like a child, desperately seeking something.

The kiss was wet and feverish, muddled with the faint haze of moonlight and the wild neon glows, completely scrambling Yun Yongzhou’s mind. He couldn’t think, couldn’t act.

The wind on the rooftop howled, deafening, as if roaring its protest against the taboo they were committing. Yun Yongzhou could even hear the clumsy clash of their teeth, but Wei Huan didn’t stop. He only took and took. His tongue was sweet and wet. The moment it entered, it seemed to rip Yun Yongzhou’s soul right out, leaving behind only a puppet that knew it should resist but couldn’t.

Wei Huan’s heat enveloped him, making everything blur. Even his half-lidded, dazed eyes looked like they’d been stirred through honey—bright, sticky, impossible to part from.

“That guy… just now… was trying to do this to me…”

His words came out disjointed, hard to grasp in meaning. Or maybe Yun Yongzhou no longer cared to grasp it. The solitary moonlight could hear every heartbeat, witnessing the kiss Wei Huan had seized for himself.

A kiss that Yun Yongzhou had once stolen.

“You don’t want this?”