【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 356 [Empire] Gentle Silence

Wen Ya remained silent the entire way. He walked beside me, his steps slow and measured, but the expression on his face was more serene than I had ever seen, even a hint of distance.

Once upon a time, he was always the one who spoke gently and looked caring in front of me, but now, everything seems to have become a little strange.

I tried to break the silence, but every time I tried to speak, the words stuck in my throat. I didn't know what to say, especially in this situation, when the intimacy between us had long since vanished. The Wen Ya before me was still the exquisite and perfect Wen Ya, but he was no longer the Wen Ya who belonged only to me. At least, in my heart, he seemed to have quietly withdrawn from that position.

"Wen Ya..." I finally spoke, my voice even deeper than I expected. "What's wrong with you? You seem to be in a bad mood."

He was slightly startled when he heard my voice, then seemed to take a deep breath and slowly turned to look at me. At that moment, I saw the complex emotions in his eyes - not just concern or fatigue, but even a hint of deep loss.

However, Wen Ya still did not respond immediately, but just smiled faintly. The smile was still warm, but it no longer had the relaxed feeling of the past.

"Nothing, I just suddenly thought of something." Wen Ya said softly, with a hint of sigh in her tone, "You have been... very busy these days, right?"

I was silent for a moment, pondering my response. I knew the "busy" he mentioned wasn't just referring to my mission, but more to the changes I'd undergone over the past few days—joining the mercenary guild, beginning to accept dangerous missions, even constantly hiding my relationship with him. All of this seemed to have subtly changed me, making me no longer the "Ruyuan" he remembered.

"Yeah." I nodded gently. "I've been busy a bit, and there are more tasks."

Wen Ya didn't seem to ask any more questions. Instead, she looked up at the distant sky, her gaze becoming hazy. We walked through the city, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of people, yet it felt as if we were cut off from the outside world. The silence gradually oppressed me, making it difficult to breathe.

Finally, Wen Ya stopped and turned to face me, staring at me. "Do you know how I felt when I saw your name in the mission hall just now? You've actually joined the Mercenary Guild." When he said this, his tone was a little complicated, with a bit of unconcealed worry. "The Mercenary Guild is full of dangers. Is someone like you really suitable for it?"

I was stunned. I didn't expect him to say such words directly. I was silent for a moment, pursed my lips, and then reluctantly said, "Wen Ya, I'm just completing my mission. As for whether it's appropriate or not, that's not for me to decide. I just want to become an adult as soon as possible."

His eyes didn't leave mine. He seemed to be scrutinizing me, trying to find some answer in my gaze. After a moment's silence, he finally spoke, his voice low and soft. "Ruyuan, you know what? Adulthood isn't the only goal. Sometimes, taking on too much responsibility too early can make you lose the most important thing."

I looked up at him, a hint of doubt in my eyes: "What are you saying I lost?"

"You've lost yourself, and the ease and innocence that once belonged to you." Wen Ya's voice was still gentle, but with a hint of sadness that could not be ignored. "You look mature and strong now, but sometimes maturity is not necessarily a good thing. Don't you feel tired?"

I was stunned for a moment. Wen Ya's eyes seemed to see through me, into a corner deep within my heart, a part that I had always suppressed.

He was right. I was indeed a little tired. Joining the mercenary guild, taking on missions, striving for merit—everything seemed to revolve around one goal: becoming an adult as quickly as possible. But I seemed to have forgotten that in this process, I had truly changed. I was no longer the "Ruyuan" who was full of curiosity and longing for the future.

I lowered my head and remained silent for a while. Wen Ya didn't urge me, nor did he say anything else. He just waited for me quietly.

Finally, I raised my head and smiled softly: "You're right, I am indeed tired." Then I sighed, "Perhaps, I really need to stop and think carefully about what I really want."

Wen Ya's eyes softened, and he smiled slightly: "You don't have to be so anxious, give yourself some time. There's no need to rush into making a choice."

His words seemed to sow a seed in my heart.

"Wenya, actually, you don't have to worry too much. After all, I'm already a formal mid-level mercenary. You should also know that if I didn't have some ability, those people wouldn't let me, an underage kid, register, not even for the beginner level." I kicked the small stones under my feet. "Nightingale, that guy just now, is a high-level mercenary. He's very strong and smart. He accompanied me on those missions all the way. It's like an extra insurance."

Wen Ya frowned slightly, clearly still worried. His gaze passed through me, seemingly focused on something far away, but I knew he was thinking about what I was saying.

After a long while, he spoke softly, his tone still gentle but with a hint of heaviness: "Ruyuan, I know you are strong, and I also know that you don't like being seen as weak. But have you ever thought that true strength is not only about being able to do things that others can't, but also about being able to protect yourself, not letting yourself go too fast and lose too much."

I was speechless, a strange emotion welling up inside me. Wen Ya's words touched a deep place in my heart. He was right. I was too eager to prove myself, too eager to complete those seemingly important goals, but I ignored my true inner needs.

I kicked the pebbles under my feet, trying to divert my attention. "You do have a point. I'm a little impatient. Maybe it's because I want to become an adult as quickly as possible, to break away from my current identity and find what I want. You know, I've been avoiding some things from the past..."

Wen Ya sighed softly, as if understanding the pain I was hiding. He walked over to me, stopped, and looked at me. His tone was calm but full of concern. "Ruyuan, you are a very smart child with great potential. I know you want to move on from the past and not continue to dwell on those memories. Perhaps you feel vulnerable that way. But I also hope you can understand that letting go of the past doesn't mean escaping. You don't have to bear all the responsibility, especially for things you can't bear alone."

I was silent. Wen Ya's soft words seemed to pierce my heart deeply. Although he didn't directly mention what I had experienced, I knew he was reminding me to let go of the burdens that didn't belong to me and walk more lightly.

"I know," I whispered. "Maybe it's time to stop and think." I looked up at Wen Ya. His eyes were still filled with concern and tenderness, a look I'd always known. At that moment, a warm current surged through my heart, and I suddenly realized that perhaps what I really needed wasn't the relentless pursuit of achievement and growth. Instead, I should stop, re-examine myself, and rediscover what I truly desired.

"You know," I smiled lightly, my tone relaxed, "I'm not afraid of taking responsibility or facing difficulties. It's just that sometimes, I also hope there are people like you who can gently tell me, 'Stop.' When I lose my way."

After hearing this, Wen Ya smiled faintly. "Ruyuan, you are already amazing. You don't need to prove yourself every moment. You just need to stay true to yourself and do what you really want to do."

I took a deep breath, and the repression in my heart seemed to be released by Wen Ya's words. Perhaps, I really should calm down, think carefully, listen to my heart, and find my own rhythm.