Flame War Anthem: Beyond the Galactic River (GL) - Chapter 2

She reached out unconsciously, gently caressing that delicate face she had missed day and night, tenderly wiping away the falling tears while still managing to maintain a faint smile at the corner of her lips. “Having a baby is supposed to be a happy occasion, why are you crying… I just got back a few days ago and never expected to arrive just in time for your delivery.”

He Xiaoya couldn’t conceal the pain in her heart, her voice trembling as she asked, “Do… do you still blame me?”

An Jinnan shook her head firmly.

Unable to resist, Xiaoya asked again, “Then… are you leaving again?”

An Jinnan lowered her hand, only for Xiaoya to quickly grasp it tightly.

Despite it being the height of summer, her hand felt icy cold—unlike before when it was always warm to the touch, like a comforting heat pack.

“Xiaoya, I’ve decided to settle down there. This time I came back… mainly to handle some paperwork.”

She kept her head down, her voice barely audible. Though she had prepared herself before coming, she was still afraid of Xiaoya finding out.

Xiaoya turned her head away, tears now flowing uncontrollably down her cheeks and past her ears.

“Jinnan, I’m the one who failed you. If possible, forget me completely and live the life you want…”

Feeling Xiaoya about to let go, Jinnan tightened her grip as well, tears now falling freely. “Xiaoya, I also hope… you can be happy.”

Even if they could no longer love or stay together, she desperately wished for Xiaoya’s happiness, even if it wasn’t her who brought it.

When they had parted ways years ago, both knew there was no going back. Despite their unwillingness to let go, they had ultimately reached this irreversible point.

Whether it was fate’s cruel joke or their love not being deep enough, perhaps the answer no longer mattered.

Their sweet past now seemed like a carefully brewed poison—deadly and agonizing.

The happiness they once dreamed of now seemed impossibly out of reach.

For a moment, they simply looked at each other in silence, hearts filled with indescribable sorrow and bitterness.

Even if they had a thousand words to say, facing this unchangeable reality rendered them meaningless.

Calculating the time, the others would be back soon. Not wanting to cause unnecessary misunderstandings, Jinnan finally released Xiaoya’s hand.

Instead, she moved to the crib and asked softly, “Xiaoya, may I hold the baby?”

“Mm…”

Jinnan bent down with utmost care, gently lifting the fragile-looking infant, her face softening with tender affection.

Watching this scene, Xiaoya felt as if a sharp knife had twisted in her heart once more.

“Has he been named yet?”

“Not yet…”

“That’s alright, take your time choosing a good name… Hello there, Xiaoya’s little one. I’m Auntie Jinnan.”

Her hold on the baby was practiced and gentle—after all, she had helped raise her two nieces and was quite experienced in this regard.

How wonderful it would be if time could freeze at this moment.

Xiaoya wished for it with all her heart, yet she knew clearly that everything was over. All lingering affection had to be let go now.

That they had once loved each other deeply was enough. If they couldn’t be together in this lifetime, they would have to wait for the next—hoping then they would both have the courage to defy fate’s obstacles…

By the time the others returned, An Jinnan was no longer in the ward. No matter how fervently one prayed to the heavens, those destined to leave could never be held back.

He Xiaojing stayed by her sister’s side, but all words of comfort now seemed pale and powerless.

Apart from sighing silently in her heart, there was nothing else she could do. The marriage was already settled, the child had been born—their fates were now irrevocably intertwined.

Sometimes fate plays cruel tricks. A single misstep can lead to entirely different life choices.

On the day He Xiaoya was discharged from the hospital, supported by her mother, she walked out of the inpatient building and stood at the entrance, gazing at the dazzling blue sky for a long time without moving.

At that very moment, An Jinnan had already boarded a flight back to Italy, leaving them separated by vast distances.

The prospect of meeting again in the future seemed hopeless, and suddenly, sorrow welled up in her heart. Tears streamed down uncontrollably.

When her mother asked with concern what was wrong, she only murmured softly, “The sunlight is too harsh…”

Back then, Xiao Xi and Yanyan were still young. Though they could sense that many things were quietly changing, they couldn’t yet grasp the depth of helplessness in the adult world.

Only when they experienced it themselves would they understand the inexpressible bitterness of it all. And their futures would carve a path through a road strewn with thorns, leaving behind a trail stained with bl00d.

Time flew by like a fleeting white colt. In the blink of an eye, eight years had passed, and it was once again a scorching June.

On countless quiet nights, An Jingxi had wondered—if she had cast aside the hesitation and turmoil in her heart and bravely confessed the secret buried deep within her to Yanyan, perhaps the outcome would have been entirely different.

“Yanyan, have you ever thought about when you might get married?”

It was the weekend. After breakfast, both dressed in their pine-green military uniforms, wearing peaked caps with a single yellow stripe on their shoulders, they walked side by side across the university campus, exuding an air of heroic grace.

Rows of shaded trees lined their path, and the gentle early autumn breeze brushed against their faces, light and cool, refreshing their spirits.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground, shimmering brilliantly.

With graduation approaching, there was much academic work to attend to, so they hadn’t left campus during their break this month. Now, they were heading to the library to review important materials.

An Jingxi walked on the left. Beneath the brim of her cap, her clear, beautiful eyes sparkled like stars. Her high nose bridge and softly defined features gave her an elegant and refined appearance, with a faint, almost imperceptible smile lingering at the corners of her lips.

Clad in her uniform, her back was straight, embodying a heroic and spirited demeanor.

She wore low-heeled black leather shoes and carried a black document bag in her left hand, her gaze fixed ahead as she asked the question casually.

Yanyan, walking on the right, had a fairer complexion than An Jingxi, her expression calm and her features delicate, with deep, tranquil eyes.

Though dressed in the same uniform, she carried a more composed and scholarly air.

Holding an identical document bag in her right hand, her steps were slightly slower. Unconsciously, An Jingxi adjusted her pace to match hers.

Yanyan glanced at her sideways and, after a moment of silence, replied in a low voice, “I haven’t thought about it. Marriage still feels too distant for me.”

“It does feel distant, but time passes so quickly. It feels like our college entrance exams were just yesterday, and now we’re about to graduate. Once we’re stationed in the military, chances to meet will probably become even rarer…”

“Yanyan, if you ever get a boyfriend someday, don’t wait until you’re about to get married to tell us. Make him treat us best friends to a big feast first so we can properly vet him. After all, we’ve been your closest girlfriends for so many years. If he doesn’t butter us up, we might just badmouth him to you.”

Though An Jingxi joked as usual with her playful teasing, her heart had never felt so hollow and bitter before.

Countless tangled thoughts intertwined and tightened around her, threatening to suffocate her at any moment.