Chapter 30: Constantine – Let’s break up, were we ever together?

“Lace… is there really nothing that can be done?”

“I’m sorry, John.” Dr. Lace shook her head regretfully. “You should start making arrangements.”

“You saved my life once,” Constantine said with a bitter smile. “Can’t you save me this time too?”

“Stage-four lung cancer. Even if God Himself came, the only thing He could do would be take you to Heaven.”

But God had never favored Constantine.

His mother died giving birth to him. His father despised him and, when he discovered that Constantine could see demons, refused to believe him and instead confined him to a psychiatric hospital for over a decade.

Driven to despair there, Constantine attempted suicide and briefly found himself in Hell. That experience convinced him to devote his life to exorcising demons in hopes of earning a place in Heaven.

He exhausted himself relentlessly for that goal, despite never receiving so much as a kind glance from God.

And now fate had mocked him again.

Just when he wanted more than anything to stay alive and spend the rest of his life with Jiang Shulan, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Leaning against the wall, shoulders slumped, Constantine suppressed the cough rising in his throat.

Jiang Shulan was still waiting outside.

After months of patient effort, Jiang Shulan’s attitude toward him had finally begun to soften. Constantine believed that before long, he would accept him completely.

In three months, he planned to propose.

He would prepare the wedding himself, invite his few close friends, and a year later travel the world with Jiang Shulan. The money in his bank account would be enough for them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

Lace, one of Constantine’s few female friends, looked at him with sympathy despite knowing his flaws.

“John… are you all right?”

“…Lace, could you do me a favor?”

****

Jiang Shulan was broken up with.

Worse, the news came through another person on Constantine’s behalf.

He walked numbly out of the hospital, dazed enough that he nearly stepped into traffic.

Watching from a nearby window, Lace muttered, “John, you really are a bastard.”

[System… I got dumped?]

Jiang Shulan could hardly believe it.

Based on his previous experiences, Constantine didn’t seem like someone who would let go so easily.

Maybe it was because he was the protagonist?

Movie protagonists were supposed to be righteous heroes…

Though Jiang Shulan had never actually seen much that was particularly noble about Constantine.

Perhaps he had misunderstood him after all.

The system sounded almost pleased.

[That’s right. So hurry up and leave this world and return to the rest station.]

[No way.]

If he exited now, he would soon be assigned another mission.

Since there was no longer anyone in this world preventing him from completing his objectives, he could simply spend the remaining time enjoying himself.

Cheering happily, he began planning a trip.

“First Paris, then London… I definitely have to see the Thames…”

Curiously, every destination on his itinerary carefully avoided Los Angeles.

Even if he insisted otherwise, after nearly a year together it was impossible for him to feel nothing for Constantine.

During that time, Constantine had looked after him well and had kept his promise not to overstep his boundaries.

Still, Jiang Shulan genuinely enjoyed traveling.

The strangers he met were friendly, and no one stalked or harassed him.

[System, this has been the happiest movie world I’ve ever experienced!]

****

Several days later, disaster struck unexpectedly.

He was implicated in a homicide investigation and brought back to Los Angeles by the police.

The detective in charge was a woman named Angela, and the victim was her younger sister.

“Isabel was found clutching strands of your hair,” Angela said. “Do you have any explanation?”

Looking down at the handcuffs around his wrists, Jiang Shulan sighed.

“I honestly have no idea. I’ve been traveling in other cities these past few days.”

“Then how do you explain the lack of surveillance footage placing you anywhere nearby?”

“Maybe… maybe it was a ghost!”

“A ghost?” Angela’s eyes reddened. “I think the only thing haunted here is your conscience.”

“It really wasn’t me!”

Although the evidence was insufficient, he remained a suspect.

The only person he knew in Los Angeles was Constantine, so he reluctantly called him.

He failed to notice Angela becoming visibly alert when she heard whose number he dialed.

“Constantine…” Jiang Shulan cleared his throat, trying to sound mature. “Are you busy?”

After several seconds of silence, a hoarse voice answered.

“…What is it?”

“Well… I’m at the police station…”

Before he could finish, the sharp sound of breaking glass came from the other end, as though someone had knocked over a cup in haste.

“What happened?”

“Um… sorry to bother you. I’ve gotten caught up in a murder case. Could you come bail me out?”

“…I’m busy.”

“But you’re the only person I know here. If not you, maybe your girlfriend could come?”

“…Understood.”

****

Standing from the cold chair, Jiang Shulan stamped his feet.

“My butt’s freezing…”

Angela asked, “You know Mr. Constantine?”

Jiang Shulan instantly became cautious.

Could she be one of Constantine’s enemies?

“Yes,” he answered carefully. “He’s my coworker.”

Only then did Angela remember that Jiang Shulan worked as a priest.

She admitted to herself that she had judged by appearances.

He looked so delicate that she had assumed otherwise.

“Would you do me a favor?” she asked.

“A favor? Aren’t I still your suspect?”

“In truth, although your hair was found at the scene, numerous witnesses confirm seeing you in other cities. You’ll probably be released in a day or two.”

“So why keep me here?”

“Because I have a personal request.”

Jiang Shulan thought for a moment.

“All right. Go ahead.”

“My sister would never have taken her own life. But according to nurses at the psychiatric hospital, before she died she kept muttering about demons, angels… and Constantine, despite never having met him.”

“Constantine himself has no connection to the crime, and every time I’ve tried contacting him, he’s refused to see me. I was hoping you could arrange a meeting.”

“No problem,” Jiang Shulan agreed readily.

Once Constantine arrived, they could meet naturally.

Except the person who eventually appeared wasn’t Constantine at all.

“Hello. I’m John’s apprentice, Kramer. My teacher is occupied, so he sent me to post your bail.”

Jiang Shulan blinked.

“John? Isn’t his name Constantine?”

“Master used to go by that name,” Kramer said proudly. “Constantine, the name is legendary among exorcists…”

A devoted admirer, Kramer launched into an endless stream of praise even without encouragement.

Since Constantine never showed up, Angela’s request remained unfulfilled.

Determined to help her uncover the truth behind her sister’s death, Jiang Shulan reluctantly agreed to accompany her to Constantine’s residence.

“My master doesn’t live there anymore,” Kramer explained. “I’ll drive you.”

The car ride was quiet.

Jiang Shulan curled up in his seat, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

He had confidently claimed to know Constantine and promised Angela he could arrange a meeting, yet he didn’t even know where Constantine lived now.

But why had Constantine moved?

He had bought that old place outright, and the neighborhood had been pleasant.

Did his girlfriend dislike it?

Or was he simply trying to erase the memories?

For some reason, Jiang Shulan felt an ache in his chest unlike his usual heart condition.

Frowning slightly, he asked,

[System… could I have some other illness?]

[No.]

He simply didn’t recognize the dull, lingering pain of heartbreak.

After spending his first three worlds surrounded by overwhelming affection and constant care, he had never learned what losing someone was supposed to feel like.

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