11

 Song Yu trembled slightly from the back of his neck down his spine.

He wasn't actually that nervous, after all, his carefree persona was there, and Shen Songchen knew exactly what kind of person he was.

What made him tremble was Shen Songchen constantly touching his ear with his lips, his breath hot, burning the skin.

And, what Shen Songchen said... made Song Yu subconsciously feel that the other party was going to do something to him.

He was very sleepy.

What Shen Songchen said wasn't true.

Song Yu sniffed and explained to the other party in a good-natured manner: "I have something to do and need to go out, so I need him to take me with me."

The boy's voice was obviously sleepy, muffled, like he was being coquettish.

"Did he kiss you?" The jealousy in Shen Songchen's tone faded a little, but it didn't completely disappear.

He had only met Chen Shuan once, in the corridor of the research institute. The man was handsome, with an indifferent expression, looking like a bookworm who didn't understand emotions.

But that one glance told him that Chen Shuan resembled him in some ways.

"He didn't kiss me..." Song Yu scoffed, "He was talking to me or something, someone must have mistaken me... You, you're so annoying."

Having been woken up in the middle of the night and asked baseless questions, Song Yu's voice was both pitiful and impatient. Finally, he bit the man's arm.

But that little bit of strength was nothing to the tall, powerful superhuman; it only made him feel aroused.

Jealousy was gradually replaced by another desire. Shen Songchen, like a wild dog, kept kissing Song Yu's cheek.

...

Fortunately, aside from the half-hour kiss, Shen Songchen didn't do anything else.

However, he did ask some questions in between, asking if he liked him now, and if kissing him was comfortable. Song Yu was both annoyed and sleepy, and only after repeatedly admitting it was he finally released.

Shen Songchen seemed satisfied, whispering shameless things like "I like you so much" and "Be my wife" against his cheek.

Song Yu was too exhausted to care about the other person. His own mouth was sore and aching, so he reluctantly stuck out his tongue and licked his soft, cracked lips, trying to relieve the pain.

Then Shen Songchen tried to get close again.

This time, Song Yu immediately dodged, his face cold and his tone fierce: "I really want to sleep."

"Mm,"

Shen Songchen replied, but his hands clung to Song Yu's waist.

Song Yu: "..."

He was already exasperated. He pushed Shen Songchen away and went to the sink to wash his face.

But when he got out of bed, he noticed by the dim bedside lamp that the sliding door connecting to the next room was open.

Song Yu's heart skipped a beat.

Why... did he remember closing it before he went to sleep?

A warm source pressed against his back; Shen Songchen clung to him like a leech. Song Yu immediately turned around, both uneasy and angry, but afraid of waking the person in the other room, he lowered his voice and asked, "Did you open this door?"

Shen Songchen glanced at the door indifferently, "Sorry, I forgot to close it when I came in."

Song Yu pursed his lips.

How could he forget even this?

But Shen Songchen hadn't done it on purpose, so he couldn't blame him further. He took a deep breath and glanced at the room opposite.

Chen Shuan's room was dark and quiet, with no nightlight on.

He could vaguely see someone lying flat on the bed. They

must be asleep... Song Yu quietly closed the door, then turned on a small lamp and went to the sink to wash his face.

Shen Songchen came over again, close to his shoulder, and, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a handkerchief, wet it, and wiped the water droplets from Song Yu's face.

As their shadows overlapped on the wall, in the other room, the man lying on the bed opened his eyes. His

dark, deep phoenix eyes showed no signs of sleepiness.

He didn't have any special abilities, but his senses were sharper than ordinary people.

Especially since someone had deliberately opened the middle door.

He could hear Shen Songchen's questioning words, and he also heard Song Yu's denial.

Even in the apocalypse, people's nature of gossip remained unchanged. He knew clearly what rumors would circulate in the base after he brought Song Yu out of the research institute during the day.

But he seemed to let these rumors run rampant.

Yet, upon hearing the boy's denial, a sense of loss welled up deep within him,

though he didn't know where it came from. Before he could figure it out, he heard another sound.

A very clear sound of swallowing saliva.

It seemed to explode in his ear.

In the dark room, the ambiguous atmosphere gradually raised the temperature.

Chen Shuan's usually cool fingertips began to burn.

*

When he woke up the next day, Shen Songchen had already left.

Song Yu glanced at the time; usually, Chen Shuan would have woken him up and taken him to the research lab by this time.

What was going on today?

Thinking about what happened last night, Song Yu felt uneasy. He walked to the sliding door, trying to listen for any sounds from next door.

Unfortunately, it was quiet; he heard nothing.

Song Yu pursed his lips, dismissing the thought, and went to the bathroom to wash up.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt like the toothbrush cup had been moved.

As if remembering something, Song Yu asked 009: "Are there spiritual entities in this world?"

009: "Host, no, there are only pollutants and superhumans, but they are all physical entities, visible to the naked eye."

Song Yu carefully picked up the toothbrush—

he touched it; it was dry.

He brought it closer to his nose; there was no particular smell.

Perhaps he was just imagining things.

Song Yu squeezed out the toothpaste and glanced at himself in the mirror.

His lips were still unnaturally red, a lingering tingling sensation.

To avoid touching his mouth, Song Yu moved slowly.

Less than two seconds later, there was a knock on the door. Surprised, Song Yu immediately left the bathroom, only to be knocked twice more on the sliding door.

"Song Yu, are you there?"

Chen Shuan's voice called.

Song Yu wanted to speak, but with foam in his mouth, he walked to the door.

As the door opened, Chen Shuan saw a boy in loose pajamas, foam on his lips, holding a cup and his phone.

A small strand of hair stood up on top of his head, and his expression was sluggish and dull.

Chen Shuan, however, couldn't help but think of what happened last night. The man's fingers curled slightly, suppressing the voice that had been echoing in his mind all night.

"My faucet is broken."

The man didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear. Song Yu nodded, gesturing for him to come in.

The two rooms were similarly laid out. Chen Shuan went straight into the bathroom, a sweet fragrance filling his nostrils.

He turned on the faucet, keeping the water flow very low, and stretched out his hand.

Doctors' fingers are usually long and slender; Chen Shuan's knuckles were distinct, both bony and strong.

Song Yu passed behind him, continuing to brush his teeth in front of the mirror.

Perhaps because of the presence of another person, the air in the bathroom seemed thinner. Song Yu quickened his pace, glancing at Chen Shuan after finishing.

The other man met his gaze: "What's wrong?"

Song Yu asked, "Why are you so late today? An hour later than usual."

He didn't need to do anything special; he just needed to maintain a regular routine to provide data for the research institute—usually, if he wasn't awake, Chen Shuan would knock on the door to wake him.

But today was an exception.

Song Yu was still a little worried; had Chen Shuan overheard what happened last night?

So he nervously clenched his fingers.

Chen Shuan didn't turn to the side; he seemed very focused on washing his hands.

However, the boy was unaware that the other person had already glanced at the mirror out of the corner of their eye, looking at his face back and forth more than ten times.

His lips were a vibrant color, as if they had been kissed intimately.

After subtly withdrawing his gaze, Chen Shuan slowly spoke, "Something urgent came up in the early morning, which delayed me."

Song Yu's tense face visibly relaxed, and he softly said "Oh," "Shall we go now?"

"My subordinate will come to take you there later." After Chen Shuan finished speaking, he turned off the faucet, glanced at the handkerchief beside the mirror, and said, "My bathroom is broken, can I use yours?"

This was Chen Shuan's territory, so Song Yu couldn't really refuse.

About five minutes later, someone knocked on the door to pick him up.

Song Yu went to the laboratory with Chen Shuan's assistant, sitting there idly for over an hour, while the others seemed to be gathered together talking about something.

[009, can you hear them talking?]

[Yes, host.]

Song Yu thought it was a conversation related to the plot: [What did they say?]

A moment later.

[They said Dr. Chen was in your bathroom this morning, and that you and he definitely slept together.]

Song Yu's shoulders stiffened. "

They even said they didn't expect Dr. Chen to like your type."

Song Yu, misled, didn't understand: "What type am I?" "

Judging from their conversation, they probably think you're the type who likes to act cute."

Song Yu: "..."

He was a little indignant.

Even if he liked to act cute, he wouldn't dare do that in front of Chen Shu'an.

Song Yu was a little annoyed and told 009 to stop listening. Fortunately, not long after, the assistant who brought him returned: "It's all recorded. I'll take you back."

The assistant saw him to the door and left. Song Yu swiped his card to open the door, lowered his head, and went into the room, sitting on the bed. Then he heard movement from the balcony.

Was Chen Shu'an still there?

Their balconies were connected; he probably had just finished showering and was hanging clothes to dry.

Song Yu walked over, and through the glass, when he saw the small piece of fabric the man was clutching in his hand, his cheeks immediately flushed red.

Startled, he jumped out of bed and ran to the other man, suppressing his embarrassment as he said, "That...it's my clothes."

"Yeah, I know." He could tell just by the size. But Chen Shuan felt that if he added that, Song Yu would probably ignore him for a while.

So he explained, "I accidentally dropped it on the floor when I was hanging it up, so I washed it for you."

Wh-what?

Song Yu's eyes widened, a heat rising at the corners of his eyes.

"You washed it?" The boy eagerly reached for the underwear in the man's hand, and after finding it wet, he pursed his lips.

His voice was tinged with helplessness and embarrassment.

"I'll hang it up myself...thank you."

Chen Shuan let go.

Song Yu didn't look up, and only after the man returned to his room did he clutch the small piece of fabric and go to the sink.

Perhaps in his panic, he didn't notice that the handkerchief that had been hanging next to the mirror was gone.

*

For the next few days, Song Yu was taken to the research lab by Chen Shuan's assistant, while Chen Shuan himself never appeared.

Not only Chen Shu'an, but even Shen Songchen, who used to come here every few days, hadn't come.

The progress bar remained stuck.

Song Yu had a vague intuition—something different from the original plot was about to happen.

The previous two worlds also had differences from the original plot, but the main storyline remained largely unchanged and they were relatively safe, unlike this post-apocalyptic world.

He called Shen Songchen, but the call didn't go through.

He asked his assistant what Chen Shu'an was doing, but the assistant remained silent. Song Yu grew more and more

uneasy each day.

Finally, in the middle of the night on the tenth day, he was awakened by the sound of the door being pushed open.

"Who is it?" Song Yu

became alert.

"Don't be afraid, it's me."

Chen Shu'an's breathing sounded more erratic than usual, as if he had run all the way back.

Song Yu tried to turn on the light, but was instead lifted off the bed. Then, he felt the other person squatting beside him, helping him put on his shoes.

Chen Shu'an's fingers on his ankles were very strong, and he couldn't pull away at all.

Song Yu sensed something was wrong: "Going to the lab now?"

"No, leaving the base."

Song Yu was surprised: "Is the experiment finished?"

Chen Shu'an had already helped him put on his shoes, and looked up: "I'll explain later, now come with me, okay?"

Chen Shu'an's voice was very reassuring, so Song Yu didn't say anything more and got up.

The door was then kicked open with a "bang"—the

corridor was brightly lit, and the room became clear.

Pei Feng and Shen Songchen burst in. Shen Songchen glanced at Song Yu first, then pulled a gun from his back and pointed it at Chen Shu'an.

"Xiao Yu, come over here."

Song Yu was surprised.

What...what's going on?

Chen Shu'an glanced at Shen Songchen indifferently: "The research institute is now sealed off; you can't get out without me."

"Hey, hey, we're all in the same boat, put your guns away first." Pei Feng said to Shen Songchen, then looked at Chen Shu'an, "But you actually turned them too, that's unexpected."

Shen Songchen put away his gun and immediately went to take Song Yu's hand.

Song Yu was still in a daze.

But one thing was certain: they were leaving the main base.

Escaping.

At such a crucial moment, asking questions was suicidal; Song Yu, though slow-witted, understood this.

He obediently let Shen Songchen lead the way.

Chen Shuan walked at the front, turning several corners before arriving at an elevator, swiping his ID.

"This road leads directly to the outside of the base walls. Be prepared at all times; the base's troops might be waiting there. Of course, there might also be contaminants."

Even at this point, Chen Shuan's voice remained calm.

Song Yu's racing heart gradually calmed down.

Outside the elevator was a dimly lit underground passage, growing darker and harder to breathe as they went deeper. Song Yu felt as if he was about to be plunged into darkness.

Shen Songchen suddenly squeezed his hand: "Qin Fei is waiting for us outside."

"Don't be afraid, we're all here."

About twenty minutes later, the road finally ended.

However, as soon as the door opened, a row of people stood outside, seemingly from the base, each carrying a weapon.

Shen Songchen released Song Yu and, along with Pei Feng and another superhuman, led the way.

Chen Shuan followed, eventually carrying Song Yu on his back.

"Don't look."

The words had barely left his lips when blood splattered in the air.

Song Yu immediately closed his eyes.

But he could still hear the sounds of tearing flesh and screams.

Even superhumans couldn't withstand so many people. Worried, Song Yu immediately called for 009 to administer the medicine to the group.

Soon, only a few people remained from the base, none daring to advance further.

The group jogged along, the main base's wall receding further and further behind them.

The sound of speeding vehicles filled the air. A few seconds later, one of the cars turned a corner and stopped squarely in front of them.

Song Yu recognized it; it was their base's vehicle.

The group quickly got in and drove off without wasting any time.

Only after confirming that the main base's people weren't following did Shen Songchen explain what had happened.

It turned out that Pei Feng had accidentally passed by the conference room and overheard the base's higher-ups discussing using Song Yu for experiments, and the decision was ultimately approved.

Song Yu was stunned.

In the original world, there were only a few sentences about Shen Songchen cooperating with the main base in experiments. Was Shen Songchen also treated this way?

009's voice suddenly rang out: [Host, you have triggered a hidden plot.]

[The high-ranking officials of the main base are one of the changes the protagonist experiences. If Chen Shuan develops a vaccine and the protagonist group successfully removes the high-ranking officials of the main base from power and re-establishes the system, it will not affect the progress bar and will receive corresponding rewards.]

It reassured its host: [Don't worry, the protagonist group will have a lucky aura; you only need to complete the tasks assigned during this period.]

Song Yu's mind was in a mess as he slowly digested the information given by 009.

He looked around at the people around him; thankfully, no one was injured.

“It’s amazing they even thought of that. Why don’t they experiment on themselves?” Pei Feng scoffed. “Do you know what they said when the superhumans died at the base a couple of years ago?”

“They said they just wanted to keep the most useful people alive.”

Pei Feng grew increasingly annoyed and patted Chen Shu’an on the shoulder. “And you, aren’t you being watched by them all this time?”

Song Yu looked at Chen Shu’an.

His profile was deep, the moonlight obscuring his expression.

“They monitor who he meets every day, how much he researches, like they’re keeping an eye on prisoners,” Pei Feng continued. “Why did they ask you to extract the blood of superhumans? Probably something shady again.”

Chen Shu’an slowly said, “To mix the genes of different superhumans together to create the most powerful weapon.”

Everyone paused.

After a while, Qin Fei spoke up: “They never intended to defeat the contaminant, did they? As long as the contaminant exists, they’ll be the most powerful people. Once it recovers, they’ll lose their current status.”

So, these high-ranking officials would rather let the contaminant exist to enjoy the world’s best resources.

Shen Songchen held Song Yu's hand tightly: "Luckily, you're not hurt."

Song Yu's palm felt warm from the touch: "Then where do we go now?"

Going back to the base would definitely mean being captured again. So it seemed they had nowhere to go.

Perhaps sensing Song Yu's thoughts, Shen Songchen said: "We definitely can't go back to the original base, but we've brought a group of people willing to go with us to a new place."

"Will that guarantee safety?" Chen Shuchen suddenly asked.

Shen Songchen looked at him: "Do you have a better place to go?"

"I have a laboratory that the people at the base don't know about."

Pei Feng was surprised: "I thought you'd stay here your whole life, but I didn't expect you to be able to secretly set up a laboratory right under their noses. Impressive."

Chen Shuan: "Their main target now is Song Yu. Your base has just been built. What if Song Yu gets taken away?"

Shen Songchen frowned and asked in return: "But why did you leave the base?" As soon

as he said this, the men present all knew the reason.

Chen Shu'an didn't answer: "The vaccine has been developed, but it has some flaws. If Song Yu is found, they might use him to lure out the plant. As for whether the person lives or dies, they don't care."

Chen Shu'an's parents were both scientists who were brought to the research institute after the apocalypse. They faced great obstacles in developing the vaccine, and they used it on themselves. They were great people willing to sacrifice themselves to save everyone.

Later, they sacrificed themselves.

There will inevitably be sacrifices on the road to humanity's victory over the source of pollution.

Chen Shu'an thought he would inherit their will and sacrifice everything for humanity's victory, including his own life.

But at this moment, another person suddenly appeared.

He could sacrifice himself, but he didn't want to put this person in danger again.

After discussing it, they had to make a decision—Song Yu would go to the laboratory with Chen Shu'an for a while, and the rest of them would set up a new base. They would reunite after this crisis passed.

*

The laboratory that Chen Shu'an mentioned was a two-story hut at the foot of a very remote mountain.

The hut was surrounded by an electric fence and alarms were set up.

Food wasn't a concern for the time being; before parting, Shen Songchen had prepared ample food for them from his storage space.

Song Yu had been worried about how to cook every day, but Chen Shuan had already taken care of everything.

The food was quite good.

Aside from eating and sleeping, Chen Shuan spent the rest of his time in the basement developing a vaccine.

The internet was bad in this remote area, and fearing the boy would be bored, he had prepared several thick books.

Song Yu casually flipped to a page, then silently closed it, hesitating for a few seconds before asking, "Isn't there anything I can understand?"

After saying that, he noticed the corners of the man's mouth seemed to turn up slightly.

"What do you want to read?"

Song Yu knew his request was a bit outrageous, but he still cautiously asked, "What about comic books?"

"There should be." Seeing the surprised expression on the boy's face, Chen Shuan explained, "My family bought these when I was very young, and they've always been kept in a box in my bedroom. I don't know if they're still there."

"Is this your house?"

"Yes."

Song Yu looked up at the starry sky sticker on his bedside table.

So this room he was staying in must have been Chen Shuan's room when he was a child.

Chen Shuan squatted down and took out the box from under the bed. The contents were covered in a layer of dust. When he reached the bottom, Song Yu saw several comic books and exclaimed with delight, "Found them!"

Chen Shuan stopped the boy from reaching into the box, wiped the dust off the comics, and then handed them over.

Song Yu had never read a children's picture book like this before. Clutching the comic, she ran to the table and began engrossed in reading, only showing the man the back of her head. She

ignored him once she got her comic.

Chen Shu'an's lips curled slightly as he closed the door and went to the basement.

It was quite late when he came out, but Song Yu's room light was still on.

Chen Shu'an knocked on the door and, finding Song Yu still hunched over the table reading the comic, frowned slightly. "Song Yu, time for bed."

Song Yu didn't even look up, replying perfunctorily, "Mmm..."

Chen Shu'an walked over and repeated, "It's late."

Afraid he'd put the book away, Song Yu clung to it tightly. "Ten minutes?"

Noticing the man's unwell expression, she pleaded, "...Five minutes?"

Chen Shu'an was taken aback.

For a fleeting moment, Song Yu's expression gave him the illusion—that his little wife was being affectionate.

Clingy and dependent.

Whether it was his heart pounding too hard or the boy's face looking particularly vivid under the lamplight, Chen Shuan's impulse overwhelmed his reason: "If you don't go to sleep, I'll kiss you."

Song Yu's eyes widened.

He muttered to 009, "Why is it that line again?"

"Don't kiss me..."

After saying that, Song Yu quickly closed the book and went to bed.

Chen Shuan left the room.

The moment he closed the door, he placed his hand on his heart.

It seemed he couldn't slow down.

*

Song Yu finished reading those comics by noon the next day. He regretted reading them too quickly, leaving him with nothing to do afterwards.

In the afternoon, he read them carefully again, and by the end, his eyelids were drooping, so he fell asleep on the table.

When he woke up, he found a small cluster of white flowers in the book.

He picked them up with his fingers and realized he didn't recognize the flower, but it was very pretty.

009: "Host, this is a dodder flower."

Dodder flower... Song Yu was pleasantly surprised: "Is it from that vine?" 009

: [Hmm, but it can't take human form yet; it's in the recovery phase.]

Song Yu looked out the window but didn't see any vines.

So he found a plastic bottle, filled it with water, and put the flower in, hoping it would delay withering.

For the next few days, when he woke up, there would be a cluster of small flowers on the table.

Song Yu happily put all the flowers in the bottle.

In the apocalypse, such uncontaminated plants were rare, and Chen Shuan quickly noticed: "Did that pollutant come looking for you?"

Song Yu lied: "No..."

Chen Shuan stared at him, and soon Song Yu lowered his eyes: "Don't hurt it..."

"If it didn't hurt you, I wouldn't do that." Chen Shuan walked to the table, pondered for a few seconds, "Can I take one down?"

Song Yu's mind worked unusually quickly: "Is it related to the experiment?"

The man nodded.

Song Yu didn't dare delay, picked out the most vibrant one, and placed it in Chen Shuan's hand.

Perhaps the vines really were helpful for the research, because Chen Shuan didn't leave the basement for a whole day afterward. Worried that he might have fainted from hunger inside, Song Yu went in to find him.

The basement wasn't complicated; there was a corridor and several rooms. Song Yu noticed that one of the doors was ajar and pushed it open.

He walked to the bookshelf, but Chen Shuan wasn't there.

Song Yu was about to leave when his eyes caught sight of a handkerchief on the table.

It looked somewhat familiar.

009: [Host, that's your handkerchief.]

[Last time Shen Songchen came to the base's research institute to find you, he wiped your face at the sink and then hung this handkerchief next to the mirror.]

So it was this one… He'd forgotten about it.

But why was it with Chen Shuan?

Next to the handkerchief was a thick notebook.

Song Yu glanced at it.

[May 7th, Weather: Cloudy.

The observed person's skin is very pale and easily bruised; the bruises won't fade due to self-healing abilities.]

This was clearly something Chen Shuan had written down when he was still at the research institute.

Another page read—

[May 8th, Weather: Light rain.

The observed person's hickeys won't fade due to self-healing abilities.]

Song Yu's cheeks flushed.

He turned to the next page.

[May 9th, Weather: Cloudy.

The hickeys are more pronounced, and the observed person's lips are redder than usual.] Song

Yu: "!"

Had Chen Shu'an already noticed Shen Songchen's visit?

He awkwardly turned to the next page, this time only writing the date, and instead of the usual place for filling in the content, he drew a portrait of him in pen.

The portrait was suddenly blocked by a pair of large, adult male hands, and then, slender fingers slightly bent, closing the notebook.

Song Yu looked up and met Chen Shu'an's gaze.

The man's expression was as usual: "Hungry?"

Song Yu opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.

"I'll go up right away." Chen Shu'an took the notebook and reached for the handkerchief on the table.

Song Yu immediately snatched it away, whispering, "This is mine..."

"Hmm." The man who had taken someone else's things said matter-of-factly, "If you take it, I won't be able to sleep."

Song Yu pursed his lips, and finally returned the handkerchief to the other person.

These actions, akin to confessions, made him uneasy. He lowered his head, intending to leave, but Chen Shuan stopped him.

The man's tall figure loomed over him, exuding an oppressive aura: "Don't you want to talk to me anymore?"

Song Yu remained silent, his head bowed.

"That day, I heard Shen Songchen kiss you." Chen Shuan looked at Song Yu's eyes, which were gradually reddening, leaned down, and pressed his lips to his pale earlobe.

Song Yu's shoulders trembled uncontrollably, but he had nowhere to hide, forced to listen to the man's jealous and shameful words.

"I heard the sounds of you being kissed so hard you couldn't stand it."

"If you knew what I was thinking then, you'd definitely want to talk to me even less." (

← Previous Chapter Next Chapter →