PTGWD Chapter 68: Nourishment

The hectocotylus flashed and shrinked back, disappearing into the tentacles.

“No brushing,” the vocal cord said in a panic. “It’ll explode and spill everywhere.”

Fang Xingzhou hummed, then asked, “If it explodes, won’t a new one grow back? This one seems thicker than the one you left in my stomach last time.”

Under Fang Xingzhou’s calm description, Lu Jianchuan gradually tensed up, its skin turning the color of boiled shrimp.

It squirmed uncomfortably, splashing water all over the bathroom, its dozens of eyes fixed on Fang Xingzhou’s pale neck and slender collarbone. In a low voice, it said, “Because I haven’t had time to adjust it yet.”

Fang Xingzhou rinsed the brush and squeezed toothpaste onto it. “Adjust?”

“Yeah…” Lu Jianchuan’s voice grew softer. “I adjust the shape based on your preferences. For example, I’ll compress it smaller at first, then gradually make it bigger when you feel better.”

Fang Xingzhou paused, looking up at the giant jellyfish with a smile. “Does that happen in human form too?”

Lu Jianchuan’s vocal cord twisted, its tentacles coiling around Fang Xingzhou’s wrist, continuously rubbing against it to leave its scent on his beloved.

“…Yes,” it said. “I do it… secretly.”

Fang Xingzhou held the tentacle coiled around his wrist, flipping it over, and commented with a smile, “So cute.”

The tentacle, buoyed by his praise, couldn’t help but open all its mouthparts, eager to bite into Fang Xingzhou’s warm, soft skin and savor it with its tongue.

—Which conveniently allowed Fang Xingzhou to stuff toothpaste into its mouthparts.

The monster tasted the bitter orange mint flavor and froze, instinctively wanting to swallow, but Fang Xingzhou stopped it in time. “Don’t swallow.”

Lu Jianchuan obediently stopped.

It extended its tentacle, lowering its head to watch Fang Xingzhou meticulously brush its teeth with the toothpaste-covered brush.

The teeth in its mouthparts weren’t neatly arranged but overlapped like layers of a meat grinder, making it more efficient for biting into prey but also more troublesome to clean.

When it was very, very young, it had been kept by Fang Xingzhou’s bedside. Its teeth hadn’t fully grown in yet, but Fang Xingzhou would still clean its body every day, using a human water flosser to rinse each of its mouthparts.

Later, after Lu Jianchuan left Fang Xingzhou and returned to the ocean alone, it had never brushed its teeth so meticulously again. Most of the time, it just ground its teeth on hard coral or secreted high-concentration acid to corrode bacteria and debris.

Now, it stared unblinkingly at its focused beloved, as if watching a beautiful dream that crossed twenty years.

The bathroom soon filled with a sweet, cloying fragrance. Even though it had no facial features or expression, it radiated happiness from within, its toothpaste-filled mouthparts even starting to blow colorful bubbles.

Fang Xingzhou was incredibly patient, sitting on the small stool and brushing each mouthpart on the tentacles clean. He then directed Lu Jianchuan, “Rinse,” and the monster would obediently extend the showerhead to wash away the foam.

Eighteen tentacles, countless mouthparts, and even more countless teeth.

It was an enormous task, but neither of them grew tired of it. Fang Xingzhou brushed one after another, inspecting each mouthpart as he went. He found that despite Lu Jianchuan’s infrequent brushing, its teeth were in excellent condition. From the first to the hundredth, he didn’t find a single cavity.

After brushing the last tentacle, Fang Xingzhou kissed the topmost mouthpart and praised, “You’ve taken good care of your teeth.”

Lu Jianchuan’s massive body had never been so clean.

It now smelled sweet from the inside out, with the pleasant scent of shampoo and toothpaste, as if it had returned to the days when Fang Xingzhou kept it, waiting to crawl into a freshly cleaned fish tank and drift off to sleep with its little owner.

It squinted happily, its hectocotylus once again uncontrollably extending out, stiffly coiling around Fang Xingzhou’s arm.

Fang Xingzhou finished the most troublesome part of the cleaning and pushed aside the tentacles to reveal the gestational sac.

The vocal cord asked eagerly, “Do you want to give the baby a bath too?”

Fang Xingzhou looked the baby bump up and down.

It was stained with many unknown dark brown marks, whether dried blood or something else. Fang Xingzhou put away the brush and switched to a soft bath ball, holding the showerhead in one hand while gently wiping the gestational sac with the other.

The big and little monsters were equally happy.

The little monster also blew bubbles through the egg membrane in the nutrient fluid, then rolled to the edge of the sac, following its father’s movements and acting cute.

After cleaning the gestational sac, the long bath finally came to an end.

There was no towel large enough at home, so Lu Jianchuan had to shake itself vigorously to dry off, then used its tentacles to fetch a towel and a hairdryer, drying Fang Xingzhou’s hair while wiping itself.

By the time they finished and entered the bedroom, it was almost dawn.

Lu Jianchuan coiled around the tired and sleepy Fang Xingzhou, climbing onto the bed and making the two-meter-wide wooden bed creak loudly.

“Sleep?” The brain leaned close to his forehead, planting a gentle kiss. “You look tired, darling.”

Fang Xingzhou took the hectocotylus coiled around him and held it in his hand, feeling the mucus inside almost overflowing, rough to the touch.

He squeezed it.

The brain contracted wildly, its grooves twisting into various shapes, its dozens of tentacles squirming, almost crushing the bed.

Fang Xingzhou turned over, leaning against the writhing tentacles, looking at the reddened brain and eyes.

Four tentacles coiled around his wrists and ankles, slipping into the loose silk pants, dangerously rubbing against the warm, fragrant human skin.

Fang Xingzhou was practically ensnared in the center of the monster, his skin tinged with a faint pink from the long bath, his usually sharp features softened, like a beautiful warm toned oil painting.

“You used to sleep there,” he pointed to the empty bedside, his voice soft. “I always liked to leave a small light on because the jellyfish looked translucent under the light, especially beautiful, and sometimes it would even change colors.”

Lu Jianchuan didn’t hear a word.

Its hectocotylus was still being held, its dozens of eyes fixed on Fang Xingzhou’s pink lips as they moved, occasionally revealing his white teeth.

“I might not fit now,” it absentmindedly agreed. “I’ll crush the bedside table.”

Fang Xingzhou laughed, half-closing his eyes, slowly examining the indescribably terrifying monster on the bed, his pupils steeped in unhidden intoxication. His fingers tightened slightly around the hectocotylus as he asked, ‘Back then, were you already thinking of shoving it into my belly?'”

Lu Jianchuan froze.

The brain quickly pressed against Fang Xingzhou’s forehead, afraid of being misunderstood as a pervert. The vocal cord vibrated urgently, explaining, “Of course not! Back then, I didn’t even know how to use it. My biggest wish every day was just to get closer to you, or to sneak a little blood while you slept.”

“Mm,” Fang Xingzhou made a nasal sound. “What about now?”

Lu Jianchuan: “Now…?”

It raised its head, staring at its beloved for a few seconds.

Without human lips, kissing became difficult and abstract, but Lu Jianchuan was still deeply attracted to Fang Xingzhou’s soft, pale lips. From the depths of its consciousness, a strong desire emerged—to get closer, to touch, possess, or attack.

It couldn’t help but pull the hectocotylus from Fang Xingzhou’s hand, crawling up to his cheek, lightly rubbing against the corner of his mouth, and finally easily prying open his teeth, slipping into the moistful mouth, answering Fang Xingzhou’s question with a reckless movement.

As it did this, it was clearly nervous, unsure if its beloved would find this intrusive, firmly staring at Fang Xingzhou’s expression, excited yet cautious, its entire jellyfish cap glowing a beautiful fluorescent blue from excitement.

Then, it saw a faint smile in Fang Xingzhou’s eyes.

His lips parted wider, his teeth gently closing around the cool ice pop, his tongue slowly savoring it.

The brain went blank for half a minute.

It even felt as if Fang Xingzhou was trying to swallow it whole, as if to deliver today’s promise at the Institute, to bite it into pieces from the most symbolic place, digest it slowly in a human stomach, and eventually merge it with his blood, never to part.

Lu Jianchuan could barely control its cruel instincts as a monster.

It took all its strength to restrain its beastly nature, to act like a human gentleman rather than an wild animal shoving the hectocotylus into its beloved’s stomach, using the esophagus as a release channel.

It stiffened, watching Fang Xingzhou’s cheeks tighten, his lips moving slightly, chewing gently in this awkward position, his healthy, neat teeth pressing rhythmically, as if treating this as a very serious and solemn meal.

Lu Jianchuan’s eyes quickly turned a deep crimson.

Its eighteen tentacles began to move, coiling around Fang Xingzhou’s neck, arms, wrists, abdomen, thighs, and ankles… opening him up completely, like a priest willingly offered to a demon on a cross.

Soon, Fang Xingzhou was stuffed of all holes.

Before bathing Lu Jianchuan, he seemed to have done a more thorough cleaning in the bathroom. The place where he bit the tentacle was incredibly soft, driving Lu Jianchuan nearly mad.

It wrapped the warm human completely, one tentacle tip reaching to the bedside to turn off the last dim reading light.

…

…

Fang Xingzhou dreamed of drowning in the ocean.

Wave after wave crashed against him, brushed his body, washed his soul, tied him with endless power.

He couldn’t speak or move, only can meekly open up himself, like a runaway little boat, rising and falling in the sea…

When he opened his eyes, it was already another day.

The sun had just risen, casting a warm glow through the curtains onto the floor. Fang Xingzhou felt cold mucus dripping on his cheek and wanted to reach up to wipe it, but his body ached so much he couldn’t even lift his hand.

He blinked, looking at the wall clock, when a terrifyingly impactful scene suddenly filled his vision.

On the dim ceiling, a massive tentacled monster lies, its brain gently swaying, dozens of eyes fixed on him, it’s vocal cords hanging down, swaying alone in mid-air.

“Good morning, darling,” the vocal cord said cheerfully. “Did you sleep well last night?”

Fang Xingzhou’s pupils contracted violently, his heart pounding. It took him a few seconds of shock to realize—the monster on the ceiling was his lover.

He took a deep breath, smiling at the monster, trying to ask why it was sleeping on the ceiling, but no sound came out.

His throat had been over uesd for too long, as if a remaining shape of something has been left befhind.

Fang Xingzhou struggled to make a sound, his voice hoarse. “Why… not the bed…?”

The suction cups on the ceiling writhed, and Lu Jianchuan crawled back to the ground like a spider, returning to the bed and wrapping its tentacles affectionately around Fang Xingzhou.

“Our bed isn’t very sturdy. It creaks with every move,” the brain complained. “I was afraid of disturbing your sleep, so I climbed onto the ceiling.”

At this, it shifted slightly, adding shyly, “I like that spot. I can watch you sleep all night.”

Fang Xingzhou painfully swallowed, smoothing his throat with saliva, his voice finally sounding more natural. “That sounds pretty pervert, Deer.”

The brain turned red.

“Is… is it? Sorry,” it said, its tone carrying a satisfied lack of sincerity. “Darling, your throat sounds dry. I made you snow pear with rock candy this morning. It’s still warm. Have some.”

Fang Xingzhou sat up with the help of the tentacles, took a moment to recover, then carefully got out of bed.

As he stood, something dripped down with a faint pitter-patter, and the air filled with a strange, sweet metallic scent.

Fang Xingzhou looked at the monster and fell silent for two seconds.

The monster immediately tensed up, hurriedly rolling over with tissues and wiping diligently, but the more it wiped, the more it dripped.

Fang Xingzhou simply stepped forward, walking somewhat awkwardly to the bathroom.

Lu Jianchuan’s dozens of eyes burned as they watched his back, not forgetting to free up a tentacle to wipe away the droplets trailing behind him. Then, it crawled to the bathroom door, listening to the sound of running water inside, carefully pulling the door open just a crack, trying to squeeze in.

It had only just wedged itself in when—bang—Fang Xingzhou shut the door again.

Lu Jianchuan was smacked right on the forehead, dazed for a couple of seconds, thinking its beloved was angry. Its tentacles flailed anxiously against the bathroom door as it buzzed, ”Zhouzhou, I’ll never leave the hectocotylus in your belly again. Let me in to help, okay?”

Fang Xingzhou’s hoarse voice came from inside. “Don’t come in. I don’t want to bathe you again.”

Lu Jianchuan froze.

“Oh… okay,” it instinctively inspected its tentacles, making sure each one was spotlessly clean. “Then I’ll make you some porridge. Black bean porridge?”

A muffled “Mm” came from inside.

Lu Jianchuan immediately crawled to the kitchen.

Because of its massive size, the kitchen door seemed a bit small. It took some effort to squeeze in, first keeping the stewed pears warm, then setting up a pot, adding ingredients, and patiently cooking the porridge.

While waiting for the porridge to cook, it picked up a knife, scanning its tentacles, and chose the one Fang Xingzhou had held the longest yesterday.

Hmm, his beloved had lost a lot of blood recently, been parasitized, and endured some intense activity last night. He needed proper nourishment.

The last time it had done this was over two months ago. It was about time.

The vocal cord happily hummed a tune, once again chopping off the tip of a tentacle and skillfully adding it to the black bean porridge, crushing it with a spoon to squeeze out the flesh and juices, helping it dissolve faster into the porridge.

A strange yet enticing aroma filled the kitchen. The brain listened to the sound of running water upstairs, touched its swollen, pregnant belly, and felt an overwhelming sense of happiness.