RIACMET chapter 67

 

After his shower, Cheng Jing came out and saw someone sitting there with a game console in both hands. They were frowning at a tablet while blowing a big pink bubble of gum.

Three “channels” were running at once, and everything was perfectly synchronized.

Noticing his gaze, Jiang Nian turned to him, still chewing gum.

“Brother Jing, do you want to watch a palace intrigue drama?”

Before the apocalypse, he loved all kinds of disaster movies. Now that the world had actually ended, he had somehow become addicted to these melodramas about prosperity that he used to scoff at.

“No need.”

Cheng Jing shook his head, turned, and walked into the room. Soon, the sound of rummaging in drawers drifted out—no one knew what he was looking for.

Jiang Nian watched him for a few seconds, but he didn’t ask. He guessed that Brother Jing was preparing supplies for their outing in two days.

Finally, he’d get to show off a little. He was probably excited about it.

Ever since his supernatural power’s range reached two hundred meters, he had gained much better control. Now, he could keep the power flowing over the surface of his skin at all times.

Since the purification was effective against the zombie virus, as long as he was careful, zombies wouldn’t pose much of a threat to him. He wanted to test this theory.

Just as he pictured himself looking heroic while fighting zombies, Cheng Jing’s voice came from the doorway.

“Niannian, where’s the box of Okamoto[mfn]Japanese condom brand[/mfn] that I left in the bedside drawer?”

“…Huh?”

Jiang Nian’s breath stuttered, and the big bubble he’d blown burst across half his face with a pop. He wiped at it and asked,

“What do you need that for?”

“You.”

Cheng Jing answered, trying very hard not to laugh. He really couldn’t figure out how this person could be so dense sometimes.

“…Hah?”

Jiang Nian finally cleaned the gum off his face and tossed it in the trash.

Then, noticing the smirk on his boyfriend’s face, he suddenly remembered all the suggestive things they’d said to each other lately. His face turned bright red.

“Brother Jing, you’ve changed!”

He was practically squealing inside like a startled mole. How could his aloof Brother Jing be like this now?

Cheng Jing asked again:

“So, where did you put it?”

“I put it back in the box in the storage room. I used up two boxes of lemon flavor in a row and got bored, so I wanted to switch.”

Jiang Nian didn’t dare look Cheng Jing in the eyes as he mumbled this, his gaze drifting toward the drama playing on his tablet.

Cheng Jing’s lips curved up.

“I didn’t notice. What flavor do you want to switch to?”

Jiang Nian’s neck flushed scarlet, but he still managed to answer.

“…Strawberry.”

“All right.”

Cheng Jing turned and walked to the utility room without another word.

A moment later, he returned carrying various items of different brands, styles, and flavors.

Brother Jing had prepared all these “special supplies.” There was a box in the storeroom and another in the storage ring. Judging by the sheer quantity, the supplies would last for years.

Jiang Nian strongly suspected that Brother Jing had robbed not one, but several sex shop warehouses.

The visual impact was overwhelming. Jiang Nian wanted to pretend he hadn’t seen any of it, but his earnest boyfriend made it difficult. He came over holding all those colorful boxes and said,

“Let’s go.”

“… ”

Jiang Nian nearly turned into a statue on the spot.

Go where? Where exactly?

Judging by Cheng Jing’s expression and tone, anyone who didn’t know better would think he was inviting Jiang Nian out for a drink. Don’t be so outrageous!

“… ”

Seeing his face flush bright red, Cheng Jing couldn’t help but chuckle. Then, he carried all the supplies back into the bedroom and put them away. Leaning against the doorframe, he called,

“Niannian, come here.”

“You…just wait a second. I’m going to finish this episode…”

Jiang Nian mumbled evasively, not lifting his head.

Cheng Jing crossed his arms and continued to tease him.

“Why are you stalling? Whenever you ask me for something, I always say yes right away.”

Jiang Nian: “… ”

Was he holding a grudge?

“Tsk…”

Seeing the embarrassed, red face glaring at him, unable to retort, Cheng Jing finally burst into laughter.

“… ”

Jiang Nian gritted his teeth, grabbed his tablet and console, marched over, grabbed Cheng Jing’s collar, and dragged him into the bedroom. He kicked the door shut and shoved Cheng Jing straight onto the bed.

“Are you angry?”

Watching the person straddle him, Cheng Jing laughed so hard that he could hardly breathe.

Jiang Nian planted his hands on Cheng Jing’s shoulders, teeth clenched.

“Why have you become so stingy and gangster-like lately?”

Damn it! Was the cold, distant god he’d fallen for truly gone forever?

“Do I need to explain?”

Cheng Jing’s laughter finally faded. He reached up to tuck a lock of hair behind Jiang Nian’s ear. Then, he looked at him with a tenderness that made it hard to breathe.

“Of course it’s because I love you.”

He would never have said something so sappy before. Back then, Jiang Nian was always the one chasing him and expressing his feelings.

But after they broke up, Cheng Jing realized it was better to be direct; otherwise, he’d regret it forever, no matter how much he loved Jiang Nian.

Now, he wanted the whole world—and every zombie in it—to know that he loved Jiang Nian.

“… ”

The sudden, cheesy confession left Jiang Nian utterly defenseless. He slumped forward and buried his face in the crook of Cheng Jing’s neck. He whispered softly,

“…I know.”

Cheng Jing overpowered him, pinning him down as they played.

…

On the day we set out to clear the zombies around the base, everyone gathered at the various gates by 5:00 a.m.

After a quick check-in, we departed.

Aside from the base rescue squad leading in one direction and everyone else fanning out behind them, there wasn’t any special arrangement or distinction between teams.

Starting at the base, you could clear zombies in any outward direction, going as far as your abilities allowed.

Be back before sunset. If you didn’t make it back in time, tough luck. The base gates would close at 8:30 p.m. sharp.

Jiang Nian, Cheng Jing, Liao Yu, and Zhao Lei drove the lead vehicle while Huang Qian and the others followed in a second car.

Once they left the base, the large convoy slowly spread out. Everyone split into small groups to fight zombies and scavenge for supplies.

Most zombies now had crystal cores, and any strong enough team tried to hunt the ordinary ones they could handle.

For areas too dangerous for ordinary survivors, there were ability users and the base rescue squad.

Liao Yu drove, Zhao Lei sat in the passenger seat, and Jiang Nian and Cheng Jing studied the regional map in the back.

They were heading east toward the industrial district on the outskirts.

Of course, plenty of other people had the same idea.

Jiang Nian’s eyes practically sparkled as he stared at the map.

Seeing this, Cheng Jing reminded him,

“We agreed that once we get to the site, you won’t act alone. You have to follow my orders and not do anything impulsive.”

“I know, Dad. You’ve already told me this a thousand times!”

Jiang Nian cut him off impatiently, picking at his ear. But when he saw the other’s face darken, he softened his tone.

“If you tell me to go east, I’ll never go west. I know my own limits.”

“…Hngh.”

“Tsk…”

Liao Yu and Zhao Lei, who were sitting up front, could hardly keep from laughing. They glanced back in the mirror.

Brother Cheng was always nagging his “wife,” but to them, he was a pure menace. If you don’t want to die, don’t be stupid.

Cheng Jing shot them a fierce glare in the rearview mirror, then turned back to the person pretending to be innocent in the backseat.

If he weren’t concerned about witnesses, he would have bitten him on the spot.

Jiang Nian knew him too well. He quietly took off his glove and placed his hand in Cheng Jing’s palm.

“Here. Hold it.”

Cheng Jing would stop being mad as soon as he got to hold hands. Brother Jing especially liked his hands, especially at certain times. He always said they were warm and soft and so comfortable to hold.

It wasn’t that he was spoiled; his palms were naturally soft with faint lines across them.