The whole family was having dinner in the space, lively and noisy. When they realized Han Xiaonao was missing, the adults were not anxious at all. They were used to it. That kid was definitely hiding because he was afraid of getting beaten.
Han Xiaonao curiously looked at the strange pitch black place in front of him. It had just been daytime, so how had it suddenly turned dark? Where had everyone gone? Were they playing hide and seek with him?
Luckily, the moonlight was bright enough for him to see his surroundings clearly. Han Xiaonao widened his eyes and walked forward, feeling a bit proud. If it were Shuangxi instead, she probably would have burst into loud crying already. That brat who only knew how to cry and tattle, so stingy. He was her older brother and just ate a bit of her food, yet she was unhappy. Hmph, he would not play with her anymore.
The small stream made a gentle gurgling sound, and Han Xiaonao followed the sound over. Under the moonlight, the water shimmered with fine, scale like ripples, like a ribbon adorned with sparkling jewels, beautiful beyond words.
“Eh? Who are you?” Han Xiaonao asked curiously as he looked at the figure squatting by the stream with their back to him.
The other person abruptly turned around when they heard the voice. Their face was pitch black, and their eyes were red. Had they just cried? They looked just like Shuangxi after she finished crying and wiping her nose.
“Who are you?” Han Xiaonao walked to the stream, feeling a bit tired, and plopped down beside the little black person.
The little black person stared blankly at Han Xiaonao, their mouth moving slightly, but they still did not speak.
He must take after his little dad. Looking at the little black person in front of him, Han Xiaonao was suddenly overwhelmed with sympathy and felt that the other was so pitiful. No wonder no one played with him, he could not even talk.
“Don’t cry, I will play with you.” Han Xiaonao thought for a moment, then added, “I will bring you tasty food. My little dad can make lots and lots of delicious things.”
The little black person tilted their head and looked at Han Xiaonao, looking dull and clueless, as if unsure whether they understood. After a long while, they finally nodded stiffly.
“It’s really beautiful here.” Han Xiaonao propped his face with his hand and looked up at the reflection of the moon in the stream.
“I will come find you to play often in the future.”
…
Han Xiaonao did not care whether the other was listening or not and babbled on by himself for a long time.
After a long while, everything around grew quiet. There was no more talking. On the bank, apart from the sound of flowing water, only soft, steady breathing remained.
The little black person moved their poorly coordinated body closer, staring unblinkingly at Han Xiaonao. Their blood red eyes reflected an unreadable light. This human was not afraid of him, which made him confused. This was the first time he had been this close to a human.
The darkened fingers slowly reached out and touched the person who emitted a fragrant scent all over. Soft, with an incredibly appetizing smell.
The small red mouth moved, making smacking sounds, as if eating something delicious in a dream.
The air was filled with an enticing scent of flesh. The little black person could not quite control his body and let out a long, low growl, a sound unmistakably unique to zombies.
Han Xiaonao hazily heard his little dad calling him. When he opened his eyes, he found that he was sleeping in his own room. He scratched his head. Why did something feel off? Before Han Xiaonao could think it through, laughter and playful noises came from outside. Not bothering to think further, he jumped out of bed, quickly washed up, and ran out to play.
From that day on, every night by the small stream in that unknown space, two small figures would always appear. One was a fair chubby bun, the other a dark skinned little black boy.
One spoke animatedly with a beaming smile and lively gestures, while the other remained silent but listened very attentively.
Not long after that gathering, Qi Yue faintly sensed that something was off with his body. The test results were exactly as he had guessed. He was pregnant again. Having already given birth twice and had three children, he still was not quite used to it. Over the years, he had undergone repeated examinations, and every result showed that his body structure was no different from other men. The fact that he and Han Fei could have children remained an unsolved mystery.
Ever since discovering that level six abilities had no supplemental effect at all, Qi Yue lost interest and never bothered to improve them again.
Mainly because he did not have the energy. He was very busy now, too busy to consider the thoughts of several men. Most of his attention and energy were spent on those little kids, which made those men extremely depressed. And now it seemed their depression would continue. Qi Yue had entered another key protection period, and their big family was about to gain more members.
Since learning about Qi Yue’s pregnancy, Han Fei went for several checkups. What secretly reassured him was that this time he did not have a sympathetic pregnancy. Even though he was not pregnant, he had been anxious all along, only finally relaxing after Qi Yue gave birth.
Seven months later, a new life was welcomed at the base hospital. The child was Lin Yuze’s.
The youngest son looked like him, equally well behaved and sensible, rarely crying or fussing.
Qi Yue looked at the youngest son in the cradle and forcefully wiped away the moisture about to overflow from his eyes.
A happy life that belonged to him and them continued on.
Many years later, one day, Qi Yue was in the kitchen preparing dinner for the whole family. His cooking skills had improved more and more. While stir frying various dishes, he was also using the oven to bake the small cakes and cookies that the children had loved from childhood to adulthood.
When he placed the baked cakes onto a plate, he suddenly noticed something.
Qi Yue turned the richly scented red little cake over and over in his hands. The more he looked at it, the more strange it felt. All the others were golden yellow, only this one was a vivid red, like blood.
Could cakes mutate too?
That could not be right. How could it suddenly turn into this?
Qi Yue curiously was just about to put it into his mouth to taste when Han Xiaonao’s voice came from outside, followed by the kitchen door being pushed open.
“Little dad, I’m so hungry.” A handsome young man with delicate features walked in from outside with a drooping face. His voice and expression were full of grievance. When he saw the cake in Qi Yue’s hand, his eyes lit up.
“There are some over there. Go get them yourself.” Qi Yue gestured to the plate on the nearby counter.
“Little dad, I want to eat the one in your hand.” Han Xiaonao’s eyes darted around. Among so many children, he was the most lively and outgoing, with the most thoughts.
Han Xiaonao put on an ingratiating look, kneading Qi Yue’s shoulders while acting spoiled. “Little dad, I want to eat this one.”
With a sigh, although the color was strange, it should not be a big problem. Qi Yue stuffed the bright red little cake into Han Xiaonao’s mouth.
At midnight several months later, in the linked space of Han Xiaonao and Han Qitai, two youths leaned against each other by the small stream.
There was still no daytime in the space, but the changes inside were huge. Various mutated animals frolicked under the moonlight, and unknown flowers and plants covered the grasslands across the mountains.
Over the years, for unknown reasons, the space had gradually expanded. At first, Han Xiaonao had asked the little black one about it, but back then the little black one could not speak. Later, he got used to it and gradually forgot about it.
“Little Black, I’ve gained weight recently.” Han Xiaonao complained gloomily.
Han Qitai’s appearance had changed greatly, completely different from his youth. His entire body was a pale white without a trace of blood color. He was tall and slender, slightly thin, and what left the deepest impression was the pair of blood red pupils on his handsome face. There were still traces of his childhood self on him, just as silent and taciturn as before. The only change was that the once dull expression had become deep and reserved. At this moment, those red pupils were filled with indulgence.
“Look at my belly. If this goes on, that girl Shuangxi is going to laugh at me.”
“It’s all your fault. You always tempt me to eat those things.”
“I must slim my belly down.”
“Mm…”
Han Qitai leaned in, pressing his face down toward Xiaonao’s head. Helplessly, he could only use this method to block that mouth that seemed like it would never stop talking.
Rustle rustle.
The former small stream had turned into a winding little river. The splashing sound of flowing water mixed with the sounds of animals running through the grass, yet it still could not interrupt the deep affection between the two youths.
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