“Where do you guys usually go when doing missions? Is it all to collect supplies?” Qi Yue nagged like an old mom, asking about everything.
“Mm.” Lin Yuze walked to Qi Yue’s side, his eyes fixed on the movements of Qi Yue’s hands, responding softly.
Qi Yue didn’t mind. In his impression, being quiet and not talking much was indeed Lin Yuze’s style. He continued asking Lin Yuze standing beside him, “What dishes do you like to eat? I’ll cook them for you.” As he spoke, his hands didn’t stop working, the baby bok choy had been left for a few days and had wilted a bit; he was picking off the wilted leaves.
Lin Yuze didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on Qi Yue’s hands. They didn’t look thick and rough like most men’s: healthy skin tone, long fingers, unusually nimble.
He reached out and covered them, wrapping the other’s hand in his own palm. His body leaned in close, pulling Qi Yue into his arms, another hand covering the other’s waist.
Although Qi Yue had grown a bit taller, he was already 180 now, Lin Yuze was still half a head taller than him. Qi Yue didn’t dare move; his vegetable-picking motion froze there, his heart thumping wildly.
Gripping Qi Yue’s hand tightly, Lin Yuze held him very snugly, the two of them pressed tightly together. His lips pressed against Qi Yue’s ear, and he asked softly, “Can I really eat whatever I want?”
He was so close that Qi Yue could even feel the other’s soft lips brushing his earlobe. He stammered, “Mm, o-of course.”
Lin Yuze stuck out his tongue and licked Qi Yue’s flushed earlobe once, the taste was indeed just as he imagined, delicious. As if testing, he gently licked back and forth, slowly covering the whole earlobe in his mouth, his tongue probing into Qi Yue’s ear canal, feeling the other’s slight tremble, extremely satisfied. “I want…”
Lin Yuze’s breath hit his face. Qi Yue’s breathing gradually grew heavier, his ears felt like they were burning, his brain going a bit fuzzy, his body softening as he leaned against the other.
The burning hot lips moved downward, biting and nibbling at Qi Yue’s neck and Adam’s apple, then gradually returned to his face. Their lips pressed together, Lin Yuze’s dark eyes filled with desire, staring intently at Qi Yue. He murmured, “Qi Yue, what should I do? I want to eat you.”
After saying that, he bit down on Qi Yue’s lower lip. Qi Yue, startled by the pain, opened his mouth, and Lin Yuze’s tongue seized the chance to invade the city.
Sometimes sweeping across his gums, sometimes pressing against the roof of his mouth to draw circles, finally seizing his tongue and sucking it hard, making Qi Yue’s waist go weak in waves. The saliva he didn’t have time to swallow slid slowly from the corner of his lips.
“Qi Yue, Qi Yue, I want to eat—” Da Zhuang shouted while walking in. As soon as he stepped into the doorway, he froze there, unable to advance or retreat, staring straight at the two tangled together like a lump.
After quite a while, Lin Yuze finally withdrew his tongue from Qi Yue’s mouth. He lifted his head and looked toward Da Zhuang standing at the doorway, his gaze deep.
Da Zhuang suddenly felt numb all over from being stared at, cold sweat breaking down his back. He explained awkwardly, “Uh, um, Qi…Qi Yue, I want to eat rock-sugar pork knuckle. You guys continue, I didn’t see anything.” After speaking, he turned around and left, slamming the kitchen door shut with a bang on his way out.
Qi Yue’s foggy brain snapped awake at once. He pushed the other away, his face burning red, stammering, “D-don’t joke like that.” After speaking, he didn’t look at the other, turning his back to him and continuing to pick the vegetables, his hands trembling.
Lin Yuze watched Qi Yue pretend to pick vegetables while tossing good leaves into the trash. He pursed his lips, coughed lightly, and asked in a soft voice, “Do you think I’m joking?” After speaking, he bumped Qi Yue with his already-hard lower body.
Qi Yue turned red down to his neck, his body going soft again. Head down, lips pursed, the overwhelming shame kept him from looking or speaking.
Seeing Qi Yue shrink like a turtle, Lin Yuze found it a little funny, but didn’t push further. He stopped while things were good. Qi Yue was stubborn and slow to understand; if forced too hard, he might run away, which would be a terrible loss. He had only wanted to make his feelings clear. It had been five years, if the other ran away now, there’d be nowhere left to find him. He didn’t want to become stupid like Han Fei.
“Be good. I’ll go out and check on them first. I want to eat your boiled sliced pork.” Lin Yuze rubbed his head affectionately against the back of Qi Yue’s head, his tone almost like acting spoiled.
Qi Yue’s brain, already mush, grew even foggier. He answered softly, “Mm.”
Seeing Qi Yue agree, Lin Yuze left the kitchen satisfied.
Qi Yue stayed in the kitchen, dazed, absentmindedly poking at the pile of vegetables.
After quite a while, he finally came back to himself. Looking at the pile of cabbage now resembling a bunch of weeds, he felt discouraged. Why did Lin Yuze seem different somehow?
Forcing himself not to overthink, Qi Yue pushed up his spirits and started cooking dinner and of course made the two dishes requested by Da Zhuang and Lin Yuze.
Before dinner, Sun Yang had dialysis and was still asleep in his room.
While eating, Qi Yue intentionally avoided sitting near Lin Yuze. He plopped himself between Da Zhuang and Little Fan. Sitting down, he regretted it, this seat faced Lin Yuze directly.
Dinner was quite abundant: eight dishes, one soup, mostly meat. The meat from mutant animals was soft and delicious, and when cooked by Qi Yue, it was even more perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
Little Fan, who had stayed behind with Lin Yuze, was eating as if he were about to swallow his own tongue. From the beginning to the end of the meal, he praised nonstop. At first he politely called him Brother Yue, and later, wanting to sound closer, simply switched to Qi Yue.
“Qi Yue, you’ve grown so well, and your cooking is amazing.” Little Fan talked nonstop as he ate, not noticing the narrowed eyes of his captain watching him from across the table.
The atmosphere at the table was strangely awkward. Da Zhuang kept his head down, shoveling rice.
Oak’s expression remained normal, eating slowly, clearly waiting for the show.
Qi Yue said awkwardly, “Hehe, eat this.” He picked up a chopstickful of cold beef for Little Fan.
Little Fan ate in big mouthfuls. He hadn’t eaten anything this delicious in a long time. No, he had never eaten food this good. But no matter how delicious, it couldn’t block his mouth.
“Qi Yue, come to B Base. I’ll introduce you to a girlfriend.” Little Fan became even more enthusiastic. If he could eat Qi Yue’s food regularly, life would be perfect. He was secretly plotting how to bring Qi Yue to B Base.
Da Zhuang choked and coughed violently.
“Little Yue, don’t be shy. Let me tell you, that woman is really something, super big chest. If she didn’t look down on me, I wouldn’t be giving her to you.”
Words alone weren’t enough to express his friendliness, he even threw an arm around Qi Yue’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, she’ll definitely like you. You look one-in-ten-thousand.”
The earlier conversation had been great, and Da Zhuang didn’t want him to keep going. He kept winking desperately at Little Fan, but unfortunately, all the winks were wasted on a blind man.
Little Fan didn’t look at anyone else, eyes only on the food and Qi Yue, continuing, “Qi Yue, let me tell you, when looking for a woman, you have to find one with big breasts and wide hips that’s the only way it feels right. That feeling—”
“You’re full.” Lin Yuze cut him off.
Little Fan looked up and saw everyone else had set down their bowls. Embarrassed, he scratched his head, he was used to hanging around men and being casual. He took another bite of food and said, “I’m full, Brother Lin.”
“You’re full, so go check the patient again.” Lin Yuze’s expression was calm, showing no emotion.
Little Fan was puzzled. Didn’t they just check before eating? It had only been a little while, and the guy was sleeping. But he said, “Okay, going now.” Although confused, he always obeyed orders. Familiar with the place, he went into the room to check Sun Yang.
Oak added, “I’ll go check too,” and stood up to enter the room with him.
Da Zhuang shrank a little. He had gone to the kitchen earlier, not only saw but interrupted the two. Who knew if the possibly unsatisfied pair would take it out on him?
“Hehe, I’ll go check too.” Without looking at the two left at the table, he quickly dashed into Sun Yang’s room.
The table was left with two people. Qi Yue silently lowered his head and busied himself clearing dishes, going back and forth, looking extremely occupied.
When he picked up the last plate of leftovers, ready to take it away, his wrist was suddenly grabbed by Lin Yuze. Startled, he let go, and the plate clattered to the floor.
“Qi Yue, give me a chance. I’m serious.” Lin Yuze’s voice sounded.
“I’m not gay.” Qi Yue said awkwardly. Why did every one of them like teasing him?
“I’m not gay either. But I just like you.” Lin Yuze’s voice grew muffled.
Qi Yue looked up at Lin Yuze. The other’s dark eyes held a faint glimmer of pleading. It tugged tightly at Qi Yue’s heart, making him unable to reject him.
“Please, don’t reject me. Just try, okay?” Lin Yuze persisted, unwavering, his gaze deep, gripping Qi Yue’s hand even tighter.
Qi Yue felt as if he were bewitched. “Mm.” He agreed.
When Lin Yuze happily pulled him into his arms, Qi Yue felt a little joy too. He didn’t dislike the other. Both men comforting each other’s loneliness didn’t seem bad.
When the three who had gone to check Sun Yang came back out, they vaguely sensed something was different between the two.
Night had fallen. There were three rooms in the place Qi Yue and Oak stayed. Da Zhuang warmly invited Little Fan to stay at his home and let him see his mechanical workshop. Little Fan excitedly agreed. With Lin Yuze’s permission, the two left.
After tidying up outside, Qi Yue went into the room to check Sun Yang.
“Thank you.” Oak thanked Lin Yuze for arranging professional medical staff to take care of Sun Yang.
“No need to be polite. You guys are Qi Yue’s brothers, so you’re my brothers.” Lin Yuze said sincerely. It was truly how he felt.
“Yes, brothers.” Oak had already become a Huaxia expert by now, his language quite refined.
The two stood by the doorway of the room talking.
Qi Yue walked out softly. “Lower your voice, don’t wake him.” Then he said to Oak, “I left food in the kitchen. When he wakes up, heat it up for him.”
“Mm.”
“You go keep Sun Yang company. I’ll take Lin Yuze to check if his room needs anything.”
Oak nodded and went inside. Lin Yuze was still standing there, unmoving. Qi Yue looked at him in confusion.
Lin Yuze looked at Qi Yue, his eyes bright, as if afraid Qi Yue might refuse. “I want to take a look at your room.”
Qi Yue didn’t think much. “What’s there to look at? They’re all the same. There, that one.” He walked in front, leading him to his room.
