Chapter 59 Who are you putting on an act for?

His eyelids were heavy, and his body sank into a pile of cotton. His limbs felt utterly limp, and the fatigue and weakness brought by the high fever washed over him in an instant, yet Qu Yan felt completely at ease.

His sleep was long and deep. When he finally woke up, the pajamas on his back were damp with sweat, but his forehead felt cool—his fever had broken.

A person just emerging from deep sleep is rarely clear-headed. It took Qu Yan a few seconds to notice a figure sitting on the chair beside the bed. "Wen Xi?"

His throat was dry, and his voice was predictably hoarse.

Wen Xi crossed one leg, a pen in hand as he jotted something down in a notebook resting on his knee. Without lifting his head, he gestured toward the bedside table. "Warm water."

Qu Yan propped himself up halfway and felt around for the cup, which still retained a hint of warmth. He lowered his head and took a sip; honey had been added to the water, making it very sweet.

"Where is Yan Zhuo? Why are you here?" he asked after finishing half the cup.

Wen Xi closed his notebook. "He went on a mission. While he's still here, I might as well make use of him."

Qu Yan didn't understand. "What do you mean?"

"You didn't know?" Wen Xi wore a rather odd expression. "Yan Zhuo came to me saying he wanted to return to Yueshan with you. I assumed it was your idea. Wasn't it?"

Qu Yan paused slightly. Without explaining, his gaze swept over the gauze wrapped around Wen Xi's forehead, and he asked, "What happened to your head?"

"Bummed it by accident."

That answer sounded fake the moment it left his lips. Qu Yan nodded. "When will Yan Zhuo be back?"

"Around evening, maybe sooner." Wen Xi wasn't entirely certain. "Anyway, since you're awake and look to be in decent shape, I'll take my leave."

True to his word, he left without the slightest hesitation. As he reached the door, however, he suddenly turned back. "Oh right, there's porridge kept warm in the kitchen. Yan Zhuo cooked it before he left; go ladle some for yourself."

The oatmeal porridge, mixed with milk and white sugar, was boiled down until it was soft and thick. After washing up, Qu Yan ladled a bowl and ate while staring at the peony-leafed jade orchid on the windowsill. The plant possessed a tenacious vitality, capable not only of surviving the apocalypse but also of blooming in the depths of winter. Just last night, it had merely been tight flower buds, but today two had already opened.

The blossoms were not large, their petals a deep shade of pink. Qu Yan hadn't seen a flower in a long time, and he wondered inwardly how long these would last, trying to figure out some way to keep them blooming a little longer, while also thinking that the petals were so delicate a single touch would probably tear them.

His thoughts drifted far away. Just as he finished his bowl of porridge, Yan Zhuo returned.

He was back much earlier than Wen Xi had predicted. Holding his bowl, Qu Yan locked eyes with Yan Zhuo standing in the doorway, and whatever he had been pondering a moment ago vanished instantly.

Yan Zhuo asked him, "Was the porridge good?"

Then he asked, "What were you thinking about just now?"

Naturally, the porridge was good. As for what he had been thinking about, Qu Yan pointed toward the jade orchid. "The flowers have bloomed."

Yan Zhuo's gaze shifted over. He took off his coat and walked further into the room. "So that's what they look like. I've never seen them before."

Qu Yan hadn't either; the plant's name was just something Wen Xi had mentioned casually before. "They're quite pretty."

Yan Zhuo hummed. "I'm going to take it to Yueshan too."

His tone was far too matter-of-fact, as if he hadn't been the very person who adamantly refused to let Qu Yan return to Yueshan in the first place.

Qu Yan set his bowl down on the desk and turned to look at Yan Zhuo, who was now squatting on the floor. "Why the sudden decision to let me go back to Yueshan?"

"It wasn't sudden. I thought about it all night too." Yan Zhuo tilted his head, reaching out to grab Qu Yan's arms with both hands. "You told me before that Yueshan is your responsibility, that you have a reason you must go back. I thought to myself, what even is Yueshan? I don't care about it, but I won't let you leave."

Qu Yan felt the warmth radiating from his hands. "Then why change your mind now?"

Yan Zhuo replied, "It's different now. You said you like me, and you promised you weren't lying. That means I'm yours now, and you certainly wouldn't throw me away. So your responsibility is my responsibility."

He gently stroked Qu Yan's wrist with his thumb. "Wherever you are, that's where I'll be."

That familiar sensation returned, as if his chest had suddenly been filled with something boiling hot. Qu Yan averted his gaze, his eyelashes fluttering, and said softly, "Thank you, Yan Zhuo."

"I don't want thanks. I want you to like me." Yan Zhuo pressed his forehead against Qu Yan's knee.

"I already like you," Qu Yan said.

Yan Zhuo's eyes were half-closed, curving into an expression of intense devotion. "Can't you like me a little more?"

He was shamelessly greedy, always remembering what Qu Yan had said—that only by speaking his desires out loud could he attain them.

"I can," Qu Yan whispered.

That made Yan Zhuo happy, and he rubbed his chin against Qu Yan's leg.

A lock of hair at his temple brushed upward. Out of the corner of his eye, Qu Yan caught sight of something and reached out to grab Yan Zhuo by the chin.

Yan Zhuo was wearing a grey turtleneck sweater. He rarely wore that style, always feeling as though his neck was being choked and finding it uncomfortable. Qu Yan hooked a finger into the collar, pulling it down slightly while tightening his grip on Yan Zhuo's chin.

A blue liquid flowed beneath the skin, forming radiating patterns that covered his slender neck.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Yan Zhuo leaned back. "It just looks scary, but it really doesn't hurt."

Qu Yan's expression didn't soften. He simply withdrew his hand and commanded, "Pull up your shirt."

Yan Zhuo had changed, yet he remained the same; at this moment, he was once again an obedient little wolf.

Squatting halfway on the floor, he grabbed the hem of his sweater with both hands and yanked it straight up, exposing his toned abdomen and chest. The blue liquid that had been confined to his spine a few days ago had now completely expanded its territory, crisscrossing like the roots of an ancient tree buried in the earth, tracing one winding trace after another beneath his skin.

It was eerie, yet it possessed a grotesque kind of beauty.

Qu Yan stretched out a finger to touch the slightly heaving abdomen, instantly hearing Yan Zhuo let out a muffled groan as his breathing suddenly grew heavier.

"Didn't you say it doesn't hurt?"

Before he knew it, Yan Zhuo's face was flushed crimson, his jaw clenched as if enduring something with extreme difficulty. In a fluster, he pulled his shirt back down and explained, "It just tickles. It's fine if you don't touch it, but the moment you touch me, I can't help it."

Merely from being stroked, he had completely lost his strength, unable to even hold his posture, sinking from a half-squat to a kneeling position.

Qu Yan grabbed Yan Zhuo by the collar, pulling him forward, and raised a hand to smooth down his mussed hair. "Has the Yefeng Research Institute been investigated thoroughly?"

"Mm..." Yan Zhuo exhaled a hot breath. "They're researching the zombie virus. They've already made some progress. If it succeeds... the apocalypse might actually end."

Qu Yan fell into deep thought. "So those ability users who went missing in Yueshan had nothing to do with Yefeng? What about Yan Xingzhang? Is he not at Yefeng either?"

Yan Zhuo shook his head.

Qu Yan wasn't surprised. He patted Yan Zhuo's head. "Go take a shower, you're sweating all over."

To turn into such a pathetic mess just from a single touch—Yan Zhuo felt embarrassed, grinding his teeth as he mentally cursed the ghosts integrated into his body. Outwardly, however, he obediently agreed, scooped up a change of clothes, and ducked into the bathroom.

Two days later, Qu Yan set off on the road back to Yueshan. Yan Zhuo drove; although he still didn't have a driver's license, it was the apocalypse now, so such details no longer mattered.

The peony-leafed jade orchid sat in the back seat alongside some food and daily necessities. The journey would take some time, but no accidents occurred. Around noon a few days later, just as a heavy snow stopped, they arrived near the outskirts of Yueshan.

Yan Zhuo parked the car and changed into a new set of clothes inside.

His white shirt was buttoned up to the very top, layered under a V-neck knit sweater, making him look vibrant and youthful, like a student still in school.

As he checked himself in the rearview mirror, Qu Yan propped his chin in his hand and watched him, suddenly remarking, "You should wear a tie with that."

Producing a tie as on cue, Yan Zhuo leaned over toward Qu Yan with a pleased expression. "A-Yan, tie it for me."

It was obvious he had prepared it in advance. Qu Yan took the tie and looped it around the back of his neck. "Dressed so formally?"

Yan Zhuo had never been particular about his clothing; it was only because of his good physique that most things looked decent on him. Today was an exception.

"Not really, I always dress like this," Yan Zhuo feigned ignorance.

Opting not to expose his little schemes, Qu Yan focused entirely on the tie.

When he concentrated, the corners of his eyes would slant down slightly, softening his features and making him look very innocent. Looking down at him from above, Yan Zhuo couldn't resist leaning in.

"What are you doing?"

Only when Qu Yan's voice sounded did Yan Zhuo realize his lips were pressed against Qu Yan's cheek.

He planted a few more pecks before Qu Yan finally pushed him away once the knot was tied. "You can't tie a tie, but you sure know how to kiss people."

The main gate of the Yueshan Base was similar to Shuangcheng's, bustling with people coming and going—ability-users heading out on missions alongside ordinary citizens waiting for entry checks.

The moment they entered the city, someone was already waiting for them. It was Cheng Ran; his baby face remained unchanged, beaming with a bright smile. The second he saw Qu Yan, he began chattering nonstop, completely ignoring Yan Zhuo standing right beside him.

With a dark expression, Yan Zhuo tried to interrupt, but lacking Cheng Ran's conversational fluency, his attempts failed repeatedly.

Giving himself a headache from the chatter, Qu Yan cut Cheng Ran off. "How did you know I was coming back?"

Cheng Ran pointed toward the sky. "The sparrows told me."

A few sparrows were circling overhead, chirping noisily. Yan Zhuo tilted his head back to glare at them with a gloomy expression, thinking to himself that sooner or later he would catch every last one of these stupid creatures and eat them.

Noticing his look, Cheng Ran didn't hesitate for a second before tattling to Qu Yan. "Look how terrifying he looks, Qu-ge! He's definitely thinking about eating my birds in his head!"

Yan Zhuo said expressionlessly, "I am not." *(Though he was definitely thinking about it.)*

"Only a ghost would believe you." Cheng Ran gave Yan Zhuo a head-to-toe scan before turning back to Qu Yan. "Qu-ge, everyone was thrilled to hear you were coming back. I had food prepared; let's head over now."

"I'm a bit tired, so I'll pass. Convey my regards to everyone for me," Qu Yan refused, gently shaking the hand he held with Yan Zhuo. "Let's go back to my place. You know where I live."

"Alright." Yan Zhuo's expression instantly cleared up.

As the two figures walked further and further away, Cheng Ran stood in place, the smile on his face completely vanishing.

Someone nearby carefully asked with unconcealed gossipy curiosity, "Who was that guy? I saw Qu-ge holding his hand."

"Holy crap, it couldn't be..."

"Shut up, all of you!" Cheng Ran vented his frustration by kicking a roadside tree. "All dressed up like a human being! Wearing a necktie—who is he trying to put on a show for?!"

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Author's Notes:
Yan Zhuo: Putting on a show for you. 凸(>皿<)凸