HLLY Chapter 43

Shen Shanwu awkwardly tried to cover his right hand behind his back, but the ring was already on. Now, no matter how embarrassed he felt, there was no time to undo it. He pretended to walk forward calmly and raised an eyebrow, asking, “Why didn’t you blow-dry your hair after washing it?”

“Forgot,” Jiang Huan touched his hair, which was no longer dripping, “I was too engrossed in my thoughts.”

“What are you thinking about?” Shen Shanwu looked around as if searching for the bathroom, then went in and took out the hairdryer that was already placed on the countertop. As he plugged it in, he also pretended to ask, “The bathroom door doesn’t have a lock?”

“I was thinking… why haven’t you come yet,” Jiang Huan walked over and leaned against the bathroom door frame, looking up at him with a fixed gaze, “We agreed on two minutes and six seconds in advance, didn’t we?”

“I made an appointment with you at night, and there’s no specific time. Isn’t it the case that I come whenever I say?” Shen Shanwu said, motioning for Jiang Huan to stand in front of him, facing the mirror. “I’m just saying I came two minutes and six seconds early. Do you agree?”

“Agreed,” Jiang Huan’s expression softened greatly. He gazed attentively at the person behind him through the mirror, feeling a sense of tranquility and contentment within. Shen Shanwu smoothed Jiang Huan’s damp hair and furrowed his brows, “Squat down a bit; how come you’ve grown so tall after not seeing you for a few years?”

Jiang Huan obediently crouched down, his eyes still blinking without a pause as he looked at Shen Shanwu. “Brother Shanwu, what have you been up to all these years?”

Shen Shanwu didn’t directly answer his question. After all, the daily life of a mutant wasn’t really eventful—sleeping, eating, wandering around, occasionally reminiscing about the past, and sometimes scolding a bratty kid for being a white-eyed wolf. Shen Shanwu smirked, lifting the corner of his lips. “By the way, you’ve grown up so much, and yet you still use such an endearing term to call me. Isn’t that embarrassing?”

As he lit the scented candles, the warmth on Jiang Huan’s face hadn’t subsided. He first meticulously cleaned his body with the new shower gel, then sat on the bed and used a towel to dry his hair. During the process of drying, his mind uncontrollably conjured up many unspeakable images. By the end, his hands had even forgotten their movements, lost in thoughts about what might happen after Shen Shanwu’s arrival.

Although he knew very well that there wouldn’t be any explicit scenes tonight, it didn’t hurt to imagine a little.

“Endearing term? Are you talking about calling you Brother Shanwu?” Jiang Huan asked in confusion. Both of his cheeks, rarely pampered with facial cleanser and moisturizer, had been gently taken care of, radiating a smooth and shy redness. If he wasn’t worried that Shen Shanwu might arrive too soon and catch a glimpse of him, a grown man, applying skincare products, he would have considered putting on a nourishing face mask.

Shen Shanwu turned on the hairdryer, raising his voice a bit. “Brother Shanwu, Brother Shen, don’t you feel like you’re acting cute? If this gets out, your image as a captain will hit rock bottom.”

Jiang Huan hadn’t considered this aspect before, but since Shen Shanwu brought it up, he quickly adjusted his thoughts and decided to play along, “Then how should I address you? If I just use ‘brother,’ it might not be clear who I’m referring to, and it’s also like you said, I’m a captain, I need to maintain my authority. So, from now on, I’ll call you Shen Shanwu.”

How is “brother” not specific? Do you have other “brother”s? Shen Shanwu tugged at Jiang Huan’s hair, causing him to wince. Jiang Huan squinted in pain and said, “But calling you by your full name would be too formal and awkward. Considering all of this, how about I call you ‘Shanwu’? It’s not cutesy, it maintains the authority of a captain, and it’s still affectionate.”

“Not really, no need to be that close to me,” Shen Shanwu deliberately put on a serious face and pretended, “Please address me as Mr. Shen Shanwu with politeness and respect.”

“Alright,” Jiang Huan smiled and opened his lips, revealing a hint of his tongue between his perfectly white teeth. Two ambiguous words slowly escaped his mouth, “Mr. Shenwu…”

“…” Shen Shanwu put down the hairdryer, “Add the surname in front of it for me.”

Although Shen Shanwu had covered Jiang Huan’s mouth earlier, forcing him to swallow the confession that was about to slip out, Shen Shanwu’s words of “Don’t say it, not now” undoubtedly revealed that he was well aware of what Jiang Han was going to say next.

The thin veil of secrecy between the two had finally been pierced.

Jiang Huan didn’t know when Shen Shanwu had discovered his feelings. Perhaps it was years ago when he started to be attracted, for how could the thoughts of a young person escape the notice of an adult? Or maybe it was the moment they reunited; at that time, he was no longer willing to conceal anything. He wanted to cut open his crimson heart and present his unceasing longing and scorching blood to Shen Shanwu.

In today’s meeting, although Jiang Huan didn’t mention his previous confession, he had already placed himself in the position of a pursuer. Every gesture, every word, and every action seemed to reveal a bare white foot reaching out from under the table, gently and ambiguously teasing the elegant and handsome gentleman sitting across from him.

After blow-drying his hair, Jiang Huan brought the prepared tea and snacks to the small table next to the bed. “Sorry, the space is limited, so we’ll have to sit on the bed.”

“Don’t be so polite with me,” Shen Shanwu said as he plopped down onto the bed, where Jiang Huan had hardly ever slept. Just as he took a sip of tea, he heard Jiang Huan calmly say, “Earlier, I met someone who claimed to be your boyfriend, He Jingyang.”

Shen Shanwu: …Is this the explosive topic you’re starting with?

“He even showed me a photo of you two from your university days, and your posture in the photo is indeed very intimate… Is he really your boyfriend? Is he an ex-boyfriend… or is he, as he said, a boyfriend separated due to the apocalypse?”

He Jingyang’s presence was clearly a sore spot for Jiang Huan, and Shen Shanwu didn’t beat around the bush, directly explaining, “He’s an ex-boyfriend. We were together in high school and then got into the same university. After the global turmoil, we went to Anbei together, though it wasn’t called Anping North Zone back then… Have I never told you how I got bitten by zombies? It was to save him.”

“…” Jiang Huan’s brows tightened, and he didn’t hide the jealousy and envy in his eyes.

“After two years, I regained my sanity and became a mutant. I went to Anbei to find him, but by then, he was already with someone else.”

Jiang Huan loosened his grip on the teacup, which had turned slightly pale from his squeezing, and took a sip of tea with lowered eyes.

“Our reunion scene was quite interesting. I was wearing sunglasses and gloves, calling his name excitedly. I wanted to rush up and hug him. He was also very surprised. But then, a stranger, a man I didn’t know, embraced his shoulder and kissed his cheek intimately. He looked at me with an arrogant air, as if declaring his dominance, and asked who I was.”

Shen Shanwu smiled, “I wasn’t too upset about it, and I can understand him. After all, two years had passed since my ‘death,’ and it was during a turbulent time when people needed companionship and support more than ever.”

“Because of He Jingyang’s persuasion and the fact that I had nowhere else to go at the time, I joined the mercenary group he was part of. I didn’t hide my identity as a mutant from him because, at that time, I didn’t even know what I was. He promised to keep that secret for me and told others that I had light sensitivity and a cleanliness obsession.”

“He also claimed that he and that other man were just putting on a show, and that he truly loved me. But that other man had power and influence. Breaking up suddenly might not be in my best interest; it could lead to repercussions, like retaliation. So, he hoped I could wait for a while, giving him time to gently explain things to that man. I told him it wasn’t necessary, that we should consider ourselves broken up from the moment I ‘died’. However, he insisted that I wait for him.”

Jiang Huan raised his teacup again. He wasn’t really thirsty; he was just using the cup to conceal his expression of wanting to kill someone.

“That man is the captain of the mercenary group. The first time we met, he could immediately tell the connection between me and He Jingyang. He was very smug about it, full of a sense of superiority. Every time I was around, he would constantly make inappropriate advances towards He Jingyang, even going so far as to call me into his office when they were intimate, just to get some documents.”

“He Jingyang claimed he was coerced, that the captain forced himself upon him and he couldn’t refuse. I didn’t directly expose his words. I simply said that I wasn’t happy here and asked if he would be willing to leave Anping North with me to somewhere else. I promised him food and equipment for the journey.”

“He rejected my proposal, stating that he had worked hard in Anping North to achieve his current position and he wouldn’t leave. I didn’t insist and planned to leave on my own. However, on the eve of my departure, he revealed my identity as a mutant to the captain. They stormed into my small cottage on the outskirts, fully armed, trying to capture me.”

Jiang Huan slammed the tea cup onto the table, pulled out a gun from under the pillow, and loaded it. Seeing his aggressive stance, Shen Shanwu, who had been drinking tea to soothe his throat, exclaimed in a mixture of laughter and tears, “Hold on, hold on! What are you planning to do? Kill someone? I managed to escape with my tail between my legs, and later, I ran into you.”

“How dare he…” Jiang Huan gritted his teeth, seething, “How dare he still act so affectionate in front of me! As if he’s deeply in love with you, unwaveringly devoted!”

Shen Shanwu couldn’t stop laughing, “Is that so?”

Jiang Huan immediately summarized the cause and effect of his encounter with He Jingyang. After a moment, he pressed on, questioning, “Why didn’t you kill him? Do you still have some lingering feelings for someone like him? If you hadn’t escaped back then, the focus of Saint Harmony Hospital would have been on you, do you know that?”

“…” Shen Shanwu didn’t expect Jiang Huan to get so worked up. The usually composed captain of the Shanhai Unit was practically wearing his emotions on his sleeve in front of him, displaying two completely different personas in public and private.

But it must be said that being treated differently in such a way could really become addictive. That feeling of being unique, special, and cherished by him, once experienced, was not something one could easily let go of.

“The next time I see him, I won’t let him off the hook,” Jiang Huan concluded angrily, and Shen Shanwu refilled his tea. “Alright, alright.”

“You’re already a mutant, why would you let yourself be bullied by someone like him?”

“Um,” Shen Shanwu was at a loss for how to respond to that. “…Because I’m too foolish?”

“…” Jiang Huan was even more at a loss to reply to this, he sighed after a moment. “We shouldn’t be talking about him, it’s a waste of time. Shanwu, are you planning to rest in my room tonight?”

Shen Shanwu: “…”

Shen Shanwu: “No, no. Your bed is too small for me to lie down.”

“…” The reason was too valid, and Jiang Huan couldn’t argue with it. He silently added the topic of changing beds to the agenda. “Shanwu, how did you enter and exit the Coastal Base? The security checks there are strict. Even if you can conceal your non-human characteristics, without an ID card, it should be difficult to come and go…”

Shen Shanwu: “…”

Shen Shanwu: “I can’t tell you. If I say it, how can I continue to find loopholes?”

“I didn’t mean that. I was wondering if you need me to help you get an ID card,” Jiang Huan earnestly said, his elbow bent towards the sky. “I can even bring you into the Shanhai Unit, so you can come and go openly. Oh, I almost forgot, I adopted a child who looks a lot like you. Next time, come earlier and I’ll introduce you to him. He would be happy to meet you.”

Shen Shanwu: “…”

Shen Shanwu：“Maybe next time… It’s getting late now, you should rest early. I’ll take my leave.”

Jiang Huan was taken aback, hastily tried to keep him: “You’re leaving already? You’ve just arrived, haven’t you? You haven’t even touched the snacks I specially prepared for you.”

If I don’t leave soon, I’m afraid I’ll choke to death from your presence, Shen Shanwu rubbed Jiang Huan’s hair, “You’re the captain, there must be a lot to do tomorrow, right? You can enjoy the snacks yourself; I have more delicious things to eat than you do.”

“I can take a day off to rest.”

Shen Shanwu：“……”

Shen Shanwu: “There’s always another day, Jiang Huan. I’ll come to see you again in a couple of days.”

“Two days later is when?” Jiang Huan grabbed his sleeve, “Shanwu, consider joining my team.”

When I learn how to split myself in half, half Jiang Tong and half Shen Shanwu, I’ll definitely come. Shen Shanwu smiled faintly, pushed open the window, and disappeared into the thick night. Jiang Huan immediately followed, looking at the empty exterior and clenching his fist in silence.

*

For three consecutive weeks, Shen Shanwu’s nights were very fulfilling. When all was quiet, his nightlife officially began.

At first, he would only visit Jiang Huan once every three days, but unable to resist Jiang Huan’s repeated pleas, even the aloof and imposing man couldn’t resist when he turned on the charm. It was as if the cold and tough man was revealing his vulnerability to only you, and Shen Shanwu was defeated. He silently increased the frequency of their meetings, turning them into rendezvous every other day.

On the days between their meetings, Wolf Dog would show up punctually. He would start by teasing Shen Shanwu about looking like a scholar who had been drained of vitality by a vixen. Then, he would drag him to rendezvous with the Prophet, and the three of them would squat on the hill behind the coastal school, gazing at the stars and moon and discussing poetry, songs, and life philosophy.

“Jiang Huan is really too enthusiastic,” Shen Shanwu said, pain evident in his voice as he covered his face. “I feel like I can’t hold on much longer.”

“Did you really hold on at all?” Wolf Dog teased. “It seems like from the moment you found out Jiang Huan liked you, you’ve been wavering. Normally, if someone realizes their younger brother has feelings for them, their first reaction would be to reject it.”

“Is that so?” Shen Shanwu furrowed his brow. “Am I abnormal?”

“Extremely abnormal.”

“Well, how should I put it…” Shen Shanwu picked up a piece of grass. “You’ve never considered that perspective, but once you open the door to a new world, you realize that there are other possibilities?”

“The key is that it’s still great like this?”

“Isn’t Jiang Huan great?”

“How would I know if he’s great or not? You go to his room alone for a couple of hours every night. You’re the one who knows best if he’s great or not.”

“…” Shen Shanwu shifted his gaze softly. “I don’t know, we sit by the bed, not even covered with a blanket. We just chat. He hasn’t even mentioned liking me again; every time it’s just casual talk about what happened today, what we ate.”

Wolf Dog shook his head disapprovingly. “Too innocent, are you two middle school students in love? If I had a month like that, I could loosen up my partner.”

“Your partner?”

“Shut up.”

Suddenly, the Prophet, who had been lying on the grass with his eyes closed, sat up abruptly. He was breathing heavily in panic and looking around in confusion. Both Shen Shanwu and Wolf Dog immediately stopped their banter and asked him seriously what was wrong.

The Prophet pressed his forehead and gasped in pain, “I… I dreamt of a new mutant…”

Shen Shanwu and Wolf Dog exchanged a glance, with a gut feeling that they wouldn’t be receiving any good news.

“He’s locked in a sealed room.”

“Locked?”

“Yes.” The Prophet covered his throat. “His neck, limbs, all bound by heavy chains. And there’s a muzzle, preventing him from making any sound.”

This is the last result they wanted to hear. Wolf Dog hastily asked, “What’s the location? Has the sensed area narrowed down?”

The Prophet nodded while catching his breath, raising his hand to point in a direction. “Over there.”

“What’s that place?” Wolf Dog immediately inquired. Shen Shanwu stood up and looked into the distance, his brow furrowed.

“Dormitory area.”

 

 

 

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The author has something to say:

35: So, what were you thinking about when you used to zone out all the time?

Huan: …Important matters.

35: Really?

Huan: …Really!

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