On this lonely and dreary rainy night, the moon was not visible. The only illumination came from the occasional flash of startling and brilliant lightning.
Si Huaixi’s keen eyes focused on a dark shadow.
A villa, previously a modest base, is located far away and was abandoned at least two decades ago.
The zombies smashed the wall, and the wealthy inside had already escaped with their security. The villa’s inside walls had cracks from moisture and rain, and its exterior wall tiles had worn down and eventually fallen off. The workers at the base had already collected the gas, and the luxurious cars in the garage had become rusty.
The estate now seems like a ghost town abandoned and deserted, save for the occasional cry of a zombie.
However, it was barely functional.
Si Huaixi turned to face Pei Zhaozhou, who was holding him, his amber golden eyes drooping and the black jacket covering his head, masking his expression.
It’s simply that whenever lightning strikes, his body trembles, he is terrified by the abrupt presence of thunder, and his pale and weak lips worry Si Huaixi.
-What a timid and delicate cat, even terrified of thunder! Who dares to leave him in the wild?
Si Huaixi grimaced and slowed his pace.
Pei Zhaozhou was perplexed. Why did Si Huaixi come to a sudden halt? Looking up, he said, “Did you find anything?”
He followed Si Huaixi in the rain for a few hours. He hadn’t recovered from his illness and was exhausted from walking for so long. But Pei Zhaozhou’s face remained spotless. He did not get caught in any Black rain throughout that time. One can only imagine how well Si Huaixi looked after him.
Si Huaixi pursed his lower lip, his sea-blue gaze locked on Pei Zhaozhou.
Pei Zhaozhou’s body shivered immediately when a thunderclap rang out. He gripped Si Huaixi with his trembling, icy palm, making Si Huaixi unable to ignore it.
Pei Zhaozhou, on the other hand, didn’t seem to notice that he was trembling. His amber-golden eyes expanded in bewilderment. He appeared to be so terrified of thunder that the palms of his hands were frozen.
“It’s nothing,” Si Huaixi scowled again. “In front of us, there is a shelter. Let’s get going.”
Pei Zhaozhou gazed ahead, following Si Huaixi’s line of sight. He couldn’t figure out how Si Huaixi could see in the dark. But he only nodded indifferently: “Oh, let’s go.”
Si Huaixi lowered his gaze, slowed down, and took a few easy steps. His shoulders approached Pei Zhaozhou gradually, raising his hands to clasp Pei Zhaozhou’s head, his generous hands covering his ears with a thick black jacket.
Pei Zhaozhou became aware that the rumble of thunder in the sky was being filtered through a layer of soft gauze. The sound of rain was divided by the mist’s breath. The thunder was murky as well.
The environment abruptly became quiet.
The sound was isolated, but the person’s hot body temperature could not be, his ears, heartbeat, breathing…scorching overwhelmingly…
Pei Zhaozhou firmly pressed his lower lip, his gaze deep, his beautiful lashes quivering slightly.
He was not scared of thunder.
He had just remembered that ear-splitting boom before his death. Like sharp needles puncturing the auditory nerves, the fire and smoke shot straight up into his eyes, blasting into his ears and breaking his eardrums. And a piercing scream of despair…
He had post-traumatic emergency symptoms.
Similar to a combat veteran, a returnee to their comfortable house will appear terrified at the sound of breaking glass and will be drawn back into the gory recollections of the grenades and bullet shuttles exploding on the front lines. Similarly, his body remembered the anxiety and shaking caused by the explosion.
Pei Zhaozhou secretly observed Si Huaixi next to him beneath the cover of his black jacket.
He is about half a head taller than him. He’s also a tall alpha. But he is guarded by this man who appears considerably younger than him.
He always assumed that as an alpha, as an imperial general, he was the one who looked after people. For the first time, He was looked after by a man much younger than him.
‘It’s not unpleasant. But my heart is a little disturbed.’
Pei Zhaozhou closed his eyes halfway.
‘The impulsive pheromones seemed to be muffled by the cold and clean taste of the young man right in front of me. The exhausted and feeble body that had been afflicted by the pheromone disorder for so long appeared as if drenched in a gushing hot spring. And I couldn’t help but crave the comfort and calm of that moment.’
They entered the house.
The light bulb was broken, and there was no power because it had been abandoned for so long.
They sat on the floor and did not feel unclean. One could see the lightning and hear the thunder outside through the cracked windows.
Pei Zhaozhou removed the black jacket from his head and handed it to Si Huaixi. Who sat next to him and said, “Thank you for your clothes, and you helped me avoid the rain all the way.”
Si Huaixi’s sea-blue eyes skimmed across Pei Zhaozhou’s slightly pale cheeks as he declined the jacket.
He gently reached out and took a pack of cigarettes from the inside pocket, lowered his brows, slid the jacket into Pei Zhaozhou’s arms, and stated, “No, I haven’t fallen to the point of grabbing clothes with the patient.” You wrap yourself with it. I don’t have a doctor here, lest you get sick again.”
Pei Zhaozhou tucked his jacket in and clasped his hands tightly.
He couldn’t resist leaning his back against the wall, sitting comfortably in his jacket, and grinningly saying, “Thank you” to the young guy who had saved him. “I never expected to be rescued one day.”
Hearing Pei Zhaozhou’s comments, he seemed to recall something horrible from his past.
His gaze was drawn to the cold and lonely amber-golden eyes that appeared veiled in a coating of remoteness. And that uninterested smile conveyed dissatisfaction with human nature.
Si Huaixi was taken aback and didn’t say much. He only slightly lowered his gaze. His upper and lower teeth were pressed on the cigarette holder, and he had a gloomy expression between his brows.
It appears that his uninvited cat has been in pain.
Honestly, near the end of the world, to survive and compete for precious resources, the ugly side of human nature has become much more visible. The betrayed individual seeks to injure and betray others, but the father and son are willing to fight for profit.
These aberrant and nasty features of human nature have been prevalent lately, and they have grown accustomed to them.
It’s merely that something similar happened to Pei Zhaozhou.
With his eyes down and staring at his miserable appearance, it appeared perhaps his cat was being harassed, and he was inexplicably upset and annoyed.
“It’s not easy for you to go to any base as an ordinary person,” Si Huaixi replied, lowering his gaze. “Have you considered following me?”
Pei Zhaozhou gazed at Si Huaixi, puzzled. What did he mean when he said he was going to follow him? There are additional particular connotations to it…
Those who obey their superiors will be their subordinates and loved ones at the end of the world.
Pei Zhaozhou did not expect him to be a lover.
Only two genders exist at the end of the world. Men and women are usually together, especially since he is a male alpha who is neither fair nor young. He is cold and brave, not as gorgeous as the young man in front of him. It’s hard to find someone as attractive as Si Huaixi; even the rich and famous stars of Interstellar can’t compare to him.
Pei Zhaozhou wandered in a daze.
If he met a star like Si Huaixi in Interstellar, even if it’s a beta, he might not be able to stop himself and would have to approach someone for the first time.
However, Si Huaixi is a capable individual. No one would dare approach him casually.
Si Huaixi, in his perspective, is a unique individual. And it’s unusual to see someone’s kindness spilling, especially in such a setting. How else could he have chosen to save an unidentified individual as himself?
Pei Zhaozhou felt a wave of anxiety go through him, as though he was seeing a different version of himself, one who trusted others readily and gave the empire his all, ultimately getting betrayed. Nobody believed him. He almost crumbled in the end.
What if Si Huaixi did not pick him up but someone else with unknown intentions?
Pei Zhaozhou felt compelled to follow Si Huaixi first. He was older than him, so he should be looking after him.
Unbeknownst to him, Si Huaixi saw him as a sensitive individual who even shied away from thunder. He was concerned about him losing his mental strength or becoming weak and pallid. Pei Maomao1Maomao= Cat , who had previously been bullied, was likewise the one who needed to be looked after.
They both had the same thought.
Si Huaixi: What should I do? If I don’t pay attention, this cat will almost certainly be bullied again. It is preferable to remain with them because they are weak and prone to illness.
Pei Zhaozhou: He’s so young and sweet. It’s okay to meet me. But what if he meets more nefarious people and is bullied by them?
“OK, I’ll follow you. Please give me some future advice.” Pei Zhaozhou agreed solemnly, his heart pounding with unfathomable eagerness.
Si Huaixi was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Pei Zhaozhou to agree so quickly and emphatically. He assumed he would enquire further about other matters.
Si Huaixi was in daze. It nearly burnt the thin fingers clutching the smoke until the smoke ceased.
“Then you will follow me from now on,” Si Huaixi replied, his sea-blue eyes sparkling. “I have simply one request.”
Pei Zhaozhou: “Is there a prerequisite?”
Do things for him and unconditionally obey him as a subordinate?
“Live,” Si Huaixi murmured, his eyes turning steely. “I’d rather kill you right now than watch you lying in a corner awaiting your death. At the very least, save some food and distribute it to those in need.”
“…”
Pei Zhaozhou’s amber-golden eyes clouded, and he answered solemnly, “Okay, I will follow you until I die.”
Si Huaixi smirked. He didn’t like the rhetoric. He changed the subject, wanting to learn about Pei Zhaozhou’s past with the hopes that he could comprehend what happened before he came here.
“Why did you come here?” Si Huaixi inquired. Is anyone after you?”
Pei Zhaozhou stated unequivocally, “No.”
Si Huaixi was perplexed: “Which base did you come from, then?”
Pei Zhaozhou raised his head. He didn’t know what to say to explain that he wasn’t from here, so he remained mute.
Si Huaixi did not force him when he saw this. He glanced at Pei Zhaozhou’s reluctant and resisting countenance for a long time, and a flash of disappointment flashed over his eyes.
“Then you will stay by my side from now on.”
“Um.”
It was still pouring outside.
Pei Zhaozhou leaned against the wall, his black jacket slung over his knees. He was still frowning uncomfortably as he fell asleep. His chin rested on his knees. His beautiful black hair falls to the ground. He curled up, his eyes tightly shut.
A couple of thunderclaps made his back shiver in his sleep, his thin and pale lips clinched tightly, appearing pathetic.
Si Huaixi remained awake.
Another cigarette was lighted in the dark room, slowly burning, and chilly eyes peered out the window. The blackness in those sea-blue eyes was incomprehensible, like a vortex capable of dragging a ship into the deep sea.
Pei Zhaozhou, who was leaning against him, trembled repeatedly. He wanted to wrap his arms around him and keep himself warm.
His movements pulled Si Huaixi out of his reverie. His brow furrowed, and he irritably cradled the sleeping Pei Zhaozhou. He covered Pei Zhaozhou’s delicate waist with his jacket, holding it tightly until he finally stopped shaking.
Pei Zhaozhou finally dozed off.
Si Huaixi felt the warm breath of the person wearing the jacket spray over their neck as a sparkling white waist lay assertively across their chest. And he simply rested his long legs on Si Huaixi’s lap as if cuddling a bear doll.
Si Huaixi frozed: “…”
He is regretting it.
It’s awkward for the two big men to hug like that.
Si Huaixi attempted to back up a little, but he couldn’t. He was gripped hard by Pei Zhaozhou’s two delicate legs, and the sleeping person’s throat grunted in displeasure.
“…”
– It’s a pesky stray cat.
Si Huaixi smiled helplessly and hugged Pei Zhaozhou’s back with his right hand. He started giving him a little mental energy, enough to get him to sleep peacefully.
However, because Pei Zhaozhou’s body did not appear to adapt to the previous discharge of mental strength, Si Huaixi only lost one-tenth of energy this time.
However, even at this amount, the fit between Si Huaixi’s mental force and Pei Zhaozhou’s pheromone was at a terrifying degree, and Pei Zhaozhou reacted as soon as he entered!!
The closeness of Pei Zhaozhou’s thigh to Si Huaixi caused him to feel a faint yet persistent pressure against his legs. This sensation was distracting and bothersome, making it difficult for him to focus.
He lowered his gaze.
Si Huaixi’s pupils constricted, and smoke fell out of fright.
…Xiao2Xiao 小 means small. Zhaozhou is actively expressing its existential meaning.
Pei Zhaozhou buzzed oddly in his arms, like a cat about to undergo estrus.
He relieved himself by rubbing his owner’s thigh and let out a beautiful gasp when he got excited.
The slim and delicate back of the neck was exposed, generating a powerful aroma that seduced other cats during estrus. The exquisite and mellow vanilla pheromones are like enticing goblins, ceaselessly transferred into Si Huaixi’s nostrils.
Si Huaixi’s pupils froze, and he remained still, allowing the sleeping cat to twist and rub his malleable body.
Fearful of waking up Pei Zhaozhou, who was having a spring dream.
Noticing that Pei Zhaozhou was having trouble sleeping, he knew he had to act fast. Without hesitation, he pulled Pei Zhaozhou into a comforting embrace. Knowing that it would help him rest easier. But now, if Pei Zhaozhou wakes up and sees this posture, Si Huaixi will fall flat on his face, and he has no idea how he would explain it!
So.
Si Huaixi had no alternative but to remain still. His ears were reddened. He was stroked till he reacted similarly and refused to move until the pheromone smell vanished.
The restless cat eventually entered another ‘regular’ dreamland.
Si Huaixi’s eyes were bloodshot, and he couldn’t sleep the entire night.
