Zhou Rong’s heart warmed, and he couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to hold Sinan, wrapping them both in a blanket and moving to the bed.
In a daze, Sinan felt a slight warmth on his temple – the goodnight kiss they had missed tonight. He mumbled a few unclear words, resting his head against Zhou Rong’s neck, sleeping comfortably.
Zhou Rong was breathing with difficulty, his heart racing, feeling dizzy and disoriented, unsure if he was truly concussed or dazzled by the light red lips before him. He took a deep breath, trying to control his hot blood from flowing down with willpower, but the increasingly concentrated sweet scent made it hard for him to breathe. That was pheromones.
But it was different from the pheromone scent around Si Nan last night. If last night was a light honey fragrance, today it had become sweet and slightly musky. Up close, it was even slightly stimulating. Zhou Rong stared at the ceiling, his ears buzzing, his brain feeling like it had been repeatedly hammered. He realized a shocking possibility. Si Nan woke up near noon. Feeling a bit listless, he rubbed his eyes and sat up from the messy bed, casually asking Zhou Rong, “Why are you here?” Zhou Rong: “…” ”What time is it,” Si Nan naturally picked up the cold milk and toast from the bedside table, not minding, eating while getting out of bed and glancing out the window, “Oh, is it going to snow?” Zhou Rong painfully moved his arm, which had gone numb from being compressed for several hours, and sat up, slowly saying, “Comrade Si, the organization wants to talk to you…” Si Nan turned around, leaning his lower back against the windowsill, raising an eyebrow. ”…Are you sure you got your suppressant shot in late September?” ”Of course,” Si Nan said carelessly. “I discovered you guys on my way to the pharmacy for suppressants. What’s wrong?” Zhou Rong was between laughing and crying: “Do you know that our country’s suppressants actually come in two types?” Si Nan paused mid-chew.
”…an Alpha who might be suitable for you. The organization understands that the situation can be overwhelming, but it’s important to communicate your needs and preferences.”
Si Nan remained silent, contemplating the implications of this decision. He was aware of the realities he faced, yet the pressure of the organization weighed heavily on him.
”You’ll need to consider what you truly want,” Zhou Rong encouraged gently. “This is about your wellbeing, after all.”
The conversation shifted as other members of their group joined in, discussing strategies and plans for the upcoming mission, the prior topic fading into the background.
“He broke into the pharmacy warehouse, but the pharmacy staff inside collectively turned into zombies when the disaster broke out, which is why he was chased by so many zombies.”
Si Nan couldn’t say a word. “So, if you need,” Zhou Rong said regretfully, “we can try to set out now, but the nearest big city is two thousand kilometers away. You’d better try to hold on during the journey…”
Si Nan stood in a daze, his hand loosening. Zhou Rong, already prepared, quickly stepped forward and caught the falling milk cup, placing it back in his hand, indicating he should hold it.
“Within ten li,” Si Nan’s mouth twitched. Although he didn’t plan it, within ten li, apart from Zhou Rong, there could be no other Alpha, only zombies.
“The organization will definitely help you matchmake,” Zhou Rong solemnly promised, “The organization is very democratic.”
Si Nan finished his milk, stuffed the empty cup into Zhou Rong’s hand, and pushed his chest, signaling him to leave. “…Let me think,” Si Nan said mechanically, “Please give me twenty minutes.”
Zhou Rong thoughtfully took the empty cup to the kitchen, washing all dishes and utensils. He moved enough food and water supplies for two people for three days from the car, then picked up his gun to patrol the surrounding area, ensuring no zombies, wild beasts, or other dangers in the mountain forest.
Then he reversed the SUV to block the cement building’s only entrance, making complete protective measures, returned to the first floor, and stopped in front of the bathroom mirror, carefully examining himself.
Zhou Rong had been trapped by an instructor’s saying that “scars are the best medals for men.” A year after being assigned to Unit 118, he led a team to Bali for an ambush mission. During the setup, he saw Yan Hao helping Chun Cao apply sunscreen and mocked them extensively. At that time, Yan Hao gave him a profound look and sighed without saying anything. When returning from the mission, Zhou Rong almost disfigured due to a fourth-degree sunburn, and the painful half-month treatment taught him a lesson.
Looking in the mirror, Zhou Rong felt he was just too rough. He coughed, straightened his collar and cuffs, feeling a bit nervous.
Indeed, there won’t be any other Alphas, Zhou Rong thought uneasily.
Zhou Rong tidied his hair, trying to flatten the small tuft of hair that always stood up rebelliously on his forehead, then cleared his throat and pushed open the bedroom door.
“Twenty minutes and… Si Xiao…” Zhou Rong’s voice trailed off.
Si Nan sat cross-legged on the bed, carefully examining a brass pendant on his chest, and looked up at the sound, his gaze bright and innocent.
Zhou Rong’s discarded T-shirt, his undershirt, the pillowcase he slept on last night… were scattered in a ring around Si Nan, like the foundation a feline predator would lay for its nest.
“…” Zhou Rong looked at him, unable to determine if he was fully conscious.
Si Nan unexpectedly spoke first: “What?”
“…I,” Zhou Rong said cautiously, “I came up to tidy things up.”
Si Nan only then noticed the messy clothes around him, but his first reaction was: “Tidy them for what?”
Zhou Rong said: “…Wash.”
“They’re not dirty.”
Zhou Rong was speechless. Si Nan leaned back, nestling into Zhou Rong’s pillow from last night, seeming somewhat dispirited: “I was just trying to recall what those people asked me after drugging me.”
Zhou Rong walked over and sat on the bedside. Si Nan leaned against him obediently, allowing Zhou Rong to wrap his arms around him.
In just twenty minutes, the pheromone atmosphere in the room had changed, more fragrant and intense than when they woke up in the morning, so strong that even holding one’s breath couldn’t mask it.
—This was due to hormones directly acting on brain nerves.
“Remember anything?” Zhou Rong asked in a slightly hoarse voice.
“They asked me about the location of something, but I can’t remember what. Rommel’s father was the main leader and investor in many biochemical experiments. Did I steal some materials related to the zombie virus?”
Si Nan pressed his knuckles against his forehead, rubbing tiredly. Zhou Rong couldn’t help but ask: “What’s your relationship with that Rommel?”
“Stepbrother,” Si Nan answered. “After my dad passed away, my mom probably married his father. But the details are complicated, and I can’t recall them for now.”
Zhou Rong was at a loss for words. After a while, he pointed outside: “You… you know his father was the former vice president of Country A, right?”
“Probably,” Si Nan said listlessly.
“Look,” Si Nan opened the brass pendant he always wore, saying: “These are my biological parents. Uh… don’t make that expression. You just beat up the son of the former vice president of Country A and threw him to the zombies. It’s too late to worry about diplomatic relations now.”
Zhou Rong was torn between laughter and tears: “Comrade Si, first tell me if your parents were high-ranking government officials or social celebrities, so we might still have a chance to salvage our diplomatic relations…”
Si Nan burst out laughing.
