By the third day, Zhou Rong, having kissed the unconscious Si Nan one hundred and eight times as an apology, returned to normal, conservative positions learned from Alpha’s physiological education textbooks, rather than those from peculiar posed videos.
This time, Si Nan was finally satisfied, even beginning to enjoy it, which greatly excited and inspired Zhou Rong.
However, Zhou Rong’s way of expressing excitement and affection was to hold Si Nan in the same position and thrust for two full hours, which could be described as having incredible stamina. Si Nan didn’t quite like such amazing stamina.
When he finally became clear-headed, Zhou Rong had to kiss him one hundred and eight times again to barely quell his raging anger.
“Do you know about a type of fish called pufferfish?”
Si Nan coldly said: “I don’t eat such messy things.”
“No, no, pufferfish is delicious. I’ll cook it for you someday,” Zhou Rong said affectionately. “But what I mean is you look like a pufferfish right now…”
In the kitchen, the gas was almost depleted. Zhou Rong trudged through the snow to chop firewood, roasting bread and lunch meat, boiling hot water and vegetable soup. He created a messy, warm nest with soft cushions by the stove, letting Si Nan rest his head on Zhou Rong’s thigh, chatting casually.
Zhou Rong was originally talkative, and many ordinary, boring past events became fascinating when he told them. He spoke about a year when his hometown suffered a snow disaster, and the army came to rescue, sleeping on the floor in a welfare institution. Seeing the military uniforms and weapons, he felt envious and took the candy he had saved to give to the soldiers. Not only did he fail to give away the candy, but he returned with a handful of chocolates.
Later, he enrolled in the military after high school graduation and, in his first year as a recruit, was selected for the special forces due to his outstanding shooting talent.
“The scholarship wasn’t used for anything serious,” Zhou Rong lamented. “I used it to sneak out and eat skewers.”
Si Nan remembered something and asked, “You went to the international competition in your first year in the special forces?”
“Third year,” Zhou Rong said.
“…How old were you when you graduated high school?”
“Sixteen,” Zhou Rong said. “I skipped two grades in primary school, just to meet the minimum conscription age of sixteen for Alphas.”
“But thinking about it now, the Omega I met in the competition was truly impressive,” Zhou Rong continued: “Fifteen years old, specially dispatched by the country… There are people beyond people, and heaven beyond heaven.”
Sinian smiled and said, “Oh? I think so too. Do you think he’s still alive?”
Zhou Rong was about to sigh when he suddenly became alert: “I don’t know! It’s been eleven years! I don’t want to know at all!”
“What if he misses you and can’t forget you?” Sinian asked slyly.
Zhou Rong immediately stated, “Impossible. Am I stupid? Falling into the same pit twice?”
Sinian burst out laughing.
“I fell when I was young and reckless, but now I have too many concerns to fall,” Zhou Rong said dejectedly: “Times have changed, especially with… you.”
The flame flickered, casting a bright light. Sinian’s smile gradually faded, seemingly enveloped by an unnamed and complex emotion.
“What happened afterwards?” Sinian asked softly after a while: “After the special forces competition, what did you do when you returned to the country?”
“I was recommended to military school. The year I graduated, my superiors came to select people. They chose three out of two thousand, and I was one of them,” Zhou Rong said: “They examined political background, family background, various achievements, and psychological qualities. Later, I found out I was chosen for central guard duty.”
“Aren’t Betas preferred for spy work?” Sinian mocked him. “And then?”
“I worked for a few years, met many leaders. I even served as a personal bodyguard during some foreign visits,” Zhou Rong said, mentioning a well-known name often seen on news broadcasts, and laughed: “Later, after several meritorious services, I was promoted to manage state guest protection.”
Sinian gazed at Zhou Rong’s sharply defined profile in the firelight. “That’s the kind of person you are.”
Zhou Rong could be very casual at times, but whenever the situation required, he was the most careful and stable person who could hold everything together – quite different from Sinian.
Sinian was a solo combat expert. He could handle dangerous situations alone, but coordinating a team to protect others would be more challenging.
“I’m not,” Zhou Rong laughed slightly, seeming a bit melancholy.
Sinian raised his hand and poked his chin: “How did you get transferred to 118?”
Zhou Rong was reluctant to speak at first, but with the long winter day and nothing to do, the warm room, and Sinian occasionally poking him, he finally surrendered: “I made a mistake of moderate significance during a foreign guest reception.”
“Did you seduce the president’s daughter?” Sinian teased.
“No, we’re specially trained to have strong resistance to Omega pheromones,” Zhou Rong’s face slightly reddened as he explained: “One winter, a young man with exceptional sniping talent joined our team. We went on a temporary ceremonial reception mission, and he accidentally froze three fingers on the alert railing.”
“It was more than twenty degrees below zero outside. After hearing the report, I immediately ordered someone to thaw his fingers with warm water, or his fingers would be ruined.”
Zhou Rong shook his head and laughed.
Sinian, used to being undisciplined, didn’t think much of it: “You insisted on thawing first?”
“They wouldn’t let warm water be brought in.”
“So you…”
“I dismantled the iron railing with my bare hands,” Zhou Rong helplessly admitted. “Many close-up photos were taken. It was quite embarrassing.”
Sinian imagined the scene with cameras constantly flashing and curved his mouth.
“This incident got caught in the power struggle and continuously fermented, becoming one of the triggers for mutual attacks. Anyway, I was demoted and transferred somewhat confusedly. General Qian needed people, and I had some old connections in special forces, so I joined 118,” Zhou Rong spread his hands. “That’s more or less how things went. Actually, 118 is more relaxed than central duty, with good salary and benefits, and frequent paid business trips…”
“Hmm.” Sinian casually pinched Zhou Rong’s mouth corner, stood up to pick up a water cup, and smiled: “If you hadn’t joined 118, we wouldn’t have met.”
If Zhou Rong hadn’t been transferred to 118, Sinian wouldn’t have passed by the street on that stuffy and chaotic afternoon, seeing the parking tower surrounded by zombies.
Sinian wouldn’t have encountered the special forces squad, wouldn’t have escaped T city with other Alphas, and wouldn’t have entered the dark and dangerous underground of the B military area. They wouldn’t have had the chance to find the precious antibodies and information, and no one would be carrying those life-exchanged details, flying on a helicopter towards the distant South China Sea.
Fate interlocked, like an invisible domino, laying the groundwork for everything before the disaster struck.
Zhou Rong stared at the jumping flames, a slight brightness in his eyes.
“So we were meant to be together,” he said slowly: “No one can separate us. It was destined long ago.”
Severe cold became a natural barrier against the virus, and this small cement building remained isolated from the world, warm as spring.
Sinian didn’t say, and Zhou Rong wouldn’t mention, that they both knew in their hearts: if only such days could continue forever.
However, this was impossible.
