thank you to sannarosenlund for the kofis! we have reached our kofi release goal for the first time ever, so please enjoy this bonus too-long chapter! ;; thank you for the support!
“We are south of District 31, a mile away from the city border,” the doctor says as he picks up an unlit, battery-powered candle. He clicks on the switch, places the candle back on top of the cabinet, and picks up another. The actions are repeated several more times. The vehicle is now brightened up a bit more, specks of orange catching onto the otherwise black curtains and aluminum walls.
Their surroundings are clearer now – the back of the vehicle is cluttered in cabinets, overhead shelves, folded seats. A single bed takes up the center space. The middle of the vehicle, the section previously separated by the curtain, is sprawled with quilts and cushioned by a thick floormat. Then to the front – the driver’s area, currently vacant.
Shi Luo continues, “Xie Liwei sent the two of you to a treatment facility in District 37. I came shortly after, drove an emergency vehicle hundreds of miles outside the city, spent fifty hours treating two critical care patients. Patient one was docile – fast asleep, as he should be – and patient two added an extra ten hours of overtime work. Your wounds heal as quickly as you reopen them, Yang Rong, and I’ve suffered migraines as you tried to wrestle me, your doctor, away. May I also remind you that you threw two glass vials at my head?”
The man rubs his temple in defeat. “I was not climbing onto your bed, Yang Rong, nor was I trying to climb onto Xie Xing’s. You did not have to prove to me your fidelity – rest assured, sleeping with you is not on my professional agenda. For you to be so aggressive toward me, the one who saved your life I might add, such lack of gratitude is… Yang Rong, are you listening to me?”
Yang Rong, who is currently in the middle of harassing the young man by his side, is definitely not listening. The famous colonel has turned into a doped, lovestruck fool with one shortsighted goal. All talks of the summit meeting aside, Yang Rong is now purely focused on teasing Noah.
“Hmm? I woke up to such a nice surprise…?” he whispers by the young man’s ears, bringing Noah closer in. “Since when have you been so clingy, Noah? Did you miss Rong-ge? Were you lonely? Hmm?”
Noah doesn’t respond, but he remains obediently still.
Regardless, Yang Rong could speak to a wall for hours if he wanted to.
“Tell me how much you like Rong-ge.” He continues to talk himself up. “Nod once for ‘a lot,’ twice for ‘a lot more.’” Then he proceeds to personally bob Noah’s head up and down, tooting his own ego. “Good boy. Now give me a ‘mn’ if you think Rong-ge is the most handsome alpha.”
“…” As if weighing it in his mind, Noah takes a moment before nodding. “Mn.
Yang Rong blinks in surprise… and continues to prompt further. “Now say, ‘Rong-ge is handsome.’”
Noah furrows his brows a little but does as requested. “…Rong-ge is handsome.”
“’Rong-ge is amazing.’”
“Rong-ge is amazing.”
“’I like you the most, Rong-ge.’”
“…” Noah ponders some more. A few seconds later, he nods. “Mn. I like you, Yang Rong.”
“…” Yang Rong freezes in place. “…?”
At the abrupt confession, Yang Rong’s person seems to transcend past space and time. Question marks appear visible on his blank face. Fireworks are blooming in his mind, the heat traveling down south, combusting at a certain spot. Whatever emotions Yang Rong is experiencing, he hides them with a low cough. He clears his throat.
The colonel very slowly raises one hand and curls his fingers. Upon deciding that his joints are indeed working, he turns very slowly to the rest of his surroundings. Yang Rong does an entire panoramic view, staring at the walls, the flooring, the ceiling… Confused green eyes trace over the vicinity. When Yang Rong finally confirms reality, he flicks his gaze over to Noah.
The young man has shifted to cling onto his elbow. His slender fingers are curled onto Yang Rong’s bare skin and his head is propped comfortably on Yang Rong’s shoulder. Tufts of silver hair partially cover his eyes, but his eyelashes remain prominent, wispy and streaked amber from candlelight. Noah is calm and collected with a hint of lethargy… but if looked closely, there may be a forming blush on his ears.
Yang Rong seems to be thrown into different planet once more, his mind in broken space fragments, his emotions cracked.
His face heats up beet red, then he quickly snaps his head toward Shi Luo.
“…What?” Yang Rong chokes out, very eloquently. “What is happening?”
Shi Luo, highly annoyed and heavily disappointed, replies, “What is it that you are addressing, Yang Rong? It is unfortunate that I may not provide electroconvulsive therapy at this time, but I may suggest some more drastic measures – to your bedside is a loaded pistol.”
“…Fuck,” Yang Rong musters out. “Like I said, I wouldn’t mind being shot multiple times if Noah becomes like this every time. It is odd, however, and I am beginning to suspect you’ve hooked him on strange drugs.”
“The one hooked on strange drugs is you,” Shi Luo answers. “Though… I suppose it is partially my responsibility. Xie Xing is compensating for… well, I suppose you may call it a physiological need. It isn’t unusual for an omega to be dependent on someone they trust.”
“…I see,” Yang Rong replies with a slight frown. “It is physiological…?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
The doctor opens a drawer, pulls out the first piece of clothing he sees and throws it at Yang Rong. “Get dressed. We’re heading out.”
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Tjcu Ebcu ifjcr obgkjgv jcv oilmxr tlw ilutais bc atf obgftfjv. “Qtja lr la, xlaafc?” tf ktlrqfgr rilutais afjrlcuis. “Po sbe mbcalcef ab abemt wf ilxf atja, P gfjiis klii yf lcmilcfv ab qert sbe vbkc.”
Noah ignores him – a normal reaction, but his eyes are downcast and his lips pursed. And Noah, though acting uncharacteristically, is fully cognizant.
“Yang Rong,” he asks quietly. “Does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t.” Yang Rong reaches to touch his right ear again, the same one that’s yet to heal from rupture. The colonel lowers his voice, but every syllable travels clearly, soothingly anyway. “And you? Are you hurt, little fox?”
Noah shakes his head. “I am fine.”
Yang Rong gives him a smile – a genuine smile without tease, his eyes curving into attractive crescents. “Good.”
Conversation halts for some long minutes – the only sounds heard inside the vehicle are rustles, zips, crinkles of plastic, light tinkering. Yang Rong has climbed off the bed and is crouched on the floormat, busying himself with packing. Shi Luo is doing the same. Once in a while, the two would say a few words before silence ensues again.
It is nighttime outside, though the exact hour of the day is impossible to tell. The passenger windows are entirely covered in black blinds. Only the windshield allows some slivers of moonlight to stream inward – it’s the same, never-changing scene.
Again, Noah is settled in the back section of a vehicle. Again, more darkness surrounds him, more candles and kerosene lamps that give off the same hues. The setting is warm and dreary all the same.
Reality starts to distort.
In time lapse, the cabinets around him have turned into brown, foul-smelling crates. The wall he’s leaning on have turned into a miles-high stack as well. There were passenger seats font and back, two rows of seats for five military soldiers.
A scene from some time prior. Their first meeting. He was kidnapped. It was noisy – outside the window, the forest was set ablaze. In between crackles of fire sounded out loud yells, curses, a distinct male voice.
Noah remembers the feeling of his hands tied behind his back, the rope burns felt for days after. Painfully, he was knocked breathless against the flooring. His throat was constricted, his head was throbbing – quite similar to now, present time, in post-concussion.
He lifts a hand to touch his right ear.
It really is the same, never-changing scene, though it’s gotten a lot quieter. Noiseless. Hints a bit of melancholy, thought it may just be that is ear isn’t yet healed. The shuffling sounds have gotten softer; the other movements have stopped.
There comes a voice he can recognize among millions of others.
“—Noah.”
An attractive tenor paired with an even more attractive pair of foresty eyes – it is no wonder Noah finds himself admittedly charmed.
Yang Rong beckons him over (Noah follows the request easily, willingly), and then drapes a black jacket over his frame. Noah is helped into the arm holes, and the hood is placed over his head, covering most of his silver hair.
Gently, Yang Rong tucks in a few loose strands, his fingers lingering on a curl. His actions are slow and hesitant.
“Should we go?” When Yang Rong retracts, his expression is of wistfulness. “To the city.”
There is also uncertainty in his tone. And on his handsome features is an emotion Noah can’t quite pinpoint.
Noah nods in response. “Alright.”
“Afterward…” Yang Rong clears his throat, his Adam’s apple bobbing along. “Afterward, you may leave or stay.”
The vehicle is dimmed again – behind them, Shi Luo is blowing out the lamp wicks and turning off the candles one by one. Yang Rong is donned in a slate dress shirt, the collar slightly crinkled and flipped up to his jaw, drawing more attention to his caramel skin. The last flickers of light disappear on firm cheekbones, deep concaves, attractive contours. Noah has an affinity to dark places regardless, so he can catch onto the tiniest details.
Or perhaps it’s that he had already committed Yang Rong’s features into memory.
“Alright, Yang Rong.”
Noah reaches forward and fixes the collar of his shirt, tugging the fabric down his neck. Similarly, Noah’s fingers linger on his nape, grazing the mark he’d left prior. Ten minutes and already, the slight pink has disappeared. The thought brings a small frown.
“Hmm?” Yang Rong notices an oddity. “What is wrong?”
“…Just thinking,” Noah replies as he pinches the colonel’s neck, purposefully applying more force to the bite mark, “that your mutation is really ugly.”
“…” Yang Rong’s brows twitch. “…Noah… you are really…”
He leans forward, raises a hand and then resolutely pinches Noah hard on his uninjured cheek – a payback for sure. The colonel doesn’t stop even when Noah begins to squirm in his hold, letting out angry whines and protests. Yang Rong turns a deaf ear, backs the younger man against the vehicle wall, and raises his voice in pique.
“—Fickle!” Yang Rong shouts out. “What’s wrong with my mutation?! It is only a little bit of hardened skin! Rong-ge is handsome, alright?! Is there anyone more handsome than Rong-ge?!”
Noah seems to seriously ponder it. “I think Shi Luo—”
Yang Rong immediately takes ahold of Noah’s hand and places it on his muscular chest as if to prove a point. “You tell me what I’m lacking!” Then he slides Noah’s hand further down his abdomen, past the navel, resting tellingly on the dip of his pelvic. “Rong-ge has gone through twenty-seven years of muscle training! Is there anyone who dares to compete?!”
The more he speaks, the louder his voice gets – and also, the closer he leans toward Noah, his face schooled into a dark scowl. “Noah—you—what are you trying to tell me?! Do you like me or not?! Which one is it?! Huh?!”
Noah opens his mouth, but as if he’d remembered something of importance, he suddenly pauses. He lets out an inaudible, strained noise and then closes his mouth again, refusing to speak. Strangely, Noah’s ears are colored deep red inside the hood of the jacket. The color snakes down to his cheeks, heating up at the spot Yang Rong is touching.
Yang Rong misconstrues the signs heavily.
“…” The man clears his throat. “…I didn’t mean to yell at you. Little kitten, don’t cry, alright…? I was wrong… Yes, it’s Rong-ge’s fault…”
“…” Noah brushes away his hand. “I’m not crying.”
“Then could it be a fever?” Yang Rong insists on checking his temperature. “Why are your cheeks so red like this… Could it be the bastard Shi Luo really did hook you up on drugs and—”
“Yang Rong,” Noah interrupts him mid-spiel. “Later, I will tell you.”
Yang Rong is wholly confused.
Noah turns away and decides to focus on an empty spot to the side. “I will tell you properly.”
A whole ten seconds later, the realization finally dawns in, the colonel’s eyes widening in a myriad of colorful emotions. Still pinning Noah against the wall, Yang Rong breathes out lowly. “Fuck… Noah, when you act like this, I have a sudden urge to do improper things…”
“Not now,” Noah says, suddenly finding the cabinets pleasing to the eye. “No time.”
Yang Rong is still looking at him, but before the colonel can say anything more, a notepad comes flying toward his head. The same notepad hitting the same sore spot on his head – Yang Rong lets out a low groan and buries his face onto the crook of Noah’s neck, fully ignoring Shi Luo who is trying to talk sense into him.
“Thirty-eight minutes,” the doctor says sternly behind him. “And a thirty-minute walk. If you insist on other activities, take your engagements elsewhere so I may officially write you off as dead.”
“…Call the meeting off.” Yang Rong’s tone is sulking – a very strange dichotomy to his chiseled features, battle-hardened frame. He plants his forehead onto Noah’s nape. “I’m retiring in peace, Shi Luo.”
Shi Luo sighs and says, “General Xie’s presence was confirmed just now. His platoon is bringing along fifteen tons of shipments. It’d be best to avoid them – if I may rephrase, it’d be best for Xie Xing to avoid his father.”
Yang Rong slowly lifts his head up and sighs. “Yeah. I understand.”
Shi Luo leaves first through the vehicle door.
Yang Rong is the next to follow, dragging his bandaged body toward the vehicle door and slides it open. Outside is brighter than in – when Yang Rong steps out, his broad frame is defined in moonlight, specks of white catching on the gray of his shirt. Even when injured, Yang Rong’s posture is upright, tall and poised.
Inside, Noah is hidden in shadows – wrapped in a thick black jacket, face partially obscured by his hood. All that’s visible is the tip of his nose and the jut of his lips. No emotion is shown either, but perhaps Yang Rong catches the solemnness of his shadowed figure. The man turns around and holds out a hand, beckoning for him to come.
Yang Rong’s lips curl upward. “Allow Rong-ge to escort you home.”
Noah is compelled to walk forward and take his hand.
He says, “Yang Rong, I do not have one.”
Mid-sentence, Noah is lifted off the platform and into a pair of secure arms.
“A simple solution, Noah,” Yang Rong replies, brushing his lips against the younger man’s cheek. “We will make one.”
—
[at the same time, district 32]
Tens of vehicles roll over gravel. Their tires leave muddied prints for miles. The hindmost pick-up truck carries the most cargo – countless brown crates stacked on top of each other, chained inside the back compartment. Tens of thousands of pounds are in transport, and the little extra weight comes from the few soldiers on guard.
Yoo Seok is leaning against the sidewall of the vehicle with his eyes closed. Li Jiayun is holding friendly conversation with two other soldiers – unsubstantial chatter about dinner rations, the weather and the like.
The atmosphere is dreary and stiff, especially when the First Platoon had suffered heavy casualties during the journey. In hindsight, losing a dozen or so soldiers isn’t anything major – not when expedition teams are wiped out by the hundreds on a daily basis. Under the command of General Xie, the First Platoon can be considered lucky to only lose a few men from injury.
To the other side, Jae sits with a pensive expression on his face. He’s cross-legged and staring off into space.
Yoo Seok opens his eyes and turns to look at the younger soldier. “Something wrong?”
Jae blinks rapidly upon address. “…Oh, hyung, I was just thinking…”
“About?”
“…Traveling with the General’s platoon is a little strange, isn’t it? I’ve never been around this many people. The First Unit was always smaller than this, even back then.” He muses quietly to himself. “I’ve gotten too used to our small group.”
“You prefer Colonel Yang’s harebrained command?” asks Yoo Seok. “He directly abandoned the First Unit for his own pursuits, Jae. Our current predicament is caused by him, correct?”
Jae nods slowly before staring off into space again. “Well… as irresponsible as the colonel is… why did you enable him to leave, hyung?”
“Hm.” Yoo Seok uncrosses his arms. “I’m uncertain as well. A sudden rebellious streak, perhaps?”
Jae raises a brow. “…You get stranger every day.”
The dark-haired man gives him a subtle smirk, the corners of his lips raising just one centimeter. “I only think it would be interesting to witness his ending and simultaneously, the ending of the soldiers who have followed in his steps. Jae, what is the First Unit’s death count over the past four years?”
“From when we’ve joined until now… possibly one thousand?” Jae answers. “We lost five hundred during the Equatorial Dropship incident.”
“And over the past six years?”
Jae ponders for a while. “Six years ago… I heard that was the time Colonel Yang was promoted to his current position. The… rainforest incident? The previous commander had died, and Colonel Yang took over the joint mission with the late Sergeant Hannes. The body count was five thousand recovered, approximated down.”
“Under Colonel Yang’s leadership,” Yoo Seok says, “in his entire career, tens of thousands of soldiers have died and only three remain – Private Li, you and me. What awaits us is a path of ruin – the same goes for if we join any other military unit.”
Jae weighs his implications. “You suggest we should… switch careers? Hyung, I do not have the credentials for other fields…”
“I merely imply we would die regardless,” Yoo Seok says. “So to follow Colonel Yang on the field or to follow him off the field are nigh choices. The only differentiation is that the latter is a path unexplored – a path away from the confines of the Nexus, a futile escape that is a little more interesting than usual. Isn’t this development a nice act of rebellion, Jae?”
Jae blinks his eyes slowly. The young soldier thumbs at his jawline, weighing the words but not fully understanding them. A short while later, he lets out a small laugh, catching the attention of several soldiers by their side. Jae scoots over closer to Yoo Seok, lowering his volume for more privacy. It isn’t likely the soldiers can overhear regardless, for the two of them communicate in Korean.
“To be honest, hyung. When you speak like this, I have no idea what you’re saying,” Jae whispers, the smile blossoming charmingly on his features. “But it doesn’t matter where you go, because I’ll find a way to follow you.”
Yoo Seok replies in a low whisper unheard by the other chattering soldiers around them. “Likewise.”
Jae’s smile softens, though it still retains fondness. “Anyway, hyung, I also wanted to talk to you about something else. Do you hear sounds?”
Yoo Seok raises a neat brow. “Of what sort?”
“Kind of… like muffling sounds.” Jae tries to describe as he juts a thumb behind him. “They’re coming from… the crates. I think some of the anomalies are still alive.”
“It is likely,” the other man replies. “Many are kept alive for experimentation. Is something the matter?”
“Um…” Jae seems to think about it for a while before shaking his head. “Nevermind. It is nothing, hyung. I am only reminded of a past memory.”
AHHHH WHEN WILL THEY HAVE TIMEEEEEE
ahhhh!!! Rong-ge!!😳
¡thank you so much!
❤
within 12 chapters before the book ends 💦💦
I had once again forgotten about these other 3 orz
thanks for the chapter <3
my poor supporting cast 😭 are they that forgetful?!
Yes! Build your own home.
build a cave and live in it with caveman yang rong!!
The home talk make both sad and happy 😭 anyway they WILL have time together. YR blushing is just fjsjdjsbdhd cute and refreshing hehe
yang rong actually gets flustered (+thirsty) easily, i-i try to make him cute sometimes 😭
never forget the thirsty
Home is where the heart is Noah! So your home is with Rong-ge don’t worry! Shi Luo has become a professional cockblocker lol. His aim is impeccable.
Eyyy always glad to see the squad tm! Jae and Yoo Seok are so cute together!
But if Jae and Yoo Seok are uuuh eloping?? What is our bestest girl Li Jiayun gonna do?
Thanks for the chapter!
shi luo has had plenty of training when he and yang rong were younger 😭 he probably got fed up with yr every second of every day.
as for jae and yoo seok — !! what are they gonna do!
and li jiayun will have her own ending too ~
I love clingy Noah… and YR is still his usual clown self 🍆🍆
cant change the clown, he was born with it 🤡
How does YR define the word ‘Beauty’? Even at this point of time, I’m still mildly curious…
or rather ‘Being Handsome’… huh
yang rong: handsome? that’s me
Yeah sure, Yue-san… YR is your favorite child after all…
But, at the same time this response of yours make me want to insert a flipping table emoji
😒
I’ve caught up at last ~ 🐎
woahhh ~~! thank you so much for reading this far and for commenting 💕 i hope you will enjoy the story the rest of the way through 🤧
Thanks for the new chapters!!! Hope Noah, aka fox-kitten, YR, the stud muffin to be alone finally !!!!
stud muffin yang rong…. so cute..! 🤧
Uhm, so who`s in the crate ahh?!!
Thank you for the chapter!
YR, YR, you are a little bit sad. But I also admire your resilience and talking skills. But ahhh this is so cute, Noah being so obedient and fluffy and CUTE.
Omgomgomgomg, so they’re found a home in each other. Ahh, how lovely, really, really. I can’t. Oh my dear lord.
More Yeo Sook and Jae time, I’m so happy hhhhhhhhhhh T^T
Hmm, but a past memory? Jae? Tell me, quick. What is it?
The foreshadowing is strong in this one! 🤫🤭
Awww I love these two together as well. They all deserve peace. The anomalies alive can’t be a good sign 🥶
“nor was I trying to climb onto Xie Xing’s”
… Oh, really, Doctor Shi? 😏
“specks of white catching on the grey of his shirt”
At first I thought, “is Noah shedding on him-”
Yoo Seok and Jae!!! be still, my shipping heart