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!
โWe are south of District 31, a mile away from the city border,โ 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 โ 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 โ the driverโs area, currently vacant.
Shi Luo continues, โXie 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 โ fast asleep, as he should be โ and patient two added an extra ten hours of overtime work. Your wounds heal as quickly as you reopen them, Yang Rong, and Iโve 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?โ
The man rubs his temple in defeat. โI was not climbing onto your bed, Yang Rong, nor was I trying to climb onto Xie Xingโs. You did not have to prove to me your fidelity โ 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 isโฆ Yang Rong, are you listening to me?โ
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.
โHmm? I woke up to such a nice surpriseโฆ?โ he whispers by the young manโs ears, bringing Noah closer in. โSince when have you been so clingy, Noah? Did you miss Rong-ge? Were you lonely? Hmm?โ
Noah doesnโt respond, but he remains obediently still.
Regardless, Yang Rong could speak to a wall for hours if he wanted to.
โTell me how much you like Rong-ge.โ He continues to talk himself up. โNod once for โa lot,โ twice for โa lot more.โโ Then he proceeds to personally bob Noahโs head up and down, tooting his own ego. โGood boy. Now give me a โmnโ if you think Rong-ge is the most handsome alpha.โ
โโฆโ As if weighing it in his mind, Noah takes a moment before nodding. โMn.
Yang Rong blinks in surpriseโฆ and continues to prompt further. โNow say, โRong-ge is handsome.โโ
Noah furrows his brows a little but does as requested. โโฆRong-ge is handsome.โ
โโRong-ge is amazing.โโ
โRong-ge is amazing.โ
โโI like you the most, Rong-ge.โโ
โโฆโ Noah ponders some more. A few seconds later, he nods. โMn. I like you, Yang Rong.โ
โโฆโ Yang Rong freezes in place. โโฆ?โ
At the abrupt confession, Yang Rongโs 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 ceilingโฆ 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 Rongโs bare skin and his head is propped comfortably on Yang Rongโs 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 lethargyโฆ 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.
โโฆWhat?โ Yang Rong chokes out, very eloquently. โWhat is happening?โ
Shi Luo, highly annoyed and heavily disappointed, replies, โWhat 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 โ to your bedside is a loaded pistol.โ
โโฆFuck,โ Yang Rong musters out. โLike I said, I wouldnโt mind being shot multiple times if Noah becomes like this every time. It is odd, however, and I am beginning to suspect youโve hooked him on strange drugs.โ
โThe one hooked on strange drugs is you,โ Shi Luo answers. โThoughโฆ I suppose it is partially my responsibility. Xie Xing is compensating forโฆ well, I suppose you may call it a physiological need. It isnโt unusual for an omega to be dependent on someone they trust.โ
โโฆI see,โ Yang Rong replies with a slight frown. โIt is physiologicalโฆ?โ
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. โGet dressed. Weโre heading out.โ
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Tjcu Ebcu ifjcr obgkjgv jcv oilmxr tlw ilutais bc atf obgftfjv. โQtja lr la, xlaafc?โ tf ktlrqfgr rilutais afjrlcuis. โPo sbe mbcalcef ab abemt wf ilxf atja, P gfjiis klii yf lcmilcfv ab qert sbe vbkc.โ
Noah ignores him โ a normal reaction, but his eyes are downcast and his lips pursed. And Noah, though acting uncharacteristically, is fully cognizant.
โYang Rong,โ he asks quietly. โDoes it hurt?โ
โIt doesnโt.โ Yang Rong reaches to touch his right ear again, the same one thatโs yet to heal from rupture. The colonel lowers his voice, but every syllable travels clearly, soothingly anyway. โAnd you? Are you hurt, little fox?โ
Noah shakes his head. โI am fine.โ
Yang Rong gives him a smile โ a genuine smile without tease, his eyes curving into attractive crescents. โGood.โ
Conversation halts for some long minutes โ 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 โ itโs 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 heโs 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 โ 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 โ 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 itโs gotten a lot quieter. Noiseless. Hints a bit of melancholy, thought it may just be that is ear isnโt yet healed. The shuffling sounds have gotten softer; the other movements have stopped.
There comes a voice he can recognize among millions of others.
โโNoah.โ
An attractive tenor paired with an even more attractive pair of foresty eyes โ 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.
โShould we go?โ When Yang Rong retracts, his expression is of wistfulness. โTo the city.โ
There is also uncertainty in his tone. And on his handsome features is an emotion Noah canโt quite pinpoint.
Noah nods in response. โAlright.โ
โAfterwardโฆโ Yang Rong clears his throat, his Adamโs apple bobbing along. โAfterward, you may leave or stay.โ
The vehicle is dimmed again โ 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 itโs that he had already committed Yang Rongโs features into memory.
โAlright, Yang Rong.โ
Noah reaches forward and fixes the collar of his shirt, tugging the fabric down his neck. Similarly, Noahโs fingers linger on his nape, grazing the mark heโd left prior. Ten minutes and already, the slight pink has disappeared. The thought brings a small frown.
โHmm?โ Yang Rong notices an oddity. โWhat is wrong?โ
โโฆJust thinking,โ Noah replies as he pinches the colonelโs neck, purposefully applying more force to the bite mark, โthat your mutation is really ugly.โ
โโฆโ Yang Rongโs brows twitch. โโฆNoahโฆ you are reallyโฆโ
He leans forward, raises a hand and then resolutely pinches Noah hard on his uninjured cheek โ a payback for sure. The colonel doesnโt 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.
โโFickle!โ Yang Rong shouts out. โWhatโs 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?!โ
Noah seems to seriously ponder it. โI think Shi Luoโ”
Yang Rong immediately takes ahold of Noahโs hand and places it on his muscular chest as if to prove a point. โYou tell me what Iโm lacking!โ Then he slides Noahโs hand further down his abdomen, past the navel, resting tellingly on the dip of his pelvic. โRong-ge has gone through twenty-seven years of muscle training! Is there anyone who dares to compete?!โ
The more he speaks, the louder his voice gets โ and also, the closer he leans toward Noah, his face schooled into a dark scowl. โNoahโyouโwhat are you trying to tell me?! Do you like me or not?! Which one is it?! Huh?!โ
Noah opens his mouth, but as if heโd remembered something of importance, he suddenly pauses. He lets out an inaudible, strained noise and then closes his mouth again, refusing to speak. Strangely, Noahโs 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.
โโฆโ The man clears his throat. โโฆI didnโt mean to yell at you. Little kitten, donโt cry, alrightโฆ? I was wrongโฆ Yes, itโs Rong-geโs faultโฆโ
โโฆโ Noah brushes away his hand. โIโm not crying.โ
โThen could it be a fever?โ Yang Rong insists on checking his temperature. โWhy are your cheeks so red like thisโฆ Could it be the bastard Shi Luo really did hook you up on drugs andโโ
โYang Rong,โ Noah interrupts him mid-spiel. โLater, I will tell you.โ
Yang Rong is wholly confused.
Noah turns away and decides to focus on an empty spot to the side. โI will tell you properly.โ
A whole ten seconds later, the realization finally dawns in, the colonelโs eyes widening in a myriad of colorful emotions. Still pinning Noah against the wall, Yang Rong breathes out lowly. โFuckโฆ Noah, when you act like this, I have a sudden urge to do improper thingsโฆโ
โNot now,โ Noah says, suddenly finding the cabinets pleasing to the eye. โNo time.โ
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 โ Yang Rong lets out a low groan and buries his face onto the crook of Noahโs neck, fully ignoring Shi Luo who is trying to talk sense into him.
โThirty-eight minutes,โ the doctor says sternly behind him. โAnd a thirty-minute walk. If you insist on other activities, take your engagements elsewhere so I may officially write you off as dead.โ
โโฆCall the meeting off.โ Yang Rongโs tone is sulking โ a very strange dichotomy to his chiseled features, battle-hardened frame. He plants his forehead onto Noahโs nape. โIโm retiring in peace, Shi Luo.โ
Shi Luo sighs and says, โGeneral Xieโs presence was confirmed just now. His platoon is bringing along fifteen tons of shipments. Itโd be best to avoid them โ if I may rephrase, itโd be best for Xie Xing to avoid his father.โ
Yang Rong slowly lifts his head up and sighs. โYeah. I understand.โ
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 โ 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 Rongโs posture is upright, tall and poised.
Inside, Noah is hidden in shadows โ wrapped in a thick black jacket, face partially obscured by his hood. All thatโs 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 Rongโs lips curl upward. โAllow Rong-ge to escort you home.โ
Noah is compelled to walk forward and take his hand.
He says, โYang Rong, I do not have one.โ
Mid-sentence, Noah is lifted off the platform and into a pair of secure arms.
โA simple solution, Noah,โ Yang Rong replies, brushing his lips against the younger manโs cheek. โWe will make one.โ
—
[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 โ 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 โ 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 isnโt anything major โ 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. Heโs cross-legged and staring off into space.
Yoo Seok opens his eyes and turns to look at the younger soldier. โSomething wrong?โ
Jae blinks rapidly upon address. โโฆOh, hyung, I was just thinkingโฆโ
โAbout?โ
โโฆTraveling with the Generalโs platoon is a little strange, isnโt it? Iโve never been around this many people. The First Unit was always smaller than this, even back then.โ He muses quietly to himself. โIโve gotten too used to our small group.โ
โYou prefer Colonel Yangโs harebrained command?โ asks Yoo Seok. โHe directly abandoned the First Unit for his own pursuits, Jae. Our current predicament is caused by him, correct?โ
Jae nods slowly before staring off into space again. โWellโฆ as irresponsible as the colonel isโฆ why did you enable him to leave, hyung?โ
โHm.โ Yoo Seok uncrosses his arms. โIโm uncertain as well. A sudden rebellious streak, perhaps?โ
Jae raises a brow. โโฆYou get stranger every day.โ
The dark-haired man gives him a subtle smirk, the corners of his lips raising just one centimeter. โI 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 Unitโs death count over the past four years?โ
โFrom when weโve joined until nowโฆ possibly one thousand?โ Jae answers. โWe lost five hundred during the Equatorial Dropship incident.โ
โAnd over the past six years?โ
Jae ponders for a while. โSix years agoโฆ I heard that was the time Colonel Yang was promoted to his current position. Theโฆ 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.โ
โUnder Colonel Yangโs leadership,โ Yoo Seok says, โin his entire career, tens of thousands of soldiers have died and only three remain โ Private Li, you and me. What awaits us is a path of ruin โ the same goes for if we join any other military unit.โ
Jae weighs his implications. โYou suggest we shouldโฆ switch careers? Hyung, I do not have the credentials for other fieldsโฆโ
โI merely imply we would die regardless,โ Yoo Seok says. โSo 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 โ a path away from the confines of the Nexus, a futile escape that is a little more interesting than usual. Isnโt this development a nice act of rebellion, Jae?โ
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 isnโt likely the soldiers can overhear regardless, for the two of them communicate in Korean.
โTo be honest, hyung. When you speak like this, I have no idea what youโre saying,โ Jae whispers, the smile blossoming charmingly on his features. โBut it doesnโt matter where you go, because Iโll find a way to follow you.โ
Yoo Seok replies in a low whisper unheard by the other chattering soldiers around them. โLikewise.โ
Jaeโs smile softens, though it still retains fondness. โAnyway, hyung, I also wanted to talk to you about something else. Do you hear sounds?โ
Yoo Seok raises a neat brow. โOf what sort?โ
โKind ofโฆ like muffling sounds.โ Jae tries to describe as he juts a thumb behind him. โTheyโre coming fromโฆ the crates. I think some of the anomalies are still alive.โ
โIt is likely,โ the other man replies. โMany are kept alive for experimentation. Is something the matter?โ
โUmโฆโ Jae seems to think about it for a while before shaking his head. โNevermind. It is nothing, hyung. I am only reminded of a past memory.โ
AHHHH WHEN WILL THEY HAVE TIMEEEEEE
ahhhh!!! Rong-ge!!๐ณ
ยกthank you so much!
โค
within 12 chapters before the book ends ๐ฆ๐ฆ
I had once again forgotten about these other 3 orz
thanks for the chapter <3
my poor supporting cast ๐ญ 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 ๐ญ 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 ๐ญ
never forget the thirsty
Home is where the heart is Noah! So your home is with Rong-ge donโt 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 ๐ญ 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 ๐๐
cant change the clown, he was born with it ๐คก
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
๐
I’ve caught up at last ~ ๐
woahhh ~~! thank you so much for reading this far and for commenting ๐ i hope you will enjoy the story the rest of the way through ๐คง
Thanks for the new chapters!!! Hope Noah, aka fox-kitten, YR, the stud muffin to be alone finally !!!!
stud muffin yang rong…. so cute..! ๐คง
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! ๐คซ๐คญ
Awww I love these two together as well. They all deserve peace. The anomalies alive canโt be a good sign ๐ฅถ
“nor was I trying to climb onto Xie Xing’s”
… Oh, really, Doctor Shi? ๐
“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