thank you to -anonymous supporter- for the kofis!! βΏ
[the city border, twenty minutes later]
βThe walls are of cement and high-density osmium. The exterior is reinforced so no unwanted creatures can break through. In the case of airborne anomalies β well, no creature has been observed to fly an altitude higher than some tens of meters before dropping down. There are stringencies in place, of course.β
Shi Luo leads them through the border walls, tapping his fingers on the dark, coarse material. The three young men are walking through the area as though theyβre taking a stroll, leisurely inspecting the closed-off wall. Truth be told, there isnβt much here β the perimeter is largely empty except for some trees a few hundred meters away, some roads untraveled by.
βThe lighthouseβs artificial field encompasses the area here. You may feel a bit of vibration, some sort of invisible resistance. Or perhaps you feel a low buzz β your senses may be more honed than mine. Nonradioactive humans arenβt as prone to feel electromagnetic frequencies.β
βRecently, the Nexus has been testing new transparent, solar-resistant material. Itβs still a work-in-progress and a nigh project in my observations. Rather than pouring resources on architecture that likely wouldnβt hold up in the long-run, I suppose we should focus on generating and strengthening a vast magnetic field.β
Beside him (or rather, several meters behind), Yang Rong yawns.
Shi Luo continues, βWhen the lighthouse field can no longer hold up, the city will become an underground refuge as well. And decades later, I believe living in the city would be no different than living in the slums β the latter at the very least, has more freedom under the moon.β
Noah listens attentively.
Yang Rong, on the other hand, clicks his tongue and says, βWe do not speak the same language. What wavelength do you operate within, Shi Luo, to think of these boring things? Are you trying to make small talk? It isnβt working, Iβll have you know, because I retained exactly one percent of what youβve said β namely, the part about the moon.β
Shi Luoβs left brow twitches. βIf your mind werenβt in the gutter for the other ninety-nine percent of your existence, perhaps you may retain more things. I may not have eyes on the back of my head, Yang Rong, but I am perceptive enough to know what youβre doing.β
Yang Rong, currently in the process of sliding his hands into Noahβs back pocket, leans toward the younger man with a frown. He lowers his voice into a whisper by Noahβs ears. βKitten, heβs finally shown his true colors. Donβt be close with the Einstein reincarnate, else your circuits may be affected. Any more scientific hogwash and your Rong-ge wouldnβt be able to take it.β
Next to him, Noah is deep in contemplation about something, fully ignoring the colonel. Yang Rong swipes out a small card, copping a feel of Noahβs bottom in the process. The man turns the rectangular ID card in his palm and studies it with clear interest.
βThe brown hair is not bad,β he muses. βAre you wearing contact lenses in this? Light blue suits you well, but I definitely thinkβ¦β Yang Rong leans forward even closer, purposefully blocking Noahβs line of sight. He gives a wink. βAs expected, you are much cuter naturally.β
Noah completely swerves around him, acting as though the man doesnβt exist. He doesnβt even take a backward glance before joining up with Shi Luo at the forefront.
βThough Iβve heard of some advancements,β Noah says calmly. βThe Nexus is constructing an underground base by the south pole. What do you think, Shi Luo?β
ββ¦β Yang Rong, left behind, can only listen while sulking. βNoah, pay more attention to me instead. Arenβt I your boyfβ”
ββThe idea is a refuge before the global field weakens any further,β Shi Luo replies. βThe manufactured poles are currently located in the main Nexus and in the southern sphere. There are several bases in other continents as well, though the population isβ¦ unfortunate, to say the least.β
βMn.β Noah remembers another thought. βTheyβre planning to overtake portions of the slums, replace cement with high-fiber, see-through glass. Is expansion possible beyond these bases?β
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.
Yang Rong says again, βNoah, Iβ”
ββUfgtjqr,β Vtl Oeb gfqilfr, fjrlis rilvlcu lcab jcbatfg mbcnfgrjalbc. Lf ulnfr Rbjt j rwjii rwlif. βZs reuufralbc lr obg j afwqbgjgs rtlfiv atja kbeiv nfgs ugjvejiis, wlceafis fzqbrf tewjcr ab gjvljalbc. Ktf wjafglji rtbeiv yf ifrr vfcrf lc ws bqlclbc, yea atf Rfzer lrcβa nfgs kliilcu ab ajxf fzagfwf glrxr.β
Noah hums in acknowledgment. βWell, perhaps in a few generations, there will be radioactive humans roaming around. Right now, it is too early to tell. Iβm among the few whoβve survived, but my case is more genetic and lessβ”
βWell,β Yang Rong tries to pipe up. βYour Rong-ge is alsoβ”
ββRight,β Shi Luo says pensively. βNon-genetic hybrids have a near one hundred percent chance of death. And the hybrids weβre currently engineering arenβt stable either. The results are much better than they were a decade ago, however. We may see some progress soon.β
βThe Nexusβ¦ The government is getting impatient,β Noah says. βMass-producing human embryos, allocating everything into research and military spending. There isnβt an emphasis on weaponry anymore. I believe theyβre aware that itβs a matter of time before the human race goes extinct, and the only solutions are to rebuild an entire magnetosphere or toβ¦ well, evolve. Which do you prefer?β
βVery much the latter. Rebuilding a magnetosphere isnβt quite feasible in our generation. Iβm not fond of overtime work either andβ¦β Shi Luo looks to him with a low chuckle. βIβve always found mutations to be more interesting to look at.β
βMn.β Noah nods in understanding. βIn the time it takes to a build the entire magnetosphere, there may not be any more humans left on Earth. If it were that easy, we would have been able to terraform Mars long ago. Shi Luo, I thinkβ”
Just then, his hand is grabbed by a very grim-looking Yang Rong. The man slides his hand artfully down Noahβs wrist and palm until their fingers are just about interlacing. Yang Rong plasters himself to the younger manβs side. When Noah turns to stare at him, the colonel only blinks his green eyes innocently.
ββ¦β Noah clears his throat. βWhat is it, Yang Rong?β
βHmm?β comes the nonchalant reply. βWhat is it, kitten?β
ββ¦Why are you coming so close to me?β
βIβm not that close,β Yang Rong says as he bumps their shoulders together. βSee, there is a three-millimeter gap between our biceps. If you remove the bandages on my arm, itβd be a seven-millimeter gap. Do you see it?β
Noah stares at the spot where their shoulders are practically merged.
βYes,β he says. βI see it.β
And with that, Noah shrugs himself out of the handhold and makes sure to leave more than a seven-millimeter gap between them. All protests coming out of Yang Rongβs mouth are wholly ignored β βfickle,β the man could be heard complaining again in the background, βand you were all over Rong-geβs body earlier!β
Ahead of them is a pickup truck. Itβs parked neatly outside the city border, its dark panels blending in with the night. The trio stops in front of it. Before Noah can question anything, Shi Luo gestures him forward.
βWeβve made preparations,β the doctor says as he lifts up one of the several large crates from the trunk. Itβs sturdy, made of hardwood, framed with aluminum β and it is very, very familiar. Noah recognizes it to be a military shipment box.
Shi Luo places it on the ground, turns toward Noah, and says, βGet in, Xie Xing.β
To the sudden, strange turn of events, Noah only stares in confusion. ββ¦?β
βBorder security is strict, as you are aware,β Shi Luo informs him with a patient smile. βEven more than usual tonight. I cannot pass you off as a friend or consultant when Colonel Yang is here with us. Suspicions are bound to be raised and soβ¦ We would have to send you in as a shipment, have you be transferred to the sorting facility, the anomaly repository. Rest assured, we will come for you after the summit meeting, Xie Xing.β
Noah continues to stare at the crate. Little emotion shows on his face, but his body has entirely frozen up, his shoulders stiff. His hands, clenched into a fist, are stuffed inside the pockets of his jacket.
βNo.β
Shi Luo looks at him, resigned. βXie Xing, itβll be alright. You wonβt be caught. This really is the most preferred methodβ”
βNo,β Noah repeats. Then itβs distrust, anger and fear all in one β before he even realizes it himself, heβs taking small steps backward. βI donβt want to.β
βXie Xingββ
ββNoah.β A hand takes ahold of his forearm. Yang Rong prevents him from escaping, pulls him gently in his arms. Immediately, Noah is coaxed β even more so when Yang Rong places soft kisses on the top of his head. The colonel leans down to murmur, βWhat is wrong?β
ββ¦β Noah is downcast. βDonβt send me there. I donβt like it.β
βRong-ge will come for you immediately,β Yang Rong tells him cajolingly. βBe good and take a nap, hm? Only one hour and Rong-ge will come.β
βYang Rong.β Noah plants his head onto the colonelβs collar. βDonβt send me away.β
βOne hour,β Yang Rong says, cupping his cheek, tilting him upward. The colonelβs gaze is as soft as his smile. βTrust me?β
ββ¦β Certainly, Noah is lured to whisper, ββ¦Okay.β
With a pleased expression, Yang Rong rubs fondly on his cheek before lifting him up and placing him gently inside the crate. Noah is still in standing position, still hesitant to fit himself inside. The colonel appeases him with soft rubs behind his neck. βGood boy. Stay like this, hm? One hour will fly by without you noticing. Rong-ge will definitely come for you.β
Yang Rong slides his identification card back in his back pocket, patting Noah again on the buttocks. βKeep your ID with you, alright?β the colonel tells him. βThereβs a blocker chip inserted in it. Itβs an old issue card, and quite high on the authorization scale as well. I believe it to be Xie Liweiβs doing.β
Yang Rong slides over a zinc pistol. The diamond coating reflects off moonlight, and the engraving on it is shone. βTake this as well. Just in case, Noah.β
Noah takes it without complaint.
The colonel gives him a last smile. βGood boy. Sit back and close your eyes for a little while.β
βYang Rong,β he calls out.
βYes,β the man leans forward, eyes speculative, βI am here.β
Noah looks at him for a long while. He then turns to the side, makes eye contact with Shi Luo, and coughs slightly. His ears turn tellingly red, visible even under his shaded hood. The doctor catches the hint, lets out a drawn-out sigh, and turns away.
βYang Rong,β Noah says again. βCome here.β
βYes.β Yang Rong heeds the call. βI am here already, little kβ”
Noah tugs him in and kisses him.
A fleeting, two second kiss β their lips touch only briefly, but the warmth is everlasting. The position theyβre in is a little strange. Yang Rong is leaned over, eyes unblinking, mouth still parted mid-speech. Then there is Noah β also leaned forward, confined inside a box, one hand propped the edge, another hand grabbing onto the colonelβs collar.
Quite an unconventional setting theyβre in as well β in the vespers of night, right outside the city border, underneath radioactive skies with one other person here to witness. When Noah opens his eyes, time is frozen still.
Neither of them moves.
The younger man is the first to break quietude. βIs it alright?β he whispers, his breaths still lingering on Yang Rongβs lips. βAs per your request, I kissed you when I was one hundred percent certain.β
Yang Rong, shellshocked, doesnβt make a single sound.
βYang Rong,β Noah calls him again.
ββ¦β
βRong-ge,β Noah says.
ββ¦β No response comes.
βOr do you prefer βhandsome Rong-geβ?β
ββ¦β Yang Rong recovers enough to muster out a few strained syllables. ββ¦Yes. No. Whichever… whichever you like.β
βThen, Rong-ge,β Noah murmurs, kissing the colonel one more time (the contact is one second this time) before retracting back just as fast. He lowers himself inside the crate and sits against the frame. βHandle me gently.β
Yang Rong breathes out lowly.
ββ¦Yes,β he says as he finally comes back to life. βAbsolutely.β
The last thing Noah sees before his vision is covered by the crate are crescent-shaped green eyes that reflect the moon, lightly flushed cheeks that mirror his own, and a fond smile.
OMG …… Soooooo cute …. specially the last few lines π₯°π₯°π₯°
now i can claim that moon theory has fluff!! π€§ thank you for reading~
Awwwwww so cute!!
πfinally! a confession!
sniffs So sweet! Rong-ge has finally gotten a ‘yes’ from Noah. π
Thanks for the chapter. β‘
colonel yang is so whipped π€§ thank you for reading~!!
Noah : Evolution — blah blah ~
Shi Luo : Magnetic field — blah blah blah ~
Yang Rong ( rolling on the floor ) : ~ Pay attention to me, Nooaaaaaahhhhhh ~
noah: (ignores)
yang rong: …that bastard shi luo…!
YangRong.exe has stopped working.
yang rong: what happened
yang rong: who am i
yang rong: what am i
the sugar heals my soul
after 97 chapters noah and clown yang has finally gotten together!!!
W-were the sounds from the crates in the previous chapter foreshadowing this plan?! Is the squad gonna have to help break Noah out?! (That kiss tho aww)
Thanks for the chapter aaaah!
the next turn of events will be fast-paced!! π€§ thank you for readinggg!!
distrust is the smartest thing to feel around the alphas
thanks for the chapter <3
i think our clown yang is more reigned back now, right?! he’s trustworthy, right?!
Well… Lil’ Noah went from full of guard and vigilance youth to a meek and sweet lad… in a matter of just a few chapters. Well done
more like… 97 chapters π
that’s a big NOPE.
Noah is a soft person to everyone else but jerk*ss alphas and a certain n arcissistic, stupid-one-cell-brained alpha from the start
i’d like to think that in the course of 100 chapters the dynamics changed as i tried to portray π
Awe…”handle me gently” so sweet.
i loved writing that line!! i thought it was a cute addition to noah’s icy personality π€§ thank you for reading~~
So cute ππππ
quickly.. i need to add the fluff tag so i can finally claim that this novel has cute moments π
I want to be happy, but I`m scared it will come bite me in the ass….!!!(I HOPE THEY CAN BE TOGETHER NOW!!!)
Thanx for the chapter!!!!!
β€
happy ending happy endingggg for the two of them!!π€§
Yang Rong you better get not make Noah wait! Waaahhh!!! Thank you for another interesting chapter Yue! It’s interesting listening to Shi Lou’s theories.
-glomps you- waaahh thank you curioo ππ
I-
my heart is combusting.
thanks for the chapter (βΏΛΆΛ Β³Λ)~β‘
eee thank you so much for reading!! π
This is not okay, my heart canβt take this kind of sweetness. Noah and Yang Rong are so perfect together, they are learning to be together to love.
LOL Yang Rong, I’m dying. You’re so clingy, and so shameless. But also, poor guy, being ignored by your lover while he talks to your half-brother instead… I really pity you.
But, I.. did they just stuff Noah into a box? What? I don’t quite know how to fel about that. But now I’m wondering where the timeline for everything is… the thing inside the box Jae heard of… was Noah?
Also, so cute!! Finally! Long awaited kiss from Noah, completely sober and willing and loving!! Ahhh, i can die happy
Handle me gently awwww π
Btw, what happened to alleire and hyun?………..hmm…my gut feeling is telling me something π§
I about retired up how precious, my heart feels full ππ
Finally some dog food! π₯°
But locking him in a crate like that… I have some misgivings about this… “Everything will be fine, I’ll come for you in an hour at the most” sounds like a standard type jinx to me… π