“Used for…”
His voice trembled uncontrollably, becoming chaotic by the end, as if he had drunk too much.
“Is that enough?”
Tong Sui lifted his tear-filled eyelashes to look at him. That glance was so adorable it burrowed deep into Jiang Hua’s heart, prompting him to lean down and kiss those soft, red lips.
Tong Sui froze for a few seconds, and by the time he realized what was happening, it was already too late.
He tried to push Jiang Hua back with a hand against his chest, but instead, Jiang Hua easily seized his hand and, with the other, gripped his chin to lift his face and force a kiss.
Jiang Hua kissed intensely.
He was like a wild beast, unaware of how to express love, yet biologically hardwired for possessiveness towards his mate.
Every scent and inch of skin screamed to be marked with a personal imprint without delay.
Tong Sui was pinned down, like a lamb caught under his claws; the stimulation of their lips made his eyes sting, and his vision grew foggy with tears.
“Hua team…”
Those two words came out fragmented and unclear.
Tong Sui blinked, something uncontrollable slipping down the corners of his eyes; tears stained his lashes, gathering pearls of crystal at his pointed chin.
Only then did Jiang Hua slightly pull back, freeing his lips and tenderly kissing away the tears from his cheeks. “Xiao Sui, why are you crying?”
Tong Sui’s heart jolted.
Had he actually cried from Jiang Hua’s kiss?
A moment of shame surged, leaving him unsure how to face Jiang Hua’s question; he instinctively pushed him away.
Yet instead of letting him go, Jiang Hua tightened his grip around Tong Sui’s waist and pressed heavily against his lips once again.
Tong Sui’s tears were unstoppable now.
He cried, feeling utterly humiliated; how could he cry just from a kiss?
But Jiang Hua’s kisses were so heavy that it felt like he was also consuming his tears.
Tong Sui’s skin around his eyes was thin; once he cried, it turned red, and his nose tipped with a fine dusting of pink, looking pitiful yet vividly alive.
Jiang Hua’s eyes deepened, appearing calm on the surface, yet there were turbulent undercurrents ready to engulf him at any moment.
He spoke, his voice hoarse and low, yet filled with unmatched tenderness, “Xiao Sui, can I apologize to you?”
Apologize?
Tong Sui didn’t understand what he meant.
Jiang Hua handed him a face wash labeled ‘lubricant’ and proceeded to demonstrate how to apply it on himself according to the instructions.
Only then did Tong Sui faintly grasp what Jiang Hua’s apology entailed — it was this manner.
And using his own hands…
No matter how many experiences he had in such matters, entering a new world felt like being given a blank sheet of paper once ripped apart.
Faced with the genuinely blank Jiang Hua, he had no defense.
What Jiang Hua termed an apology was far from sincere.
Tong Sui foolishly complied, only to realize too late that it had all been a setup. The air was filled with a refreshing sweetness, leading Tong Sui to vow never to make promises so easily again.
…
That day, Tong Sui overslept.
The sweet scent had been replaced by something more ambiguous.
A faint white mist emerged on the horizon; he could hardly register what Jiang Hua was doing anymore, his eyelids heavy with sleep.
Indeed, he couldn’t stay up late at all.
Jiang Hua bent down and gently kissed the already sleeping Tong Sui, wiping away the tears that had pooled at the corner of his eyes, before rising to tidy up the room and himself.
He was an ability user, and years of training before the apocalypse had given him a physique far superior to the average person.
But even so, when Jiang Hua stood up, he couldn’t help but frown; that familiar feeling of soreness spread throughout his body.
It wasn’t pain, but discomfort.
Jiang Hua understood his own body well; although he was the receptive party, he maintained near-total control throughout.
As long as he didn’t want it, discomfort would not arise.
But he was entirely the opposite; he cast aside all rationality, desperate to be closer to Tong Sui, even relishing the slight aftereffects.
Soon, Jiang Hua finished dressing himself, changing the disheveled sheets, and lay back down beside Tong Sui once more.
Tong Sui was evidently exhausted, breathing heavier than usual in deep sleep, not even struggling when held in Jiang Hua’s embrace.
Normally, Jiang Hua, having exerted more physical energy, should have been just as exhausted as Tong Sui, yet his heart raced faster than usual, and his mind was sharper.
He lowered his head to observe Tong Sui’s face closely.
Tong Sui’s hair was soft, and his slightly longer ends curled over his eyelids, often obscuring those beautiful eyes.
His eyelashes were thick, like tiny fans, while his skin was delicate and flawless. Having regained some weight recently, his face had rounded out, making him look even more innocent than before.
Merely judging by his appearance, it was hard to connect him to a researcher.
But the people at the base were not wrong; Tong Sui was a savior, not just for developing an antidote to the zombies.
He was also a savior for Jiang Hua alone.
Holding Tong Sui tightly, he took a deep breath near his neck; he no longer needed friends, for now, he had his lover.
Tong Sui was unaware of how long he had slept. When he awoke, the room was dim, and he soon heard the system’s notification.
【The 24-hour voluntary selection time limit has expired. You have chosen to stay, which will automatically disengage when task target Jiang Hua’s lifespan is exhausted.】
Tong Sui responded with a soft “mm,” propping himself up to look for Jiang Hua, only to find the edge of the bed empty.
He casually slipped on his clothes and stepped outside to see Jiang Hua busy in the kitchen.