Chapter 58
In this position, Jiang Qingyu was practically lying over Fu Jingqiu’s shoulder. If he moved any closer, they would almost be kissing.
Their eyes met. Every expression on each other’s face was impossible to miss, so Fu Jingqiu’s reaction was completely visible to him. This man had just said he liked that form of address, but after hearing Jiang Qingyu call him that, he did not even raise an eyebrow.
Jiang Qingyu: ? Are you tricking me?
Puzzled, he backed away a little, wanting to withdraw the arms he had wrapped around Fu Jingqiu’s shoulders, only to be swiftly caught by the other man. Fu Jingqiu held his hand and rubbed the raised bone there twice with the pad of his finger.
Fu Jingqiu said, “Can I kiss you?”
Again?
Why did he ask every time before kissing?
Yesterday morning, and last night too.
Jiang Qingyu said whatever came to mind. “If you ask every time, it really ruins the mood.”
Fu Jingqiu said, “I’m afraid you won’t want it.”
Like yesterday morning, when he had slipped right out of Fu Jingqiu’s arms.
Jiang Qingyu was choked speechless by that and did not know how to refute him. He glared at him for a moment before finally mumbling, “Most of the time, I’m willing.”
Fu Jingqiu continued humbly asking for advice. “Then when are you unwilling?”
“…” What a stubborn blockhead.
Jiang Qingyu felt like he really was going to be defeated by him. His cheeks puffed up, and in a burst of anger, he got angry for exactly a moment. His tone was fierce, but the words that came out were exactly what Fu Jingqiu wanted to hear. “There’s no time when I’m unwilling, all right!”
As soon as the words fell, his chin was pinched, and warm lips immediately pressed against his. Jiang Qingyu was caught off guard by the sudden attack. He could no longer sit steadily and fell backward.
Fu Jingqiu bent down with him and continued seeking kisses. One hand cupped the back of his head. Their lips, pressed close and rubbing together, gradually grew scorching hot. As if testing, Fu Jingqiu used the tip of his tongue to push open his teeth, invading again.
The touching became seductive. Movements that usually did not feel particularly ambiguous instantly changed under Fu Jingqiu’s hands. The most sensitive part of his waist was kneaded back and forth.
Fu Jingqiu’s strength was not small, though he carefully controlled it. The thin calluses scraping over Jiang Qingyu’s skin made it tingle and itch. He instinctively wanted to dodge, but was firmly held down by the other hand.
Unable to escape, he could only part his lips and be kissed until his mind became muddled, swallowing again and again.
Fu Jingqiu had originally only been sitting on the edge of the sofa bed, but gradually, almost his entire body leaned over, pressing Jiang Qingyu completely beneath him.
It’s over, Jiang Qingyu thought in despair.
How long had it even been? Fu Jingqiu could already kiss him until he could barely breathe.
Just a couple of days ago, they had only been pressing their lips together in long, innocent kisses!
Breathing became difficult. He was almost about to faint. Jiang Qingyu kicked his legs, as if sending some kind of signal, finally waking Fu Jingqiu from his immersion a little. Fu Jingqiu straightened up slightly and lowered his eyes to gaze at him. “Are you okay?”
Jiang Qingyu said weakly, “…I’m okay.”
He did not know what he looked like right now. His eyes were hazy, his lips flushed red. He clearly wanted to push Fu Jingqiu away, yet his arms had unconsciously wrapped around him. His whole face was red, his lips parted unconsciously, the tip of his tongue hiding a bit of moisture between his teeth, appearing and disappearing.
Fu Jingqiu swallowed and wanted to lower his head to kiss him again.
This time, Jiang Qingyu blocked him, covering his face with one hand, his breathing unsteady. “Wait. Let me recover for a bit.”
What kind of naturally gifted kissing monster was this!
Jiang Qingyu panted lightly. “We’d better not indulge in broad daylight.”
If they kept kissing, things really were going to develop in a very dangerous direction.
Some things should be left for nighttime, okay!
Fu Jingqiu lowered his head, brushing his slightly hot lips against Jiang Qingyu’s eyebrow, and said hoarsely, “Mm. I’m just kissing you.”
Bullshit! I can already feel your reaction, okay!
Fu Jingqiu stared at him, as if he was still unable to bear it. Before pulling him up, he still pressed another kiss against his cheek. Only then did he sit up.
Back when he had been in the army, his self-discipline had been among the best in the team. When others were on leave, they could still go out and have fun, relaxing either their desires or their appetite. Only he did what he was supposed to do as usual, and he would not even drink soft drinks.
Fu Jingqiu did not reject the feeling of restraining himself. On the contrary, he felt that it was an order and lifestyle more suited to him.
Now, his abstinence had already been broken in many ways, yet he still felt it was not enough.
This fish was slippery, swimming back and forth near his palm. Sometimes he thought he had caught it, only for it to slip through his fingers in the next second. It was truly mischievous.
He wanted to chase it, but before he could move, the little fish would flick its tail and swim back, pecking kisses on his fingers, affectionate and spoiled. It was hard for Fu Jingqiu not to soften.
Scent, body temperature, touch. Every single thing was suitable. Every single thing was something he liked.
He was so immersed in this feeling that he could not pull himself out, and likewise, he did not know how to express it.
While he restrained his desire and lowered his eyes to gaze at Jiang Qingyu for a long time, the other man sneakily fished the iPad out from the gap in the sofa bed, turned his back to him, and opened something.
The cheerful TIMI game voice rang out in the RV.
Fu Jingqiu: “…”
He gave Jiang Qingyu’s butt a light smack, neither too hard nor too soft. The latter did not even turn his head, only symbolically reached back to cover it, then continued fiddling with his iPad.
Fu Jingqiu was somewhat amused and helpless, but in the end, he did not disturb this internet-addicted youth. He went to tidy things up and make training equipment for Tangyuan.
Both of them had their own things to do and did not disturb each other.
Jiang Qingyu played two rounds of games with an excellent feel. During a break, he rolled around several times on the sofa bed, lifted the privacy curtain, and glanced outside. A few seconds later, he scrambled up, putting on shoes while calling out, “Fu Jingqiu! The sun’s out!”
Ever since the day the temperature had dropped, Jiang Qingyu had not seen the sun. The weather had been terrible, gloomy and gray every day, as if it could rain at any moment. Dark clouds pressed overhead, making it impossible to feel cheerful.
Today, rare as it was, there was actually sunlight.
Although the outdoor temperature was still dozens of degrees below zero, everyone in the inn had wrapped themselves up and come out to bask in the sun. Like sunflowers, they all raised their faces toward the morning light, expressions full of enjoyment.
Even if it was cold, the sunlight falling on their bodies and faces felt warm. However much one hated it in summer was exactly how much one loved it in winter.
Fu Jingqiu was also a little surprised. He walked with Jiang Qingyu to the car window. “Could this part of the disaster be ending?”
“…” Jiang Qingyu said, “Probably not. It hasn’t even been a month yet. If the time is this short, can it even be called a natural disaster?”
Fu Jingqiu said, “All right.” He casually touched Jiang Qingyu’s head. “Do you want to get out and bask in the sun for a while?”
Jiang Qingyu thought for a moment. “Let’s take Tangyuan out for some fresh air.”
Previously, on the desert highway, he had found the sun too strong. Now, instead, he cherished this hard-won sunlight.
Tangyuan was a little different from other dogs in one way. When it went outside to play, it was happy. If conditions did not allow it, it was happy staying at home too. It neither made a fuss about going out to play nor became so happy outside that it refused to return to the RV. It was so obedient that it made people’s hearts ache.
It had only been on the RV for a month or so, but its body had already inflated like a balloon, becoming chubby. It faintly showed signs of getting fluffier, and it felt especially good to touch.
Fu Jingqiu put the harness on it and led it outside for a walk.
Jiang Qingyu borrowed a lounge chair from Rena and leisurely lay down in the small courtyard of the inn, closing his eyes and basking in the sun.
Rena and the others had seen Fu Jingqiu bring Tangyuan out that morning, so they were not too surprised. On the other hand, the other people staying at the inn could not take their eyes off Tangyuan, whispering things like “They even brought a dog,” “It’s a border collie,” and “It’s so well-raised.”
Coincidentally, someone from the shelter drove over to pick up the coarse-faced man and his group. The persuasion to leave that had been mentioned before had already carried a somewhat mandatory tone. This time, they directly sent a van over. Whether they wanted to leave or not, they had to go.
Jiang Qingyu’s rocking chair swayed gently. A thick blanket with strong ethnic patterns covered his legs, and his thermos was filled with salty milk tea. As the little rocking chair swayed, he was as comfortable as could be.
By contrast, those people were wrapped up like balls. The clothes around their stomachs were almost impossible to zip up, and they were panting after only taking a few steps. Miserably carrying their luggage and all kinds of bits and pieces, they glared viciously in Jiang Qingyu’s direction.
Jiang Qingyu ignored them completely and continued enjoying the hard-won sunlight.
Of course, the small bag filled with self-defense tools was still strapped to him. He had not tested it on zombies, but people should be afraid of pepper spray, right?
Perhaps because they were wary of Fu Jingqiu, who was standing not far away with Tangyuan and staring at them the whole time, or perhaps because of the staff who had come to pick them up, those tattooed men obediently got into the vehicle in the end and did not cause any further trouble.
The sunlight only lasted for a very short time, probably just one or two hours. Jiang Qingyu was still drowsy and had not fully fallen asleep when the sky above him suddenly darkened.
The warm feeling of morning light on his skin had not yet completely disappeared, and the wind had already begun sweeping the piled-up snow on both sides of the inn courtyard toward them.
Everyone collected chairs and folded blankets in unison, then rushed back into the inn in two or three steps.
Jiang Qingyu draped the blanket over his shoulders and wrapped himself in it, also moving to carry the rocking chair inside.
Before he had moved it even twice, Fu Jingqiu appeared from who knew where, picked up the rocking chair in one motion, and sent it back into the inn.
Holy shit. Superhuman strength.
Tangyuan’s leash was handed to Jiang Qingyu. He took the puppy back to the RV first. In just those few steps, the sky seemed to darken further.
He climbed into the vehicle and lay by the window, watching Fu Jingqiu come out of the inn. He was carrying a red thermos in his hand. The cold wind brushed over his stern brows and eyes, and his tightly pressed lips made him look like the frozen snow piled by the roadside, hard as a smelly stone.
Yet the moment he got into the vehicle, the spring-like warmth inside the RV instantly melted his tense outline. Fu Jingqiu took off his coat, carried over the red thermos decorated with flowers, and said in a gentle voice, “I bought a pot of salty milk tea.”
Good, good, good. Jiang Qingyu rubbed his hands and looked out the window. “It’s not going to snow again, is it?”
Fu Jingqiu said, “It’s normal even if it snows. We have nothing to do this afternoon anyway, so we can just stay in the RV.” Tangyuan had already been walked too.
The puppy’s clothes were taken off, and Fu Jingqiu half-squatted down to carefully wipe its paws clean. Tangyuan pattered around the living area, opening its mouth and acting cute toward them. It was unbearably adorable.
Jiang Qingyu hugged the dog’s head and rubbed it for a while. The fine, soft fur on its head and the feel of its ears were both amazing. Tangyuan burrowed wildly in his arms, excitedly puffing out hot breaths, its tail wagging madly.
The wind outside seemed to become fiercer, carrying snow grains as it howled. They struck the RV with very faint sounds. Even the sandstorm before had not left any marks on the RV, so this certainly could not either.
The rustling noise sounded like some kind of lullaby. Jiang Qingyu originally did not want to lie down on the sofa bed, since that would make him seem far too addicted to comfort, but after sitting by the booth for a while, he felt as if the bed were waving at him, calling him to enjoy it.
Jiang Qingyu struggled for only a few minutes before finally accepting his fate and crawling over.
He liked making every place where he could rest extremely comfortable, such as the bedroom, and also this newly added sofa bed in the living room. It was so comfortable that once he lay on it, he could not help stretching out, closing his eyes, and sleeping in all kinds of strange positions.
And so, when Fu Jingqiu passed by, he saw a twisted fish.
It was a little funny and also quite cute. Jiang Qingyu’s two legs were loosely propped up, his head hanging downward as he slept upside down. His entire neck was exposed toward Fu Jingqiu, pale and delicate. His Adam’s apple was neat and small, making one inexplicably imagine how it would feel to toy with it.
Perhaps he grew tired from lying that way, because Jiang Qingyu changed positions again. One leg bent, while the other hung off the edge of the sofa bed, unconsciously swinging.
He really was like a child.
In the blink of an eye, the sky outside had almost completely darkened. It was only four or five o’clock, yet the whole world seemed about to be swallowed by night. Lights came on inside the vehicle, and all the decorations and furnishings seemed covered in a warm filter. Fu Jingqiu sat beside Jiang Qingyu’s bed, meticulously making those little training props.
There were always moments when he slipped up. If he made a mistake or broke something, he simply started over.
Several times, Jiang Qingyu caught sight from the corner of his eye of the things in Fu Jingqiu’s hands. He dismantled, modified, and slowly assembled them bit by bit.
He was even going to make Meimei a swing, the kind completely wrapped and tied round and round with sisal rope. Not only could she sleep and play on it, she could also sharpen her claws. What kitten could resist that?
He actually did not find it annoying at all. He could do one dull thing for a long time, maintaining a high level of focus. He did not even notice Jiang Qingyu leaning against the armrest and studying him for quite a while.
As for Jiang Qingyu, if Fu Jingqiu deliberately came over to catch him and hold him down to mess with him, he would instead struggle and try to escape. But now that they were both peacefully minding their own business, wicked thoughts rose in him, and he wanted to disturb Fu Jingqiu’s concentration.
To put it in two words: too idle.
He deliberately played a game recording on the iPad to create noise, while he himself quietly got off the bed from the other side. He did not even bother putting on shoes. Every step was careful as he attempted to launch a surprise attack on Fu Jingqiu from behind.
Everything went smoothly. But just as Jiang Qingyu was about to pounce onto Fu Jingqiu’s back, this man seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. He suddenly reached back to support him, applied a bit of clever force, turned his wrist, and easily pulled Jiang Qingyu into his arms.
Jiang Qingyu: Oh no. Walked right into the trap.
Lying in Fu Jingqiu’s arms, he smiled ingratiatingly at him. “I didn’t scare you, did I?”
Fu Jingqiu’s thumb and forefinger were caught at his chin, pinching his cheeks until Jiang Qingyu’s mouth was squeezed into a duck’s beak. “You played games all afternoon and still have the energy to come make trouble for me?”
Jiang Qingyu said, “I did not play all afternoon!”
Fu Jingqiu said, “You also slept for two hours while sunbathing.”
Jiang Qingyu raised a finger. “One and a half at most.”
He shrank his shoulders while being held by Fu Jingqiu. No matter how one looked at this posture, it looked like holding a little child. If Fu Jingqiu patted and rocked him too, then he would be a full-on male mom taking care of a child.
The sense of déjà vu was too strong, making it impossible for Jiang Qingyu to calmly nestle there. He struggled to climb up, only to be firmly held down by Fu Jingqiu with one hand. “What do you want to do?”
Jiang Qingyu said as a matter of course, “Get up.”
Fu Jingqiu said, “I’m asking what you wanted to do just now when you tried to sneak attack me.”
What else could it be? Suddenly jumping onto his back, or scaring him from behind, things like that.
Childish methods from a childish Jiang Qingyu.
The sound of the wind grew louder and louder. The inn’s front door was tightly shut, cotton cloth strips stuffed under the doorframe so not a trace of wind could seep in. The two-story building was brightly lit. After learning that the local shelter was available, most people were preparing to pack up and leave. This should be their last night at the inn.
Fu Jingqiu no longer continued holding Jiang Qingyu in something like a princess carry. He wrapped an arm around Jiang Qingyu’s waist and separated his legs so that he could sit more comfortably. In this posture, Jiang Qingyu was a little higher than him, and the way he slightly lifted his chin looked somewhat smug.
Fu Jingqiu really wanted to turn his face over and carefully examine every expression that might appear.
Confused, subtle, shy, or perhaps embarrassed and angry.
But after Jiang Qingyu was held by him and changed positions like this, he seemed to become comfortable. He shifted his butt and scooted forward, hugging Fu Jingqiu face-to-face, his whole body practically lying in his arms.
Fu Jingqiu’s heart suddenly softened.
Jiang Qingyu tilted his head, his cheek pressed against Fu Jingqiu’s shoulder, squeezing out a little bit of flesh. He pretended to sigh. “Although I didn’t do anything, I still worked hard today.”
Fu Jingqiu: “…”
This bad kid.
He was also very good at ruining the mood.
Fu Jingqiu stroked his back, the warmth of his palm rubbing through the home clothes over the shape of Jiang Qingyu’s shoulder blades. In a warm voice, he said, “There isn’t much to do right now. Survival is the most important thing at present.”
Jiang Qingyu’s arms dangled down. He really did not want to exert even the slightest bit of strength. This kid was like this in waves. One moment, he was full of energy; the next, he was so lazy he seemed boneless. Fu Jingqiu was already used to it and let him melt into a puddle in his arms.
They had already been staying here for several days. If the weather improved, they should also set off and continue forward.
If they wanted to truly settle down somewhere for a while, perhaps it would be in Altay.
They had originally thought that the city lockdown would cause chaos for some time, but the authorities had moved faster. The shelters were being built while providing aid. Even if the cold weather made it impossible for people to go out and work, machines could still operate.
If that really did not work, they could set up large tents, wrap plastic film around the outside for insulation, and use stoves inside to heat things up.
As long as zombies did not come making trouble, there would always be more solutions than difficulties.
Besides, there were not as many people left in Yecheng as they had imagined. If all of them were gathered together, it would still be quite easy to arrange accommodations.
It was just that the living conditions could not be made too good. They were all shared sleeping platforms, but there was heating, and every day they could drink hot soup and eat naan and buns.
If one wanted better food or a better living environment, that was also possible—by paying more.
It seemed no different from staying at the inn, but to a certain extent, it eliminated the risk of conflicts or clashes with locals.
As Jiang Qingyu thought this, he sensed that Fu Jingqiu seemed to have buried his face in his shoulder. It was an intimate posture, and also a little like he was smelling the scent on Jiang Qingyu’s body. The movement was ambiguous.
Fu Jingqiu’s body temperature seemed to be one or two degrees higher than his, somewhat hot.
At first, it only seemed warmly pressed against him, but as time passed, heat inevitably gathered. A restless warmth slowly rose in his chest, making Jiang Qingyu feel a little unable to sit still. He instinctively wanted to close his legs.
He did exactly that. But in the next second, Fu Jingqiu separated his knees again. Jiang Qingyu was suspended and not sitting very comfortably, so he had no choice but to scoot forward, pressing tightly against Fu Jingqiu’s abdominal muscles.
Heh. With those thick brows and big eyes, who knew he would be so good at little tricks.
Jiang Qingyu said, “Don’t you think we’re being a little clingy like this?”
“…” Fu Jingqiu said, “No.”
Jiang Qingyu said, “How long have we been holding each other?”
Fu Jingqiu said, “I don’t remember.”
Jiang Qingyu said, “At least half an hour, right?”
Fu Jingqiu seemed to tighten his arms around him slightly, his tone neither salty nor bland. “Why are you paying attention to that?”
Jiang Qingyu answered honestly, “I think you’re a little clingy.”
Fu Jingqiu said, “Didn’t you say you liked me? Why are you unwilling to spend a little more time together?”
That accusation was very serious. Jiang Qingyu abruptly lifted his head and propped his hands on Fu Jingqiu’s shoulders, leaning back a little so he could meet his eyes. “Hey, saying that is too much.”
Hey? Just a few hours ago, he was still calling him older brother.
Jiang Qingyu said, “I’ve never dated before. It’s not like the feeling of liking someone can be fake. I just simply think we now look like those couples I saw when I was in university, the kind who had to hug and cling to each other even when eating in the cafeteria.”
Every time he saw scenes like that, he felt very awkward. If he looked, he felt embarrassed. If he did not look, two grown people were sitting right there, and it was really hard to ignore.
The two of them now looked exactly like that kind of annoying couple.
Fu Jingqiu looked at him for a few seconds. “Sorry. I wasn’t questioning you.”
He stared into Jiang Qingyu’s eyes almost without blinking. “It’s because I think dating should be like this. This is one of the ways I express liking someone.”
If Jiang Qingyu could become smaller, he would even want to tuck him into his pocket and carry him everywhere.
Jiang Qingyu had not really been angry in the first place. Seeing him so serious, it would be a lie to say he was not touched at all. A trace of sweetness pressed against the tip of his heart, and he grew rarely bashful. “…Oh.”
Seeing this, Fu Jingqiu leaned closer and pressed his lips against Jiang Qingyu’s. It was a very intimate way of kissing, not so aggressive, yet it made Jiang Qingyu’s ears heat up. When Fu Jingqiu pulled away, Jiang Qingyu instinctively licked his lips.
Without deliberately asking, Jiang Qingyu could already feel it. With Fu Jingqiu’s personality, if he truly resisted or disliked it, or if he simply wanted to preserve their relationship, there was no need for him to go this far.
Perhaps Jiang Qingyu really was missing a nerve. He had to be pushed by someone else, had to discover clues from those intimate and boundary-crossing actions, before finally recognizing his own feelings.
Thinking of this, Jiang Qingyu felt that he should respond to Fu Jingqiu a little too. Otherwise, what was the point if he had clearly been the one to confess first, yet kept retreating because of shyness?
Seeing him lower his eyes and lick his lips, Fu Jingqiu’s heart burned hot. Just as he was about to press his advantage and continue, Jiang Qingyu suddenly lifted his eyes and looked over. His clear pupils reflected Fu Jingqiu’s face. That reflection trembled slightly, and then, it could no longer be seen clearly.
Because Jiang Qingyu wrapped his arms around him and took the initiative to kiss him.
In this regard, he was a clumsy student. His kissing skills were terrible. After pressing close, he only knew how to tentatively lick. Wet, shining moisture spread across their lips as he hesitated over whether to go deeper, and how to go deeper.
Fu Jingqiu felt it was necessary to teach him.
He wanted Jiang Qingyu to part his lips and actively accept his invasion, to tangle stickily together, swallowing again and again. Not only the tips of Jiang Qingyu’s ears, but even his cheeks heated up. His eyelids and the skin around his eyes were brushed with a faint pink.
Jiang Qingyu still could not handle such a rhythm. He unconsciously retreated, until his entire body was almost lying across Fu Jingqiu’s lap, with nowhere to hide and nowhere to escape. Even his eyelashes had become wet, clinging together in little clusters.
This was deadly. Once Fu Jingqiu got the hang of things, he was truly terrifying.
How many days had it been? He already knew how to kiss like this.
The light above his head stung his eyes, making more tears spill over. His lower lashes were washed clean and distinct. A tiny pool gathered by the bridge of his nose. When he turned his face away because he could not breathe, the tears fell with soft taps. He really was in a sorry state.
What was going on? Were the two of them actually this kind of style?
To be honest, regarding sexual fantasies about Fu Jingqiu, the image Jiang Qingyu had drawn in his heart was the type who stayed silent and did things without talking much.
If he was a little rougher, then it would be silent and—cough, cough, cough!
In short, there would not be so many tricks. It would be direct and straightforward. When the feeling came, he would do it, and everything would happen naturally.
But in reality, Fu Jingqiu was actually quite clingy, and even after it was pointed out, he did not change at all. In fact, he was completely justified about it.
He had the needs of an ordinary person, the desire to be constantly stuck together with the person he liked.
And doing this was indeed not wrong in any way.
