Chapter 75
Jiang Qingyu abruptly turned his face to look behind him, and sure enough, what entered his sight was Fu Jingqiu’s seemingly very proper face. Fu Jingqiu lifted his eyes to meet his gaze, and in those eyes, there seemed to be clusters of flames swaying upward and licking higher, so hot that Jiang Qingyu instinctively wanted to curl himself up. But before he could draw his legs back, Fu Jingqiu caught his ankle.
Fu Jingqiu said lightly, “What are you running for?”
Jiang Qingyu’s gaze drifted downward, and only then did he realize that the towel draped over his waist had disappeared at some point. Fortunately, in this lying-on-his-stomach position, he did not need to cover the front, but if he covered the back, that would indeed be a little strange too. Fu Jingqiu, this… this…
Fu Jingqiu “thoughtfully” asked, “Does it hurt?”
Jiang Qingyu said, “…What are you talking about! I’m getting a massage. Why would it hurt!”
Fu Jingqiu said, “I mean there.”
Jiang Qingyu’s face exploded red. “Why are you asking that?”
Fu Jingqiu said, “I wanted to ask when you woke up, but I was afraid you’d be embarrassed, so I didn’t.”
“…” Jiang Qingyu held it in for a few seconds. “It’s… it’s fine, I guess.”
Fu Jingqiu said, “Let me see.”
!! What are you looking at!
Seeing that he really seemed about to come over and check, Jiang Qingyu kicked on the bed in shock and immediately tried to hide to the side. Fu Jingqiu was quick-eyed and quick-handed, pressing him down and not allowing him to thrash around.
When Fu Jingqiu wanted to let go, Jiang Qingyu could escape with just a slight struggle. But when he refused to let him leave, no matter how Jiang Qingyu struggled, he could not escape his control. He was parted and carefully checked.
It was only slightly swollen. This child Jiang Qingyu was usually adorable and energetic when he had energy, jumping up and down everywhere. When he was lazy, he lay on the bed without moving at all. It was actually hard to define what kind of constitution he had. Fortunately, there was no injury. Applying a little medicine should make it more comfortable and heal faster.
Even without looking, Jiang Qingyu could sense Fu Jingqiu’s heated gaze landing solidly there. Every inch of skin seemed to burn hotly with it, carrying a faint prickling itch and numbness.
Last night, Fu Jingqiu’s hands had kneaded these places. The force could not really be called considerate. Occasionally, he had even swatted him. When Jiang Qingyu dodged, he would be pulled back in one motion, fitting even deeper.
Jiang Qingyu had kept telling himself not to deliberately recall those details, but once those hands brushed over his body, it was as if they automatically activated. The images became very hard to drive out of his mind.
Fu Jingqiu seemed to take something out, and his voice sounded behind him. “I found this in your medical kit. It reduces swelling. I’ll apply some for you.”
“Hey!”
He grabbed Jiang Qingyu’s ankle and dragged him closer. Everything was fully exposed. Jiang Qingyu had only lifted his eyes and met Fu Jingqiu’s gaze once before the current situation made him so ashamed and furious he wanted to die. Probably sensing Fu Jingqiu’s firmness, he futilely raised his hands to cover his face and deliberately spoke fiercely, “Then hurry up!”
Fu Jingqiu seemed to laugh. “Okay. Don’t be nervous. Relax.”
The ointment was cool, and it was actually very comfortable when applied. But the current situation, posture, and sense of shame would not allow him to enjoy it. Jiang Qingyu twisted awkwardly in his heart for a while, while Fu Jingqiu was very serious about treating the red and swollen area, looking seriously and applying the medicine seriously.
After finally enduring through this stretch, the moment he was released, Jiang Qingyu practically used both hands and feet to crawl away. But just as he had started, Fu Jingqiu caught him again. “Where are you running? Aren’t you not done with the massage yet?”
Jiang Qingyu wanted to grab a towel from the small cart nearby to cover himself, while retorting, “The robot can massage me, can’t it? It’s professional!”
Fu Jingqiu said, “I’m professional too.” Then he said, “I’ll help massage you.”
Jiang Qingyu immediately refused. “No. You have bad intentions.”
Fu Jingqiu raised an eyebrow. “How could that be? From the moment I came in until now, I’ve been very proper and haven’t done anything bad.”
Jiang Qingyu: “…”
He could actually say such lies without changing expression!
Jiang Qingyu gritted his teeth and started pretending too. “I don’t care. If you keep massaging me, I’ll start having thoughts.”
Fu Jingqiu’s movements paused. He lifted his eyelids and looked at Jiang Qingyu, whose whole body had already flushed pink. “What?”
Jiang Qingyu said expressionlessly, “Don’t make me say the same thing twice.”
“…” Fu Jingqiu restored his “instructor” nature. “Then don’t think about it. Keep your mind calm.”
Hey, are you speaking human language?!
Before he could protest again, Jiang Qingyu was pressed back onto the massage bed. But at least he finally had a towel to cover himself. Fu Jingqiu poured out some more essential oil and unhurriedly helped him loosen his muscles.
“…” Fine. Jiang Qingyu rested his head properly and continued to enjoy Fu Jingqiu’s service, trying hard to ignore the strange shiver brought by those hands wandering around the lower back. The muscles around his waist dimples tightened and relaxed over and over. His already fair skin glowed with a moist sheen, dyed a beautiful pink from embarrassment that did not fade for a long time.
Jiang Qingyu really could not understand why this man would spend so much time and effort on this. There was a robot, and its massage was not bad at all. Why did he insist on stealing this job? Wasn’t it just because he wanted some intimate contact with him? And yet he would not admit it.
What a scheming man.
About ten minutes later, Jiang Qingyu could not bear it anymore.
In a relationship like theirs, being distracted by desire was completely normal. And he swore Fu Jingqiu was definitely doing it on purpose, lingering the longest below his waist, again and again, reluctant to leave.
And as the newly appointed “massage therapist,” how could Fu Jingqiu not notice his reaction? The movements of his hands hesitated for a moment before he asked, “Do you want me to help?”
“…” Jiang Qingyu buried his face into the crook of his arm and gritted his teeth. “You’d better pretend you didn’t see anything.”
Fu Jingqiu was very calm. “It’s nothing. It’s normal.”
Jiang Qingyu realized something and turned his head to look at him. Sure enough, it was standing. The pants were loose, but they could not hide it.
He was speechless for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.
They really were evenly matched. Neither of them had any right to criticize the other.
Fu Jingqiu held his arm and lifted him into his embrace, making Jiang Qingyu hang on him like a koala. In this face-to-face position, Jiang Qingyu’s messy hair and damp eyes were almost fully visible. Fu Jingqiu looked at him for ten or so seconds, then kissed his lips.
Jiang Qingyu closed his eyes and accepted the kiss. He said, “Your clothes are dirty.” They were all rubbed with essential oil.
Fu Jingqiu’s voice was hoarse. “It’s fine.”
Jiang Qingyu said, “Didn’t you say it was swollen?”
Fu Jingqiu’s voice grew even lower. “I won’t go in.”
Hearing those words, Jiang Qingyu’s ears went numb, and heat instantly rushed up, wrapping around his ears and burning hot. Fortunately, this position made it convenient for him to bury his face into Fu Jingqiu’s shoulder and avoid Fu Jingqiu’s naked gaze.
Jiang Qingyu had very good proportions. His legs were long, slender, and straight. At home, he usually dressed however he wanted. Sometimes he wore loose wide-leg pants. He had also worn light-colored jeans that wrapped around his legs. Fu Jingqiu had even seen him once in shorts, the kind that reached his knees. He said they were convenient for exercising, and on his feet, he wore a pair of mid-calf white cotton socks. The muscles of his calves were very beautiful, without the slightest bit of excess flesh.
The soft places were usually hidden away. Even Fu Jingqiu had only touched them a few times. They had the dense, soft texture of cream, and when pressed together, they could rub against each other.
All the senses were magnified. Jiang Qingyu only felt hot. The essential oil seemed to melt on his skin too, turning into water and flowing down, dripping onto the floor.
So much. And so hot.
His back was pressed against Fu Jingqiu’s chest. The massage bed, which had originally seemed just right, became cramped along with them. His whole body seemed to be embedded into it, struck again and again.
Indeed, it had not gone to that step, but… Jiang Qingyu bit his teeth slightly, sweat constantly forming on his forehead. He was firmly trapped in that embrace, with no choice except to admit defeat.
In the end, the massage once again moved into the hot spring pool. Other than this young couple, who seemed to have almost no private space, there was really no one else like this.
Jiang Qingyu sat in the hot spring pool with his arms crossed, somewhat puffed up with anger as he glared at Fu Jingqiu.
Fu Jingqiu helped knead his calf muscles, his attitude good. “It was my fault.”
It was originally his fault.
Jiang Qingyu pretended to clear his throat. “You’re a little too clingy, Brother. Not steady at all.”
Fu Jingqiu had not the slightest intention of reflecting on himself. He even asked back, “Is there a problem with that?”
Jiang Qingyu’s lips moved. Looking at his matter-of-fact expression, he actually did not know how to refute him.
Fine, it was indeed only right. After all, they were still in the passionate stage of love. If they did not do it now, it was not like they were supposed to wait until they were old and then… cough, cough, cough. Too far, too far.
In the end, it was still because Fu Jingqiu’s condition was a little exaggerated. After all, Jiang Qingyu had coveted his body at first too. If not for his natural talent, even though they had carefully prepared beforehand, it had still been difficult at the beginning. It always made Jiang Qingyu feel afraid, as if he were about to break.
Truly, some died of drought while others drowned in flood.
Seeing that he did not refute, Fu Jingqiu took the opportunity to move closer, coaxing him by kissing his cheek. His breath was warm, carrying the scent Jiang Qingyu liked as it gently fell against the corner of his lips, carefully kissing him twice.
Jiang Qingyu turned his face with the motion and happened to press against Fu Jingqiu’s lips. He kissed him hard. When they parted, there was a very loud “mwah,” very much Jiang Qingyu’s style. After kissing him, he even looked at him and smiled, as if very pleased with himself. “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll cooperate with you, okay?”
Fu Jingqiu looked at him, the color of his eyes gradually deepening. His fingers slipped through Jiang Qingyu’s thick hair and clasped the back of his head. Lowering his eyes, he kissed him again.
Water rippled, white mist curled upward, and their figures overlapped together, intimately entwined.
After soaking, Jiang Qingyu sat at the dining table refreshed and energetic. Fu Jingqiu still cooked, making a light and comfortable dinner. Jiang Qingyu planned to completely clear It Takes Two that night, rest for a day or two, and then play other games.
Leaving Sayram Lake, then heading to Karamay and passing through Devil City, the next stretch of the journey was not short. Their daily life, eating and sleeping, did not affect the RV’s progress on the road.
Of course, if there were any special situations, the alarm system would notify them in advance.
After traveling nonstop like this all the way to Baihaba, their pace could finally slow down a little. Jiang Qingyu also received messages from the Duan siblings, saying they planned to leave for Altay in two days and would help them arrange things in advance.
They also thanked Fu Jingqiu again for helping install the system, which had saved them a lot of trouble dealing with bad people, calling the police, and giving statements.
Jiang Qingyu was quite happy that they could help. After all, Uncle and Auntie had really been good to them. It was no exaggeration to say they had treated them like their own children, without bias or reserve.
The day they arrived in Baihaba, the weather was surprisingly good. Although the sun was not out, there were not many accumulated clouds either. The sky was unusually clear, like a large, beautiful blue gemstone, reflecting the snowy mountains and village so beautifully it was almost astonishing.
Baihaba was a very simple and primitive little village, known as the first village of the northwest. There were basically no signs of commercialization. The journey there was indeed far. After it snowed, the roads iced over, making it easy to drive into ditches on both sides. There were also quite a few winding roads, so one had to be careful when driving.
But Jiang Qingyu and the others did not have this worry. When they passed the viewing platform on the mountain, they stopped briefly, wrapped themselves in down jackets, and rushed out of the RV.
The swing on the viewing platform was covered in thick snow. It had probably been a long time since anyone had come. Jiang Qingyu stood beside it and looked at Fu Jingqiu. The other man understood. “Want to play?”
Jiang Qingyu nodded heavily. “Mm!”
Who would not want to swing while admiring the snow from a viewing platform!
Fu Jingqiu laughed helplessly, but still cleaned the snow off the swing. He even went to the RV to get a towel and placed it over the seat for Jiang Qingyu to sit on. Jiang Qingyu happily grabbed the rope and sat down. After Fu Jingqiu pushed him through two swings, he hurriedly waved his hands. “No, no!”
Fu Jingqiu grabbed the rope tightly and made him stop. “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Qingyu covered his butt and slipped away. “It’s too freezing! Quick, quick, let’s go!” How was it still so cold on the butt even with a towel laid over it!
The whole scene collapsed.
But the scenery from the viewing platform was indeed very good. The entire village was covered beneath heavy snow. At the foot of the snow-capped mountains, the rime forest was dense and packed. Occasionally, some very vital green peeked through, standing out clearly as an accent.
Because of the extreme cold, every household had made many insulating measures outside their little wooden houses. Some were tied with hemp rope, some were wrapped in plastic sheeting, some had insulation layers pieced together and stuck to the four walls, and every corner was stuffed full of towels and cashmere. Although it did not look very neat, everyone was doing their best to survive.
And not everyone was staying inside their houses either. When the RV drove into the village, Jiang Qingyu even saw a villager chopping firewood outside, who looked curiously at them a few times.
There were guesthouses in Baihaba too. Their standard could not compare to Altay, and their prices were quite expensive, but under the current circumstances, they probably could not operate.
Jiang Qingyu did not plan to find a guesthouse here. He only wanted to rest for one night and ease up after the consecutive days of travel—although it was the RV that had been traveling.
The scenery here was beautiful. Stopping for a while to appreciate it was worthwhile.
But seeing the villagers like this, there were probably no zombies here. After all, the geographical location was what it was. There were not many people, and coupled with the cold weather, who knew where the scientific basis came from, but everyone said that viruses did not spread easily in winter. The real situation also seemed to indeed be like this.
Coffee shop, guesthouse, restaurant—the signs hung outside. Jiang Qingyu craned his head in the driver’s cabin. “The sign outside the coffee shop still says open.”
Fu Jingqiu asked him, “Want to go?”
Jiang Qingyu read the sign. “Milk-skin coffee? What does that taste like?” He was already very consciously going to the coat rack to get his outerwear. “I’ll go ask if they’re still open.”
Fu Jingqiu held back a laugh. “All right, go take a look.”
Jiang Qingyu jumped off the RV, opened the gate of the small courtyard, and ducked into the tiny coffee shop. The wind chime at the entrance swayed and let out a crisp sound. He subconsciously glanced above his head and heard someone inside greet him. “What would you like?”
“Huh?” Jiang Qingyu said. “You’re really still open.”
The coffee shop owner was holding a bowl and drinking congee. Hearing someone come in, she greeted him with practiced ease. “Mm-hm. What do you want? To go or drink here?”
From her tone, it seemed that Jiang Qingyu was not the only one who had passed by to buy coffee during this period. He glanced at the menu inside the shop. “Um, two cups of milk-skin coffee.”
The owner named a price. It had gone up, which was reasonable.
Jiang Qingyu paid while smiling. “I was worried you wouldn’t accept money anymore.”
The owner let out an “hai.” “It’s not at that point yet. Money is still very useful! There are still some outsiders staying in our village. They don’t want to go to the safe station and come over every day to order coffee. They’re very rich!”
No wonder. Truly, predecessors planted trees so later people could enjoy the shade. Otherwise, Jiang Qingyu might not have been able to drink this cup of coffee.
Aside from the owner, there was also an auntie beside her knitting a scarf. Seeing him come in, she only lifted her eyelids. Her mood did not seem very high. Jiang Qingyu did not think too much about it either. He just felt this scene looked a little familiar.
He stared at it for two seconds and suddenly smiled.
Mm… Fu Jingqiu had done this work in front of him too. He had knitted little scarves for Tangyuan and Meimei, bright red ones, especially festive.
When Jiang Qingyu saw them at the time, he found them so precious that he hugged the cat and dog and took many photos, liking them very much. He had almost asked Fu Jingqiu to knit one for him too.
Thinking of this, he turned his head to say a few words to Fu Jingqiu, only to realize that Fu Jingqiu, who had originally gotten out of the vehicle with him, had not come in.
Jiang Qingyu looked around the courtyard in confusion but still did not see him. He opened the door and looked outside. Fu Jingqiu’s string of footprints had stopped at the coffee shop entrance, then actually turned back toward the RV.
What was going on?
Jiang Qingyu was a little baffled. Had Fu Jingqiu gone to get something? Or was he going to bring Tangyuan down for a short walk?
In this short time, the owner had already moved extremely quickly and finished making Jiang Qingyu’s two cups of coffee. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he might have suspected it was pre-made.
Just kidding. Jiang Qingyu paid, casually said goodbye to the owner, and carried the coffee back to the RV. Inside, he saw Fu Jingqiu making a toy for Meimei, his expression as usual.
Jiang Qingyu was puzzled. “Why didn’t you come in with me?”
Fu Jingqiu did not answer directly and asked him, “What did you buy?”
Jiang Qingyu lifted the things in his hand to show him, then handed one over. “Milk-skin coffee. I’ve never had it before. Try it.”
He sat opposite Fu Jingqiu and felt that the other man was very strange. “You still haven’t answered me. Why did you suddenly go back to the RV?”
Fu Jingqiu said, “Nothing.” He helped open the packaging, his eyes lowered and not looking at Jiang Qingyu. “Drink.”
?
No, something was definitely wrong.
There was no problem with the coffee shop. The owner’s accent sounded local. There was no problem with the courtyard either. Even if there were, Fu Jingqiu should not react like this.
He avoided Jiang Qingyu’s question and even would not meet his eyes. He must have seen something before entering the coffee shop, so he turned back to the RV.
Jiang Qingyu stared at him for a moment, then lowered his head and took a sip of coffee.
Oh. It was actually quite good. The coffee was rich and fragrant, and the milk-skin had a strong milky aroma. The straw was not the kind used for bubble tea, so he could even drink pieces of formed milk-skin in the coffee. Jiang Qingyu had not asked for much sugar, so it tasted just right, warm and cozy.
Jiang Qingyu suddenly thought of something.
That auntie knitting the scarf!
She had not spoken to Jiang Qingyu from beginning to end, so he did not know what her accent was like. Boldly guessing first that she was not local, someone who could make Fu Jingqiu avoid her…
Jiang Qingyu blurted out, “Was that person in the coffee shop just now your mother?”
Fu Jingqiu had seen him obediently lower his head to drink coffee and thought this page had been gently turned over. He had not expected Jiang Qingyu to suddenly launch a surprise attack, and his face immediately went blank for a few seconds.
The moment Jiang Qingyu saw his expression, he understood.
He had guessed right.
It seemed that mother and son had really traveled far. They had made it all the way to Baihaba. A little farther, and it would be Altay.
One could imagine how upsetting it would be if they met in Altay.
She had not gone to a safe station and instead was staying here. Who knew whether she was simply one of the tourists left in the village, as the owner had said, or whether she had been taken in directly and was helping the shop with some work.
Besides, Fu Jingqiu’s younger brother had not been seen either.
In that case, no wonder Fu Jingqiu had returned to the RV without even saying hello.
Fu Jingqiu smiled helplessly. “Why are you so clever?”
Although he was smiling now, his expression was not bright. Jiang Qingyu asked, “What are you planning to do?”
Fu Jingqiu said lightly, “I don’t want to have anything to do with them anymore. If I see her, I’ll just pretend I didn’t.”
Jiang Qingyu felt subtly unhappy. “That’s letting them off too easily.”
At the very least, she should know how well Fu Jingqiu was doing now. After escaping his family of origin, he was living good days now.
Fu Jingqiu reached out and rubbed his head. “If she sees me living in the RV and unaffected by the apocalypse and extreme cold, she will definitely demand that she and my younger brother move into the vehicle too. If refused, she would definitely think of a way to destroy our vehicle.”
Jiang Qingyu secretly rolled his eyes—too bizarre.
And Fu Jingqiu clearly understood his mother very well. “Even if she doesn’t know about the system, the current state of the RV is clearly something she cannot accept. She can go without these things, but she absolutely cannot stand seeing me have them. Better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Let’s just pretend we didn’t see her.”
Whether she was living well or badly, making a living here or barely surviving, that was all her own choice.
From the moment she decided to help his younger brother abandon him in the no-man’s land, there had already been no relationship between them. Whether blood ties or mother-son affection, all had been exhausted.
Jiang Qingyu carefully studied his expression. “You’re not sad anymore?”
Fu Jingqiu said, “If I were alone now, perhaps I would be.”
Jiang Qingyu understood the implication behind his words, and his heart softened unbelievably. Thinking of the few things Fu Jingqiu had said about his mother’s behavior and personality, his heartache was so full it almost overflowed. He got up and sat beside Fu Jingqiu, cupped his face, leaned in, and kissed him. After gazing into his eyes for a moment, he leaned in and kissed him again, the soothing meaning very strong.
It was impossible to say that seeing his mother caused no fluctuations in his heart at all. Fu Jingqiu had imagined this moment before, but he had not lied. When he saw that face again, he had no sadness or heartache. He simply did not want to cause trouble on the road.
That was all.
Jiang Qingyu comforted him like this, kissing him again and again, puckering his lips to kiss his cheeks, the corners of his lips, and the tip of his nose. The method was somewhat clumsy, probably because he did not do it often. He blushed along with it, but still persisted in kissing and coaxing him. “All right, all right. Don’t think about her anymore, mua! If I’d known, we wouldn’t have come here. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning, okay?” After saying that, he gave another loud kiss.
Fu Jingqiu finally could not help laughing. He pulled Jiang Qingyu onto his lap, pinched the back of his neck, and kissed him slowly and gently, savoring him carefully.
As Jiang Qingyu was being kissed, he thought: Tonight, he would go ask the owner what was going on with those two.
They could not have harmed their son and then lived so comfortably in the village as if nothing had happened.
If the information made him happy, he would mention it to Fu Jingqiu. If it was bad, he would pretend he knew nothing.
Wait, why was Fu Jingqiu kissing so deeply…
Soon, he could no longer continue thinking. Fu Jingqiu’s gentleness only lasted for a while before shifting into a more forceful style. The air was stolen away, almost making him unable to breathe. The hand around his waist tightly pulled him toward Fu Jingqiu, leaving not the slightest gap between their chests.
His eyelashes were washed damp by the tears that seeped out, clumping together in little clusters. He looked as if he had been bullied into great grievance, the area beneath his eyelids bright and red, unbearably beautiful.
Fu Jingqiu lowered his eyes and looked at him. His own lips had also become slightly red and swollen, his black eyes shockingly bright, staring only at Jiang Qingyu.
After a long while, he lowered his head again, pressed his lips to Jiang Qingyu’s forehead, and gently placed a kiss there.
“Thank you,” he said.
The Apocalypse of Natural Disasters Descends During an RV Trip
