Chapter 107 – Kiss
He nudged Kong Zhi’s leg with his own. “Did you hear anything?”
Kong Zhi smirked. “Do you think brother Yan would leak information to me just because we’re close?”
Xia Lu Nong fell silent.
Yeah, probably not.
As Xia Lu Nong ate his beef noodles, Kong Zhi stood by, preparing ginger tea.
Xia Lu Nong grumbled as he stood up, “I don’t have a cold from the wind. I don’t need ginger tea.”
“Still, it won’t hurt.”
Despite his protests, Xia Lu Nong was made to drink a large bowl of ginger tea, sweetened with honey. It was warm, spicy, and soothing.
After finishing, sweat formed on his forehead, and he started to feel a little better.
Xia Lu Nong wanted to take a stroll nearby, but Kong Zhi gently grabbed him by the neck and ushered him back into the truck to rest.
Xia Lu Nong protested, “I haven’t even spoken to Xia Hua Jiao today.”
“It’s growing just fine over there. It’s probably asleep too. You can chat with it at lunch.”
Even though the little pepper tree had consciousness, it was still just a plant, and it spent more time sleeping than awake. Xia Lu Nong was the only one who could wake it up.
Reluctantly, Xia Lu Nong let himself be tucked back into bed, no longer resisting.
Kong Zhi settled next to him with a book and said, “Sleep. I’ll watch over you.”
“You don’t need to stay here; go do your own thing. I’m an adult, you know,” Xia Lu Nong said.
Kong Zhi didn’t even look up. “I want to.”
“Alright then.” Xia Lu Nong stared at the ceiling. “I have nothing else to say.”
Kong Zhi gave him a gentle pat. “Go to sleep.”
Xia Lu Nong pulled the sleeping bag up to his chin and closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep.
For some reason, whether because he had slept too much the night before or something else, he just couldn’t drift off. After a long while of trying, opening and closing his eyes repeatedly, he gave up. Unzipping the sleeping bag, he said, “Forget it. I really can’t sleep. I’ll get up and find something to do.”
“What do you want to do?” Kong Zhi put down his book, crossed one leg and bent the other, facing Xia Lu Nong. “Want to chat?”
“Chatting’s fine.” Xia Lu Nong’s face turned a little red as he met Kong Zhi’s focused gaze, and he quickly realized the issue, mentally cursing himself for blushing.
He cleared his throat. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Our relationship,” Kong Zhi said. “Have you thought it through?”
Xia Lu Nong “?!”
Xia Lu Nong’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t expected such a heavy topic right off the bat.
Kong Zhi waited for a moment, and when no answer came, he nudged Xia Lu Nong with his bent leg. “Hmm?”
Xia Lu Nong stammered, “Don’t you think it’s weird to go from being brothers to being… a couple? It’s like… I see you as a brother, but you—” Before he could finish, Kong Zhi flipped over, straddling him and looking down at him.
“Is it really impossible to accept?” Kong Zhi asked, his gaze intense.
Xia Lu Nong’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. He instinctively tried to push him away, but his hands were trapped inside the sleeping bag.
Kong Zhi leaned in closer, their breaths mingling.
Feeling flustered, Xia Lu Nong tried to turn his head, but Kong Zhi gently held his chin and turned him back to face him.
They were eye to eye.
Kong Zhi looked directly into Xia Lu Nong’s eyes and said in a low voice, “How about we see what’s so weird about it?”
Xia Lu Nong swallowed, momentarily frozen.
Kong Zhi gave him time to react, slowly closing the distance between them. The temperature in the car seemed to rise.
Xia Lu Nong stared into Kong Zhi’s bright eyes, his hands clenched into fists inside the sleeping bag, his stomach tightening with nerves.
The moment seemed to stretch on forever, yet it felt incredibly brief. Xia Lu Nong’s mind went blank as Kong Zhi’s handsome face came closer and closer, until finally, a soft warmth touched his forehead.
Xia Lu Nong immediately understood—it was a kiss.
Kong Zhi had kissed him!
Xia Lu Nong’s thoughts exploded in a whirlwind of emotions, all of them eventually dissolving into nothingness.
Kong Zhi’s lips were soft, warm, and tender. His eyes were beautiful too.
Xia Lu Nong had no idea why he was noticing such things in this moment. His body temperature rose, making him feel restless.
Sweat began to seep from his skin, and his breathing became labored.
“Should I continue?” Kong Zhi’s husky voice whispered in his ear.
Xia Lu Nong finally snapped out of it, pulling his hands out of the sleeping bag, intending to push him away.
But Kong Zhi cupped his head and leaned down for another kiss.
This one was an innocent kiss—just lips brushing against lips, a soft, light touch.
It was Xia Lu Nong’s first time kissing anyone, and amidst the chaotic swirl of thoughts, he was annoyed with himself for having dry lips. This first kiss wasn’t going to be as perfect as he’d hoped.
He also realized how intense kissing could feel—just the simple contact of lips against lips sent shivers down his spine, turning his mind into mush.
When their lips finally parted, Kong Zhi whispered, “Breathe.”
His low, sensual voice echoed in the small space, and Xia Lu Nong suddenly realized he’d been holding his breath.
Panting lightly, Xia Lu Nong collapsed back onto his pillow, covering his eyes with one hand, embarrassed by his clumsy reaction.
Damn, that was so embarrassing.
Kong Zhi gave him a quick peck on the lips.
Startled, Xia Lu Nong twitched, raising a knee to nudge him away. “Get off.”
“Alright.” Kong Zhi complied, sitting back beside him, gently brushing his cheek.
Still covering his face, Xia Lu Nong grumbled, “You’re awfully good at this.”
Kong Zhi replied softly, “I just know what to do when I see you. So, what do you say? Will you be my boyfriend?”
Lying in the sleeping bag, Xia Lu Nong’s chest rose and fell with emotion. His expression shifted several times before he finally murmured, “I’ve never been anyone’s boyfriend before.”
“Neither have I, but I can learn. Hello, boyfriend,” Kong Zhi said, lightly touching his cheek again.
After a pause, Xia Lu Nong replied softly, “Hello to you too.”
Their dynamic hadn’t changed much, but now, with their new relationship, the atmosphere between them felt different.
Xia Huo Qu was the first to notice the subtle shift. He privately asked his brother, “Did you and Kong Zhi have another argument?”
“No,” Xia Lu Nong’s eyes darted around nervously as he avoided his brother’s scrutiny. “We’re… together.”
Xia Huo Qu stared at him. “As in, the way I’m thinking?”
Xia Lu Nong nodded.
Xia Huo Qu said simply, “Alright, got it.”
Xia Lu Nong had expected his brother to ask more questions, but to his surprise, he didn’t.
As he let out a quiet sigh of relief, he also felt a bit unsettled. He peeked at his brother. “You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be angry? It feels the same whether you’re together or not,” Xia Huo Qu said. “Just take care of each other.”
Xia Lu Nong wasn’t used to talking about this subject, so he quickly changed it, glancing around. “Brother, are we heading back soon?”
Old Liu and Dr. Ou had returned and were organizing the items they had gathered that afternoon.
Xia Lu Nong noticed that their truck was packed to the brim with no more space for additional supplies.
Their vehicle was also full.
They had originally driven three vehicles, but Liao Quannan and the others had returned halfway with a truckload of oil. Now only two vehicles remained—one loaded with a calf and the other filled with computers, honeysuckle, pickled beef, and other miscellaneous items.
Even if they stayed longer, they didn’t have any extra room to carry more supplies, and the base was too far away to haul things back on foot.
Xia Huo Qu said, “After dinner, we’ll head back. You’ve got a cold; go see Dr. Ou.”
Xia Lu Nong shook his head. “No need, I’m almost better.”
People who could transform into beasts naturally had strong constitutions. After sweating so much today, he was already feeling much lighter.
If he went to see Dr. Ou, it would cost them supplies, so there was no need.
Xia Huo Qu didn’t insist. “Then come down and have dinner.”
Dinner that evening was sauerkraut stewed with beef and rabbit meat.
The rabbit had been caught by the female team members while hunting, and the sauerkraut had been contributed by Old Liu and his group.
The person cooking was a female team member named Li Yue Ling.
Xia Lu Nong walked over to help, and Li Yue Ling looked up with a smile. “Feeling better, Xia Lu Nong?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Xia Lu Nong glanced around. “Anything I can help with?”
“Could you wash the dried winter melon?” Li Yueling said with a grin. “We’ll add some to the stew.”
The rest of the team was busy either organizing supplies, checking weapons, cooking, or standing guard—no one was idle.
Only a small pepper tree followed behind Xia Lu Nong, bouncing around.
One side of the pepper tree’s crown had been nibbled by a giant ox, and despite Xia Lu Nong channeling energy into it for days, the crown still hadn’t fully grown back.
Whenever the tree bounced, it would wobble to the side, but it always managed to right itself quickly.
Li Yue Ling watched the little pepper tree with envy. “That little guy is so cute, even clingier than my own kid.”
Xia Lu Nong didn’t even look up. “This is my kid, too.”
“Haha, really?” Li Yue Ling paused while stirring the pot, then jokingly asked the little pepper tree, “Do you agree, Xia Hua Jiao?”
The small pepper tree didn’t fully understand human conversation, so it paused, lifting its crown as if trying to comprehend.
After a moment, it shyly rubbed its branch against Xia Lu Nong’s back.
Xia Lu Nong, feeling particularly sensitive today, couldn’t handle any more touch. He grabbed the pepper tree’s branch and gently said, “Go play on the side.”
Li Yue Ling laughed again.
The sauerkraut stew was almost ready, and the tangy aroma filled the temporary base.
Li Yue Ling handed Xia Lu Nong the ladle. “I haven’t added salt yet, and I’m not sure how much to use. Can you give it a taste?”
The large soup pot was filled with meat, plenty of chili peppers, and tricky to season properly.
Cooking such a large quantity required precise seasoning—too much salt would overpower the natural flavors, but too little would leave the dish bland. It demanded a skilled hand.
Xia Lu Nong didn’t refuse. He took the ladle, added a full spoon of salt, a bit of sugar, stirred it in, and even poured in a small amount of oil.
Kong Zhi walked over and asked, “Why are you adding oil?”
“It makes it look shinier and adds a richer flavor from the fat,” Xia Lu Nong explained. “When the liquid reduces, the dish will have a perfect dry pot effect, but since it’s stewed, the meat will be even more tender and flavorful. Try it.”
As he spoke, he scooped out a piece of rabbit meat and offered it to Kong Zhi.
Kong Zhi pinched a corner of the meat with his long fingers, tossed it into his mouth, and nodded. “It’s really good.”
Xia Lu Nong, ears turning slightly red, continued stirring the pot. “Right? Adding oil at the end enhances the dish, giving it that dry pot texture while still being tender from the stew.”
Li Yue Ling, watching from the side, sighed. “I’m already full.”
“Hmm?” Xia Lu Nong looked up, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Li Yue Ling replied, “I’ve had enough of your public displays of affection.”
Xia Lu Nong immediately felt awkward, his face starting to flush again.
Kong Zhi, unfazed, handed over a bowl of minced garlic, pretending not to hear.
The sauerkraut stew was soon ready. Along with a large pot of cooked rice, dinner for the evening was set.
Old Liu and a few others came over with their bowls. “Smells amazing!”
Yan Xi Nian said, “Eat well, everyone. Once we set off, the next meal won’t be until tomorrow morning.”
