The Cat Who Farms in the Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland – CH95

Chapter 95 – Pursuing You

Before heading out, Xia Lu Nong and the others had to prepare what to bring.

It was already September 7th, and the autumn wind was picking up. The nights were getting chilly, so they first needed to pack some warm clothes, followed by the usual food supplies.

Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi made an inventory list together. “Let’s bring extra chili sauce, noodles, and dried tomatoes. And we should also bring peanuts and soybeans. I can quickly sprout peanut and soybean sprouts now, which will be convenient.”

Kong Zhi added, “Bring more honey.”

“Got it. I’ll go check upstairs.”

The honey they’d collected last time was stored on the second floor in ceramic jars.

Compared to the first time when all the honey was mixed together, the quality of this batch was much better.

They had brought back the entire beehive, and the honey was neatly separated, with raw honey and mature honey completely divided. They were now using the raw honey.

The raw honey didn’t contain much energy, so Xia Lu Nong didn’t mind using it to make honey water regularly.

He packed the honey into plastic containers, covering the mouths with plastic wrap to seal them tightly. He shook the containers to ensure they wouldn’t leak before putting them away.

All other supplies were packed similarly, tied securely with ropes and wrapped in plastic to ensure they were waterproof and wouldn’t get damaged during travel.

When Xia Huo Qu returned that evening, he inspected the packed supplies and reminded him, “You should bring more honey.”

“Two containers aren’t enough?” Xia Lu Nong pulled out the plastic containers filled with honey. “There’s more than a liter of honey in these two.”

“It’s not enough. We might be gone for a long time this time, and we could face a lot of unexpected situations. It’s better to be over-prepared.” Xia Huo Qu added, “White Building is already researching bees, so we’ll likely have more honey next year. Bringing extra now won’t be a problem.”

Xia Lu Nong nodded and curiously asked, “I’ll get more tomorrow. How many people are going this time? Is there anything special we need to know?”

Xia Huo Qu glanced at Yan Xi Nian, who took over explaining, “About 30 people. Remember when we received a letter from another base? This trip will give us the opportunity to meet up with them, explore the area, and see if we can establish a route to communicate directly with other bases.”

Xia Lu Nong hadn’t expected this trip to have such a significant purpose, and his excitement grew. “I’ll bring two more containers of honey. Who’s going with us? Can you tell me, brother Xi Nian?”

“Of course. The four of us are definitely going, along with Ba Niu and the others you’ve met before. Old Liu and his team will also join us. For safety, Dr. Ou is coming too, along with a few female members you haven’t interacted with much.”

This would be Xia Lu Nong’s first time going on a trip with female members. “Is that going to be alright?”

“It’ll be fine. Some of them are highly skilled. You’ll meet them soon.”

Xia Lu Nong was genuinely intrigued.

While preparing supplies, he thoughtfully included some medication, like pain relievers for menstrual cramps.

Once everything was ready, Xia Lu Nong noticed that Kong Zhi didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

He nudged Kong Zhi’s foot gently and whispered, “What’s wrong? You seem upset.”

Kong Zhi looked up at him. “You’re pretty happy about going with the female team members, huh?”

“It’s alright.” Xia Lu Nong glanced at him, puzzled. “Isn’t there a saying, ‘men and women working together makes things easier?’ Plus, Dr. Ou is coming. She’s my savior, so I feel good about having her with us. You don’t?”

“No, I’m not happy.” Kong Zhi turned his head away and said quietly, “Seeing you so focused on the women and forgetting about your brothers—how could I be happy?”

Xia Lu Nong saw that he wasn’t joking and felt anxious. “Hey, I’m being wronged here! When did I ever forget about my brothers because of the women?”

Kong Zhi stared at him. “Who’s more important, me or Dr. Ou?”

“You, you, you! Of course, it’s you! You’re my brother!”

After saying this, Xia Lu Nong finally realized something. He elbowed Kong Zhi and asked, “Kong Zhi, are you jealous?”

Kong Zhi pushed him slightly. “Get lost.”

“I’m not going anywhere. You’re totally jealous.” Xia Lu Nong threw his arm around Kong Zhi’s shoulders and curiously asked, “I never thought you’d get jealous. Is this some kind of friendship possessiveness?”

“No.” Kong Zhi looked him straight in the eyes, speaking slowly and clearly, “I just think you’re very important.”

Xia Lu Nong, still not fully understanding, responded, “I think you’re very important too. You’re at the top of my list, right alongside my brother and Brother Xi Nian.”

“That means I’m second, not first.” Kong Zhi scoffed, clearly displeased again. He gave Xia Lu Nong another light push and added, “You’re such a clueless guy.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Xia Lu Nong was left baffled.

Kong Zhi seemed genuinely upset, even to the point of not wanting to talk to him.

For the entire afternoon and evening, the two went about their tasks without exchanging so much as a glance.

More accurately, Kong Zhi avoided any interaction with Xia Lu Nong.

Noticing something was off, Xia Huo Qu privately asked Xia Lu Nong, “What happened between you two?”

“Nothing really happened. We just said a few words while packing supplies, and I thought the mood was fine. We didn’t even argue, but now I don’t know why things turned out like this,” Xia Lu Nong replied, feeling a bit wronged, as if he had been suddenly ignored for no reason.

Xia Huo Qu said, “Tell me exactly what you two talked about today.”

Xia Lu Nong had been puzzling over why Kong Zhi was upset, so he remembered the conversation clearly. He recounted it word for word and then asked, “Brother, help me analyze this. Where’s the problem? It seems fine to me!”

Xia Huo Qu glanced at him and asked, “Do you have any particular understanding of your relationship with him?”

Xia Lu Nong, confused, replied, “What do you mean? We’re just really close buddies, aren’t we?”

After saying that, Xia Lu Nong thought of something. “Wait, Brother, do you mean… Could Kong Zhi actually like me?”

Xia Lu Nong had always been good-looking, attracting admirers of both genders throughout his life. He was no stranger to being pursued and wasn’t exactly slow on the uptake when it came to romantic advances.

But no matter how he looked at it, Kong Zhi didn’t seem to be trying to chase him.

Xia Huo Qu didn’t give a direct answer. “You think about it yourself.”

Xia Lu Nong did think about it—not just whether Kong Zhi liked him, but whether he liked Kong Zhi.

By nighttime, he still hadn’t figured it out.

The atmosphere between them was strange.

Xia Lu Nong felt that Kong Zhi might like him, so he started being extra careful not to send the wrong signals.

Even Yan Xi Nian noticed and privately asked, “What happened between you two? Did you suddenly fall out?”

“No!” Xia Lu Nong hurriedly waved his hand. “Nothing like that, we’re still on good terms.”

“Then you better clear things up quickly,” Yan Xi Nian warned. “We’re about to head out, and the outside is full of dangers. If there’s any conflict, it could affect both of you and easily lead to trouble. If necessary, one of you should stay back at the base instead of coming along.”

Xia Lu Nong mumbled, “Got it, I’ll talk to Kong Zhi and sort things out.”

“Hurry up and do it!”

Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi shared a living space, so finding a moment to talk wasn’t too difficult. However, Xia Lu Nong hesitated for a while, feeling that bringing up the topic all of a sudden was a bit embarrassing.

But, just as his brother Xi Nian had said, they were about to leave soon, and it wasn’t a good idea to carry unresolved conflicts into the wild.

After dinner, both his brother and Xi Nian went back to their rooms to rest.

Kong Zhi was taking a shower, while Xia Lu Nong sat on the couch in the living room, casually drying his hair with a towel, his eyes fixed on the bathroom door.

Kong Zhi showered quickly, and within minutes, the bathroom door clicked open.

Xia Lu Nong jumped up from the couch, his gaze fixed on Kong Zhi, and then he shrank back slightly.

Kong Zhi noticed his reaction, took a few steps closer, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xia Lu Nong swallowed hard, “We need to talk.”

Kong Zhi sat across from him. “Alright, let’s talk. What do you want to talk about?”

“First, we need to clarify something.” Xia Lu Nong avoided looking him in the eyes. “You said I was being slow—what exactly do you mean by that?”

Kong Zhi responded directly, “I meant in terms of our relationship.”

Xia Lu Nong felt like he already knew the truth. He clutched the fabric at his waist, wanting to avoid the subject but forcing himself to stay and not escape.

He asked in a trembling voice, “Are you talking about the kind of relationship I’m thinking of? Something beyond just friendship?”

Seeing that Xia Lu Nong had nowhere to hide, Kong Zhi admitted, “Yes. I wasn’t angry because of some possessiveness in our friendship, nor was it just jealousy.”

Kong Zhi gave him the answer plainly, “It’s simply because I like you.”

Simply because I like you—!

Xia Lu Nong was stunned. His eyes darted from Kong Zhi’s face to the couch across from him, and he felt as if a thunderclap had gone off right next to his ears.

He doubted what he had heard but also knew for sure that he hadn’t misheard.

“I-I didn’t know—” Xia Lu Nong stammered, grabbing at his short hair. “I mean, I never thought about this before. I never thought about us in that way.”

Kong Zhi’s gaze stayed on his face, watching every expression closely.

“I know you haven’t thought about it,” Kong Zhi said. “You can think about it now.”

Xia Lu Nong’s ears were burning. “I don’t like guys—I mean, I never thought about liking guys.”

Suddenly, Kong Zhi reached out and gently touched his earlobe. “Your ears are red; that’s not very convincing.”

Xia Lu Nong looked up and met Kong Zhi’s focused gaze. It seemed like Kong Zhi’s eyes held no one but him.

Feeling desperate, Xia Lu Nong shrank into the couch and held the small towel to his chest. “My head is a mess right now. Don’t flirt with me.”

“I’m not flirting with you,” Kong Zhi stepped back, his voice hoarse. “You don’t dislike me, and you don’t dislike being touched by a man. You’re just not used to it yet. We have plenty of time—you can think it over slowly.”

Xia Lu Nong rubbed his arms and said seriously, “Okay, I’ll think about it carefully.”

After saying that, he added, “Can I ask why you like me? Have you liked guys before?”

“I never considered it,” Kong Zhi replied plainly. “I never thought about dating before, and I’ve never liked anyone, so I don’t know.”

“Then—” Xia Lu Nong hesitated, “Can I ask if you like me just because I’m good-looking? Or is it for some other reason?”

Kong Zhi’s eyes darkened, and he asked back, “Do you think I’m that shallow?”

Xia Lu Nong shook his head.

Afraid he might not explain clearly, Xia Lu Nong carefully chose his words. “I’ve had a lot of guys confess to me before, and it was just because I looked good.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help feeling a bit dejected. “Looks aren’t that important. We’ve been roommates for so long, so you should know me well by now. I’m pretty ordinary at heart—lazy, greedy, and a bit spoiled.”

Kong Zhi patiently listened and then asked, “Do you think Brother Huo Qu and Captain Yan aren’t as good-looking as you?”

Xia Lu Nong blushed, realizing he might be overestimating himself.

Kong Zhi continued, “As you said, we’ve lived together for so long, and no matter how attractive someone is, you build an immunity to it. My feelings for you have nothing to do with looks—I just like you.”

Xia Lu Nong let out a small cough.

Kong Zhi looked at him and said, “It’s late. Go to bed. You can take your time to think about this and give me an answer when you’re ready.”

With his mind in a jumble, Xia Lu Nong really couldn’t give an answer at that moment, so he nodded.

Just as he was about to return to his room, Kong Zhi called out to him again, “Xia Lu Nong, no matter what, I hope you’ll give me a chance to pursue you.”

Xia Lu Nong didn’t know how to respond, so he quickly nodded and escaped into his room.

He hadn’t considered the possibility before, which had made him slow to realize the signs. Now that the truth was out, everything seemed to fall into place.

Kong Zhi, a person so independent, had been living with him all this time, and Xia Lu Nong had somehow thought they were just close friends.

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling for a long time, Xia Lu Nong finally let out a sigh.

The next morning, when he woke up, there were large dark circles under his eyes, making him look exhausted.

When Xia Lu Nong saw Kong Zhi, his emotions had already calmed down, and he wasn’t feeling particularly shy anymore. He simply raised his hand to greet him, “Morning.”

“Morning,” Kong Zhi replied calmly. “I’ve already prepared your mouthwash and placed the water for washing your face outside. Do you like the temperature? Should it be warmer or cooler tomorrow?”

“Huh?” Xia Lu Nong, hearing this, suddenly shook off his drowsiness. His eyes widened, and he quickly looked around, noticing that his two older brothers were not around. He hurriedly took two steps forward, stood in front of Kong Zhi, and lowered his voice. “I’m not a girl; there’s no need to be so meticulous!”

Kong Zhi gently pushed him toward the bathroom. “This is how people pursue someone—trying to make you feel warm and cared for.”

“You really don’t need to do this. This kind of warmth is too overwhelming for me. I can’t handle it.” Xia Lu Nong rubbed his arms, emphasizing again, “I’m not a girl; there’s no need for all this!”

“Really don’t need it?”

Xia Lu Nong firmly replied, “No.”

Kong Zhi nodded, looked at him, and softly asked, “Then what kind of approach do you prefer? I’ll try a different method to pursue you.”

Xia Lu Nong was immediately at a loss for words.

Throughout his life, Xia Lu Nong had been pursued by countless people and had experienced all sorts of courting methods. However, he genuinely didn’t know what kind he preferred.

He reiterated to Kong Zhi that he didn’t need to be treated like a girl, as he found overly sweet or cheesy actions quite unbearable and unnatural.

Kong Zhi agreed.

Shortly after, Xia Huo Qu and Yan Xi Nian arrived.

Xia Huo Qu noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere between his brother and Kong Zhi. It wasn’t as tense as yesterday, but it hadn’t fully returned to the easygoing dynamic of best friends either. Something felt a bit off, but he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

Xia Huo Qu asked, “What’s going on with you two? Did you clear things up?”

Xia Lu Nong played dumb. “Huh? What do you mean?”

His brother’s direct gaze bore into him.

Feeling like he was being seen through, Xia Lu Nong scratched his head and quietly said, “Kong Zhi likes me and is pursuing me. My mind is a bit confused right now, and I don’t know how to respond.”

Xia Huo Qu asked, “Do you like him?”

“I’m not sure,” Xia Lu Nong answered softly. “I thought about it last night. It’s true that our relationship seems closer than just friends. If we were to end it, I’d feel really reluctant. But if we were to be together, it feels kind of strange.”

Frowning, he added, “I never considered being with a guy before.”

Xia Huo Qu said, “Take your time thinking about it. Being together could mean a lifetime, so it’s okay to take a bit longer before giving him an answer.”

“That’s what I thought too. I told him that, and he said he wants to pursue me.” Xia Lu Nong added, “I’ve never even imagined what he’d be like pursuing someone.”

Xia Huo Qu said, “Now you can see it firsthand.”

Xia Lu Nong nodded, then looked at his brother and realized something. “I thought you’d object. Why aren’t you against this at all? You’re even giving us advice. Aren’t you supposed to be trying to break us up?”

“Do you want me to break you up?”

Without thinking, Xia Lu Nong quickly shook his head.

Xia Huo Qu smirked. “I’ve already been through near-death experiences. What more could I ask for? In this world, all I want is for you to be safe and happy. Everything else can take a back seat.”

Xia Lu Nong was momentarily speechless, then hugged his brother tightly, resting his chin on his brother’s shoulder with a flushed face.

Xia Huo Qu let him hold on for a while, amusement flickering in his eyes. “How old are you now? Still acting so spoiled?”

The tension between Xia Lu Nong and Kong Zhi had eased, and everyone could breathe a little easier.

Soon after, it was time for them to set out.

Early in the morning, a truck arrived at their doorstep, and they began loading their supplies onto it.

Xia Lu Nong had prepared a small notebook. As they loaded each item onto the truck, he checked it off in his notebook, ensuring nothing was forgotten before finally feeling relieved.

“Brother, we’re preparing for a ten-day trip, right?”

“Yes, according to the plan, we’ll be back in about ten days. If we’re delayed, White Building and the property management will handle things at the base, so there’s no need to worry.”

Xia Lu Nong said, “I’m not too worried about that; it’s more the plants and the little pepper tree, especially the pepper tree.”

He glanced at the pepper tree in a corner of the yard, feeling like a parent about to leave their child for an extended time, which made him uneasy.

Xia Huo Qu said, “If worse comes to worst, Liao Cheng can take care of things for us. Honestly, why don’t you bring Little Pepper along? It seems eager to come with us.”

“But, brother, didn’t you say we’re going to a big city this time? Cities are dangerous. If we take it along and something happens, how will we protect it? We can transform and run fast, but it’s just a tree. How would it keep up?”

Xia Huo Qu didn’t object. “Just make sure you’ve settled things properly. We don’t want any problems later on.”

Xia Lu Nong, full of confidence, said, “No problem. I’ve already talked to it, and it agreed.”

Xia Huo Qu remained unconvinced. “You may have convinced it for now, but I’m not sure it fully understands what it means for us to be away this long.”

Xia Lu Nong said, “I’ll talk to it again.”

As it turned out, Xia Huo Qu’s judgment was right. Despite Xia Lu Nong’s careful explanations, when it came time to leave, the pepper tree still wouldn’t let him go, its roots clinging to his clothes.

If trees could cry, this one would be throwing a tantrum on the ground.

Xia Lu Nong got an early taste of what it’s like to raise a child.

In the end, Yan Xi Nian suggested, “Why don’t we just take it along? Worst case, it can stay on the truck. As long as the truck doesn’t get lost, the pepper tree will be fine.”

Kong Zhi, standing nearby, said quietly, “I’ll keep an eye on it. If I’m here, it’s here.”

Xia Lu Nong instantly flared up, glaring at him. “Don’t say things like that! Don’t jinx it!”

He looked particularly fierce, his brows furrowing, adding a sense of intimidation.

Kong Zhi paused for two seconds. “Got it.”

In the end, they still brought the pepper tree along.

The group consisted of 37 people in total, split into three teams, traveling in five vehicles. Ba Niu, Cong Lian, Luo Cong Xin, Zhang Shi Hai, Liao Quan Nan, and Dr. Ou were among them, along with a few women. Yan Xi Nian had even brought along artillery and guns.

Xia Lu Nong could already sense that the atmosphere for this outing was different, filling him with unease.

Xia Huo Qu reassured him, “Don’t scare yourself. We’ve been resting for a long time, and if nothing else, we’ve gotten good at running away.”

Xia Lu Nong rubbed his cheeks vigorously. “I know.”

They drove quickly. Outside, it was already autumn.

As they continued, the scenery around them had changed, especially the leaves on both sides of the road, which had already turned yellow. Many trees had lost their leaves, giving the surroundings a bleak, autumnal feel.

Since Xia Lu Nong had plant-based abilities, seeing this sight stirred something in him. He often connected with plants, and now he could empathize with their process of wilting and entering dormancy, which made him feel a bit melancholic.

They were already very familiar with the scenery around the base, as they had frequently ventured out over the past six months. There wasn’t much novelty left for them nearby.

Xia Lu Nong gazed off into the distance for a long time.

It wasn’t until after a full day of driving that he noticed the scenery had changed—they were no longer in familiar territory.

Yan Xi Nian explained, “This time we’re going farther. It’ll take at least two days of driving. Overall, we’re heading southwest. When you see the new Huashan Mountain, we’ll be close to our destination.”

“Is there no base around here? What if someone got here before us and cleared out all the supplies?” Xia Lu Nong asked.

Yan Xi Nian chuckled. “Why don’t you sense if there’s a new base nearby?”

Xia Lu Nong closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to tap into his vague sense of intuition. After a while, he concluded that there likely wasn’t a new base in this direction and felt optimistic about the trip’s potential.

He shared his thoughts with Yan Xi Nian.

Yan Xi Nian said, “I didn’t sense any either. While we don’t have your intuition, after spending so much time in the wilderness, we’ve learned to pick up on subtle signs of nearby activity.”

Xia Lu Nong looked curious.

Yan Xi Nian added, “On this trip, pay attention to how we use techniques to detect things. Xia Lu Nong, you rely too much on your intuition—not that it’s a bad thing—but sometimes we need other skills too. If you want to become a strong hunter, intuition alone won’t be enough.”

Xia Lu Nong nodded thoughtfully. When he turned around, he caught Kong Zhi’s gaze.

Kong Zhi was watching him, and Xia Lu Nong felt his heart beat a little faster.