Chapter 113 — Too Many Wolves, Too Little Meat
Luo Xun followed the team to a gathering point.
All the soldiers attending tonight’s celebration banquet had to assemble here beforehand. Several officers would give instructions and explain the discipline before the event began. Even people like Luo Xun, who had joined halfway, needed to attend the briefing and learn the procedures.
Thinking about Yan Fei, Luo Xun’s mind kept wandering while standing in formation.
After about forty minutes, he finally saw Yan Fei appear and return to the team.
Only then did Luo Xun relax.
Once the briefing ended and the group dispersed, Yan Fei walked over before Luo Xun could even look for him.
Not far away, Captain Guo called out to everyone:
“Be back here ten minutes before four! No one is allowed to be late!”
Luo Xun looked at Yan Fei worriedly.
“Are you okay?”
Yan Fei took his hand and led him toward the shade of a nearby building beside the plaza.
“I’m fine.” He squeezed Luo Xun’s hand. “I brought you something good.”
?
With a puzzled expression, Luo Xun followed him into the shade.
Yan Fei pulled a stack of meal vouchers from his pocket.
“For Cafeteria No.1?!” Luo Xun’s eyes lit up. That really was good stuff.
For people in the base now, vegetables—though expensive—could still be bought.
But meat was extremely rare.
Shortly after the apocalypse began, livestock and poultry had largely disappeared. For various reasons, the base had ultimately failed to keep those animals alive.
The military logistics department might still have some living livestock, but obviously those would be special supplies. Ordinary people like them would never get a taste.
Now there were only a few ways to eat meat in the apocalypse.
One was the dried meats Luo Xun still had at home—sausages, cured pork, and other preserved foods. But those supplies were limited, and once finished they were gone forever. So although Luo Xun tried to cook at least one meat dish each meal, he didn’t dare use too much.
The other way was—
Cafeteria No.1.
While meat dishes had basically vanished from the other cafeterias, Cafeteria No.1 was one of the few places where people could still see a bit of meat.
Most of the meat there came either from sausage-like processed foods with more starch than meat, or from long-lasting military canned goods.
But still—meat was meat!
Luo Xun happily accepted the vouchers.
Then he looked at Yan Fei again with concern.
“You… didn’t have to agree to anything, right?” Like signing some unfair agreement or something.
After all, that man was Yan Fei’s father. Perhaps after reuniting in the apocalypse he had simply wanted to express some fatherly affection.
Yan Fei smiled and slipped the vouchers into Luo Xun’s inner pocket.
“Don’t worry. He has bigger problems to deal with right now. He won’t have time to bother me.”
That was absolutely the truth.
Just Liu Xiangyu alone would keep those two people busy enough.
Because the gender ratio in the base was severely imbalanced and there were very few children or teenagers, the base authorities placed enormous importance on population sustainability.
In simple terms—
If a woman became pregnant, the official hospital would absolutely refuse to perform an abortion under any circumstances.
Therefore Liu Xiangyu was now extremely anxious and was secretly trying to bribe some highly skilled doctor to deal with the situation quietly.
The source of all this information—Zhang Su.
Yan Fei knew very well that once Yan Gexin learned about the pregnancy, he would definitely not tolerate it. He would likely use the opportunity to separate from Liu Xiangyu, yet at the same time, for the sake of reputation, he would also try to have her abort the child as quickly as possible to eliminate evidence.
Those two matters alone would keep him occupied for quite a while.
As for the future—Yan Fei wasn’t worried about Yan Gexin at all.
Even though Yan Fei currently belonged to no faction, he had already observed the military’s attitude toward ability users in the base—Fearful yet eager to recruit.
If people learned that Yan Gexin had an ability-user son but the two were estranged, there would certainly be plenty of people eager to interfere and prevent them from reconciling.
Once that information spread, Yan Fei had nothing to fear.
Luo Xun didn’t understand all the complicated schemes between Yan Fei and his father.
But he understood Yan Fei himself fairly well.
If Yan Fei said he could handle it, then Luo Xun was willing to believe him.
The two sat side by side in the shade, chatting quietly about unrelated topics while watching the busy scene of soldiers moving about the camp.
Together they waited for the evening celebration banquet.
—
When the teams returned to the plaza where they had gathered earlier, countless temporary tables and stools had already been set up.
They weren’t real tables and chairs.
They were long tables and stools created temporarily by earth-type ability users.
Fortunately, after reaching level two, earth-type ability users could make smoother and sturdier objects that didn’t crumble into dust. Otherwise everyone would leave the ceremony covered in dirt and have to wash their clothes afterward.
The tables were already filled with trays and plates of food.
After all, it was a celebration banquet—of course people had to eat well.
Following the formation, everyone took their seats.
On the steps of the office building ahead, another row of tables had been arranged where several of the base’s top leaders and military officials sat down while exchanging polite greetings.
The base leaders gave their speeches one after another.
After confirming that he didn’t recognize anyone among them, Luo Xun simply shifted his attention to the food in front of him.
Honestly… weren’t they worried the dishes would get cold?
Couldn’t they speak after everyone finished eating?
Or at least wait before bringing the food out?
Fortunately the speeches were fairly brief.
Before long it was time for the awards.
First the captains and leaders of certain teams went up to receive their commendations.
Then it was the turn of the ability-user teams who had contributed greatly.
The famous “Millstone Team” naturally went first among the military teams.
The host even joked about their nickname, calling them the “Millstone Team” again, forcing the members receiving the awards to lower their heads slightly.
It looked like they were shy.
In reality they were all silently cursing in their hearts—
You’re the donkey! Your whole family pushes the millstone!
Several leaders who had already met them earlier stepped forward to present the awards.
One of them smiled and patted Yan Fei’s shoulder.
“Young man, very promising! Are you married yet?”
Yan Fei replied calmly, his expression unchanged.
“I have a lover.”
Luo Xun, standing not far away, instantly blushed bright red.
The leader who came to Luo Xun next thought the young man was simply overwhelmed by the occasion and too shy from excitement.
The leader who had asked Yan Fei the question didn’t seem disappointed either. He laughed it off and moved on to the next team member.
Yan Gexin’s seat was among the officials below the stage but relatively close.
When Yan Fei walked up with the team, he recognized him immediately.
His expression shifted unpredictably.
So he really was an ability user…
Yan Gexin had only arrived at the Southwest Base later, but he knew that since the apocalypse the military had not recruited ordinary soldiers.
The only outsiders they recruited were ability users.
But those people were merely temporary assistants and were not considered official military personnel. Once their tasks were finished, they would be dismissed unless further help was required.
In other words—
Temporary workers.
Yan Fei had never served in the army before the apocalypse.
Therefore, the fact that he was standing there now meant only one thing—
He was an independent metal-type ability user.
Yan Gexin took a deep breath.
Even though he had guessed his son might be an ability user, he had never imagined that Yan Fei would be the metal-type ability user currently making such a sensation in the military.
After the military teams finished receiving their awards, it was the turn of ability users from various independent squads who had participated in the defense.
Some powerful ability-user groups were also invited.
They sat at several tables near the stage.
Compared to the orderly soldiers, their table looked much more relaxed and casual.
As Luo Xun stepped down from the stage, he vaguely noticed a woman sitting beside Zhang Su.
She seemed quite familiar with him and was leaning close while talking.
Seeing this, Luo Xun immediately gave Zhang Su a mischievous grin.
Zhang Su narrowed his eyes when he noticed.
After all, jealous lovers didn’t care whether someone only liked men.
If Wang Duo found out…
The room next door would probably be very lively tonight.
When Zhang Su went on stage to receive his award, the effect was extraordinary.
With that face of his—and the achievements he had made—he caused many people to stare in shock.
Only a few people had actually witnessed Zhang Su’s combat power during the battle.
Most had merely heard rumors that his appearance was… well…
Let’s just say that after seeing him today, many people suddenly felt that the world itself seemed rather unreal.
When Yan Fei went on stage earlier, he had gone up together with the others. They were all dressed in the same uniform, so people who stood close could see how outstanding his appearance was, while those farther away naturally ignored it.
But now Comrade Zhang Su stood alone on the stage. With that half-smiling expression scattering charm everywhere, the group of big leaders watching all turned dark-faced, while a group of young soldiers below blushed so hard they didn’t dare look straight at him.
Captain Guo shook his head and whispered to Luo Xun, “Your… neighbor is really something.”
One of the soldiers in their team quietly asked Luo Xun, “He’s your neighbor? Where do you live?”
Smack!
Captain Guo slapped the soldier on the head and scolded in a low voice, “Stop asking nonsense! Just look at that guy—peach-blossom eyes, pretty-boy face, willow waist. Ten guys like you couldn’t satisfy him!”
“Pfft—”
Everyone at the table burst out laughing.
The soldier’s face turned red as he pointed at Captain Guo, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long time. He had only asked out of curiosity! He—he just looked a few more times!
Luo Xun paused for a moment and decided to help Wang Duo reduce some future trouble. After all, they were brothers. What if someone actually tried to steal him away someday?
“He… already has someone.”
In an instant, the eyes of everyone nearby lit up with blazing curiosity.
“What do they look like?”
“Who is it?”
“Male or female?”
Luo Xun glanced at the stage. The leaders had already finished giving Zhang Su his award and were letting him step down. He had only been up there for a moment, yet the atmosphere below had already become strange… For the peace of the army, it was best to send him off the stage quickly.
“Male…” Luo Xun had barely spoken when everyone around him sucked in a breath.
Then he clearly heard whispers:
“No wonder…”
“I knew he didn’t look normal.”
“Yeah, with a face like that what woman would dare marry him? Only a man could keep him in line.”
Truthfully speaking, the soldiers in the army felt the imbalance between men and women even more deeply than the ability users outside.
The army now didn’t even have a performance troupe. The only times they saw women were briefly before leaving the base on missions, or among the small number of newly recruited water-type and earth-type ability users in logistics, or among military family members.
It wasn’t just “too many wolves and too little meat.” It was practically a life with wolves but no meat at all—a monk’s ascetic existence.
So inevitably, some friendships between comrades began drifting toward a more “buddy” direction. Otherwise, why would so many big tough men stretch their ears to eavesdrop on Zhang Su’s gossip?
Luo Xun coughed awkwardly for quite a while, embarrassed by all the curious and regretful looks around him.
He had never realized before how many hidden gays there were around him.
Fortunately he and Yan Fei had already made things clear between themselves, and everyone here was civilized enough not to try stealing someone’s partner. Otherwise… just thinking about it made him feel a little scared. After all, there were plenty of handsome young men in the army.
After Zhang Su, the people who went on stage were representatives from the various ability-user squads.
Usually only the captain or vice-captain attended such events; ordinary members did not have that qualification.
Listening to those familiar team names, Luo Xun quietly matched them with memories from his previous life.
Among them were the two squads that had once indirectly caused his rebirth—Blazing Flame and Chaos. Both had first made their mark during this very defense battle.
While Luo Xun’s table was discussing Zhang Su’s personal matters, other places were whispering about him too.
Zhang Su’s situation was clearly different from the others. He had come tonight as an individual, not representing a squad.
During the defense mission, only Li Tie’s five-person group and Xu Mei’s three-person team had participated under their squad names. Luo Xun and Yan Fei had been temporarily attached to the metal-type team, while Zhang Su had been attached to the hospital.
Compared to the other squads, Zhang Su—an obvious lone wolf—looked like a huge, delicious piece of meat that gave off a tempting fragrance, attracting everyone’s attention.
Zhang Su seemed completely unaware.
He lounged casually in his seat, looking rather impatient with the ceremony, occasionally glaring fiercely at the food on the table.
If you’re not letting people eat, why put the dishes out so early? Don’t you know I haven’t had meat in ages?!
His behavior made the people at his table hesitate about approaching him.
Only after the squad leaders returned from receiving their awards did someone finally speak.
Seeing the empty seat on Zhang Su’s left—the woman who had been sitting there earlier had left—Wu Changkun, the leader of Chaos, smiled first.
“Brother Zhang Su? Long time no see.”
As soon as he spoke, openly trying to get close to Zhang Su, the others shot him hostile glances.
He knows him?! Did he get ahead of us?
Zhang Su glanced at him and thought for a moment.
No impression.
When Zhang Su ignored him after that brief look, Wu Changkun’s expression twisted slightly. His already gloomy face became even darker.
Before he could say anything else, a cold laugh came from another direction.
Wu Changkun glared toward the sound and saw his long-time rival—Wang Heng, leader of Blazing Flame.
His triangular eyes narrowed behind his glasses.
“What advice does Leader Wang of Blazing Flame have?”
“Advice? For you?” Wang Heng didn’t even speak himself. His vice-captain beside him answered in a sarcastic tone. “You think too highly of yourself. Or did your elementary school Chinese teacher teach PE instead?”
Wu Changkun, who had skipped classes since childhood, flashed an awkward expression. He knew he had used the wrong word and been caught.
But he couldn’t lose face now.
“You may be a top student, but after graduating university didn’t you still end up working as a lackey for a gang boss?”
The man laughed cheerfully.
“That just shows our boss has charisma. Even the most educated people willingly serve him.”
Someone beside Wu Changkun sneered, “Serve him? Maybe even serve him in bed.”
“Hah. Even if you wanted to climb into your boss’s bed, he probably wouldn’t have the strength to accept you.”
Just as the argument between the two rival squads was about to escalate, someone suddenly ran up to their table out of breath.
Everyone fell silent and looked over.
It was the woman who had been sitting beside Zhang Su earlier.
She completely failed to notice the strange atmosphere at the table. She grabbed Zhang Su’s arm.
“Brother Zhang—dear brother—big sister Zhang! Save me!!”
The entire table fell silent, staring at Zhang Su with strange expressions.
Zhang Su glanced sideways at her and noticed the leaders on the main stage standing up.
The banquet was about to begin.
So Her Majesty the Queen finally spoke mercifully.
“Talk.”
The woman’s eyes were watery.
“Brother, sister! My dad is dragging me to blind dates and trying to force me into marriage! Save my life! I’m still young—only twenty-one! I don’t want to die young by getting married and having children!”
Zhang Su looked at her with disdain.
“Your dad is finding you a man. Why come to me? If you had an extra leg down there I might kick my idiot boyfriend aside and make do with you for a couple days. But now—”
He glanced contemptuously at her rather impressive chest.
“Not interested.”
Everyone at the table stared in disbelief.
A gay man had just rejected a girl with a very nice figure and a pretty face.
Inside, they were all collapsing.
They had thought she was Zhang Su’s lover!
But now…
What a waste!!
Just as a few confident, still-single squad leaders and vice-captains were preparing to show off their charm and flirt with the girl, she spoke again with a tearful voice.
“Handsome guys should be with handsome guys forever—loving each other forever! But I can’t accept ugly men! So I’d rather stay single for now! But my parents just don’t understand and insist on marrying me off! Right now you’re the only good girlfriend I have—you have to help me!!”
The table full of tough men froze.
Some of them had heard about “fujoshi” before the apocalypse, but almost none had experienced one firsthand.
Now suddenly meeting one… the pressure was enormous.
Zhang Su didn’t even bother looking at her anymore.
Seeing the banquet had begun, his chopsticks moved so fast they were almost invisible as he piled meat into his bowl.
“Don’t worry. If you say that theory out loud, those men will retreat on their own.”
Every straight man at the table silently agreed in their hearts.
“But my dad said if I dare say that publicly, he’ll lock me up!”
Zhang Su finally stopped after piling a mountain of meat into his bowl.
Then he looked at her in confusion.
“Wait. Then why are you looking for me? I’m not going to pretend to be your lover… Or are you hoping I’ll come with you and hook up with your blind-date target?” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “That’s not impossible. But my man would probably get jealous.”
The girl took a deep breath.
“Don’t you have friends? Just lend your sister one single guy temporarily!”
Zhang Su rubbed his chin and glanced around the table at the dishes he had already picked through, making sure no meat had escaped his attention.
Then he stood up holding his overflowing bowl.
“Come with me.”
After the two of them left, it took quite a while for the people at that table to recover their senses. It seemed that after the apocalypse not only had zombies become terrifying—women had become terrifying as well. And that damned gay guy just now…
Wait!!
“Damn it!! There isn’t a single piece of meat left in the dishes!! That damned freak!!”
Zhang Su walked along eating from a big bowl in his hands. His graceful figure, that beautiful face, and those seductive peach-blossom eyes—all of it was completely ruined by the huge bowl and the pile of meat inside it.
Of course, some people’s minds were already turning.
The beauty loves meat. If I had the ability to let him eat meat every day until his mouth was dripping with oil, maybe I could win him over…
But what kind of person was Zhang Su?
Just a moment ago he had been praised and rewarded by the military leadership for his great combat achievements. Right now, no one dared to provoke him.
Luo Xun was just about to eat a piece of braised pork Yan Fei had placed in his bowl when someone suddenly tapped his shoulder.
By the time he turned his head, the piece of meat had already been picked away by someone else’s chopsticks.
“Zhang Su!!”
At home when they all ate together it was one thing if he snatched the food Luo Xun wanted.
But now he was doing it again?!
Zhang Su stuffed the meat directly into his mouth and pointed to the girl following beside him, who had been covering her face the whole way as if wishing to disappear.
“Do you have any spare men here? Lend her one.”
The girl nearly tripped and lowered her head even more.
Normally Zhang Su looked like an elegant, charming beauty—so why had things turned out like this now?!
Luo Xun glanced at him silently and decided not to bother arguing. Instead he looked carefully at the girl.
Oh—she looked familiar.
Wasn’t she the woman sitting beside Zhang Su earlier?
“…Explain clearly.”
Suddenly coming over asking to borrow a man—he wasn’t afraid, but what if they were actually trying to abduct someone?
The girl lowered her hands and forced a smile that looked worse than crying. She grabbed Luo Xun’s hands tightly.
“You must be Sister Zhang’s lover, right? Hello, my name is Zhu Hong. I’m Sister Zhang’s best friend. My dad is forcing me into marriage and blind dates. I need to borrow a man to take the blame—no, no, I mean to help…”
Luo Xun stared at her in shock, his brain momentarily unable to process what he had just heard.
Suddenly he felt an arm wrap around his shoulders and pull him backward into a warm embrace.
Yan Fei.
At the same time, the familiar voice sounded beside his ear.
“Sorry, he’s my lover. As for the one belonging to your Sister Zhang—he didn’t come today.”
Thank you for reading 🙂 I hope you all liked my translations. If you enjoyed my work, please consider buying me a Ko-Fi 😉
