Chapter 93

Tian Qiao, passing by, grumbled, "Manman eats too much. He tried some jianbing guozi, and it smelled so good he just stayed rooted at the stall. He bought one, ate it, then bought another—I swear he's going to clear them out today."

Zhou Min, hearing this, slapped his thigh in regret: "Damn, if I'd known the snack business was this good, I'd have set up a stall myself! Right in front of Manman and Brother Hei."

Both of them were massive foodies.

Tian Qiao scoffed, "With your cooking skills, you think you could run a snack stall?"

Zhou Min bristled, "I'm better than you, okay? Besides, there's Han Ping. Han Ping's a great cook."

Tian Qiao was puzzled: "Since when did you two get so close? You're practically inseparable."

Han Ping gave a light cough and quietly tidied up the small accessories.

Zhou Min smirked, "Pfft, you wouldn't understand."

"Jianbing guozi? Is it good?" Cheng Mo chimed in with his familiar question.

Cheng Zhiyu: "...I'll take you to try some later."

"Let's go now." Cheng Mo was worried Tian Manman would devour everything—he knew the other's appetite all too well.

Cheng Zhiyu nodded, about to head over, when Zhou Min interjected, "Hold on, I've got something cool here!"

Tian Qiao was confused: "What 'cool stuff' could you possibly have? Aren't these all just little accessories for girls? What use would two grown men have for them?"

"What do you know? You're such a straight guy." Zhou Min sneered, rummaging through the accessories and pulling out a larger package: "See this? A chest chain!"

Tian Qiao was enlightened: "I've only heard of necklaces. What in the world is a chest chain?"

"You don't need to understand." Zhou Min chuckled, looking at Cheng Zhiyu and Cheng Mo: "So? Want it?"

Cheng Zhiyu coughed awkwardly.

Cheng Mo: "What's a chest chain?"

Cheng Zhiyu reached out and took it from Zhou Min: "Hmm, thanks."

With that, he pulled Cheng Mo away.

Zhou Min crowed, "See? I told you it was something good."

Han Ping reminded him from the side: "They didn't give us any contribution points."

Zhou Min: "!!! Ah! I lost out, I lost out."

Han Ping comforted him: "It's fine. This was basically free inventory for us anyway."

Zhou Min considered it and agreed.

Meanwhile, Cheng Zhiyu had already stashed the chest chain into his storage space. Before Cheng Mo could ask more questions, he pulled him toward the jianbing guozi stall.

Cheng Mo temporarily forgot about the chest chain and ordered two jianbing guozi. After finishing one, he said, "Make it two more."

Tian Manman, who was nearby: "!!!" Someone was competing with him.

The jianbing guozi vendor's smile was so wide it almost split his face, his spatula flying frantically.

Cheng Zhiyu leaned in close to Cheng Mo and whispered, "Who was it that said they wanted to stay in shape? If you keep eating like this, you're gonna turn into a big fatty."

Cheng Mo hesitated for a moment, then replied, "It's fine. I'll just run extra laps before bed."

Cheng Zhiyu: "..."

But after having two, Cheng Mo stopped there.

The first day of the night market was such a success that nearly half the base showed up. It seemed the three-day trial run would go well, and if nothing unexpected happened, the night market would likely become a permanent fixture.

Cheng Zhiyu had originally planned to bring some food back for his parents, but then he found out they were also at the night market.

Well, no need to bring anything back then.

Back home, Cheng Zhiyu yawned and got ready for bed.

Cheng Mo: "Where's the chest chain?"

Cheng Zhiyu had almost forgotten about it. The moment Cheng Mo brought it up, he flushed a little. When Zhou Min had offered him the chest chain, he’d taken it on impulse.

Now that he thought about it, it was pretty awkward.

Cheng Zhiyu stalled: "Forget it, it's pretty late today."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Cheng Mo noticed Cheng Zhiyu's awkward expression, narrowed his eyes slightly, guessed what might be going on, and became even more determined not to let Cheng Zhiyu brush it off. He pressed a hard kiss on him: "Hurry, show it to me."

Cheng Zhiyu's mouth went numb: "..."

He hesitated for a moment, thinking that since he’d already taken it, he might as well not let it go to waste, and took it out from his storage space.

Cheng Mo opened the package and saw a chain with a much more complex design than a necklace.

He held it against his chest, puzzled: "How do you wear this?"

Cheng Zhiyu cleared his throat: "You have to take your clothes off."

Cheng Mo immediately took off his shirt and handed it to Cheng Zhiyu: "You put it on me."

Cheng Zhiyu's ears turned even redder: "Can't you do it yourself?"

Cheng Mo: "I don't know how. Hurry up."

Cheng Zhiyu took the chain, muttering complaints but his hands moving without pause. After a quick look, he figured out how to put it on and went behind Cheng Mo to fasten it.

This chest chain had a main chain that went from the neck down to the lower back, with two layers of chains below the neck, and a few glittering chains hanging loosely below the pecs.

"Such a strange thing," Cheng Mo frowned as he turned around.

Then he saw Cheng Zhiyu covering his face, eyes shining as he stared at him.

Cheng Mo: "?!"

He took back what he’d just said—it wasn’t a strange thing; it was a good thing.

Cheng Mo grinned widely: "Does it look good?"

Cheng Zhiyu nodded. Damn, it was so sexy.

The chain didn’t look flashy or extravagant, but why did it look so hot when worn?

"Huh? Why are there small clips on both sides?" Cheng Mo observed carefully.

Cheng Zhiyu: "...Hiss."

"Forget about the small clips," Cheng Zhiyu thought to himself; it was already seductive enough.

He was completely spellbound!

Cheng Mo: "Why? Where do these clip on? You put them on for me."

Cheng Zhiyu: "...What if it hurts?"

Cheng Mo insisted, and Cheng Zhiyu’s gaze, as if he wanted to devour him, made him feel exceptionally satisfied—of course, he wanted an even better effect.

Cheng Zhiyu pursed his lips and cautiously reached out: "Tell me if it hurts."

He pinched the small clips on both sides and fastened them.

Cheng Mo let out a soft groan, his brow furrowing.

Cheng Zhiyu asked nervously: "Does it hurt?" After all, it was clipped there.

However, before he could lift his hand to remove them, Cheng Mo grabbed his wrist, held him tightly, and kissed him hard.

As they pressed close, Cheng Zhiyu couldn’t miss the reaction.

He immediately understood—it wasn’t pain; it felt good.

Damn, so kinky—and he loved it.

Cheng Zhiyu noticed the chain connected to the small clips and gently tugged.

Cheng Mo gasped: "Are you trying to kill me?"

Cheng Zhiyu quickly withdrew his hand: "I won’t pull anymore."

Cheng Mo: "...Pull a few more times."

Cheng Zhiyu: "..."

So it was the "death" of pleasure.

Unsurprisingly, the two fooled around until midnight. Later, Cheng Zhiyu, lost in the moment, yanked hard at the chain, leaving Cheng Mo in a mix of pain and pleasure, which only made him rougher.

The next morning, Cheng Mo emerged from the bathroom, his voice grim: "Cheng Zhiyu, I can’t go out today."

Cheng Zhiyu glanced at the swollen spot and scratched his cheek: "Then just stay quietly in the room. Go out after it’s better."

Cheng Mo hugged him, unwilling: "No, I’ll die of boredom."

Cheng Zhiyu thought about it and agreed that staying in the room all day would be too stuffy.

He rummaged through his space and finally found a box of band-aids, put them on, and helped Cheng Mo get dressed.

Cheng Zhiyu: "Now it won’t chafe, right?"

Cheng Mo nodded.

Cheng Zhiyu: Blushing...

Cheng Mo: "The chain is a bit broken. I’ll fix it."

Cheng Zhiyu: "...If it’s broken, just forget it."

Cheng Mo disagreed: "You really liked it. How about asking Zhou Min for another one?"

Cheng Zhiyu: "..." What do you mean *I* liked it? Well, okay, I did like it a lot.

Ahem, better let Cheng Mo fix it properly. It wasn’t that badly broken anyway.

He hadn’t tugged *that* hard.

Better not ask Zhou Min for another—it’s too embarrassing. Anyone could guess how it broke.

No, no, his mental fortitude wasn’t that strong.

After fiddling intently for a while, Cheng Mo smiled: "All fixed."

He held up the chest chain in front of Cheng Zhiyu, who, remembering last night, blushed deeply, snatched it away, and tucked it into his inventory.

Cheng Mo reached out: "Give it to me."

Cheng Zhiyu refused: "I’ll keep it for now, so you stop waving it around in front of me."

Cheng Mo was annoyed: "It’s for me to wear, not you. Why are you keeping it?"

Cheng Zhiyu pretended not to hear, stood up, and opened the door: "Come on, let’s go down for breakfast. After eating, I still have to go to work."

Cheng Mo: "No."

Cheng Zhiyu: "Oh, then I’m going to work by myself. You take it easy at home."

Seeing him actually step out the door, Cheng Mo got anxious and immediately chased after him: "No! How can you cruelly leave me alone at home?"

"What do you mean *I’m* heartless?" Cheng Zhiyu denied it. "Being at home is nice—you can even sleep in. Do you think I *want* to go to work?"

He finally understood why Lin Kang was so eager to pass the leadership role to him—day after day, no breaks all year round.

In contrast, look at Lin Kang now—living the good life day after day.

No way—once the base operates stably, weekends off must be implemented.

"Hearing you two bickering early in the morning, what’s going on?" Mom Cheng asked cheerfully.

Cheng Zhiyu glanced at Cheng Mo and shook his head: "Nothing."

Cheng Mo, taking the hint, didn’t dare say anything either and also said it was nothing.

"If it’s nothing, that’s fine. You two need to compromise with each other and not really get angry with one another. That’s how feelings last," Mom Cheng said.

Cheng Mo shelled an egg and placed it on Cheng Zhiyu’s plate, nodding: "Yeah, I never get mad at Zhi Yu."

Cheng Zhiyu: Really? Just now, who was it accusing me of being heartless?

Mom Cheng smiled: "That’s good."

She was growing fonder of Cheng Mo—this kid was truly perfect when it came to her Zhi Yu. Sometimes, even she as a mother felt inadequate.

Cheng Zhiyan sighed nearby: "Ah, this makes me wanna find love too."

The whole family were instantly on alert. Cheng Zhiyu looked at her: "You're how old?"

Mrs. Cheng: "What's going on in that little head of yours?"

Mr. Cheng, who had been silent all along: "Are you dating someone? Who? Just let me at him!"

Cheng Zhiyan said awkwardly: "Oh Dad, I was just saying it casually, why'd you take it so seriously? Besides, I didn't say I'm dating anyone—I was just thinking about it. Isn't that normal? Right, bro?"

Mr. Cheng frowned: "You're only 17, what are you thinking about?"

Cheng Zhiyu wasn't playing the supportive big brother anymore: "It's not normal at all. When I was 17, all I thought about was studying."

Cheng Mo added: "Yeah, if your brother had been thinking about dating at 17, he wouldn't have met me."

Cheng Zhiyu: "..." Can you not make this about you?

"Exactly, at 17 you should still be in school," Mrs. Cheng said, a little upset. "If you were in school, you wouldn't have the time to think about these things."

Cheng Zhiyan: "It has nothing to do with school, okay? Lots of my high school classmates were dating."

However, everyone else agreed with Mrs. Cheng.

Mr. Cheng: "Zhi Yan never talked like this back when she was in school."

Cheng Zhiyan: "Yeah, right! If I did, wouldn’t I get the third degree?"

Cheng Zhiyu nodded seriously: "That's true. It seems education should be made a priority. The base just got quite a few intellectuals. I'll look into recruiting some teachers—it's time for them to go back to school."

Cheng Zhiyan shrank back. "No way," she thought, "she was just saying it casually—how did it lead to this?" "Bro, do I have to go to school too?"

Cheng Zhiyu: "Why not?"

Cheng Zhiyan: "...But I'm a Superhuman, and I need to protect the base."

Cheng Zhiyu: "You're still a kid. This isn't your burden to carry. Things were different before, but now we don't need you to. Just focus on your studies."

Cheng Zhiyan: "...Alright."

Truth was, she didn't mind that much. Before the apocalypse, Cheng Zhiyan had been a straight-A student. After a moment's thought, she decided going back to school wouldn’t be so bad.

She planned to share this "good" news with her friends later.

There were about five or six people in the base about her age.

Cheng Zhiyu was true to his word. That same day, he went to the office and got right on it. By noon, the recruitment notice for teachers had been sent to everyone's phones.

Cheng Zhiyan was patrolling the walls with her friends. Since they were young, they usually weren’t sent on missions unless accompanied by older, more experienced Superhumans.

Most of their work involved patrolling the walls and reporting any issues to their superiors.

Just then, everyone's phones went off. A young boy pulled out his phone and saw the notice about hiring teachers: "Why are we hiring teachers?"

Someone else nearby checked their phone too: "Is it to teach the kids in the base?"

"Probably. Those kids have nothing to do all day. At their age, they should be in school, right?" a girl said, sounding wise beyond her years.

"True. Haha, seeing them have it so easy without the burden of studying makes me a bit jealous."

"Great, I can’t wait to send my little brother to school. Every time I go home, he’s just sleeping. It makes me jealous."

"Hey, Zhi Yan, how come you're so quiet? Do you know something?"

Cheng Zhiyan smiled: "Not much, just that we’ll be going to school too."

"No way! Are you kidding? We’re valuable workforce for the base, you know!"

"No way, Cheng Zhiyan, you’re joking, right?"

"Haha, you hate studying the most. You once told me the only good thing about the apocalypse was not having to go to school. If we have to go back..."

"I think I'd rather die."

Cheng Zhiyan clarified: "I’m not joking. My brother said so this morning."

Instantly, groans of protest filled the air.

They didn’t want to believe it, but a few days later, their parents dug up their old backpacks and told them to go to school.

One rebellious teen protested: "I’m not going!"

He got an earful and reluctantly went to school. Turning around, he saw his younger brother also moping along looking miserable, and suddenly felt a bit better.

Haha, even if he was suffering, at least his brother was too!

Parents were all for it, and almost no one objected.

After all, have you seen how easily intellectuals found good jobs in the base now?

They weren't holding their breath for the apocalypse to end. Even if it never did, having some knowledge under their belts was still a good thing.

The plan went off without a hitch.

One day, Cheng Zhiyu passed by the animal pens and heard that the sow had given birth.

It had actually happened several days earlier.

The keeper couldn’t hide his smile: "Ten piglets were born!"

That was quite a lot, especially for a sow.

Moreover, the animal pens had taken good care of them, and all ten piglets were healthy. Cheng Zhiyu decided to go see them.

Because of the cold weather, the sow and piglets were still kept in the heated pen. The attendant kept it clean, but there was still a faint smell, though not too strong.

But Cheng Mo was utterly disgusted. Standing several meters away, he frowned: "It stinks. I can’t breathe."

Cheng Zhiyu could tolerate it: "Then wait here. I’ll go take a look."

Cheng Mo hesitated but ultimately didn’t have the courage to follow. The smell was too much—for someone with his clean freak tendencies, it was absolute torture.

He handed Cheng Zhiyu a mask to wear before feeling reassured: "Alright, go ahead."

Cheng Zhiyu: "..." Fine.

Inside the heated pen, the chubby piglets were huddled together nursing. The sow looked somewhat irritable, as if barely tolerating them.

The piglets did look healthy. Cheng Zhiyu nodded: "But we still need to make sure there's enough air flow."

Staying cooped up might keep them warm, but it could easily lead to illness.

The breeder nodded: "Yeah, we’ve got ventilation."

"By the way, are these piglets gonna get castrated later?" Cheng Zhiyu wasn't very familiar with this and asked curiously.

The breeder nodded: "Yes, we plan to do it tomorrow."

Cheng Zhiyu was surprised: "That soon?"

He had thought they would at least wait until the piglets were a month old.

Han Tingting: "I've read 'Postpartum Care for Sows' many times recently. Piglets need to be castrated within 4 to 7 days."

Han Tingting took out a cold knife and chuckled: "I can't wait."

Cheng Zhiyu: "..." He silently moved further away from Han Tingting.

Leaving the warm room, Cheng Mo was still waiting in the same spot. As Cheng Zhiyu walked over, Cheng Mo approached like a large dog, sniffing him first.

Cheng Zhiyu was puzzled: "What are you doing?"

Cheng Mo: "I'm checking if you've been stunk up."

Cheng Zhiyu quickly lowered his head to sniff himself: "No, I don’t, right?"

Cheng Mo pinched his nose: "A little."

Cheng Zhiyu: "How is that possible? I didn't smell anything."

Cheng Mo: "That's because you've been in there the whole time and can't tell anymore."

Cheng Zhiyu: "..."

He hurriedly said: "You clean me off."

Cheng Mo immediately used his Water Power to create a mist, washing him clean.

Cheng Zhiyu: "How about now?"

Cheng Mo leaned in close and took a deep breath.

Cheng Zhiyu: "..." Great, now he knew there was no smell.

On the way back, Cheng Mo asked: "Zhi Yu, do you like young animals? You always come to see them."

Cheng Zhiyu smiled: "Yes, young animals represent hope."

Cheng Mo hesitated for a moment before asking: "Although I really don’t want little ones to distract you, if you want one, I could try to put up with it."

Cheng Zhiyu was confused: "What do you mean by that?"

Cheng Mo smiled: "I mean having a child of our own."

Cheng Zhiyu knew he couldn’t give birth, so... his gaze fell on Cheng Mo’s stomach, and he exclaimed in amazement: "Can males of your Winged Tribe give birth too?"

Whoa.

Seeing the other staring at his stomach, Cheng Mo tilted Cheng Zhiyu’s head up: "What are you thinking? It’s not me giving birth."

Cheng Zhiyu immediately defended himself: "I can’t give birth either. Don’t take those weird Little Yellow comics seriously."

Cheng Mo: "...Am I that stupid?"

Cheng Zhiyu: "..." Well, maybe.

From the look in Cheng Zhiyu’s eyes, Cheng Mo could tell what he was thinking. He angrily bit Cheng Zhiyu’s cheek: "Stop imagining nonsense."

Cheng Zhiyu: "...Oh, so why did you say that?"

Cheng Mo then explained that in their star system, there is technology for genetic fusion to produce offspring. Even two males who want a child can achieve it through this technology.

Cheng Zhiyu was astonished: "I’ve learned something new."

Cheng Mo: "This is usually done in an artificial womb, which can simulate the environment of a mother’s body. When this technology first emerged, there were some drawbacks, but it has now become very advanced."

Cheng Zhiyu became curious about Cheng Mo’s homeland. It seemed the technology there was much more advanced than here.

Cheng Mo: "Of course, some people want to experience the feeling of a blood connection with their child and choose to implant an artificial womb in their body to carry the child to term themselves."

Cheng Zhiyu marveled: "So that person would end up with a uterus afterward?"

Cheng Mo explained: "It’s a one-time use. It’s removed along with the birth of the child."

Cheng Zhiyu: "I see."

Cheng Mo chuckled: "If Zhi Yu wants me to carry a child, it’s not impossible."

Cheng Zhiyu imagined Cheng Mo with a big belly and shuddered: "Don’t joke about that. That never crossed my mind."

Cheng Mo: "I knew Zhi Yu cares about me."

Cheng Zhiyu: "..." Fine.

He said: "I don’t want a child at all. Of course, if your family requires it..."

After all, Cheng Mo is the Crown Prince. Doesn’t a Crown Prince need an heir?

Cheng Mo immediately said: "If Zhi Yu doesn’t want one, then we won’t have one. Let the old man have another child himself."

Cheng Zhiyu: "...What a filial son."

Cheng Mo chuckled: "Why are you praising me?"

Cheng Zhiyu: "..." Is that praise?

"Actually, I don’t want a little one at all," Cheng Mo said on the way back. "Zhi Yu only needs me."

Cheng Zhiyu sighed helplessly: "You can even be jealous of a non-existent little one?"

Cheng Mo said matter-of-factly: "Yes, I can."

Cheng Zhiyu was speechless: "Don’t worry, it’s just you."

Cheng Mo was overjoyed. Zhi Yu really loves him.

—

Just as Cheng Zhiyu was marveling at the advanced technology of Cheng Mo’s homeland,

he suddenly received good news.

"What did you say?" Cheng Zhiyu sprang to his feet.

The voice on the other end was equally thrilled: "Professor Chi and the team have developed a zombie virus vaccine. They've already conducted animal trials, and the experiment was a success!"

Cheng Zhiyu's heart raced. He hadn't expected Professor Chi Hongyi and the others to progress so quickly.

He had braced for years of dead ends or the possibility that a major base would develop the vaccine first.

If it were the latter, it would still even be a good thing.

The zombie virus vaccine is crucial for humanity's future. Once a vaccine is available, people will no longer fear the zombie virus, and by then, the apocalypse would pretty much be over.

This was undoubtedly a major event. Cheng Zhiyu immediately said, "I'm on my way."

The person on the other end quickly agreed: "Alright!"

Seeing how urgent Cheng Zhiyu was, Cheng Mo transformed into his beast form and carried Cheng Zhiyu there.

When they arrived at the research institute, Cheng Zhiyu didn't bother with anything else and rushed inside. There, he saw Chi Hongyi and the others smiling: "The animal trials were successful. Now we just need human trials."