Chapter 32 Day and Night
The morning after their relationship was officially confirmed, Wen Yu woke up to an extremely unfamiliar, soft touch.
Before his consciousness had fully returned, his body had already remembered the comforting, slight weight and warmth of the arm he had been holding before falling asleep the previous night. He instinctively tightened his arm slightly, his fingertips touching smooth, warm skin, while the familiar, clean scent of soapberry mixed with a hint of sweet, sunroom plants lingered around his nose.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Morning light (simulated) filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft, hazy glow in the room. Su Ran lay on his side beside him, his head resting on his arm, facing him, fast asleep. Soft, black hair was scattered messily on the pillow and across his smooth forehead, long, thick eyelashes casting two quiet shadows beneath his eyes, fluttering slightly like butterfly wings with each soft breath. His cheeks were flushed a healthy pale pink from sleep, his lips a natural, slightly moist, pale red, unconsciously parted a crack, his warm breath gently brushing against Wen Yu's chin.
Wen Yu gazed at the sleeping face so close to his own for a moment, his eyes tracing the unguarded look in her eyes. The hands they held last night, the warmth of sleeping in the same bed, and the sense of peace that filled his heart, like dust settling down, all transformed into the tangible warmth and tranquility in the morning light.
A strange, almost instinctive impulse surged into his heart without warning. Without thinking, without weighing the pros and cons, he simply followed that desire to get closer, to confirm this reality.
He lowered his head slightly and gently placed a kiss on those pale, sleepy lips.
It was light and quick, like a feather brushing past. It carried the coolness of the morning and a touch of almost reverent tenderness that even he himself was unaware of.
The moment the kiss landed, Su Ran's eyelashes trembled violently, and then she slowly opened her eyes. In those always clear eyes, there was still a lingering sleepiness, misty like obsidian soaked in spring water, reflecting Wen Yu's deep-set eyes so close to hers.
Their eyes met. The air was so quiet that they could hear each other's heartbeats suddenly quickening.
Su Ran didn't seem fully awake yet, only blinking blankly as his long eyelashes brushed against Wen Yu's skin, which was so close, causing a slight tickle. Then, as if he finally understood what had just happened, his beautiful eyes widened suddenly, and his cheeks flushed bright red in a flash, spreading from his cheeks all the way to his ears, even tinging his fair neck with a faint pink.
He didn't dodge or speak; he just stared blankly at Wen Yu, his lips slightly parted as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. Only his rapid breathing and violent heartbeat betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
Looking at his completely bewildered expression, his face flushed crimson, Wen Yu felt a sudden surge of unease, a mixture of tenderness and satisfaction, instantly replaced by a more overwhelming emotion. He didn't pull away; instead, he moved closer, his forehead gently touching Su Ran's, their noses almost touching, their breaths mingling.
"Good morning," he said softly, his voice hoarse from the early morning, yet unusually gentle.
Su Ran's face turned even redder, like a ripe tomato. He finally found his voice, as soft as a mosquito's buzz, filled with deep shyness and a hint of barely perceptible joy: "Good morning... Brother Yu."
In the morning light, at such close proximity, Su Ran called out that name in her soft, sleepy voice, like a feather gently brushing against Wen Yu's heart. He didn't speak again, but lowered his head again, this time not just a fleeting kiss, but with a clearer certainty and unmistakable tenderness, and kissed those two slightly trembling, soft lips once more.
Su Ran's body tensed instantly, but only for a moment before relaxing. He awkwardly, yet obediently, closed his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling violently, his hands unconsciously gripping the sheets beneath him. This kiss was deeper and longer than the last, carrying Wen Yu's unique, cool, and reassuring scent, slowly and firmly invading his senses, completely overwhelming him.
The morning light was gentle and quiet, and the only sounds in the room were the soft murmur of lips entwining and the increasingly rapid breathing and heartbeats intertwined.
After an unknown amount of time, Wen Yu slowly withdrew, his forehead still pressed against Su Ran's. His breathing was a little unsteady, and there seemed to be an undercurrent in his deep eyes, which clearly reflected Su Ran's flushed face and her increasingly alluring eyes, which were covered with moisture.
Su Ran gasped for breath, her chest heaving, her face flushed crimson, her eyes darting away, unable to look at Wen Yu again, yet unable to resist stealing glances. Her appearance was both excessively innocent and inexplicably alluring.
Wen Yu chuckled softly, a pleasant vibration rippling through his chest. He released his arms from Su Ran, sat up, and scooped Su Ran, who was still trying to shrink back into the covers, up as well.
"Time to get up." His voice returned to its usual steady tone, only lower than usual, with a hint of barely perceptible doting. "There's still work to do today."
Su Ran gave a soft "hmm," then hurriedly scrambled off the bed, standing barefoot on the floor, his toes curling slightly with shyness. He stole a glance at Wen Yu's tall, straight back as he headed towards the bathroom, touched his still burning cheeks and lips that seemed to still carry Wen Yu's scent, and couldn't help but let his lips curl up higher and higher, finally blossoming into a silly yet incredibly sweet smile.
A brand new day has begun.
Breakfast was prepared together in the kitchen. The atmosphere was completely different from usual. Su Ran still dominated the stove, but Wen Yu no longer just watched or waited. He would naturally take the vegetables that Su Ran handed him, which needed washing, and stand beside him, handling them carefully with slightly clumsy movements. The sound of running water, the crisp sound of the knife hitting the cutting board, the cheerful sizzling of eggs in the pan, and the occasional hushed conversation between the two intertwined to create a warm concerto in the kitchen.
"It seems like there's a bit too much salt." Wen Yu took a bite of the batter that Su Ran had just prepared and frowned slightly.
Su Ran leaned over and took a small bite from the spoon in Wen Yu's hand, then stuck out his tongue: "It is a bit... Should I add some milk to neutralize it?" As he spoke, he tilted his head back, his lips still covered with a little bit of white paste, completely unaware of it.
Wen Yu's gaze fell on his lips, which were smeared with batter, and his eyes deepened. He reached out and gently wiped away the white speck with the pad of his thumb, the movement as natural as if he had done it a thousand times. "Mmm," he responded, his fingertip lingering on Su Ran's soft lips for half a second before withdrawing.
Su Ran's face turned red again, and she hurriedly turned around to get the milk, her ear tips turning bright red.
At the dinner table, the conversation was no longer limited to the daily life and survival skills of the fortress. Wen Yu would ask Su Ran about her past, not interrogating her, but just chatting casually.
"Who taught you how to grow vegetables on your balcony?" Wen Yu asked casually as he placed a golden-brown omelet into Su Ran's bowl.
Su Ran was sipping his porridge when he heard this. He paused, looked up, his gaze slightly unfocused, but quickly returned to its clear look. He put down his spoon and said softly, "I just figured it out myself. Before... I lived alone, didn't have many friends, and didn't have much money to buy groceries often, so I thought I'd grow some myself. At first, I kept killing them, but after reading a lot of books and searching online, I gradually learned how." He smiled, a little embarrassed, "The best ones I grew were lettuce and cherry tomatoes; they're not easy to kill. I never thought they'd come in handy in the apocalypse."
"Living alone?" Wen Yu looked at him. Su Ran's age, before the apocalypse, he should have still been in school, or had just started working.
"Hmm." Su Ran nodded, unconsciously poking at the porridge in her bowl with her chopsticks. Her long eyelashes drooped, concealing the complex emotions that flashed across her eyes. "My parents separated a long time ago and each had their own families. I grew up with my grandmother, and after she passed away, I was all alone." He spoke very calmly, as if he were talking about someone else, but beneath that calmness, Wen Yu could hear a deep-seated loneliness that had been building up over the years.
He reached out, across the table, and grasped Su Ran's slightly cool hand, which was resting on the edge of the table.
Su Ran's hand trembled slightly. She raised her eyes and looked at Wen Yu. Wen Yu's eyes were deep, containing no sympathy, only a calm understanding and tenderness that seemed to encompass everything.
"It's all in the past," Wen Yu said, tightening his grip and completely enveloping Su Ran's hand in his warm, dry palm. "I'll be here for you from now on."
Those few simple words were like a warm current, instantly dispelling the chill that had risen in Su Ran's heart from mentioning the past. His eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded vigorously, gripping Wen Yu's hand tightly in return, his voice choked with emotion: "Mm."
After a moment of silence, Su Ran asked in a low voice, "What about you, Brother Yu? What... what did you do before? How do you know so much? And how can you build such a fortress..." He had long been curious about Wen Yu's background and abilities, but he hadn't dared to ask too much before.
Wen Yu remained silent for a moment. His past was far more complex and dark than Su Ran's. Rebirth, ten years of struggle in the apocalypse, a deep-seated betrayal, a frantic revenge and preparation... He never intended to tell anyone about these things; they were his own personal hell and medals.
But at this moment, looking into Su Ran's clear eyes, brimming with trust and care, those heavy and cold secrets no longer seemed like untouchable taboos. He didn't need to reveal everything, but at least, he could share a part of his true self.
"I used to…" Wen Yu began slowly, his voice low, "I've worked in many industries. I've learned some fighting and survival skills, I have some interest in architecture and machinery, and… I've also experienced some unpleasant things." He paused, looking at Su Ran, "This fortress is something I prepared with all my might before… before I sensed something bad might happen. I hope that at least one place is absolutely safe and under my control."
He spoke vaguely, but Su Ran understood. He didn't press for details about what the "bad thing" was, nor did he delve into the specifics of the "premonition." He simply sensed the heavy past and the powerful determination from Wen Yu's brief words and the occasional flash of cold sharpness in his deep eyes.
"It's amazing." Su Ran said sincerely, looking at Wen Yu with bright eyes. "If it weren't for Brother Yu, if it weren't for this fortress, I might have already…" He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
"Without you," Wen Yu interrupted him, looking at him intently, "this fortress is just a more solid shell."
They smiled at each other, a thousand words unspoken. The loneliness and wounds of the past seemed to be gently soothed by their mutual presence and understanding in this honest, albeit limited, exchange. They didn't need to know all each other's secrets; they only needed confirmation that, in the present and in the future, they were each other's most reliable support.
After breakfast, the sun shone brightly (in a simulation). The two went to the sunroom together to tend to the thriving crops. Wen Yu was in charge of checking the drip irrigation system and supplemental lighting, while Su Ran carefully picked the ripe tomatoes one by one and put them into a basket. The bright red fruits looked like plump hearts.
"Shall we use these tomatoes to make noodles for lunch?" Su Ran held up an exceptionally red tomato, examined it against the light, and her face was filled with pure joy. "Homegrown tomatoes are bound to be especially sweet."
"Okay." Wen Yu walked to his side, naturally took the basket from his hand and carried it. With his other hand, he wrapped his arms around Su Ran's slender waist, pulled him closer to his chest, lowered his head, and placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head, which still carried the fragrance of plants.
Su Ran leaned into his arms, tilted her head back, and her eyes curved into crescents, filled with dappled sunlight and undisguised love. He raised his hand, wrapped it around Wen Yu's neck, stood on tiptoe, and planted a kiss on those well-defined, reassuring lips, carrying the sweet scent of tomatoes.
"Brother Yu, thank you." He said vaguely, yet with unparalleled clarity, between kisses.
Thank you for taking me in.
Thank you for trusting me.
Thank you... for loving me.
Wen Yu tightened his arms, embracing the warm, soft person who filled his cold world even more deeply, responding to his unfinished words with an even more lingering kiss.
Inside the sunroom, lush greenery and the aroma of fruit filled the air. Two once lonely souls embraced tightly, their lips pressed together, confirming each other's existence and love in the most direct way.
Day after day, night after night, it all begins here. The future may still be long, and crises may never be far away, but with each other, we have the warmth to ward off all the cold and the light to illuminate the long night.