Consciousness drifted, like floating on warm, surging waves.
Shu Bai finally woke up.
The burning and emptiness brought by the heat have long since vanished, replaced by a deep-seated satisfaction and peace.
He opened his eyes and saw Li Yuheng's magnified sleeping face.
This guy looks peaceful and pleasing to the eye when he's asleep.
Her eyelashes were long and thick, casting a light shadow under her eyes, and the corners of her mouth were unconsciously slightly upturned, as if she were having a beautiful dream.
An arm domineeringly wrapped around his waist, holding him tightly in its embrace. The warmth of the arm penetrated through their skin, making him feel warm and secure.
Shu Bai didn't move, just watched quietly.
Little angel?
Hehehe…
He thinks it should be a giant turtle.
Fragments of last night's memories gradually returned: the hustle and bustle of the banquet hall, the slight intoxication of alcohol, the surging tide of heat, Li Yuheng's smug yet infuriating face, and what happened afterward...
How he was gradually led to say things he would never normally utter, how he was drawn into an increasingly uncontrollable vortex...
My ears started to burn belatedly.
He moved slightly, trying to move away from the heat source, but was immediately held even tighter.
Li Yuheng mumbled something indistinctly, rubbed his chin against the top of his head, and his breathing became even again.
Shu Bai: "..."
never mind.
He gave up struggling and closed his eyes again.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Yuheng's biological clock finally woke up.
He first sighed contentedly, tightened his arms, pulled the person closer to his embrace, and then lazily opened his eyes.
"Good morning, Sentinel Shubai~" His voice was hoarse and satisfied from just waking up, and he lowered his head to plant a loud kiss on Shubai's forehead.
Shu Bai didn't respond, but just glanced at him.
Li Yuheng, however, seemed to have received some great encouragement, and began to push his luck with a grin: "Oh dear, yesterday a certain sentry said a lot of 'favorite' and 'most handsome'... um!"
A pillow landed precisely on his face, interrupting his reflection.
While he was frantically rummaging through the pillows, Shu Bai quickly got up, got out of bed, and headed for the bathroom without looking back.
Li Yuheng pulled the pillow off his face and watched as Shu Bai's seemingly calm but actually red-eared figure disappeared behind the bathroom door, almost becoming the spokesperson for Ya Ya Le.
He stretched, stepped barefoot onto the carpet, walked to the window, and drew back the heavy curtains.
The brilliant sunlight poured in instantly, illuminating the entire room.
Outside the window is the magnificent Central Tower complex, and in the distance, the sky is azure with white clouds drifting by, a scene of peace that contrasts sharply with the gloom of the front lines amidst the constant gunfire.
The war is not completely over, but the most difficult period has passed.
Humanity has bought a respite with blood and sacrifice, and the future is full of reconstruction and hope.
Li Yuheng squinted and enjoyed the sunshine, feeling incredibly happy.
The sound of water could be heard coming from the bathroom.
Li Yuheng's eyes darted around, and he tiptoed over and turned the doorknob.
It was locked as expected.
"Shubai Sentinel~ Need a back scrub service? The five-star kind!" He knocked on the door, his voice sultry.
The sound of water inside paused for a moment, then came Shu Bai's cold voice: "Get out."
Li Yuheng pursed his lips and didn't press the matter.
When Shu Bai came out of the bathroom drying her hair, Li Yuheng was sitting on the sofa in the small living room looking very respectable, with the latest battle reports and news scrolling on the screen in front of him.
Hearing the noise, he looked up and exclaimed, "Wow, she's as beautiful as a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice! My sentry is just so handsome!"
Shu Bai ignored him, walked to the other side, sat down, and picked up her terminal to check the messages.
Li Yuheng leaned closer and pushed the screen toward him: "Look. We're headline figures now, 'battlefield legends,' 'the strongest sentry duo,' 'the bulwark of humanity'... Tsk tsk, I'm embarrassed by all the praise."
Shu Bai glanced at it and saw that most of the posts were exaggerated praises and reports about their achievements.
He wasn't very interested in it, and just gave a faint "hmm".
“General Peng has sent an encrypted message,” Li Yuheng switched pages, his tone becoming slightly more serious, “Given our current situation,”
He winked meaningfully, "And given our past achievements, the Tower has given us two choices."
Shu Bai raised his head.
"First, stay in the Central Tower and enter the high command ranks, or go to a military academy as an instructor to mentor new recruits. It's safe, respectable, and has a high status."
"Second, establish a special rapid response team, directly under the highest command, to go wherever the most dangerous and difficult tasks are. It offers greater freedom, but... you know what I mean."
After Li Yuheng finished speaking, he leaned back, crossed his legs, and looked at Shu Bai with a smile: "Sentinel Shu Bai, which one do you want to choose?"
Shu Bai answered almost without hesitation: "Two."
He never belonged to the safe rear; his battlefield was on the front lines.
Six years of confinement has been long enough.
Li Yuheng slapped his thigh: "I knew it! Great minds think alike! Staying in this Sifang City, facing a bunch of old men scheming against each other, is nowhere near as enjoyable as going out and slaying bugs!"
He immediately perked up and began planning: "The squad doesn't need to be large, quality over quantity! The weapons and equipment must be the best! The authorization requests must be the highest! And..."
Seeing his animated expression, Shu Bai's lips curved almost imperceptibly: "I'll decide on the team selection."
Li Yuheng readily agreed, leaning over to put his arm around his shoulder: "No problem! You have the best eye! The captain's word is law! I'll be your deputy, specifically responsible for being beautiful and providing you with comprehensive and in-depth support!"
"Alright, stop nagging. Go wash up first, then we'll go eat."
"Understood!"
…
Night fell.
Li Yuheng was lounging lazily on the sofa. The screen was still flashing with the preliminary draft of the rapid response team's formation, but his mind was clearly not on it anymore. His eyes kept glancing at Shu Bai, who had just come out of the shower.
Shu Bai wiped her hair, water droplets rolling down the ends and disappearing into the loose collar.
His expression was indifferent, as if he wasn't the one who lost control during the passion yesterday, nor was he the one who was coaxed into saying things that shouldn't be said.
Li Yuheng was itching to get something more, and was about to go over and take advantage of him when he saw Shu Bai put down the towel and walk straight toward him.
"I have read the draft, and there are a few places that need to be adjusted."
Shu Bai picked up the data tablet that Li Yuheng had placed aside and quickly swiped his fingers across it.
Li Yuheng said "Oh," a little disappointed, but still leaned over to look: "Where? Tell me."
Shu Bai turned to face him, pointing the data panel screen at a spot with her fingertip: "Here, regarding the priority of the logistics supply lines..."
He was very close, and the fresh, clean scent of his shower, mixed with a trace of Li Yuheng's residual hormones, seeped into Li Yuheng's nasal cavity.
The moisture from her hair brushed against Li Yuheng's neck, leaving a slightly cool and ticklish sensation.
Li Yuheng's attention was instantly diverted. He responded vaguely, but his gaze fell on Shu Bai's lips, which were very close to his. The lips looked particularly soft because they had just been moistened with hot water.
“…So, this part needs to be confirmed with the Equipment Department again.” After saying this, Shu Bai looked up at Li Yuheng, seemingly asking for his opinion.
Li Yuheng didn't hear what was said after that; he only saw the lips open and close, and subconsciously hummed in response.
A barely perceptible smile flashed across Shu Bai's eyes, disappearing in an instant.
He put down the data tablet, leaned forward a little more, and casually rested one hand on the back of the sofa next to Li Yuheng.
“Li Yuheng,” Shu Bai’s voice was lowered, carrying a rare seductive quality, “Are you… very happy today?”
"I'm so happy..."
With my wife by my side, our passion has returned, and the future looks promising. How could I not be happy?
"Is it because of...me?"
Shu Bai's pure black eyes were unfathomable, as if they could suck one's soul into them.
Li Yuheng felt a surge of anger well up inside him. He nodded vigorously, his arms instinctively reaching to wrap around Shu Bai's waist: "Of course it's because of you! I—"
Before he could finish speaking, Shu Bai suddenly lowered her head and kissed him.
This kiss was different from the uncontrollable passion of a passionate encounter, unlike any other before; it even had a slightly provocative quality.
Li Yuheng's brain completely shut down.
Happiness came too suddenly, like a tornado.
However, just as Li Yuheng's blood rushed to his head and his hands began to wander, Shu Bai suddenly pulled back without warning, ending the kiss.
His movements were swift and decisive, even resolute.
Li Yuheng was still in the position of hugging and asking for a kiss, his eyes immediately filled with disbelief.
Shu Bai had already stood up, looking down at him, her face no longer showing any of the seduction and emotion she had shown just moments before.
He raised his hand and casually wiped the corner of his mouth with his fingertips, as if he hadn't been the one who had just given that passionate kiss.
Shu Bai's voice returned to its usual calmness, even with a slightly businesslike tone, "Ah, I remember now, the head of the equipment department has scheduled a video conference with me in half an hour."
He straightened his collar, which had been slightly disheveled by Li Yuheng, with unhurried movements.
"I've sent the proposed revisions to your terminal. Get some rest."
After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the desk, picked up the military-grade headset on it, and looked ready to get to work immediately.
Li Yuheng sat frozen on the sofa, like a statue that had been petrified in an instant.
The fire was being stirred up and was burning fiercely. Just when it was at its most critical moment, a bucket of ice water was poured over its head without warning!
That feeling of being stuck in the middle almost made him vomit blood; every cell in his body was screaming in protest.
"No... Shu Bai? Shu Bai! You... you just left like that?!"
"Yes, the meeting is very important. It concerns the equipment for the subsequent squad, and we can't delay it."
"But I..." Li Yuheng pointed at himself, both angry and anxious, almost incoherent, "I'm like this...you've done this to me...and you're just going to abandon me?!"
Shu Bai then turned her head as if bestowing a favor, glancing at the young male protagonist.
“Find it yourself,” he said casually. “Or take a cold shower. I’m busy.”
After speaking, he turned his face to the screen, looking focused and as if saying "Do Not Disturb".
Li Yuheng stood there dumbfounded, watching Shu Bai's back as he instantly entered work mode, feeling the surging desires and unvented frustration within his body.
He finally realized what was happening.
He was retaliated against!
A naked, merciless, and tit-for-tat revenge!
Yesterday he teased Shu Bai, who was in a passionate mood, and today Shu Bai returned the favor exactly as he had done, even more outrageous!
But he still "helped" yesterday, while today Shu Bai simply walked away!
"You son of a bitch..."
Li Yuheng cursed under his breath in anger, wishing he could rush up and drag that seemingly calm guy off the chair to teach him the consequences of playing with fire.
But looking at Shu Bai's straight back and focused profile, he forced himself to hold back.
So frustrating! So incredibly frustrating!
Li Yuheng spun around twice, and finally could only glare fiercely at Shu Bai's back before storming into the bathroom, seething with anger.
Soon, the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom, sounding more like someone venting their anger than taking a bath.
At his desk, Shu Bai listened to the loud noise coming from the bathroom behind him, and couldn't help but smile with an incredibly bright curve.
He raised his hand and gently touched his lips, which still seemed to retain a little warmth.
Yes, we've won one point.
It feels...good.
…
The road ahead is long, the threat of the Zerg has not been eradicated, and unknown dangers still lurk.
But they were fearless.
To the stars and the sea, the journey is long, let's walk hand in hand.
…
(World Three - The End)
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