When Luo Ning arrived at the clothing stall, she unexpectedly saw the woman who had recognized her shoes before. Instinctively, she wanted to leave, but the woman took the initiative to greet her.
To be precise, it was the woman who greeted Lu Xinghe.
"Sir, it's been a long time! I just received some new stock. Would you like to take a look?" Knowing that Lu Xinghe was generous and didn't haggle, the woman greeted him very warmly.
Lu Xinghe looked at Luo Ning: "See if there's anything you and Wen Xi like."
The woman then noticed Luo Ning following behind Lu Xinghe. Upon seeing Luo Ning's eyes, she immediately thought of the woman she had met last time. Seeing Lu Xinghe and her together, she immediately smiled and said, "Oh, little sister, it's you! I told you you two were a couple, but you wouldn't admit it."
The woman's voice was loud, attracting the attention of those around her. Luo Ning's face flushed slightly, and she quickly picked out two sets of clothes and said to Lu Xinghe, "These are all I need."
"Take this dress with you too. Your husband has good taste; it'll suit you perfectly." The woman said, taking down the blue dress as well.
Luo Ning knew how to explain, but Lu Xinghe had already paid, and both of them looked a little awkward.
On the way back, Lu Xinghe drove absentmindedly, while Luo Ning stared blankly at the clothes in the bag. She felt that Lu Xinghe was acting a little strange today.
Moreover, this was the first time the two of them had been alone since she asked him to continue breeding that day, and she felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Lu Xinghe glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and seeing her solemn expression and silent demeanor, he hesitated to speak.
Back at the alien prison, Lu Xinghe helped Luo Ning carry her bags. As they reached for them, their hands accidentally touched. Luo Ning immediately pulled her hand away, grabbed all the bags, and ran towards the room as if fleeing, leaving Lu Xinghe staring blankly at her retreating figure.
She didn't go back to her own room but went to Wenxi's. Wenxi, who had been in a daze, finally reacted when she saw her running in covered in sweat: "What's wrong?"
Luo Ning was happy to hear her finally speak, but she still controlled her emotions: "It's nothing, I was just allowed to go out today, so I bought some things and brought some for you to see if you like them."
As she spoke, she took out plush toys and clothes, and when she saw the little rabbit, she was stunned. The rabbit was not hers; it should have belonged to Lu Xinghe.
Wen Xi noticed the change in Luo Ning's eyes at this moment, and was shocked. He asked excitedly, "Your eyes... have you regained your human form?"
"No, it's because I was wearing colored contact lenses." Luo Ning opened her eyes wide for Wen Xi to see.
Wen Xi looked somewhat disappointed: "So that's what it is." Then she looked at the things Luo Ning had given her: "You went out with Major Lu?"
Luo Ning nodded: "Yes, he bought these too."
"Please thank him for me. Is his injury any better?" Wen Xi asked.
Luo Ning thought she was asking about the injuries she sustained on the day of the explosion: "They're almost healed."
However, Wen Xi murmured, "He was whipped just like Du Lu."
Luo Ning was taken aback: "What kind of whipping?"
Wen Xi replied softly, "Du Lu said that Major Lu deliberately didn't board the plane to come back and rescue us. Later, when this was discovered, he was punished with caning after the trial."
Although she was talking about Lu Xinghe, she mentioned Du Lu's name in two consecutive sentences.
Luo Ning finally understood why she smelled his blood at the hospital that day; he must have been receiving treatment there after being whipped.
It turns out that he didn't miss his flight; he gave up his chance to go back to save her.
She returned to her room, looked at the clean white scarf on the bed, and decided to go and check on it.
She knocked on Lu Xinghe's door.
"Who?" Lu Xinghe asked.
"It's me." She took a soft breath.
Lu Xinghe didn't open the door immediately. He seemed to be doing something inside, and he bumped into something, making a clattering sound.
Finally, the door opened. He wasn't fully dressed yet, and there were fine beads of sweat on his forehead that he hadn't had time to wipe away.
Luo Ning walked in and immediately smelled the medicine: "Are you applying medicine?"
"No," Lu Xinghe denied. He had indeed been applying medicine to himself in front of the mirror, but the injury was on his back, making it inconvenient to apply the medicine.
Seeing that he was still unwilling to admit it, Luo Ning directly lifted his clothes, revealing crisscrossing whip marks on his back. Although the wounds had already scabbed over, it was still clear how badly he had been beaten.
"Where's the medicine?" she asked.
Lu Xinghe had no choice but to take the medicine bottles that had been smashed on the floor from under the bed.
"Take off your clothes," Luo Ning said again, but then she regretted it, because he had taken off his clothes in front of her a few days ago.
The room fell silent. Lu Xinghe took off his shirt, revealing his muscular shoulders and back.
Luo Ning put on her gloves and gently applied ointment to the wound with a cotton swab: "Why didn't you say anything when you were injured? You even took me out. You should have rested properly."
“Injuries happen all the time, there’s nothing to say about it.” Lu Xinghe placed his fists on his knees.
Luo Ning carefully applied the medicine, and gently blew on the wounds to avoid hurting him. There were as many as ten whip marks, which were intertwined and covered a rather large area.
Lu Xinghe didn't feel pain, only an itch. Her breath, a small strand of her hair falling on his back, made him clench his fist tighter and tighter. It wasn't like applying medicine, but like torture, a kind of "punishment" that was even more unbearable than whipping.
"Alright, don't put pressure on your wound when you sleep," Luo Ning instructed before leaving.
“I’m off tomorrow and the day after, so I can take you around to see the sights,” Lu Xinghe suddenly said.
Luo Ning was stunned for a moment, not expecting such an opportunity: "Okay, then I'll come to see you tomorrow. Can I bring Wen Xi with me?"
She also wanted to get some exercise and see what the world was like inside the base.
“Wen Xi isn’t in the right condition right now. I’ll apply again when she’s feeling better,” Lu Xinghe replied.
This was a time for the two of them to be alone, and he wanted to give her more opportunities to get to know him and the base.
Luo Ning returned to her room and looked at the little rabbit and the dress. Thinking of how he had put his arm around her waist and told so many people that she was his wife, her heart pounded like a bean jumping in a warm stove.
But he was only trying to get out of a predicament; his hand didn't even touch her body, and he was deliberately keeping his distance.
She lay on the bed, holding her little rabbit, with unspeakable worries on her mind.
She and Lu Xinghe set off early the next morning, but this time Lu Xinghe did not drive. Instead, they traveled as civilians. However, the base required Luo Ning to wear a bracelet containing inhibitors in case of any unforeseen events that could lead to uncontrollable situations.
They took public transportation and drove around the base, visiting the shops, bookstores, and the only amusement park on the base, where many children were playing and laughing.
Luo Ning played around in the rudimentary amusement park like a child, then sat down on a bench to rest. Lu Xinghe handed her a bottle of water, which she gulped down in one go.
"Today is the most fun I've ever had in the world," she said happily.
Looking at her bright smile, Lu Xinghe said, "Weren't there any happy times when you were with me and Xiao Ruo before?"
“That’s different. That’s life. Today is for fun. I don’t have to worry about not finding food for the next meal, or about the sudden appearance of alien species. It’s very relaxing,” she replied.
Then a ball rolled to her feet, and several little boys and girls ran over, sweating profusely, and she handed the ball to them.
"Thank you, big sister," the children said in their childish voices, then ran off with the ball in their arms.
She watched their backs as they walked away, and saw how they were with their parents, and she felt envious.
The aroma of delicious food wafted into her nose, but she could only watch helplessly. Although the food was ordinary, it was something she could see but not touch.
She has no home, can't eat the food she wants, and her future is uncertain.
She quieted down again, the evening breeze blowing through her long hair, and she suddenly felt a little cold.
Lu Xinghe's gaze never left her. She was just like any other human being, loving life and yearning for it. He couldn't help but want to get closer to her.
He slowly moved closer to her, and together they watched the people coming and going around them. The laughter of the children echoed in his heart until night completely fell.
"It's getting late, let's go back." Lu Xinghe stood up, but still didn't say anything.
Luo Ning frowned as she stood up. Her new shoes were rubbing against her feet, which were injured. Although they could heal on their own, they had been throbbing all day and were still a little sore.
She still prefers to wear old clothes and shoes; they're comfortable.
"What's wrong?" Lu Xinghe asked.
"The shoes are rubbing against my feet." She took off her shoes, revealing that her socks were covered in blood.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Lu Xinghe said with some heartache.
"It's okay, the wound will heal quickly anyway."
Lu Xinghe looked around: "This place isn't far from the courtyard where you used to live. Your clothes and shoes are still in that house. Let's go there now."
Luo Ning was reluctant to go because the memories of that house were too ambiguous, but Lu Xinghe contacted a car from a nearby base.
When Luo Ning arrived at the house, she saw that the yard was already covered with green grass, and some nameless wildflowers were quietly sprouting buds.
Lu Xinghe opened the door and went inside. There was still no electricity; they could only use the communicator's light for illumination.
He opened the closet, where her clothes and shoes were neatly arranged, and the secret room where they had been trapped was also inside. Both of them couldn't help but recall what had happened back then.
Luo Ning silently sat down on the chair to put on her shoes. It was the same chair where she had once pinned Lu Xinghe down, sitting on his lap, her desire burning like fire.
She took off her socks, revealing her fair feet. The wound had healed, but blood had smeared a large area of her feet. She hopped into the bathroom on one foot to wash the blood off, but slipped and fell to the ground.
She didn't feel any pain from the fall and could get up quickly, but her body felt light. Lu Xinghe carried her directly to the bed, then took a wet towel and used it to wipe the blood off her feet.
This was too intimate; his large hand held her slender, delicate foot, and she could feel the warmth of his palm, though he showed no inappropriate expression.
The room fell silent. She thought she would do it herself.
However, Lu Xinghe looked up at her seriously, his voice as clear and cold as a cedar tree: "Do you hate me?"
Luo Ning shook her head blankly. How could she hate him? He was so good.
Lu Xinghe's lips moved slightly: "Since you don't dislike it, let's try again."
Luo Ningxin trembled: "Try what?"
"Regarding the issue of breeding, we need to have a child," Lu Xinghe replied.
Luo Ning gripped the bedsheet nervously, her chest heaving slightly: "Then do you hate me?"
Lu Xinghe also shook his head.
Neither of them dared to utter the word "like," proceeding cautiously, like two loyal guardians of the Ice Soul, fearing it would melt away if exposed to sunlight.
As long as you don't dislike each other, you can accept each other.
"Okay." After a long while, Luo Ning said softly. This was exactly what she wanted, and this time it was his initiative, so she should be very happy.
But she greedily wanted more, not just his body but also his heart. Because this "greed" could not be satisfied, she felt as if a piece of her heart was empty.
The voices of the nearby civilians could be faintly heard by her and him, but at this moment neither of them could hear these voices; they could only hear each other's breathing and heartbeats.
This time, they didn't kiss, even though they had kissed twice before.
Lu Xinghe kissed her forehead, her eyes, and then her neck.
Security officers patrolled outside the courtyard. From their voices, Luo Ning could tell they were young. They were talking about responsibility and ideals, and they wanted to contribute their strength to the future of humanity.
Her clothes were being undressed by the strongest and most beautiful of the security officers, who would bear her a child to be the pillar of humanity's future.
Lu Xinghe had an injury on his back, so she didn't dare to hug him. Although he was gentle at first, he gradually lost his usual calmness and restraint and became reckless. She could only grip the sheets tightly.
Wen Xi said the first time was very painful, second only to the pain of being shot. But she felt it was even more painful than being shot, as if her body was being ripped open. Yet, there was an indescribable feeling amidst the pain, a subtle sensation lurking within her body. With each penetration of Lu Xinghe, this feeling was amplified, making her somewhat afraid.
She finally grabbed his strong arm in fear, breathing heavily, wanting to beg for mercy, but the sound that came out of her mouth made her feel ashamed, so she bit her lip tightly.
Lu Xinghe was losing control of himself. He had thought everything was under control: go deeper, leave chromosomes, and end.
But the truth is, the moment he touched her, he realized what the missing soul in his dreams was—the reality that had haunted him.
Possession and devouring dominated him. Looking at her flushed face and wet eyelashes, watching her endure, cry, and suppress her emotions, he felt no sympathy or pity. Instead, he violently wanted to make her beg for mercy.
That's what he thought, and that's what he did.
Shadows overlapped on the wall, breathing became disordered in the room, and the old wooden bed creaked ambiguously as it rocked.
Luo Ning's body was softly folded, and she breathed intermittently as the young man continued to invade her like a ferocious beast.
At the age of twenty-three or twenty-four, it was even more terrifying than she had imagined.
She saw the powerful pulsation of the veins on his forehead and neck, and could feel the strength gathering in his arms. His originally cold and handsome face was now tainted with a terrifying desire, like a demon fallen into the abyss of love.
The magnolia blossoms were placed in a stone mortar and mercilessly pounded into juice by a stone pestle, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.
Luo Ning swallowed small sips of air, her throat dry and her eyes blurry with tears. The faint sensations she had just felt had transformed into countless tiny insects, gnawing and ravaging her body.
Especially when Lu Xinghe touched her soft tail, she finally couldn't help but let out a sound, but Lu Xinghe covered her mouth again.
So she could only cry, but she couldn't bite. Her tears soaked the man's palms, but that didn't stop him.
"Why are you crying? Didn't you like it before?" Lu Xinghe asked, his voice suppressed, serious, like a god who judges rewards and punishments.
"What do you like?" Luo Ning stared at him blankly, a thin, translucent silver thread spilling from the corner of her mouth.
Lu Xinghe did not answer; her voice alone was enough to make him lose control again.
But when he finally freed himself, after a brief blank in his mind, he returned to that abandoned town, back to the riverbank full of flowers, and this time he saw three people.
He, Luo Ning, and An Xiaoruo, who shouldn't have been there.
He picked up two beautiful stones. An Xiaoruo took one, and Luo Ning gave the other to her. She looked at the stone in the sunlight and admired its beauty.
Then he practiced with her, and she threw him to the ground again and again. An Xiaoru cheered him on from the side, but he still couldn't control her and let her hold him down and laugh happily.
There was no entanglement, no pleading or crying from her, only his resentful attempt to suppress her, yet he could never succeed.
He was hallucinating; he was seeing such ridiculous images.
But when he looked at the delicate and beautiful woman beneath him, he couldn't help but try to distinguish between the scene he had just witnessed and his previous dreams, which was real and which was an illusion.
Then he lowered himself down again, still unsure, perhaps he would know the answer after one more time.
Luo Ning trembled again, her slender legs swinging like a swing, her fair arms groping for the edge of the bed, trying to grab something, but in the end, they fell limply to her sides...
early morning.
When Luo Ning woke up, she felt extremely sore and weak. She rarely felt like this after becoming a mutant. Thinking about everything that happened last night, she couldn't help but blush.
She was alone in bed. She immediately looked around and saw that Lu Xinghe was already dressed and standing by the window looking at the scenery in the courtyard.
She felt a little disappointed. In her teenage years, she imagined being with the person she liked would be her waking up every day with him lying next to her, holding her in his arms, and saying good morning.
But in reality, he waited for her to wake up dressed, his aloof and ascetic demeanor as if nothing had happened.
She told herself it was nothing; it was a mission between her and him, for Xiao Ruo, for Wen Xi, and for humanity.
Thinking of this, she touched her lower abdomen, wondering if there was already a little hope there.
But Xiao Xi didn't feel it; she only felt the soreness he left behind.
Lu Xinghe snapped out of his reverie upon hearing the voice and said gently, "You're awake."
"Um, what time is it now?" she asked shyly.
"Ten o'clock."
"Ten o'clock?" Luo Ning exclaimed in surprise. It was already ten o'clock.
She never woke up at this time during her carefree days outside the base.
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