Luo Ning quickly placed the clothes in Lu Xinghe's hands: "I'm going back to my room now, I'll come find you tomorrow."
She just cared about him and wanted to talk to him. Even if she liked him, she would be mindful of the time and boundaries. He had just finished such a fierce battle and should rest early.
But when she turned around, he grabbed her hand.
"Don't go," Lu Xinghe said softly.
There was a door between them, and she couldn't see his expression. His hands were clenched tightly, yet trembled slightly.
She stayed.
He pulled her inside. The bathroom was small, barely big enough for one person to move around in. It wasn't meant to be a place for people to live permanently; it was a prison for the alien species.
Lu Xinghe was tall and took up most of the space by himself, making it feel cramped when she went in. The room was steamy, and their reflections in the mirror were blurry.
The outside space was larger and more comfortable, but Lu Xinghe subconsciously pulled her into this small space, just like the three years he and she spent in that cramped basement. He felt safe and at ease there.
Luo Ning was pinned to the cold wall by him, while he was burning hot in front of her, creating a sensation of both ice and fire.
She clung to his neck to keep from falling, his breath hot and heavy against her ear. Although this was only the second time, she noticed that he didn't like to make any noise during the process. He didn't say anything flirtatious or sweet words, like a silent beast, biting precisely one bite at a time.
Her legs swung back and forth like a swing rope being pushed up, forcing her to support herself on his arms. She could feel the blood boiling in his bulging veins in her palms, and her chest heaving. Amidst the heat and sweat, she smelled a pleasant woody scent, like hay in the fields or the winter sun.
She had never known before that the cold and restrained boy could be so unrestrained in matters of love. His masculine aggression enveloped her completely, and the dull pain and soreness in her abdomen gradually disappeared, replaced by a tingling, sticky desire.
She tilted her head to find his lips; she wanted to kiss him, but there was a wound on the corner of his mouth, so she could only silently lower her head again.
He was completely unaware of her little secret, and kissing seemed like a luxury.
Her body gradually went limp, clinging to him with a soft, pinkish glow. She tilted her head back, breathing heavily. Through the ventilation opening in the wall, she could see the deep sky outside filled with stars, a dreamlike scene.
She was finally put down, and they faced the mirror. It was the first time Luo Ning had seen herself like this. Her face was flushed and her eyes were misty. Every move she and he made was clearly reflected in the mirror. Whatever they did, the person in the mirror did too.
"Luo Ning." Lu Xinghe suddenly called her name.
"Mmm," she responded softly.
She answered him, but he fell silent, as if he simply wanted to call her name. He gently nibbled on her ear, as if holding a sweet berry in his mouth, and then pressed deeper with even greater determination.
After everything calmed down, an ambiguous atmosphere remained in the bathroom.
Luo Ning fell asleep quickly, but Lu Xinghe kept his eyes open. He had called her name earlier to ask her if one day he would become like Du Lu, unconscious and living like a walking corpse in this world, would she still go to see him?
He felt the warmth of her in his arms, then put the bracelet on her wrist. Her fair wrist made the pink crystals look even more lustrous. He gently kissed her forehead.
He wished time could stop at this moment, without sunrise or sunset, without aliens or missions, only peace and eternity.
When Luo Ning woke up the next day, Lu Xinghe was still not by her side. She vaguely heard him receive a mission and then go out in the morning.
She sat up, wrapped in the blanket, feeling a slight ache in her abdomen, just like last time. But this time, she had something extra in her hand: a warm, light pink bracelet. Although she didn't know what material it was, its texture was clearly very rare.
He put it on her wrist while she was asleep. Looking at the bracelet, she felt a mix of sweetness and disappointment. Couldn't he have given it to her when she was awake? She would have been happier that way.
She returned to her room to wash up. Looking at herself in the mirror, she recalled everything that had happened last night, thinking about his body temperature and scent, and his persistent possessiveness. She couldn't help but bite her toothbrush. Although they had only been apart for a short time, she couldn't help but miss him.
She wondered how he felt now, and whether he was thinking about her. She longed to know the answer.
Before they had an intimate relationship, she could tell herself that her relationship with him was that of a different species and a human, and that they were together only for the future of themselves and humanity, so she didn't care or think about it.
But after they got together, she was not satisfied with the status quo and began to feel insecure, wanting a definite answer.
She didn't know if it was because she had truly fallen in love with him, or if it was love born from sex.
She didn't see Lu Xinghe for several days. He didn't return until the evening of the fourth day. Besides the mission at the base, it was also because of his hesitation towards Du Lu. The investigation committee and the disciplinary department had been holding meetings, but in the end, he was not punished.
When Lu Xinghe returned, he was somewhat exhausted. Now, the radicals in the upper part of the story were paranoid, thinking that someone like him who had lived with aliens would one day betray humanity. Some even suggested stopping the breeding program, believing that aliens were not worthy of returning to humanity and should only be eliminated.
However, this suggestion was rejected. The rationalists believed that humans could not completely kill the alien species, and that having more methods meant having more chances of survival.
But he also knew that if the rationalists couldn't suppress the radicals, Luo Ning and Wen Xi would also be in danger.
When Luo Ning heard him return, she immediately went to his room, held out her hand with the bracelet on it, and said with sparkling eyes, "It's beautiful, I like it very much."
Seeing her smile made him feel better: "I'm glad you like it."
"Why did you suddenly give me this, and why did you do it secretly?" she asked proactively.
Lu Xinghe looked at her and said, "I think it would look great on you."
"Is that the only reason?" Luo Ning asked again.
Lu Xinghe nodded seriously. Now, whenever he sees something beautiful, he wants to give it to her.
Looking into his deep eyes, Luo Ning asked, almost as if possessed, "Lu Xinghe, do you like me? Or... do you only like my body?"
She was startled after asking the question.
But someone has to take the initiative. If he likes her too, then she won't have to suffer like this.
If he doesn't like it, then their relationship will be limited to their previous dependence on each other and their current breeding relationship.
Lu Xinghe was taken aback.
He didn't answer immediately, which means he was hesitant, and sometimes hesitation is a form of denial.
A pang of sadness welled up inside her. She should have expected this, so she gave an awkward laugh: "Don't overthink it. I... I was just asking casually. I'm going back now. You should get some rest."
She wanted to storm out.
But Lu Xinghe's voice rang out: "Can I like them all?"
This time, it was her turn to be stunned.
Do you like them both?
Wait, what was that question she just asked? Did she like me or my body?
His answer was: Can I like them all?
You little rascal, you ingrate, you shameless brat.
Lu Xinghe closed the door again. Seeing her blushing face, he couldn't help but take her hand, pinching it from the base of her fingers to her fingertips, and then placed it on his chest. He whispered in her ear, "But I like you more."
Luo Ning stared at him blankly, her head buzzing and her heart pounding. She didn't know if he had really answered or if she was just imagining things, until he lowered his head to find her lips.
He wanted to kiss her; he had wanted to since he was eighteen.
I think about it all the time, even in my dreams.
"No, you have a wound on your mouth." Although his wound was almost healed, Luo Ning didn't dare to take the risk. She subconsciously covered her mouth with her hand, and his warm lips landed on her palm.
Lu Xinghe himself didn't even notice that his mouth was injured. He reached out and touched his mouth, and sure enough, he found a scabbed area.
Since we can't kiss, we'll just have to do it.
He carried her to the bed, wanting to prove his love, but then there was an untimely knock at the door.
"Who?" he asked, trying to keep his breath down.
"Major Lu, it's been ten minutes since Miss Luo's blood test. I'm here to remind her." It was a staff member from the genetics department.
Luo Ning then remembered that she needed to get a blood test to check if she was pregnant; she had completely forgotten about it.
However, the people from the Gene Department came directly to Lu Xinghe's door, which clearly meant they already knew she was with him, so they were aware of her every move.
"I need to get a blood test; today is the seventh day." She sat up from his lap.
Today might be a lucky day; she received his response and may even have a child with him.
Luo Ning was very nervous when the blood was drawn, and Lu Xinghe stared intently at the baby, wondering if it was a boy or a girl, if it would look like Luo Ning or him, and what a good name to choose.
The results came back quickly: the insemination was unsuccessful, and Luo Ning did not conceive.
This result was within Dai Wanglin and Qi Xiaowei's expectations. Luo Ning's body was too heterogeneous, so the result was the same as the previous test subjects. However, given her genetic compatibility with Lu Xinghe and Lu Xinghe's physical qualities, there is still a lot of hope for the future.
Lu Xinghe pulled Dai Wanglin aside with a cold face: "Is it possible that your equipment is broken?"
Dai Wanglin patted him on the shoulder: "As a soldier, you shouldn't make excuses for your failures. Keep trying."
Luo Ning was also somewhat surprised by the result. Time was precious, and she couldn't afford to wait.
Qi Xiaowei poured her a glass of water: "Don't be too anxious. These things can't be rushed. Look at me, I've been married for four years and I still haven't gotten pregnant. Different species and humans are essentially the same."
Luo Ning nodded: "How is Wen Xi now? Is the baby alright?"
Qi Xiaowei replied, "I was just about to tell you about this. She's in better condition than before, and the embryo is more stable. Your friend is doing a great job. She's in the examination room next door; you can go see her."
Hearing that Wen Xi and the child were alright, Luo Ning breathed a sigh of relief. She was about to go find Wen Xi, but as soon as she stepped out, she saw Wen Xi and Yao Cheng standing in the corridor, talking quietly.
"These are crabapple blossoms I just brought back from the planting area outside the base today. The base doesn't even have them." Yao Cheng looked at Wen Xi with sparkling eyes.
"Thank you." Wen Xi said softly, taking the bouquet of delicate crabapple blossoms and smelling them. "Don't these flowers have any fragrance?"
"Crucian carp have many bones, and crabapple blossoms have no fragrance." Luo Ning walked over and said, "These are two of the greatest regrets in the world."
After saying that, she looked at Yao Cheng. She was now certain that the boy had feelings for Wen Xi, otherwise he wouldn't have come to send flowers.
But as Wenxi's friend, she didn't want Wenxi to get hurt again.
The boy seemed not to understand her words: "But the crabapple blossoms are beautiful. Even if they don't have a fragrance, just seeing them is a kind of happiness."
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