Time always passes faster just when you need it to go slower.
Chen Ci and Fu Tianhe stayed in the abandoned suburbs for a day, and then stayed in the research institute for two more days. There were still many places they didn't have time to visit, so the last three days of the journey became a bit rushed.
Chen Ci had already told Fu Tianhe in advance that he had some temporary matters to attend to and would need to be away for a while, and it would not be convenient for him to contact him during this period.
Chen Ci was sitting on the bus. He was looking out the window, then he turned to Fu Tianhe beside him and said, "I'll have to trouble you to take care of Da Congming. I'll be back in about a week."
"Of course, no problem." Fu Tianhe agreed and said with a smile, "It's not a problem at all. Da Congming is also my dog."
Although Chen Ci was not able to visit all of Cinnabar as originally planned, he was very satisfied with his experiences during the trip.
He had originally planned to return home on the last day to meet with Jiang Dai, so as to report his safety, but it was too late.
In ten minutes, it would be the time agreed between Chen Nian and him. Chen Nian and Shafley came to the water supply station together, where they would complete the exchange.
Chen Ci only told Fu Tianhe that he was going to meet a friend. Fu Tianhe guessed that it might be because of this friend that Chen Ci was in such a hurry to leave. Originally, Chen Ci planned to go alone and let Fu Tianhe go home, but Fu Tianhe insisted on accompanying him for a while.
They were sitting on the bus, and Chen Ci glanced at the terminal. The bus was moving too slowly, and it was already the agreed time, so Chen Nian would have to wait a little longer.
Finally they arrived at the station. Chen Ci got off the bus with his bag on his back and said to Fu Tianhe, "Just drop me off here."
Fu Tianhe was reluctant to let go, so he helped Chen Ci tidy up the bag straps and said, "Be careful, and if you need any help, feel free to contact me."
"Okay." Chen Ci nodded and walked quickly towards the place he and Chen Nian had agreed on.
The crowd was bustling. Chen Nian walked along the street for more than ten meters and suddenly looked back for some reason.
——Is he reluctant to leave this journey, or is he unable to let go of the person who has always been with him?
He saw Fu Tianhe standing there, looking at him silently. Alpha was still wearing the familiar sportswear, his black hair was a little messy, his golden prosthetic eye was bright, but his intact black eyes were silently filled with reluctance, and his gaze never left the boy for a moment.
They traveled together, starting from Information Processing Area 13, exploring the ruins of the abandoned suburbs covered with vegetation, riding a motorcycle together in the pouring rain, with nothing around them but the gray-blue ocean and sky.
Hanging on the wall outside the production workshop, they lifted the cordon and quietly entered the restricted area. Fu Tianhe dragged the broken old piano out of the ruins. The moonlight poured down from the gap in the roof, like a spotlight of nature, falling on his hands that were dancing on the black and white keys.
They pretended to be gang leaders and entered the rich mansion that was like a garden of wonders, and unexpectedly turned a fraud into a robbery. The mental power surrounded their bodies as the most stringent defense, and Fu Tianhe followed closely behind, blocking all creatures that wanted to catch up.
The two's footprints were almost everywhere in Cinnabar. They always lived in adjacent rooms, separated only by a wall. Sometimes they would knock on each other's doors, sit opposite each other on the bed or on the floor, and train the beagle named Smart.
And now, he was going to leave Fu Tianhe alone and leave.
Chen Ci stopped.
Under Alpha's surprised gaze, he turned around and walked towards Fu Tianhe step by step, but his pace became faster and faster, and finally he trotted towards Fu Tianhe.
He stood in front of Fu Tianhe, slightly out of breath, but opened his arms and gave him a hug.
This was a real hug, not the politeness and distance that Chen Ci usually used. He wrapped his arms around Fu Tianhe's arms, hugged the Alpha completely, and his hands finally fell on Fu Tianhe's back.
With their chests pressed against each other, they could feel each other's heartbeats even through the clothes.
Chen Ci was shorter than Fu Tianhe, and his head rested on the Alpha's shoulder when they hugged him. Fu Tianhe only needed to lower his head to see his long and smooth neck. The plain necklace was exposed from the collar, protecting the Omega's glands under the skin at the back of his neck.
But the subtle fragrance of tuberose still lingers around the nose like a dream.
Fu Tianhe was stunned for a moment, then immediately raised his hands and hugged Chen Ci back tightly.
At this moment, Fu Tianhe had nothing in his mind. He felt the embrace with his whole body and soul.
——September gave him her first hug.
My heart is filled with something unknown, the sweetness of juice overflowing from my lips and teeth, and the sourness of unripe berries. The slightest touch will make me shudder uncontrollably.
It has been a long, long time since I felt so full.
Fu Tianhe put his hand on Chen Ci's shoulder blade. He hugged him so tightly that he could even feel the spine through the clothes.
No one knew that during the nights spent in the abandoned suburbs, he had had countless absurd dreams. He kissed the boy's pale lips, which were completely different from the softness of indifference. The unbearable kiss followed the neck, imprinted on the shoulder, and slid down along the depression of the spine.
The low tent was small and everything was silent in the darkness. The scents of tuberose and amber intertwined and the pheromones blended silently. There was obviously no contact, but it was even more intimate than a kiss.
Fu Tianhe frowned tightly, trying hard to suppress his unrealistic fantasies. He and Chen Ci hugged each other too tightly, and he was even afraid that the dirty thoughts in his mind would be sensed by Chen Ci.
Chen Ci was also carrying a cross-country backpack. The backpack was very large and bulging, just like he was holding a little turtle.
It wasn't until Chen Ci gently pushed him that Fu Tianhe finally came to his senses. If he let go of her hand now, Jiu Yue would leave.
He resisted the urge to let go and used all his reason to finally let Chen Ci go.
Alpha whispered, "Go ahead, we'll see you in a few days."
Chen Ci nodded, he looked up at Fu Tianhe, his amber eyes reflected the sad look of the Alpha. After a few seconds, Chen Ci turned around and trotted in the direction of leaving.
This time, he didn't look back.
Fu Tianhe watched the young man's figure being swallowed by the crowd and finally disappearing from his sight.
He took a deep breath with some trembling, the corners of his eyes kept getting hot, and even his nose started to feel sore.
It was clearly just a temporary separation, but September's abnormal behavior suddenly made him feel uneasy.
He knew Jiu Yue's personality very well. The boy was indifferent to the point of being cold and indifferent. Let alone a hug, he usually didn't even want physical contact.
Why did you suddenly turn back and hug him?
Is it because you don’t know if we will ever meet again?
Feeling more and more uneasy, Fu Tianhe quickly said to himself: Don't think too much, Jiuyue said he would only be away for a few days, and we will definitely be able to meet again later.
Fu Tianhe calmed himself down, glanced at the time on the bus stop sign, and prepared to take the bus back to the hotel and take Da Congming to Information Processing Area No. 13.
Chen Ci jogged all the way, but was still nearly ten minutes late than the agreed time.
He came to the busiest shopping mall in the entire water supply station and took the elevator up to the fifth floor. This floor was where the cinema and many restaurants were located. It was morning and there were not many customers.
Chen Ci went straight to the bathroom. He came to the door of the central barrier-free bathroom and knocked on the door.
The red light indicating that the door was locked went out. Chen Ci pushed the door open and immediately closed it behind him.
The light turned red again.
The tall Alpha was sitting on the toilet lid. When he saw Chen Ci coming, he immediately stood up. It was the eldest prince Shafulai.
Chen Nian, who was leaning against the sink, took two steps forward joyfully and gave Chen Ci a hug without saying a word: "Brother."
Chen Ci hummed, then he took off his duckbill cap with the brim pulled down very low and the mask that covered most of his face, finally revealing his true face.
This was the first time the three met.
Only when the two brothers stood in front of him did Shafla realize how much they looked alike.
If it weren't for the different clothes they were wearing, Shafley would have suspected that there was a mirror standing between his words and his thoughts.
He looked at Chen Ci, then at Chen Nian, and could not help being surprised.
The two brothers looked exactly like each other in terms of facial features and face shape. No wonder no one except Shafley noticed after such a long time. However, unlike Chen Ci's calmness, the expression between Chen Nian's eyebrows and eyes is more lively.
"You haven't run into any trouble these days, have you?" Chen Nian asked. Shafley told him that Chen Ci had robbed the mansion of a wealthy man in the ecological tank, causing quite a commotion.
Chen Ci shook his head: "I don't know if Donald will continue to search in the dungeon. To be on the safe side, you may have to stay at home for the next few days."
"It's okay, just stay at home. Anyway, you don't need to go out to work for money now." Chen Nian looked at Shafulai with a smile, "Right?"
Shafley hummed: "If you need money, just tell me anytime."
Chen Ci and Chen Nian briefly talked about their experiences during the exchange. Since the two of them were able to communicate through the terminal, they could grasp each other's movements in real time and didn't have to worry so much.
Of course, they still have to write a diary every day. After all, it is impossible for them to tell each other everything that happened in a day in detail during the chat.
Chen Ci: "The concert you mentioned is tonight, right?"
Chen Nian: "Well, isn't that a bit too rushed?"
"Nothing." Chen Ci calculated the time. He could have a short rest after returning home, attend a concert in the evening, and have a physical examination early tomorrow morning.
Chen Nian was still a little worried. He knew that his brother was not good at intrigue and was more used to solving problems manually. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been so many rich young men dreaming of becoming rich and powerful and wanting to replace him over the years.
"You can ask Gui Zhiqi if she has time and ask her to go with you. Otherwise, you might suffer a loss if you fight alone."
Chen Ci agreed, but he didn't talk much about what happened during his journey.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he did not mention Fu Tianhe's existence in front of Shafley, although Shafley saw the photos that Guo Luheng took accidentally and knew that he was traveling with friends.
It was even more impossible for Chen Nian to say it. He knew clearly that Fu Tianhe was interested in Chen Ci, so how could he betray his brother in front of Shafulai?
Shafley had seen the surveillance video when he was helping Chen Ci deal with the Donald incident. Fu Tianhe's presence made him feel a little uncomfortable, but he was secretly relieved. After all, the dungeon was very chaotic, and Chen Ci, an Omega, could easily run into danger if he ran around, so it would be good to have someone accompany him.
All in all, no matter what the three people's mindsets were, they all tacitly agreed not to say anything.
This time, with Shafley as cover, they were able to talk for longer.
Especially the accident involving the original creatures.
Chen Ci encountered the original squid in an abandoned suburb. While searching the other's injured body, he heard the squid's call for help. After a brief shock, Chen Ci killed it without mercy.
A few days later, Chen Nian and Shafley went to the Huanhai Platform. He first picked up a small conch and vaguely heard a rustling sound.
Afterwards, giant starfish and octopuses attacked the platform they were on, and countless small primitive creatures jumped out of the sea like moths to a flame, trying to get close to Chen Nian.
Chen Nian heard their calls.
Since that day, the ocean platforms surrounding Cinnabar have been constantly attacked by primitive creatures, and the frequency has reached the highest peak in history.
It is hard not to suspect that they are actually motivated by a common notion.
The original squid that abandoned the suburbs also discovered Chen Ci's existence, but it did not return to the sea alive. Perhaps if Chen Ci did not kill it one day, a similar attack would happen again?
All three of them found it difficult to understand this bizarre thing. How could humans hear the voices of primitive creatures?
Moreover, they acted as if they were very familiar with the two brothers.
Shafley: "I have also been looking for relevant information, but I haven't found anything yet. If there is any progress, I will let you know immediately. Before a conclusion is reached, it is best not to go near the seaside. Safety is the priority."
"I will probably stay at home after I get back, since I don't have to go to work anyway." Chen Nian paused, then said, "I'll go and explain everything to Uncle Jiang, and then you can come pick him up."
Shafley nodded and took Jiang Dai to the top-floor hospital for eye treatment, which was also what they had discussed in advance.
Jiang Dai has lived with Chen Nian in the underground city for eighteen years, and he refuses to let Chen Nian return to the top floor no matter what. There must be other unknown reasons. Maybe they can get some important clues from Jiang Dai.
The barrier-free bathroom was quite spacious, and the three of them chatted in it for more than an hour. It was obvious that the two brothers were very satisfied with their new lives.
So according to the old rules, after returning, they spent a week with their original identities and then exchanged identities for the third time.
Shafley: "I will accompany Chen Ci down, and we can arrange a place then. Or you can meet in the area where your home is in the dungeon."
"We'll talk about it later. Anyway, we can always get in touch." Chen Nian didn't make a decision immediately. He still didn't want to give Shafulai the chance to get close to Information Processing Area No. 13.
After finishing talking about the important things, Shafulai looked at the time and estimated that it was about time. He said, "You two should change your clothes or continue chatting for a while. I'll wait outside."
Shafla left the bathroom, leaving only the two brothers inside.
Some things were indeed inconvenient to say in front of Shafulai, so Chen Nian smiled and deliberately asked, "Where is Fu Tianhe? Weren't you two together last night?"
"He dropped me off at the station, and I made an appointment with him to meet next week."
"Then I can't see him this week. If he sends you a message, what should I do?"
"Just answer normally."
Normal answer. Chen Nian blinked. Judging from Chen Ci's expression, he and Fu Tianhe were just ordinary friends at the moment.
Yes, Chen Ci is naturally emotionally indifferent, and unless Fu Tianhe makes it clear, he would not be able to notice it.
Chen Nian: "Okay, is he taking care of the puppy now?"
Chen Ci: "Well, let him watch it. I'm afraid that Da Congming will recognize the difference between us. Besides, it's not convenient for you to walk the dog every day."
Since Chen Ci had arranged everything, Chen Nian was relieved. After thinking about it, he decided to ask, "Brother, what are you going to do with your engagement with Shafulai in the future?"
Chen Ci raised his eyes: "What should we do?"
"I mean, what if you find out you have someone you like? After all, you are engaged to Shafley, and it would be very troublesome if this happened."
Chen Ci was silent for a moment. "Shapley and I have no feelings for each other. The incompatibility of pheromones is also a very troublesome thing, but the engagement is not so easy to cancel. It... has other uses."
Other functions? Chen Nian could vaguely guess that it was to restrict Chen's words.
Whether it was protection or imprisonment, the White Tower and the royal family were trying their best to capture Chen Ci.
Chen Nian frowned slightly, there must be something he didn't know.
They chatted for a long time without noticing. Shafulai was still waiting outside, and he didn't know if he would be anxious. Although he wanted to stay with Chen Ci for a while longer, Chen Nian still held back his reluctance and said, "Brother, let's change our clothes back."
Chen Ci nodded and took the initiative to untie the collar around his neck.
The low-key casual clothes were taken off and exchanged for blue and black sportswear, and then trousers and shoes.
Chen Ci adjusted his clothes in front of the mirror and took out a new mask from Chen Nian's coat: "Wear it when you go out later."
Chen Nian reached out and weighed his backpack.
So heavy!
Does Chen Ci usually run around with this thing on his back? His physical fitness is amazing!
Shaflay sat on a bench in the hallway outside the bathroom and waited.
He knew that the two brothers must have a lot to talk about, and there was no telling how long it would take. However, faced with such a boring situation, Shafley did not open the game forum or surf the Internet to kill time as he usually did.
Shafla had mixed feelings.
Because he knew the secret of the exchange, he is now the most trusted person of the two brothers. However, in just over a month, he fell hopelessly in love with Chen Nian and had an engagement with Chen Ci since childhood.
The two brothers knew nothing about this.
The moment he actually saw the twins standing in front of him, Shaflay finally confirmed that his feelings for Chen Nian had nothing to do with appearance, and had little to do with the so-called pheromones.
What impressed him at first was Chen Nian's unique agility. He did whatever he wanted, was bold and unrestrained, and was willful to just the right degree.
Sometimes Shaflay even wondered if he was a jerk because he had no reaction to so many Omegas who were meek and humble and trying to please him. Instead, he would blush and feel his heart beating fast because of Chen Nian's repeated teasing and pranks.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Shafley suddenly heard the door of the barrier-free bathroom being opened.
He perked up and looked in that direction.
I saw a young man in a blue and black sportswear walking out leisurely. He was wearing a duckbill cap, a mask that tightly covered half of his face, and carrying a very heavy off-road bag.
When passing in front of Shaflay, the boy turned his head. Those amber eyes were extremely familiar. In the moment of staring at each other, Shaflay caught a glimpse of the unspeakable smile in them. It was the chuckle he was most familiar with, with a sly meaning.
The boy walked straight past him without stopping for a moment, like a stranger he met by chance.
Soon he turned the corner and disappeared from Shaffley's sight.
At this moment, somewhere in my heart suddenly seemed empty.
Shafley took a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly.
Two minutes later, the door of the barrier-free bathroom was opened again.
Chen Ci, dressed in casual clothes, walked out calmly. He nodded to Shafley who was waiting on the bench and said calmly, "Let's go."
"Is there anywhere else you want to go?" Shafley asked him, standing up.
Chen Ci shook his head: "Go back."
"That's good. I've been running around a lot lately, so today is a good time to rest."
Chen Ci and Shafley took the central elevator back to the top floor. As members of the royal family, they had a dedicated passage that was more private and safer.
No one spoke while standing in the elevator waiting for the station to arrive.
Shafley looked at his reflection in the elevator wall and still found it strange that the two brothers looked so similar that they were almost mirror images, but their personalities were so different.
Chen Ci lowered his eyes and remained silent. Was he thinking back to this special journey that took him almost all over Cinnabar? Perhaps in Chen Ci's view, these short twenty-one days were more meaningful than the eighteen years he had spent in the White Tower.
After a while, Chen Ci suddenly thought of something and took out a small box from his coat pocket.
“Birthday present, for you.”
Shafley was quite surprised. He did not have the chance to meet Chen Ci on his birthday, and he did not think that Chen Ci would prepare a gift for him.
"Thank you." Shafulai took it. The gift was only wrapped in a small plastic box, which was indeed a bit simple, but Shafulai didn't mind. He was very touched that Chen Ci actually thought of buying him a gift.
Shafley opened the box and found a round badge inside with a picture of a little white cat printed on it and only half of the text written below, making it easy to see that this was actually a couple's badge.
Shafla was stunned.
...Chen Ci gave him a couple badge?
It’s hard to describe what I’m feeling at this moment.
Even though Chen Ciyuan was in the dungeon, she was still thinking about preparing a birthday gift for him and even chose a couple badge. Yes, no matter what the situation was, they were still engaged fiancée after all.
However, he committed the most unbearable betrayal. When Chen Ci was away, he fell in love with his biological brother.
A huge sense of guilt surged up in him, drowning him bit by bit.
Shafley held the badge in his hand. The edge hurt his palm. He was silent, and the lines of his cheeks looked hard because of his clenched teeth.
Beside him, Chen Ci fell into a trance again.
Unlike Shafulei's torment, Chen Ci was calm and composed. Chen Nian reminded him that Shafulei's 25th birthday was coming. He also prepared a gift for Alpha and gave it to him. The matter went smoothly.
Chen Ci was thinking about Fu Tianhe, or to be more precise, about the hug she gave him before leaving.
It's a little abnormal, considering that for more than a decade, he has been strictly averse to any form of physical contact.
The laboratory conducted a rigorous examination on him and confirmed that it was not pathological and was caused by psychological factors.
But now, his "habit" of eighteen years has suddenly disappeared.
When did it start?
Perhaps it was in an abandoned building in the suburbs. He jumped down from the shaky second floor and was steadily caught by Fu Tianhe who was waiting below.
Or maybe she was on the back seat of a motorcycle in the pouring rain, hiding in a narrow raincoat, hugging Fu Tianhe's waist tightly.
Or was it in the hut in the Lar camp, when they sat around the fire and Fu Tianhe held his cold feet in his arms, pressing them against his abdomen for warmth?
The distance was shortened little by little, like a frog in warm water, or Pavlov's dog, quietly getting used to each other's existence and touch.
The tissue that was initially blocking the palms of the two people disappeared, and Alpha got used to having this noisy presence around him. He always responded to Fu Tianhe's questions, but Alpha never felt embarrassed.
Perhaps compared to Da Congming, Fu Tianhe is more like an ideal dog. No matter how he is treated coldly or scolded, when he receives a little kindness, he will always come up eagerly again.