Chapter 157: Silhouette in the Rain 19 (Complete)
Everything in the treatment center’s VIP ward remained the same. Zhuang Ningyu, who had finished his examination, sat in a wheelchair and was pushed back to his room by a caregiver. Liam’s high-voltage electricity hadn’t caused him too much harm. The doctor also said his damaged nervous system would heal with slow recuperation. Relatively speaking, the most serious injury was actually the burn on his right hand. When the two hung on the tower’s outer wall, that red-hot steel bar protruding from the flames almost took away most of the flesh from his palm. It was said that after the nurse on the ambulance removed Zhuang Ningyu’s glove, looking at that bloody mess of a hand, Yi Ke immediately began searching the entire vehicle for an oxygen tank.
When news spread internally, Qinggang asked puzzled: “Why look for an oxygen tank for a hand burn?”
Zhong Mu answered: “Oh, Little Yi himself couldn’t catch his breath and needed oxygen.”
After inhaling a large bag of oxygen, Yi Ke’s mental state finally stabilized. After arriving at the hospital, he originally planned to accompany his wife to the examination room, but after not walking two steps, he also “thud” fainted and fell, smashing into the caregivers carrying the stretcher with a stumble, nearly bouncing Zhuang Ningyu off. Everyone hastily lifted him up in shock. The number of emergency room patients immediately rose from 1 to 2, and the latter was even more serious. Until now, Zhuang Ningyu had already eaten three meals of chicken soup rice, yet Yi Ke still lay unconscious.
When leaving, the caregiver specifically helped close the ward door for them. Zhuang Ningyu lay on his own hospital bed for only a few minutes before moving to Yi Ke’s bed, using his left hand without gauze to lift his eyelid and lean in to observe carefully. His fingertip temperature was very low. Yi Ke happened to have some fever. The contrast was increasingly obvious. Falling into the dream of deep sleep, it was like a slightly cool white butterfly had landed on his eyelashes.
His nose filled with the familiar disinfectant smell. Behind the butterfly’s trembling wings was a lover gradually becoming clear from blurry. Yi Ke blinked his eyes, instinctively pulling the person into his embrace with his hand, his voice hoarse: “What are you looking at?”
“Pupils.” Zhuang Ningyu asked. “Do you know that when you were in close combat with Liam, you became heterochromatic with vertical pupils?”
Yi Ke frowned and recalled, having no impression, so he only held the person tighter, asking lazily: “What about vertical pupils?”
Vertical pupils were a natural selection made by beasts for ambush hunting, capable of having better vision. Zhuang Ningyu said: “It means you’ve evolved again.”
Besides vision, physical fitness also surged again, almost on par with large predators. At the same time, examination results also showed that during the physical evolution period, his emotions were probably affected to a certain degree, usually manifesting extremely high defensiveness, vigilance, aggression, and possessiveness.
Qinggang’s body shook: “Then I’ll never again steal premium pistachios and soda crackers from Little Yi’s drawer!”
Zhuang Ningyu patted his shoulder. It’s fine, you can steal. At worst, I’ll buy him more in the future. Now crackers aren’t the point. The point is, he turned to ask Director Wang: “Under what circumstances will he show this kind of evolution? Like, when extremely enraged?”
“Extremely enraged, extremely excited, or when sensing his territory, possessions, or core interests face potential threats or invasion tendencies from others—all possible.” Director Wang answered. “However, subsequent observation is needed. Can’t generalize.”
From this, it’s clear Liam truly deserved his beating—not wronged at all. Because territory, possessions, core interests, and rage—he basically occupied them all, practically repeatedly jumping on landmines. But why would extreme excitement also trigger it? On the drive back to the unit, Qinggang thought more and more that he should have inquired more carefully earlier. For example, exactly how extreme was Little Yi’s extreme excitement? Although the super rich person’s excitement threshold should be very high, unlikely to easily bow for wages and vacation, what if it happened precisely in an office scenario? So he immediately dialed the hospital hotline for consultation.
After listening to him, the operator sweetly replied: “If your colleague enters an uncontrollable state in the office, it’s recommended you first distance yourself. Under the premise of ensuring your own safety, quickly dial 999 Evolver Emergency Hotline and let professional personnel from the Order Maintenance Department handle it.”
Qinggang: “?”
Operator: “Hello sir, do you have any other questions?”
Qinggang: “I am this professional personnel.”
Operator: “…”
Qinggang: “…”
Director Wang now looked at Yi Ke like viewing a walking top-tier medical journal research paper. As for Yi Ke himself, although he was actually very willing to make contributions to all humanity’s evolution cause, currently he really had no time.
Zhuang Ningyu only stayed in the hospital for three days before being discharged, bringing his occasionally numb nerves and hand wrapped like a dumpling. Deng Zongyun suggested they could first have the housekeeper come help for a couple days, but was flatly refused by Yi Ke. What housekeeper? My wife doesn’t do housework even when uninjured.
Zhuang Ningyu’s apple-biting motion paused. He turned to look at him: “That’s what you told your mom?”
“No, don’t worry.” Yi Ke hugged him, continuing to hold the apple in his hand. Although Zhuang Ningyu’s other hand actually hadn’t been injured at all and could completely take care of himself, he couldn’t stop Yi Ke from insisting on feeding him. The TV was broadcasting international news. Two days ago, a super large-scale computer room located in the ocean depths was bombed by an unknown organization. This computer room was an important component of the “Bedrock Plan.”
“For Adam and the consortium behind him, this period is the last opportunity. Whether at the public opinion level or physical level, they’ll struggle desperately.” Zhuang Ningyu leaned on Yi Ke and yawned.
Yi Ke wrapped his arm around his shoulder, casually and dashingly turning off the TV. What Adam, what Invisible Giants—none shall disturb my wife’s sleep. So he threw away the fruit core and carried the person upstairs.
Zhuang Ningyu: “I want to finish watching the news.”
Yi Ke: “What news? Not allowed to watch.”
Having lost TV-watching freedom, Zhuang Ningyu simultaneously lost eating freedom, clothes-changing freedom, bathing freedom, and tissue-pulling freedom. After bathing, he sat on the bed feeling his nose somewhat itchy. Just as he “swish” pulled out a tissue, Yi Ke, wrapped in a bath towel, had already rushed out of the bathroom with lightning speed.
“Honey, let me help you!”
“Help me pull tissues?”
“Mm.”
“No… mmph… Go dry yourself first!”
“Kiss kiss kiss.”
…
The interrogation of Liam wasn’t going smoothly because his nerves seemed to have indeed received considerable stimulation, possibly also related to years of continuous injection of evolution drugs. In any case, his entire mind looked quite unclear. He Mo said: “As a non-Evolver, his physique is actually very formidable, somewhat similar to Fu Dong’s daughter’s situation—both possessing strong cell regeneration ability, which is why he could withstand so many rounds of modification.”
After the Lullaby Island rule zone disappeared, countries so far had already searched for and retrieved at least over a hundred experimental subjects. Some cases were publicly disclosed. Global netizens were in uproar again. This kind of “upper class” private desire completely above morality, ethics, and law finally completely tore away the last fig leaf. For a time, the Invisible Giants were pushed to the forefront. Along with those wealthy merchants and consortiums always rumored to have dealings with the Invisible Giants, this time they also had to actively stand out to apologize to the public, doing their utmost to distance themselves, trying to remove themselves from the vortex’s center.
“In short, it’s chaotic.” He Mo handed him a bottle of water. “Don’t worry about it. Go properly rest on your sick leave.”
Zhuang Ningyu nodded, reaching out to pat his arm: “Waiting for you to come back.”
The “Bedrock Plan” was about to launch. Hundreds of billions of erroneous logic chains had already been generated. The massive database, like invisible arrows, was densely packed and ready to launch.
Billions of people were waiting for the moment the countdown began.
At the first preparatory meeting about the “Bedrock Plan,” experts estimated there would be approximately a thirty-day transition period between the plan’s launch and success. During this period, rule zones that appeared would show numerous bugs due to continuous human interference. Trapped people would therefore face more risks, so the transition period should be shortened as much as possible. Now, through multi-national collaborative efforts, this time could theoretically be compressed to within three hours.
Zhuang Ningyu and Huo Ting personally sent He Mo to the airport. He was selected to join the “Bedrock Plan” International Emergency Technical Group and would go to the Atlantic Third Base for the final round of calculations. Outside the car window, countless large planes were continuously landing and taking off. The roaring sound was deafening. Cloud seas rolled at the horizon. Zhuang Ningyu looked at the distance. He wanted to remember this moment when all humanity’s fates were connected together.
The vehicle steadily stopped at the passenger drop-off area. He Mo opened the car door, about to leave, when he suddenly turned back to look affectionately at Zhuang Ningyu. Zhuang Ningyu immediately frantically waved his hands signaling him to shut up, afraid the other would say any prophetic bad farewell. But He Mo didn’t grasp the true meaning—or possibly grasped it but just had to be cheap—grabbing his hand and lowering his voice to ask: “I heard you went to the bathroom at noon today and vomited for half the day. Are you really not pregnant before marriage? You have to tell me if you are. This kind of thing can’t be hidden!”
Zhuang Ningyu’s face remained expressionless. His long leg extended, directly kicking the person down.
He Mo stumbled and rolled toward the entrance with his luggage. Before passing through security, he didn’t turn back, only raising his boarding pass high and shaking it. Sunshine was glaring, shining on his capable, efficient back. His shirt was so white it reflected light, as if everything began to become brilliant.
Huo Ting and Zhuang Ningyu leaned against the car, watching He Mo’s back be swallowed by the sea of people until the end. Time was still early. Huo Ting sat back in the driver’s seat, fastening his seatbelt while asking: “Stomach uncomfortable? Want me to take you to the hospital?”
Zhuang Ningyu shook his head: “No need, it’s long been fine… from drinking your tea.”
Huo Ting didn’t suspect otherwise: “Was the green tea too cold?”
Zhuang Ningyu calmly answered: “Possibly.”
And after returning home, he similarly informed Yi Ke, even actively brewing himself a cup of hot red date water, sitting on the sofa performing health preservation live.
But Yi Ke wasn’t fooled: “Give me your phone.”
Zhuang Ningyu: “Won’t give it.”
Yi Ke extended his hand condescendingly.
Zhuang Ningyu sighed: “You don’t trust me. I think a healthy, long-lasting relationship needs to fully respect the other’s autonomy—”
Yi Ke directly grabbed the person and pressed him prone on the sofa, pulling out his phone from his pants pocket to unlock it. Whether trust would be destroyed remains to be seen, but the bill definitely had to be checked first. Looking at a purchase of 3.6 yuan in the electronic wallet, and another 1.8 yuan convenience store expenditure an hour later, Yi Ke: “Heh.” As expected.
One old popsicle was 1.8 yuan. What he bought these two times was really hard to guess!
Caught eating three old popsicles again, Zhuang Ningyu’s dinner changed from white sauce lobster to clear broth scallion noodles. Although he tried to argue he bought goji berry flavor, Yi Ke didn’t accept it. What about goji berry flavor? Does goji berry flavor mean I’ll praise your health preservation?
Old popsicles, Comrade Little Yi’s lifelong enemy. When sleeping at night, he held the person in his embrace, his slightly warm palm pressing on that thin stomach, preparing to say something when Zhuang Ningyu had already cupped his face and looked up to kiss away the upcoming lecture. Between soft lips and teeth drifted a faint tea fragrance—new toothpaste, a small gift brought back by department colleagues from their honeymoon trip. Yi Ke kissed him for a while, then held the person properly again and began spacing out on his own. Although Zhuang Ningyu indeed wanted him to shut up earlier, now that the other was truly silent, he felt somewhat unaccustomed. So he nuzzled in his embrace and asked quietly: “What are you thinking about?”
Yi Ke answered without thinking: “Thinking about how our future honeymoon place seems to have no souvenirs to buy. This won’t do. Wife, tomorrow you first pick a few favorite designers and I’ll see how to solve this problem.”
Zhuang Ningyu was slightly shocked, not shocked that some place would have no souvenirs to buy, but shocked at how they inexplicably arrived at the honeymoon souvenir phase. Had the wedding already been prepared without his knowledge? But before he could organize where to ask from, Yi Ke had already thrown off the quilt first and got out of bed, stepping on mushroom slippers and running wildly into the study, skillfully opening the hidden folder in the computer, double-clicking “Wedding Preparation Overall Process (Thirteenth Edition),” entering page 118, then solemnly adding the souvenir matter to the “Urgently Needs Resolution” column before safely saving and exiting.
Very good, another problem solved.
Zhuang Ningyu in the bedroom asked baffledly: “What did you go do?”
Yi Ke pounced over to hug him. Just opening that folder made him feel a happiness-filled sensation. Now, looking at his wife obediently sitting and waiting for him under the lamplight, the sweet feeling in his heart expanded infinitely. So without further ado, he pressed down on the person and kissed.
Zhuang Ningyu: “You first—”
Yi Ke unbuttoned his clothes: “Won’t wait.”
The yellow banana pajamas were thrown on the floor. Amid intense sucking kisses, Zhuang Ningyu’s hands habitually grabbed the sheets, his neck resting on messy pillows, leaning back in a beautiful arc.
Yi Ke stopped his movements, pulling up his gauze-wrapped hand to check. After confirming there was no bleeding, he got out of bed to rummage in a nearby drawer, then pulled out a tie from the wardrobe, sat back on the bedside wrapping it circle by circle around his wrist, then “click.”
His right hand was cuffed to the headboard with silver handcuffs.
Before Zhuang Ningyu could figure out why such a thing would appear in the bedroom, the world had once again melted into lamp shadows.
Desire was easier to ignite than phosphorus yet harder to cool than helium. Time seemed stretched infinitely long. This night, until Zhuang Ningyu’s body ached to its limit, Yi Ke finally unlocked the handcuffs and embraced him completely.
The world after the tide receded was a mess.
Sensitive skin rubbed against wet cold sheets, like being entangled by snakes. Zhuang Ningyu’s ears burned. Bracing himself to sit up, Yi Ke only pulled over a dry side of the quilt to pad under him, rubbing the swollen lips with his fingertip, soothing in a low voice: “Good, rest first.”
Zhuang Ningyu shook his head, stubbornly saying with a hoarse voice: “Change the sheets—”
The remaining words were all swallowed into a lingering kiss.
The night was still long.
…
The next day at noon, the washing machine and dryer in the housekeeping room simultaneously rotated, emitting “buzzing” noise, working hard to clean the evidence. Zhuang Ningyu wore pajamas, curled up on the living room sofa with knees bent, holding a milk mug with both hands, expressionlessly indicating Yi Ke should maintain five meters distance from him. No, six meters.
Yi Ke: Absolutely impossible!
Five minutes later, he successfully held his fragrant wife in his embrace and diligently fed him a full cup of sweet milk. His wide palm slowly massaged through the pajamas, force moderate, attitude of admitting fault very good. So Zhuang Ningyu’s anger finally dissipated a bit. He actively squeezed over to look at the phone together with him.
It was an email from Nathaniel. After Ford left the freezer, he was soon declared dead by doctors. His family chose to bury him in a cemetery with good sunlight. In the vast majority of times, sunshine would warmly sprinkle on the tombstone. The old researcher, after brief recuperation, would also accept employment from the International Joint Rescue Organization, attempting to save more experimental subjects.
“What about Fu Han?” Yi Ke asked.
“Don’t know.” Zhuang Ningyu found a more comfortable position in his embrace.
Besides Liam, no one knew exactly where Gao Weicheng entered the rule zone from. Liam was now mad, so naturally no one knew where Gao Weicheng would land. Fu Han’s location was even more hidden, but should be fine. Zhuang Ningyu said: “If something happened, they’d contact Nathaniel.”
Yi Ke kissed his face. Mm mm, okay, as long as he’s alive, this topic ends here. Wife, let’s not overly concern ourselves with outsiders.
Roman in the rule zone became a monster. Outside the rule zone, police also found Roman’s body in a building corner. His death was extremely tragic. Even the coroner squatted at the door for a long time to recover. As Nathaniel said, Liam had an almost pathological hatred for Evolvers, especially high-level Evolvers. A-class Evolver Roman, with handsome appearance and contempt for non-Evolvers always on his lips, was undoubtedly the type Liam hated most.
“Roman probably never dreamed he’d die at the hands of a non-Evolver.” Yi Ke said. “According to colleagues in the task force, Liam almost destroyed his entire face.”
“A non-Evolver doing everything possible to disguise as an Evolver, living long-term in an environment full of Evolvers—it would be unreasonable if he didn’t become twisted.” Zhuang Ningyu sat up. “Let’s go, change clothes.”
Their schedule today was full. This afternoon they’d go to the suburban courtyard for dinner, tasting Papa Zhuang’s newly researched delicious new variety of old pumpkin. Tonight they’d go to the LiveHouse for a drink—the one Cui Jin used to frequent.
This nightclub’s business was much better than before—voices filled the air. Night fell. A new band took the stage at eight o’clock sharp. A group of young people with dreams held basses and roared passionately, continuing stories of saving the world. In the corner, Dong Feifan wearing a baseball cap sighed: “Just like seeing my younger self.”
The manager big sister beside him was still busy planning how to arrange his return to mainstream view, too lazy to deal with this old-man-style sentimental autumn sadness.
Zhuang Ningyu and Yi Ke sat in another hidden corner. They rarely came to this kind of sound-wave-shaking bar ordinarily, but occasionally having a drink wasn’t bad either. Between flashing light spheres, Zhuang Ningyu’s hand groped on the table for a long time without finding his wine glass but instead touched another hand.
Yi Ke smoothly clasped back with his hand, his other hand holding his wine glass. He looked up and drank the wine in one gulp, turning to shake the glass: “Looking for this?”
He smiled very casually, the corner of his lips hooking up a lazy arc. A few strands of hair covered his dark eyes. His entire person was carelessly sexy. For the first time in his life, Zhuang Ningyu deeply understood what “wine-red and green lights” meant. Under this environmental enhancement, accelerated heartbeat was entirely human nature. So when lights dimmed next time, he actively leaned over and kissed those fiery lips.
Originally wanted to kiss once and leave, but Yi Ke tightened his waist and deepened this kiss.
“Five!” The DJ on stage began the countdown.
Zhuang Ningyu wanted to push the person away but was instead held tighter. Yi Ke’s breath was scalding, his entire mind filled with those eyes beautiful as gems when he leaned over to kiss just now.
Love intensified.
“Four!”
Yi Ke left teeth marks on his lips.
“Three!”
“Crash!” A crisp shattering sound came. Yi Ke pulled out several large bills, casually throwing them on the table as tips, pulling up Zhuang Ningyu and walking out.
“Two!”
A pair of figures ran through the crowded people.
“One!”
The lights in the bar lit up again. In the dim back alley, Yi Ke pressed Zhuang Ningyu against the wall, kissing intensely and lingering.
At the end of the alley was a skyscraper reaching the clouds, still brightly lit at this hour. That was Jin City Comprehensive Media Center.
Hundreds of media people were working overtime in full swing, printing new publications about to be released soon.
All humanity was about to welcome the most grand defense and confrontation in history.
The countdown about fate officially began at this moment.
[END OF ARC: FIGURE IN THE RAIN]
