Chapter 6.17 – Timely reaction

Translator: Vivi

Editor: DarkNaivety

Proofreader: meowmiao

Once the melon-eating team learnt that Xu Yan Ze was going to go to the Wu’s house, they all stepped forward. “Captain, are you visiting the family? Congratulations!”

Xu Yan Ze calmly answered ‘yeah’ before looking at Wu Yue and the others. He suddenly dragged Baby Face to a corner and asked softly, “Yi Cheng, do you have any crystal nuclei?”

“Yeah, why?” Baby face felt strange.

“Choose some good ones, and lend me two.”

“…” Captain, is this a good idea? We, brothers, need to rely on them to find a place to settle down in.

“I have some, but they aren’t top quality. You can take those first.” Xu Yan Ze stuffed a small bag over.

Alright. Baby Face reluctantly agreed since they would also benefit once Captain Xu marries his wife.

After arriving, Wu Ming Qi’s face immediately hardened when he saw General Zhang once again. “Is the military too boring?”

“Now that you mention it, it seems to be the case.” General Zhang glanced at the dining table and saw that the food hadn’t been brought out yet, so he dragged Father Wu aside as if they were good old brothers.

They muttered in low voices before General Zhang looked over to Xu Yan Ze and waved. “Come, let me introduce Xiao Xu to you.”

Wu Ming Qi had just learnt yesterday it was Xu Yan Ze who saved his son and originally felt goodwill towards him. Now that he knew of the antibodies, he became even more courteous and they shook hands.

When Xu Yan Ze gave him the crystal nucleus, he even vehemently refused. “Aren’t you being too polite? I should be thanking you instead, how can I take your things?”

The matter of antibodies was something General Zhang told father Wu, but seeing that he had come in person, the old lord knew things weren’t simple. But no matter what, he only hoped for everyone to be safe and sound.

Mother Wu was even warmer to Xu Yan Ze. When they finished their meal and sent General Zhang off, she began to discuss with Wu Yue, “I think Xiao Xu should live with you.”

“Cough——” Wu Yue had just taken a sip of water before spitting it out instantly.

Wu Ming Qi successfully avoided it, then wiped his sleeves in disgust and frowned, “What is this reaction? How old are you, yet you don’t have a calm heart.”

“Cough! Cough!” Wu Yue coughed violently before pointing to himself in disbelief, “Me?”

“What’s wrong? You’re always at the barracks, only coming home to sleep occasionally. What’s wrong with lending your room to him?” Mother Wu glared at him with her hands on her hips.

Xiang Han was deshelling peanuts when he heard this. He looked at Wu Yue, then at Xu Yan Ze. The latter’s expression was somewhat dumbfounded before he coughed lightly and awkwardly. “Actually…Aunt, actually, I…”

“Aiya, Xiao Xu, you don’t need to say anything. He’s been too spoiled, this matter has already been decided. You’ll stay in his room. Later on, I’ll bring you a blanket.”

“It’s not that, mom. This is not appropriate,” Wu Yue cried tearfully.

“What’s not appropriate?” She glared at him.

“I…” Wu Yue choked up and looked at Xiang Han who was still peeling peanuts and gave him a look.

“Why are you looking at your brother?”

“Ahem, Aunt, General Zhang was only casually saying it, don’t take it too seriously. My team is already finding a place to stay, I’ll go with them…”

“No way.” Father Wu interrupted him, “This matter is very serious. Xiao Xu, don’t take it to heart, and Wu Yue, if you’re not happy, you can sleep on the sofa.”

Wu Yue: “…” In that case, I’d actually prefer to sleep on the sofa.

Xiang Han suddenly threw aside the peanut shells and wiped his hands calmly. “Mom, why don’t you let him stay with me?”

“But your room is a little small…” Mother Wu hesitated.

“It’s fine. The bed isn’t small.” Xiang Han said with a straight face, and Xu Yan Ze couldn’t help looking at him.

Wu Yue let out a long breath but Mother Wu quickly began to nag him, “Look at you, not even as sensible as your brother.”

“I…” Wu Yue’s face was bitter. He knew too much¹[1] The word for sensible and knowing about matters is the same. Mother Wu is saying Xiang Han is sensible (懂事) but Wu Yue is saying he knows too much(太懂事)aka too sensible, that’s why he had to refuse, okay?

In the end, under Wu Ming Qi’s persistence, Mother Wu’s warm urging, and the temptation of sharing the same bed with Xiang Han, Xu Yan Ze’s willpower dwindled. He stayed.

Since the bed was large enough, Mother Wu gave them another blanket. When they just got onto the bed, they still feigned propriety and each covered themselves with a part of the blanket. But soon, Xiang Han snuck out in the dark and quietly locked the door before diving back under the blanket. He whispered, “Are you cold?”

It was summer and there was no air-conditioning. How could it be cold?

Xu Yan Ze deliberately ignored him and smothered a laugh.

Xiang Han waited for a while before feeling the bed shake. He glared at the blanket and clung onto Xu Yan Ze tightly without care. “I don’t care, it’s too hot. Quick, release some cold air.”

Xu Yan Ze simply turned him over and pressed him down, smothering him with a kiss. After a moment, Xiang Han panted, “Don’t…leave m-marks on my neck. It’ll be seen…”

Wu Yue stood outside the door with a dark expression. After enduring for a long time, he still knocked and called Xiang Han outside. “It’s not that I want to be inhumane, but you two better hold it in. The soundproofing isn’t good. If mom and dad find out, you guys just wait to be beaten.”

Xiang Han turned red with embarrassment. “W-Where did we do such a thing? But why did you come?”

“To bring you guys a fan.” Wu Yue took out two palm-leaf fans from behind his back.

Xiang Han only glanced at it before saying with disdain, “No thanks, we have an air-conditioner.”

“Huh?”

The next day, when Mother Wu came to call them for breakfast, she was stunned to see them huddled up to each other.

Xiang Han instinctively woke up and tried to explain, “Xu Yan Ze is an ice-ability user, so his body is much cooler.”

“Oh.” Mother Wu nodded dazedly before wondering if she should prepare two sets of quilts. Otherwise, when winter comes, Xiao Er will be cold lying beside this human icicle.

After knowing about it, Wu Yue was speechless. “He might not be here until winter.”

“How can you say that? What if Xiao Xu heard it? He’ll think that we don’t welcome him.” Mother Wu pinched him mercilessly.

Wu Yue silently thought, once you know the truth, I’m afraid you’ll really not welcome him.

To leave a good impression, Xu Yan Ze went out to help Mother Wu create ice early in the morning after waking up. She was still worried about a lack of water, but seeing this, she smiled. “This is great, not only do we have enough water, it can even prevent the heat. Xiao Xu, in the future, just treat this as your home. You can stay for as long as you like.”

Wu Yue: “…”

He felt that his position in the family was threatened. What should he do? But it was really good to have ice. He simply shouted, “Mom, help me make a watermelon slushie.”

“We don’t have any watermelons. If you’re feeling hot, take two pieces of ice from the cup.”

“Doesn’t Xiao Er know how to grow them?”

Xu Yan Ze looked at him in astonishment. The little fool had already told this matter to his family?

Wu Yue felt great on seeing his reaction. His foolish brother hadn’t lied to him; he hadn’t yet told this lad about his plant-based ability. Haha! This lad must be feeling depressed.

After Xiang Han exposed his ability, he was quickly dragged away by Wu Ming Qi to farm…no, it was to plant food. Since Xu Yan Ze was free, he accompanied him the entire time.

It didn’t take long before Professor Yang sought out Wu Yue.

“Didn’t you say you’d watch over him every single moment? Why do you still have time to go to the CDC every day? If Captain Xu runs into any trouble, I’ll come after you.”

Wu Yue was speechless. From then on, he followed bitterly behind his brother and sister-in-law.

After a few times, Xiang Han began to grow annoyed. “Brother, is the military very free?”

Wu Yue glanced at him and muttered, “Do you think I want to do so, it’s all because…of the chief’s request.”

“Uncle Zhang didn’t ask you to tail me every day, did he?”

“Ahem, it’s another chief.”

Xiang Han was surprised and leaned closer. “Are you supporting General Shen now?”

General Shen was another great force in the base, but he could never see eye to eye with General Zhang.

“Ahem, what nonsense are you saying? It’s not… that kind of chief.”

“Oh~”

Xu Yan Ze felt unwell. Why did the two brothers have to lean so closely when speaking? Especially…back-facing him. Why couldn’t he listen too?

He swiftly extracted a glass of watermelon juice and threw several small pieces of ice in before giving it to Xiang Han. Then, he asked gently, “Are you thirsty? Have some watermelon juice and cool off by the side?”

“What about me?” Wu Yue asked.

Without even acknowledging him, Xu Yan Ze directly brought Xiang Han away.

Wu Yue could only follow along while complaining, “Say, Captain Xu, this isn’t right. At the very least, I’m still under orders to protect you…”

Xiang Han couldn’t bear it. He turned around and said, “Brother, you’re so annoying. There are some more watermelons over there, you can just squeeze them yourself. Why do you have to order Yan Ze around?”

Wu Yue choked, feeling his heart turn cold. They hadn’t gotten married yet, but Xiang Han’s heart was already lying on the other side.

Xu Yan Ze had idled away for more than two months before Professor Yang’s side showed some signs of progress. She said excitedly, “You’ve worked hard. You don’t have to come for some time.”

Seeing Xu Yan Ze’s face of understanding, she was honest. “You probably should have guessed. That’s right, the antidote has begun manufacturing, but still requires clinical trials to test its efficacy. I hope you can keep this confidential.”

“Of course.” Xu Yan Ze left with a smile.

When he returned, he was surprised to discover that General Shen was also there. But more surprisingly, the other person actually knew him.

“You must be Xiao Xu, I heard that he’s living at your house?” General Shen looked at Wu Ming Qi and continued, “Old Wu, since when have you become so zealous?”

“Isn’t it because he saved Xiao Han…”

“Really? But I heard that he has a team? Why aren’t they staying together? And he is always running to the CDC…”

“Ahem, he’s my boyfriend, so he’s staying with us. He went to the CDC to help deliver food.” Xiang Han interrupted with a light cough.

Wu Ming Qi froze for a second before quickly continuing, “That’s right, ah. I’ve let you see a joke, but since the child likes it, who are we to stop them…”

General Shen glanced at Xiang Han with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Is that so?”

At this time, an accompanying person suddenly said something to him.

General Shen nodded and swept a glance over at them before leaving.

Letting out a long breath, Wu Ming Qi patted Xiang Han on the shoulder and praised, “Not bad, your reaction is really timely.”

Xiang Han: “Hehe…”

Watching General Shen, Xiang Han thought of something and calculated the time. The female lead should be at Shuguang base by now. According to the data, her spring water can heal the infected, which was why General Shen highly valued her. It can’t be now, can it?

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  [1] The word for sensible and knowing about matters is the same. Mother Wu is saying Xiang Han is sensible (懂事) but Wu Yue is saying he knows too much(太懂事)aka too sensible ↩︎