The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 5

“Xie Cheng, where exactly are we heading?”

The city had been stripped of its former glory. Everywhere one looked, there were toppled skyscrapers, fractured roads, and vegetation that looked more dead than alive. In this wasteland, the very concept of time had blurred; by now, it had been over a month since the apocalypse began.

Their battered car had been driving for hours before finally pulling up beside a building that consisted of little more than four standing walls. Most of the roof had been eaten away by acid rain, leaving a massive, gaping hole open to the sky.

Despite the long trek, Jiang Yi was still a ball of energy. He followed close on Xie Cheng’s heels, chirping the same question over and over. “Where are we actually going?”

Xie Cheng pushed open a rusted iron gate that was hanging by a hinge and came to a halt.

In the shadows cast by the walls, several filthy figures were huddled together. They clung to each other for warmth, their bruised, purple fingers digging into their companions’ flesh as if grasping for a lifeline.

At the sound of movement, they looked up with timid, fearful eyes.

“Why have we stopped?” Jiang Yi stood on his tiptoes, his chin brushing lightly against Xie Cheng’s shoulder as he peered inside.

Seeing the scene before them, both men fell silent. After a long moment, Jiang Yi asked softly, “Did you miss the rescue teams?”

Lately, the Central Base had dispatched numerous rescue units to gather and protect ordinary people who hadn’t developed powers. Even in the face of sudden catastrophe, the state remained the first line of defence, doing its utmost to shield its citizens.

The people on the ground exchanged glances, but no one spoke.

Jiang Yi lowered himself into a crouch and reached out a hand. “If you’re willing, you can come back to the Rising Sun Base.”

Still, no one dared to move. His hand remained outstretched for a long time.

Finally, a young girl reached out a trembling hand and placed it in his palm. Her lashes were wet with tears she couldn’t stop. “Will the Rising Sun Base kick us out?” she whispered.

“There are no certainties in this world,” Jiang Yi said, gently pulling her to her feet. “Nowhere is perfectly safe anymore, but I will do everything in my power to protect you.”

He spoke slowly and gently, yet he didn’t sugarcoat the harsh reality. In a world governed by the law of the jungle, you couldn’t rely on others; you had to rely on yourself.

Xie Cheng said nothing. He walked straight into the skeletal building and headed for the more spacious second floor. Finding a clean, secluded spot, he sat down on the floor and closed his eyes to rest.

The scent of blood in the air was persistent. Having been in this world for several days, Xie Cheng was beginning to grow accustomed to it. It was a smell that always heralded death one moment a child could be full of life, and the next, they were just another body in a mounting pile of corpses.

Xie Cheng felt a sudden surge of irritability. Sleep wouldn’t come. Habitually, he began to fiddle with his long hair, twisting it into clumps or rolling it between his fingers, making it as messy as possible.

Suddenly, a faint floral fragrance cut through the foul air, like a breath of fresh air entering a stifling prison. Xie Cheng opened his eyes to find a bunch of wild flowers waving in front of his face.

Behind the bouquet popped up Jiang Yi’s cheerful head.

Xie Cheng’s gaze moved from the colourful petals to Jiang Yi’s face. The man was always smiling, always cheerful regardless of the circumstances, as if his sole mission was to make Xie Cheng laugh.

“What now?”

Xie Cheng had become used to these sudden appearances, whether it was Jiang Yi holding a pair of flowered bowls, leaning in far too close to his face or bringing him a bouquet of wildflowers.

“I had a hell of a time finding these,” Jiang Yi said with a beaming smile. He tilted his head, his hair brushing lightly against Xie Cheng’s ear. “Go on, guess where I found them.”

“The little girl showed you,” Xie Cheng replied.

With that, the fragrant bouquet was dropped into Xie Cheng’s lap. Jiang Yi covered his mouth in mock shock. “Heavens! How on earth did you know?”

“I saw you.”

“You saw me” Jiang Yi practically bounced on the spot. “So, you’ve been watching me this whole time! You know exactly where I went and who I was with! In that case, did you notice anything different about me?”

Xie Cheng let out a soft sigh. It wasn’t that he was annoyed; he just felt a bit helpless. “You changed your clothes.”

“My god, my god, my god!” Jiang Yi cheered like a fool.

“Jiang Yi,” Xie Cheng warned.

Jiang Yi immediately fell silent, miming the action of zipping his lips shut. He blinked rapidly, as if to say, I’m done talking!

“You talk too much, Jiang Yi.”

Xie Cheng wasn’t actually scolding him; his tone was thick with a certain weary indulgence. Jiang Yi heard it and beamed—it was a sign of acceptance.

The immortal wasn’t judging him. The immortal wasn’t bored of him. The immortal was… letting him off the hook.

Xie Cheng flicked his finger, rapping it gently against Jiang Yi’s forehead.

Jiang Yi gave a silly laugh and a small yelp of delight before diving headfirst into Xie Cheng’s embrace. He wrapped his arms tightly around Xie Cheng’s waist, rubbing his messy hair against the other man’s neck.

“Stop it,” Xie Cheng muttered. His back was pressed against the wall, forcing him to reach out and rest a hand on Jiang Yi’s head.

“Just let me mess about for a bit,” Jiang Yi wheedled.

Xie Cheng looked down at the grinning man, his voice level and cool. “You like me.”

Just like that? Saying it out loud so directly?

“Eh?” Jiang Yi looked up, startled and cautious. “Am I not allowed to?”

Xie Cheng’s reply was instant. “You are.”

Jiang Yi’s face lit up again. Xie Cheng reached out and pinched his cheek—not hard, more of a playful knead.

Then came the gesture Jiang Yi had grown most fond of. Xie Cheng patted his cheek, his voice carrying a hint of a smile that hadn’t been there before. “Behave yourself.”

Behave.

He would. He would be the most well-behaved person in the world.

A sudden, inexplicable heat rushed through Jiang Yi, his cheeks flushing a vivid red. His hand gripped the hem of Xie Cheng’s shirt, his fingers creeping slightly underneath. His eyes were no longer just playful; they were urgent, impulsive, and full of wanting.

Always laced with desire.

“Tch”

Xie Cheng pressed a fingertip against Jiang Yi’s lower abdomen. “Go sort yourself out. Don’t press yourself against me.”

The heat had Jiang Yi feeling dazed. “Right. Okay.”

“Do you even know how to ‘sort yourself out’?”

Jiang Yi shook his head blankly.

Xie Cheng laughed.

It was the first time Jiang Yi had seen him smile so openly. The curve of his lips lingered like the first thaw of spring, softening the cold lines of his brow. He looked like the most vibrant, intoxicating flower in a field of snow.

A flower Jiang Yi wanted to claim as his own.

Jiang Yi’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze locked onto Xie Cheng, a hidden sharpness flickering in his eyes. “How… how do I solve it, then?”

“How to solve it,” Xie Cheng repeated with a chuckle.

His finger moved up, pressing rhythmically against Jiang Yi’s throat, over and over. Sweat began to bead on Jiang Yi’s face and slide down his neck. His legs went weak, and he sank into a half-kneeling position on the floor. “This. This really needs solving.”

It was a problem that couldn’t be ignored.

“I said, be a good boy,” Xie Cheng’s voice dropped an octave. He used his long fingers to pluck at Jiang Yi’s collar, popping a few buttons open.

“I’ll be good. I’m being good.”

“Good. That’s a good lad, Jiang Yi.” Xie Cheng leaned down and whispered something directly into his ear.

Jiang Yi’s face turned scarlet as he grabbed onto Xie Cheng’s calf.

“Mmm… will there be a reward?” Jiang Yi tried to bargain. “Good boys are supposed to get rewards.”

Xie Cheng tapped him on the head. “Greedy.”

Jiang Yi panted slightly as he took Xie Cheng’s hand. “Can’t a good boy be a little bit greedy?”

Xie Cheng leaned in. “I suppose he can.” He didn’t dislike greed.

The greedy Jiang Yi brushed his sweat-dampened hair out of his eyes and lowered his head. Shielded by Xie Cheng’s body, his clumsy hands gripped the hem of Xie Cheng’s trousers for support as he.

By nightfall, several walls of fire had been erected around the building, the burning flames warming the air. The screams of zombies had faded, replaced by a rare, quiet stillness.

The fire walls blocked the wind. Xie Cheng stood on the upper floor, his silver hair hanging silently at his side. His gaze was deep as ever, staring out into the distance. After a while, he sat cross-legged on the floor.

He stared into space, clearing his mind and trying to let himself simply be. It had been a long time since he’d experienced this kind of stillness.

He didn’t hate the silence. In the past, work had filled every waking moment. Now that he was suddenly relaxed, he felt a strange sense of unease. A “proper” night for him usually involved jumping between thousands of small worlds, pruning the failing ones and harvesting their life force. Even on holiday, he usually stuck to that cycle.

But now, he was stuck watching an energetic fool run around, laughing to himself every now and then.

Jiang Yi was definitely over-excited tonight. Much like earlier in the corner of the second floor, when he’d gripped Xie Cheng’s trousers and uncontrollably thrown his head back, letting all that passion out.

Quite shameless, Xie Cheng thought.

But he hadn’t stopped him. The little dog with the bared teeth seemed to want his reward very badly, and he’d certainly put in the effort to prove himself. Faced with someone like that, Xie Cheng found his interest piqued.

“Xie Cheng! Xie Cheng!”

Down below, Jiang Yi was waving frantically. By the time Xie Cheng bothered to look down, Jiang Yi was already gone. He didn’t even have to guess where he went…

“Xie Cheng! Xie Cheng!”

“Stop shouting, you’re waking the dead,” Xie Cheng said, glancing back.

“Can immortals even have ghosts?” Jiang Yi muttered as he burst into the room.

Up close, Xie Cheng got a good look at him.

He had… taken off his shirt. He was standing there quite brazenly, showing off firm chest muscles and a well-defined six-pack. Jiang Yi spent a lot of time in the sun, but his skin wasn’t overly dark it was a healthy wheat tan that looked deeper in the dim light.

“Good evening, Xie Cheng.” Jiang Yi beamed the moment he saw him, a deep blush creeping up his cheeks, making him look almost.  shy.

Shy?

Xie Cheng narrowed his eyes, studying him.

Jiang Yi lowered his head and nudged Xie Cheng’s chest with the top of his head, repeating sheepishly, “Reward. reward.”

Ah. He was here for the prize.

“You’re covered in sweat. Don’t touch me,” Xie Cheng said with a hint of disdain.

“It’s not sweat, it’s water!” Jiang Yi skipped away, gave his hair a vigorous shake, and then came bounding back. “There was a guy with water powers in that group! He gave me a few basins of water, and I used them to have a wash. I’m perfectly clean now.”

Since the first time Xie Cheng hadn’t minded his closeness, Jiang Yi had become increasingly bold. And, to be fair, Xie Cheng couldn’t smell any sweat on him.

“Running around without a shirt after a wash. are you a monkey?”

“I am not a monkey,” Jiang Yi grumbled softly. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Xie Cheng’s neck, his body moving restlessly. “I only took my shirt off when I got to the roof. No one saw.”

Xie Cheng’s face hardened. “Get down.”

“Reward. I want my reward.”

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