Care Guide to Raising a Max Level Leaf in Apocalypse - 58
Unfamiliar emotions
After seeing off Hu Yan, Si Yin Yuan returned to his room and looked at the conspicuous bulge in the middle of the white bed, deep in thought.
As he approached, the small bulge remained still.
Si Yin Yuan extended his hand to touch it, and the bulge suddenly moved, swiftly relocating to the other side of the bed.
Ji Jiu was hiding beneath the covers and had no intention of facing his owner.
Si Yin Yuan pondered, retracing their recent conversation, but he couldn’t identify anything wrong with it.
He reached out to encircle the small bump in his arms and asked in a low voice, “Hungry?”
The only reason he could think of for Ji Jiu’s anger was hunger.
Ji Jiu attempted to wiggle out of his grasp to create more distance, but he soon realized he was trapped under the covers, unable to move. So, he just lay still inside the cocoon of blankets.
Not receiving a response, Si Yin Yuan placed a tube of strawberry-flavored nutrient liquid outside the covers and began to count silently.
1… 2…
Before he reached 3, the covers swiftly opened a tiny gap, and a delicate hand emerged from underneath, snatching away the strawberry-flavored nutrient liquid.
Si Yin Yuan had mastered the art of baiting Ji Jiu.
To catch an irritated Ji Jiu, one needed patience.
He retrieved another tube of strawberry-flavored nutrient liquid. Just as he pulled back his hand, the covers opened again to snatch the nutrient liquid away. The speed of the movement was so rapid it made one doubt their eyes.
This time, Si Yin Yuan placed the strawberry-flavored nutrient liquid farther away. He opened a small gap in the covers and observed cautiously to ensure there was no danger.
Convinced it was safe, Ji Jiu moved swiftly once more. However, the moment he touched the nutrient liquid, another hand with slightly darker skin reached out and grasped it.
The hand was slender and easily encircled Ji Jiu’s wrist.
Ji Jiu didn’t have time to react and found himself unexpectedly pulled out of the covers, ending up in Si Yin Yuan’s arms.
“Uh?” He raised his head, eyes widened in surprise.
Si Yin Yuan’s heart felt itchy, and he gently reached out with his other hand to touch the corner of the young man’s eye. His rough fingertips left a trace of red.
Ji Jiu appeared even gentler and more submissive.
Si Yin Yuan had an inexplicable urge but didn’t know exactly what he wanted. He subconsciously tightened his grip a bit.
Finally, Ji Jiu reacted, struggling to leave the embrace. “I don’t want you to hold me!”
The hand wrapped around the young man’s slender waist remained still, and Si Yin Yuan opened a bottle of strawberry-flavored nutrient liquid and placed it in Ji Jiu’s embrace.
The sound in his arms disappeared instantly, replaced by the sound of licking the nutrient liquid.
Ji Jiu pouted while eating the nutrient liquid, thinking, “I’ll get angry after I finish eating.”
Si Yin Yuan understood Ji Jiu’s quirks well and gently stroked his head, asking, “Why are you angry?”
The skill of head-patting was becoming increasingly proficient, providing a comfort similar to stroking a small pet.
Ji Jiu squinted subconsciously, but only remembered that he was still angry after hearing the question. He finished the nutrient liquid and tossed the empty container to the floor. He pulled down Si Yin Yuan’s hand that was patting his head and said firmly, “I don’t want you to touch me.”
His face, slightly puffed up in annoyance, was irresistibly cute, and Si Yin Yuan couldn’t help poking it. However, the next moment, his finger was bitten.
With what he thought was a fierce expression, Ji Jiu asked, “Why are you so interested in the Luminous Lilly?”
He hadn’t seen Si Yin Yuan showing such interest in other mutants; typically, he’d just leave them in the research lab.
Si Yin Yuan’s attention was entirely on the sensation of his finger, and his eyes darkened instantly. Without much thought, he replied, “Because he can transform into a human; it’s unique.”
Ji Jiu released Si Yin Yuan’s hand, clearly displeased. “Just because of that?”
He didn’t entirely believe it.
What was so special about being able to transform into a human?
Ji Jiu thought for a while with a serious expression, then suddenly realized, “Do you like the big flowers he grows?”
The flowers of the Luminous Lilly were purple and white, like a butterfly taking a moment to rest.
In contrast, Ji Jiu had nothing; even after three years of care, he couldn’t bloom and only had two slightly round leaves.
When Si Yin Yuan went to the seed shop back then, perhaps he wanted a seed that could bloom.
Ji Jiu was just a random find.
The little guy in his arms, who had been sulking, suddenly felt upset. Si Yin Yuan’s heart tightened inexplicably.
In a soft, hoarse voice, he reassured, “I don’t like his flowers.”
“What kind of flowers do you like, then?” Ji Jiu held onto his sleeve, feeling wronged.
“I don’t like any flowers.”
“Really?”
Si Yin Yuan softened his gaze, gently touching Ji Jiu. “Really.”
He realized that the young man probably didn’t like him being too concerned about mutants. Perhaps in his subconscious, he was still afraid of these creatures with only instincts for devouring.
Thinking back to the time he was left all alone in the Waste City, Si Yin Yuan felt a sense of pity and fear. What if he hadn’t been discovered at the time…
Ji Jiu was finally pacified. He looked at the small round bite marks on Si Yin Yuan’s hand and felt a bit embarrassed. Following what he had done before, licking away the bloodstains on the ship, he extended his tongue to do the same for him.
Though that day, Si Yin Yuan’s expression had suddenly become quite solemn, Ji Jiu’s intuition told him that Si Yin Yuan liked it very much.
His heart seemed to have received a strong impact, and it started to beat violently.
Si Yin Yuan withdrew his hand, his voice somewhat hoarse, and changed the subject as if trying to cover up, “Let’s go to sleep; there are many things to do tomorrow.”
He couldn’t even look directly into the young man’s clear eyes.
Ji Jiu didn’t know how much of an impact his action of licking Si Yin Yuan’s fingers had, but he obediently responded with an “Oh” and lay down, pulling the blanket over himself. He then asked, “Aren’t you joining me?”
“I’m going to wash up; you go ahead and sleep,” Si Yin Yuan replied, adjusting his posture.
“Okay.”
When Si Yin Yuan returned from the bathroom with a cold demeanor, Ji Jiu had already fallen into a peaceful slumber, holding onto his starfish.
Si Yin Yuan unceremoniously pulled the starfish out and tossed it aside. Then, he carefully lifted a corner of the blanket, entered, and held the young man in his arms.
The young man shivered slightly as Si Yin Yuan’s body, fresh from a cold shower, came into contact. It was just a moment of discomfort before he leaned in closer, seeking warmth.
In his dream, he was smiling continuously, possibly dreaming about something delicious.
Watching Ji Jiu’s peaceful sleeping face, Si Yin Yuan suddenly felt at a loss. Unfamiliar emotions overwhelmed him, making it hard to ignore them.
The intense reaction he had just experienced left him unable to deceive himself as he usually did each morning.
Perhaps there was something abnormal about himself.
He was a complete beast!
In his heart, he harshly condemned himself.
As he saw the young man, his heart slightly accelerated, as if a trapped beast wanted to break free from its cage.
Si Yin Yuan took a deep breath to hide the intense emotions in his eyes, covering his heart with his hand.
What did he really want?
…
When he woke up, Si Yin Yuan wasn’t beside him. Ji Jiu, still drowsy, only smelled the tantalizing aroma coming from the kitchen while he brushed his teeth. He wondered what delicious breakfast awaited him this morning.
After finishing his morning routine, Ji Jiu eagerly ran to the dining table, holding his bowl and waiting expectantly for his meal.
Si Yin Yuan, contrary to his usual behavior, didn’t pet him first. He simply placed all the food on the table, appearing completely natural, without any signs of a sleepless night.
Ji Jiu was too focused on the food to notice these subtle differences. Even in the presence of delicious food, he pushed Si Yin Yuan aside to get closer.
Today, Si Yin Yuan had prepared scrambled eggs made from mutant rooster eggs. While the meat of mutant roosters was inedible, the eggs they produced were large and nutritious, not inferior to pre-apocalypse chicken eggs. The base kept a few specially bred roosters for egg production, and they would deliver five eggs to Si Yin Yuan daily, along with some non-unusual-tasting mutant animal meat. After steaming the eggs and adding a bit of soy sauce, Ji Jiu greatly enjoyed the meal.
As he ate, he suddenly remembered what Si Yin Yuan had mentioned before they went to bed. He tilted his head and asked, “What are we doing today?”
Si Yin Yuan, taking his time to cut a piece of meat, replied casually, “We’re going to attend a meeting and infiltrate the Church.”
Infiltrate the Church?
Ji Jiu recalled the several purple Aster flowers he had secretly eaten earlier and a storeroom filled with offerings, and he thought that this was an excellent proposal.
He happily swung his legs, saying, “Sure.”
When they arrived at the meeting location, there was already a line of white-robed individuals at the entrance, each holding a book. Those books contained the teachings of this Church.
Ji Jiu couldn’t help but glance at them a few more times. However, the believers paid no attention, focused on their task.
In the meeting, the Church’s leader and the believer who always accompanied him had been seated and were waiting. When they saw Si Yin Yuan bringing Ji Jiu over, they nodded politely.
Si Yin Yuan’s eyes couldn’t help but reveal a trace of coldness, not even bothering with pleasantries. He directly took a seat.
Sensing the oddly stiff atmosphere, the head of the judiciary department was the first to speak, “Now that everyone is present, let’s start the meeting.”
Si Yin Yuan placed the documents he had brought on the table, tossing them carelessly. His long legs stretched out in a relaxed manner. He said, “Let’s get straight to the point. I’d like to ask the Church’s leader to explain some matters.”
He tossed six sets of documents onto the table, with one for each person.
Everyone in the room was overwhelmed by his presence. They instinctively reached out to take the documents and began reading. The more they read, the more shocked they became.
Hu Yan was the fastest reader and practically devoured the contents.
He put down the documents and cast a worshipful gaze towards Si Yin Yuan.
Even he hadn’t expected that this man would play such a straightforward game, presenting these allegations without waiting for complete evidence.
But if this person was Si Yin Yuan, everything made perfect sense.
If it weren’t for the fact that he had become more stable as the Chief, his first act upon returning would have been to drag the Church’s leader out and give him a beating.
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the meeting.
In this silence, Ji Jiu discreetly reached into the snack pack his owner had prepared and pulled out some mutant pistachios.
Crunch, crunch…
Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch…
The solemn atmosphere was instantly shattered.
It even took on a hint of humor.
Chen Yanli cleared her throat, breaking the deadlock. “What does Chief Si mean by this?”
She had no intention of speaking up for the Church, but she was just too shocked by the revelations.
The documents he casually tossed were the detailed battle reports for this mission, personally written by Li Chao, which made the matter of the seed matching the one worshipped by the Church’s holy enforcer very clear.
Si Yin Yuan raised an eyebrow, showing an unusual military-like demeanor. “Now, shouldn’t it be me asking the questions?”
Suddenly, his smile disappeared, and his golden eyes, like a predatory wild beast, emotionlessly locked onto the man across from him. “Church leader, won’t you provide us with an explanation?”
His voice, laced with a chilling tone, cut through the silence like a sharp sword aimed at the enemy’s throat.