Extra 11: Fate’s Return Gift

Winter came again. The daylight hours shortened, and the cold drew people closer once more.

Due to the early completion of the archaeological project, Fu Rangyi got an extremely impromptu three-day vacation. And Zhu Zhixi, having just finished a new exhibition, also happened to have a travel window. So, after a phone call, Zhu Zhixi took a flight to the archaeological site, a city much warmer and more humid than S City.

He brought his equipment and started recording a vlog from the moment he got on the plane. After this vlog was released, it unexpectedly became Zhu Zhixi’s most-viewed and most-discussed video in nearly a year.

The video began with a shaky, handheld shot aimed at a damp forest. As far as the eye could see, there were deep greens of a low saturation, vast, swirling water vapor, brown tree trunks, and large patches of moss and ferns clinging to rocks.

Their footsteps moved continuously forward. Zhu Zhixi’s voice was heard, his breath slightly unsteady from the hike.

“Be careful with these kinds of rocks. It’s okay going uphill, but it’s very easy to fall if you step on them going downhill.”

Another voice appeared. It wasn’t using a microphone but could still be heard clearly, obviously very close.

“Have you ever fallen?”

[Ah, so the family member is here too… Professor Fu’s voice is so charming.]
[I just got out of his last class, even the most charming voice will make you sleepy after listening to it.]

Although Zhu Zhixi’s face wasn’t shown, his laughter was bright and clear. “Of course! I almost fell to my ‘long life.’ Stayed in the hospital for a long time.”

The other voice was silent for a long while.

[Stop scaring your husband! Look, you scared him so much he’s not saying anything.]

Zhu Zhixi laughed again. “Just kidding. I’m very cautious, I’ve never fallen. But when I was hiking in another valley, I came across a little lamb that had fallen from a cliff. The height wasn’t too great, and it got caught on some tree branches as it fell, which cushioned the impact, so it only broke its leg.”

“You took it with you?” Fu Rangyi asked, almost without a questioning tone.

“You even know that,” Zhu Zhixi said. “I was on my way down the mountain, so I carried it to the local village doctor and saved its little life.”

[I’ve seen this episode!]
[That video went viral for a while. The little lamb later became a local mini-celebrity. Many tourists went to take pictures with it.]
[Xixi is truly a little angel. He always manages to save small animals whenever he goes out.]

“That’s amazing.” Fu Rangyi’s voice grew even closer, almost a whisper. “Did you give it a name?”

“I did. I called it Narcissus.”

“Why?” Fu Rangyi was curious.

“Because the day I found it was my mother’s birthday,” Zhu Zhixi’s tone was light and cheerful. “My mother’s pheromone is daffodil.”

“I see,” Fu Rangyi murmured.

[Look at the shadows, there’s a surprise! A certain Alpha reached out and put his arm around Xiao Xi’s waist! The shadow of his head also moved closer. Did he kiss Xiao Xi’s hair!]
[You guys are really analyzing frame by frame for sweetness… It’s not easy.]

In the video, a snow-white bird flew diagonally across the view, and the camera shook with it. In the next second, the deep valley forest transformed into a flat grassy slope on the mountaintop. The camera also switched from handheld to a fixed position on the ground. A few small birds landed in front, chirping and tilting their heads. But before long, they flew away, revealing two people setting up a tent not far away.

[Even their windbreakers are a matching set! They look so good together.]
[In the past, it was usually Xixi setting up the tent by himself. Now it’s two people, giving off a feeling of very peaceful happiness.]

The tent was under a tree, and everything around was steeped in fog.

Zhu Zhixi picked up a small retro lamp. With a click, the glass bulb emitted a warm yellow light. He hung it on a tree branch, and the halo of light diffused in the mist, like a moon hanging from the branch.

“Our original plan was to go straight down after spending a little while on the mountain,” Zhu Zhixi explained while busying himself. “But now, the mountain fog is too thick, and the visibility is very, very low. It’s very dangerous to go down like this. Hiking has its risks, so friends without experience shouldn’t imitate this.”

Fu Rangyi still didn’t show much of his face. He wore a hat and quietly organized the tent, laid out the sleeping bags, and started a fire. He took out two thermoses from his backpack, poured hot water from one and handed it to Zhu Zhixi. The other contained the tomato and shredded chicken congee he had cooked last night.

“It feels like we’re playing house,” Zhu Zhixi said, sitting side by side with him in the tent, taking a small sip of the congee. “It’s so delicious.”

“Camping is just an adult’s game of playing house, isn’t it?” Fu Rangyi said softly, reaching out to wipe the corner of Zhu Zhixi’s mouth.

“Did you play it when you were a kid?” Zhu Zhixi asked, catching his hand, but only managing to grab his index finger.

Fu Rangyi shook his head. “No.” He was wearing a black baseball cap, with half of his hair tied up and pulled through the back of the hat. With a mask and black-rimmed glasses, he looked less like a professor and more like a university student.

“That’s great,” Zhu Zhixi leaned close to his ear, covering the microphone with one hand, and whispered, “Your first time playing house is with me. I’m so happy.”

After hearing this, Fu Rangyi smiled and reached out to pinch his cheek.

[What secrets did you guys whisper?? Is there something that a noble subscribing member like me can’t hear?]
[I think I heard something about ‘first time’ or the like. Is this something you can say, Xixi??]
[Pinching his cheek is so sweet, I want to pinch it too.]

After a simple replenishment of energy, Zhu Zhixi sat cross-legged next to Fu Rangyi, leaning against his shoulder and organizing the outdoor rope.

“Do you want me to teach you how to tie a knot?” Zhu Zhixi asked, raising the hand holding the rope.

Fu Rangyi asked, “The kind you tie me up with?”

Zhu Zhixi suddenly looked up, his expression becoming a little flustered. He belatedly covered the mini-microphone with his hand and glared at Fu Rangyi.

“What are you talking about? Who tied you up? Xiao Fu, don’t talk nonsense.”

“Nonsense?” Fu Rangyi said lightly. “Don’t struggle. This kind of knot gets tighter the more you struggle.”

“Why do you have to say it in such an improper way?”

“It’s very proper,” Fu Rangyi asked. “Should we teach everyone?”

The bullet comments were flooded with the word “Yes.” The camera angle switched, showing only Zhu Zhixi. He very seriously and gravely explained:

“This is how you tie a handcuff knot. It’s true that the more you struggle, the tighter it gets. You can try it if you encounter danger.”

As he spoke, the camera turned, focusing on a certain person’s broad back, his arms twisted behind him, playing the role of danger itself.

[This Pacific-Ocean-wide shoulder… Teacher, all your gym time was not in vain.]
[Why did this suddenly turn into a bondage play program?]

“Try moving a little,” Zhu Zhixi said after tying it, kneeling and leaning close to his ear.

Fu Rangyi tilted his head and struggled cooperatively. “It’s getting tighter.”

Zhu Zhixi nodded in satisfaction. “That’s right. This is the handcuff knot.”

He didn’t continue after that. Fu Rangyi was a little helpless and gently bumped Zhu Zhixi’s head with his own, reminding him in a deep voice, “Untie me.”

“Then you have to beg me,” Zhu Zhixi blinked, deliberately being mischievous, his hand lightly resting on the back of his neck.

Fu Rangyi was quiet for a few seconds. “It’s a bit pathetic to beg like this now.”

“I just like to see handsome guys looking pathetic,” Zhu Zhixi said, his full, rosy lips moving slightly as he spoke, his bright eyes always fixed on Fu Rangyi’s. “It would be even better if it rained a little, soaking all your clothes.”

[Xixi, I get your tastes… you like the half-hidden, half-seen look, right?]

Fu Rangyi was very quiet. He adjusted his kneeling position and stretched out his long leg, “accidentally” knocking over the recording tripod. And so, this segment of footage went missing and was not edited in.

What everyone didn’t see was that he did indeed use some more pathetic ways to beg. He rubbed his mask off on Zhu Zhixi’s shoulder, leaned in for a kiss, and kissed Zhu Zhixi until he was dizzy and lay down willingly. His teeth bit the zipper, tugged at the hem, and explored inside.

In the howling mountain wind, the tent shook, becoming a small boat tossed in a stream of desire. The valley was shrouded in mist, and everything seemed dreamlike. Fu Rangyi lightly kissed Zhu Zhixi’s earlobe, his voice seemingly containing water vapor and laughter. Amidst Zhu Zhixi’s overly intense panting, his breathy voice was almost completely drowned out. Only Zhu Zhixi could hear it.

“Baby, my clothes are indeed almost soaked. Is this how you like it?”

“You… bastard…”

“Mm, bastard,” Fu Rangyi repeated thoughtfully, feeling a certain bad guy trying to retreat. He pressed his forehead against his and became even more relentless. He lowered his head, kissing Zhu Zhixi’s lower lip, which was bitten white, licking and kissing it until he let go, then asked, “Answer me, do you like it?”

Zhu Zhixi’s eyelashes trembled violently. He took a deep breath, unable to make a sound, and just nodded.

“Good boy,” Fu Rangyi kissed his eyelid.

All these pathetic and intimate parts were skipped over.

The scene that appeared after the tripod was knocked over was of the two lying in a brown double sleeping bag, like a fluffy baked baguette.

[Alright, alright, getting into the sleeping bag at noon, are we? What good couple hikes up a mountain just to take a nap?]
[Xixi, how could you edit it like this?!]
[They’re dressed pretty warmly, so probably nothing happened.]

Zhu Zhixi let out a long sigh. “From my experience, this fog won’t clear up for a while. Are you scared?”

“Scared of what?” Fu Rangyi looked at him.

“Of being trapped here,” Zhu Zhixi said, propping himself up on his arms, raising his upper body to look down at him. “If it gets to nighttime, the temperature will get very low.”

A slight smile touched the corners of Fu Rangyi’s mouth. “Anyway, you’re here, and you’re so experienced. I trust you.”

“Classmate Fu is quite perceptive, knowing to rely on me now. Your words have become so much sweeter,” Zhu Zhixi said with a proud look, his chin held high.

Fu Rangyi stared up at him and laughed.

[This scene looks like that meme: Man, you can lean on the rabbit’s chest.jpg]
[Hahahaha now that you say it, it’s true. I bet Professor Fu is laughing because he thought of that too.]

The two chatted idly. They had woken up very early for the hike, and climbing the mountain had consumed a lot of energy. So before long, they leaned against each other and fell asleep in the white noise of the mountain wind.

In his sleep, Fu Rangyi dreamed of some hazy, familiar yet strange scenes. In the overlapping light and shadow, he saw the childhood Zhu Zhixi, and then him in a black formal suit.

They danced together in a room and in a forest. It was a beautiful dream he rarely had.

In the chaotic dream, he even held a wedding with Zhu Zhixi again. But this time, when he inadvertently glanced down at the audience, he saw Zhu Zhixi’s mother.

Crystal tears rolled down that beautiful face. The plot jumped illogically. When he looked up, he met a pair of eyes very similar to his own. The other person meticulously adjusted his wrist corsage and said softly, “Baby, you and Xiao Xi will be very happy.”

He smelled the scent of bitter pomelo, and the tip of his nose tingled.

A sound that was neither loud nor soft, like fate falling and breaking the bridge connecting two space-times, startled Fu Rangyi from his dream. He subconsciously protected Zhu Zhixi’s head with his hand. He was still sleeping soundly against his chest, his breathing steady, like a child.

As his consciousness slowly returned, Fu Rangyi stared at the indentation at the top of the tent. After a moment, he freed a hand to find and put on his glasses, confirming that something had indeed hit the tent.

So he gently pulled his arm from under Zhu Zhixi’s neck, carefully got out of the sleeping bag, put on his coat, and left the tent to check. To his surprise, the culprit was actually a pomelo.

He held the pomelo and stood in a daze for a long time. Coming back to his senses, he turned his head, and Fu Rangyi was even more surprised.

In just that moment, the thick fog that had surrounded everything had unknowingly dissipated.

The sea of clouds, the mountain cliffs, and the mountainside covered in various shades of green—everything was revealed before their eyes like a painted scroll.

“Baby, the fog has lifted,” he said, returning to the tent, kissing Zhu Zhixi’s forehead to wake him.