Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"Brother?" Major General Lin echoed softly, "A brother you met on the road?"

Yan Bubu stared at him fearfully and nodded.

Feng Chen suddenly spoke up, "I fell ill some time ago and met him on the street. He found me some food and medicine. After I recovered, I decided to bring him along."

"Is that so?" Major General Lin continued to hold Yan Bubu's chin, not even glancing at Feng Chen.

Yan Bubu, with his head tilted back stiffly, said, "Yes, that's right."

"Then tell me more about it."

"The medicine I got for my brother, I had to step over dead bodies to find it. I also found bread. Someone tried to steal it, but I didn't let them. I saw that person just now; he lives here too and made faces at me."

Yan Bubu's words were halting, but he managed to convey the gist. Major General Lin was silent for a moment, then slowly straightened up, releasing Yan Bubu's chin. His gaze remained icy, but he reached into his pocket.

Seeing this action, Feng Chen's pupils dilated, and his face turned pale, his right hand subtly reaching behind his waist.

But in the next moment, Major General Lin pulled out a lollipop from his pocket and handed it to Yan Bubu: "Here."

Yan Bubu mechanically accepted the lollipop, standing there silently without thanking him.

Major General Lin then turned to Feng Chen, "Normally, everyone must be in their rooms by 11 p.m., but since you've just arrived in the underground city, we'll make an exception tonight. Go take a bath, clean yourselves up, don't bring any surface germs down here."

Feng Chen's hand had returned to its original position, and he nodded. Major General Lin then turned and walked away with his soldiers.

"Ahem... let's continue, shall we? To your room," Wu You, who had been silent and sticking to the wall the whole time, finally spoke up, "That was Major General Lin, the highest-ranking officer in the underground shelter, overseeing the entire facility."

Yan Bubu was still holding the lollipop in a daze. Feng Chen took it from him, unwrapped it, and placed it back in his hand, "Let's go."

Beep—

Another long bell rang out, and the chaotic sounds of doors shutting and footsteps had all but disappeared, everyone having returned to their rooms.

The three walked to where the straight corridor began to bend. Wu You stopped, took out a key card, and opened the door marked C68.

"This is your room," Wu You said, not entering but simply reaching in to turn on the light.

As Feng Chen was about to enter, Wu You stopped him: "Be careful, the bed is right by the door."

Yan Bubu also peeked inside, observing the room alongside Feng Chen.

The room was extremely small and cramped, reminiscent of the storeroom under the stairs in Yan Bubu's house. The furnishings were simple, with just a single bed and a low cabinet. The room was triangular, with a plastic curtain partially revealing a toilet at the pointed end. The single bed was placed across the wider part near the door.

"This room is for the two of you. It's small, but it's enough for two young boys. Besides, we're not rats; we won't live in the underground city forever. Once summer passes and the temperature cools, and the Western Alliance Army clears the surface, we'll go back up."

Wu You pointed to the bed blocking the door: "Though it blocks the door, it's easy enough for you two to climb over. This room isn't suitable for older people, only for you two."

"Okay."

Feng Chen didn't mind the small size or the blocked door; having a place to stay was enough for him.

Wu You patted his shoulder: "Sensible!"

Looking around to ensure no one was listening, he whispered, "I gave you this room because I see you two kids are having a hard time. Normally, people in your situation are placed in an eight-person room, crammed together, with each person paying ten credit points a month. The larger, separate rooms are too expensive, costing fifty credit points a month, and are only for families. Your room is small, but it's only twenty credit points a month, the same as the eight-person rooms."

"Thank you, uncle," Feng Chen said.

Yan Bubu followed suit crisply, "Thank you, uncle."

"You can stay for free this month, but you'll have to pay rent from next month." Wu You handed the room key to Feng Chen, "Since you two don't have any luggage, come with me to the storeroom to pick up some essential items."

They followed him to the storeroom to collect items.

The storeroom was just a large room filled with various items, likely salvaged by the Western Alliance Army from collapsed supermarkets.

Feng Chen picked up a plastic basin, a kettle, two stainless steel lunch boxes, two toothbrushes, mouthwash cups, soap, and toothpaste. Before leaving, Wu You tossed in a bottle of shower gel, washing powder, and a new towel.

Although these items were typically inexpensive, the earthquake had destroyed the city, and it was uncertain how long before industries would recover. Even a common bar of soap would become increasingly precious.

Feng Chen, realizing Wu You was indeed taking care of them, expressed his gratitude once more.

"It's nothing," Wu You ruffled Yan Bubu's hair, suddenly smiling, "My son has the same naturally curly hair. Looks good."

As they left the storeroom, Wu You continued instructing, "Ahead is the bathhouse. As Major General Lin ordered, you need to take a bath first. Do you have clean clothes with you?"

"Yes."

"Wash your dirty clothes too, and hang them near the bathhouse. There's a vent there, so they'll dry quickly. After bathing, go straight back to your room and don't wander around, to avoid getting caught by patrolling guards. Also, the water room is next to the bathhouse, remember to fetch water."

"Got it, thanks, uncle."

Returning to C68, Feng Chen climbed over the bed. Just as he was about to help Yan Bubu, he noticed Yan had already crawled in from under the bed.

Despite its small size, the room was clean and seemingly uninhabited before. Feng Chen touched the grey-white walls, realizing they were made of a special material that was both waterproof and earthquake-resistant, effectively insulating against temperature variations. It seemed the Eastern and Western Alliance Armies had indeed invested considerable effort in constructing the underground city.

In the triangular corner, there was a small cabinet. Feng Chen took off his backpack and started storing some items in it. Yan Bubu squatted beside him, offering something to his mouth, "Young master, here, you eat this."

Feng Chen looked down; it was the lollipop.

"Didn't you eat it?"

Yan Bubu replied, "No, I've been holding it all this time."

Feng Chen continued to arrange their things: "You eat it, I don't like sweets."

Yan Bubu then put the candy in his mouth, sucking on it for a bit before smiling with delight, "Ah, strawberry flavored."

Feng Chen glanced over at him, then suddenly paused.

"Your teeth? When did you lose another one?"

Originally, Yan Bubu had a gap where one front tooth was missing, but now both front teeth were gone, enlarging the gap into a hole.

As Yan Bubu reached to feel it, Feng Chen caught his wrist, "Don't touch it, your hands are dirty."

"When did it fall out?" Feng Chen asked.

Yan Bubu used his tongue to probe the gap, recalling, "When we were on the surface, someone grabbed me, and I bit him. I think it knocked out then."

"And the tooth?" Feng Chen inquired.

Yan Bubu looked confused as he met Feng Chen's gaze, then suddenly realized, "When you were carrying me and running, I felt something in my mouth and swallowed it."

Feng Chen didn't pursue the topic of the tooth any further and stood up to search the room for a place to hide the code box.

The code box couldn't always be carried on his person, and leaving it in the cabinet wasn't safe. But the tiny room offered little in the way of hiding places, apart from the cabinet and the metal bed.

Eventually, he came up with an idea. He found some adhesive tape from a tool kit and stuck the code box to the most inner part under the bed. Unless someone crawled under the bed like Yan Bubu, the code box would remain undiscovered.

After securing the tape roll, Feng Chen picked up the plastic basin filled with their change of clothes, saying, "Let's go, time for a bath."

Approaching the bed, intending to climb over, he noticed Yan Bubu still squatting on the floor, absentmindedly sucking on the lollipop.

"Let's go."

Yan Bubu looked up at him apprehensively, "Young master, will I...?"

"No, it's just a swallowed tooth," Feng Chen reassured him, knowing his concern.

"But..."

"I've swallowed one before, and I'm still here," Feng Chen lied unflinchingly.

Finally reassured, Yan Bubu exhaled and stood up, "Alright, let's go take a bath."

As he approached the bed to crawl under, Feng Chen, sitting on the bed, blocked him with his hand.

Feng Chen looked at him seriously, "Annoying little thing, what should you call me?"

Yan Bubu opened his mouth to respond, then remembering something, swallowed the word 'young master' and looked uncertainly, "Then, what should I call you?"

"What do you think?"

Yan Bubu asked quietly, "Should I call you, brother?"

Feng Chen looked at his darting eyes and withdrew his hand, saying, "Remember, from now on, call me brother, and don't call me young master anymore, not even in private, so you don't get used to it."

"Brother, brother..." Yan Bubu murmured a couple of times, then looked up at Feng Chen with a smile, his eyes curving into crescents, "Okay, brother."

Feng Chen then asked, "Why did you suddenly start calling me brother when Major General Lin asked you?"

"Ah... I just thought, since we dare not even tell our real names in front of them, we must not tell the truth about anything else." Yan Bubu asked somewhat apprehensively, "Did I get it wrong?"

"No," Feng Chen affirmed.

Yan Bubu exhaled in relief, saying, "I thought so."

"Let's go," Feng Chen climbed over the bed, and Yan Bubu followed, crawling under it. He giggled upon seeing the code box hanging beneath the bed, "Hey, a small beehive inside a big one."

They turned off the light and left the room, walking down the silent corridor. It was quiet all around, devoid of wind or nature sounds, with only the occasional cry of a baby from one of the rooms.

The searchlight beams from the dome intermittently swept over the ground outside the Beehives, casting shadows of the cold steel supports.

The Beehive was a large oval structure, with the bathhouse located at the obscured arc end. As they followed the inwardly curving corridor, they could already see 'Bathhouse' written at the top, but Feng Chen suddenly stopped.

On the iron fence ahead, perched a completely black bird, seemingly a vulture, blending into the night. It would have been invisible if not for the fleeting searchlight.

How could a live bird appear in the underground city? Could it be a sculpture?

As Feng Chen thought this, the vulture turned its head, fixing its gaze on him and Yan Bubu.

It was alive!

Though it was just a bird, its stare was chillingly cold. Feng Chen felt an odd sensation, as if someone was observing him and Yan Bubu through its eyes.

Yan Bubu, noticing Feng Chen's pause, also looked ahead and then back at him, "Brother, what are you looking at?"

Just as he spoke, Feng Chen felt the vulture's gaze change, becoming colder and more scrutinizing.

It understood Yan Bubu's words.

"Nothing, just my shoelace is loose," Feng Chen replied calmly.

"Brother, do you want me to tie it for you?"

"I'll do it myself."

Feng Chen set the basin down and squatted to tie his shoelaces. The vulture flapped its wings and landed beside him.

He could see the vulture's sharp claws out of the corner of his eye. Despite the close distance, Yan Bubu seemed oblivious, carrying the mouthwash cups and muttering, "I'll carry the mouthwash cups for brother, I'll carry the toothbrush for brother, I'll carry the toothpaste for brother..."

Since Feng Chen had asked him to change how he addressed him, Yan Bubu included 'brother' in every sentence.

After tying his laces, Feng Chen picked up the basin and took Yan Bubu's hand, "Let's go, time for a bath and then bed."

He walked forward without glancing at the vulture, turning left into the bathhouse. As they entered, the fluttering of wings could be heard outside, indicating the vulture had flown away.

The men's bathhouse was large, but dimly lit, with rows of small cubicles each curtained by a plastic sheet.

Feng Chen guided Yan Bubu into one, turned on the hot water for him, and then went into the next cubicle. The basin with the shower gel was placed between their cubicles so they could both reach it.

It had been a long time since Feng Chen had a hot shower. He closed his eyes, letting the water wash over him, but his mind replayed the recent encounter.

Adai's snake, the black lion, the vulture – Yan Bubu couldn't see them, that was certain.

The key question was whether others could see them. Was this an issue with Yan Bubu, or with himself?

Though he couldn't ask others, Feng Chen leaned towards the problem being his own, recalling Adai's words.

"You and I are of the same kind..."

"The same kind..."

"Brother," Yan Bubu suddenly spoke, interrupting Feng Chen's thoughts.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, just calling you."

Feng Chen lathered up with shower gel, his mind still occupied: How did these strange animals appear? The black lion had disappeared after saving him and never reappeared. Would he see it again?

"Brother," Yan Bubu called from the next cubicle.

Feng Chen chose not to respond this time, remaining silent.

"Brother, brother," Yan Bubu began calling out incessantly, his voice growing increasingly anxious.

Annoyed by the constant calling, Feng Chen was about to respond when he heard the pitter-patter of footsteps; Yan Bubu had run over from the next cubicle.

The plastic curtain at the entrance of the cubicle was pushed aside by a small, soap-sudded hand. Feng Chen quickly pressed the curtain shut, "What are you doing?"

"Oh, you're still here."

Feng Chen asked irritably, "Where else would I be? Go back to the next cubicle."

Yet Yan Bubu stood outside, still holding the curtain without letting go.

"What are you doing standing out there? You've only been in there a few minutes, have you already finished bathing?" Feng Chen furrowed his brows.

Yan Bubu's cautious voice came through, "Brother, can I... can I take a bath with you?"

"No."

"I can scrub your back."

"I don't need that!"

Yan Bubu's eyes darted around, "I won't take up much space, just stand in the corner."

"No!"

"But, but..."

"I already told you I'm not going anywhere."

"No, I mean, I'm scared, please let me in," Yan Bubu started to forcefully squeeze in.

Feng Chen had never bathed with anyone since he could remember, and frantically tried to block him. But Yan Bubu, slippery with soap suds, almost wriggled through the gap in the curtain.

"Fine, fine, fine, go back and finish your bath. You can call me however you want, however many times, I’ll respond," Feng Chen said in a fluster.

Yan Bubu then returned to the next cubicle.

In the echoing expanse of the public men's bathhouse, their voices continued to reverberate.

"Brother."

"Hmm."

"Brother, do you think soap smells better, or shower gel?"

"Hmm."

"So many bubbles, haha."

"Hmm."

"This lollipop tastes really good."

"Hmm... you still haven't finished it? Eating while bathing?"

"Yeah, I don't want to bite it into pieces."

Feng Chen paused for a moment before asking, "Didn’t you taste the soap water running down your head?"

Yan Bubu replied, "I did, a little bit. It's bitter."

Feng Chen immediately raised his hand to knock on the partition wall, sternly saying, "Either throw the candy away or finish it now. Once you're done, brush your teeth, then continue bathing."

"Got it."

Chewing sounds came from the next cubicle.

After bathing, Yan Bubu changed into a new set of clothes brought from the fashion city: a yellow T-shirt and overalls. Feng Chen also put on new clothes, wearing a gray T-shirt and black pants.

While Yan Bubu was admiring the cartoon character on his T-shirt, Feng Chen gathered their dirty clothes into the basin to take to the communal laundry area.

The laundry room was still deserted, except for the wall behind the washing area, which had four huge fans embedded, humming as they spun.

In front of the fans, several pieces of clothing hung on wires, already dry and fluttering in the airflow.

Feng Chen added washing powder to the basin and began washing the clothes. His hair had grown a bit longer, some strands damply draped over his eyes, softening his usually aloof demeanor.

"Brother, how can I let you do the laundry? I'm supposed to serve you, let me wash them," Yan Bubu exclaimed exaggeratedly, rolling up his sleeves.

Feng Chen scrubbed the clothes firmly, lips pressed together in silence, not even glancing at him.

Observing Feng Chen's expression, Yan Bubu moved closer, "I can't wash clothes now, but I will learn. Later on, let me serve you, okay?"

Feng Chen placed the washed T-shirt under the tap and picked up a pair of pants to start scrubbing.

It was a pair of dark blue children's overalls, the legs caked in mud.

"Brother, I really like you so much, why are you so nice?" Yan Bubu said with an ingratiating smile, his voice sweet as honey.

Feng Chen, who had been expressionless, suddenly frowned, pushing him away with his elbow, "Shut up, you're being nauseating. Say one more word, and you’ll wash these clothes yourself."

Yan Bubu sheepishly closed his mouth, looking around the room, his gaze falling on the four large fans on the wall, his curiosity piqued.

"Brother, are those electric fans?"

"No."

Yan Bubu persisted, "Then what is it?"

"It's an air exchanger. Without this device, there would be no fresh air in the underground city."

Feng Chen also glanced back at the row of air exchangers on the wall.

The underground city was massive, and just these four air exchangers would not be enough. Presumably, many were installed throughout, all connected by a common duct system, continuously supplying fresh air to the underground city.

Feng Chen continued washing clothes, while Yan Bubu stared at the four large fans.

The blades spun rapidly, the darkness visible from their edges seemed deep and distant, as if harboring some unknown danger lurking in the depths.

Suddenly feeling fearful, Yan Bubu's back chilled, and he quickly looked away, grabbing onto Feng Chen beside him.

Feng Chen finished washing the clothes, wrung them out, and went to hang them on the wires in front of the air exchangers. The circulating airflow there would dry them by morning.

Yan Bubu, wary of the fans, hesitated to approach but, fearing for Feng Chen's safety, followed him, gripping the hem of his shirt tightly and planting his feet firmly on the ground.

"Let go, you're stretching my clothes," Feng Chen admonished in a low voice as he hung a pair of pants on the wire.

Yan Bubu refused to let go, "Just for a little while, just a bit longer."

Having no choice, Feng Chen hung the rest of the clothes in this awkward posture, dragging Yan Bubu along.

It was getting late, so Feng Chen filled a kettle with hot water from a nearby dispenser, and they returned to room C68.

Although there was only one single bed in the room, it could comfortably fit both of them. The bed was covered with a gray sheet but lacked a blanket. Fortunately, Feng Chen had brought a fleece blanket from the minibus, pulling it out of his backpack and sharing it with Yan Bubu.

Despite the bed being somewhat hard, Yan Bubu, who hadn't slept in a bed for a long time, excitedly tossed and turned under the blanket, wearing only his underwear.

Feng Chen handed Yan Bubu one of the lunch boxes with cooled water inside, "Drink some water."

"Ah, water... no, I won't drink," Yan Bubu shook his head.

Feng Chen then drank himself but noticed Yan Bubu watching him, so he offered the other lunch box again.

Yan Bubu looked hesitant, licked his dry lips, then sat up and took the lunch box, gulping down the water.

After he finished drinking, Feng Chen put away the empty lunch box and turned off the light with a click, lying down next to him.

The room had no windows, and it was pitch black after the lights were out, with only a small ventilation device on the side wall quietly blowing in air.

Feng Chen closed his eyes, hands crossed over his chest, while Yan Bubu stretched one leg out from under the blanket and laid it on his leg.

Feng Chen picked up the foot, threw it off, and pulled his hand back to continue sleeping.

Moments later, Yan Bubu's hand reached out again, resting on Feng Chen's hand, lightly scratching the back of his hand.

"Can't you just sleep properly?" Feng Chen finally snapped.

Yan Bubu whispered, "Brother, can you pinch my ear?"

"Why should I pinch your ear?"

Yan Bubu said, "When I sleep, my mom always pinches my ear, or else I can't fall asleep."

Feng Chen was silent for a moment: "You've been sleeping fine these past days without your ear being pinched."

Yan Bubu replied, "But we weren't sleeping together then. If we're together and you don't pinch my ear, I can't sleep."

Feng Chen pushed his hand away, "Go to sleep, if you keep moving, you'll sleep on the floor."

His stern warning worked, and Yan Bubu withdrew his hand, soon settling down and beginning to snore softly.

Overwhelmed by drowsiness, Feng Chen set aside his chaotic thoughts and also drifted off to sleep.

……

When Feng Chen opened his eyes in his dream, finding himself once again in that snowy field, he felt no surprise. He stood up calmly and walked straight towards the giant cocoon in the snow.

Before even getting close, he could see a dark figure inside through the frosted cocoon shell.

The shadowy figure became clearer than before, distinctly showing its body, head, and... its curled-up claws and tail behind it.

Feng Chen stepped closer, noticing the cocoon covered in fine lines, like a chick gently pecking its way through an eggshell, creating cracks.

He placed his hand on the slightly elastic shell, his gaze following the contours of the shadow within.

In a flash, a thought struck him.

"This shadow, it resembles the black lion that once caught me in the air."

The pulsations emanating from beneath the eggshell were stronger than ever, synchronizing with his heartbeat. He closed his eyes, quietly feeling it, sensing the black lion in a dormant state, as if self-regulating after exhaustion.

"Could it be that the black lion hasn't fully matured? That it had broken free from its constraints in a split second to catch me as I fell from the building, and now it has returned to its cocoon for further growth and repair?"

Feng Chen gazed at one of the widest cracks, wanting to peel back the cocoon shell to inspect the situation inside. But no sooner had this thought formed than a buzzing sound filled his mind, as if struck by a heavy, muffled hammer, and suddenly everything started spinning...

Feng Chen abruptly opened his eyes to complete darkness, with a lingering buzzing in his ears.

He reached out in the darkness, touching a warm, small body, and gradually regained his senses, remembering he was still in the beehive room, with Yan Bubu lying beside him.

The giant silk cocoon and the black lion within it seemed like nothing but a dream.

Yet Feng Chen knew it was not a dream. The black lion must exist in some form within his body, quietly dormant.

"Where could it be?"

He touched his chest, "Impossible." Then his abdomen, "Doesn't seem right either."

His fingers finally paused on his forehead, hesitating.

"...Could it be here?"

Suddenly, a noise of quarrel, like a couple arguing accompanied by the loud bangs of things being smashed, came from somewhere. Footsteps quickly echoed in the corridor, as a squad of the Western Alliance Army kicked open a door, and the noise abruptly stopped.

Silence fell again, the night thick as undissolvable magma. Feng Chen withdrew his fingers from his forehead, blinking blankly, suddenly unsure which was real: the snowy landscape from before or this dark night.

"...have another one." Yan Bubu suddenly turned over, murmuring in his sleep, burying his head in Feng Chen's chest.

Feeling the warm breath on his neck, Feng Chen finally felt a sense of reality, and did not push him away. They lay close together, and he closed his eyes to sleep.

The next day, Feng Chen woke up early as usual, while Yan Bubu was still asleep, entangled around him.

He extricated himself from Yan Bubu's grasp amidst his grumbling protests, got up to brush his teeth and wash his face at the washstand, and then collected the dried clothes.

When he returned, Yan Bubu had adjusted his position, lying neatly with his hands by his sides, only his tousled curly hair poking out from under the blanket covering his face.

Feng Chen reached to pull the blanket away, but Yan Bubu suddenly raised his hand, pressing the towel down firmly.

"What are you doing? Awake and still not getting up?" Feng Chen asked.

Yan Bubu remained silent under the blanket.

Checking the time, it was 7 a.m., almost time for breakfast as Wu You had mentioned. Feng Chen nudged him, "Stop lazing around, get up for breakfast."

Yan Bubu’s head shook beneath the blanket, his muffled voice emerging, "I'm not hungry, I don't want to eat."

They hadn't had a proper meal the previous day; how could he not be hungry? Feng Chen suspected Yan Bubu might be sick and reached to touch his forehead, finding his temperature normal.

In the silence, two grumbling sounds came from Yan Bubu’s stomach.

"Get up," Feng Chen commanded.

"I won't get up, I won't eat."

Feng Chen watched him silently for a moment before suddenly pulling off the blanket. Yan Bubu reached to grab it but missed.

He abruptly looked up at Feng Chen, his eyes filled with panic and agitation.

Feng Chen asked coldly, "Why aren't you getting up? Throwing a tantrum?"

Yan Bubu mumbled something, his lips moving, but the sound was so faint Feng Chen couldn't make out a word.

"This isn't like before, and we're not at home. We're fleeing for our lives; no one's going to indulge your tantrums anymore."

As soon as Feng Chen finished speaking, he saw Yan Bubu's expression turn pitiful, his mouth puckering slightly.

"What are you trying to do?" Feng Chen asked warily.

Yan Bubu stared at him unblinkingly, his large eyes quickly welling up with tears.

Uh-oh!

Feng Chen's heart tightened, and he swallowed the rest of his reprimand.

Back at home, Yan Bubu was prone to crying fits almost daily. Even if Feng Chen closed all doors and windows, the shrill cries would still penetrate, relentless and haunting, a genuinely fearsome ordeal.

Seeing him on the verge of tears again, Feng Chen warned in a low voice, "Don't cry."

Had he not said that, Yan Bubu might have held back, but as soon as Feng Chen spoke, tears immediately rolled down from Yan Bubu's eyes as he closed them and opened his mouth.

Fortunately, he didn't burst into loud sobs, only emitting low whimpers. Still, Feng Chen felt his scalp tighten and quickly sat beside the bed.

"Talk to me, don't cry. Hold back those sad feelings."

Yan Bubu, gasping for air, said, "Brother, I didn't mean it, it wasn't on purpose."

Feng Chen, not daring to upset him further: "Alright, alright, if you don't want to get up, just lie down. Just don't cry."

"I don't, don't want to lie down, I'm not throwing a tantrum, I just... I just..."

Sensing something was amiss, Feng Chen gently asked, "What's wrong? Tell me."

After a moment, Yan Bubu confessed, "I wet, wet the bed again."

Feng Chen, taken aback, pulled back the blanket and saw Yan Bubu's underpants were wet, and the bedsheet beneath was stained.

"I wanted to get up, but then I, I wet the bed," Yan Bubu sobbed, "I shouldn't have drunk water before bed, I'm wrong, I shouldn't be wetting the bed at six."

Feng Chen finally came to his senses, "It's okay, it's really okay."

"It's, it's okay?" Yan Bubu looked at him with tearful eyes.

"It's really okay," Feng Chen affirmed seriously.

Compared to Yan Bubu's crying fits, wetting the bed was really not a big deal.

Yan Bubu seemed startled but quickly stopped crying.

Feng Chen searched the cabinet for clean underwear, while Yan Bubu stood up and stripped himself bare, like a shelled peanut.

When Feng Chen handed him the underwear, Yan Bubu was about to sit down to put them on, but Feng Chen pulled him to the edge of the bed, "Sit here."

The middle of the bed was already soaked with a large wet patch, unsuitable for sitting.

Although Yan Bubu still had tears on his face, he became instantly fascinated with the pattern on the underwear, "Oh, there are little ducks on these briefs, they look so nice."

His belly was a little chubby, the navel almost hidden. Feng Chen urged, "Hurry up and put them on, don't just stand there looking."

Yan Bubu put on his underwear and then cheerfully examined his T-shirt, "Binunu..."

"Hurry up!"

Yan Bubu pulled the T-shirt over his head, but Feng Chen noted, "You've got it backward."

After adjusting the T-shirt correctly, Yan Bubu's head got stuck in the neckline. Feng Chen, impatient, pulled the T-shirt down, causing Yan Bubu's body to sway back and forth, yet his head still didn't emerge.

"Brother, my ears hurt," Yan Bubu complained, his voice muffled under the shirt.

Feng Chen then noticed two buttons on the right shoulder of the T-shirt, quickly unbuttoned them, and loosened the neckline.

Yan Bubu's head popped out, his curly hair even more disheveled, making him look like a lion dog with those round eyes.

After he leisurely put on his overalls, Feng Chen, unable to bear the slow pace, squatted down and began putting socks on Yan Bubu's feet.

From his angle, Yan Bubu could only see Feng Chen's slightly furrowed brow, so he softly called out, "Brother."

Feng Chen ignored him, simply patting his plump foot, "Lift it up a bit."

Yan Bubu raised his foot, then said, "When will I grow up? Once I'm grown, I can take care of you."

Even with Feng Chen's patience and restraint, he couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

Once Yan Bubu was out of bed, Feng Chen stripped the bedsheet, grabbed the basin and washing powder, and headed to the laundry area. They only had one bedsheet, so it needed to be washed and dried quickly for use at bedtime.

Yan Bubu followed with his mouthwash cup, curiously looking around.

The Beehive was bustling in the morning, with people bustling in the corridors. Some elders were dancing to music playing from their phones, while a young girl sat at the edge of her bed applying makeup in front of a small round mirror. A shirtless man was doing push-ups on the floor of his room.

Having lived in a villa since he was young, Yan Bubu had never seen such a scene and found it both fresh and fun.

The laundry area was busy, but mostly with people getting water or brushing their teeth and washing their faces; the washing station was empty.

Feng Chen set the basin on the washing station and looked down at the bedsheet in it, his expression complex.

He maintained this posture for several minutes, as if mentally preparing himself, then slowly raised his hand.

However, his hand hovered above the basin, hesitating for a moment before retracting.

Yan Bubu, brushing his teeth at the sink, felt too guilty to look at him.

Feng Chen turned on the tap, continuously rinsing the bedsheet for several minutes before pouring in the washing powder, then called Yan Bubu over, "Come here."

Yan Bubu obediently walked over.

Feng Chen instructed, "Put your fingers in and stir it around."

"How do I stir it?" Yan Bubu asked, looking bewildered.

Feng Chen instructed, "Have you ever seen a washing machine work? Now you're the washing machine. Stir a few circles to the left, then a few to the right."

Understanding, Yan Bubu handed Feng Chen his mouthwash cup and stood on his toes, reaching to stir the bedsheet.

"Wait," Feng Chen called out again, rolling up Yan Bubu's sleeves, then saying, "Go ahead."

Yan Bubu, transformed into a 'washing machine', dipped his hands into the basin, earnestly stirring the bedsheet, even making buzzing noises.

Feng Chen caught a glimpse of people watching them and whispered, "Don't make any noise."

"Pause," Yan Bubu touched his forehead with his other hand, then looked up, "If it's silent, it's like the power's out. A washing machine can't work without power, that won't do."

After saying this, he touched his forehead again and continued his buzzing, fully embracing the role of a washing machine.

The noise he made drew the attention of others brushing their teeth and washing their faces. Feng Chen, feeling his cheeks heat up, pressed Yan Bubu's forehead and whispered, "Silent mode."

Yan Bubu immediately became quiet and continued stirring the bedsheet in silence.

Feng Chen didn't let him stir for long, feeling it was enough. He moved Yan Bubu aside, took over the basin to rinse and change the water, and added more washing powder, washing the sheet a second time himself.

After washing the bedsheet, it was almost time for breakfast. They returned to their room, picked up their lunch boxes, and headed to the canteen.

The Beehive had a canteen every ten floors; theirs was on the sixtieth floor. Along with others carrying their lunch boxes, they took the elevator to the sixtieth floor.

The canteen was large, without tables or chairs. Near the front counter, there were identity scanners and card swipers. People had to swipe their credit point cards and check their identity chips to get food.

The queue for food formed a long spiral, with two Western Union soldiers stationed in different directions to maintain order.

Feng Chen and Yan Bubu lined up at the end, slowly moving forward with the crowd. Due to the soldiers' presence, although there were many people, nobody dared to speak loudly, conversing in low tones.

"I heard the temperature on the surface is getting even hotter, reaching over 60 degrees at noon, and it's still rising."

"Over 60 degrees? Nobody can stay outside in that heat, right?"

"Certainly. Every time the Western Union soldiers go out, they have to wear thermal insulation suits."

"I thought we could leave the Beehive in a couple of weeks, but at this rate, it looks like we'll have to stay for several more months."

"Let's wait until summer is over. Things should improve after that."

……

Hearing this, Feng Chen's mood also became somewhat heavy.

When the underground shelters were being constructed, Hongcheng was one of the experimental cities, but not every city was like Haiyun City, which had completed its shelter before the earthquake hit. With such high surface temperatures now, he wondered about the situation in Hongcheng and how his parents were faring…

Yan Bubu, holding his lunch box, turned to look at Feng Chen and, noticing his somber expression, tugged at his clothes uneasily, "Brother."

Feng Chen snapped back to reality, reassuring him, "It's okay, just keep in line."

"Why isn't the person here? To get food, the individual must be present; just bringing a card isn't enough," a rough voice sounded, probably the chef's.

A man pleaded, "Chef, my wife is sick and running a fever, so I thought I'd get her meal for her."

The chef, sounding troubled, replied, "That's not possible. It's the rule. Even if they can't walk due to illness, they have to be carried here, show their face."

"But chef—"

"What's going on here?" A Western Union soldier approached, scolding loudly, "Don't you understand the rules? Either bring the person here or don't eat at all."

The man eventually said nothing more, leaving the line and heading towards the exit, probably to go back and carry his wife.

Yan Bubu watched the man until he disappeared at the canteen door, then turned to quietly ask Feng Chen, "Brother, why can't we help get food for others?"

"Hmm."

"Why can't we help with getting food?" Yan Bubu muttered softly, "When Wang Siyi didn't want to get food, I could always get it for her."

Wang Siyi was a classmate of Yan Bubu in kindergarten. A pretty little girl with a sweet voice, several boys would eagerly volunteer to get food for her when the teacher distributed meals.

Gradually, competing to get food for Wang Siyi became a kind of contest in the class. It wasn't about who got the food or whether there was a reward; the important thing was to be the one who got the food – it was a matter of pride.

The children all scrambled for the chance, and Yan Bubu, being good-looking, often got picked by Wang Siyi, who had a preference for handsome faces.

However, after a few meal fights, Yan Bubu lost interest and stopped participating in the competition. He felt that the only person who could keep him motivated to help with the meals was the young master.

Hearing Yan Bubu's mutterings, Feng Chen didn't respond, but he also harbored doubts in his heart.

"Having grown up in a military environment, he was familiar with how the army stockpiled enough supplies to handle emergencies. The immediate reconstruction work after the earthquake seemed excessively strict, with such tight security that even getting a meal required identity confirmation."

"Unless... unless the situation is deteriorating and this way of life will continue for a long time."

Feng Chen felt a sudden pang of anxiety.

"As they slowly followed the queue, nearing the front, a piercing scream from outside suddenly made everyone shudder."

"The crowd looked outside, while several soldiers of the Western Alliance Army became alert, hands resting on their guns."

"Staggering footsteps echoed in the hallway. The man who had gone to carry his wife reappeared at the door, his neck bleeding profusely, his face as pale as a ghost."

"Leaning against the door frame, he gasped for air: 'Help... help me... help...'"