Chapter 19

Chapter 19

On August 27th at 7:03 PM, it started raining.

At first, the air carried a dusty scent, but gradually it turned cool. The rain grew heavier, going from a drizzle to a torrential pour before settling into a steady, moderate rainfall.

After weeks of drought, people were thrilled. News and social media blew up with coverage, and many danced in the rain, cheering.

Seeing the drenched crowds laughing and livestreaming on their phones, Jiang Nian could already picture them turning into zombies. He let out a quiet sigh, turned off his phone, and focused on his meal—five-star hotel food really hits different!

Cheng Jing remained silent. Just like Jiang Nian said, those who got soaked would start showing symptoms by midnight, rushing to hospitals soon after. Deaths would follow quickly, and in the days ahead, hospitals would be overwhelmed, drowning in death.

He had to time it just right to stock up—especially medicine, sugar, and salt. Could never hurt to grab extra.

A veteran of the apocalypse, Jiang Nian stayed calm—ate when he needed to, slept when he could. Inwardly, he repeated: *The heavens spare all lives. Everyone has their own fate—look out for yourself, don’t drag others down.*

Cheng Jing watched him but didn’t say anything, still choosing to believe his nightmare warnings.

After dinner, Jiang Nian began topping up all the batteries at home. Though Cheng Jing could generate electricity, it wore him out. Better to charge everything now while they still could.

With nothing else to do, Cheng Jing spent the time getting used to his powers.

After goofing off all day, Jiang Nian was quiet at night, cuddling up to Cheng Jing.

“Let’s sleep early, Brother Jing. You’ll adjust fast.”

Cheng Jing looked down at him.

“You seem already used to it.”

“…”

Jiang Nian nuzzled closer, playing it off with a laugh.

“I just roll with things. And now that you’ve awakened your power, I’m not worried at all.”

“Alright, sleep then.”

Cheng Jing didn’t press further, smiling slightly as he closed his eyes.

Rain makes sleep heavier, so even with the stress, Cheng Jing woke up much later than usual.

When he got up, Jiang Nian was already in the living room eating instant noodles while video-chatting with Huang Qian.

They were talking about the news—those who danced in last night’s rain had been hospitalized and died within hours.

Noticing Cheng Jing was awake, Jiang Nian paused the call and made him a bowl too—beef flavor, plus a soft-boiled egg.

Huang Qian teased through the screen:

“Damn, Xiao Nian, playing house now? That ring’s got you locked in…”

Jiang Nian smiled calmly.

“I help out sometimes. Most of the time, Brother Jing takes care of me.”

He lifted his left hand to show off the ring.

“Pretty, right, Sister Qian? I’m obsessed~”

Huang Qian gritted her teeth in frustration:

"Grow a spine! Show some of that energy you used to have him eating out of your hand—disgusting! Tch…"

Jiang Nian guiltily glanced toward the bathroom and lowered his voice:

"Qian-jie, you can’t just say that—I never strung Brother Jing along… It was just a small misunderstanding."

Breaking up unilaterally was the biggest mistake he’d made in both lifetimes!

Huang Qian scoffed:

"Yeah, yeah, a 'small misunderstanding' that had him brooding like a grieving widower."

"I really didn’t—"

Jiang Nian tried to offer a flimsy excuse but caught sight of Cheng Jing approaching and quickly changed his tone:

"Let bygones be bygones. From now on, we’re going to be so disgustingly happy you’ll gag!"

Then he turned to Cheng Jing with a bright smile:

"Right, Brother Jing~?"

"Yeah."

Cheng Jing sat down beside him, and Jiang Nian passed him chopsticks with overeager enthusiasm before opening a carton of soy milk for him.

Huang Qian watched silently from the other end before hanging up the video call.

After finishing his meal, Cheng Jing looked at the person busying himself with cleanup and asked with a smile:

"Are you afraid I’ll bring up the past?"

He looked like a cat with its tail stepped on—flustered and defensive.

Jiang Nian scooted closer to link arms with him:

"I already apologized…"

The calculated sweetness didn’t matter—as long as it worked.

Of course he was afraid. Even though they’d made up that day, things had gone *suspiciously* smoothly. The past still hung over him.

"Mhm, I forgive you, so don’t worry."

Cheng Jing patted his cheek like calming a skittish cat. If he’d already come back on his own, what else could Cheng Jing do? He wasn’t the type to dwell on old grievances. No use crying over spilled milk.

Group messages blew up with pings. Cheng Jing picked up his phone—it was the small group chat, with others @-ing him to thank him for yesterday’s warning that kept them indoors.

His parents and family had also sent messages checking in safe.

Outside, the rain came down in a steady drumbeat—not too heavy, but persistent, the kind that looked like it would last for days.

Cheng Jing reminded them again to wear hazmat suits if they absolutely had to go out and to stay updated on the news.

After that, he started scrolling through news updates himself. Soon, the latest reports surfaced:

People caught in the rain had contracted an unknown virus, and deaths were reported. More and more soaked individuals were flooding hospitals, fueling a panic.

Chaos was coming.

Jiang Nian also saw the frantic discussions in school and friend groups. Because his mother was ill, he spent most of his time in college either working or job hunting, so he wasn’t particularly close to his classmates.

After all, if you keep declining invitations, people eventually stop asking.

On top of that, his sexual orientation wasn't a secret. Some approached him with romantic intentions or offers of help, but he turned them all down.

His first love had been too overwhelming—everything afterward paled in comparison. He wasn’t the type to settle in matters of the heart.

So, no close friends contacted him, and small talk never lasted more than a few lines.

That entire day, Cheng Jing monitored the outside world through the news.

Meanwhile, Jiang Nian, aside from occasionally discussing things with him, calmly went about his usual routine:

Switching between playing different single-player game consoles, or testing out fitness equipment he’d bought online—dumbbells and a small treadmill.

He was eerily calm, showing no panic over the nightmare becoming reality, as if he’d already experienced it before.

Cheng Jing wanted to ask several times but held back in the end. *Fine, Jiang Nian will tell me when the time comes.*

August 28th, the first day of hunkering down at home, passed peacefully.

With no reason to go outside, they didn’t have much space to move around. Being young and restless, they channeled their energy into bed, their passionate noises lingering late into the quiet night.

Then, in the middle of the night, Jiang Nian developed a high fever.

Just like in his past life, Jiang Nian wasn’t afraid—but Cheng Jing was terrified, thinking he’d overdone it.

It wasn’t until Jiang Nian cryptically suggested that this unexplained fever might be a sign of awakening a superpower that Cheng Jing finally relaxed.

August 29th, deaths continued to rise, and hospitals across the country descended into chaos.

Cheng Jing’s company headquarters and official liaison group issued warnings to regional teams, alerting them to prepare for potential disorder.

But Cheng Jing had no time to spare, caring for Jiang Nian's raging fever. If not for the extraordinary circumstances, he would’ve taken him to the hospital immediately.

Sweat-drenched and delirious, Jiang Nian occasionally muttered nonsense.

Cheng Jing kept him hydrated, changed his clothes, and applied cooling methods, comforting him during his incoherent ramblings. He didn’t dare close his eyes at night, his usually calm mind spiraling with worries:

*What if the fever damaged his memory and he forgot me?*