Chapter 87

Chapter 87

"..."

Cheng Jing pondered for a long time before shaking his head:

"I don’t know about that. A cerebral-powered individual is indeed worth fighting over. But since the brass are suppressing the news, my younger brother Xiaolei wouldn’t casually tell me either."

His younger brother hadn’t mentioned this to him—after all, as someone in active service, some things couldn’t be disclosed. Their parents had always been role models among military dependents, tight-lipped.

Liang Yunhao understood and asked again:

"When was the last time you contacted him? Did he say anything before going dark?"

"Just a few hours ago, he sent me a message saying everything was fine but that he’d be delayed and couldn’t come to the South City Base for a while."

After speaking, Cheng Jing spread his hands in response to Liang Yunhao’s surprised expression:

"Your so-called ‘going dark’ doesn’t apply here."

His younger brother wasn’t an ordinary person, and he was with an entire military unit. He wasn’t worried at all.

Still, he could ask around about the cerebral-powered individual during their next contact.

"..."

Liang Yunhao froze for a long moment before slapping his own forehead and chuckling. He fished out another smoke and stuck it between his lips:

"Good move. That puts my mind at ease."

With limited communication devices now, satellite phones had limitations. If the other party cut the signal or changed access permissions, they’d be off the grid.

*Flick!*

Cheng Jing snapped his lighter and lit the cigarette for him:

"Just focus on S Base operations. I’ll hold things down here."

"Alright."

Liang Yunhao narrowed his eyes, his worries had been unnecessary.

On reflection, Cheng Jing had always been steady. If things were truly out of control, he would’ve asked for help investigating in Northern City and the S Base long ago.

...

Jiang Nian woke up when he reached out to an empty bed. The buzz had faded, leaving his mouth dry. The clock showed it was almost 1 a.m.

"Brother Jing?"

He turned on the bedside lamp, picked up a glass of water, and padded out of the bedroom. The lights outside were on, but the place was dead quiet—Cheng Jing wasn’t home.

Just as he dialed the number, the scrape of a key in the lock came from the door, followed by the familiar ringtone echoing from outside before being cut off.

Cheng Jing stepped inside and glanced up to see Jiang Nian standing in the living room, drinking water and waving his phone at him. His usual poker face melted at once:

"Niannian...? Why are you awake?"

Though he had done nothing wrong, there was still a subtle awkwardness in being caught by his lover returning late at night after going out.

"I woke up when I couldn't feel you."

Jiang Nian said casually, then put down the water glass and gave him a once-over, eyes full of nosy curiosity.

"Lucky I woke up, or I'd have had no clue you went out in the middle of the night. Brother Jing, you don't do this often, do you?"

If his boyfriend sneaked out while he was asleep, and if he were some weepy, overthinking, clingy drama queen, he'd probably have already imagined a 20-episode soap opera of betrayal and secret lovers by now.

But at this moment, he just wanted to know what his boyfriend was doing going out so late—and why he didn't take him along...

Oh right, he was drunk. Scratch that—he was wasted!

Of course, he would always trust Brother Jing. His lovesick brain tuned out all that paranoid noise.

Cheng Jing raised his hand like swearing an oath.

"Not a habit, just this one time. And I wasn't trying to hide it from you—was gonna tell you in the morning."

That was the truth. After saying so, he walked over and sat down in the living room.

Jiang Nian followed.

"So? What was so important tonight?"

As he asked, he leaned in closer.

"You smell like smoke?"

Though it was just a faint trace, he was quite sensitive to the smell of cigarettes. Back in his wilder days when he'd tried smoking, he liked it, but now he found it pungent.

Cheng Jing lowered his head to sniff himself—there was indeed a hint of smoke—and edged back a little, explaining.

"I didn't smoke. It was Liang Yunhao. Must've picked it up standing near him. I'll shower later..."

Seeing Jiang Nian didn't seem displeased, he added,

"Liang Yunhao asked me out to discuss something—about Xiao Lei and the others..."

Cheng Jing spilled everything, then recounted everything he and Liang Yunhao had discussed in detail.

Especially about the "Special Phenomena Management and Research Experimental Base" and the brain-domain Superpowered.

When it came to family matters, he regularly kept Jiang Nian in the loop, who understood and never pushed for details.

So once it was all out in the open, there was nothing left to dwell on.

"A brain-evolved Super, huh..."

Jiang Nian sat cross-legged on the sofa, rubbing his chin, thinking.

"So... in our past life, it was probably S Base that snagged a brain-evolved Super, which is why they always stayed ahead in research..."

A scientist with a supercharged brain? Game-changer.

"I think so too."

Cheng Jing nodded in agreement. After all, brain-evolved Superpowered were one in a million. There might only be one among all the Superpowered in the country right now—no shocker everyone's fighting over them.

"..."

Jiang Nian's thoughts drifted far away as he pieced together the information he knew, murmuring to himself:

"So, Brother Jing, in your past life, you were most likely at S Base too..."

As a foresight-type Superpowered—if no one reminded him or under special circumstances when his Superpower awakened, Brother Jing, as security personnel with official ties and unaware of the impending apocalypse, would've likely reported it and gone to North City.

After the apocalypse hit, with Yang Kai and Liang Yunhao's connections, Brother Jing would naturally join S Base.

If Brother Jing was at S Base, his younger brother and family would definitely go to reunite with him, and the brain-domain Superpowered would automatically remain at S Base.

With Xia Weiwei's father's occupational Superpower combined with the brain-domain Superpowered, the reason S Base became unstoppable in the past life became clear—it was just that he hadn't heard about it while stuck in the basement.

But at the same time, if Brother Jing wanted to find him, he would surely use S Base’s connections. Xia Weiwei would be the first to know he was looking for him, making it easier to stay hidden...

"..."

At this thought, Jiang Nian shuddered inexplicably.

"..."

Cheng Jing had the same realization, analyzing thoughtfully:

"Without you, given my position and identity, I would’ve contacted Liang Yunhao and the authorities immediately after my Superpower awakened, then gone to North City. Without knowing the dangers of the toxic rain, I wouldn’t have been able to warn Zhao Lei and the others in advance..."

That alone would’ve doomed them. If my family was safe, they would’ve gone to S Base to reunite with me."

This speculation made perfect sense.

Moreover, a brain-domain Superpowered could be considered the ultimate resource for any scientific research. If humanity wanted to end the apocalypse sooner, they would naturally work together seamlessly with the base where such a person resided.

In his past life, without so many close companions by his side and blinded by proximity, he would’ve easily been misled by those with ulterior motives, making it impossible to find Jiang Nian!

"Ah..."

Jiang Nian let out a quiet sigh:

"That’s what rebirth is for."

The variables brought by rebirth would set off a ripple effect—some good, some bad—but at least his early planning helped everyone.

Then he asked:

"When will Little Lei and the others arrive at South City Base? Should we do anything to help?"

"..."

Cheng Jing thought carefully but still shook his head:

"No need. I believe in him."

Jiang Nian nodded:

"Alright, then there’s nothing to worry about."

"Nian Nian, in this life, we’ll all make it through."

Cheng Jing held his hand as he spoke, as both a vow and a certainty.

Jiang Nian intertwined his fingers with his:

"Of course, as long as we're careful and cautious, there won’t be any problems."

In reality, as long as they don’t pull any reckless stunts, there won't be any soap-opera-level drama like those in movies or TV shows.

They weren’t main characters, nor did they seek the spotlight—they just wanted to ride out this disaster safely. In this world, there were many people just like them.

It was very late. Worried about the lingering smell of smoke on himself, Cheng Jing took another shower. When he returned to the room, Jiang Nian teased with a sly grin:

"Ready, Brother Jing?"