Chapter 36: Not Just Once, But Many Times
Mu Feng was frozen by that question.
If he said that July 17th, four years ago, was the day they met, how would that be any different from admitting he was the one with the secret crush?
He couldn’t say it.
Liang Yuhang was so fond of drawing boundaries; he would probably hand him over to someone else the next second just to avoid the trouble.
“Why ask all of a sudden?” Mu Feng massaged his wrists, which had been tied for quite a while, trying his best to maintain a calm facade.
The bell on his suppression bracelet chimed softly.
“I find your eyes… very familiar.”
Liang Yuhang reached out, grabbing his wrist and shaking it slightly to make a sound. “The sound of the bell is also very familiar.”
But he couldn’t remember.
After his heart surgery, because the pain was too intense and there were postoperative complications, he had fallen into a long period of unconsciousness. For a long time, he couldn’t distinguish between reality and hallucinations.
Mu Feng grew even more nervous. “It’s probably because of Mu Mu. Our eyes are very similar, and he has a bell on his neck too.”
Liang Yuhang pondered for a few seconds. “Perhaps.”
Mu Mu had indeed been picked up at that time, in the small garden outside the hospital, barely clinging to life.
Liang Yuhang slowly put the tie back on, thinking as he tied the knot. “Have we really never met?”
We have, Liang Yuhang.
Not just once, but many times.
Back then, Liang Yuhang was in the intensive care unit and couldn’t see visitors. Mu Feng hadn’t grown tall yet and was very thin and small, so he could easily evade the gaze of others and run over to see him.
Mu Feng would press himself against the glass door every day, watching Liang Yuhang from afar, silently accompanying him through one agonizing night after another.
After about a month or two, Liang Yuhang finally woke up. The second he opened his eyes, their gazes met.
It was only for a brief moment before Mu Feng fled in panic.
The bracelet had jingled loudly, sounding exceptionally clear in the empty corridor.
If he had a faint impression, it was likely from that time.
As for their very first encounter before that, it had likely been buried in his memory along with that heart of his, like a pebble dropped into the deep sea.
“Maybe we crossed paths by chance when we were students. Teacher Liang was very famous in school too.”
Mu Feng’s eyes curved into a smile. “After all, when you were in your senior year, I was only in middle school. But at most, it was just a chance encounter in school; we didn’t have any real interaction.”
This explanation sounded reasonable.
Liang Yuhang accepted it for now. He looked down and straightened his tie. “You can go back to the lab.”
“Is it really okay… after you were like that just now?” Mu Feng was still a bit worried.
His gaze inadvertently swept over the other man’s body and was caught. His face turned red all the way to his ears.
Liang Yuhang didn’t hide it, teasing him instead, “You’re quite the pervert for someone so young. What are you looking at?”
Mu Feng coughed lightly and said boldly, “Looking to see if it… exploded.”
Liang Yuhang: “…”
He hadn’t expected that one day, he’d be engaging in dirty talk face-to-face with Mu Feng.
“Not for the time being,” Liang Yuhang said calmly. “There’s no need to record this in the report. It’s likely due to my rut.”
Mu Feng let out an “oh” and whispered, “Even if you asked me to, I wouldn’t dare. The research topic has been applied for. If it gets published later and cited by other juniors, how embarrassing would that be?”
“You’re talking too much,” Liang Yuhang glanced at him as a warning.
Mu Feng was indeed still a bit worried about his health.
Doing it like this all the time… probably wasn’t good.
He had to think of a way, but this man’s sense of boundaries was too strong. Just reaching out to touch his face resulted in his hands being tied…
If he pushed his luck further, what would happen?
He’d probably be pinned down and beaten.
Liang Yuhang looked at his expression. “What wicked scheme are you plotting now?”
“Nothing, absolutely nothing.” Mu Feng spread his hands toward him. “Teacher Liang is always clear about rewards and punishments. I’ve been punished with the standing, but since you praised my experiment, shouldn’t there be a reward?”
He was practically taking as much as he could get.
Liang Yuhang stared at him. “What reward do you want? You did 2,748 experiments, but I don’t have 2,748 pieces of candy here.”
Mu Feng thought to himself: Can I have 2,748 kisses? Can we ‘do it’ 2,748 times?
He didn’t dare say that. After thinking it over, he chose a scale that the other man could accept. “Then let’s just have a hug for 2,748 seconds.”
Liang Yuhang: ?
Mu Feng’s eyes twinkled. “It seems Teacher Liang isn’t good at math. That means 45.8 minutes.”
“Does that sound reasonable to you?” Liang Yuhang asked. “And you think the issue is my math?”
“I’m joking. I’ve realized you’re a really serious person,” Mu Feng said. “Forget it, there isn’t anything in particular I want.”
Liang Yuhang patiently taught him once again: “If you want something, say it directly. Even if I refuse, you can change it and make another request.”
Mu Feng thought for a long time before speaking tentatively, “Then give me 45.8 minutes tonight to watch a sunset with me.”
On July 17th that year, they had also watched a sunset together.
Although Liang Yuhang had zero interest in such things, it sounded easier to implement than the previous request. “Fine.”
“Then I’ll go back to the lab first. See you this evening.” Mu Feng walked away, humming a cheerful tune.
He went downstairs and saw Jiang Yu’an and Zhou Tiantian resting in the corridor outside the lab. He ran over and slung his arms around their shoulders. “I have a question. I have a friend… he…”
“What friend of yours do I not know?” Jiang Yu’an was very wary.
Mu Feng: “…”
Mu Feng was forced to change his tune. “An online friend. It’s Major Xie Xingchen, who visited before. He has someone he likes and wants to watch the sunset with them. What should he prepare?”
Jiang Yu’an offered a sharp critique. “It’s the interstellar era. Is there really anyone still doing something as unromantic as watching a sunset?”
“No wonder he can’t get the guy.” Zhou Tiantian, as another lifelong single, was even more biting. “It’s definitely cheesy.”
Mu Feng: “…”
Is it really cheesy? He thought it was quite romantic, hoping it might trigger some memories for Liang Yuhang.
As an expert who had “fished” for 59 Alphas online, Jiang Yu’an shared his experience. “And it’s too obvious. It’s basically like writing ‘I’m confessing’ on your face.”
“Ah, is that so?” Mu Feng almost reached up to touch his own face. “Then, in your opinion, since it’s already been said, what should be done? I’ll pass it on to… Major Xie.”
Jiang Yu’an said nonchalantly, “Then just watch it. He has a flight vehicle, right? Fly directly to Blue Flame Valley. You can see the refracted blue sunset there. It’s way cooler than just staring up blankly from a rooftop.”
At this moment, his IQ seemed to have jumped up five levels.
Mu Feng was filled with respect. “You truly are a master of theory. Suggestion accepted.”
“Mm, want to have dinner together tonight?” Jiang Yu’an said with a grin. “There’s a big feast tonight.”
“No, I have to call Major Xie later.” Mu Feng knew exactly how to coax Little Jiang. “I need to pass on the essence of Master Jiang’s teachings.”
This praise made Jiang Yu’an feel very satisfied.
Mu Feng thought to himself: 45.8 minutes is clearly not enough, but whatever. I’ll trick Liang Yuhang into going there first.
Before leaving, he swiped a vial of pseudo-pheromones.
“Teacher Liang, come out. I’m in the flight vehicle outside the base,” Mu Feng sent him a voice message.
“Going so far.” Liang Yuhang came out, having changed into casual clothes. “I’ll fly.”
Mu Feng thought secretly to himself: This is basically a date.
“Will it be a bother? You’re clearly still not feeling well.”
As soon as he finished his thoughtful words, he feared the other man would back out and changed his tune. “We’ll try to go and come back as quickly as possible.”
“I have no plans tonight.” Liang Yuhang started the control stick. “Besides, this is the reward you earned.”
Mu Feng stole a glance at him from the corner of his eye, his palms sweating with nervousness.
The flight vehicle flew toward their destination. It took an hour and a half just to get there, but Liang Yuhang didn’t really complain.
“Little Jiang said the sunset here is blue.” As they were about to arrive, Mu Feng’s expression was full of excitement. “It must be beautiful.”
“Do you know what you look like right now?” Liang Yuhang glanced at him. “Like a kid who can’t sleep the night before a school trip.”
“I’ve never been on a school trip,” Mu Feng said.
Liang Yuhang: “…”
He really doesn’t know how to carry a conversation. He just killed it with one sentence.
Mu Feng looked at his “hesitant to speak” expression. “It’s okay, you didn’t hurt my feelings.”
Liang Yuhang’s sense of guilt grew a little heavier.
He parked the flight vehicle steadily and opened the top hatch. It was very quiet here, like the most desolate corner of a planet. All was silent.
“Five minutes to go.” Mu Feng was watching the time.
But Liang Yuhang keenly perceived that pheromones, like a mountain breeze, were once again gently and densely sweeping toward him.
What on earth is he doing? Doesn’t he know that an Alpha releasing pheromones next to another is no different from a proposition?
His brow twitched. He turned to look at Mu Feng, who was simply looking up at the sky with an innocent expression, as if he hadn’t noticed a thing.
“It’s slowly turning blue. It’s really beautiful.” Mu Feng had been recording the whole time. When he turned his head, he found Liang Yuhang watching him.
He had used pheromones again. Feeling a bit guilty, he whispered, “Don’t you like watching it?”
“It’s beautiful.” Liang Yuhang adjusted his sitting position. “But… are you doing this on purpose?”
Mu Feng looked innocent, smiling and pretending not to understand. “Purposefully doing what?”
The sun was slowly sinking, its golden light submerged by blue stardust that looked like fireworks.
Liang Yuhang had no interest in the scenery. He just looked at him and released his own pheromones in response, pressing down until the other man’s eyes lost focus and he couldn’t move.
“An Omega in heat… are you trying to play with me, or are you trying to bait me?”
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