Ch 207 (Extra 18): The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

Qi Zhan x Tang Wenjie Side Story (Part 1)

So comfortable…

Tang Wenjie lay on the bed with his eyes closed. The faint white glow representing healing-type abilities moved through his body. The ability felt like a boneless hand, gently soothing and repairing hidden injuries, untangling and widening his meridians, allowing the circulation of his ability to become faster and smoother.

One of Qi Zhan’s hands rested on Tang Wenjie’s thigh, while scattered crystal cores lay beside his other hand. Every so often, he picked up two, transmitting ability into Tang Wenjie while simultaneously absorbing the crystal cores himself.

This was something they had recently discovered by accident, a good method for rapidly increasing ability strength.

Tang Wenjie had always differed from ordinary people from the moment he awakened his powers. Perhaps because Qi Zhan’s ability had helped him on the day of awakening, Tang Wenjie’s metal ability was stronger than other metal users. Faster speed. Greater energy. Even his bones and muscles seemed to have been reforged.

At first, Tang Wenjie thought it was simply because his awakening circumstances had been special. But after meeting Qi Zhan again, he realized Qi Zhan’s ability still had an enormous effect on him.

At the same time, it also carried a… fatal attraction.

Every session of “untangling” felt like being immersed in warm water, every crevice of his body washed over and soothed…

It really felt too good…

Actually, far too good.

Tang Wenjie’s face already carried a faint blush, but now it became even redder. He kept his eyes closed, yet one hand sneakily groped across the bed, dragging over a folded blanket to cover his lower half.

Qi Zhan let out a soft laugh. After patting him twice, he withdrew his ability.

“Is it really that comfortable? Tsk, now I’m curious. Too bad I can’t feel it myself.”

The crystal cores beside him had all crumbled into powder.

Qi Zhan sensed the abundant ability inside his body and felt quite satisfied. He was not some philanthropist who would improve Tang Wenjie’s powers for free.

What they discovered was this:

If Tang Wenjie absorbed five crystal cores himself, his ability might increase by one percent. But with Qi Zhan transmitting and guiding the energy, those same five crystal cores could increase it by two or even three percent.

Meanwhile, every ability user had a daily limit on how many crystal cores they could absorb. Usually only a little over ten. More than that risked explosive death or even partial zombification.

Under such restrictions, with Qi Zhan helping him, Tang Wenjie’s ability growth speed would not take long to surpass everyone in Hong City Base.

And during the process, Qi Zhan himself also grew stronger through absorbing the crystal cores and guiding Tang Wenjie’s power. That part was pure profit.

One set of crystal cores producing double or triple effects while both sides benefited. Qi Zhan jokingly called it “dual cultivation.”

And Tang Wenjie also paid him separately afterward, so why wouldn’t he do it?

Qi Zhan dusted the crystal powder from his hands.

“I’m hungry. After serving you all this time, my stomach’s growling. Go make something for me to eat.”

Food was expensive these days, yet this team never seemed too concerned about it. Their meals were not luxurious, but everyone could at least eat their fill. That alone was already rare.

Just for the opportunity to freeload food, Qi Zhan was willing to continue “dual cultivating” with Tang Wenjie.

Tang Wenjie hurriedly agreed and got up to leave the bedroom.

But as he stood, the blanket covering his lower half slipped down.

Both their eyes immediately landed on a very awkward place.

Qi Zhan burst out laughing.

Tang Wenjie’s entire body turned bright red. He squeezed his legs together and hurriedly yanked the blanket back around his waist.

“So you’re just going to let me starve?”

Qi Zhan blinked at him and crooked his finger.

“Come here. Want me to… help you?”

Tang Wenjie shot upright like someone had burned his backside. Clutching the blanket around his waist, he bolted out the door, leaving only one sentence echoing through the bedroom:

“I’m straight!”

Qi Zhan chuckled lowly twice and flopped backward onto the bed, staring at his own long fingers.

What an interesting “straight guy.”

He himself was different. He had been hopelessly gay from the start and realized his sexuality very early. Before the apocalypse, he especially liked Tang Wenjie’s type: slightly muscular college athlete boys.

Didn’t matter if they were actual athletes. Looking like one was enough. Add a pair of white socks, and they became the contents of his Xiaohongshu favorites folder, mandatory nightly viewing.

Originally, it had only been a chance encounter, a little flirting for fun. He never expected his ability and Tang Wenjie’s would have such a mysterious connection.

They had even tested it by having other healing-type ability users guide Tang Wenjie’s powers, but it never produced the same effect.

How was this not destiny?

Qi Zhan picked at his fingers.

He definitely had intentions.

Besides…

Was this “straight guy” really that straight?

Tang Wenjie rushed downstairs straight into the kitchen, his face still burning hot.

Song Kaiji was alone there, cutting fruit onto a platter. Every few slices, he would suddenly think of something happy and let out a “hehe” laugh.

Ever since Boss Shen returned, Third Brother had completely recovered from his previous depression and now radiated pink bubbles of happiness every day.

Tang Wenjie: ……

Help. Why was there gayness everywhere?!

Fortunately, although Third Brother had suddenly become gay, he already had a partner, so Tang Wenjie himself was still safe.

After awkwardly hovering for a while, Tang Wenjie grabbed a small plate, stole a few pieces of fruit from Song Kaiji, then grabbed two leftover cabbage-and-pork pastries from the steamer.

Song Kaiji’s gaze landed on the blanket wrapped around Tang Wenjie’s waist.

“What exactly are you doing?”

Tang Wenjie’s lips moved awkwardly.

He… under another man’s hands…

He was still straight, right??

He violently raked a hand through his hair.

“Third Brother, what does it feel like to like another guy?”

Song Kaiji revealed an expression that clearly said “I knew it.”

“Qi Zhan’s been staying with us for how long now, and you still don’t know what liking a guy feels like?”

“We’re innocent! We’re just training abilities together!”

“What kind of ability training happens in a bedroom? On a bed? And every single time afterward you come out looking disheveled like this? I believed you at first, but now you really think I’m stupid?”

Song Kaiji looked offended.

“Aren’t we brothers? The second I realized I liked Shen Qing, I told you immediately. Yet you’re still trying to play dumb with me.”

Tang Wenjie: ……

Seeing that Tang Wenjie truly looked utterly confused, Song Kaiji finally softened.

“Honestly, I don’t really know either. You know I never liked anyone before, not even girls. I like Shen Qing because he’s Shen Qing. Even if he were a woman, I’d still like him.”

He glanced at Tang Wenjie.

“As for you…”

Tang Wenjie truly had been a textbook straight guy before.

There were beauty magazines hidden beneath his pillow for “stress relief” before bed. His phone contained videos of Japanese girls. He especially liked women with pale, long legs…

Though…

Actually, Qi Zhan’s legs were also pale and long.

Once, after getting off work, Qi Zhan came straight over wearing loose short shorts. Tang Wenjie’s bedsheets happened to be dark gray-blue, making those pale legs stand out even more starkly, dazzling his eyes painfully…

Thinking about Qi Zhan’s legs, the blanket around Tang Wenjie’s waist twitched from a certain reaction.

Tang Wenjie froze completely.

He… he was str… str…

TAT

After a very long time, and even after making a trip to the bathroom, Tang Wenjie finally returned upstairs carrying the food tray with a deeply tragic expression.

Qi Zhan had once again made himself completely at home, sprawled across Tang Wenjie’s bed asleep.

His eyelashes were very long, and his skin was pale too. Because of earlier ability transmission, exhaustion and hunger caused his brows to wrinkle faintly.

Without realizing it, Tang Wenjie slowly approached.

Actually, being together with Qi Zhan would be the best outcome.

At least from a practical standpoint.

Their team would gain a healing-type ability user. He and Qi Zhan could continuously dual cultivate to strengthen their powers. Qi Zhan would also gain Tang Wenjie’s stored crystal cores and access to the team’s food…

If Qi Zhan were a girl, Tang Wenjie would have pursued him long ago.

But even if he wasn’t a girl…

Maybe… maybe it wasn’t impossible?

Third Brother’s partner was a man too…

While Tang Wenjie’s mind battled itself, Qi Zhan suddenly opened his eyes.

“What are you thinking about?”

Tang Wenjie answered blankly:

“Thinking about you.”

The instant he spoke, he realized something was wrong and immediately tried to back away. But Qi Zhan grabbed him first.

Qi Zhan’s hands were pale too, just like his legs. Long fingers. Clearly defined joints.

“I’m starving. Can’t move at all. Hurry and feed me something.”

Tang Wenjie swallowed hard.

A piece of red dragon fruit was lifted to Qi Zhan’s lips. Qi Zhan extended the tip of his tongue slightly and hooked it into his mouth. Soon, rosy-red juice stained his lips and tongue even darker.

Qi Zhan noticed Tang Wenjie staring and smiled.

“Actually, there are things straight guys can do too. Male roommates help each other all the time. Didn’t that happen in your dorm? You and Third Brother…”

Tang Wenjie’s eyes widened. His head shook furiously like a rattle drum.

“No, no!”

He and Song Kaiji were completely innocent. Pure brothers-in-arms!

Help.

When Qi Zhan teased him, Tang Wenjie only felt panicked, though his heart also raced wildly during it. But imagining himself and Third Brother that way made him feel vaguely nauseated instead.

Similarly, around normal male roommates, he never became as nervous as he did around Qi Zhan.

Sometimes roommates accidentally walked in on each other masturbating or staying too long in the bathroom. Everyone just joked about it awkwardly for a bit, but the embarrassment never ran deep.

It was nothing like being around Qi Zhan, where even the slightest reaction made him ashamed beyond belief…

Had he really been corrupted into gayness…

Qi Zhan still refused to release his hand. Blinking sleepily with freshly awakened eyes, he tugged Tang Wenjie’s hand lower.

“But I want you to help me…”

Would it feel disgusting?

Tang Wenjie didn’t know.

His brain felt dizzy and muddled. He actually wanted to try it. He never firmly refused…

More than ten minutes later, Tang Wenjie stared at his own palm, his face even paler now.

Not only did he not feel disgusted.

He felt more and more excited instead.

What was wrong with him?!

Help. Was he really turning gay?!

At that moment, Qi Zhan propped himself halfway upright. His face still carried two beautiful flushed patches of red. From behind, he hooked one finger beneath the shoulder strap of Tang Wenjie’s tank top, his gaze lowering past Tang Wenjie’s shoulder.

“Now… want me to help you instead?”

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