THH: Chapter 04 - No Signal
The weather had cleared up briefly, with clouds drifting constantly overhead.
Chaoxi walked along the path back to his dormitory, weaving through the farmlands. After yesterday’s incident, the elderly villagers still carried on as if nothing had happened, diligently working in the fields. They raised their hoes and brought them down again - thump, thump, thump - plowing the land with a rigid rhythm, their movements so uniform it was like watching a play, a puppet show.
Chaoxi didn’t like that association.
As Chaoxi passed by them, the withered elderly villagers all looked up, each smiling and waving at him, greeting him and asking if he had eaten.
Friendly, enthusiastic - so much like the puppet shows Chaoxi had watched as a child, their movements also slow and peculiar…
Chaoxi paused, then raised his hand to mimic their greeting. The elderly villagers laughed again. As the clouds drifted by, sunlight and shadows alternately fell on their wrinkled, aged faces. For a moment, Chaoxi couldn’t tell who was who. It felt as if… he were standing among a group of scarecrows swaying in the wind, engaging in meaningless interactions with them.
Why was he thinking this way? Chaoxi scolded himself inwardly. After exchanging greetings, his pace back to the dormitory quickened.
After a long day and night, returning to the dormitory gave Chaoxi a sense of disconnection, as if he had stepped into another world. Coming from Shen Hui’s warm, clean, and bright house, the dormitory felt cold, damp, and gloomy. Dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening a heavy downpour.
Chaoxi stared at his little nest in Dusk Village. When he first arrived, he hadn’t thought the dormitory was this bad, but now the entire place seemed dilapidated and somber. He was about to open the door when he noticed it was covered in moss, with snails crawling all over it.
Frowning, Chaoxi had no choice but to pick up a nearby branch and sweep away the snails, which left trails of slime on the doorknob.
What bad luck. Fighting back his disgust, Chaoxi opened the door. As soon as he entered, he washed his hands, but the water still felt slippery and sticky. He sighed, dried his hands, and went to his room to change into his new uniform.
However, the damp, chilly air in the room made him shiver.
Chaoxi found the window wide open. The rain from last night had seeped inside, soaking his bed and saturating the floor mat.
Chaoxi closed the window and reluctantly pulled out his new uniform from the damp wardrobe. The clothes felt cold and clammy, extremely uncomfortable. He sighed again, beginning to regret his decision from this morning.
When Shen Hui had suggested living together, Chaoxi hadn’t agreed right away. Shen Hui seemed displeased by his refusal but didn’t say much, only coaxing him a little more with a hint of acting cute.
A Shen Hui, acting coy, was truly hard to refuse, but Chaoxi still insisted he needed more time to think. Even though being with Shen Hui felt so good, and Shen Hui’s house was so comfortable, Chaoxi hesitated.
What was he worried about? Chaoxi stared blankly at the cold, gloomy room. The corners were so damp it felt like mushrooms might sprout at any moment.
After changing into his uniform and gathering everything he needed to bring, Chaoxi caught sight of his phone on the table. He couldn’t remember how long it had been since he last turned it on. He powered it on, only to be disappointed - there were no messages, and there was no signal at all.
He felt like it had been ages since he last contacted his other colleagues. He wondered if they had thought of him, talked about him, or tried to message or reach out to him.
Chaoxi found himself missing his colleagues a bit.
There was no signal in the dormitory, but perhaps other places might have it. Chaoxi tucked his phone into his pocket.
Before heading to work, Chaoxi stopped by Aunt Xiufen’s house to check on the elderly couple.
Uncle Axian and Aunt Xiufen lived in a low, concrete single-story house. With just the two of them, aside from farming and gathering bamboo shoots, they relied on raising chickens to make ends meet.
When Chaoxi arrived at Uncle Axian and Aunt Xiufen’s home, the two elders were sitting in the small living room, which was only a few square meters in size. Uncle Axian still appeared quite dazed, staring blankly at the wall and occasionally scratching his face. Aunt Xiufen, on the other hand, looked much better, completely unlike the elderly woman who had been folded in half and stuffed into a tree trunk the day before. Her small frame stood straight, and her face was filled with smiles.
Chaoxi received Aunt Xiufen’s enthusiastic thanks and a round of praise. The elderly woman seemed full of vitality, as if she were a different person altogether.
Chaoxi didn’t take credit for it, only reminding her that it would be best to go bamboo shoot gathering with companions in the future. Whether Aunt Xiufen took his advice to heart was unclear, as she immediately turned to praising Shen Hui, who had treated her, saying that doctors could always solve all their problems and that Dusk Village couldn’t do without the two of them in the future.
Chaoxi should have smiled - Aunt Xiufen meant well - but instead, he frowned.
When he finally managed to leave Aunt Xiufen’s house, he was handed a large basket of fresh eggs. He felt a bit troubled, but Aunt Xiufen insisted he share them with Dr. Shen Hui.
In the end, Chaoxi had no choice but to accept the basket of eggs. However, as he left Uncle Axian and Aunt Xiufen’s home, he noticed there wasn’t a single chicken in their backyard. The chicken coop stood empty, like a mere decoration.
He only glanced at it before leaving, not allowing himself to dwell on it too much.
Sitting at his desk, Chaoxi repeatedly dialed the familiar police station number, but no one ever answered, or the call was disconnected the next second. Frustrated, he bit his nails and turned his attention back to his phone. Sitting at his desk, he kept opening his phone, trying several different spots, even standing on the table, but his phone still had no signal.
Chaoxi frowned. Was Dusk Village’s police station really this isolated from the world? He hadn’t heard about it before.
He still remembered what his seniors and superiors had said: Dusk Village was just an ordinary rural area with poor reception, but there were always one or two places where you could get a signal.
Could it be that he had been deceived?
Chaoxi wasn’t exactly an internet addict. Back at the police station in the city, he rarely scrolled through his phone or visited social media sites, and he seldom even replied to messages. But now, Chaoxi felt… he urgently needed to connect with people outside Dusk Village, though he couldn’t quite explain why.
“What are you doing up so high?” Shen Hui’s voice suddenly broke the silence.
Chaoxi, who had been holding his phone while searching for a signal, startled and nearly fell. Shen Hui, who had appeared out of nowhere, steadied him.
“Sorry, sorry. I was looking for a phone signal,” Chaoxi replied as he climbed down from the table, watching Shen Hui skillfully clean the desk he had dirtied with his shoes.
“There’s no signal here,” Shen Hui said, looking down as he took out a steaming lunchbox from his bag. As usual, preparing lunch for Chaoxi had become his habit.
Chaoxi watched Shen Hui set out the utensils and asked again, “Do you know where I can get a signal?”
Shen Hui looked up, his expression blank as he inquired, “What do you want to do?”
"I just wanted to contact a colleague with my phone." Chaoxi didn't know why he was speaking so cautiously.
"Can't you use the landline?" Shen Hui pointed at the old telephone on the table.
"It hasn't been connecting." Chaoxi said.
"Is that so...? Maybe it's because of yesterday's rain. It might be fixed in a few days." Shen Hui comforted, smiling as he sat in his usual spot waiting for Chaoxi to eat. "Do you have something urgent?"
"Not really, just wanted to catch up." Chaoxi silently sat down and began his meal under Shen Hui's gaze.
Today's dishes were still those Chaoxi liked - plentiful and nutritious. Shen Hui didn't seem displeased or awkward about Chaoxi refusing to live together this morning, which made Chaoxi relieved.
"I thought you, Li Chaoxi, didn't have any particularly close colleagues besides Rì Huī." Shen Hui teased, propping his chin on his hand.
"Why do you make it sound like I have terrible social skills?" Chaoxi laughed, though what Shen Hui said was true. He got along well with his colleagues but wasn't particularly close to any of them.
Chaoxi had always been a quiet person. His parents were gone, he had no siblings, and he was used to being alone. Sunshine was the only exception - he thought Sunshine was someone he was truly close to.
But now it seemed he was still alone.
"It's okay, I won't dislike you. Even if everyone else abandons you, I'll still want you." Shen Hui said with a smile.
Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui, nodded with a smile, then lowered his head to eat the warm dishes Shen Hui had made. Curiously, he asked, "What about you, Shen Hui? I've never heard you mention your hometown. How do you keep in touch with your family or friends here?"
Shen Hui didn't respond. Chaoxi looked up to see the man just staring at him. After a long silence, Shen Hui finally smiled and said, "There's no one. Only you."
When he heard this, Chaoxi instinctively laughed but stopped immediately. Shen Hui gazed at him, a smile on his face, but his eyes held no emotion, as if he were merely mimicking Chaoxi's laughter.
"Because you're a good person, Shen Hui. There must be someone waiting for you down the mountain."
"Really, there isn't. My parents passed away early, and I have no siblings. I studied hard, became a doctor, and have been working almost nonstop since then. I came to Dusk Village long ago." Shen Hui said without changing his expression. "Believe it or not, but honestly, I've always felt like I was alone... very lonely."
He lifted his eyes to look at Chaoxi.
Chaoxi listened quietly. Shen Hui's experience was almost identical to his own. He never imagined they could be so similar - so similar it felt as if Shen Hui had read his mind and copied it word for word.
Chaoxi frowned. He hated making these strange, suspicious guesses. Besides, how could Shen Hui possibly read his mind? He rubbed his temples, guilt lingering in his chest, making him speak to Shen Hui in a gentler voice. "I sometimes feel that way too, especially after Sunshine left."
Last night, he had already confessed everything to Shen Hui. Talking about Sunshine in front of him had become a little easier, and sharing this made him feel relieved.
"But I don't feel that way anymore." Shen Hui said, relaxing as he leaned back in his chair.
Chaoxi fell silent, watching Shen Hui.
"Ever since you came, everything has been different. I no longer feel lonely or bored. You make me feel accompanied, and that's truly wonderful," Shen Hui smiled, his foot under the table gently nudging Chaoxi.
Chaoxi propped his flushed face with his hand, feeling rather embarrassed.
"Are you saying all this just to trick me into living with you?"
"Not just that - I also want to trick you into having children with me."
"You're so silly..." Chaoxi laughed out loud.
Shen Hui chuckled without refuting, instead rubbing his foot against Chaoxi's calf until Chaoxi glared at him resentfully. "It's work hours, sir."
Only then was Shen Hui willing to pull his foot back.
"But what about you, Li Chaoxi?"
"What about me?" Chaoxi lowered his head to eat, while Shen Hui watched his eating habits with satisfaction.
"Since I appeared, have I made you feel less lonely?" Hearing this, Chaoxi paused, but before he could answer, Shen Hui spoke again: "It's okay if not. It's fine. I'll keep trying, even though I can't be like sunshine..."
Shen Hui's words and his eager-to-please demeanor filled Chaoxi with deep guilt.
"I've said it before - you don't need to be like Rì Huī. Just be yourself," Chaoxi emphasized again. The person before him now was Shen Hui. He couldn't cling tightly to someone who was gone - that would be too unfair to Shen Hui.
Besides, it was you who couldn't hold back your emotions and decided to reach out to him, wasn't it? A voice in Chaoxi's mind scolded him.
Shen Hui curled his lips, seemingly amused by Chaoxi's words, and said in an exaggerated tone, "If I were completely myself, I might scare you to death, Li Chaoxi."
"You haven't forgotten I'm a police officer, have you?"
"So if you were some kind of deranged serial killer, I'd arrest you and handcuff you myself."
"But then no one would cook delicious meals for you, and the children would be fatherless." Shen Hui clutched his chest, wailing dramatically, which made Chaoxi laugh.
"That's true - my own cooking isn't great," he said, covering his mouth as he laughed until Shen Hui urged him to finish his lunch.
After Chaoxi had eaten his fill, Shen Hui tidied up and said, "Think about this morning's proposal, Li Chaoxi. Live with me. Your little maid will serve you well, master."
Chaoxi scoffed twice and waved Shen Hui away.
The sky grew dark, the sunset gradually sinking into the clouds, casting a strange purple twilight across the sky.
Chaoxi rode his bicycle. On the way back to the dormitory, he didn't take his usual route but chose to turn a corner, trying to find a spot where his phone might have a signal. Yet, there was still no signal along the way.
He sighed, somewhat defeated, wondering if he should simply head down the mountain. Perhaps moving farther away from Dusk Village would bring a signal.
Chaoxi pedaled hard, trying to ride in the direction away from the village, but after circling the fields a few times, he grew confused - he couldn't remember the way out of the village.
All the roads looked both familiar and blurry.
A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on Chaoxi's forehead. Thinking he was on the road leading out of the village, he rode forward only to find himself back in Dusk Village, scattered with low, small houses. It was as if he were a hamster running on a wheel, unable to escape the cage no matter how hard he tried.
Chaoxi anxiously rang his bicycle bell. Ding. In the empty fields, an identical sound echoed - yet it wasn’t an echo. It came clearly and distinctly from a certain direction... Chaoxi turned his head. It was the road leading into the deep mountains.
That narrow path slowly ascended uphill; he hadn’t even noticed its existence earlier. There wasn’t a single streetlamp along it, and it was shrouded by dense woods, making the area beneath deeply shadowed. The darkness gathered into a mass, resembling both tree shadows and human figures - yet whichever it was, it appeared unnaturally large.
Chaoxi stared at that vague shadow, and the longer he looked, the more he felt something lurking within it. Goosebumps erupted wildly on the back of his neck. He kept reminding himself it was just an illusion.
Gazing at the dark road leading into the mountains, Chaoxi rang his bell again.
This time, there was no echo. The fields were quiet - so quiet that even the sounds of wind, birdsong, and rustling grass had vanished. Chaoxi could only hear his own breathing.
Yet the sound of breathing continued - inhale, exhale - steady, coming from the far end of the road.
Chaoxi froze in place, scalp tingling, unable to move. His body felt as if submerged in icy water, a sudden chill washing over him. He feared a pair of gleaming eyes might appear in the darkness, staring back at him.
Someone called his name. Chaoxi watched as the shadow shifted. Unbeknownst to him, tears had welled up in his eyes, and his body trembled - until a withered, bony hand rested on his shoulder.
Chaoxi turned. The gaunt, shriveled Village Chief Huang stood before him, smiling with narrowed eyes as he stared. All the sounds returned - the wind, the rustling leaves.
Chaoxi glanced once more at the road into the mountains. Beneath the shadows, there was nothing - only trees swaying naturally.
“Why are you wandering alone at this hour? What if you get lost like Aunt Xiufen?” Village Chief Huang said.
The hand on Chaoxi’s shoulder smelled of damp earth, its skin covered in fine cracks, like dried clay.
The short old man, wearing a conical hat and a raincoat, looked more like a scarecrow in the fields. When had Village Chief Huang appeared? Chaoxi hadn’t seen him at all earlier.
“Hurry back, Officer Li. It’s about to rain again,” Village Chief Huang said, handing Chaoxi an umbrella. “It wouldn’t be good to get caught in the rain. You must keep yourself healthy now.”
Chaoxi frowned. The latter part of that sentence struck him as odd, but he still accepted the umbrella.
“Thank you.” As he took it, a raindrop landed on his forehead.
Chaoxi looked up. Light rain had begun to fall from the sky. Village Chief Huang withdrew his hand beneath his conical hat and raincoat, lowered the brim, and turned to leave.
Chaoxi initially wanted to call out to him, but the rain intensified, accompanied by thunder. He could only open the umbrella and walk his bicycle through the mud, but Village Chief Huang had already vanished.
Along the way, Chaoxi dared not look back again.
Dusk Village was once again engulfed in a torrential downpour, thunder rumbling.
By the time Chaoxi returned to his dorm, nearly half-soaked, he found his small quarters even damper and gloomier than during the day.
Chaoxi tossed aside the umbrella and rushed forward, almost angrily, to close and lock the window. Leaning against it, he took a deep breath. Outside, the heavy rain continued, pitch black, with faint shadows swaying over the rice paddies.
It's just the shadows of trees, Chaoxi reminded himself. He closed the curtains and turned to inspect every corner of the dormitory. Everything remained intact, with no signs of disturbance or intrusion.
"You just forgot again," Chaoxi said to himself.
His small bed, dampened by the open window, had become like a waterlogged sponge. Chaoxi knew he couldn't sleep there tonight. Hands on his hips, he pondered what to do next.
There was, in fact, a simple solution to all his troubles, but Chaoxi chose to ignore it. He pulled an equally damp blanket from the wardrobe and squeezed uncomfortably onto the narrow sofa in the living room - a space too small for him to even lie down fully.
That evening, Chaoxi took a hasty shower, as the dormitory suddenly had no hot water, and the water felt oddly sticky. Nothing seemed to go right tonight. When he opened the refrigerator to prepare dinner, he found all the vegetables inside had rotted, and the eggs had begun to smell.
He had only spent one night away, yet the food in the refrigerator looked as if it had been left for two or three weeks.
Chaoxi cleaned out the refrigerator, sweeping all the spoiled food into a trash bag and tossing it outside the door with a hint of resignation. As dinnertime approached, his stomach growled, and both his mind and his belly longed for Shen Hui's warm, comforting meals.
But tonight, Chaoxi decided to skip dinner. Wrapped in his damp blanket and curled up on the uncomfortable sofa, he resolved to endure the night and deal with everything else tomorrow.
Chaoxi didn't even know what he was holding onto. He could simply tell Shen Hui, "My dormitory is uninhabitable. Can I stay at your place?"
Shen Hui would likely be delighted. He was such a kind person - generous, understanding, and always willing to help. Chaoxi had that option, yet he acted like a stubborn child, preferring to suffer hunger and cold in his damp dormitory rather than accept someone else's kindness.
Chaoxi couldn't find an answer, nor did he have the energy to delve into the reasons. Perhaps his frustration stemmed from being unable to contact anyone down the mountain. In any case, today had been utterly miserable, and he just wanted it to be over.
Wrapped tightly in his blanket, Chaoxi closed his eyes and drifted into an early sleep.
In the dead of night, black shadow creatures rose from the fields, one after another. They floated like balloons, yet their shapes resembled a row of scarecrows, moving in eerie unison toward the same direction in the silence... toward Chaoxi's dormitory.
Chaoxi jolted awake from his sleep, still disoriented from the strange dream. He noticed the wind and rain seeping in - the window was open again. Stumbling in the darkness, he got up and went to close it. But just as he was about to lock the window, he saw a row of shadowy figures walking through the fields, swaying rhythmically from side to side like bobblehead dolls on a car dashboard.
The figures moved forward in a straight line. As they drew closer, Chaoxi realized their feet weren't touching the ground. He bit his lower lip, pretending he hadn't seen them. Hastily confirming the window was locked, he drew the curtains and curled up on the sofa like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, covering himself entirely with the blanket.
There was no escape, and no one to call for help.
Trembling, Chaoxi prayed the creatures wouldn't notice his presence - that they would simply pass by. But then he heard a strange, rhythmic swaying sound coming from outside, growing louder and louder.
Those dark figures gathered outside. Chaoxi dared not look, yet he knew - the figures encircled the dormitory, doing nothing but staring at the walls, as if watching him within.
The scent of earth and rain drifted in, along with the sound of wind and rain battering the house - thump, thump, thump - more like the sound of many hands slapping against the walls.
Chaoxi was terrified they would come in, opening his window one by one, invading. He squeezed his eyes shut until a "ding" sounded - the ring of a bicycle bell - followed by a familiar breathing sound.
Someone was calling his name, exactly like the voice from the deep mountains, as if trying to lure him out.
Chaoxi heard the window being blown open by the wind. The heavy storm shook the entire house, as if something enormous was rocking it from outside while calling:
Chaoxi silently covered his ears and screamed, but the voice grew louder and louder, no longer human-like, more like an unknown low hum from a cave, buzzing, vibrating until his eardrums ached.
He curled up with all his strength, trembling with fear. Terror made him whimper like a child, helplessly crying.
Yet at that moment, everything around him fell silent. The house stopped shaking, and even the sound of wind and rain ceased. All was quiet, leaving only Chaoxi's own breathing.
Trembling, Chaoxi cautiously lifted the blanket covering his head, peeking through a gap. Outside the blanket was pitch black, nothing visible, but at this moment, it felt less like being in a dark room and more like sinking in a bottomless sea.
Something was in the darkness - huge, beyond imagination.
A sound dropped from above. Chaoxi saw an eye open in the darkness, its color like the purple sky at sunset in Dusk Village.
Chaoxi jolted awake from his dream again. The air was cold and damp. He sat up; it was already daylight.
A pattering sound came. He turned to look - the window he had locked last night had somehow been blown open by the wind again. This time, Chaoxi felt no anger, only exhaustion. The damp dormitory was in disarray, mud covering the floor and walls as if a group of crazed monkeys had thrown field mud everywhere.
Chaoxi stood dazed in the filthy dormitory. The muddy water had cleverly avoided the spot where he slept, and he had slept through the night in such conditions, completely unaware of what had happened.
Outside, it was still raining, with no sign of letting up.
This time, there was no way to clean the interior, as the mud and sand had seeped into every crevice with the rainwater. Chaoxi could only choose to wash up first, pack a simple bag, and leave.
Before leaving, he glanced at the dormitory. The walls looked as if they had been bombarded with muddy water, yet everywhere else was fine. The small, empty storage room next door didn’t even have a speck of mud splashed on it.
It seemed very much like a human act, but who could cover the entire room with so much mud without waking Chaoxi? Even the roof had mud - how tall would this person have to be...
Chaoxi didn’t want to investigate or think about it.
When Chaoxi appeared at Shen Hui’s doorstep, clutching his bag and holding his bicycle, he looked somewhat disheveled. Before he could ring the doorbell, the man seemed to sense it and opened the door first.
“So early, why all the bags? What’s wrong, Li Chaoxi?” Shen Hui widened his eyes, smiling as he asked. For some reason, Chaoxi felt teased, as if Shen Hui clearly knew why.
But how could the man possibly know.
"Hmm..." Chaoxi lowered his head, lightly kicking the gravel underfoot. "Is that thing about living together still on? I think I might need a place to stay."
"Of course!" Shen Hui flashed an overly radiant smile, his eyes like the purple evening glow at dusk. Chaoxi recalled last night's dream, but his stomach chose that moment to let out a very inappropriate gurgling sound.
"I might also need some breakfast," Chaoxi said, scratching his cheek a bit sheepishly.
"It's already prepared," Shen Hui winked at Chaoxi, taking the luggage from his hands. Chaoxi noticed the man's hands and sleeves were also stained with some mud... It must have gotten dirty from the luggage, it had to be. "Come in, boyfriend."
Chaoxi hesitated for a moment before finally stepping inside.
How many days had it been already?
When Chaoxi returned to Shen Hui's house covered in mud, confusion in his heart, he wearily took off his mud-caked shoes. Rainwater dripped from his raincoat all over the entryway.
Dusk Village had been hit by continuous heavy rain for several days, and Chaoxi returned to Shen Hui's house in this state every day after work. Feeling apologetic, he hurriedly looked for something to wipe it up.
"You've worked hard! Finally home, Li Chaoxi."
Shen Hui appeared at that moment, the tall man wearing a pink apron that looked a bit funny but also very cute. Behind him, the house was filled with warm yellow light, completely different from the overcast, rainy, damp, and muddy scene outside. The air was also filled with the aroma of food, making Chaoxi's mouth water. He knew Shen Hui had already prepared a lavish dinner for him, all his favorite dishes.
"It's fine, just leave it. I'll take care of it later," Shen Hui stopped him.
At Shen Hui's house, Chaoxi hardly needed to do any chores. Shen Hui took care of everything for him. It was a bit embarrassing to say, but Shen Hui was like a gentle and devoted husband.
Every day, there was someone waiting for him at home. This was an experience Chaoxi had never had before. As a child, he was a latchkey kid, always waiting for others. In the past, he had fantasized about having sunshine at home, someone who would smile and welcome him back every day, but it never happened.
Now, his fantasy had been realized by Shen Hui. Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui leaning against the wall, smiling at him. It was like a dream come true.
It was good he moved in. Chaoxi really didn't understand why he had been so stubborn before, why he was unwilling to accept Shen Hui's kindness. Wasn't this much better now? Although... it felt so unreal...
Chaoxi blinked, shaking off those awkward feelings. He really didn't know how good he had it. Guiltily, he looked up and smiled at Shen Hui, who seemed very happy. Shen Hui walked over and helped Chaoxi take off his heavy raincoat.
"Your face is covered in mud. Were you helping repair roads and houses again today?" Shen Hui wiped the dirt from Chaoxi's face, even using a handkerchief to clean it, as if taking care of a child.
Chaoxi nodded somewhat awkwardly. "Yes, I didn't expect to get so busy all of a sudden."
The continuous heavy rain in Dusk Village had caused leaks and damage to a row of old small houses. As one of the only two able-bodied men in the village and a Guardian of the Homeland, a line of elderly folks queued up at the police station asking him to help repair their homes.
Chaoxi's primary task of searching for a signal was suddenly interrupted; he had been busy with repairs these past few days.
"My precious baby is working so hard." Shen Hui held Chaoxi's face and kissed him.
Chaoxi rolled his eyes but couldn't stop laughing. Even though it was such a cheesy, silly joke, the feeling of having someone waiting at home, someone to interact and spend time with, was truly wonderful. Chaoxi found himself somewhat indulging in it.
"The more troublesome issue is that Village Chief Huang said the road down the mountain is blocked by mudslides and fallen branches. It might take some time to clear," Chaoxi said. This was the most frustrating news of the day. At this rate, who knew how long it would take to clear a path? He couldn't contact anyone down the mountain either. Would anyone even realize that Dusk Village was trapped in the mudflow?
"Oh, that's really troublesome," Shen Hui agreed, but his attention remained fixed on Chaoxi's face, as if he were gazing at some rare treasure.
Chaoxi fell silent for a few seconds before adding, "I noticed it seems like I'm the only one worried about this. When I mentioned it to the villagers, they acted as if it were completely normal."
"It really is a common occurrence here," Shen Hui said.
"How is it usually handled? Do the elderly clear it themselves, or do people from down the mountain come to help? But there's no way to contact anyone here..."
"Don't rush, Officer Li. The rain is going to last for several more days. Let's wait until the sun comes out first."
"I should go check tomorrow to see just how severe the collapse is."
"No, it's too dangerous with the heavy rain. Wait until the sun comes out, Li Chaoxi," Shen Hui insisted.
But what if the sun never comes out! Chaoxi felt an inexplicable urge to yell at Shen Hui. His rationality told him to stop - he was acting like a petulant child - but deep down, he was genuinely afraid of that possibility.
Chaoxi blamed it on the nightmares from the past few days.
"If something happened, it wouldn't be good for you to have to take care of me and a bunch of elderly folks," Shen Hui said, patting his back as if soothing a child.
Chaoxi clenched his fists to calm himself down. Shen Hui was right; he shouldn't be so unreasonable.
Shen Hui smiled contentedly, placing both hands on Chaoxi's shoulders and tilting his head to study him.
"Your stomach is growling; you're starving. But you're also covered in mud, so dirty. Should I let you eat first or take a bath first?" Shen Hui tilted his head even further, like a confused big dog, but then a sly smile spread across his face. "Or a third option - make love first?"
"What are you talking about! That would never be the option, no matter how you think about it. I'm going to take a bath first, let go of me..."
He pushed Shen Hui, who was clinging to him, and tried to head toward the bathroom, but Shen Hui stubbornly hung onto him. The two of them stumbled and shoved their way into the bathroom.
Shen Hui insisted on helping Chaoxi out of his uniform. Chaoxi annoyedly swatted his hands away, but they kept coming back, so in the end, he gave in to Shen Hui's wishes.
Of course, after the playful struggle, once Chaoxi was stripped bare, Shen Hui still showed no intention of leaving the bathroom. He pressed Chaoxi against the sink and kissed him, the pink apron crumpled and tossed aside.
Although this was something he should have expected after moving in together, Chaoxi had never imagined they would become so unrestrained.
"Uh... let me breathe, Shen Hui." Chaoxi pressed his hands against Shen Hui's face to push him away. He gasped for air, then looked at Shen Hui's face and laughed.
Shen Hui didn't struggle, instead asking innocently, "Had enough air?"
Chaoxi didn't answer. He lowered his hand, revealing Shen Hui's beautiful eyes. But when Shen Hui opened them, Chaoxi was reminded of the eyes from his dream - those eyes in the darkness.
"Enough." Chaoxi didn't know whether he was saying this to Shen Hui or to himself. He reminded himself not to dwell on that dream and leaned up to kiss Shen Hui.
Shen Hui wrapped his arms around Chaoxi's waist, his hands sliding over his hips and thighs. They held each other like two lovers deeply in love... No, they were lovers deeply in love, weren't they? Li Chaoxi, the voice in his heart emphasized.
"Oh, someone's hard." Shen Hui flicked his fingers twice against Chaoxi's genitals, which were trapped between them.
"Don't play like that." Chaoxi's ears flushed crimson this time. His lower abdomen tingled - it was always like this with Shen Hui. His rear entrance seemed to know what was coming next, contracting eagerly. Chaoxi pushed Shen Hui away, making one last attempt: "Let me... let me shower first."
Since Chaoxi wasn't pushing seriously, Shen Hui of course wasn't easily moved. He laughed and said, "I have a better idea. How about we shower and make love at the same time?"
Chaoxi was rubbed against, sweat beading on his skin, yet his fine hairs stood on end.
This isn't bad, Chaoxi told himself. As Shen Hui kissed him, he glanced at the bathtub beside them - at least he wouldn't be soaking in it alone, and strange things never happened when Shen Hui was around.
"Close your eyes." Shen Hui's voice came from above.
Warm water poured over his head. The temperature wasn't too high, yet Chaoxi's skin flushed as if scalded. He sat on the edge of the bathtub while Shen Hui, also naked, stood before him washing his hair.
"I can wash it myself." Chaoxi raised his hand, but Shen Hui gently pushed it aside.
"Let me do it. I like taking care of you."
"But you're my boyfriend." Shen Hui said proudly, his fingers threading through Chaoxi's hair, massaging gently as the scent of shampoo filled the air.
Chaoxi didn't reply, instead fidgeting as he used a towel to cover himself between his legs. Shen Hui hummed a familiar tune, his fingertips gliding over Chaoxi's scalp. The simple touch sent shivers through his entire body.
"Someone's feeling quite frisky. Do you like it when I touch you like this?" Shen Hui chuckled.
"N-no, that's not it..." It's clearly because someone keeps teasing me. Chaoxi wanted to look up and blame him, but more warm water poured down. He held his breath until Shen Hui lifted his face, wiping away all the water.
The moment Chaoxi opened his eyes, he was met with Shen Hui's smiling face. Shen Hui leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips.
"You clearly like it." The steam in the bathroom made Shen Hui appear slightly blurred. He crouched down to look at Chaoxi, his voice soft: "You don't have to hold back or hide in front of me, Li Chaoxi. I'll accept everything about you."
"I really don't understand how you can always say things like that so openly..."
Shen Hui answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Chaoxi stared at the man before him, saying nothing, and instead chose to kiss him. He had to admit, Shen Hui made him realize how good it felt to have someone by his side - like some kind of addiction...
Supporting Chaoxi's weight, Shen Hui kissed back more actively, his hands clinging to him tightly like vines. Chaoxi felt he was suffocating yet couldn't break free.
Shen Hui sucked on his lips, then nibbled at his chin. Chaoxi held the other's head, fingers delving into his soft hair. The man's kisses continued down - ard - his chest was gently bitten, while his abdomen received an overly solemn kiss, like some kind of blessing.
Chaoxi laughed from the kisses, and Shen Hui also smiled, stroking Chaoxi's abdomen as he whispered softly, "I'll love you too."
Before goosebumps could crawl up his spine, Shen Hui lifted the towel covering Chaoxi's legs, interrupting his thoughts. The man parted Chaoxi's legs, reached out to grasp his erect genitals, and lowered his head to swirl his tongue around the tip.
Chaoxi tensed his waist and hips - the pleasure came intensely.
"Mmm... wait!" Chaoxi felt ashamed. His genitals were enveloped in a warm, wet mouth, the heat making him instinctively clamp his legs together, but Shen Hui pressed against them, refusing to let go.
The man's head moved between his legs, the wet sounds making Chaoxi's ears burn. He curled up, embracing Shen Hui's head. Closing his eyes, the darkness made images of something winding around his body surface in his mind - sticky, wet, huge, terrifying... Chaoxi remembered the shadows in the mountains, the snails crawling at the door.
He opened his eyes in shock. The room was still steamy, with only Shen Hui's head rising and falling between his legs.
Chaoxi didn't know why he had associated it with those frightening things. He didn't dare close his eyes again, and soon the erotic sensation below drew all his attention. Shen Hui gently squeezed his thighs, his genitals wrapped and teased by a soft tongue in the scorching mouth. Chaoxi soon trembled and came.
"Shen Hui... hah... Shen Hui."
Chaoxi leaned weakly against the edge of the bathtub, watching as Shen Hui lifted his head, holding his semen in his mouth before swallowing. Coming too quickly made Chaoxi cover his face in embarrassment, but Shen Hui straightened up and kissed his face through his fingers.
"As long as it feels good, right? No need to feel ashamed - that's unnecessary masculinity," Shen Hui laughed, acting nonchalant as he applied shower gel to Chaoxi's body.
"It's not you who came too fast." Chaoxi curled up. It was hard not to care in this situation; his body seemed to lose control as soon as it was in Shen Hui's hands.
"This isn't coming too fast - it's just your body becoming more sensitive," Shen Hui said with a cheeky grin, his hands wrapping around Chaoxi's waist and buttocks, shamelessly kneading his flesh with the lubrication of the shower gel. "It's great, you know. It means your body is becoming more suitable for fertilization."
"You really... can't you stop making these dirty jokes? This is sexual harass-" Just as Chaoxi pretended to hit Shen Hui, the other poured hot water over his head, then, while Chaoxi wiped the water from his face, lifted him by the waist and carried him over his shoulder.
The supposedly frail doctor carried him as easily as a sack of rice. Chaoxi was placed into a bathtub filled with hot water, and Shen Hui climbed in afterward. Two grown men squeezed inside - the originally spacious bathtub suddenly looked like a small tub, with hot water overflowing everywhere.
Chaoxi looked at Shen Hui squeezed opposite him and couldn't help but laugh.
"Why are you laughing like that, Li Chaoxi?"
"No, it's just funny having someone as big as you squeezed into the bathtub with me." Chaoxi couldn't stop laughing.
"As long as you're happy, I'm willing to do anything for you - even squeeze myself into this tiny skin." Shen Hui smiled, rubbing his foot against Chaoxi's leg, then began saying things that were hard to make sense of: "Isn't this human love? Sacrifice and devotion." He splashed water.
Chaoxi was still laughing. He splashed water back, and Shen Hui lunged forward. Chaoxi caught him, the man nearly pressing him entirely into the bathtub, hot water eventually splashing all over the floor.
Shen Hui cupped Chaoxi's face, stroked his wet hair, and kissed him, teasing the roof of Chaoxi's mouth with his tongue. A musky, erotic scent drifted from Shen Hui's mouth.
Chaoxi reached out and pressed his hand against the back of Shen Hui's neck. For a moment, he thought of pulling him away - as if that would be the right thing to do - but in the end, Chaoxi only deepened the kiss.
'Don't overthink it. Right now, I'm happy. There's nothing to resist.'
'Yes, just focus on liking me.'
Shen Hui spoke the words into his mouth as their lips parted - or maybe he didn't? Chaoxi wasn't sure. The man's erect genitals pressed and rubbed against him, making it hard to concentrate.
"Hah... If we do it in here, I'll drown." Chaoxi's whole body felt feverish. He reached down to stroke Shen Hui's genitals; the thick, long shaft twitched twice in his hand, ready and waiting.
A tingling ache spread through Chaoxi's lower abdomen, and his anal opening contracted as if in anticipation. Shen Hui didn't respond, instead wrapping his arms around Chaoxi's waist and slipping a hand between his buttocks, his thumb gently massaging the anal opening.
"Mmm..." Chaoxi clung tightly to Shen Hui to keep from sliding into the bathtub. He was like a dog in heat, his anal opening easily accepting Shen Hui's fingers without even needing lubrication.
"So soft, Li Chaoxi. I told you your body is ready for fertilization." Shen Hui laughed.
"Stop laughing, it's not funny..." Chaoxi's words were swallowed by Shen Hui's mouth. The man pressed him against the bathtub wall, inserting two more fingers. Hot water rushed in, and Chaoxi squirmed restlessly. His anal opening swallowed Shen Hui's fingers, looking utterly desperate.
His recently spent genitals slowly stiffened again. Chaoxi pressed his face against Shen Hui's sweat-dampened body - wet and slippery, the hot water seeming to grow thick and sticky. Chaoxi felt he must have soaked his brains out in the bath, worrying that Shen Hui might eventually melt in the tub and something terrifying would emerge from it.
Chaoxi gasped sharply, pushing Shen Hui away slightly to nervously check on him.
"What's wrong?" Shen Hui asked.
Chaoxi looked up at Shen Hui and let out a dry laugh, making up an excuse: "Let's go back to bed. It's too cramped in here."
"Such a troublesome human." Though Shen Hui said this, he still lifted Chaoxi out of the bathtub. Holding him like a child, Shen Hui whispered in his ear: "Then dinner will have to wait."
Chaoxi clung to Shen Hui without saying a word, his anal opening dripping water onto the floor.
Since moving in together, Shen Hui had been passionate and proactive. Sometimes, Chaoxi felt a bit overwhelmed.
Several fingers moved in and out of his anal opening, producing loud, wet sounds. Lying on the bed, Chaoxi didn't know what to do, but his body seemed to enjoy the treatment.
"It's so hot inside... already this wet..."
Shen Hui let out a sigh of admiration as he inserted three fingers into the deepest part.
Chaoxi covered his face; just the fingers alone had already moistened his lower body, and his genitals stood erect once more. He didn’t know what was happening to him - his body had become strange, and his rear hole moistened easily, much like a woman’s.
The finger pad buried deep inside his body suddenly ground against the spot that made his whole body go numb. Chaoxi tilted his head back, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
"Clamping my finger so tightly, do you want me that much? Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui looked up from between his legs. His purple eyes were clear and exceptionally beautiful. The man stuck out his tongue, erotically licking his taut, smooth scrotum.
"Enough... that’s enough..." Chaoxi pressed against the other’s head, trying to push him away from his crotch. However, Shen Hui sucked on Chaoxi’s scrotum even harder, even causing him pain. "Ugh, Shen... too hard..."
The pain made the heat surging in his lower abdomen even more apparent. As the finger pad stirring in his rear hole slid over a particularly soft spot within the anal cavity, Chaoxi felt a surge of heat gush out from within him.
A transparent liquid sprayed out, coating not just Shen Hui’s fingers, but even sticking to his face.
Chaoxi stared at the ceiling, panting. A numbing, electric pleasure spread through his lower abdomen. Even though he was a man, how could his body have such a reaction?
"Wonderful... Li Chaoxi, you’re wonderful," Shen Hui said happily. When he withdrew his fingers, transparent lustful fluids followed, thick threads tracing an arc in the air.
Chaoxi watched as Shen Hui put his wet, sticky fingers into his mouth, sucking and swallowing them erotically.
"No, don't... I don't know what’s happening..."
Chaoxi's cheeks burned with heat. He grabbed Shen Hui’s hand, but Shen Hui spoke to him in a gentle voice: "No, I told you not to think. Just give yourself to me and enjoy the process, Li Chaoxi."
When those words fell, like a feather brushing over his entire body, Chaoxi’s thoughts became sluggish. He watched as Shen Hui stuck out his tongue again, licking his dripping wet rear hole.
The tip of the tongue probed into the soft flesh, and another surge of heat gushed out.
"Ugh, ah!" Chaoxi arched his waist, his genitals twitching as the tongue probed deeper.
Shen Hui probed deep with his tongue, thrusting it in and out repeatedly while sucking on the tender flesh with his lips. Chaoxi couldn't help but clamp his legs tight, and amidst his gasps and groans, he shot out two more bursts of semen.
But it still wasn't enough. His insides felt as if they were burning, and Chaoxi greedily wanted more. He had never been like this before, but now, like a bitch in heat, he rubbed his lower body against Shen Hui.
"Do you want more? Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui called out his full name, his fingers almost sinking into the flesh of his thighs.
Chaoxi was covered in a hot sweat, his body flushed red as if he had just been fished out of hot water.
His lower abdomen craved it to the point of pain. Slippery, hot fluids soaked the space between his thighs and drenched the bedsheets.
"Want... I want you..." Chaoxi finally surrendered to instinct and desire.
Shen Hui grinned. He loomed over Chaoxi like a thick, dark cloud before a rainstorm. Chaoxi could no longer see the man’s features; backlit, Shen Hui’s face fell into darkness once more.
Yet Chaoxi crazily believed that was the man’s true face.
"I love you, Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui leaned down to kiss him, his handsome features returning to his face.
"Mnn... ah..." Chaoxi’s lips were sucked and kissed as the man’s tongue slid into his mouth.
Their lips rubbed and joined together; Chaoxi’s rear hole began to leak water, contracting excitedly.
Tears fell at some point. Chaoxi opened his eyes dazed, murmuring amidst Shen Hui’s kisses: "Want... I want... Shen... Hui..."
Shen Hui lifted his head, releasing his lips.
"Very well, Li Chaoxi. Say you love me." The man folded Chaoxi’s waist, placing his legs over his shoulders.
A thick, long, hard object pressed against Chaoxi’s buttocks, grinding within the wet cleft but hesitating to enter.
"Say it," Shen Hui demanded again. He bit Chaoxi’s lower lip and whispered, "Say you love me. Say you’ll stay by my side forever..."
Chaoxi wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. His hips deliberately moved to meet the hard object beneath him, but the other party only lingered and teased, refusing to enter.
Chaoxi spoke with difficulty, as if the words were being forced out of him: "I... I love you... I will stay by your side forever."
"That is your promise. We have a deal." Shen Hui’s voice sounded very satisfied. He smiled, and the hard glans finally pressed against the soft flesh that was constantly contracting and leaking fluid.
Shen Hui’s entry was slow yet forceful, as if he wanted Chaoxi to be fully aware of his presence. Chaoxi’s body was stretched open; that hard, thick male organ plunged to the deepest depths all at once, knocking open the soft, tender flesh.
A moan of aching pain came from his lower abdomen. Chaoxi briefly wanted Shen Hui to pull out, but just as Shen Hui had said, perhaps he liked the pain more than he imagined.
His genitals, which had been limp and red amidst his wet pubic hair, stood erect once more.
Chaoxi felt exhausted. He was forced to endure the heat before the climax once again. Shen Hui pressed down on his waist and began to thrust rhythmically.
The muffled sound of flesh hitting flesh mixed with the sound of the rain outside.
Chaoxi panted, moans constantly escaping his mouth. Shen Hui diligently swung his hips, kissing him as if he were kissing something precious.
The numbing pleasure was interspersed with the sharp pain of his muscles being stretched. Chaoxi’s mind was a mess of mush as he stared blankly at Shen Hui’s face.
Shen Hui kissed his face, his voice barely a whisper in his ear.
〝We will be a wonderful family.〞
He wasn't even sure if Shen Hui had actually said it.
The man pressed him down tighter, his thrusting becoming faster and more ferocious. The meat-stem inside pushed deep with force, making Chaoxi’s abdomen feel full and bloated.
"Ah! Slower, Shen Hui... slower, it’s too deep!" Chaoxi finally cried out, unable to take it. The fear that his body would be pierced through persisted, even though it was a fear that shouldn't exist.
"It’s okay... you can take it, Li Chaoxi..."
Shen Hui kissed Chaoxi’s jaw, coaxing him like one would a child.
Chaoxi’s tears fell incessantly. He shifted his body uncomfortably, trying to escape, but their lower bodies seemed to be fused together; there was nowhere he could run.
Through tear-blurred eyes, the genitals squeezed between them began to ache and itch again. The pleasure accompanied the feeling of his abdomen being filled, and because of one gentle thrust from Shen Hui, he abruptly erupted.
Chaoxi came again. The semen had become thin, sticking cloyingly between the two of them. He tightened his legs draped over Shen Hui’s shoulders, trembling as he straightened his arches.
He took a deep breath. The afterglow of the climax, which had overridden the pain, made him lose focus, but Shen Hui’s laughter pulled him back from the daze.
"Don't space out... it's not over yet, Li Chaoxi."
Will there ever be a day when it ends?
Chaoxi wanted to ask, but the thing inside his stomach began to twitch again.
Chaoxi sat kneeling naked in a world of darkness.
His chest felt tight and painful, and there was a strong, heavy downward sensation in his abdomen. He stroked his lower belly; the area that was once flat had somehow become rounded and heavy, like a balloon about to burst at any moment.
It reminded Chaoxi of a case from a long, long time ago. A runaway teenage girl with arms full of needle marks had been beaten black and blue by her violent boyfriend, yet she still pleaded for him in front of Chaoxi and Rì Huī, simply because she didn't know what to do if it was just her and the child.
The girl's belly was also so large and round, looking strangely abrupt and discordant against her thin limbs and body. Chaoxi and Rì Huī had arrested the boyfriend anyway, and the girl had cried and screamed hysterically - then her "balloon" burst.
Chaoxi still remembered the floor covered in water and blood. Amidst her screams, the girl collapsed into the fluids she had spilled.
Rì Huī quickly rushed forward to help, while Chaoxi, as he called for an ambulance, felt a terrifying image in his mind of something crawling out from inside. The strange, alienated scene made Chaoxi unable to control his thoughts.
The ambulance felt like it took a lifetime to arrive. They were forced to watch the girl give birth in agony, unable to help at all.
What terrified Chaoxi even more was that the girl eventually gave birth to a purplish thing. It had hair and eyes, but everything else was indistinct - like a lump of raw meat.
Rì Huī knelt in the girl’s blood holding the stillborn, his expression so sorrowful, while the girl’s boyfriend sat handcuffed to the side, his face blank.
And Chaoxi - Chaoxi only felt terror, because now it was his turn to carry the balloon.
Chaoxi held his heavy belly. He was a man; he couldn't understand why this was happening to him, but it "already" had. He looked at his rounded stomach; something inside seemed to be moving against the skin, ready to burst out of him at any moment.
Chaoxi felt like throwing up. He thought of the stillborn in Rì Huī's arms - purplish, a lifeless lump of flesh. Would his belly also explode in the end, with the same thing flowing from his lower body?
It won't. Our child will be the most lovely life, not a lump of meat... unless you want a child like that, Li Chaoxi.
The voice came from behind. Chaoxi turned his head; Rì Huī was holding him from behind, his expression not as sorrowful as when he held the stillborn. His face wore a pleasant smile Chaoxi had never seen before, and his beautiful, deep eyes were purple.
But Rì Huī's eyes weren't purple.
Wearing Rì Huī’s skin, he tenderly embraced Chaoxi and that swollen, terrifying abdomen, saying as if it were a matter of fact:
"We will be a wonderful family. No longer lonely, no longer solitary."
Goosebumps began to prickle on Chaoxi’s neck. He didn't want this; he was so afraid; he wanted it all to stop.
"But this is what you wanted, isn't it?"
The person behind him asked coldly.
Chaoxi’s body was squeezed tight. The other party forced the air out of his lungs. He looked at his protruding belly; the thing inside seemed like it was about to be squeezed out too...
Chaoxi startled awake. The light returned, and he was back in the familiar room, shaken awake by the movement of the man behind him. He dazedled wiped the sweat from his face, immediately clutching his abdomen.
His lower belly was flat, not heavy and round like a balloon. Chaoxi breathed a sigh of relief, but it was quickly shattered by the aching pain inside his gut.
"Li Chaoxi... wake up..." the person behind him said.
Chaoxi blinked his tired eyes and looked back. Shen Hui was embracing him from behind, a beautiful mistiness in his purple eyes. He leaned down to kiss Chaoxi’s cheek, his movements gentle and intimate.
"You fell asleep... are you too tired today, or was my performance not good enough?" Shen Hui chuckled, lightly nibbling on the back of Chaoxi’s neck.
Chaoxi stroked his abdomen, belatedly noticing that Shen Hui was still inside his body. They were tangled together, their bodies sticky and covered in dried semen.
"Ngh..." Chaoxi let out a moan, his insides feeling hot and numb. He pressed his feverish head into the pillow. "Your energy is just too much... for a frail doctor... aren't you?"
Shen Hui laughed, kissing his back without a word.
The prickling sensation skipped along his spine because Chaoxi soon realized that the thing inside him was still hard, firmly wedged within. He tried to move his body, but Shen Hui quickly pressed against him again.
The glans knocked against his insides, leaving his lower abdomen feeling sore and bloated.
"So it’s not because my performance was bad?" Shen Hui acted spoiled from behind, burying his face in the crook of Chaoxi’s neck.
"It’s not... it’s just because... mnn!" Chaoxi let out a soft hum when Shen Hui began to gently sway his hips.
Discreet wet sounds filled the room, as if to remind Chaoxi just how lubricated and well-fucked his underside had become. The hard object inside was packed tight; Shen Hui acted as if he wanted to trap him in his arms for a lifetime.
Chaoxi breathed with his mouth wide open, his lower abdomen feeling bloated. He looked worriedly at his belly, which bulged slightly with each of the man’s thrusts.
"Really... are we still doing this...?" Chaoxi used his fingers to gently pry at Shen Hui’s hand wrapped around his abdomen, but his strength was like he was merely playing, and in the end, he was simply caught in Shen Hui’s palm.
"Not doing it? But your body is clearly so happy..."
Shen Hui grabbed Chaoxi’s fingers and guided them to stroke his own genitals lying limp on the bedsheets. His large hand enveloped Chaoxi’s, comforting the meat-stem that had already ejaculated many times, then grinding his thumb against the glans.
"Mmm..." Chaoxi knit his brows. His genitals had become far too sensitive; as soon as Shen Hui’s thumb rubbed against them, pleasure and pain blurred together until they were indistinguishable.
"No... I can't come anymore... ngh..." Chaoxi curled his body, only to deliver himself further into Shen Hui’s embrace. "Are you really... trying to kill me?"
Shen Hui’s tone was serious, his voice deeper than ever before.
Chaoxi recalled Shen Hui’s joke about making him stay alive for a long, long time until they were the only ones left in the world, and he swallowed hard.
"Just a joke..." Chaoxi wasn't sure if he was saying this to Shen Hui or to himself.
Shen Hui didn't respond further. He continued to hold Chaoxi while thrusting slowly, though he stopped tormenting his poor genitals. Chaoxi panted, his lower body numb and aching, pleasure wrapped within the dull pain, flickering in and out of focus.
Their legs were intertwined, and the only sounds left in the room were Chaoxi’s pants and the lewd, wet slaps.
Even though the movements were gentle, Chaoxi felt a heavy sensation as if his body were stuck in a quagmire, unable to escape no matter what. The genitals inside him began to grow harder, and the force of the strikes against his interior gradually intensified.
Chaoxi knew Shen Hui was about to come.
"Hmm?" The man’s voice didn't sound like he was about to reach climax.
"Pull... pull it out? Come outside... my belly... feels very full already." Chaoxi made the request in embarrassment. He was so worried his belly would swell up round, just like that girl’s.
"The fuller the better... you can take it, Li Chaoxi." Shen Hui kissed Chaoxi’s shoulder, pinning his body down with both hands, his waist pressed tightly against Chaoxi’s buttocks.
The meat-stem pushed into his depths, the glans knocking open the swollen, soft flesh. Chaoxi moaned tremulously, and his limp genitals sprayed out the last bit of thin, transparent fluid.
When the man ejaculated, Chaoxi was forced to accept it. He panted, his abdomen bulging slightly once more, while the man behind him simply stroked his belly gently and kissed the back of his neck as if in worship.