Chapter 31 Formal Invitation
The day after the movie night, the air inside the fortress seemed to carry a subtle, viscous quality, different from usual. It wasn't from the humid heat outside, but rather from an indescribable tension emanating from within. Sunlight streamed through simulated skylights, casting bright patches of light in the corridors and rooms, dust particles slowly swirling in the beams of light. Everything seemed normal, yet everywhere was different.
Wen Yu woke up very early, or rather, he had barely slept all night. The lingering warmth and weight of another person on his shoulder, and the crystal-clear thought of "going on forever," stirred up ripples in his heart like a boulder thrown into a lake, lingering for a long time.
He wasn't an indecisive person; once he understood his feelings, he wouldn't hesitate. The only question was: how to bring it up? When? And in what way?
He was used to being in control, used to calculating risks and benefits, but when faced with Su Ran, faced with this quietly growing emotion that even he himself had not expected, all the established rules and plans seemed to have failed.
He didn't want to scare him, didn't want this budding, precious relationship to be damaged by rashness. But he also didn't want to delay any longer, didn't want that feeling of certainty to continue festering in silence, becoming an invisible wall standing between them.
At breakfast, the two sat facing each other. Su Ran seemed a little different; his cheeks were rosier than usual, and his eyes occasionally darted around, not daring to look Wen Yu in the eye for long. He sipped his porridge, his movements quieter than usual, but his lowered eyelashes trembled more frequently than usual.
He remembered falling asleep on Wen Yu's shoulder last night when he woke up. The warmth and sense of security were so vivid that his face flushed for a while after waking, a mixture of shyness, indescribable sweetness, and… trepidation. What would Wen Yu think? Would he think he was being presumptuous?
The air was so quiet that only the soft clinking of cutlery could be heard. Wen Yu ate the fried egg Su Ran had made; it tasted as good as ever, but his attention wasn't on the food. He looked at Su Ran's slightly reddened earlobes and her long, trembling eyelashes, and his hesitation suddenly dissipated. This young man was perhaps troubled by the same thing.
"After breakfast," Wen Yu put down his chopsticks, his voice steady and calm, though more subdued than usual, "come to the sunroom. There's something I need to discuss."
Su Ran looked up abruptly, a hint of surprise flashing in his clear eyes, followed by deeper tension, his long eyelashes fluttering rapidly. "Okay...okay, Mr. Wen," he replied softly, lowering his head to continue sipping his porridge, but his movements noticeably slowed, his mind clearly wandering.
Wen Yu said no more, got up and left the restaurant. He needed some time to sort out his thoughts, and perhaps... a little courage. He walked towards the sunroom, where the simulated morning light should be just right.
The sunroom is the most vibrant place in the fortress. The lettuce is lush and glossy, the tomatoes are beginning to turn red, hanging from the vines like little lanterns. The strawberries Su Ran planted have blossomed with tiny white flowers, and the mint and basil are thriving, emitting a refreshing aroma. The air is warm and humid, carrying the fragrance of earth and plants. The fill lights have been dimmed, simulating the soft morning sunlight.
Wen Yu didn't turn on the headlights; he simply stood before the lush greenery. He looked at the thriving plants, at this small, hopeful world that Su Ran had painstakingly cultivated. Here, there was no danger or filth from the outside world, only the most genuine exuberance of life. This seemed like a place suitable for saying something.
Footsteps sounded softly behind him, tinged with hesitation. Wen Yu did not turn around.
Su Ran walked in. He had changed into clean clothes, a simple white T-shirt and light khaki cotton trousers, which made him look even more refreshed and clean. His black hair seemed to have just been combed with cold water, softly lying on his forehead, the ends still slightly damp. He stopped a short distance from Wen Yu, his hands somewhat awkwardly behind his back, his fingertips slightly curled.
Sunlight streamed through the glass roof, casting a soft, golden glow on him. You could see the fine downy hairs on his face and his pale lips, slightly pursed due to nervousness.
"Mr. Wen," Su Ran's voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility, "You wanted to see me?"
Wen Yu turned around to face him. He was wearing a dark shirt today, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms. He didn't speak immediately, but just looked at Su Ran.
His gaze was calm, but it was no longer the pure scrutiny or assessment of the past; rather, it was a deeper focus, as if he wanted to see the person in front of him into his heart.
Su Ran felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, her face flushing again. She subconsciously wanted to look away, but forced herself to raise her head and meet Wen Yu's eyes. In those always clear eyes, Wen Yu's figure was clearly reflected, along with a trace of barely concealed emotion mixed with nervousness, anticipation, and vague unease.
"Are you getting used to living here?" Wen Yu asked, though it was a seemingly ordinary question.
Su Ran paused for a moment, then nodded, his voice soft but clear: "I'm used to it. It's... nice here. It's safe and warm." He paused, then added, "Better than anywhere else."
"You'll get used to it." Wen Yu took a small step forward, closing the distance slightly. Su Ran could smell a faint scent of detergent and a very faint, cool scent, like a mixture of metal and sunlight, emanating from him. Her heart began to race involuntarily.
"At first, I asked you to stay," Wen Yu continued, his voice not loud, but unusually clear in the quiet sunroom, "because of your cooking skills and the dishes you brought. Later, it was because you were diligent, attentive, and helpful."
As Su Ran listened, his fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of his clothes. He knew these were all true. He was just someone who had been "picked up" and was somewhat useful.
"Later," Wen Yu's gaze swept over Su Ran's slightly white fingertips, his tone unchanged but seemingly more profound, "it was because you were smart, quick to learn, able to offer useful suggestions, able to stay calm at crucial moments, and even... able to take care of people."
Su Ran's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Wen Yu. Taking care of someone... did he mean the time he was sick?
Wen Yu didn't avoid his gaze and continued, each word clear and forceful, as if carefully considered: "During the flood, you made the filtration system. During the insect plague, you prepared medicine kits, and even... tried new food sources. During the defensive battle, you watched over my back. When I was sick, you stayed by my side." He paused, his gaze lingering on Su Ran's slightly widened eyes in surprise, "What you did has long exceeded the scope of 'cook' or 'helper'."
Su Ran's throat felt dry; he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. Wen Yu had never affirmed everything he had done so directly and specifically. These words, like warm drops of water, struck his heart, making his eyes slightly hot.
"This fortress," Wen Yu's gaze swept over the vibrant plants around him before settling back on Su Ran's face, "is a refuge I prepared for myself, a tool for survival. But because you are here, it has begun to change." His voice deepened, carrying a quality Su Ran had never heard before, an almost candid quality, "There is the aroma of food, the growth of plants, someone remembering the temperature of the tea I drank, someone watching over me when I collapsed… This place is beginning to feel like a 'place,' not just a 'fortress.'"
Su Ran held his breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, making his eardrums buzz. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. What was Wen Yu saying? Was he saying... that because of him, this place had a breath of "life"?
"I'm used to being in control of everything, used to being alone." Wen Yu looked at the tears welling up in Su Ran's eyes and her lips trembling slightly with disbelief. His tone remained steady, but carried a barely perceptible, almost sighing quality. "But you've made me realize that some things are too tiring to carry alone. Some roads are not so hard to walk together…"
He stepped forward, the two so close they could feel the warmth of each other's breath. Wen Yu lowered his head, his gaze piercing into Su Ran's eyes, which were shimmering with tears yet astonishingly bright, and said, each word clear and distinct:
"Su Ran, don't go."
"Stay here. Forever."
"Come with me."
The moment the words left his lips, time seemed to stand still. Only the faint sound of rising steam from the plants and the intertwined heartbeats and breaths of the two remained in the sunroom.
Su Ran stood there blankly, looking at Wen Yu's face, which was so close yet seemed unusually gentle. She looked at the undisguised, clear, and solemn invitation in his deep eyes, and at the subtle, cautious expectation that even he himself did not notice.
A tremendous, overwhelming joy, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly washed away all the tension, anxiety, and disbelief. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks without warning, gathering at her chin and dripping onto her clothes, leaving a small, dark stain.
But even as he cried, he flashed an incredibly radiant smile, a smile so bright it seemed to dispel all the gloom in the world.
He nodded forcefully and heavily, as if using all his strength; his voice was choked with emotion, yet incredibly clear and firm.
"Um!"
"I'm not leaving!"
"Wherever Brother Yu is, that's where I'll be!"
The last form of address came out naturally, no longer the distant and polite "Mr. Wen," but "Brother Yu," a term filled with intimacy, dependence, and a complete sense of belonging. This change made Wen Yu's heart tremble, and an unprecedented, scalding warmth instantly swept through his entire body.
He reached out, not to ruffle her hair, not to pat her shoulder, but with his fingertips, very gently, to wipe away the tear stains on Su Ran's face. The skin his fingertips touched was warm, soft, and damp. His movements were careful, as if handling a rare treasure.
Su Ran didn't flinch, but simply tilted his head back, letting Wen Yu wipe away his tears. His eyes, washed clean by the tears, became even clearer and brighter, filled with undisguised joy, trust, and a new, more intimate light. He looked at Wen Yu and called out again, "Brother Yu."
Wen Yu's Adam's apple bobbed. He withdrew his hand, his fingertips still seemingly retaining a trace of warmth and dampness. Looking at Su Ran's cheeks, even more rosy after crying, and her eyes, which shone with an astonishing brightness, the frozen wasteland in his heart seemed to be completely melted by the scorching sunlight and the boiling tears, blooming into an unexpected, soft, and vibrant sea of flowers.
"Mmm," he responded softly, his voice a little hoarse. He reached out and, this time, gently but firmly, grasped Su Ran's hand.
Su Ran's hands were a size smaller than his, with slender fingers, soft palms, and still damp with tears. When Wen Yu's large, calloused hands grasped hers, she trembled slightly, then quickly returned his grip, their fingers naturally intertwined. The warmth emanated from their skin, clear and real, conveying a silent vow and confirmation.
No more words were spoken. In the sunroom, the light and shadows were serene, and the greenery was lush. The two stood there quietly, hand in hand, letting the feelings they had just realized flow silently, take root, and sprout in their clasped hands, intertwined gazes, and synchronized heartbeats.
Outside the fortress, the apocalypse continues, fraught with peril. But inside, two wandering, lonely hearts finally find each other, find their home, and promise a future of "always" and "together."
The relationship was completely clear at this moment. From taking in and being taken in, to companions and comrades, and now, to this moment, mutual recognition and understanding...