Chapter 39 A New Phase
The morning light, no longer simulated, was real, a faint autumn glow, sparingly spilling into the bedroom through carefully filtered and refracted light gaps deliberately left in the upper floors of the fortress. Wen Yu awoke in this cool yet real light, more peaceful than ever before.
There were no nightmares, no sudden tension in his nerves, no inertia of automatically taking stock of crises and to-do lists upon waking. He simply opened his eyes slowly, feeling the steady, shallow breathing beside him, and the reassuring warmth transmitted through the thin blanket. Su Ran was curled up with her back to him, her soft black hair brushing against the pillow, revealing a section of her fair and slender nape, gleaming delicately in the morning light.
Wen Yu watched quietly for a moment, without moving. The land in his heart, which had been repeatedly crushed by hatred, scheming, loneliness, and the pressure of survival, now seemed to have experienced a silent spring rain, washing away all the blood, mud, and frost, revealing the soft yet solid original texture that had been hidden deep beneath.
Ease. A kind of ease he had almost forgotten, emanating from the depths of his soul. The past, that last glance amidst yesterday's ruins, was like closing a book filled with filth and betrayal, which he had utterly and without a trace thrown into the furnace of memory, to be burned to ashes, leaving not even a trace behind.
He no longer needs to carry those burdens. He no longer needs to be defined by the "past," driven by "revenge," or imprisoned by "loneliness."
The future. This word surfaced in his mind for the first time so clearly and concretely. It was no longer just a simple goal like "survival" or "holding the fortress," but had a richer outline. It was a future related to the person beside him.
These include what new crops to plant after the sunroom is expanded, how to cook the chicks to make them more delicious after they grow up and lay eggs, which direction to explore next time we go out, and even... a long time from now, which parts of the fortress can be redesigned to make life more comfortable... These are all trivial, ordinary, and even somewhat extravagant thoughts.
He shifted slightly, his arm slipping under Su Ran's neck to pull her into his embrace more gently and naturally. Su Ran murmured unconsciously in her sleep, automatically adjusting to a more comfortable position, her back pressed completely against his chest, her head nuzzling back to rest against his chin.
Wen Yu lowered his head, burying his nose between Su Ran's soft hair and warm skin, and took a deep breath. It was a clean scent of soapberry, with the crisp aftertaste of sunroom plants, mixed with Su Ran's unique, indescribable, comforting yet thrilling warmth. This scent was more effective than any tranquilizer, soothing the last wrinkle in the depths of his soul.
Su Ran stirred in his arms, as if about to wake up. Wen Yu tightened his arms around her and whispered in her ear, "It's still early, sleep a little longer."
The muffled response was tinged with drowsiness. Su Ran indeed stopped moving, and her breathing quickly became long and steady again.
Wen Yu held him like that, letting herself indulge in this unprecedented tranquility and fulfillment in the gradually brightening morning light. It wasn't until their biological clocks reminded them again that they actually got up.
A new day begins in an atmosphere subtly different from the past. There is still training, patrols, inspections and maintenance of the fortress's various systems, care for the sunroom and "plant factory," and feeding and observing the increasingly lively chicks. But the pace seems to have slowed down, and the air is no longer filled with pure tension and efficiency, but with a touch more... the serene quality that life itself should have.
Before lunch, Su Ran was busy in the kitchen as usual. Today he planned to try making a modified version of beef stew with potatoes using the newly harvested potatoes and the canned beef he had stored, and he also wanted to make a simple dessert with the first batch of ripe strawberries from the sunroom.
He wore a faded plaid apron, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing two slender forearms with a thin layer of muscle definition. He was focused on cutting potatoes into even, rolling cuts. His profile was incredibly soft in the bright kitchen light; his long eyelashes drooped, casting a soft shadow beside his straight nose, and his pale lips were slightly pursed in concentration.
After finishing the last equipment maintenance record of the morning, Wen Yu walked into the kitchen, intending to ask if he needed any help. But seeing Su Ran's appearance, he stopped in his tracks behind her. Without saying a word or making a move, he simply watched her quietly for a while, and then, as if drawn by some invisible force, he stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around Su Ran's slender and supple waist from behind.
Su Ran paused in her chopping, but without turning around, she leaned back slightly, relaxing into his arms, and a natural smile appeared on her lips: "It'll be ready soon. Are you hungry?"
"Not hungry," Wen Yu replied softly, his chin resting naturally on Su Ran's shoulder. His cheek pressed against the smooth, cool skin of Su Ran's neck, his breath brushing against the delicate curve, allowing him to smell more clearly the comforting and captivating scent—a blend of clean soap and a faint body odor, along with a subtle, sweet fruity aroma of strawberries from the sunroom. This scent was so real, so vibrant, gently pulling him back from the cold data, the solid metal, and the cruel scenes of the apocalypse to this present moment filled with warmth and human connection.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and unconsciously tightened his arms, holding the warm, soft body closer to him. A sigh of near-satisfaction escaped almost inaudibly from his chest. It turned out that just this closeness, this breath, could bring such a sense of completeness and peace. Those vague outlines of the "future" seemed to be filled in by this warm breath and real touch, becoming concrete and grounded.
Su Ran let him hold him, his movements unconsciously becoming lighter and slower. He could sense that Wen Yu was different today. Not in his emotions, but in a deeper, more profound change in his aura. It was as if a taut bowstring had loosened, and the veil of cold mist had dissipated, revealing a more genuine and relaxed inner self. This softened his heart, filling it with an indescribable sweetness. He tilted his head slightly, nuzzling his cheek against the slightly prickly stubble of Wen Yu's hair clinging to his neck, and softly asked, "What's wrong, Brother Yu? Are you tired?"
"Not tired." Wen Yu's voice was muffled, with a nasal tone, sounding unusually... lazy and dependent. He rubbed against her again before pulling away slightly, but didn't let go, his gaze falling on the half-cut potato in Su Ran's hand and the prepared ingredients beside it. "What are we eating today?"
"Stewed beef with potatoes, stir-fried greens, and a simple candied strawberry dish." Su Ran announced the menu, her knife moving again, this time at a normal speed. "There's still quite a bit of canned beef left, and the potatoes are from our own garden; they're a bit small, but fresh. Only a few strawberries are red, so these are for you as dessert."
"Mmm," Wen Yu responded, still holding him tightly, wrapping his arms around him from behind, watching him deftly soak the potato chunks in water and then prepare the vegetables. His gaze swept over Su Ran's slender, fair fingers, the smooth lines of his forearms beneath his rolled-up sleeves, the beautifully shaped collarbone that was faintly visible with each movement, and that soft, white neck so close to him, exuding an alluring fragrance... His Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.
"Su Ran," he suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?" Su Ran replied, preparing to heat the pot.
"From now on, let's turn that empty storage room next to the sunroom into a planting area." Wen Yu's voice returned to its usual calm, but his tone carried a sense of discussion and planning for the future. "We can plant some climbing plants, like cucumbers and green beans, and build a trellis. I can redesign the lighting and ventilation system. Also, the chicks are growing up, and once things are more stable, we can consider whether we can… hatch a pair or two of pigeons? Pigeon eggs are nice, and they're relatively quiet."
Su Ran stopped chopping vegetables and turned around in surprise to look at Wen Yu, who was standing close by. Wen Yu was also looking at him, his eyes deep and thoughtful. They no longer held the pure assessment or decision-making of the past, but rather a clear and warm plan. He was truly thinking about how to live "in the future," not just how to live "now."
"Great!" Su Ran's eyes lit up instantly, as if stars had fallen into them. "Cucumbers and green beans are good! They grow fast and have high yields! Pigeons... I hadn't thought of them before, but it sounds amazing! But I need to check the information first, to see what conditions are required, and what about feed..." He excitedly began to plan, but then something occurred to him, and his eyes dimmed. "But, wouldn't that consume too much electricity? And what about the source of feed..."
"Electricity is not a problem; our energy reserves and acquisition capabilities are sufficient. Feed can be integrated with our existing recycling system, such as using more plant by-products and kitchen waste to raise insects and supplement protein. We can also plant more rye grass and alfalfa." Wen Yu's thinking was clear, and it was obviously not a spur-of-the-moment decision. "What we need to consider is how to make our small ecosystem more stable and abundant, and reduce our dependence on external uncertainties. This is the long-term plan."
"A long-term plan." Su Ran savored these words. The secret expectation about the "future" that he had dared not think about deeply because of the apocalypse seemed to be gently stirred by Wen Yu's words, resonating clearly. He looked at Wen Yu, nodded vigorously, his face filled with trust and joy without any gloom: "Yes! I'll listen to Brother Yu! Let's do it together!"
Seeing his happy expression, Wen Yu felt a tender spot in his heart stirred again. He lowered his head and gently kissed the healthy, rosy cheek so close to his own. "Let's cook first. We'll discuss the details after we eat."
"Hmm!" Su Ran blushed and turned back to continue processing the ingredients, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, and even her chopping movements had a light and rhythmic quality.
At lunch, the atmosphere between the two became more natural and intimate. Wen Yu would naturally place the tender, stewed beef into Su Ran's bowl, and Su Ran would carefully feed Wen Yu the few candied strawberries she had with a spoon. They discussed specific plans for expanding the planting area, the possible location and design requirements of the pigeon loft, and even talked about whether to try growing some dwarf fruit trees, such as blueberries, indoors using grow lights.
"Blueberries are quite sensitive to soil pH levels, but we can try using the prepared substrate." Su Ran bit the tip of her chopsticks, thinking seriously. "Do you have blueberry seeds in the seed bank?"
"It seems possible, but the germination rate isn't guaranteed. We can give it a try, just as an experiment," Wen Yu said. "It's okay if it fails; we can learn from the experience."
This relaxed attitude, which allows for "experimentation" and "failure," is unimaginable under the previous tense survival-oriented state. It signifies that their living conditions have truly taken a step from the bottom line of "struggling to survive" to the level of "managing a life."
In the afternoon, Wen Yu didn't immediately get to work as usual. Instead, he took Su Ran to the tool room. He took out the original structural drawings of the fortress and a large number of improvement sketches he had drawn himself, and spread them out on the spacious workbench.
"Come and take a look." He gestured for Su Ran to stand beside him, pointing to several areas on the map. "This is our core living area, basically finalized. This is the storage and energy area, requiring ongoing maintenance, but the framework is stable. This is the newly planned expansion planting area. And here," his finger moved to several marked areas deeper into the fortress, closer to the mountain, "there are some reserved spaces and underdeveloped areas. I'm thinking, perhaps we can plan further ahead."
Su Ran leaned against him, tilting her head slightly to look at the complex lines and markings, her fresh scent lingering around Wen Yu's nose. "More far-reaching?"
"For example," Wen Yu picked up a pen and circled a relatively independent, well-ventilated area on the drawing, "this can be transformed into a prototype of a more professional 'biological laboratory.' Not for research, but for more refined seed preservation, seedling optimization, simple microbial culture, and even… in the future, if we can find safe samples, we can try some basic cell culture meat technology."
Su Ran's eyes widened in surprise. Cell-cultured meat? It sounded like something out of science fiction. But Wen Yu's tone was calm, clearly indicating he was seriously considering its feasibility.
"Of course, that's a long way off, and it requires a lot of conditions and knowledge." Wen Yu put down his pen, looked at Su Ran's surprised yet admiring eyes, and smiled slightly. "But at least, we can reserve the space first and gradually collect the equipment and information that we might need. It's never too early to build up knowledge and prepare the hardware."
He then pointed to another location: "Here, close to the water source and energy hub, a small-scale, high-efficiency recirculating aquaculture system can be planned. Fish or shrimp that are not demanding in terms of water quality and grow quickly can be raised, along with hydroponic vegetables, forming an aquaponics system. This can provide higher-quality animal protein and further close the material cycle."
Su Ran was deeply attracted by the "future fortress" blueprint that Wen Yu had drawn up. This was no longer a simple refuge, but a true "Noah's Ark" that was constantly evolving towards a high degree of self-sufficiency and internal ecological balance. And in all of these plans, there was "us" and "together".
"Brother Yu, you know so much and think so far ahead," Su Ran said sincerely, looking at Wen Yu with bright eyes, filled with complete trust and a hint of pride.
"Before, I only wanted to survive and take revenge. I had no time or energy to think about these things." Wen Yu held his hand and looked calmly into his eyes. "Now it's different. With you and this family, I think about how to make this family better and more stable, and how we can both live longer and better in this messed-up world."
It wasn't a love confession, but it was more touching than any love confession. Su Ran's eyes welled up with tears, and she squeezed his hand tightly, nodding emphatically: "Yes! Let's work together to make our home a better place!"
Outside the window, the apocalypse remains one of endless cold, unknown viruses, and lurking crises. But deep within this fortified stronghold, before a workbench covered in blueprints, between their tightly clasped hands, a concrete and subtle dream about the "future" is quietly taking root. It is born from the shared experiences of life and death and the trust they've forged, sprouts from their growing companionship and love, and will flourish, blossom, and bear fruit on this land they have personally protected and built.
The new phase begins with the ease of bidding farewell to the past, with the comforting fragrance around the neck, with the ordinariness of each meal, and with every moment spent planning the future together.
The road ahead is still long, but the destination is clear, and there is something to look forward to.