Chapter 40 Extreme Heat
Outside the fortress, the temperament of heaven and earth seemed to leap from one extreme to another without any buffer. The mournful wail of extreme cold, which had lasted for months and seemed destined to become an eternal background noise, came to an abrupt end one morning without warning.
The wind stopped, the snow ceased, and even the bone-chilling damp cold seemed to be abruptly swept away by an invisible hand. In its place came a suffocating, rapidly spreading oppressive silence.
At first, it just felt a little "warm," a long-lost warmth within the normal temperature range, which even made Su Ran, who was used to the cold, sigh comfortably when she woke up in the morning. But soon, this "warmth" changed its meaning.
Temperatures were rising at an alarming rate, not as a gradual warming of spring, but as if falling into a giant, slowly heating steamer. The leaden clouds seemed to melt and evaporate in the high temperature, revealing a blinding, pale, and cloudless sky behind them.
The sun was no longer the distant, pale disc of winter, but a blazing fireball hanging overhead, relentlessly pouring out its scorching rays.
The air was still, stagnant like glue, each breath carrying a scorching heat that burned the nasal cavity and throat. The snow and ice surrounding the fortress melted and evaporated at an alarming rate, leaving behind large patches of mud, but the mud was quickly baked dry, cracking into jagged fissures.
Twisted waves of heat rose from the ground, blurring and blurring distant objects. The corpses of insects and decaying plants, which had been dormant in the frigid cold, decomposed rapidly under the sudden heat, and the air began to fill with a nauseating stench mixed with dust, burnt matter, and a faint, foul odor.
Inside the fortress, temperature and humidity monitors issued continuous, low-level alarms. The outside temperature had soared from minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius in just one week, and was still slowly but steadily climbing. The fortress's powerful temperature control system was under unprecedented pressure, operating at full capacity, engaged in a silent and intense tug-of-war with the surging heat from the outside.
"Extremely hot…" Wen Yu stood in front of the control panel, looking at the glaring red temperature curve and the constantly rising humidity reading on the screen, his brows furrowed slightly.
In his previous life, there had indeed been brief periods of unusual warming after extreme cold, but such rapid and prolonged extreme heat was beyond his memory. The climate disorder seemed to be worsening.
"Activate all backup cooling units, prioritizing temperature control in the core living area, planting area, and energy system. Reduce lighting and energy consumption in non-essential areas. Check the unobstructed flow of all vents to prevent overheating and system failure."
His voice was steady and commanding, but Su Ran could sense an even greater tension emanating from him than usual. This completely opposite, yet equally deadly, extreme weather meant new challenges and risks.
Water evaporation will intensify, vegetation may wither on a large scale, some hidden crises may be unleashed, and conflicts among survivors may become more violent under the extreme heat and further scarcity of resources.
"Okay, I'll go check the cooling systems in the sunroom and plant factory right away!" Su Ran replied immediately, turning to leave.
Today he was only wearing a simple white cotton short-sleeved T-shirt and loose knee-length shorts, revealing his slender, fair arms and calves. Even so, with the base temperature at the fortress two degrees higher than usual, fine beads of sweat still appeared on the tip of his nose.
"Wait a minute." Wen Yu called out to him, and picked up a bottle of sunscreen repair cream and a lightweight sun hat from the shelf next to him. "Use these when you go out to check the external ventilation vents. The UV rays outside are so strong now, you can get sunburned in just a few minutes."
Su Ran took the hat, feeling a warmth in his heart. He obediently applied the cooling cream to his face and arms, then put on the hat. Under the brim, he looked at Wen Yu, who was still wearing a long-sleeved work shirt with the cuffs neatly rolled up, and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Yu, aren't you hot?"
Wen Yu was adjusting the energy distribution parameters and didn't even look up when he heard this: "I'm used to it. Your skin is delicate, be careful."
A simple "Your skin is so soft" made Su Ran's ears burn slightly. He pursed his lips and whispered, "Then I'll go."
The inspection work was more arduous than expected. Although the main body of the fortress had excellent thermal insulation, the exposed parts, especially the various vents, heat dissipation grilles, and equipment casings, were scalding hot to the touch under the midday sun. Su Ran had to be extremely careful, wearing gloves and working quickly.
Sweat quickly soaked through the back of his T-shirt, clinging to his slender back and outlining the clear, graceful shape of his shoulder blades. His black hair was damp with sweat, strands clinging to his smooth forehead and flushed cheeks. He bit his lip, meticulously cleaning the dust from the heatsink and checking the coolant circulation lines. He was feeling slightly dizzy from the heat, but he persisted in completing his assigned area.
When he finally returned to the relatively cool core living area inside the fortress, he was almost exhausted. He leaned against the wall inside the airtight door, panting, tugging at the wet clothes sticking to his body, feeling even his breath was burning.
A pair of strong arms reached out from behind, gently pulling him into their embrace and leading him toward the bathroom. "Go take a shower and change into something dry. There's some chilled mung bean soup in the kitchen; go drink it after you shower." Wen Yu's voice rang out above him, deeper than usual, carrying an undeniable concern.
In the bathroom, the cool water washed away the heat and sweat, and Su Ran let out a long sigh of relief. When he came out, drying his wet hair and wearing only loose lounge shorts and a vest, Wen Yu was already sitting at the small table in the dining room, with two bowls of steaming mung bean soup in front of him.
Su Ran walked over and sat down next to Wen Yu, eagerly scooping up a spoonful and putting it in his mouth. It was sweet and refreshing, with a subtle aroma of dried tangerine peel, instantly soothing the burning sensation in his throat. "Delicious..." he sighed contentedly, taking several more sips.
Wen Yu barely touched his own bowl, simply tilting his head to look at him. The young man's cheeks were flushed a healthy red from the heat and the bath, water droplets sliding down his slender neck and disappearing into the loose collar of his vest. His wet black hair was even softer, clinging to his forehead and the back of his neck, tiny water droplets still clinging to his long eyelashes, trembling gently as he drank the soup. He drank a little too quickly, a bit of soup getting on the corner of his lips.
Wen Yu reached out and, with the pad of his thumb, casually wiped away the trace. The touch of his fingertip was cool, smooth, and still damp from his shower. His gaze lingered for a moment on Su Ran's moist lips before shifting away, and he pushed the barely touched bowl of mung bean soup in front of him. "Drink slowly. Here, have mine too."
"Aren't you going to drink?" Su Ran looked up at him with her wet eyes.
"Not too thirsty," Wen Yu said, his gaze lingering on the back of Wen Yu's neck, which appeared even whiter and longer from his wet hair. Water droplets still clung to the neck, sliding down the graceful indentation of his spine and disappearing into his vest. The fortress's temperature control system maintained a comfortable level, but for some reason, Wen Yu felt a dryness in his throat. He looked away, at the simulated but still blinding "sunlight" outside the window. "Afternoon training is canceled. It's too hot, too strenuous, and could easily lead to heatstroke."
"Mmm." Su Ran nodded obediently, taking small sips of his second bowl of mung bean soup. The cool, sweet taste made him squint his eyes comfortably, like a cat whose fur had been stroked. He looked at Wen Yu's sharp profile, then suddenly put down his spoon, moved closer, and gently pressed his still-cool cheek against Wen Yu's forearm, which was exposed outside his sleeve.
"Is it cool?" he asked softly, with a mischievous and affectionate air.
Wen Yu's arm muscles tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment. The coolness of Su Ran's skin contrasted sharply with his own elevated body temperature, the sensation almost too vivid. He didn't pull his hand away; instead, he used his other hand to gently rub Su Ran's still-damp hair. "Mmm. Don't mess around, drink properly."
His tone was as calm as usual, but Su Ran detected a barely perceptible hint of indulgence in it. He took advantage of the situation, nuzzling against her again before finally sitting up straight, satisfied, and continuing to drink his mung bean soup. An uncontrollable upward curve played at the corners of his mouth.
The extreme heat seemed to foster a kind of intimacy different from that of the frigid season. In the icy wilderness, they needed to huddle together for warmth. But in the unbearable heat, the touch of skin brought not just warmth, but a peculiar, comforting sense of reality and belonging, as if confirming each other's existence, the only cool anchor in this sweltering world.
The afternoon was the most unbearable time of day. The fortress's temperature control system emitted a louder, deeper hum than usual, struggling against the onslaught of the external heatwave. The two of them, without prior agreement, chose the most energy-efficient way to beat the heat—staying in the media room, drawing the blackout curtains, turning on only a dim reading lamp, and watching a slow-paced old movie.
The sofa was large and soft, and Su Ran almost sank into it completely. He changed into his lightest silk pajamas, rolled up his trousers above his knees, and went barefoot, holding an ice pack to cool down. Wen Yu sat next to him, his posture relatively upright, but his arms were outstretched, resting on the back of the sofa behind Su Ran, in a semi-embracing position.
Neither of them really paid much attention to what the movie was about. The air was filled with the faint scent of cooling spray and the clean smell of their shower gel. As Su Ran watched, her head started nodding, and eventually, without her realizing it, she leaned against Wen Yu's shoulder.
Wen Yu turned his head, looking at the face sleeping soundly on his shoulder. Su Ran's breathing was very light, his long eyelashes casting quiet shadows under his eyelids. Because he was fast asleep, his lips were slightly parted, revealing a glimpse of his white teeth. The blush on his cheeks had faded, revealing a tired pallor. The collar of his pajamas was a little loose, and from this angle, a small patch of delicate collarbone could be seen, along with the rise and fall of his thin chest below. Wen Yu's gaze lingered on that fair skin and the gentle rise and fall of his chest with his breath, his eyes deepening.
He slowly and very carefully adjusted his position to make Su Ran more comfortable, almost half-embracing him. Then, he lowered his head and very gently kissed Su Ran's sweaty forehead. Without waking him.
The film's light and shadow flowed quietly across the two figures nestled together. Outside was a blazing hell, inside was a tranquil harbor, with the peaceful sleeping face of the person in their arms.
Wen Yu held him like that, motionless, until a slight tingling sensation came from his shoulders, without moving an inch. The cold, hard barrier in his heart, erected by the extreme weather and potential crisis, softened completely at that moment.
Su Ran was awakened by an alluring aroma. He groggily opened his eyes and found himself completely asleep, his head resting on Wen Yu's lap, a thin blanket covering him. The home theater was dimly lit; the movie had long since ended, and the screen was dark. Wen Yu was leaning back on the sofa, one hand still on Su Ran's shoulder, the other holding a book, his posture more relaxed than ever before.
"Awake?" Wen Yu noticed the movement on his leg, put down his book, and looked down at him. In the dim light, his eyes were incredibly gentle.
"Hmm..." Su Ran rubbed his eyes, propped himself up to sit, and the thin blanket slipped down, revealing his upper body clad in a thin nightgown. He was a little embarrassed, "Did I sleep for a long time?"
"Soon." Wen Yu glanced at the time. "Perfect timing, dinner is ready."
Dinner was prepared by Wen Yu. It was simple, but she put a lot of thought into it. It consisted of cold noodles chilled with well water, tossed with a sweet and sour sauce and finely shredded cucumbers freshly picked from the sunroom. There was also a small dish of chilled candied tomatoes and a pot of mint tea.
"Brother Yu, when did you do this?" Su Ran asked in surprise. Was he sleeping so soundly?
"When you're watching the movie," Wen Yu pushed the prepared cold noodles in front of him, "try it and see if it suits your taste."
The noodles were refreshing and chewy, the sauce perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, and the cucumber shreds were crisp and tender, carrying the unique sweetness of the sunroom. On a sweltering evening, enjoying a bowl of cold noodles like this was an absolute delight. Su Ran ate with her eyes squinting, nodding repeatedly, "Delicious! Brother Yu, your cooking is getting better and better!"
Wen Yu didn't say anything, but simply placed another piece of cucumber shreds on his plate before slowly starting to eat himself. He watched Su Ran eat with obvious satisfaction, his eyes filled with a tenderness he himself didn't realize. In the apocalypse, cooking for someone and watching them enjoy their meal was such an ordinary yet incredibly fulfilling thing.
After dinner, the heat subsided slightly, but the interior of the fortress remained stuffy. Neither of them wanted to return to their room, so they went to the sunroom together. The temperature there was independent, slightly higher than in the living area for the sake of plant growth, but it was well-ventilated, and the air was filled with fresh oxygen and a faint fragrance released by the plants' nighttime respiration.
They sat side by side in the specially placed small wicker chairs, neither of them speaking, simply watching the plants that remained vibrant under the simulated moonlight provided by the grow lights. The red tomato berries resembled tiny lanterns in the darkness, the lettuce leaves unfurled, and the mint and basil released a tranquil aroma. The gentle murmur of the hydroponic system brought a touch of coolness.
Su Ran suddenly reached out and grasped Wen Yu's hand, which was resting on his knee. His palm was still slightly sweaty and warm, but he held it tightly.
Wen Yu turned his hand over and completely enveloped his hand in his dry, warm palm, their fingers interlocked.
"Brother Yu," Su Ran said softly, her voice exceptionally clear amidst the silent vegetation, "No matter how cold or hot it is outside, whether it's zombies or man-made disasters, as long as I'm with you here, I feel… wonderful."
Wen Yu's heart felt a gentle jolt from those words, a tender ache spreading through him. He turned his head and looked at Su Ran's profile, which appeared exceptionally soft and clean in the dim light. Her eyes, reflecting the subtle glow of plants, shone with an astonishing brightness, filled with complete trust and affection.
He didn't speak, but simply raised their clasped hands to his lips, placing a gentle and precious kiss on their slender, calloused fingers. Then, he leaned in, his forehead touching Su Ran's, their noses meeting, their breaths mingling.
"Me too," he said softly, his voice deep and resolute. "With you here, this is home."
Extreme heat may be prolonged, and the apocalypse may be difficult. But at this moment, the warmth of palms touching, the intimacy of foreheads pressed together, the warmth of breath mingling, and this vibrant green world they protect together form the strongest and gentlest barrier in their world.