Tang Rong quietly listened to the sorrowful wails of the people in the room through his earphones. He had never wanted his family to go through this kind of sorrow -- the kind where death was inevitable no matter what was done. He wanted his family to have great memories while alive, so that they could die happily without any pain or regrets.
Knock knock!
A knocking sound was heard from the door. Fang Junjie's voice called out, "Ah Rong, come, it's time to cut the cake."
Tang Rong turned off his equipment and came outside. He saw that the living room was already full of happy chattering and music. Han Bo, Fang Junjie's secretary, had also joined them and was having a talk with Duan Wei. Fang Junjie had begun interacting with Li Jin and was talking happily with the guests. Long You was also having a talk with Fang Bai; they rarely talked harmoniously like this.
A bodyguard, who seemed to be one of Fang Bai's men, was serving drinks and snacks to all the guests. The food was completely prepared, and they were just waiting to begin the party.
Soon after, everyone sang the 'Happy Birthday' song and happily cheered as Fang Bai cut the homemade cake. How could Tang Rong, Duan Wei, and Rong Qing leave any opportunity to create mischief? After all, Xiao-Xiao-Bai had turned 20. They immediately scooped up the cream with their hands to decorate Fang Bai's face. Fang Junjie laughed while watching from the side, and Long You laughed while watching him laugh.
Han Bo watched these ice-cold brothers melt with happiness for their loved ones and sighed with complex emotions.
Li Jin quietly observed everything around him with wide eyes. This kind of atmosphere was a very foreign feeling for him; he was already used to the monotonous life in the apocalypse. This amount of love felt like a sugar overdose for him; making him feel like he was diabetic. The sound of loud music and chattering was already making him uncomfortable. Suddenly, he felt his head –more precisely– his brain burn, and his vision spin, and everything around him turned blurry. He seemed to see zombie faces instead of the faces of the people around him. The loud music turned into ugly growls, shrieks, and chomping sounds. Was he in a dream or reality?
'No, it is a dream!' After coming back to the normal world, he constantly had human contact, heard loud noises, and things he was not used to for the last ten years of his life. Li Jin's mental health, which he had been ignoring for days, finally collapsed.
Clenching his fists tightly, he tried his best to get back to reality. 'The zombie apocalypse has not arrived yet!', he said to himself again and again, but things seemed to be getting more and more difficult.
"You okay?" He suddenly felt his vision clear up as all his hallucinations vanished; thankfully, his abilities didn't go out of control because of his years of experience of controlling them. He looked to his side, and saw the tall man called Long You who seemed to be observing him. There was an unquestionable majesty in his voice that seemed to be so powerful, he inexplicably came out of his hallucinations –as if it was an order. Who could this man be?
"Hmm… yes," Li Jin replied. As if to give more credibility, he continued, "I forgot to eat food today so I feel a bit hungry."
Long You nodded in understanding and asked him to eat some food. Everyone was busy having fun and dancing so they didn't see anything suspicious. Li Jin sighed silently.
Fang Bai, who seemed to have tilted his ear towards them, silently turned back his head and proceeded to joke with Rong Qing, still scrunching his face to protest against the fat on his face.
The party continued.
Fang Junjie again played the big brother, "Now, we have arranged a pool party. Let's enjoy some swimming, dance, and drinks–which would be fruit juice as we don't consume alcohol. I am sorry if you feel the hospitality is lacking. I did not want to make this into a formal event and wanted to just keep everything homey and enjoy time with the family. Let's enjoy ourselves, everyone!"
Li Jin and Han Bo assured Fang Junjie and said that they didn't mind and liked the atmosphere very much. The latter heaved a sigh of relief and took everyone to the pool.
Long You, who was keeping an eye on Fang Junjie all the time, quietly watched Fang Junjie's actions from a distance; how different was this Junjie from the one who teased him mischievously in the kitchen. He wanted to preserve that emotion in Junjie and never let it vanish.
Fang Bai was feeling lazy again after washing his face too many times to clean off the cake cream and fats from his face. He sipped on the coconut juice as he laid like a slug on the poolside chair, while everyone else quickly went to change into swimming clothes that were made available by the staff.
When everyone came out in swimming trunks, the line of hunks plus one beauty was a sight to drool upon.
Tang Rong came out first in dark blue trunks with ripped muscles on his delicious olive skin; well, who could have guessed that existed under his baggy shirt. Next was Duan Wei who had a bit of a muscular body with a robust build. It definitely won't disappoint those who had spent nights dreaming about the body that belonged to that young man with strong arms.
Looking at these two, Fang Bai sighed with emotion, "My kids have grown up."
He heard Duan Wei speak up, "Rong Rong I liked those dark blue trunks. Why did you snatch those away?"
Tang Rong replied, "So what? You still have the light blue ones."
"But I wanted dark blue!"
"Take it yourself then hehe."
"Don't you laugh like that. I will really take it off!"
Fang Bai listened to their conversation and asked, "You two changed together? And chose trunks together?"
His mouth opened and closed dramatically as he was too speechless to even say anything. '...And these guys call themselves 'bros'.
The other two casually nodded and went to get the drinks, ignoring the suddenly face-palming young man. At this point, Fang Bai had already given up on those dumbasses.
Next, a strong and lean figure tip-toed quietly out of the guest room. The person's legs were thin and long and as he walked, they seemed like the legs of a goddess. Behind him, his perky and thick ass swayed naturally with each step he took. Fang Bai flashed a friendly smile at Li Jin. Both of them didn't notice two pairs of eyes unconsciously following Li Jin from a distance.
"This junior is cute, right?" Duan Wei casually elbowed Tang Rong as they both sipped the watermelon juice.
"Yes." The latter replied concisely, "Cute and strong."
Li Jin quickly went to the special counter for a smoothie which he had gotten addicted to. Smoothies seemed to be the best thing that happened in his life.
Next was Rong Qing who came in a sexy, two-piece swimsuit. Confidently, she acted like she was on a red-carpet as she cat-walked out towards them. Three whistles came as she trotted to the pool. Everyone seemed to finally remember that this crazy tomboy Qing Qing was a woman and not a man like them(which they seemed to have long forgotten).
"Oh my heart!"
"Goddess!"
"*Whistle*"
Rong Qing knew that her idiotic friends were deliberately hyping her up and rolled her eyes, 'As if I don't know they're all gays.' Of course, she also knew and trusted them that even if they were straight they wouldn't do anything to her.
Han Bo quietly came from another room. He had handsome and deep facial features, and he had maintained his body healthily. He was unfazed by the muscular bodies of other young men around him even though he himself was around their age. He did care for his health, but being healthy never meant that it was a compulsion to have a muscular body. The world wouldn't end because he didn't have abs; he just didn't want to have them– his choice!
Next, Fang Junjie came out of his room in red trunks. His body was like a perfect model– neither lean, nor muscular. With masculine charm and natural confidence, he easily stole everyone's eyes. Fang Bai whistled more loudly, almost like a hooligan. He easily ignored the Adonis that came, at the same time, out of the room farthest away from Fang Junjie's room.
Of course, who else but Fang Bai could do that?
But Fang Bai definitely couldn't stop the two love birds from blatantly checking out each other. It was their fundamental right!
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Theater:
Looking at Tang Rong and Duan Wei—
Fang Bai: My kids have grown up.
Duan Wei randomly hugs Tang Rong from behind with his shirtless body.
Fang Bai: No, they are not real brothers. I was joking haha. *intense panic*
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