Day 16:
The city had settled into an uneasy calm on the sixteenth day. The tremors that had rocked the city over the past week had, for the moment, subsided, leaving behind a silence that felt both comforting and ominous. The air was thick with the scent of rain from the previous days, but the sky was a pale blue, unmarred by the red clouds that had become a frequent sight.
In Shen Zhiling's flat, the atmosphere was relaxed. He and Lu Ningfei were seated across from each other at the small kitchen table, each with a steaming cup of coffee in hand. The bitterness of the brew was a welcome contrast to the sweetness of the pastries that sat untouched on a plate between them.
"This is nice," Shen Zhiling said, breaking the comfortable silence as he took a sip of his coffee. His voice was deep, but there was a softness to it that hinted at his contentment. "I'd forgotten what it was like to have a quiet morning."
Lu Ningfei nodded, his fingers idly tracing the rim of his cup. "It is," he agreed, his gaze lifting to meet Shen Zhiling's.
Shen Zhiling chuckled, a sound that was rich and warm. "Let's hope it stays that way for a while."
They both fell silent again, but it wasn't an awkward pause. Rather, it was the kind of silence that comes with easy companionship, where words weren't necessary to fill the space between them.
But after a few moments, Shen Zhiling tilted his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
"Ningfei," he began, his tone casual but curious, "have you ever thought about the kind of person you'd want to marry?"
The question caught Lu Ningfei off guard, and he blinked in surprise before a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Marry? In times like these?"
Shen Zhiling smiled back, his gaze steady. "We might be living in uncertain times, but that doesn't mean we can't think about the future. So, tell me, what's your type?"
Lu Ningfei hesitated for a moment, but he still said honestly.
"Well… I suppose I'd want someone strong and dependable. Fierce-looking but with a good heart. Someone who's tall, fit… someone who can protect me, but also someone I can rely on, no matter what."
Shen Zhiling's smile widened slightly, a hint of satisfaction in his expression as he leaned back in his chair. "That sounds like a very specific type. Anyone in particular come to mind?"
Lu Ningfei felt his cheeks warm under Shen Zhiling's gaze, but he maintained his composure. "Maybe," he said, his voice teasing. "What about you? What's your type?"
Shen Zhiling's eyes softened as he regarded Lu Ningfei, a thoughtful look in his deep gaze.
"Someone who's strong in their own way. Not just physically, but mentally. Someone who can stand beside me as an equal, who's independent but still knows how to care for others. Someone who doesn't back down easily, but isn't afraid to show vulnerability when it matters."
There was a pause as they both considered the implications of their words.
Lu Ningfei took a slow sip of his coffee.
He had never been one to dwell on romantic thoughts, but in that moment, he couldn't help but wonder if Shen Zhiling might be the person who could fill the role he had always envisioned for himself.
As if sensing his thoughts, Shen Zhiling smiled again, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "It's nice to think about the future," he said, his voice low and warm. "Even if it's uncertain."
Ningfei nodded, returning the smile. "Yeah… it is."
Day 17:
The next day, the city was once again rocked by a tremor, though this one was weaker than the previous ones. A 3.7 magnitude earthquake shook the buildings gently, more of a reminder of the ongoing instability than a cause for alarm. It was enough to keep people on edge, but not enough to cause real damage.
In Lu Ningfei's flat, the aftermath of the quake was minimal. Some books had fallen from the shelves, and a few dishes had rattled in the kitchen, but there was no real harm done. Si Qin, who had just finished taking a bath, stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around his shoulders, his hair still damp and clinging to his forehead. His deep black eyes and pale skin gave him an almost ethereal appearance, especially with the flush of warmth still on his cheeks from the hot water.
As he entered the living room, he found Shen Zhiwei sitting comfortably on the couch, a playful grin spreading across his face the moment he laid eyes on Si Qin.
"Well, well," Shen Zhiwei drawled, his tone teasing as he eyed Si Qin up and down. "Look at you, all fresh and clean. You know, if you keep looking that cute, I might just have to take a bite out of those cheeks of yours."
Si Qin froze for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden flirtation. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks, turning the already present flush into a full-blown blush. "What are you talking about?" he stammered, trying to sound indignant but failing as his voice came out higher-pitched than intended. "Stop saying weird things!"
Shen Zhiwei chuckled, clearly enjoying the reaction he'd provoked.
"Weird? I'm just being honest. You're too adorable."
He paused and said, "I'd better keep an eye on you before someone else snatches you up."
Si Qin's blush deepened, and he fumbled with the towel around his shoulders, trying to hide his flustered state. "I-I don't need you to keep an eye on me! I can take care of myself!"
"Oh, I'm sure you can," Shen Zhiwei said, his voice still laced with amusement. "But it doesn't hurt to have a little protection, does it?"
Si Qin shot him a glare over his shoulder, though there was no real heat behind it. "Just… stop teasing me, okay?"
Shen Zhiwei grinned, leaning back on the couch. "All right, all right. I'll behave—for now."
Day 18:
By the eighteenth day, the earthquakes had decreased significantly in magnitude, with the latest registering at only 2.4. It was more of a tremor than a true quake, barely enough to rattle the dishes. But the relative calm did little to ease the growing tension in the city.
In the corridor outside their flats, Wang Lei and Zhang Wei stood talking, their voices low as they discussed the state of the world.
"The government's been quiet," Wang Lei said, his tone thoughtful as he leaned against the wall. "Too quiet, if you ask me. It's been almost three weeks since this all started, and we haven't heard anything substantial from them. What's going on?"
Zhang Wei nodded, his expression serious. "I've been thinking the same thing. There's no way they don't know what's happening. The earthquakes, the red clouds, the strange occurrences… they're all connected somehow. But the lack of response from the government is troubling. Even the military seems to be in disarray."
Wang Lei crossed his arms, a frown creasing his brow. "It's like they're hiding something—or they don't know what to do. But that doesn't make sense. The government and the army should be better prepared for disasters like this."
"Maybe they're just as confused as we are," Zhang Wei suggested, though his tone was tinged with doubt. "Or maybe there's something bigger going on behind the scenes. Something they don't want us to know about."
Day 19:
On the nineteenth day, the earth finally seemed to still. There were no tremors, no cracks in the pavement, no signs of the chaos that had plagued the city for weeks. The silence was almost eerie in its stillness, but it was a welcome relief after so many days of uncertainty.
In the early evening, Lu Ningfei was startled out of his thoughts by a knock on his door. When he opened it, he was greeted by the sight of Shen Zhiling, holding a cake box in one hand and wearing a small, gentle smile.
"Zhiling?" Lu Ningfei said, surprised. "What's this?"
"Zhilan baked a cake," Shen Zhiling explained, holding out the box. "He thought it would be nice to share it with everyone. I figured you might like some."
Ningfei took the box, his fingers brushing against Zhiling's as he did. He felt a sudden warmth spread through his chest, a feeling that was becoming more familiar with each passing day. "Thank you. That's really thoughtful of you… of both of you."
Shen Zhiling's gaze softened as he looked at Lu Ningfei, his heart beating a little faster than usual. There was something about Ningfei that drew him in, something that made him want to be close to him, to protect him. It was a feeling that he had been trying to ignore, but now, standing so close to him, it was impossible to deny.
"I'm glad you like it," Shen Zhiling said, his voice quieter now, more intimate. "I… I hope we can share more moments like this."
Lu Ningfei felt his cheeks flush slightly at the sincerity in Shen Zhiling's words. He glanced down at the cake, his thoughts racing as he tried to find the right words. "I… I'd like that too. It's nice to have something to look forward to."
Day 20:
By the twentieth day, the tremors had ceased entirely, and the city was bathed in an unusual warmth. The temperature had risen to an unseasonable 30 degrees, a stark contrast to the chaos that had come before. It was almost as if the earth was trying to make up for the turmoil by offering a day of sunshine and heat.
Lu Ningfei and Si Qin took full advantage of the warm weather, sitting on the balcony of their flat with bowls of ice cream in hand. The sweet, cold treat was a welcome relief from the heat, and they both savored each bite as they chatted idly about nothing in particular.
"This is nice," Si Qin said, licking his spoon. "It almost feels like a normal summer day."
Lu Ningfei nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah, it does."
As they finished their ice cream, Lu Ningfei stood up, a thought occurring to him. "You know, it might be nice to share some of this with our neighbors."
Si Qin agreed.
So they went to give some ice-cream to Zhang Wei and Lin Yuxi, then they went to Wang Lei and Wang Yu.
Lastly they went to give ice-cream to Shen family in 1501.
When Shen Zhiwei opened it, he was greeted by the sight of Si Qin, holding out the bowl with a smile.
"Hey, Zhiwei," Si Qin said, his tone playful. "I brought you some ice cream. Thought you might need a cool treat on a hot day."
Shen Zhiwei's eyes lit up at the sight of the ice cream, but his gaze quickly shifted to Si Qin's face, a mischievous smile forming on his lips. "You're too good to me, Si Qin. Bringing me treats and all. You sure you're not trying to win me over?"
Si Qin rolled his eyes, though he couldn't hide the blush that spread across his cheeks. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just being nice."
Shen Zhiwei chuckled, taking the bowl from Si Qin's hands. "Well, I appreciate it. But you know, if you keep being this cute, I might just have to keep you all to myself."
Si Qin's blush deepened, and he huffed in mock annoyance. "You wish."
Meanwhile, Lu Ningfei approached Shen Zhiling's room.
When Zhiling appeared, Lu Ningfei held out the bowl of ice cream with a shy smile. "I thought you might like some. It's a hot day, and… well, it seemed like a nice gesture."
Shen Zhiling's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Lu Ningfei, standing there with that endearing, slightly awkward smile. He took the bowl from Lu Ningfei's hands, their fingers brushing together briefly. "Thank you, Ningfei. This is… really thoughtful."
Ningfei's blush deepened, and he glanced down at the ground. "It's nothing, really. I just… wanted to do return the favor of Zhilan."
Shen Zhiling smiled, his gaze softening as he watched Lu Ningfei.