After taking in so many items at once, it was inevitable that the mental exhaustion would catch up. When Qin Huai woke up, Mu Nan was still asleep. However, although he was still sleeping, his complexion had improved, with a hint of color returning to his cheeks, which had been pale in the morning. It wasn't until the sun had set and his stomach was growling with hunger that Mu Nan finally woke up.
Seeing the time, Mu Nan was astonished at his ability to sleep. "I've slept through the whole day!"
Qin Huai ruffled his messy hair. "Sleeping is the body's natural way of recovering. How do you feel now? Still tired?"
Mu Nan shook his head. "I slept so long, how could I still be tired? I'm just feeling a bit sluggish from lying down too much."
Qin Huai smiled, helping him up from the bed. "Go freshen up. If you're feeling restless from all that sleep, let's go for a walk now that the sun has set. We can look around, find something to eat, and then maybe stop by a barbershop for a haircut."
As Mu Nan walked toward the bathroom, he glanced at Qin Huai's hair. "I did a pretty good job cutting your hair last time. I've got some skill."
Qin Huai chuckled. "It's my skills that need work. The cut I gave you looked like it was done by a dog. Let's get it properly fixed."
The city, B, was no longer scorching under the sun, but it was still stuffy and humid. The air felt hot and heavy, almost suffocating. They hadn't been outside for long before it felt like their skin was coated in a sticky film. Fortunately, there was a mall near the hotel where they could shop, eat, and get a haircut. The best part was that the mall was well air-conditioned, so they didn't have to endure the heat outside.
Since they had slept through the day, their morning meal had long since been digested, and hunger was starting to set in. The two of them first found a restaurant to eat at, then headed to a barbershop for a haircut. Although it was a high-end barbershop, neither of them opted for a styled cut—they just wanted their hair trimmed short. After all, with the current weather, any hairstyle would only last a few days, and there wasn't much point in going all out.
The hairstylist, looking at their faces, was somewhat regretful. If only they had gone for a full styling, it would have elevated their already high attractiveness by another level. But even with just a short cut, they still looked good—proving that good looks really do give you a lot of leeways. By the time they finished their haircuts, it was already dark outside. They were about to head back to the hotel when they stumbled upon an outdoor gear store. To their surprise, the store sold knives, though they were more like ornamental Tang swords, all unsharpened. Since they were sold in a mall, they couldn't possibly be weapons under regulation. But even unsharpened, these Tang swords were a rare find.
Mu Nan picked out several swords, along with other extreme survival gear that, while he already had some in his space, it wouldn't hurt to have more. When he was checking out, the clerk reminded him that these types of knives couldn't be taken on planes or trains and could only be shipped through specific channels. They even offered to handle the shipping for him.
However, Mu Nan declined, seeing no need for the hassle.
Feeling pleased after another successful purchase, Mu Nan carried the gift boxes containing the swords and prepared to leave the mall. "When we get back, we can plan where to go tomorrow. Let's enjoy our day tomorrow and head home the day after. I just feel like it's not safe to stay out too long."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud bang, and Qin Huai instinctively pulled Mu Nan into his arms.
They had just reached the mall's entrance when the explosion occurred, plunging the entire mall into darkness. The sudden blackout was followed by panicked screams and a rush of people fleeing the building, turning the previously spacious area into a chaotic and crowded mess.
Qin Huai quickly grabbed the gift boxes from Mu Nan's hands with one hand and held his wrist tightly with the other, hurrying them out of the crowd to avoid getting separated in the chaos.
Once they made it outside, they saw thick black smoke billowing from somewhere on the fourth or fifth floor of the mall, though it wasn't clear what had exploded. The ground was littered with debris from the blast, and a couple of unlucky passersby who had been walking just outside the mall were hit by falling glass shards. Fortunately, they were only injured and not in critical condition.
With the temperature dropping after sunset, more people had come out, and now they were gathering to see what had happened. Soon, the sound of sirens approached as fire trucks arrived, and the mall's security began to manage the crowd. The cause of the explosion was still unknown, and it wasn't clear if there would be more, so the security was trying to prevent people from congregating in the area, as the mall would be held responsible if anything else happened.
Such sudden explosions were something Mu Nan had seen far too often in his previous life. What puzzled him was that the current temperature wasn't extreme yet. In B city, the heat was only around 35 to 38 degrees Celsius, which, while hot, was still within normal limits and shouldn't have caused an explosion. Maybe this time it really was just an accident.
Regardless of whether it was due to the heat or just an accident, Mu Nan had no interest in sticking around to watch. Qin Huai wasn't one to enjoy crowds either, and with the potential danger still looming, they didn't want to stay any longer than necessary. As the crowd began to gather, Qin Huai tightened his grip on Mu Nan's hand and led them away until they were well out of the danger zone, and the crowd began to thin.
In less than ten minutes, Mu Nan was drenched in sweat, and Qin Huai's back was soaked as well. Seeing this, Mu Nan quickly took out a small fan and started fanning Qin Huai.
Qin Huai stopped him, noticing that Mu Nan seemed calm and unbothered by the sudden explosion. Only then did he say, "Let's head back to the hotel. Once we're back, you should take a shower and cool down."
Mu Nan replied, "Let's go back tomorrow. Do you have any business left to take care of here?"
Qin Huai said, "There's nothing that needs to be taken care of."
Seeing that he really had no intention of returning to the rental apartment, Mu Nan asked again, "Are you sure you don't need to go back and pack up a few things? It won't take up any space in the storage anyway."
Qin Huai shook his head. "No need, it's just a few clothes, and I've only paid rent for a few months. Canceling the lease now would be a hassle, so let's not waste time on it."
Qin Huai hadn't bought a house in this area. After returning from abroad, he had rented a small apartment. He had initially planned to go find Mu Nan after his graduation and then settle down together in this city, buying a house and decorating it according to Mu Nan's preferences. However, before he could put this plan into action, things had changed.
The rental apartment had very few belongings—just some clothes and important documents that he had taken with him when he went to find Mu Nan. The apartment was nearly empty, with only a mattress on the floor for a bed. Starting a business wasn't easy, and every second of his day was consumed by work. The rental apartment was just a place to sleep, so he never paid much attention to it. Since it was just him, he didn't bother making it feel like home. That's why, when he brought Mu Nan to City B, he chose to stay in a hotel instead—he didn't want Mu Nan to see the empty, lifeless apartment, fearing it might make him feel sad.
Realizing there was nothing worth packing up, Mu Nan said, "Alright then, if there's nothing else, let's leave early and find a car. It feels dangerous out here; I don't feel like sightseeing anymore."
Qin Huai asked, "You really don't want to go? If we skip it this time, we might not get another chance."
Mu Nan shook his head. "I don't want to go. I just want to go home and relax." Even if they went, it would only add to the memories for the future. But if something happened on the road just because of this extra day of fun, there wouldn't even be a future to look back on.
Seeing how eager Mu Nan was to go home, Qin Huai didn't push him. "Alright, I'll book the tickets. If we have enough time, we could rent a car and take a quick drive-by of some of the nearby sights. Since we're here, even just looking from the car would be better than going straight home."
Mu Nan thought that sounded reasonable. It wouldn't delay their return, after all.
As it turned out, when you're not in the mood for sightseeing, even visiting well-known spots feels rushed and uninspiring. Especially when the car door opened and a wave of heat hit them, any desire to explore vanished. Still, at each place they visited, Mu Nan made sure to pull Qin Huai aside for a photo, asking the driver to take pictures of them. He had bought a photo printer, so when they got home, he could print out these pictures. Even though the trip was rushed and casual, at least they'd have proof they were there.
At noon, they grabbed a quick bite at the train station's restaurant, and it was almost time to board. But this time, they weren't heading straight home—they planned to get off halfway to retrieve Qin Huai's car, which he hadn't been able to drive back earlier.
Mu Nan thought the car, having been parked for so long, would be covered in parking tickets, especially since it had been over a week since the lockdown was lifted. But when they found the car, there wasn't a single ticket on it. "So, they're letting it slide because of the pandemic?"
Qin Huai checked the vehicle inside and out. Aside from being low on gas, there were no issues. Despite being parked for several months, the car was just dirty, with no significant damage. "Probably. Traffic just resumed, so they're likely too busy to deal with things like this. But in a few days, they might start cracking down on illegally parked cars again."
Mu Nan looked around and asked, "Should I get into the car and take out a can of gas from the storage?"
Qin Huai nodded and opened the car door for him. Mu Nan, pretending to retrieve it from the back seat, took out a small can of gasoline he had already prepared. Qin Huai poured just enough gas into the tank to get the car started and cover a short distance to the nearest gas station. There was no need to use up their stockpile when they could still buy fuel.
Despite being parked for months, the car started up normally. Mu Nan wiped the dust off the windshield, which had accumulated so much that visibility was poor. "This car definitely needs a wash."
Qin Huai backed the car out of the parking spot, and Mu Nan quickly got into the passenger seat. "I'll navigate."
Qin Huai said, "Let's find the nearest gas station first, then look for a car wash."
Mu Nan promptly started navigating. "Drive straight ahead; there's a gas station about ten minutes away, but I'm not sure if it's open."
Fortunately, the gas station was open. Qin Huai filled up the tank, and Mu Nan watched eagerly from the window. Once they were back on the road, he asked, "Should we find a secluded spot and siphon some gas out?"
Gas stations don't sell loose fuel, so their simplest method to stock up would be to fill up, siphon some out, and then refill at another station.
Qin Huai chuckled. "Your method is too much trouble. Not only does it waste time, but you might not even gather much fuel."
Mu Nan asked, "Then how else can we get fuel?"
Qin Huai replied, "Buy it privately. Some people have access to fuel that others don't, and in some cases, privately sourced fuel is even more efficient and durable than what's sold at gas stations. It's just a bit more expensive."
Mu Nan, though he had a driver's license, didn't own a car and had never paid much attention to vehicle fuel issues. The only method he could think of was siphoning gas. After hearing Qin Huai's explanation, he asked, "Have you found someone to buy fuel from?"
Qin Huai nodded. "I've got it arranged. Once we're back, we'll rent a small truck, and in a couple of days, we'll go pick up the fuel."
Mu Nan couldn't help but give him a thumbs-up. "Impressive!"
Driving back from where they picked up the car would take seven to eight hours if they were quick, or ten or more if they took their time. They left at 3 PM, stopped at a hotel for the night, and finally returned home in the early hours of the following evening. Along the way, they made several stops at supermarkets and malls, and when they found a restaurant with good food, they ordered a lot of takeout. After all, once everything was packed in the car, who could tell how quickly it was consumed?
After carrying several bags of groceries from the supermarket and putting them on the back seat, Mu Nan pushed Qin Huai into the passenger seat. "I'll drive. The rest of the way is on the highway. It's already nine o'clock, and there probably aren't any large supermarkets open now. We might as well head straight home."
Without giving Qin Huai a chance to argue, Mu Nan took the driver's seat, and Qin Huai had to yield the position. "Driving at night isn't easy, especially on the highway. You need to stay extra alert."
Mu Nan smiled. "Don't worry, driving is fine. I've had plenty of practice these past three months."
As the car started and smoothly merged onto the highway, Mu Nan stayed highly focused on the road despite the sparse traffic. It wasn't until Qin Huai had been staring at him for a while that he finally asked, "What's up?"
Qin Huai smiled and looked forward. "You're driving pretty well. You've really grown up."
Mu Nan, not detecting the hint of melancholy behind the compliment, felt a bit pleased with the praise. "Of course I've grown up."
The drive into the city was smooth, and they safely arrived home. Since Mu Nan didn't have a car, he hadn't arranged a parking spot in the neighborhood, so they couldn't access the underground parking lot. Fortunately, due to many tenants returning to their hometowns after the pandemic, there were plenty of parking spaces available on the ground. Mu Nan decided to park the car under their building.
As soon as he got out of the car, Mu Nan stretched and heard his bones crack. He was exhausted from sitting all day while Qin Huai drove, and now after driving and being so focused, he felt like his bones weren't his own.
Coincidentally, they ran into a neighbor as they were leaving. When they came back, their neighbor Yu Zibai was returning home too, though only by himself. Seeing them get out of the car, he greeted them with a smile. "What a coincidence, coming back so late."
Mu Nan was busy stretching, so Qin Huai replied, "Yeah, did you just get back too?"
Yu Zibai held up a bag of food. "I figured my roommate was almost off work, so I picked up some late-night snacks to wait for him."
The smell of barbecue wafting through the air made Mu Nan, who wasn't initially hungry, suddenly feel a craving, though he was too tired to do anything but lie down.
A glance from Mu Nan, and Qin Huai knew what he was thinking. "Want some?"
Mu Nan nodded, and Qin Huai smiled. "Then you go upstairs first. I'll get something."
Mu Nan quickly stopped him. He was tired, and Qin Huai would be even more so. "Let's just order takeout. Let's go home; it's so hot."
While waiting for the elevator downstairs, a tall, handsome man walked in. Mu Nan couldn't help but take another look. He hadn't realized there were so many good-looking guys around here.
Yu Zibai seemed to know the man and greeted him with a smile. "Doctor Xu, working late?"
The man, who was called Doctor Xu, looked a bit tired but still managed a smile. "Yeah, I had to take on a surgery, so I'm running late today."
Mu Nan couldn't help but feel a bit amazed. Being a doctor must be really tough.
Once they were in the elevator, Mu Nan noticed that Yu Zibai pressed for the 17th floor, and Doctor Xu didn't press any button. He was about to ask him which floor he was on when Yu Zibai said, "He lives on the same floor as us, in apartment 7."
Doctor Xu then looked at Mu Nan and smiled. "It's rare to see you without headphones. We've crossed paths many times, but this is the first time we're properly introducing ourselves. Hello, I'm Xu Ming."
Mu Nan remembered that he had seen this neighbor before, who had once worn a high school uniform. Although they had met several times a month, the neighbor would always walk past like a stranger, making Mu Nan think the person was quite aloof.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Mu Nan introduced himself. "Hello, I'm Mu Nan. This is my brother, Qin Huai."
Qin Huai put a hand on Mu Nan's head and smiled. "Sorry, my brother is a bit shy and not very good at socializing."
Doctor Xu wasn't bothered by this and chuckled. "That's pretty normal these days. Kids put on headphones and ignore everyone."
The elevator reached their floor, and they all went their separate ways. Once inside their apartment, Qin Huai closed the door and windows and turned on the air conditioning before asking, "Not good at socializing?"
He knew that everything Jiang Xuan had said about Mu Nan being lively and outgoing was false. So, the grown-up Mu Nan might not be as he had imagined—cheerful and friendly with many friends.
Mu Nan, who had only matured a bit, still had different facets of his personality. His interactions with family, friends, school, and work all showed different sides of him. He couldn't judge Mu Nan's life alone based on his behavior around him. Seeing how he didn't even know his neighbors showed that Mu Nan was far from being lively and enthusiastic.
Mu Nan thought Qin Huai was criticizing him for not being friendly with the neighbors and nervously defended himself. "It's not like they greeted me first. If someone greets me, I'll definitely respond. I can't just start conversations with random people I meet in the elevator. Plus, working on comics is mentally exhausting, and I get inspiration while listening to music, so I might ignore my surroundings."
Qin Huai reflected on how Mu Nan, who used to sweetly call everyone 'uncle' or 'aunt,' had now become someone who didn't even know his neighbors.
Seeing Mu Nan carefully studying his expression, Qin Huai chuckled and pinched his face. "I'm not blaming you. If you were the type to cheerfully strike up conversations with everyone, I'd have more of a headache."
Mu Nan rubbed his pinched face and said, "Why are you acting like you're reprimanding me? You're scaring me."
Qin Huai didn't continue the topic. Instead, he took out some clean clothes from the cupboard and pushed Mu Nan into the bathroom. "Do you want barbecue or something else?"
Mu Nan replied, "Barbecue. Order a bit more; if there's any leftover, we can store it."
After Qin Huai agreed, Mu Nan went into the bathroom, closed the door, and looked at himself in the mirror, letting out a soft sigh.
After a full night's rest, Mu Nan wanted to laze in bed, but with so much to do, he forced himself to get up. Though the temperature hadn't risen dramatically yet, it was still quite hot. He had bought a lot of insulation materials: some for sticking on the windows, some for installing outside the windows to block sunlight, and some to place inside the house to block light and heat. He tried to create multiple layers of protection against the sun's exposure. Even if the power went out and the air conditioner couldn't be used, he could rely on a generator. While the generator couldn't power the large air conditioner, it could still run a fan.
Blocking part of the intense heat and using a fan to cool down wouldn't be as effective as an air conditioner but would at least make it bearable. With these measures, he hoped to reduce the temperature inside the house to around thirty degrees. If it got too hot and even the fan couldn't bring it down, he had prepared an inflatable pool with water stored away. If it got unbearable, he and Qin Huai could cool off in the pool, striving to stay cool indoors without having to go outside.
Seeing Mu Nan gearing up for a big task, Qin Huai said, "First, put up the film on the windows. You can install the insulation curtains inside, but don't put up the external insulation panels yet. They're too conspicuous. If someone else installs sun-blocking panels outside later, we'll follow suit. Until then, we need to keep things low-key."
Mu Nan thought about it and agreed. If they went all out with the protection, it might attract unwanted attention. "Okay, I'll start with the window films today. Your windows need them too. Your windows are old and fragile. I'm worried about them breaking due to the heat. We should insulate them as much as possible."
Qin Huai said, "You can apply the film slowly at home. I'll lock all the windows. Be careful while you're on the ladder; don't open the windows, okay?"
Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai. "I'm doing it alone? What are you going to do?"
Qin Huai replied, "I'm going to check the ice storage."
"Ice storage?"
Qin Huai explained, "I looked into it. Ice is in demand right now because of the season, so the price is high, around three to five hundred per ton. I'm thinking of renting an ice storage unit and buying some ice. If it gets too hot and we can't generate power, we can use the ice to cool down the house."
Mu Nan blinked. He had considered ice blocks before but hadn't thought about buying them. He had been thinking of making ice in the winter using the outside cold and storing it for next summer, as saving money was important. If Qin Huai hadn't mentioned it, he might not have realized that they now had the means to afford such things and didn't need to be so frugal.