Park Su, flustered and blushing, stuttered, "You, what are you doing? Let, let go, let go of me!"
Xu Nuo chuckled and said, "I just want you to stop overthinking. The spot next to me is only for you, there's no need to be jealous over unnecessary things. And it's pretty cold out; I'm holding you to keep warm. I'm willing to keep the most important place beside me for you forever, you wouldn't deny me this little benefit, would you?"
Park Su's face grew even hotter, "Who, who's jealous? Don't talk nonsense!"
Xu Nuo's lips curled into a smile as he teased, "Alright, admit it, I was the jealous one this time. So, may I embrace you now?" Upon hearing these words, Park Su ceased all movement, for he too relished the comfort of nestling in Xu Nuo's arms. More crucially, Xu Nuo had assured him that the most significant place by his side was forever reserved for him.
Such promises, once thought unbelievable, now stood as the greatest triumph, stirring deep emotions within him, though he was aware that perhaps this significant place was not exactly what he hoped for.
Nevertheless, knowing he had secured a place in Xu Nuo's heart was his greatest gain! He sighed deeply, acknowledging that he should push him away, yet found himself unable to resist staying curled up in Xu Nuo's embrace, lulled to sleep by the rhythm of his heartbeat.
That night was the most peaceful he had slept in over six years, free from worries about tomorrow's sustenance, the threat of zombies, or the fear of being cast into a horde by his beloved.
Perhaps because he was by Xu Nuo's side, even the sound of his heartbeat promised a brighter future!
The next morning, he awoke still in Xu Nuo's arms. Although he should have immediately freed himself, his awakened self was reluctant to leave that embrace.
Since Xu Nuo was still asleep, he reasoned it was harmless to linger a bit longer. Thus, he nestled closer, stealing glances at Xu Nuo's chin.
He observed the subtle blue stubble on Xu Nuo's resolute jawline, and from this angle, Xu Nuo appeared more masculine than usual.
He gazed, almost entranced, until he noticed Xu Nuo's eyelashes flutter slightly, signaling his imminent awakening. He quickly sat up, his mind a whirl of confusion about what to do next.
Unbeknownst to him, Xu Nuo had woken the moment he did but pretended to sleep, curious about Park Su's reaction upon waking. As Park Su watched him intently, Xu Nuo felt his own heartbeat quicken, forcing him to feign stirring to allow Park Su to extricate himself.
Yet, once Park Su had moved away, Xu Nuo felt a void, realizing how much he enjoyed Park Su being close.
He regretted letting Park Su know he was awake so soon.
Xu Nuo, pretending to have just woken up, spoke with a hoarse voice, "Morning!"
Park Su internally howled; Xu Nuo's voice was so enticing that, with any less willpower, he might have pounced on him like a wolf. Outwardly, however, he maintained a facade of normalcy, swallowing hard before replying, "Morning, I'll go prepare dinner."
Xu Nuo lazily acknowledged with a hum, leaving Park Su to feel that one more look might overwhelm him. He hastily left the vehicle, using the time to cook breakfast to steady his nerves.
As Xu Nuo watched Park Su depart from his vehicle, his eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed Ge Qing had not deceived him; Park Su did harbor some feelings for him. However, these subtle signs of unrequited love were rather endearing.
After sharing breakfast, they continued their journey towards Base S. Xu Nuo's mood was exceptionally buoyant, his cheerful disposition brightened by the sun, which in turn lifted the spirits of everyone, except for Park Su, who found Xu Nuo's good mood somewhat peculiar.
By around 11 AM, they reached the outskirts of Base S. From a distance, they could see crowds gathered around the base. Even before they got close, the unpleasant smell was palpable, reminding Park Su of his previous life's experiences at this place.
Though he arrived later this time than in his past life, the scene was similar. Fortunately, since the base still lacked many ability users, there were special expedited channels for them.
Entering wasn't as daunting as it appeared from outside; at most, they would wait an hour or two in the crowd to get in. Previously, with Sun Muyang, an ordinary human, by his side, it had taken longer. Now, with three ability users in his group, the process should be quicker.
However, considering the number of people, even with expedited checks, they'd likely need to queue for an hour or two. If they proceeded now, they'd have to deal with lunch there. Knowing Xu Nuo's temperament, he wouldn't agree to that. True to form, after discussing it, Xu Nuo decided they should have lunch before heading over.
So, the group found a relatively secluded spot to park, light a fire, and start cooking. The area around Base S had long been hunted clean by its residents, leaving no game for them to catch.
Park Su then used his supplies along with those Ge Qing handed over to prepare the meal. The four of them, accustomed to such routines, almost made it feel like a picnic.
While they were cooking lunch, several convoys passed by, and some passersby, seeing them cook and smelling the rice, couldn't help but salivate with envy. A few even contemplated stopping to rob them, thinking four against many would be an easy victory, especially given their apparent wealth in resources.
However, some in the convoy were more discerning. They noticed that despite the journey, this group was not travel-worn but rather appeared fresh and unconcerned by the onlookers around them. They deduced these must be skilled ability users, best left unchallenged. Thus, some drove off, cursing under their breath.
But a few less cautious ones still got out to provoke them. Without Xu Nuo lifting a finger, just a nod from him signaled Ge Qing and Lu Shang to deal with it. These lower-tier ability users were quickly dispatched, leaving many to limp away, deterred from further confrontation.
This display of force made the previously departing convoys grateful for their restraint, and it deterred any further aggression from new arrivals.
After all, the man cooking, Park Su, and the other man who hadn't even glanced their way had yet to act, yet instinct told them that the man who hadn't moved, merely watching the cook, was the most formidable among them.
Even the two underlings couldn't handle them, let alone the one who hadn't even bothered to stand up.
For Park Su, facing these aggressive convoys intent on robbery was nothing noteworthy. From his understanding of the apocalypse, within the first month, someone reaching the second tier of ability was already an elite, often a leader or co-leader of such teams.
Third-tier ability users were exceedingly rare. In his past life, he had heard of many such prominent figures, each quite flamboyant. Except for the likes of Ge Qing and Lu Shang, who preferred to keep a low profile, hiding their true capabilities, he hadn't heard of them.
Of course, it wasn't out of the question that without his and Xu Nuo's involvement in their past lives, these individuals might have met their end in that villa area, thus remaining unknown.
Because if they hadn't intervened, the group known as "Tall, Short, Fat, Thin" would certainly have targeted them as well.
However, people like that typically lived comfortably, could acquire resources on their own, and commanded their own convoys.
In the apocalypse, individuals like Xu Nuo, who operated independently, were rare. Most powerful figures were eager to recruit more capable ability users into their teams, opting for persuasion over confrontation when dealing with them.
Therefore, encountering someone like Xu Nuo, rather than immediate aggression, many would consider recruitment, treating them with relative courtesy.
However, during their meal preparation, they did not meet such individuals. Instead, what irked Park Su was the pitiful ordinary people who came begging for food.
These people, leveraging their lack of abilities, would approach with dirty, ragged clothes, looking emaciated and tearfully pleading for sustenance.
They seemed to adopt a strategy of "nothing to lose," clearly prepared to stay until they got something. What frustrated Park Su even more was Xu Nuo's apparent indifference, leaving the decision entirely up to him.