Chapter 42
The air was crisp and cold, his breath misting visibly. Shi Nuo had never spent so much time in sub-zero temperatures. He had seen snow a few times before, during vacations and holidays, but never for an extended period.
Everything was new and fascinating.
He had grown accustomed to sitting in Long Xu’s hand when they went out, and today was no exception. The mecha lifted him high into the air and slowly flew away.
He had told Long Xu to choose any direction.
He sat in the mecha’s curled right hand, the metal surprisingly warm, not cold.
Long Xu had heated its hand. The temperature was too low for Shi Nuo, who was fragile, unlike the mecha, whose materials were resistant to both extreme heat and cold.
As for Hugh Elvis, he stood on Long Xu’s shoulder, looking down indifferently at the scenery below.
Even the most beautiful snowscape became boring after ten years.
Shi Nuo looked down through the gaps between Long Xu’s fingers. The river was frozen solid, covered in a thick layer of snow.
From high in the air, he could see far into the distance. He saw the wider part of the river downstream, where the current was stronger, the ice and snow broken, the water still churning and roaring, dark shapes leaping out of the water, the same ferocious, blue-black fish he had seen before.
Every planet had its unique species, and the creatures that thrived here had adapted to the harsh environment.
The vast plain stretched endlessly, and they flew across the river to the other side.
The weather was clear today, and he could see the distant mountains, their peaks covered in snow, a landscape too far for him to have ever reached.
He looked towards the horizon, thinking that without Long Xu or Hugh, he would probably never venture beyond the plains.
“Stop,” Hugh Elvis suddenly said, pointing at a small mound. “Land there.”
Long Xu followed his command, landed, and gently placed Shi Nuo on top of the mound.
Hugh Elvis jumped from the mecha’s shoulder, landing gracefully without any assistance, a gust of wind swirling around him.
Compared to Shi Nuo’s thick winter clothes, he wore only a thin white shirt, black pants, and black boots, the silver buckle of his belt occasionally glinting in the light. The fabric of his clothes was expensive and soft, the design simple yet elegant, the tailoring impeccable, accentuating his tall, lean physique, concealing his muscular build.
His cold, handsome features and aloof expression made him seem distant and unapproachable.
They were both wearing the same black boots, clearly a matching pair.
Shi Nuo had chosen them for their practicality. The snow was deep, and the tall boots, reaching below his knees, prevented the snow from getting inside.
He didn’t know why Hugh wanted to stop here. He was curious but also apprehensive, having sensed the Alpha’s displeasure since they left the house. Although Hugh had agreed to take him out, he hadn’t seemed enthusiastic, making Shi Nuo uneasy.
A burst of white flames suddenly erupted from Hugh’s hand, shooting towards the side of the mound like a fire dragon.
The snow concealed many things, and as it melted, Shi Nuo saw dried branches and twigs, remnants of some unknown plant. “Is there something down there?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“Yes,” Hugh Elvis’s gaze was fixed on the flames as they melted the snow, revealing the ground and the tangled branches.
He reached down, grabbed a withered plant, its leaves gone, and pulled it out of the ground, its roots exposed.
After discarding the stem, he pointed at the exposed soil and said to Long Xu, “Excavate to a depth of thirty centimeters.”
Long Xu immediately complied.
Shi Nuo saw white, branch-like clusters in the soil, resembling delicate white flowers.
“Snow mushrooms. Non-toxic,” Hugh said casually.
Shi Nuo’s eyes lit up, his excitement evident, then he frowned slightly. “I didn’t bring a bucket.”
“Long Xu has a storage compartment,” Hugh reached into Long Xu’s outstretched hand, retrieved a cluster of snow mushrooms, and handed them to Shi Nuo.
Long Xu’s massive hand was surprisingly nimble. It shook off the dirt from the mushrooms, leaving only the white, branch-like clusters, its blue mechanical eyes scanning and recording the species and its growing conditions.
Shi Nuo held the unusual white mushrooms and examined them closely. Despite having been buried underground, they had only a faint earthy scent, their aroma more like the cold, clean scent of snow.
“I wonder what they taste like boiled,” he said happily. He had assumed he would only have dried mushrooms during the winter. This was a pleasant surprise.
Hugh Elvis’s expression was indifferent, then he said unexpectedly, “Probably quite flavorful.”
Shi Nuo had only been thinking aloud, not expecting a reply, and he smiled.
Hugh Elvis’s gaze softened as he looked at Shi Nuo’s smile.
But before the smile could fully bloom, Shi Nuo’s eyes lit up again as he asked, “Mr. Elvis, do these mushrooms grow symbiotically with that plant?”
“Yes,” Hugh replied, a strange sense of disappointment washing over him.
Shi Nuo quickly picked up the withered plant and, opening his optical brain, took several pictures, recording the shape of its roots and branches. It was a shame the leaves were gone.
“Do these mushrooms only grow in winter?” he asked curiously.
“Yes, only after it snows. Not in other seasons,” Hugh replied, his tone still casual, but he answered all of Shi Nuo’s questions patiently.
He looked up at the silent mecha. “Long Xu, record this data as well.”
During Hugh’s hibernation, Long Xu had been a great help, and Shi Nuo had grown accustomed to relying on it, even giving it instructions without hesitation.
The winters here were long and harsh, with heavy snowfall, making it difficult for him to go out alone. If Hugh wasn’t available, he could only rely on Long Xu.
“Data recorded,” Long Xu replied.
“Good,” Shi Nuo smiled, his eyes crinkling.
The weak winter sunlight fell on the Omega’s face, his fair skin flawless, his eyes bright.
But that unguarded smile was directed at Long Xu.
Hugh Elvis lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable, then looked up and placed a hand on Shi Nuo’s shoulder, standing beside him. He glanced at Long Xu, his voice calm, “Let’s go.”
“Okay,” Shi Nuo, oblivious to the Alpha’s subtle shift in mood, felt the warmth of his hand on his shoulder, unsurprised by the Alpha’s elevated body temperature.
He was still holding the snow mushrooms, which would be crushed if he put them in his pocket. That would be a waste. He looked up at the mecha. “Long Xu, could you hold these?”
The massive mecha extended its right hand, its metal fingers gently approaching Shi Nuo.
A compartment opened on its index finger, and Shi Nuo placed the mushrooms inside, hearing a faint whirring sound as Long Xu transported them to its storage compartment through its internal channels.
He then climbed onto the mecha’s hand, settling comfortably in its warm, metal palm, his casual movements a sign of his complete trust.
Hugh Elvis, his gaze fixed on Shi Nuo, his expression unreadable, didn’t climb onto Long Xu’s shoulder as usual but, to Shi Nuo’s surprise, stepped onto the mecha’s palm and sat down beside him, one leg casually propped up, his demeanor calm.
Long Xu lifted them into the air, flying towards the snow-covered mountains.
The trees were covered in snow, their branches glistening with frost, a beautiful, ethereal sight.
The view from above was breathtaking, the vast expanse of the mountain range a different kind of beauty than he had seen before.
On their previous trips to gather mushrooms and other food, they had only explored the nearby hills. This time, Long Xu carried them across the entire mountain range.
Shi Nuo was delighted, taking many pictures.
Sometimes, Long Xu would fly close to the trees, and he would lean out, reaching through the gap between the mecha’s fingers, grabbing handfuls of snow from the branches.
Long Xu’s movements were precise and controlled, and he never felt unsafe.
The first time he had dared to reach out, Hugh Elvis had held him securely by the collar, providing a reassuring sense of security.
As soon as he had a handful of fresh snow, he was pulled back by the Alpha, landing on his lap, held tightly in his embrace.
The cold wind whipped around them, but Shi Nuo, excited, didn’t feel the chill. Emboldened by Hugh’s indulgence, he turned to show him the snow. “Look, it’s so clean,” he said, his voice no longer hesitant.
The white-haired man, holding the beautiful Omega in his arms, his brow finally smoothing, a hint of amusement in his eyes, took the handful of ordinary snow. “It is very clean,” he agreed.
Flying brought an unparalleled sense of freedom, and the panoramic view of the mountain range was exhilarating.
Shi Nuo’s joy was evident, and Hugh Elvis, seeing the familiar landscape through the Omega’s eyes, found a renewed appreciation for it.
It was indeed beautiful, he thought, holding the Omega close.
Night fell quickly in winter. Shi Nuo emerged from the bathroom after his shower, his cheeks flushed from the hot water.
Hugh Elvis followed him out, his lips slightly redder than usual, a strangely sensual look.
He had become adept at bathing and pleasuring his Omega, but Shi Nuo still kept his head down, his movements timid.
After they were in bed, Shi Nuo lay on the inside, pulling the blankets up to his chin, only his shy eyes visible.
The rug in the living room had been soiled, too damp and stained to sleep on, and after they had also soiled the bedroom rug, Hugh had reluctantly retrieved the bed from its compartment in the floor.
Hugh Elvis lay beside him and, pulling back the blanket Shi Nuo was hiding under, shared it with him.
The blanket was a double size, and Shi Nuo couldn’t refuse.
Kissing had become their pre-sleep ritual. Shi Nuo, his waist held firmly, was pulled against the Alpha, the cold lotus scent filling his senses, his body enveloped by Hugh’s dominant pheromones.
The sweet, fragrant Omega was delightful to kiss, his mouth tasting of tea olive blossoms, the sweet scent intensifying.
Hugh’s eyes darkened, his desire growing as he kissed Shi Nuo deeply, as if he could never get enough.
Shi Nuo, gasping for breath, whispered, “T-that’s enough, Mr. Elvis. I want to sleep now.”
The white-haired man didn’t reply, his gaze fixed on Shi Nuo.
Tears glistened in the corners of Shi Nuo’s eyes, the memory of their earlier encounter still fresh in his mind, and he hesitantly leaned closer, placing a few gentle kisses on the Alpha’s lips.
As the night deepened, Shi Nuo, spared any further “torment,” drifted off to sleep, his breathing slow and even.
In the darkness, Hugh Elvis suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of blue light glinting within them.
He finally understood the source of his vague dissatisfaction earlier that day.
The way Shi Nuo addressed him.
He called Long Xu simply “Long Xu,” but he called him “Mr. Elvis.”
