Chapter 21: In Your Dreams [Koeyle, 16%]
He Yue truly enjoyed a few leisurely days. He bought some novelties from Kano through the back channels and asked the system for some gadgets exclusive to Castle.
He even bought a beautiful cabinet specifically to store these props.
The hammer originally used to nail the draft for the relief sculpture was now placed on his workbench, used to hammer some special metal pieces.
[Koeyle, 16%.]
He Yue, who was hammering a metal rod, paused after hearing the system prompt, then continued hammering, a hint of amusement in his actions.
As he expected, his prey would attach value to this experience himself.
——
He Yue was awakened by the roar of heavy rain and the biting cold. He looked out the window and saw a gloomy, overcast sky.
He checked his optical device.
It was noon, twelve o’clock.
The whole world was enveloped in an almost apocalyptic atmosphere, the sudden drop in temperature jolting He Yue awake. He got up and rummaged through his wardrobe, only to find spring and summer clothes, not even a single coat.
Indeed, who would have thought that yesterday’s clear, even slightly hot weather would suddenly turn into a near-freezing winter.
The bedroom light wouldn’t turn on no matter how many times he pressed the switch. The entire villa had lost power.
He Yue pulled out a relatively thick white quilt from the closet, folded it in half, and draped it over himself. He felt his perception of temperature was more acute than in human society, perhaps because as a male insect, his physique was far inferior to that of a human.
His limbs were cold, so he wrapped himself in a few more thin layers of clothing, dragged the quilt to the studio, and poured himself a few glasses of alcohol.
Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but he finally felt some warmth returning to his body.
He curled up in the single-seater sofa, wrapping himself tightly in the quilt, only his head exposed.
The sofa was placed by the floor-to-ceiling window, offering a view of the courtyard entrance. The rain was pouring down, as if the sky had been punctured, the water quickly accumulating into a stream at the entrance.
(What’s going on? Did you glitch?)
[It’s a nuclear hole crisis, Host.]
The system dutifully explained: [It’s a spatial hazard that occurs irregularly in the insect world, maybe a few times a year, or once every few years. The last nuclear hole crisis was over a decade ago. It causes extreme weather and natural disasters. A nuclear hole appears as an entrance, indiscriminately sucking insects inside. The situation inside is different each time, and it only disappears after being resolved.]
The system paused, and a detecting “beep” sound came.
[The nuclear hole moves along a certain path. But don’t worry, Host, it’s currently located in Area E, very far from you. It might take a month to reach Area A.]
(How long will this power outage last?) He Yue asked.
[The authorities have issued a repair notice, it should be soon.]
He Yue thought about being frozen in this low temperature for a day or two. With his current male insect physique, he would definitely catch a bad cold.
Without a heat source, the thin quilt wasn’t very effective.
He took out his frozen hands, blew warm air on them, rubbed them together, and then tucked them back under the quilt, turning to stare blankly out the window.
The sound of rain and wind outside was incredibly loud, giving him a headache.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, He Yue saw a moving figure slowly approaching the gate outside.
It was naturally Koeyle, wearing his colonel’s uniform, his hands tightly gripping a special umbrella.
He Yue watched him struggle to push open the gate and walk in, looking up at the window where He Yue was curled up in a ball under a white quilt.
Koeyle paused for a second, then the strong wind flipped his umbrella inside out, ripping it from his grasp and sending it flying into the trees behind him. He was instantly drenched, his whole body soaked. He quickly ran towards the villa.
“Pfft…”
He Yue was amused by his comical appearance, his previously gloomy mood lifting considerably.
Soon, a knock came at the studio door.
“Come in.”
Koeyle had changed into clean clothes, his hair still damp.
He Yue was wrapped tightly in the white quilt, curled up on the single-seater sofa.
Koeyle knelt beside the sofa, one hand resting on the armrest: “Master, the base’s meteorological monitoring predicts that the heavy rain will stop soon, but the low temperature will persist for a long time. The power should be restored soon, probably tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest.” This heavy rain had come quite suddenly, but it would also pass quickly, far from being a disaster. The low temperature was the more troublesome issue, as repairing the power lines would take time.
“Alright, I understand.”
They remained silent for a long time.
He Yue shifted on the sofa. He was uncomfortable from the cold and wasn’t in the mood to chat with Koeyle, so he dismissed him: “Is there anything else?” Koeyle lowered his eyes and thought for a moment: “Has Master’s hand healed?” He Yue took his hand out from under the quilt and showed it to him. His slightly pale, cold hand bore no red marks; the slight redness from the slap had long since disappeared.
“It healed long ago.”
Koeyle took the opportunity to hold He Yue’s hand, pretending to examine the “injury.” As he expected, He Yue’s hand was incredibly cold.
“Master’s hand is so cold.” His palms were warm, at least much warmer than He Yue’s.
Female insects naturally had better physiques than male insects and were much more resistant to cold, especially Koeyle, who was a well-trained military female.
He cupped He Yue’s hand in his own, trying to warm it up.
He Yue, finding a source of warmth, felt much more comfortable and took out his other hand, placing it on Koeyle’s face.
Koeyle shivered from the cold hand, but still placed one of his hands on the back of He Yue’s hand, gently pressing it closer to his face.
“Are Master’s feet cold too?” Koeyle asked.
He Yue was clearly more interested now, a smile playing on his lips: “Why, where do you want me to put them?” He pulled one hand away, the other still on Koeyle’s face, his eyes and hand following his words as he traced his body: “Neck? Chest, or here…” He flicked Koeyle’s lower abdomen.
Koeyle shuddered, doubling over, the hand on his face feeling the increased warmth.
He Yue cupped his face in his hands and raised an eyebrow: “In your dreams. What good deed have you done to deserve a reward?” “No, nothing,” Koeyle was aroused by the teasing, his speech momentarily faltering. “I’m just worried Master will be cold.” He Yue was truly uncomfortable from the low temperature.
“Then hug me.”
“…” Koeyle froze.
He Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly, glancing at him with a hint of danger.
Realizing he hadn’t obeyed immediately, Koeyle felt a phantom pain in his backside from that look and leaned forward, hugging He Yue along with the quilt. He felt like he was hugging a plush cushion rather than a person.
He Yue pressed his cold cheek against Koeyle’s warm neck, sighing contentedly. He touched Koeyle’s forehead with the back of his hand, his voice lazy and slightly slurred: “You’re so hot, are you feverish?” Koeyle keenly caught the implication of arousal in his slurred words and flinched.
“No, I don’t have heat cycles.”
“What are you talking about? I’m asking if you’re sick.”
Koeyle hugged the bundle tighter, his ears burning.
“…I’m sorry.”
He Yue chuckled, nestled in the tight embrace, shamelessly slipping his hand inside Koeyle’s clothes, pressing it against his abs for warmth.
The sound of the heavy rain was loud and showed no signs of stopping.
