After that, he observed him for a few more days and found that Min Shu truly showed no signs of any abnormalities.

Aside from feeling a bit wobbly in his hands and feet the next day from sleeping too long, Min Shu was fully back to his old self afterward—full of energy and bouncing around—and even started cooking meals.

One morning, Min Shu was busy in the kitchen making soufflé pancakes.

To achieve the cloud-like fluffiness of a soufflé, Min Shu rummaged through every nook and cranny, even digging out the mixer that had been gathering dust in the back of the cabinet. Wei Changchuan had just returned from shoveling snow outside when he saw Min Shu standing on a ladder, straining to reach the top shelf.

Seeing this, Wei Changchuan reached out and grabbed him around the waist, pulling him all the way down.

“What are you doing up there?”

Min Shu giggled twice, startled by the chill of his hand: “Bro, your hands are so cold.”

“Is it cold?” Wei Changchuan let go and placed his palm on Min Shu’s hip. “What do you need? I’ll get it for you.”

Min Shu replied in a soft voice, “I need the blender.”

Wei Changchuan had been completely at his beck and call these past few days, ready whenever he was summoned. Upon hearing this, he immediately climbed the stairs and, with little effort, pulled the mixer out from the back of the cabinet.

The mixer hadn’t been used in years; the box was covered in dust. Wei Changchuan frowned, then suddenly paused and turned back. “What are you going to use this for?”

Min Shu replied, “To whip egg whites. I’m making soufflé pancakes.”

Wei Changchuan didn’t understand why making pancakes would require so much effort. He hesitated for a moment, but still carried the mixer downstairs, saying, “Take care of yourself.”

Min Shu replied noncommittally, “I know.” He felt he was completely recovered and gradually began to ignore what Wei Changchuan said.

The light, airy texture of soufflé pancakes comes from the finely whipped and expanded egg whites. Min Shu separated the egg whites from the yolks, placed them in the stainless steel bowl of the mixer, and squeezed a few drops of fresh lemon juice into the whites to help them foam.

As Wei Changchuan reached out, he pushed him away and the mixer toward him.

The machine roared to life. Min Shu watched as Wei Changchuan held down the bowl with one hand and raised the mixer with the other, the muscles in his arms bulging—it looked less like cooking and more like he was fixing a car or tinkering with some kind of large mechanical device.

After whipping the egg whites with the mixer for a while, Wei Changchuan tilted the bowl toward Min Shu: “Is this good enough?”

Min Shu was a bit dazed: “Oh, oh—”   He glanced at the bowl: “It looks like it needs to be whipped a little longer.”

Wei Changchuan nodded and turned the mixer back on. Min Shu looked up at him, then suddenly leaned in closer and wrapped both arms around Wei Changchuan’s arms:

“Bro, you’re so handsome.”

Wei Changchuan paused, turned his face toward him, and leaned down to kiss Min Shu on the lips.

After this unexpected moment, their relationship seemed to grow even closer. Wei Changchuan used to just enjoy holding him, occasionally running his fingers through his hair or stroking his back, but in the last few days, the kisses had become much more frequent.

Min Shu narrowed his eyes and tilted his head back to accept the man’s kiss.

Wei Changchuan merely brushed his lips lightly against Min Shu’s, but when he looked up, he saw the young man tilting his face back, eyes closed, looking utterly docile.

Wei Changchuan’s gaze fell on the young man’s lips. They had a bit more color than usual and were slightly pursed, reminiscent of plump fruit.

He paused for a moment, then lowered his head once more. The air was thick with the sweet scent of sugar.

At some point, the sound of the blender had stopped. Min Shu tilted his head back; Wei Changchuan, holding him, turned him around so that his lower back pressed against the cabinet. It had been a while, and his neck was starting to ache from tilting his head back, so he tapped Wei Changchuan on the back of the hand.

Wei Changchuan then let go of him.

Min Shu withdrew his tongue, breathing a little heavily. He caught the sweet scent of sugar in the air, mingling with Wei Changchuan’s own scent, just like his heart.

After resting for a moment, Min Shu caught his breath, lifted his head, and looked at Wei Changchuan. Their gazes met in the air; Min Shu’s cheeks flushed slightly, his eyes sparkling, and he obediently parted his lips ever so slightly for the man.

Wei Changchuan then lowered his head once more.

After what seemed like an eternity, Min Shu was released. He licked his moist lips, lowered his head to rest his forehead against Wei Changchuan’s arm, and said, slightly out of breath, “Bro…”

His voice was slightly hoarse, and his breathing a bit ragged. Suddenly, he reached out and wrapped his arms tightly around him. Wei Changchuan held him steady, his strong hands gently stroking his back, as if to soothe him.

Min Shu’s cheeks flushed slightly, and a surge of restlessness welled up inside him. Unable to resist, he turned his head and began to rub his forehead against the man’s chest, calling out once more, “Bro—”

This time, the trill at the end of his voice was even more pronounced than before.

He wasn’t sure why, but after his fever had subsided this time, his energy and vitality seemed a bit more abundant. He used to feel weak when he woke up in the morning, but now he didn’t at all. Not only did he not feel weak, but he actually felt exceptionally healthy.

“Bro, bro—”   Min Shu kept calling him “bro,” clinging to Wei Changchuan and whimpering, “Help me.”

Wei Changchuan looked at his flushed cheeks, raised his hand to brush aside the messy strands of hair at the temples of Min Shu’s forehead, and leaned down, saying, “Wrap your arms around me.”

Min Shu nodded, obediently raising his arms to wrap them around the man’s neck.

Wei Changchuan was much taller than him, and standing face-to-face, it wasn’t easy for Min Shu to reach his shoulders. At times, Min Shu had to stand on tiptoes, clasping the man’s arms tightly with both hands—his fingers growing sore from the strain.

After a while, he lost his strength and slumped backward.

Wei Changchuan quickly wrapped his arms around Min Shu’s lower back, preventing him from falling. Min Shu was dazed for a moment, then slowly came to his senses. When he saw Wei Changchuan’s hands, his face flushed slightly: “…You should go wash your hands.”

Wei Changchuan nodded, let go of him, turned around, turned on the faucet, and stood at the kitchen sink to wash his hands. Min Shu stood beside him and glanced at the meringue on the table, realizing it was completely ruined.

But he wasn’t in a hurry to start over just yet; instead, he turned his gaze toward Wei Changchuan: “Bro…” He glanced down and pursed his lips: “Do you want me to help?”

Wei Changchuan turned off the faucet, grabbed a dishcloth nearby, and dried his hands. “No, thanks.”

Min Shu thought to himself that it certainly didn’t look like it wasn’t being used. Feeling a bit frustrated, he couldn’t help but lean in a little closer and whisper, “…But I’m already immune to it.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Changchuan lowered his gaze to look at him. After a moment, he suddenly raised his hand and pinched his cheek. “You little pervert.”

Min Shu’s eyes widened. Before he could protest, Wei Changchuan gently stroked the spot he’d just pinched, as if to soothe him: “I need to make sure you’re really immune first.”

When it came to Min Shu’s health, he wouldn’t take any chances.

Hearing this, Min Shu blinked, thinking to himself, Why not just try it once and see?

He felt perfectly fine—there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. But Min Shu didn’t dare say that, afraid Wei Changchuan would get angry, so he just went, “Oh,” let go of the man, and turned back to finish making the meringue.

After finishing their sweet, fluffy soufflé pancakes, the two went outside to play in the snow. Although it was still dark outside, once power was restored to that section of the backyard, the colorful string of lights woven across the roof came back on as well. The vibrant lights shone down on the pristine white snow, creating a festive Christmas atmosphere.

“Qike!” Min Shu ran outside, threw his arms around the thick-coated Alaskan Malamute, and ruffled its head wildly: “Good boy, good boy~.”

The rest of the sled dogs emerged from their beds, surrounding Min Shu and enthusiastically nuzzling him with their warm, wet noses.

“Hahahahaha—”

Min Shu laughed uncontrollably as they nudged him, wishing he had eight hands so he could pet all these dogs at once.

Wei Changchuan stood behind them, with not a single dog by his side. Holding Min Shu’s scarf and hat, he stood casually, glancing around like a sentry.

Min Shu was having a great time playing with the dogs when an overly excited Alaskan Malamute tackled him to the ground. Seeing their human fall, the dogs immediately grew even more excited, swarming around him and licking his face and body with their warm, wet tongues.

“Hahahaha—Stop licking, stop licking—”

Surrounded by a fluffy mountain of dogs, Min Shu lay in the snow, unable to get up. Just then, a hand reached through the dogs’ thick fur, grabbed the back of his collar, and yanked him to his feet.

“Stand up straight.”

Wei Changchuan helped him stand, patting the snow off the young man’s entire body, then ruffled his messy black hair with a casual swipe:

“Are you cold?”

Min Shu’s cheeks were rosy: “No, I’m not cold.”

He looked up at Wei Changchuan with a hint of excitement: “Bro, I feel like my body’s gotten a lot better. I haven’t really mutated, have I?”

Min Shu genuinely felt great. After this fever, his body felt like it had been completely refreshed from head to toe, and he felt full of energy every day. In the past, he would have felt cold after playing in the snow for so long, but today he didn’t feel cold at all—his hands and feet were still warm. In the past, due to his underdeveloped lungs, he’d feel unwell after breathing in air that was too cold, but today he didn’t feel a thing.

Wei Changchuan lowered his head and looked at Min Shu’s face, gently pinching his slightly flushed cheek: “Your complexion does look a bit better.”

Min Shu’s eyes lit up: “Does that mean I’ve mutated too?”

Wei Changchuan glanced at him, then let go of him, took a few steps back, and held out a hand toward Min Shu: “Try punching me.”

Min Shu froze for a moment, then it dawned on him: if he really had mutated, then all his physical abilities should have improved. Thinking of Wei Changchuan’s usual imposing presence, his eyes lit up instantly, and he struck a fighting pose in the snow with great seriousness.

“Here I come!” Min Shu clenched his fist, gathered his strength, and threw a punch at Wei Changchuan: “Whoa!”

There was a faint thud, but Wei Changchuan didn’t budge an inch.

He glanced down at Min Shu’s fist, clasped his fingers around it, and said calmly:

“It seems it hasn’t mutated.”

Min Shu:……

He looked at his own fist, then at Wei Changchuan, who remained completely unfazed. His fist hadn’t caused the man the slightest harm; it had been effortlessly deflected.

W-why?

The corners of Min Shu’s eyebrows twitched. Feeling a bit reluctant, he said to Wei Changchuan, “I—I might not have applied my strength correctly. Let me try again.”

Wei Changchuan then let go of his hand and gestured for him to try again. Min Shu mustered all his strength and growled, “Here I come!” He raised his leg and swung it with all his might at Wei Changchuan’s lower body.

But this time, before Wei Changchuan could even react, Min Shu’s foot slipped, causing him to lose his balance and fall. Wei Changchuan caught him around the waist and helped him up:

“Be careful.”

Min Shu:……

He felt utterly frustrated. This was a far cry from his imagination—where he’d envisioned himself being able to resist the virus and, after developing immunity, evolve directly into a superhuman. Deeply dejected, Min Shu leaned against Wei Changchuan like a frostbitten cabbage:

“Why…” he said listlessly, “Why didn’t I mutate?”

Seeing this, Wei Changchuan scooped him up in his arms and patted Min Shu on the back: “I’ve contacted the base; they’ll send a doctor to run some tests on you.”

“Huh?” Min Shu looked up curiously. “A doctor?”

He thought for a moment, then asked in confusion, “Which base are they from? How are they getting here?”

Wei Changchuan didn’t answer him right away, but soon, Min Shu saw the answer with his own eyes. A week later, Wei Changchuan and Min Shu stood in their backyard, preparing to welcome the doctor.

As winter wore on, a faint glimmer of sunlight would appear in the Greenlandic sky around noon. Under the dim light, the sky took on a pale blue hue; squinting toward the horizon, one could make out a faint black speck. To call it a speck wasn’t quite accurate, because upon closer inspection, two straight black lines extended from either side of that shadow.

Min Shu:……

He stared at the familiar pair of enormous wings flapping up and down in the distance and fell silent. So it was an airlift after all.