The Return of Cambrian Period

73 Cambrian Consciousness Part 2

Only Cong Xia and Cheng Tianbi sat obediently at the dining table.

There were meat and vegetables on the table. Although there weren't many types of vegetables, they were prepared in a variety of ways and the aroma indicated their deliciousness. There was also a jar of homemade aged rice wine, which, when opened, emitted a refreshing fragrance.

Lady Tang invited everyone to take their seats and said with a smile, "The Tang family is large, and we go hunting in the mountains every day, so we have enough meat. However, it's very difficult to grow vegetables and fruits. Non-mutated ones are easily choked by weeds, and mutated ones often don't bear fruit. We only have a few varieties, so I hope you won't mind."

Among this group of people, Cheng Tianbi and Zhuang Yao were not good at socializing, Liu Fengyu was lazy, so all the polite work with Lady Tang fell on Cong Xia. Fortunately, although he wasn't particularly eloquent, he had a clean and refined appearance that made it easy to win the favor of the elders. He spoke sincerely, so there was no awkwardness during the meal.

The head of the Tang family proudly introduced the wine he had brewed, which had been sealed for seven or eight years. Wine was now much more precious than vegetables and fruits. Bacterial growth was rapid, making it extremely difficult to control the fermentation of food and fruits. Sometimes, the fermentation was incomplete, resulting in spoiled ingredients, and other times, the fermentation went too far, rendering the wine undrinkable. Due to the difficulties in brewing, every drop of wine was scarce and precious.

A few days ago, when they were eating at Chen Shao's restaurant, they didn't let them have a sip of wine. But now, the Tang family was treating them with such a precious offering, showing their sincerity.

Tang Yanqiu raised his glass to toast his parents and the others. He seemed to have a good tolerance for alcohol.

Liu Fengyu always enjoyed drinking and took the opportunity to indulge, consuming quite a bit without getting drunk. Zhuang Yao didn't drink and ate silently. Cheng Tianbi showed great restraint, not drinking much and remaining clear-headed. Only Cong Xia, with his mentality of not letting go of good things, even though he didn't like drinking, couldn't bear the spiciness of the wine but still insisted on drinking one cup after another.

Cheng Tianbi noticed his abnormality and pushed him lightly, whispering, "Don't drink too much."

Cong Xia looked at him blankly and said, "Ah, I'm not drunk, it's fine."

Indeed, he wasn't drunk, at least his mind was still clear, but his legs were starting to feel weak, and his face was burning hot.

Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow, took his wine glass, and said, "That's enough, stop here."

Cong Xia felt a little regretful and said, "There's still a sip left..."

Cheng Tianbi raised his glass and drank it all in one go.

Cong Xia worriedly said, "You're injured... you shouldn't drink too much."

"Not much."

Seeing Cheng Tianbi's composed expression, it really didn't seem like he had drunk too much, so Cong Xia felt relieved.

Everyone ate and drank merrily, and Cong Xia became a bit excited after drinking. He talked about many strange things happening outside, astonishing the Tang family members. However, he kept his mouth shut about things that shouldn't be said.

After finishing the meal, Cong Xia stood up and returned to his room. As soon as he stood up, he felt dizzy, and his calves became weak. The aftereffect of the wine was strong. Cong Xia didn't drink alcohol often and didn't anticipate this consequence, almost stumbling and falling down.

Cheng Tianbi grabbed him and asked, "Feeling dizzy?"

Cong Xia smiled embarrassedly and said, "Ah... a little dizzy, yeah."

Seeing his condition, it was clear that he was a bit drunk. Cheng Tianbi supported him and said, "Let's go back and rest."

Liu Fengyu mockingly patted Cong Xia's face and said, "You have such a poor tolerance for alcohol, yet you drank so much. You really overestimated yourself."

Cong Xia murmured, "Liu Ge, you have such a good tolerance."

"I've trained it at the drinking table. How can it not be good?" Liu Fengyu yawned and grabbed Tang Yanqiu. "Where's the bathing area? I want to take a shower."

Tang Yanqiu helplessly said, "Follow me."

Cheng Tianbi dragged the swaying Cong Xia towards the guest room.

When they reached the door, Cheng Tianbi reached out with one hand to find the latch on the door. The moonlight was dim tonight, making it difficult to see clearly. Cong Xia leaned against him, smelling the scent on Cheng Tianbi's body, feeling a bit restless. With the intention of taking advantage of being drunk, he embraced Cheng Tianbi's neck, and his lips unintentionally brushed against the skin at the back of Cheng Tianbi's neck.

Cheng Tianbi stiffened and whispered, "Stand straight."

Cong Xia mumbled in a sulky tone, "Mmm." After drinking too much, his courage grew, and his face thickened. He continued to hang onto Cheng Tianbi.

"I told you not to drink so much."

"Mmm, next time, I'll definitely drink less."

"There won't be a next time." Cheng Tianbi finally managed to open the door. He practically half-carried Cong Xia into the room and pushed him onto the bed.

Cong Xia held onto his neck and refused to let go, softly calling out, "Tianbi..." His voice carried a hint of humble longing. He didn't even know what he was longing for; he just wanted to hold onto Cheng Tianbi like this, to hold him a little longer.

Cheng Tianbi's body tensed up, and he said in a deep voice, "Go to sleep."

"Mmm."

"Let go."

"Mmm."

Cong Xia agreed but didn't release his grip. Cheng Tianbi held onto his waist, intending to push him away, but when his hands touched the slender waist of Cong Xia, they seemed to be stuck and he didn't want to let go.

The scent of Cong Xia's body, mixed with the smell of alcohol, rushed into his nostrils. The thin body in his arms felt hot, almost burning.

Cheng Tianbi's eyes darkened, and a familiar yet unfamiliar feeling surged within him, leaving him somewhat perplexed. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Cong Xia, what are you trying to do?"

Cong Xia's eyes were caught between sobriety and confusion. Unconsciously, he clenched his fists and hoarsely replied, "I don't know."

He didn't know what he wanted to do. He liked... liked this person... He wanted to be able to see him forever, to always stand by his side and live peacefully.

Cheng Tianbi's eyes slightly reddened, and he whispered, "Then let go."

"Okay." Cong Xia answered promptly, but he still didn't release his grip. Cheng Tianbi pressed against his chest, pinning him down on the bed.

Cong Xia stared at him with wide eyes.

Cheng Tianbi's facial expression remained unchanged from his usual coldness, but there was a hint of peculiarity in his gaze. "Do you know what you're doing?" he asked.

Cong Xia stared into his eyes for a few seconds, then, under Cheng Tianbi's unwavering gaze, suddenly felt overwhelmed with shame. He covered his eyes with the back of his hand and said, "I'm sorry for embarrassing you. I had too much to drink. I shouldn't have been drinking. I'm sorry, Tianbi. Just consider it a drunken madness."

Embarrassing, truly embarrassing. Cong Xia, you've really embarrassed yourself. Cheng Tianbi clenched his fists in silence, stood up, and quickly walked out.

Cong Xia lay limp on the bed, his cheeks burning as if they were on fire, unsure if it was from being drunk or from embarrassment.

Cong Xia slept until dawn.

The wine they had last night was a well-aged vintage, surprisingly not as intoxicating. Apart from feeling a bit dizzy, he didn't have the splitting headache he usually got after being forced to drink beer. Even so, he didn't want to get out of bed, tossing and turning.

He actually remembered everything that happened last night very clearly. He never expected that he would be capable of pretending to be crazy while under the influence of alcohol. It turned out that when one got drunk, it was easy to become excited, and when one became excited, it was easy to do things they would regret later. He deeply regretted it now.

What now? How would Tianbi see him? Would he think he was abnormal? Getting drunk and clinging to a man like that, it didn't seem normal no matter how you looked at it.

Maybe he should just tell the truth. It was not like he was afraid to admit that he liked men. But as soon as that thought emerged, he became even more horrified. He scared himself.

Even if he dared to speak up, it was completely inappropriate at this moment. They were traveling through a dangerous journey, not living in a civilized society with all the comforts. Cheng Tianbi wasn't just a handsome new colleague at a company; he was a companion in life and death. Even if he had feelings, he wouldn't dare to cross that line, afraid of ending up in an awkward situation. How could they continue to coexist, seeing each other every day, squeezed together in the same vehicle?

Cong Xia regretted it to the point of hitting his own head.

How could he... how could he be like this? How could he develop feelings for Cheng Tianbi of all people? He had lived for twenty-six years without experiencing what it felt like to like someone. How could he develop this burdensome emotion in an era that was not suitable for love and romance!

He really didn't dare to face Cheng Tianbi anymore.

Just as he was feeling depressed, there was a knock on his door. Zhuang Yao's voice came from outside, "Why are you still sleeping? Get up!"

Cong Xia jumped out of bed and opened the door. "What's going on?"

"Tang family is going hunting. Let's go together."

"Oh, okay." Cong Xia quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth, then followed Zhuang Yao outside.

When they reached the entrance, a girl approached him with a breakfast tray and smiled, "You woke up late. Everyone has finished eating. Have your breakfast before you go."

Cong Xia smiled awkwardly, "Thank you."

He quickly ate his breakfast, put on his coat, and climbed onto Abu's back. Zhuang Yao led him towards the Tang family mansion. Abu was fast and soon caught up with them.

There were seven or eight young men from the Tang family riding on horses, slowly heading into the forest. Tang Yanqiu led the group, dressed in black and gray military uniforms, exuding a heroic and sharp presence.

Cheng Tianbi and Liu Fengyu also rode their horses. Cheng Tianbi looked very skilled, while Liu Fengyu seemed uncomfortable, constantly shifting on the horse, unable to find a comfortable position.

The horses they rode were not mutated or noticeably different, their size was relatively normal, but they were taller than ordinary horses, appearing strong and robust. Liu Fengyu moved around, and it seemed like the horse beneath him had a temper, exhaling air from its nostrils in displeasure.

Tang Yanqiu glanced back and frowned. "Don't move around. If you move too much, the horse will get restless."

Liu Fengyu muttered in frustration, "I'm restless too. This thing is so uncomfortable to sit on. It doesn't listen to me. Look, look, it keeps wandering off." The horse tilted its head left and right, refusing to stay on the right path, drawing a zigzag on the street. The people in town were secretly laughing at him.

Liu Fengyu grew annoyed and slapped the horse forcefully. "Have some dignity!"

But the horse remained unruly.

Tang Yanqiu sighed helplessly and moved closer to him. "Come over here."

Liu Fengyu glanced at him. "No, I can't. I can't get over there." Switching horses while on horseback? He didn't have that skill.

Tang Yanqiu held onto Liu Fengyu's thigh, leaped agilely, and landed on Liu Fengyu's horse, sitting behind him. His hands passed through Liu Fengyu's armpits and grabbed the reins, instantly steadying the restless horse.

Liu Fengyu gave him a disdainful look. "I told you I didn't want to ride this thing."

"You don't need to ride it now. Just sit quietly," Tang Yanqiu lightly commanded, "Let's go." The horse obediently started moving in a straight line. The group entered the forest.

Liu Fengyu yawned. "I haven't had enough sleep. That little brat Zhuang Yao pulled me out of bed but disappeared himself."

"He's at the back."

Liu Fengyu turned around and indeed saw Abu carrying Zhuang Yao and Cong Xia approaching. Cheng Tianbi turned his head and immediately noticed Cong Xia lying on Abu's head. His expression stiffened, and he averted his face.

As Abu approached, Liu Fengyu called out, "Xiao Xia, how did you sleep last night?"

Cong Xia glanced at Cheng Tianbi, who showed no expression and didn't even look at him. Feeling somewhat dejected, Cong Xia replied in a low voice, "Oh, not bad."

"I get excited when I drink, so I didn't sleep well last night. Ah, I'm both sleepy and tired. Hey, let me down. I want to sit on Abu. This horse is too uncomfortable."

Tang Yanqiu was still annoyed with Liu Fengyu for his interaction with the Tang family women. Especially knowing that his sister liked a man like Liu Fengyu, he found it hard to accept. He coldly remarked, "Just behave yourself. We're almost there."

Liu Fengyu rolled his eyes and leaned back, resting against Tang Yanqiu.

Tang Yanqiu was taken aback. "What are you doing?"

"It's uncomfortable. If you hadn't stopped me from getting down, my butt would be sore by now."

"But you can't lean on me either."

"I'm willing to." After leaning back, Liu Fengyu could lift his butt slightly, sitting on the hard saddle. It was the only way to make himself somewhat comfortable. Liu Fengyu never felt embarrassed about causing trouble for others.

Tang Yanqiu was incredibly frustrated but couldn't kick Liu Fengyu off the horse. He had to endure it.

The members of the Tang family were familiar with this hunting ground they often visited. Soon, they arrived at the location, watching seven or eight young men carrying bows and arrows, riding tall horses, weaving through the forest. It evoked images of ancient nobles and aristocrats on a hunting expedition.

However, Cong Xia wasn't particularly interested in their activities. He remained lying on Abu's head, occasionally glancing at Cheng Tianbi's back of the head. Eventually, he foolishly stared at him.

After an unknown amount of time, Cheng Tianbi, for some reason, suddenly turned around abruptly. Their eyes met, one pair calm as water, the other pair flustered and confused. Nervously, Cong Xia tried to hide, but his feet slipped, and he rolled to the side. Since the space on Abu's head wasn't large to begin with, when he rolled, he fell directly off Abu, about to plunge from a height of nearly eight meters.

Cheng Tianbi quickly created a massive gust of wind under Cong Xia, instantly slowing down his descent.

Abu also reacted swiftly, using his paws to catch Cong Xia. Cong Xia clung to Abu's paw, sweating coldly from fear. Abu placed him on the ground.

Zhuang Yao looked down at him from above, disdainfully remarking, "You're so clumsy."

Cheng Tianbi rode over, extending his hand to him. "Get up here."

Cong Xia climbed up from the ground and awkwardly looked at Cheng Tianbi.

Cheng Tianbi urged him, "Come on, get up."

Cong Xia held onto his hand, and with a bit of force from Cheng Tianbi, he was pulled onto the horse. Cong Xia sat behind him, hesitated for a while, and finally grabbed onto his clothes.

Cheng Tianbi held the reins in one hand and carried a sniper rifle in the other as he followed behind the Tang family, tracking the prey.

The forest indeed teemed with abundant resources, and large mutant animals were everywhere. Almost as soon as they appeared, they were shot down by seven or eight arrows. Cheng Tianbi rode up to the fallen prey, allowing Cong Xia to absorb the energy.

Throughout the day, they hunted two wild boars and a black bear, which they hauled back using Abu and eight horses.

Cheng Tianbi and Cong xia hardly exchanged a few words, and Cong Xia didn't dare to speak first. He could only sit quietly behind him. However, when the horse started to run, he instinctively held onto Cheng Tianbi's waist, and Cheng Tianbi didn't object.

Cong Xia wondered if yesterday's awkwardness had already passed and if everything should be fine now.

Maybe it was best to pretend that nothing happened yesterday...

Author's note: Does this count as progress?