That night, Shavri Vitaljevich didn’t sleep well.

He roamed the game world until late at night, teaming up with his guild friends to blow up the intelligent mechanical overlord Leviathan’s lair with two Ivan bombs, politely pointed a gun at the bank manager, “withdrew” some money from the vault, and spent 100,000 Ogis worth of achievement points to help build a new air force base.

Shavri Vitaljevich thought the excitement coursing through him had mostly dissipated, but when he finally fell asleep, he realized he was still far too naive.

He had a dream—wild and untamed.

Bare feet slipped into trousers inch by inch, his calf wrapped in something soft, smooth skin brushing against him in a constant teasing motion.

Delicate fingers climbed his shoulders, trailing along the curve of his neck. The boy leaned closer, his nose brushing against Shavri Vitaljevich’s cheek before planting a light kiss on the side of his neck.

Then, the patch of skin was bitten gently, the sensation of the bite faint and blurred in the dream, leaving a faint mark. A tongue licked over the spot before sucking at it, drawing out a rosy hue.

He couldn’t hear any sounds or see the boy’s face, but he instinctively knew the other had a pair of lively, mischievous amber eyes.

The scent of tuberose permeated the dream, soft lavender light veiling his vision, making the dream even more surreal.

Here, there were no distinctions between Alpha and Omega, and pheromones’ effects were faint to the point of irrelevance. Yet, it still couldn’t stop the dream from spiraling further out of control.

How did he respond to it?

Shavri Vitaljevich couldn’t quite remember.

He only recalled something akin to rippling water, moist and soft, shadows swaying like a moon’s reflection on a fountain’s surface.

He knew it was a dream.

But that didn’t lessen the turmoil in his heart.

The crown prince climbed out of bed and rubbed his temple hard, his head aching.

The bedroom was filled with the rich aroma of sherry, with a sweetness impossible to ignore. Yesterday’s inhibitor didn’t seem to have been very effective.

His intelligent housekeeper extended a mechanical arm, whisking away the damp sheets and replacing them with fresh ones.

Shavri Vitaljevich scratched his hair irritably. He hadn’t had enough sleep and still had to attend class this morning.

It must have been because of the intense stimulation he experienced yesterday.

He decided to forget about the absurd dream. After freshening up and just about to eat, he suddenly received a call from the White Tower.

Shavri Vitaljevich stared at the name “Chen Ci” for a few seconds before saying, “Answer.”

The call connected automatically.

“Good morning.” A youthful, vibrant voice came through, brimming with energy, showing no sign of being affected by last night’s drunkenness and… ahem.

“Morning.” Shavri Vitaljevich’s tone was calm and unreadable.

Chen Nian got straight to the point with his request: “I want to go out for a walk. Can you accompany me?”

“Today?” Shavri Vitaljevich glanced at his fully packed schedule. “Today might be a bit tough.”

“Oh, but last night Aphro said you usually have free time,” Chen Nian’s voice immediately dropped, turning into a soft murmur as if pouting, “Really can’t? Staying in the White Tower all day is so boring.”

Shavri Vitaljevich: …

Shavri Vitaljevich: “Alright.”

He didn’t even know why he agreed so quickly. Maybe it was guilt?

After setting a time and confirming the arrangement, Chen Nian decisively ended the call.

Facing his breakfast in silence, Shavri Vitaljevich sighed softly and told the intelligent housekeeper, “Cancel all my classes today. Tell them something urgent came up and I’ll make up for it next week.”

Even though he had agreed, he hadn’t figured out how to face Chen Ci yet.

Regardless of whether he was ready or not, Shavri Vitaljevich cleared his schedule and arrived at the White Tower on time to pick up Chen Nian.

When the elevator doors opened, Chen Nian stepped out accompanied by maids. The morning sunlight, far brighter than anything in the Underground City, made him squint as he slowly adapted, raising a hand to shield his forehead. He looked like a lazy cat that had just woken up.

Perhaps it was the weather, but for a fleeting moment, Shavri Vitaljevich found the sunlight falling on the boy’s soft hair and delicate features a bit too dazzling.

“Morning.” Chen Nian greeted the crown prince he had summoned with a call, then deliberately asked, “I didn’t interrupt anything important, did I?”

Shavri Vitaljevich didn’t even have the energy to be annoyed by the obvious question. The mischief in those amber eyes was all too clear, a harmless bit of teasing.

Shavri Vitaljevich: “Where do you want to go?”

“The Freysian Coast. Isn’t there a botanical garden nearby?”

Chen Nian hadn’t visited the top levels of Chensha often, but he knew its structure like the back of his hand. He’d been collecting information for years, hoping for a chance to travel.

“Then let’s go.” Shavri Vitaljevich led him out of the White Tower. They got into the car, and Chen Nian naturally turned his gaze out the window, not missing any opportunity to take in the scenery.

All Shavri Vitaljevich could see was the side of his face and his fluffy black hair.

The Omega boy seemed full of energy, showing no signs of having been drunk the previous night.

The car was the same as the one from last night, but all traces of pheromones had dissipated overnight.

Chen Nian’s scent was also clean and subdued, his plain neck ring firmly in place, no longer emitting the tuberose fragrance or sherry’s sweet aroma.

It was as if everything from the previous night was just a figment of Shavri Vitaljevich’s imagination.

Watching Chen Nian’s carefree demeanor, Shavri Vitaljevich felt something indescribable in his chest.

Did he really not remember anything?

It seemed like he was the only one still bothered.

Shavri Vitaljevich let out a quiet sigh, his earlier awkwardness about how to face Chen Nian gradually fading.

As the car traveled from the royal district at the center of Chensha’s top level to its outer edges, Chen Nian eagerly soaked in the sights. The further they went, the fewer obstructions there were until the vast sky became visible through the roadside trees.

When the vehicle came to a stop, Chen Nian jumped out eagerly, the brisk sea breeze clearing away any lingering drowsiness from the car ride.

He took a deep breath of the crisp, moist air, the cries of unseen seabirds carried by the wind.

Chen Nian walked quickly to the edge, where the vast ocean stretched out before him.

It was the first time Chen Nian had ever seen the sea in his life.

The weather was truly perfect. The calm waters extended endlessly into the horizon, like a sheet of semi-transparent, colorful candy paper.

The surface sparkled, the blue and gold hues layered and blending with unmatched precision and harmony.

Not even the most advanced cameras could capture its perfection without distortion. Only an artist’s brush, infused with genuine emotion, could hope to reproduce even a fraction of its beauty.

Three thousand five hundred meters below, waves crashed against Chensha’s outer walls, white foam curling and dissipating like fleeting bubbles.

Chen Nian gripped the railing tightly. The height made it hard to breathe, but the overwhelming sense of satisfaction and awe overshadowed any fear.

Shavri Vitaljevich came to stand beside him. Together, they gazed at the line where the sea met the sky.

This was the ocean that had swallowed humanity’s ancient homeland.

The disaster had occurred 1,300 years ago.

The rising sea levels had long been a headline cliché.

When scientists issued warnings, no one took them seriously. Global warming and melting glaciers were tired topics.

Until, in 2056, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu disappeared from satellite maps in just a week.

It was the first country to vanish in the global sea inundation disaster.

Sea levels continued to rise. By the fourth month, Shanghai in China had become an underwater Atlantis, and Florida and the Gulf of Mexico’s coasts were gone.

A tsunami struck, a massive unexplained explosion occurred off Japan’s Honshu Island, and the Japanese archipelago sank.

Sea levels climbed at an alarming rate of 4.7 meters per year. According to scientists’ projections, the final rise would far exceed the 66 meters expected from total glacier melt.

No one knew where all the extra water had come from.

Humanity united to find survival solutions, selecting and building refuges based on elevation.

Year after year, the sea level rose.

At 150 meters, the Amazon Basin was no more, and the “lungs of the Earth” fell silent beneath the ocean.

By 2091, Russia had relocated its population to the Mongolian Plateau, the Iranian Plateau, and northwestern China.

Southeast Asia and Europe were devastated.

By 2106, the vast majority of human settlements were underwater.

Most nations’ social structures collapsed entirely.

By 2111, only the Cordillera mountain range remained above water in North America.

South America became two large archipelagos.

By 2133, Oceania had vanished.

The once-laughed-at Mongolian Navy became a reality.

One by one, humanity’s bustling cities became havens for marine life.

Satellite images revealed that Earth had truly become a blue planet.

By the 97th year of the global sea inundation disaster, humanity had successfully trialed six major refuges built on the Pamir Plateau, Arabian Plateau, Ethiopian Plateau, Rocky Mountains, Bolivian Plateau, and Greenland Ice Plateau.

With all arable land destroyed, surviving humans relocated en masse to these “Beacons.”

By the 122nd year, the sea level stabilized at 2,473 meters.

Nations became a relic of the past.

Humanity established a new order atop the Beacons, while the terrifying hybrid creatures born from marine life and abandoned machinery haunted the submerged ruins.

The selection of imperial candidates formed the new governing system on the Beacons.

This was the ocean that had swallowed humanity’s ancient home, but now, it looked so gentle.

Chen Nian stood on tiptoes, trying to see further as if he could peer past the ocean to the last holy land of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Countless detection platforms surrounded Chensha. From the highest vantage point, they formed concentric rings.

Pointing below, Chen Nian asked Shavri Vitaljevich, “Can we go there?”

Shavri Vitaljevich shook his head. “Those detection platforms aren’t suitable for humans. Small tsunamis frequently occur there, so it’s dangerous.”

“Oh.” Chen Nian didn’t press further. Anyway, once he was back in the Underground City, he could go wherever he pleased. No one would stop him.

Standing in the gentle sea breeze, Chen Nian quietly watched the ocean for more than half an hour.

Shavri Vitaljevich, meanwhile, kept looking at his terminal. Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Nian noticed his distracted state and scoffed quietly, feeling disdainful.

Still chatting with little vixens? He wasn’t even bothering to hide it now.

A few minutes later, Shavri Vitaljevich put away his terminal and said, “I’ve contacted the nearby botanical garden. We can go anytime today.”

So, he had been arranging the visit to the botanical garden?

Chen Nian was somewhat surprised. He had misjudged Shavri Vitaljevich.

A faint hint of guilt surfaced in his heart… or maybe not.

Releasing his grip on the railing, Chen Nian said, “Let’s go now.”

The botanical garden was close, just a five-minute walk. They strolled along, taking in the scenery.

As they walked, Shavri Vitaljevich suddenly asked, “Have you wanted to come here for a long time?”

“Yes,” Chen Nian admitted candidly. “Ever since I was young, I always dreamed of seeing the sea with my own eyes. Even though the boundary is reachable now, I’ve never had the chance to visit.”

His words applied to both himself and Chen Ci. Both of them had their reasons for never coming here before.

“Why didn’t you bring it up earlier?”

Chen Nian thought for a second and replied, staying in character as Chen Ci would: “I didn’t want to trouble anyone.”

But I shouldn’t count as just anyone, right?

Shavri Vitaljevich thought silently.

Though he and Chen Ci had never taken their relationship further, he thought… they could at least be considered friends.

Every time Chen Ci wanted to sneak out, he would help.

Or… did Chen Ci prefer being alone?

Then why had he asked Shavri Vitaljevich for help these past two days? Had something happened to change Chen Ci’s mind?

Chen Nian had no idea Shavri Vitaljevich was lost in such thoughts. Ahead, the outline of the botanical garden grew clearer. The lush greenery, set against the blue sea and sky, was breathtakingly refreshing.

As the final refuge, Chensha’s structure was complex. Its middle-upper levels at 2,900 meters housed large ecological tanks and farms.

Chen Nian had been to one of the special greenhouses as a child, but it was clear that the natural scenery under the sky couldn’t compare.

A staff member greeted the crown prince and princess consort at the gate.

After confirming their identities, Chen Nian stepped into the park. It was surprisingly quiet with few visitors today.

Their visit had been decided on a whim, with Shavri Vitaljevich contacting the garden only that morning, prompting the staff to make quick arrangements.

“Professor Ji Yifeng will be here shortly. Please wait a moment, Your Highnesses.”

“That’s fine,” Shavri Vitaljevich replied, his gaze following Chen Nian, who had already wandered off the main path and was curiously examining various leaves.

The garden was divided into many sections based on the suitable growing environments for different plants. The center and surrounding buildings housed exhibition halls and laboratories.

Chen Nian strolled leisurely, moving from one area to another until he reached the central exhibition hall.

Countless specimens lined the hall. Delicate, life-like illustrations adorned the walls, their colors and lines capturing the essence of the plants on paper.

Chen Nian was instantly captivated.

Shavri Vitaljevich, on the other hand, had zero interest in flowers and plants.

He preferred stirring up chaos in the virtual world, engaging in adrenaline-pumping activities. After following Chen Nian for a while, he quickly grew bored.

Since it seemed Chen Nian would take his time, Shavri Vitaljevich found a bench to sit on and passed the time browsing the gaming forum.

He also checked out the storm his dramatic use of Ivan bombs had caused last night.

If Shavri Vitaljevich were more experienced in life, he might have realized this behavior mirrored that of many husbands waiting for their shopping wives.

Meanwhile, Chen Nian stopped in front of every painting, taking his time to appreciate each one. Before he knew it, he had wandered into an adjacent exhibition hall. These painstakingly handcrafted illustrations possessed a charm that computer graphics couldn’t match.

Perhaps it was the knowledge that each stroke came from a human hand that made them so mesmerizing.

“Which one’s your favorite?” A gentle, unfamiliar voice asked from behind.

Chen Nian thought for a moment, then pointed to the second painting on his left. “That one.”

“Mistletoe. It symbolizes hope and abundance. In myth, the love goddess Frigga promised through her tears that whoever stood beneath the mistletoe would receive a kiss.”

“This painting took 45 hours to complete. There’s a hidden compartment behind the frame containing mistletoe berries.”

A hand reached out, adjusting the slightly crooked frame before Chen Nian. The fingers bore faint traces of unwashed paint.

Chen Nian turned to look. A young man with rimless glasses stood slightly behind him, a gold-bound book tucked under one arm.

Compared to Shavri Vitaljevich’s sharp features, his were softer, exuding an approachable charm.

Chen Nian glanced at the nameplate on the Alpha’s chest: Ji Yifeng, Botanist. This must be the professor the staff mentioned earlier.

“Did you draw all these?” Chen Nian asked.

“Yes,” Ji Yifeng replied, opening his book to reveal a page with a detailed white tuberose blooming on fine paper.

“I was busy sketching earlier and couldn’t come right away. My apologies, Your Highness.”

“Now… what would you like to see next?”

The gaming forum buzzed with discussions about “Screw This, I’m Out!” and his heroic deeds from the night before.

After the global sea inundation disaster submerged humanity’s cities, marine creatures began to merge with abandoned machinery, creating terrifying hybrids.

The so-called “intelligent machine crisis” had long been detailed in numerous artistic works, but when combined with organic life, the results were entirely unprecedented.

These hybrids were dubbed “primordial beings,” as studies suggested that 3.2 billion years ago, primordial Earth had also been completely underwater.

In the real world, humanity cowered within the Beacons, powerless against the countless primordial beings. But in the game world, anything was possible.

For instance, nuking Leviathan’s lair with an Ivan bomb.

Content after browsing the forum, Shavri Vitaljevich looked up to find the exhibition room empty.

Where was Chen Ci?

The crown prince immediately stood up, releasing his mental energy to quickly scan the surroundings.

He located Chen Nian’s presence in no time.

Crossing through three exhibition halls, he finally found Chen Nian in front of a display rack.

The boy was gazing up at a painting, sunlight streaming through the windows in warm stripes, casting shadows on the walls, floors, and half of his face.

His collar was slightly open, exposing the smooth, warm skin above his neck ring.

Perhaps feeling warm, Chen Nian had taken off his jacket. The thin shirt he wore clung honestly to his frame, outlining his shoulders, back, and the gentle hollow of his spine as it disappeared into his waistband.

Shavri Vitaljevich didn’t know anything about lighting or composition, but even he thought this scene was worth capturing in a photograph and preserving forever.

…If only the person next to Chen Nian could be erased.

Ji Yifeng was explaining the details of the plants in the painting. Standing slightly behind and much taller than Chen Nian, the Alpha reached out to point at the artwork in a gesture that seemed almost like encircling the Omega in his arms.

Did he really need to stand that close to explain?

The good mood Shavri Vitaljevich had gained from browsing the forum instantly evaporated.

He cleared his throat loudly, the sound breaking the quiet of the room. Both the speaker and listener turned to look at him.

From Chen Nian’s brief look of surprise, Shavri Vitaljevich could tell he had completely forgotten about being accompanied.

Shavri Vitaljevich: …

The strange feeling he had last night, watching Chen Nian chat happily with General Gudes, resurfaced stronger than ever.

Shavri Vitaljevich couldn’t name the emotion, but he knew he had never felt it in his 24 years of life.

It made him press his lips together, his chest inexplicably heavy.

“Your Highness,” the Alpha spoke, his tone gentle and polite. He lowered his arm and took a step back, increasing the distance between himself and Chen Nian. “I apologize for not finding you earlier. I took the liberty of giving the princess consort a tour.”

“No problem,” Shavri Vitaljevich said stiffly, moving to stand very close to Chen Nian, almost protectively.

Chen Nian pushed him lightly. “You’re blocking the light.”

Shavri Vitaljevich: …

He had no choice but to step aside, watching as Ji Yifeng smiled faintly, seeming to find something amusing in the interaction.

Apparently, the rumors of discord between the crown prince and his consort were not baseless.

Ji Yifeng continued explaining the plants and displays in the garden, patiently answering Chen Nian’s occasional questions.

Shavri Vitaljevich, trailing alongside them, couldn’t find a chance to speak.

“So beautiful.” Chen Nian stopped in front of a green tea rose, marveling. “I’ve never seen so many kinds of flowers before.”

Ji Yifeng asked, “Would you like to learn to draw them?”

Chen Nian’s eyes lit up. “Can I?”

“Of course. Do you have any prior experience?”

Chen Nian thought for a moment. “Does children’s stick figure art count?”

Ji Yifeng chuckled lightly. “That’s fine. We’ll start from the basics.”

Shavri Vitaljevich heard the entire conversation.

Both Chen Nian and Ji Yifeng were completely straightforward, as it was a perfectly normal exchange. But he couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

Why?

Shavri Vitaljevich frowned, pondering for a while before realizing the answer.

Because he felt like an outsider.

Sure, he had taken a break on the bench for a while, but they couldn’t just leave him behind like this!

Chen Nian had never imagined that a morning could pass so quickly. Before he knew it, it was lunchtime.

He had other plans in the afternoon, so he thanked Ji Yifeng and said goodbye at the garden entrance, leaving satisfied.

Before departing, Chen Nian and Ji Yifeng arranged to meet again for another visit and possibly some botanical drawing lessons.

Compared to Chen Nian’s excitement, Shavri Vitaljevich was much quieter.

Since they were already out, Chen Nian didn’t want to return right away.

A food truck selling snacks stood by the garden entrance. He stopped in front of it and tugged at Shavri Vitaljevich’s sleeve. “I want this.”

Five minutes later, the dignified crown prince and princess consort each held a three-Ogis potato fritter, strolling along the coastal promenade.

Chen Nian nibbled on his snack, feeling a rare sense of joy.

Unlike middle school days, he was now truly under the open blue sky, breathing in the moist sea breeze, with the vast ocean stretching endlessly before him.

The promenade had many benches overlooking the sea. Chen Nian and Shavri Vitaljevich sat side by side, enjoying the gentle breeze. Countless shades of blue filled their view as seagulls flew overhead.

After quietly watching the ocean for a while, Chen Nian suddenly turned to Shavri Vitaljevich and said, “By the way—”

A seagull swooped in from the side, cutting him off.

A black-and-white blur darted past before Shavri Vitaljevich’s potato fritter bag vanished without a trace.

The seagull let out a triumphant caw, clutching the fritter as it flew away, leaving behind a stunned Shavri Vitaljevich with his empty hand still frozen mid-air.

Shavri Vitaljevich: ???

Chen Nian: Pfft.

Shavri Vitaljevich’s dumbfounded expression was so hilariously absurd that Chen Nian couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, slapping his thigh as he doubled over.

Who would’ve thought the illustrious crown prince would be robbed by a rogue seagull while eating a fritter?

Shavri Vitaljevich was thoroughly frustrated.

Today seemed to be one unlucky thing after another. Even a bird had taken advantage of him!

Shavri Vitaljevich should have chased after the thieving seagull, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Chen Nian.

He had never seen Chen Ci laugh so freely, without any concern for elegance or status. In the sunlight, his bright laughter, warm and unrestrained, seemed to dispel all the shadows.

Chen Nian laughed so hard he was gasping for breath. He briefly paused to take a deep inhale before laughing again.

His amber eyes glistened with tears, his flushed face glowing from his neck to his cheeks. He clutched his stomach inelegantly, a stark contrast to the reserved smiles of noble Omegas, who would coyly cover their mouths.

But to Shavri Vitaljevich, it was so… vibrant.

Oh well, it was just a fritter.

Suddenly, Shavri Vitaljevich didn’t care about the seagull anymore.

Being teased like this didn’t even feel humiliating.

Not when it was the first time Chen Ci had been so happy.

Shavri Vitaljevich patiently waited until Chen Nian had laughed enough and asked, “What were you about to say?”

“Huh?” Chen Nian wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, his cheeks sore from laughing. He took a few deep breaths to steady himself, his voice still tinged with residual laughter. “I was saying, could you help me get a long-term pass to leave the Underground City?”

Fu Tianhe finally finished his work.

He straightened up, stretching his stiff knees and placing his welding helmet back on the rack.

The factory on the south side of the 13th Information Processing Zone was always filled with the hum of machinery. Though Chensha boasted impressive self-repair capabilities, human assistance was still crucial for key repairs.

Fu Tianhe was a machine repair worker, though his skills extended far beyond that.

His coveralls were stained with oil as he stepped over scattered parts on the floor, heading to the break room for a rest.

It was almost the end of his shift, and the break room was buzzing with coworkers chatting while perched on small stools.

“Did you see him at the Black Box yesterday?”

“Nope. Heard he’s on leave for a few days. I wasted a trip.”

The “Black Box” was the most famous nightclub in the 13th Information Processing Zone.

Fu Tianhe poured himself a glass of water, listening quietly without joining in. He wasn’t particularly close to his coworkers.

“What a pity. Let’s go together next time and crack open some good booze. I’ve been there before. If you can make him happy, you can hug him however you want. That waist—so soft, it’s unbelievable.”

“Hey, you know that guy Carol from the warehouse? Word is he’s about to divorce his Omega wife because of him.”

“If he actually manages to get him, divorcing his wife would be totally worth it.”

The Alphas laughed loudly, seeming to feel no shame about the topic or any moral issues involved.

They indulged in vivid descriptions of the Black Box’s “Night Queen.”

The boy had soft black hair and a lilting tone that could steal anyone’s soul. The restraint collar on his slender neck seemed more like an accessory for pleasure.

He often wore backless outfits, inviting Alphas to rest their hands on his bare back, their rough palms grazing his warm, smooth skin and drawing a playful itch.

He loved to drink, his nimble tongue flicking out to lick the remaining liquor from his lips, moving unabashedly from one Alpha’s embrace to another’s, seeming unbothered by being “shared.”

Despite this enchanting allure, the Omega was still a virgin.

This fact only drove the Alphas mad with desire. They flocked to him, desperate to win his favor, all vying to be the chosen one.

None of them ever considered that the Omega might be playing a clever game to boost his earnings.

“Man, if anyone manages to bed him, it’d be the ride of a lifetime.”

“And if you do, make sure to let your bros have a taste.”

The crude laughter rang out. Fu Tianhe silently grimaced and left with his full glass of water.

Fu Tianhe had never met the so-called Night Queen, and he doubted his coworkers’ stories.

No matter how attractive that Omega was, they couldn’t possibly be more beautiful and adorable than Jiu Yue.

All day long, his thoughts had been consumed by Jiu Yue’s serene amber eyes.

Fu Tianhe changed out of his coveralls and caught the public bus back to his residence.

Wading through the bustling crowd, he descended into the temporary shantytown built in a low-lying area.

As he walked, Fu Tianhe considered his evening plans: he had some extra time today and could swing by the junkyard to see if there was anything worth salvaging.

When he reached the door of his makeshift home, he lifted the curtain as he always did—

And was met with the sight of a boy’s raised gaze.

Chen Ci was standing behind a CNC machine, seemingly studying its mechanisms. When he noticed Fu Tianhe’s stunned expression, he straightened up and gave the Alpha a slight nod.

“You’re back.”

Jiu Yue was… waiting for him to come home?

A rush of happiness overwhelmed Fu Tianhe. He stammered, “Oh, oh, oh,” and rubbed his hands nervously. “Why are you—”

Before he could finish, the heavy plastic curtain slipped from his hand and smacked him square in the face.