Chapter 111: Shancheng: Declaration of Sovereignty?

A soft sigh escaped his lips.

Lin Mu shook his head, trying to dispel the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind.

The person lying beside him suddenly turned over and opened his eyes.

“Can’t sleep?”

The bed wasn’t large, and the two of them were quite close. Fu Jingmo’s eyes were clear, showing no sign of sleepiness.

“Did I wake you?”

“No, I’m not tired.”

His deep eyes fixed on Lin Mu as he curled his lips into a faint smile.

“Thinking about meeting a handsome guy tomorrow, and now you can’t sleep?”

… It seemed like this teasing wasn’t going to end anytime soon.

“Or do you need Brother to coax you to sleep?”

…

With his teasing interruption, Lin Mu snapped out of his earlier thoughts and glared at him.

“Sleep!”

Fu Jingmo grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer, leaning in by his ear.

“Sleep. Don’t overthink it. No matter what happens, I’ve got you.”

The warm breath brushing against his ear made Lin Mu shiver slightly. Sharing the same blanket and being this close, it was inevitable that they would touch.

Yet, it brought him an inexplicable sense of comfort.

He slowly closed his eyes and, at last, drifted off to sleep.

Fu Jingmo watched as the person in his sleep furrowed his brows and unconsciously leaned closer to him, his heart pounding oddly twice in his chest.

A slender, pale hand grasped his collar, inching closer without realizing it. The fresh scent of greenery suddenly became vivid.

The one watching him swallowed in his throat, his sexy Adam’s apple bobbing lightly.

Fu Jingmo reached out, gradually drawing closer. His thumb gently caressed his fair face, and his gaze swept over the exposed collarbone.

Carefully, he lowered his head, gently rubbing against his soft hair.

Lin Mu, do you trust me this much?

If you get any closer, brother might not hold back.

——

The next afternoon, the four of them put on the clothes delivered by Ye Xing.

It was the first time since the apocalypse that they had worn such fine clothing. The sizes had clearly been carefully tailored and fit them perfectly.

Lin Mu was dressed in a silver-gray suit. His build was as slender as Shen Rangchen’s, but the combination of the white shirt and suit made him look exceptionally refined.

The hair that had been cut before had now grown to a perfect length, not too long nor too short, with soft ends.

Thanks to Xiao Yuan, his skin hadn’t been roughened or damaged by the apocalypse. Instead, it had become increasingly fair and delicate, as though slowly nourished by vitality.

When Fu Jingmo stepped out of the room, his gaze was instantly drawn to the young man standing by the table.

With his tall, slender figure and straight legs—something Fu Jingmo had noticed long ago—the perfectly tailored pants made them look even better.

Sensing the gaze, Lin Mu turned his head. He saw the broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted figure dressed in a black suit. It was the first time he’d seen Fu Jingmo in such attire.

Just as he’d imagined, he looked incredibly handsome.

Lin Mu curled his lips into a smile and offered praise without hesitation, “Very handsome.”

Fu Jingmo chuckled, placed a hand on his shoulder, and pulled him closer. “Let’s go.”

The banquet was being held at Ye Xing’s residence.

Calling it a villa didn’t quite do it justice—estate would be a more fitting term.

The estate featured a garden, a lake, and spanned thousands of square meters.

The grand hall on the first floor could accommodate a large crowd. Long tables draped in white tablecloths were laden with an array of luxurious fruits and desserts.

On the other side were various types of beer, champagne, red wine, and even high-proof liquor, filling half a table.

But in the apocalypse, as long as there was alcohol, who cared what kind it was?

The banquet’s guest list naturally included more than just the four of them. Mutants who had been at the river that day, as well as important figures from Wunan Tower, were also invited.

However, when the four of them stepped out of the car, they immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Their impressive heights, combined with four distinctively handsome faces, and the extraordinary abilities they had displayed while killing the giant zombie python that day, left everyone in awe.

Each guest was allowed to bring a dance partner, and most of the male mutants had brought female companions.

All the girls had dressed meticulously, desperately digging out dresses and applying lipstick.

For those without abilities, attending a banquet like this was a rare opportunity. If they were lucky enough to catch the eye of a mutant or two, it could mean security and survival in the apocalypse.

Most of the attention naturally fell on Fu Jingmo. At 1.9 meters tall, with a cold, chiseled face and abilities that were the stuff of legend, he was the center of countless gazes.

Ignoring these stares, the group walked inside. Ye Xing was clinging to Chen Yu, pestering him for a drink, while the latter pacified him with a glass of fruit wine.

When Ye Xing saw Lin Mu, he excitedly walked over. “Mumu, you’re here!”

He squeezed past Fu Jingmo and clung to Lin Mu’s arm. “Mumu, you look so handsome!”

“Hmph, have you been drinking?”

Ye Xing carried a faint scent of alcohol. Hearing this, he lifted his head and blinked his beautiful eyes.

“Of course, you have to drink at a banquet,” Ye Xing replied.

“Minors are prohibited from drinking,” Lin Mu retorted.

“Oh, I’m 19. I’m an adult now,” Ye Xing said matter-of-factly.

With the most important guests now present, the banquet officially began.

The soothing sound of a violin filled the hall as the lighting shifted to a cool blue tone. Beams of white light cast circular glows on the floor, moving slowly.

Ye Xing led the group to the dining table, where rows of neatly arranged goblets were filled with various wines.

He picked one up and handed it to Lin Mu. “Here, try this.”

Lin Mu didn’t hesitate, taking it and sipping lightly. Before the apocalypse, he had been a somewhat renowned painter, attending his fair share of banquets and events.

At this moment, attending an event like this almost felt like a return to those days before the apocalypse.

He Ze, already entranced by the sight of the wine, dragged Shen Rangchen off to find someone to compete in a drinking contest.

The mutants began their revelry—every crowd always had its life-of-the-party figures.

By now, a space had naturally been cleared in the center of the hall, forming a makeshift dance floor.

The lively atmosphere grew as people began inviting their dance partners to join them on the floor.

Fu Jingmo was pulled aside by Chen Yu. Leaning against the long table, he held a glass of red wine, occasionally taking a sip as they chatted.

Chen Yu smiled knowingly. “You and Lin Mu?”

“Hmm?” Fu Jingmo responded, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“You’re pretty close?” Chen Yu asked. He had been on the deck that day and had never in his life seen that kind of nervous expression on Fu Jingmo’s face.

It wasn’t the kind of tension shared between comrades—it was laden with intense personal emotions, something completely out of character for him.

“Very close,” Fu Jingmo replied, giving him a sidelong glance, the corners of his eyes tinged with amusement. He then added with a smirk, “You and Ye Xing seem pretty close too.”

“We’re different,” Chen Yu raised his eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. “Ye Xing is my person.”

“Your person…”

Fu Jingmo’s thin lips savored the three words, finding them intriguing. It was as if, after some kind of unspoken agreement, one person could belong entirely to another.

It implied the right to declare ownership over someone without hesitation or restraint.

“Looks like Lin Mu is quite popular,” Chen Yu teased.

On the other side, a girl in a red dress had approached Lin Mu.

Among the four, Fu Jingmo was undoubtedly the strongest, but his cold demeanor deterred most people from getting too close. He Ze and Shen Rangchen were already deep in a drinking game with other mutants, laughing and shouting.

That left only Lin Mu. With his gentle, handsome appearance, he seemed approachable and easy to get along with.

Lin Mu finished the drink Ye Xing had handed him, only for another glass to be placed in his hand.

He turned to look at Ye Xing and quietly asked, “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Mm, Lin Mu, do you have something on your mind? You seem a bit unhappy.”

Lin Mu chuckled, tilting his head back to finish the drink in the glass. “It’s nothing.”

Getting drunk didn’t seem like a bad idea.

The girl in the red dress approached, holding a glass of wine and moving closer to Lin Mu. Ye Xing, ever tactful, stepped aside and even quietly teased him with a playful, 

“Ooh~~”

“Sir, may I invite you for a drink? Or perhaps a dance?” the girl asked, her voice soft and inviting.

Lin Mu shook his head, about to decline, when someone suddenly approached from the side and wrapped an arm around his waist.

“That won’t do. We’ve got something to take care of,” Fu Jingmo said, his calm, deep eyes carrying a hint of warning as he looked at the woman.

Her expression froze, and her gaze dropped to the hand on Lin Mu’s waist—a gesture that seemed to declare sovereignty. Disappointed, she twisted her hips and left.