Yin Yue finally proves himself in a way that matters to everyone else he repairs the water tank.
The water tank hissed at him like it had something personal against optimism.
Yin Yue crouched beside the busted cylinder on the roof, sleeves rolled up, blanket tied around his waist like an apron and grease smeared his cheek. His hair stuck to his forehead. His entire life smelled like rust and mildew.
"I will fix you," he muttered, jamming a screwdriver into the loosened seal. "You dumb, leaking thermos of despair."
"Talking to objects again?" Jiang called from below.
"I'm performing a sacred rite of purification," he shouted back. "Respect the process!"
> 💻 SYSTEM 520:
🛠️ Host Mood: Determined
💧 Plumbing Skill: Improvised
💬 Mission Flag: Repair + Discovery
An hour later, he fixed it.
The tank sputtered, whined, and released a thin stream of clean water from the spout like the world itself was offering a half-hearted apology.
The team cheered from below.
Then someone called out from inside the building: "MEDICINE STASH! WE GOT ANTIBIOTICS!"
Yin Yue blinked. "What?"
Apparently, while crawling through the crawlspace near the supply closet, he'd knocked loose a wall panel and accidentally revealed a dusty, unopened case of first-aid kits, sealed meds, and painkillers.
He stared at his own hand like it might start glowing.
Jiang clapped him on the back. "Look at you. Fixing things, finding treasure, domestic and lucky."
"I'm a catch," he said, dazed.
"You're practically a full support class."
Everyone looked impressed.
Everyone except Liang Yu, who stood at the edge of the hallway just watching but didn't say a word.
Which is hurt a little. Okay, a lot.
Later that evening, Yin Yue sat alone in the art room, rinsing blood and grime off a spare shirt in a plastic tub.
He didn't hear Liang Yu enter.
Just felt him.
Turned.
And then, a hand gently touched the back of his head. Fingers moved through his hair once.
Then Liang Yu leaned in and kissed him.
Not on the lips. Not this time.
Just a soft, unannounced press of lips to his temple.
Warm. Dry. Real.
Yin Yue forgot how to breathe.
> 💥 SYSTEM 520:
💘 ML AFFECTION: Locked at MAX
🫶 Intimacy Milestone: Temple Kiss (Unlocked)
💬 Emotional Effect: Devastating
"You didn't say anything," Yin Yue whispered.
"You already knew."
"But I wanted to hear it."
Liang Yu stepped back.
Met his eyes.
"You're not useful because of what you find," he said. "You're useful because you stayed."
And then he walked out again.
Like he hadn't just rearranged Yin Yue's whole ribcage.
Yin Yue collapsed onto the floor.
"Okay," he muttered. "This world is going to kill me. But like softly."
A zombie horde forces a rushed evacuation. It started with the siren.
Not a real one just Scar-Jaw's improvised alarm system: a tripwire and a rusted lunch bell rigged at the front gate.
It rang.
Everyone froze.
Then chaos exploded like a gas leak.
"North perimeter breach!" Jiang yelled. "Pack what you can move!"
Backpacks, gear, weapons all grabbed in seconds. Boots hit tile like thunder. No one waited and no one asked.
Yin Yue scrambled for his hoodie and frying pan, heart pounding. Someone shoved a flashlight into his chest.
"Stick with someone!" Jiang barked. "Don't get stupid."
He turned.
Liang Yu was already gone.
> 💻 SYSTEM 520:
⚠️ HAZARD: Horde Incoming
⏳ Safe Window: 8 Minutes
💘 ML Proximity: Lost
💬 Tip: This is the worst time for a dramatic separation arc
He darted down the west corridor, clutching his bag, trying to keep up only to find himself cut off by a wall of overturned desks.
Behind him, the groans started.
He swore and turned to ran to the other way.
The zombies didn't reach him.
But panic did.
By the time he fought his way outside through a broken window, the others were already out of sight. Footsteps and voices all fading fast.
Then Liang Yu's voice.
"Where is he?!"
Sharp and loud. Too loud.
Yin Yue's breath caught.
"YIN YUE!"
He turned. "I'm here! I'm.."
Liang Yu rounded the corner.
Saw him.
Walked up.
Didn't slow down.
Grabbed him by the front of the jacket and pulled him forward hard.
Yin Yue stumbled into him, fists caught in fabric, face inches away.
He waited for yelling, but there wasn't any.
Liang Yu's forehead dropped to his.
Breath ragged. Voice low.
"Next time," he said, "don't make me look for you."
Yin Yue swallowed.
"I didn't mean to..."
"I thought you were gone."
"You said not to wander. I was trapped."
"I don't care."
Yin Yue blinked. "You do."
Liang Yu didn't speak.
Just held him there.
One hand still in his hoodie. The other on his back.
And for once—
it wasn't a rescue.
It was just need.
> 💻 SYSTEM 520:
💘 ML Emotional Exposure: 91%
🤝 Trust Milestone: "He Looked For Me"
🧠 Host Reaction: Butterflies. Plural. Screaming.
Yin Yue smiled weakly. "I'm fine, you know."
"You weren't."
"I'm here now."
"Barely."
"Still counts."
Liang Yu let out a shaky breath.
Didn't let go.
Rain tapped softly on the tin roof of the supply shed. Outside, the world growled zombies, wind, and fear. Inside, warmth was in short supply. And so was space.
There's only one dry bedroll in the supply shed. Yin Yue pretends to complain.
"Just to be clear," Yin Yue muttered, "I'm not cuddling you because I want to. I'm doing it because hypothermia is a coward's death."
Liang Yu said nothing.
He just shifted slightly to make room as Yin Yue slid into the only intact bedroll on the floor.
Yin Yue tried to stay on his side.
Really.
He lay stiff as a board, back to Liang Yu, nose buried in the fabric of his hood. The air was warm, their boots barely touching.
This was fine.
Totally survivable.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
A gust of wind howled outside. A branch cracked somewhere in the dark.
Liang Yu moved behind him.
And then, an arm settled around Yin Yue's waist.
Not tightly and not possessively. Just… there.
Yin Yue didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Then, slowly, he exhaled.
> 💻 SYSTEM 520:
💘 Physical Proximity: Maximum
🛏️ Shared Bedroll: 1
🤯 Host Mental Processing: Soft Loop Mode
💬 System Suggestion: Scream internally. Do not wake him.
Yin Yue stayed still for another five minutes.
Then shifted.
Carefully.
Turned halfway so that his forehead bumped lightly against Liang Yu's collarbone.
Still nothing.
Except Liang Yu's breath, slow and steady, rustling the ends of Yin Yue's hair.
And his hand still around his waist.
Thumb brushing once. Barely.
But it was a brush.
Yin Yue whispered, "You awake?"
Silence. Which absolutely meant yes.
"I can feel your heartbeat," Yin Yue muttered. "It's extremely loud. Like a confession on a subwoofer."
Still nothing.
But Liang Yu's hand didn't move away.
And when Yin Yue finally.. finally drifted to sleep, it was the first time he'd done it without a nightmare in this world.
They met the new survivor the next morning. His name was Chen Zhi.
He was tall, charming, and clean in a way that made everyone suspicious. He had neat boots, perfect hair, and an annoyingly good smile.
Within five minutes, he'd managed to:
1. Compliment Yin Yue's voice,
2. Offer to share his remaining shampoo ration, and
3. Make three people roll their eyes.
4. Liang Yu sharpened his combat knife.For an hour. Without blinking.
> 💻 SYSTEM 520:
💘 ML Emotional Status: Jealous
⚠️ Knife Honing Intensity: Petty
🎯 Threat Assessment: 0% Zombie / 100% Flirt
Chen Zhi sat beside Yin Yue during rations.
"Is it true you fixed the water tank?" he asked.
"I mean.. 'fixed' is generous," Yin Yue said, flustered. "I sort of threatened it into working."
"Impressive," Chen Zhi said, smiling. "Useful and good looking. Its a rare combo these days."
Yin Yue laughed. Too loud. "You need glasses."
Chen Zhi nudged a small square of foil across the floor to him. "Last piece of chocolate. You deserve it."
Yin Yue blinked. "Are you proposing?"
"Depends. What's your answer?"
Across the room, the sharpening stopped.
Yin Yue turned.
Liang Yu stood and walked over.
Picked up the chocolate and threw it into the fire.
Silently. With precision.
> 💥 SYSTEM 520:
🔥 GIFT REJECTION LEVEL: Savage
💘 ML Affection: Stable (Possessive Modifier: +7)
💬 Mood Forecast: Stormy, Smoldering, Silent
Chen Zhi blinked. "Was that necessary?"
Liang Yu looked at him. "Yes."
Then walked away.
Yin Yue stared after him.
Then turned back to Chen Zhi. "So. That was jealousy, right?"
Chen Zhi raised both eyebrows. "I mean. He did incinerate my affection offering."
Yin Yue stood, brushing off his pants.
"I should go calm the emotionally constipated man with knives," he said. "Excuse me."
In the hallway, he found Liang Yu near the window, arms folded.
Yin Yue leaned beside him.
"You know, there were less dramatic ways to claim me."
"You laughed."
"I laugh at trauma and free food."
Liang Yu didn't look at him. "You liked him."
"He gave me chocolate, not a marriage contract."
"…You laughed."
Yin Yue nudged his arm. "You jealous?"
Silence.
Then:
"Yes."
> 💘 ML Emotional Honesty: 100%
💬 Host Status: Fully Smug
📈 Relationship Arc: Approaching Resolution Point
Yin Yue smiled. "Good. I'd be jealous too. You're hot and emotionally unavailable. That's my whole type."
Liang Yu finally looked at him.
And this time, he didn't look away.