THE CAMOUFLAGE

After breakfast, the rest of the SID members decided to leave the Shen Mansion for their separate reasons.

Chong Bo struggled with his relationship with Ma YuXuan, persuading the man relentlessly. Now, he followed Ma YuXuan somewhere to have a personal conversation.

Zhu Jiu and Zhu Hong on the other hand couldn't stop staring and glancing at each other. They spoke no word and both vanished without messages. Only Madame Shen knew that they were heading to a certain place. Where? Madame Shen didn't bother to ask. They were both adults, she said.

Wang Zheng, Sang Zan, Lin Jing, and Guo ChangCheng head back to the SID headquarters. No wonder, they lived there but Chu ShuZhi surprisingly followed them. For what? Mental shrugged.

'Alright then, I'll go to the lab.' Lin Jing said.

'Yes, I too have to arrange the messy documents.' Sang Zan replied.

'Sang Ge, do you need help?' Guo ChangCheng quickly leaped to Sang Zan's side, avoiding Chu ShuZhi who was eager to talk with him about something.

'Yes, sure.'

'Is merely arranging documents, you need so many people to do it?' Chu ShuZhi shouted when both young men climbed the stairs to the library.

Everyone halted, turning around to Chu ShuZhi. Somehow, they could feel a thick annoyance inside the tone. 'Well, yes.' Sang Zan replied, stating a matter-of-fact. 'Director Shen and Chief Zhao literally turned the library upside down when they investigated Ma TiHua's case.' He scratched his head, 'honestly, I will appreciate it if there are some other people who are willing to help.'

Chu ShuZhi fired a big sigh. 'Alright, just clean up then.' He plunged himself onto the couch.

Everyone glanced around at each other, they were confused by the man's unusual odd mood but then shrugged as if replying to one another and then strode away to their place.

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Shen YeZun sat on his bedroom porch, peering at the beautiful scenery of twilight in the western firmament. His eyes glittered like the stars, reflecting the scarlet shade of the cloud ere the sunset.

'Professor Shen...' Zhao MingAn appeared with a tray in his hands. 'Please, drink the warm tea first.' He poured the tea into the cup.

'Thank you.' YeZun accepted the cup, sipping the tea as he watched the sun sunken deeper.

'MingAn...' Shen YeZun shifted his sitting position.

'Yes?' Zhao MingAn pulled another seat.

'About my brother...'

'I understand.' Zhao MingAn expressed friendliness. 'I believe Director Shen has his own thoughts. He is a wise and reasonable person. If he said this is not the time, then this is not the time just yet.'

YeZun beamed in relief, 'thank you.' He sipped the tea.

'Madame Shen baked some cake. She said this is your favorite. Do you want some?' Zhao MingAn put a slice of cake on a dessert plate, presenting it to his lover.

'Thank you.' Shen YeZun smiled. When the cake touched his taste buds, Shen YeZun closed his eyes. The sweet and flavorful crunchy textured delicacy crushed and melted inside his mouth. When was the last time he relished this deliciousness?

'Professor Shen...'

'Hm?' YeZun kept busy with his food.

'Can you stop that?' Zhao MingAn's voice wavered.

'Stop what?' YeZun opened his eyes, glancing confusedly at his young lover. The young man now stood near the fence, averting his eyes. 'I don't understand...' YeZun answered, not trying to hide his stupid face.

'Your way of eating...Are you trying to seduce me?'

Shen YeZun's face flushed red. Lowered his head, avoiding his lover's gaze. 'I don't try to seduce anyone.' He muttered.

'Not even me?' Zhao MingAn looked hurt.

'Oh, um...I...I...' Shen YeZun stuttered, his reddened face burnt orange.

Zhao MingAn sighed. He yanked the shy man, entrapping YeZun between his strong arms. 'Professor Shen...Why are you so cute?' He whined.

'I'm not cute!' YeZun wailed, but he didn't push the younger one away, just averted his eyes in embarrassment.

'You are...' Zhao MingAn whispered. 'Geez!' He shouted, 'For him to lay his hands on you, I should have killed Ma TiHua with my own hands.' He wrapped YeZun tighter in his hug, 'I'm sorry...If only I had enough power to take you out of that place, I didn't have to pretend...'

'It wasn't your fault.' Shen YeZun returned the hug, soothing his lover. 'I'm glad that you were not under his influence. I'm so worried about you...'

'Professor Shen...' Zhao MingAn kept hugging the man.

'Hm?'

'In the future, please have no more secrets with me.' Zhao MingAn's sorrowful voice stabbed Shen YeZun's heart.

'I don't want to hurt you...'

'Don't you think that I will be hurt more if I don't know anything about you?' Releasing the man from his embrace, Zhao MingAn cut his lover's word.

YeZun lifted his face only to cross Zhao MingAn's pleading eyes. He lowered his gaze, 'I don't know whether I can promise you or not...'

'Oh, yes you can. Or should I say, you must?'

'Huh?' Shen YeZun peered at his lover, catching Zhao MingAn lustrous gaze.

'Professor Shen, are you forgetting something?' Zhao MingAn teasing smile danced on his handsome face.

'What?' Shen YeZun glanced at Zhao YunLan's younger version with a higher testosterone level, establishing his physic and muscle tones.

'You've been throwing away your life and I picked it. You are mine now...' Zhao MingAn loomed his taller body, shadowing the fidgeting man.

'But...But...'

'No, but.' Zhao MingAn cut the words before Shen YeZun had a chance to finish them. Lifted YeZun's chin, Zhao MingAn kissed his lover softly. His tongue slid inside the mouth, wrestling YeZun's.

Shen YeZun's temperature rose, his torso burnt by the kisses, the touch. Oh, God. It had been a long time since their last contact. YeZun never realized how much he longed for Zhao MingAn. He couldn't wait to feel his lover inside him.

'Alright, let's stop here or I could never hold myself...'

'No.' YeZun yanked Zhao MingAn's shirt before the young man turned away. 'Don't stop...'

'Your parents are downstairs.' Zhao MingAn struggled to calm his erratic breath.

'But I want to feel you...I want to feel that you need me too...'

YeZun could never know how red his face was, as Zhao MingAn gapped in disbelief. The younger lifted his face, smacking it with his palm. Egad! Did this man ever notice how tempting his expression was? Was YeZun's personality this seductive?

'MingAn...' Shen YeZun gulped. He didn't know how he should interpret his lover's attitude as he mustered his valiant effort to express his deepest feelings.

'Professor Shen...' Zhao MingAn lowered his face, staring at his lover's eyes. 'Please, remember. You are the one who invites me. Once I start, I will never stop so...'

'Don't stop...' YeZun fidgeted.

'Alright.' Zhao MingAn hoisted Shen YeZun's body and carried him over the threshold. 'With or without the ceremony, you are my bride.' He smirked, kissing YeZun deeply ere laying his lover on the bed.

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'Do you want to say, Ma TiHua is still alive somewhere?' Zhao YunLan asked. Laid down on the boat, leaning on Shen Wei's muscular shoulder. His eyes fixated on the fluttering snow.

'That man is beyond slick.' Shen Wei caressed his loved one's head. His thin fingers ran through Zhao YunLan's wavy short hair. 'I should say that I found an equal opponent after these millennia.' Shen Wei snorted, 'never thought that a HaiXing man could face me this way...'

'He isn't a normal HaiXing man.' Zhao YunLan cut his lover.

'Still, I should say, if only he was not this evil, he could be a good partner...' Shen Wei smiled.

'YeZun was also like that...If only he wasn't evil, he would be your best partner just as he proves now...'

'...' Shen Wei pulled Zhao YunLan closer to his hug.

'Do you think YeZun who is with us is fake?' Zhao YunLan kissed his lover's bare chest's smooth skin, his fingers creeping up and down along Shen Wei's abdomen.

Shen Wei closed his eyes, feeling the tickling sensation. 'No...I confirmed his energy is the same.' He kissed Zhao YunLan's forehead softly.

'Then, I think that we have nothing to worry about.'

'I know...But somehow, there is something that disturbs my feelings...'

'This conversation is not sexy.' Zhao YunLan complained.

'Should I remind you that you started it?' Shen Wei laughed.

Zhao YunLan lowered his gaze, 'honestly, I wish that everything will be passed soon. I just want to spend time with you...Like this...Forever...'

Shen Wei took a deep breath. Zhao YunLan's warmth and his warm breath were everything that he needed. 'So do I...But just like you, I can't just walk away from my responsibility...'

Zhao YunLan lifted his face and met Shen Wei's warm gaze. 'Mhm...Then let's relish every time that we have together...Until Ma TiHua reappears or another criminal pops up...' Zhao YunLan played his tongue around Shen Wei's chest as he talked, sending the tremors along the man's torso. Zhao YunLan smiled when Shen Wei's goosebumps appeared.

'Hmm...You're right...' Shen Wei closed his eyes. Shen Wei ran his fingertips on Zhao YunLan's spine surface.

The constant friction generated the heat change on Zhao YunLan's epidermis, creating triboelectricity along the spine. Zhao YunLan's nerve was inflicted by the sting, enthralling the vertebral neuro system that ends to the activated another nerve. Zhao YunLan squirmed away when his lower part tightened, trying to hide the resurrection.

Shen Wei smiled, shifting his position and engulfing the flustered man with his arms. 'Do you think that you need to hide it from me?' He brushed Zhao YunLan's lips with his.

'I need to walk inside.' Zhao YunLan replied mischievously.

'I can carry you...'

'In front of your parents? No way!'

'What makes you think I need the front door?' Shen Wei laughed.

'You...' Zhao YunLan never had a chance to complain because Shen Wei crushed their lips together. A moan escaped from Zhao YunLan's throat when Shen Wei's knee snuggled between his leg, pressing the tumescent. A luscious shiver shook his body as Zhao YunLan welcomed his lover inside him in delightful agony.

The Snow drifted softly, melting soon after they touched the lake water. The cold breeze shrouded the entire place, caressing both men who collided in a fire of excitement. Whispered a sweet song along with the raging passion.

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The night fell when Sang Zan and Guo ChangCheng finished their documents cleaning. Guo ChangCheng peeked around downstairs, sighing in relief when he couldn't find Chu ShuZhi anywhere.

'Sang Ge...Are you hungry?' Guo ChangCheng asked the man who still managed some folders.

'Yes, I do.'

'I want to buy some noodles at the market, do you want some?'

'Sure...'

Guo ChangCheng peered down at Wang Zheng who typed the report with Zhu Hong who returned from the mysterious place this afternoon, Zhu Jiu dropped her in front of SID's door. Both ladies chit-chatted while they were working, giggling around. Nobody knew what they were talking about. 'Hong Jie, Wang Zheng Jie...Are you both hungry?' He asked.

'Yes!' Both ladies replied in unison without averting their eyes from the computer screen.

'I want to buy noodles in the market, do you want some?'

'Sure!' They replied again.

'Okay!'

Guo ChangCheng grabbed his jacket, 'Uncle Li, I'm off to the market. I want to buy some noodles, do you want some too?' He stopped near the kitchen.

'I already ate, Officer Guo. Thank you for the offer.' The old man waved his hand.

Guo ChangCheng ran outside wearing his jacket. He was too spirited, less paying attention to his surroundings until someone yanked his hoodie, pulling him into the dark alley despite his protest.

The rough hands threw his back against the wall. 'Ouch! What's your pro-?...Chu?...Chu Ge?' Guo ChangCheng stuttered when he recognized the assaulter under the dim light of the street lamp.

'How long do you plan to run around the circle like this?' Chu ShuZhi glared at the younger man in upset. 'We both are men. Can we talk about our problems like men?'

Guo ChangCheng lowered his gaze, 'I...I don't have any problem with you...' He replied.

'Then why do you avoid me?'

Guo ChangCheng scratched his head, 'I don't know myself. I was so upset...'

'About what?' Chu ShuZhi kept chasing the reply, 'about the kiss? Are you a freaking virgin or something?' Chu ShuZhi asked.

Guo ChangCheng's torso thrummed in anger when he heard the mocking tone inside the question, 'yes, I am! So what? Do you have a problem?'

'ChangCheng!' Chu ShuZhi shouted to calm the young man, 'we both are men! A man will never be bothered by a single kiss because it means nothing if we kiss someone we don't like. It's not that we have something to lose over a kiss.' He stressed, 'if you are a girl, I will not touch you that way.'

Guo ChangCheng lowered his gaze a moment, 'is that so?' He asked as he looked Chu ShuZhi in the eyes.

'Yes, it is!' Chu ShuZhi desperate, 'distance myself from you is killing me!'

Guo ChangCheng frowned a little, 'why?' He tilted his head.

Chu ShuZhi was stunned, mouth agape in confusion. What on earth did he just say? 'Well, I consider you like my own brother. If your brother distances himself from you, you will feel hurt, won't you?' He returned the question not certain with the unfamiliar pang in his chest.

'Ohhh, I see...' Guo ChangCheng lowered his gaze. Confused about his heart. He was supposed to be relieved but why did he feel so disappointed? Unrealizingly, tears dripped from his eyes.

'ChangCheng, are you alright?' Chu ShuZhi wiped the tears with his thumb.

'Mhm. I'm just relieved. I also don't want to lose you...As a brother...' Guo ChangCheng almost whispered the last sentence.

'So we good?' Chu ShuZhi asked in awkward.

'Yes, we are good.' Guo ChangCheng threw an uneasy smile.

'Are you sure?'

'Mhm...'

Chu ShuZhi beamed but it was more like a grimace than a grin. His heart felt like been pinched, stinging painfully. 'Where do you want to go?' He asked, averting the throb.

'Market, I want to buy some noodles.'

'Okay, let's go.'

'I can go alone.'

'No, I want to buy some stuff too...' Chu ShuZhi reasoned.

'Oh, okay...' Guo ChangCheng wiped his tears, grinning like a stupid, and walked toward the market together with Chu ShuZhi.

Meanwhile, deep inside a cave in the south pole. A middle-aged man clad in a fancy dark suit stood in front of the tube where another YeZun was kept. He stared at the motionless physic while scientists clattering around the laboratory.

'Minister Han...' A young lady strode towards him, 'the preparation to return to Dragon city is ready, Sir...' She said with reverence.

The man took a deep breath, 'let's go home...' He glanced at the lady.

Camouflage, in the animals' world also called cryptic coloration. A tactic the animal used to disguise their appearance to protect themselves from predators. In social life, humans have also used the same tactic but many times to hide their true hearts. Ironically...

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Picture credit to Nature Nible.