There were no mutated wolves with abnormally enlarged bodies in the pack, but after mutation, each of them was still one or two sizes larger than ordinary wolves. Just dividing up the meat took a long time.

The bloody stench from the wolf corpses could easily attract other ferocious carnivorous beasts, so during the cutting process, Xu Qingru controlled the surrounding airflow to keep the scent from spreading.

Because fresh meat spoiled easily, they set up fire pits to roast the meat into jerky and braised meat—easy to store, hard to spoil, and able to last a long time.

As dawn slowly crept in, a faint fish-belly white appeared in the sky. When daylight finally broke, Su Mu rubbed his aching neck and subconsciously looked up—only to be met once again with a dull, gray sky, no longer the blue skies and white clouds he’d seen when he first arrived in this world.

Beautiful things always disappeared too quickly.

After working through most of the night, they finally finished processing all the mutated wolf meat into jerky and braised meat. The firelight had drawn over a few wild animals during the process, but thankfully none were mutated and were easy to deal with.

They had grabbed plenty of shopping bags back at the supermarket, which now came in handy. Unfortunately, even when tied tightly, they couldn’t provide vacuum sealing.

So they decided to eat the preserved beast meat first and save the longer-lasting rations for later. For people who had long since grown sick of dry rations, these homemade meat products were nothing short of delicacies beyond compare.

Breakfast for the group consisted of the meat they’d prepared the night before. Fang Yiyang and Zhou Haichen hadn’t slept well, and letting them drive would’ve been unsafe, so Luo Beiyao and Xu Qingru took over instead.

Meeting Luo Beiyao’s gaze, Su Mu knew that no matter how unwilling he was to sit in the front passenger seat, that idea was clearly unrealistic. Especially since Luo Beiyao had already won over Su Wanmei—there was no escape.

Were parents in peaceful times really this open-minded? Supporting their child so wholeheartedly in a same-sex relationship?

[The real juice is @ https://www.lemonsociety.gay ♡]

With nothing else to do, Su Mu continued absorbing the Zombie Emperor’s crystal core. Before long, Fang Yiyang crept over.

“Su Mu, how did you know mutated beast meat was edible? You’ve eaten it before?”

Su Mu couldn’t even be bothered to lift his eyelids. “Didn’t know. Never ate it.”

Fang Yiyang froze for a moment before realizing Su Mu had answered—he didn’t know it was edible, and he hadn’t eaten it before either.

His eyes widened. “Then… if you didn’t know, why did you go cut it? I thought you knew for sure.”

He’d seriously thought Su Mu was some all-knowing badass.

Su Mu replied perfunctorily, “Mm.”

Seeing that Su Mu clearly had no interest in talking—and sensing Luo Beiyao’s gaze that felt like it could devour him alive—Fang Yiyang decided that if he said one more word, there was a real chance of dying in a car accident.

He quietly retreated.

It was just a few words. That look felt like he was about to be eaten alive. It wasn’t like he’d never talked to Su Mu before—why was the boss’s jealousy so intense now? Could it be because they’d argued and still hadn’t made up?

Tsk tsk… men.

Suddenly, Su Mu halted his absorption. His entire body felt itchy and painful, an uncomfortable sensation spreading over his skin.

He frowned slightly, feeling as though something was brushing against him again.

Subconsciously, he glanced at Luo Beiyao, who was driving. The man’s handsome profile was expressionless, but beneath his long lashes, a faint purple glow flickered in his eyes.

Su Mu cautiously leaned a little closer.

Sure enough, the closer he got, the stronger the itching and pain became.

Warm breath edged closer. Luo Beiyao felt his body stiffen beyond his control. Though he didn’t understand what Su Mu intended, this was the first time in days—no, longer—that Su Mu had voluntarily moved closer to him.

That thought alone was enough.

The violent aura churning in his dantian surged in an instant. Luo Beiyao’s expression darkened, his fingers trembling slightly. Before his mind could catch up, his body had already made the choice.

His hand suddenly clamped onto Su Mu’s chin, pulling him in for a kiss.

Their lips collided, teeth knocking painfully together. A faint metallic taste spread across Su Mu’s tongue.

It took Su Mu several long seconds to realize—

He had just been kissed.