“A-Xing.” Jiayi whispered, “ Just relax, okay?”

They were standing in the communal eating area where food was being handed out and Yan Xing was already panicking because of the crowd and the thought that Meihua was a part of it but now he had another added stressor. He had to pretend to eat and although he was fine eating granola bars and rice, something about eating what was arguably a better meal just seemed impossible.

Perhaps it was because he was surrounded by humans but the scent of human food made him visibly sick. 

Jiayi was rubbing Yan Xing’s shoulder and trying to get him to calm down but Yan Xing was really not taking to it well.

“…Do you want to go back to the room?” Jiayi asked Yan Xing who hesitated. He knew that Jiayi needed to eat so he wanted to try and hold out for a while longer but he couldn’t even describe the pain he felt. Especially because more and more people kept arriving to eat.

Jiayi noticed his sentiment soon enough, he quickly finished his food and then helped Yan Xing up to get him back to their room.

Yan Xing kind of sank to his knees as they entered the room. He quietly apologized in a running mantra, he didn’t know what was wrong with him this time. God he hated being such a nuisance.

“It’s okay...” Jiayi murmured and looked at Yan Xing’s current state with a worried expression. He guided Yan Xing to sit down on the bed and kneeled down in front of him.

“You should eat. You might be reacting like this cause you’re hungry.” Jiayi murmured. 

Yan Xing wanted to deny it but he had never felt this sick and the crowd at the canteen was only about was big as the crowd at the other settlement they had been in. There were also more people out and about the night before when they showed up at the camp than now at the canteen.

Yan Xing’s cheeks flushed as Jiayi got closer to him.

‘It doesn’t last as long as the first time anymore…’ Yan Xing had a theory that this was because Jiayi had been feeding him too often and so he was getting too gluttonous as a result. He wanted to say something about it but he also didn’t know if what he was feeling right now was actually hunger. He didn’t feel like eating someone over in the canteen…he just felt sick.

Yan Xing’s discomfort was ultimately not solved by receiving Jiayi’s energy. He did feel a little calmer though as Jiayi stroked the nape of his neck with his thumb while kissing him.

His calmness was short-lived though. He actually felt his discomfort getting worse after a while, to the point where he completely pushed Jiayi away. 

“G-Ge..” Yan Xing clung to Jiayi despite having just pulled away from their kiss. Jiayi was even more concerned now but soon he felt an odd sense of discomfort as well.

He knew what it was and now he wondered if it was what Yan Xing was feeling as well.

“A-Xing? What do you feel right now?”  Jiayi asked, watching as Yan Xing clutched his chest.

“I-I don’t know…M-My chest f-feels cold…” Yan Xing murmured.

That was all Jiayi really needed to hear.  He knew what it was. It was the same thing he was feeling.

“Your eyes are red so stay in here. I’ll be back soon.”

Yan Xing was reluctant to let Jiayi go but he couldn’t keep him still soon enough.

“G-Ge…come back…”

—-

“…Su Ling.” 

Su Ling jumped a little when he heard Jiayi’s voice, his expression seemed like he was troubled.

“Do you feel that?” Jiayi asked.

Su Ling was confused but he then realized that maybe Jiayi could also feel it. The chilling feeling in his chest, like a cold hand constricting around his heart and lungs.

“Yeah… What is that?” Su Ling asked, Jiayi seemed to just know more.

“There’s a mutated zombie nearby.”

Yan Xing was technically not mutated. He was just a very special kind of zombie. The Queen Bee in a way, the zombie who was just meant to be strong and meant to have self control. That’s why people couldn’t feel him like this. But mutated zombies were dangerous even for regular zombies. Because they were strong like high level zombies but they had even less self control than the standard zombie.

Jiayi wasn’t even sure why one suddenly appeared. They didn’t appear until December in the previous timeline. This fight would be hard without him using a lot more strength than he’s used so far.

“Su Ling. I’m telling you this because I trust you won’t tell anyone else.” Jiayi whispered.

Su Ling looked a little surprised but he prepared himself for whatever Jiayi would tell him.

Jiayi whispered to him about his powers, explaining that he didn’t actually reveal all of them to his group or to the military. 

“Is today’s expedition team gone?” He asked Su Ling.

“No, they’re still here.” Su Ling said and pointed near a group of people.

“I’ll go with them and sneak off to get rid of it before it gets here. The other ability users will be able to sense it soon so just let them know to calm down if they feel that odd feeling around their chest.” Jiayi explained and quickly went off to the expedition team.

—

Yan Xing felt better after a few hours but Jiayi didn’t return to the room even hours after he felt better. He began to worry.

He checked his eyes in the mirror, making sure they were normal before pulling a hoodie over his head. He reached out to the door right when there was a knock to it.

He hesitantly opened it and saw Zhang Zimo there with two large buckets.

“Huh? You’re alone?” 

Yan Xing nodded. He assumed the buckets were the water that Zhang Zimo had mentioned in the morning and he took one off his hands so he could bring it inside. It was actually after noon, so Zhang Zimo was later than he promised but Yan Xing had no way of really telling that. He hadn’t looked outside and there were no clocks in the room.

“I thought you would’ve gone with Jiayi on the expedition.” Zhang Zimo murmured and brought the bucket to the bathroom, following after Yan Xing.

“Huh? Ge is on an expedition?!” Yan Xing looked shocked.

“He didn’t tell you?” Zhang Zimo said and set the bucket down.

“N-No…he just told me to stay here.” Yan Xing murmured.

Zhang Zimo had a look on his face that Yan Xing couldn’t quite decipher.

“What time do expeditions usually return?” Yan Xing asked, peeking outside. The sun would be setting soon so he felt a little shocked, time really flew by.

“… Around now.” Zhang Zimo murmured, glancing at his watch.

Yan Xing was relieved to hear that, he didn’t want to wait much longer alone, he was already worried enough.

“Want to wait downstairs?” Zhang Zimo asked.

Yan Xing wasn’t sure. He didn’t want to see other people but he also kind of just really wanted to see Jiayi return safely.

He nodded after a while and went with Zhang Zimo down to the lobby.

—