Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]-Chapter 198 - Shower time [part 1]

The mall was unusually quiet at dawn.

A gentle orange hue filtered through the dusty glass panels of the rooftop, casting a surreal calm over the shopping center.

Muchen stood near the edge of the second-floor balcony, watching the faint sun push the darkness away. Behind him, the others were beginning to stir.

By five, everyone was awake and moving.

The sense of urgency lingered in the air despite the temporary comforts they had indulged in.

With the supermarket untouched, the group had managed to stock up on canned food, dried meals, energy bars, and even vitamins.

The oversized trekking bags they had found in one of the sport outlets now brimmed with supplies, their zippers stretched to the limit.

Muchen zipped his up with a grunt. "This should last us for at least a week," he murmured, eyes scanning the horizon beyond the windows.

Meanwhile, in the mall’s pristine restroom—a rare luxury in their world—Jai let out a dramatic groan as the hand flush water splashed over his hair. "Oh my god, this feels heavenly!" he practically moaned, gripping the hand flush tightly.

"It would’ve been better if they had hot water," Zei mumbled from the neighboring stall, his voice muffled slightly by the divider.

Jai rolled his eyes. "Spoiled brat. Just enjoy the fact that we’re able to actually take a bath."

In the warehouse they did have a bathroom but that place was so small and stank so much that they did not even have the intention to go in if not for pooping and peeing.

Compared to that this place was heavenly.

Suddenly cold water splashed for up form the next stall.

"hey! Watch it!" he knocked on the walls.

"hehe.. isn’t this fun." Zei popped his head on top of the wall gazing down at him.

"pervert! Stay in your darn stall!"

The two stalls echoed with sounds of splashes, occasional swearing as cold water hit sensitive skin.

Outside by the sinks, Shao quietly dried his damp hair with a clean towel. His eyes fell on the two stall and then at the mirror in front of him. His reflection stared back at him, solemn and unreadable. His sharp brows were frowned deeply.

Lu Zhi appeared beside him, mimicking his motions of drying his hair. After a long pause, he leaned slightly closer and whispered so softly that only his older brother could hear, "Brother... do you like that kid?"

Shao’s towel paused mid-motion. His eyes flickered sideways. "What?" he asked flatly.

"You know," Lu Zhi said carefully, gesturing subtly toward the stalls where Jai and Zei were still bickering. "That guy. The one you always look at when you think no one notices."

Shao’s frown deepened. "No. What made you think that?" he snapped, his voice slightly sharper than intended.

Without waiting for an answer, he walked out of the bathroom in a huff, leaving Lu Zhi standing there with a towel still half on his head.

"...He’s become so temperamental lately," Lu Zhi muttered to himself.

"who?" Just then, Jai exited the stall, a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water cascading from his damp hair and sliding down his pale chest. His slightly long hair stuck to his pale face making him look delicate...

Lu Zhi blinked rapidly, taken aback by how different he looked in the soft bathroom lighting—youthful, gentle, and oddly charming.

"Hello?" Jai waved a hand in front of Lu Zhi’s face. "You good?"

Lu Zhi blinked again, then looked away, flustered. ’Okay... I guess I kind of understand why my brother—’

Before he could finish the thought, Zei emerged from the next stall—completely naked.

"Oh my god!" Jai shouted, turning away.

"Brother, close your eyes!" Lu Zhi yelped, instantly slapping his hands over his own face, ears burning. ’This is my brother’s man! I can’t look at him like that!’

Even thought he thought that his eyes couldn’t help but wander over to him. That man had a washboard abs and a strong pair of muscular leg. And between that.... A cucumber.

Lu zhi felt his whole face heat up instantly. He quickly found someplace else to look. His wandering eyes fell on his handsome face.

Zei, oblivious as ever, continued drying his hair with his towel, casually walking to the sinks. "What? Is something on my face?"

Lu Zhi, without realizing, had been staring again.

Zei was the complete opposite of Jai—his body was leaner, but his frame stronger, his movements confident, mature.

There was something magnetic about him. His sharp features, the way he carried himself, the hint of sarcasm in every motion—it was all so... enchanting.

’I’m not gay!’ Lu Zhi screamed internally and coughed loudly to cover up the turmoil in his head. He reached out and grabbed Jai’s wrist. "Let’s go! Let the others take their turn showering," he said quickly and practically dragged Jai out of the bathroom.

Zei watched them leave, one eyebrow raised in amusement. "Weird kid."

Back in the hallway, Lu Zhi refused to make eye contact with anyone. Jai blinked, still adjusting his towel, and muttered, "You’re acting weird, man."

"No, I’m not. You’re weird!" Lu Zhi shot back defensively.

Qiu Yue stood by the bathroom door, fresh clothes neatly folded in his arms. His hoodie sleeves were tugged down nervously as he waited for his turn. His dark eyes flicked toward the group emerging from the bathroom—bare-chested, towels wrapped hastily around waists, steam still clinging to their skin.

He blinked, deadpan. "Didn’t any of you think to bring clothes inside?"

"I did," Jai replied, glancing back, still damp and chilly from the rushed bath. He tilted his head at Lu Zhi, who had practically yanked him out of the stall like a squirrel on fire. With a dramatic roll of his eyes, Jai turned to go back. "I wasn’t exactly given the chance to wear them—"

"I’ll get them for you!" Lu Zhi cried, cutting him off and shooting into the bathroom like a bullet, one hand over his eyes. "Don’t go back in!!"

Qiu Yue raised an eyebrow, looking mildly amused. "What’s gotten into him?" he asked, side-eyeing Jai.

"I have no clue," Jai said flatly, still half-shivering. "Teenagers."

Inside the bathroom, Lu Zhi stumbled blindly, eyes squeezed shut and hands outstretched like a kid playing tag in the dark.

"I can’t look... I can’t look..." he muttered to himself, nearly tripping on a towel.

His outstretched hands suddenly made contact with slightly wet warm flesh. "huh?" Lu Zhi took a look.

One look and he froze in fear.

His hands were right on the guy’s pecks squeezing unconsciously.

"ahh I didn’t mean to do that!!" Lu Zhi ran to the bathroom stall finally fumbling for Jai’s clothes hanging on the stall door.

He grabbed them and darted out with a red face, pressing the bundle of clothing to his chest.

’oh my godd!!! Why is my heart beating like this!!!!!’