Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]-Chapter 218 - Warm comfort

That night, Muchen barely slept.

Though his body ached from exhaustion, his mind refused to rest. He kept the police-issued rifle by his side, fingers lightly brushing the cold metal now and then, as if to reassure himself it was still there. The faint hum of the generator outside, the occasional creak of the old hostel building, and even the quiet breathing of the others around him felt amplified in his ears.

But more than anything, it was the fear that gnawed at him. Fear that something would happen again. That someone would take Yunfeng while he slept. That he wouldn’t be fast enough. Strong enough. That somehow, the world would find a way to separate them again.

He kept one eye on the door. The other on the bottom bunk.

At some point, when his limbs grew too heavy and his eyelids refused to stay open, he slumped forward and finally drifted off into a light, uneasy sleep.

The morning came cruelly.

Bright sunlight streamed through the cracked windowpane and fell directly across his face, jerking him awake with a sharp breath. He blinked rapidly, disoriented, the haze of sleep making everything feel slow.

Then he looked down.

The bottom bunk was empty.

Panic set in instantly.

His heart pounded in his chest as he jumped down from the upper bunk, feet slapping against the cold tile floor. He didn’t even put on his shoes. He sprinted toward the door, hand already reaching for the handle—ready to run, to search the entire building if he had to.

But then the bathroom door creaked open behind him.

Muchen turned, chest heaving.

Yunfeng stepped out, hair damp and slightly tousled, water dripping down his collarbone. He had just washed his hair in the sink, probably hoping to start the day fresh after so many feverish nights.

He paused when he saw Muchen by the door, eyes wide with panic.

"Where are you going?" Yunfeng asked softly.

Without waiting for an answer, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him. Muchen didn’t resist—he collapsed into the hug like a broken wave, arms wrapping tightly around Yunfeng’s waist, face buried in the crook of his neck.

But Yunfeng didn’t miss the tremble in his fingers. He didn’t miss the way Muchen clung to him, like he was afraid he’d vanish.

"What’s wrong?" Yunfeng whispered, frowning.

Muchen let out a long, shaky breath, his voice muffled against Yunfeng’s chest. "I woke up... and you were gone."

His voice cracked with the last word.

Yunfeng gently cupped his lover’s face, lifting it so he could see him properly. Muchen’s eyes were red-rimmed, slightly swollen. His lips trembled with the weight of what he’d kept bottled inside all night.

"I’m right here," Yunfeng said softly, pulling him into a tighter embrace. He slowly rocked him back and forth, like calming a frightened child. "Shhh... I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere."

The sunlight filtered through the old curtains, dust floating through the air like soft embers. In that moment, the world outside—the chaos, the threat, the unknown—disappeared. All that remained was the steady thump of Yunfeng’s heartbeat and the quiet promise in his arms.

Muchen didn’t say anything for a long time. He just stood there, holding Yunfeng like he was the only thing tethering him to the earth.

And maybe he was.

Yunfeng kept his arms around Muchen a moment longer, feeling the way his lover’s body finally began to relax. When he leaned back, he noticed the weight in Muchen’s eyes—the exhaustion, the worry, the restless night etched into the shadows under his lashes.

"You need rest," Yunfeng murmured gently.

Before Muchen could protest, Yunfeng bent down and scooped him up into his arms, carrying him with a steady ease toward the lower bunk. Muchen didn’t resist. His hand clung softly to Yunfeng’s shirt, his cheek brushing against the other’s shoulder. He felt safe like this—protected.

Yunfeng sat on the edge of the bed, cradling him for a second longer before slowly laying him down. The mattress dipped under Muchen’s weight, the covers a little wrinkled from earlier sleep. Yunfeng leaned down and gently cupped his face, brushing his thumb along Muchen’s cheek.

"Stay with me," Muchen whispered, eyes half-lidded.

"I’m not going anywhere," Yunfeng said.

Then, tenderly, he pressed his lips to Muchen’s.

The kiss was slow—soft and searching. Their mouths moved with the kind of familiarity that came from love weathered by fear and time. Muchen’s fingers slid into Yunfeng’s damp hair, curling there, as if anchoring himself to the moment.

Yunfeng’s hand slid to the side of Muchen’s neck, his thumb resting at his jaw. He deepened the kiss only slightly, letting it linger—savoring the warmth, the closeness, the quiet between heartbeats. His body leaned over Muchen’s, not with urgency, but with longing threaded through restraint.

He pulled back briefly, their foreheads touching.

"I missed you," Yunfeng whispered against his lips. "Even when you were beside me, I was scared I’d lose you again."

Muchen opened his eyes and reached up, fingers tracing the line of Yunfeng’s jaw. "You didn’t," he said. "I’m still here."

Their lips met again—longer this time, more breathless. Yunfeng’s hands found the edge of his own shirt and, with quiet intention, pulled it over his head, letting it fall beside the bed. His skin was still cool from the water, a faint drop slipping from his collarbone to his chest.

He leaned down once more and pressed a kiss to the corner of Muchen’s mouth, then another to his jaw. His lips trailed gently down to Muchen’s throat, where he paused, breathing him in—slow and reverent. Muchen’s hand ran across Yunfeng’s bare back, fingers tracing the curve of muscle and spine.

Yunfeng kissed along his collarbone, each touch soft and deliberate, as though he was rediscovering every inch of him—reaffirming that this was real. That Muchen was here. That they had survived.

His lips hovered for a moment, just above Muchen’s heart. He could feel it beating beneath his skin.

Then he whispered, "Let me just hug you."

The sunlight spilled in from the window, warm and golden. Outside, the world was still uncertain, still broken. But here, in this quiet room, beneath the hush of sheets and breath, Yunfeng hugged muchen gently in his embrace.